Building Red Brick Schoolhouses

The construction of the little red brick schoolhouses in Lorain County was handled pretty much like it is now, with the first step being the solicitation of bids from contractors.

Below are several clippings inviting contractors to submit proposals for the building of brick school houses in Lorain County. The first two listings are from July 1873, for the building of a school in Sub District 3 and Sub District 6 in Sheffield Township.

From the Elyria Independent Democrat, July 9, 1873

From the Elyria Independent Democrat, July 30, 1873

This listing from August 21, 1879 is also for Sheffield Township. This school was to be built in Sub District No. 7.

Elyria Republican, August 21, 1879

On the 1896 Sheffield Township map below, I've indicated where a single school was located in each of the three Sub Districts mentioned in the ads. 

And finally, here is an ad that ran in the Elyria Republican on June 24, 1886 soliciting proposals for the building of a brick schoolhouse in Sub-District No. 7 in Carlisle Township.