Union School was located near today’s border with Shamong Township. It was slightly north of the intersection of Tuckerton and Old Indian Mills Roads. The section called Union was also a very small collection of local residences, without a church, store or any commercial enterprises.
The following is a direct quote from Superintendent Haas’s Report.
“Union Dist. No. 93. In the year 1844, the people of the community felt the need of a school in their midst, there being none within a convenient distance. A committee consisting of John Lee, Richard Haines and Thomas Shemeley, was elected for the purpose of building a schoolhouse. A school district was then formed and a quarter of an acre of land was bought (for $5.00) off John Taylor.
The money for building the house was raised by subscription, most of the material being given by interested people. The house was finished in the summer of 1845 and was first opened the following autumn, by Franklin Austin, who taught but one term, the building committee acting as trustees of the school. At that same time, the number of people (students) in the District was fifty-five.
Until within a few years, the school was usually taught during the winter, by a male teacher and by a female in summer; but now, the changes are less frequent. At present (note 1876), the District numbers eighty pupils and the school is in charge of Miss Fanny Haines. Trustees: Isaiah Haines, Charles Decou, J. Cooper Haines, Dist. Clerk.
The present value of the school-property in the whole township, is $2600, in 1866 it was $2300.”
In April of 1905, we see the following story appear in the New Jersey Mirror.
“The teacher and pupils of Union School will hold a concert in the J. O. U. A. M. Hall at Tabernacle on Thursday evening, April 13th, for the benefit of Union School. It will consist of many comic dialogues, tableaux, songs and pantomimes. It will commence at 8 o’ clock. All are welcome. Admission, children 10 cents, adults 15 cents.”
From: 1905 school picture donation from Robert Beaumont
Chalkboard in picture says “Union School 1905.” No one is identified.
From: Unknown newspaper, circa 1907 photograph supplied by Mrs. Elizabeth Bowker, Mt Holly
The caption under the photo mentions that it was taken about 1907 by William Cooper of Medford at the Old Union Schoolhouse between Naylor’s Corner and Tabernacle. A pile of wood is seen at one end of the building and broken windows are noted. Also, “Everyone drank from an old wooden bucket using the same dipper.” The teacher was Elizabeth Brooks.
All 18 students are identified, and many are noted as deceased.
Row 1: Vernetta Allen (AA), Ernest Brown (Deceased), Marion Couples (Deceased 1898-1956), Alex Couples (1901-1969), Jenny Crain (Deceased born 1899), Reba Crain (Deceased born 1903), Elizabeth Platt (Bowker)(donor of the picture)(1898-1973), Earl Scott, Clarence Scott (1902-1994) and Alex Peters.
Row 2: Bud Scott, Evela (Elva) Snow (Deceased 1896-1944), Mary Wells (Deceased 1894-1937), Teacher Elizabeth Brooks (D), Ella Kell (D), Ruth Wells (1898-1973), Mary Platt (Crain) and Samuel DeCou.
Marion Couples death in 1956 and Alex Couples death in 1969, fix the newspaper article date of publication to between 1956 and 1969. Marion was deceased at the printing of the article and Alex was alive. Since she died in 1956 and he in 1969, the piece was written between those dates. The owner of the photo, Elizabeth Platt Bowker died in 1973.
From: Burlington County Educational News November 1936 page 10
“Cut No. 1 is a picture of the Old Union School in Tabernacle Township. The school was closed in September 1917. This picture shows a number of the boys, who were attending the school at the time, laying a cordwood walk out to the roadway, in order that the children could get into the school building without getting their feet wet. The writer well remembers the incident as he directed the laying of the walk.”
From: 22 December 1938 Central Record “History of Tabernacle”
“About 1855 or 1856 a one room school was built and a few years later the Old Union School was erected for children that had to travel too far to either Tabernacle or Indian Mills.” (Note: Union school was built in 1846)
From: 1939 term paper by Viola Cutts Spragna
“The little one-room church was also used as a school for several years but about 1855 a one-room school was built, and a few years later the old Union School (now burned down) was erected for children that had to travel to far either to Tabernacle or Indian Mills. Later the two schools were consolidated, and the Union School was abandoned.”
From: Historic Tabernacle: A Pictorial Tour by Selwyn Grames 1989
“Located on Indian Mills-Tabernacle Road and had such a serious drainage problem that the boys laid out cordwood walk from its rear entrance to the road to prevent them from sinking in mud up to their knickers. It was closed in 1917.”
From: 1989 speech by Viola Cutts at Town Hall
“There was a Union School built on the Indian Mills Road – My mother attended it.” (Note: Viola’s mother was Mary Lydia Haines Cutts 1893-1951)
From: Thesis of Lily Fitzpatrick, Chapter Five page thirteen
“Then in 1860, another one room schoolhouse, the Union School, was built on Indian Mills Road near Tuckerton Road.”
Tabernacle Historical Society 