Pupils from John Gregg toured the museum prior to the end of the school year. The class was joined by Joyce Hendricks and retired teacher Connie Crawford, who loves dressing up in the attire worn during the mid-1800s. -- Contributed

STEUBENVILLE — On an Ohio Valley hilltop sits a little one-room schoolhouse which has more than served its purpose. For almost 170 years, this single classroom setting has functioned as a unique piece of educational history.

And it is still going strong today.

The structure was converted into a museum in 2008 at the request of a group of retired school teachers who believed in what it could be.

Connie Crawford of Toronto was one of those teachers.

Crawford made it known to the Edison Local Board of Education that the long-forgotten schoolhouse located beside (the former) Pleasant Hill Elementary School was simply sitting there — unused, along the roadside. She stressed what the possibility of a museum could mean for today’s pupils, as well as for the community.

And so, following the board’s approval, Crawford, along with those 30 retired teachers, began overseeing the transformation of a long-ago retired edifice.

That run-down, century-and-a half old structure would now become known as the Pleasant Hill Schoolhouse Historical Museum. The Community Foundation of Jefferson County was the fiscal agent which leased the building for $1 a year. Through various fundraisers held at Edison elementary schools, money was raised to help with making improvements.

Soon, the museum would come to fruition and Edison pupils would have the opportunity to tour the classroom of yesteryear. Inside, the schoolhouse museum encompasses many old-fashioned objects used during that period it was first erected. And children discover there are no computers — only a piece of slate and chalk.

Today, almost 15 years later, the museum is still going strong. Pupils from John Gregg Elementary School recently traveled from Bergholz to the museum where they were introduced to McGuffey Readers. These readers are graded primers for first through sixth grades and were used in the 1800s. Among the retired teachers participating on the tours were Crawford, Joyce Zimmerman, Avis Henry and Debbie Hendricks.

Henry served as the children’s arithmetic teacher on the tour, while Zimmerman and Hendricks instructed pupils in reading. Crawford explained each instructor, herself included, resembles that of the clothing worn during that time period.

Throughout the school year, area classrooms take tours of the museum; however, each tour must be broken down into two separate groups in order to accommodate guests because of the small space.

Crawford explained those at the museum are looking to connect more with the community and not just the schools.

As a result, a community yard sale has been scheduled at the Four Seasons Community Center at the old Pleasant Hill School, located at 129 School St. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Reservations are being taken for tables on which to sell goods and merchandise. Tables are $10. Food will be served and drawings will be held, according to organizers.

Anyone interested in setting up can contact President Ryan Finney at (740) 381-0592.

The museum’s board has a new vice president, Dave Nicholson, following the resignation of long-time member John Finney. Finney left his position due to health reasons and the health of his wife, Kay, who later died.

Kay was a long-time board member who was there from the start of the museum. Even when her health restricted her from attending meeting and functions, she worked tirelessly from home making phone calls and posts to help bring support and spread the word of the museum and what it was doing, officials stated.

The museum will also be holding a square dance from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Oct. 21 at the Knoxville Grange Hall, located at 15452 state Route 152 in Toronto. All ages are welcomed to attend and questions about the event can be addressed by calling Crawford at (740) 544-5666.