Twenty years in the making. It was September, 1996, when the One-Room School, Inc. completed its relocation of the former Rudolph School to its permanent location on East Robinson Street in Carmi. The Trustees of the School determined after 20 years, it was time for an upgrade with interior and exterior renovations.
To celebrate that transformation, an Open House was held on Sunday, September 18 with a large crowd in attendance. The occasion opened with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Carmi’s Mayor, Jeff Pollard, doing the honors. Several former one-room students attended along with one former one-room teacher, Mrs. Pauline Beck who taught in several one-room schools including her home school, Hadden.
Another former teacher in attendance was Mrs. Clara Pritchett of Grayville. Her husband, Charles, was instrumental in the initial selection process visiting several schools in White County to determine the most appropriate.
Of interest was one former student of the school, John Henry Fechter, who attended Rudolph School all eight years of grade school. Plaques documenting the memories of both Mrs. Beck and Mr. Fechter are displayed in the school.
The One-Room School, Inc. is a non-for-profit corp. To help maintain the school, a Friends of the One-Room School has been established. If anyone would like to become a contributing member, you may call Don Garrett, Treasurer of the school at 618-384-7835.
