Liberty Hill School House

One of Florida’s few surviving African-American one room wooden school houses is found behind Spring Hill Church on what is now NW 23rd Street in Gainesville, Florida. Built in 1892, the school provided primary education through the sixth grade until 1952. Build with wood drop siding on brick piers, the school is 24.5 feet wise and 30.5 feet deep. Two wooden outhouses were northeast of the school. Heat was provided by a wood burning stove; there were no electric lights and drinking water was brought from a nearby spring. In 1940, the school had 68 students and lone teacher was paid $25/ month. The school remains where it was built, sheltered by large oak trees. The original paint is peeling but memories remain among church members whose relatives attended the school and were buried in the church cemetery nearby.