The history of the Oley
schools dates back to the early seventeen hundreds when settlers first
had students in their homes. As the population grew, schools were started
in churches. As time passed these schools were not adequate.
Neighbors soon formed
organizations for the purpose of maintaining a school on a site that was
accessible. Each student paid a small sum (from five to ten cents a day)
and the private school was born.
On March 4, 1849, in
accordance with Pennsylvania law, six chosen school directors (Daniel Bertolet,
John Kaufman, Joel Levan, Ezra Griesemer, Martin Yoder and Nathan Knabb)
started the era of public education by establishing twelve grammar schools
in the Oley area. Each school had floor dimensions of approximately thirty
by thirty-five feet. The teacher was in the center of the room, bordered
on all sides by desks where the books were kept.
| Furnace | Brumbach | Pleasantville | Church |
| Kieffer | Wiest | Oley Line | Guldin |
| Grammar | Reiff | Palm | Hunter |
| Lobachsville | Pricetown |
| Frey's | Hill Church School |
| Drumheller's |
Information on these pages is from the Oley Valley
Heritage Foundation Calendar, published in 1997.
Photos are scanned from originals found in the
Middle School library.