Location: 41.87905, -85.96395, at 20559 Osborn St., Cassopolis, MI.
I was told about Brownsville School No 1 in an email from a kind person who noticed I didn't have this school on my web site. The two photos below are not mine, but were taken by Cindy Yawkey. The school looks similar to the Thorington Schoolhouse, near the southeast corner of Michigan; maybe they were built from the same plans?
Brownsville School No 1 was an integrated school from its inception until it was closed in the mid-1950s. The Underground Railroad Society of Cass County has recently purchased the school and intends to restore it. They have removed the bell tower for safe-keeping during the restoration in order to save the roof, and are searching for the school bell, which is missing. If you'd like to donate to the restoration, please do so at the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County site, and be sure to note that the donation is for Brownsville School. Also, if you know anything about the school bell or other information about the school house, I'd appreciate it if you'd contact them. The last photo on this page has what might be more up-to-date contact info, as of May 2025.
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I did finally drive past Brownsville School No 1 during May of 2025, and these are my 3 photos of it. According to the sign, the schoolhouse opened in the early 1840s and was closed in 1957.
