Quote from Angela on July 12, 2021, 3:41 pm

This inconspicuous little wooden school house in St Augustine, Florida, now known as The Oldest Wooden School House, was first constructed in the 17th century and was initially used as a one bedroom residential home.

This is the earliest known wooden residential structure in St Augustine. Today the site operates as a museum perfectly encapsulating the ambience of the earliest American schooling era.

Traditional Colonial Spanish style with cedar wood features, this is a fantastic historical landmark just a stones throw away from the St George Street Shopping District, well worth a visit if ever you are in the area. 

In 1702 the original building was burned down by British troops who raided Spanish settlements, the property also suffered severe hurricane damage. However the home did survive and was later heavily ground secured using anchors and chains.

In 1716 a school teacher named Juan Genoply lived here and doubled the property as a school house facility to local communities. The lower floor was student classrooms and the upper floor was where the teacher himself resided.

During 1778 the building was declared the very first co educational school house in the United States. 

Many visitors often report sighting the ghostly apparition of a sorrowful looking lady, wearing a Victorian era frock and her hair styled in an old fashioned bun. The lady is said to have once lived here and tragically lost a very young child. She gazes down from the upstairs window, with a woeful expression and many who witness this phenomena often describe sudden onsets of emotion and intense feelings of sadness.

Is this mournful entity longing to hold her child in her arms just one last time?

This non malevolent spirit has been seen within every room of the school house but seems to predominantly lurk in the upper levels.

The school house today acts as a museum and displays some wonderful schooling replicas and text books. They are open every day (exc Sundays) from 10am. You may freely tour this property at your leisure.

Who knows, you may even encounter some school children of yesteryear!

We would love to know if you experience anything paranormal.