Stoughton’s Little Red Schoolhouse and Stoughton’s First Schoolhouse 

Stoughton’s first school has been described as a ramshackle old lean-to that had been deserted by its owner and also as a cabin.  It stood on the corner of South Division and North Streets.  It had just one room which measured 12 by 14 feet and was seven feet high.  It had two little windows, one door, and was sparsely furnished.  It had 15 students in all, and one teacher.  Her name was Miss Frances (Fanny) Duncan.  In 1851, Miss Duncan and her school moved into a new red brick schoolhouse, built on a lot on the NW corner of Page and Main, the location later becoming the site of Dr. Hyland’s family residence.  The Red Brick School served the purpose of Community Center in many ways.  Early newspapers comment about various entertainment who trouped thru the village.  
Stoughton Independent Nov. 24, 1857 

A principal along with other teachers were hired.  
There was reference in the Jan. 10, 1858 Stoughton Signal that the juvenile school has fifty-six pupils taught by Miss M. Benedict and of a High School taught by A.J. Kingman.  The high school boasted of 80 pupils.  A separate school was dedicated in 1862 (On Central Campus).

“The New building was built on the hilltop; it had two rooms and a basement besides.”  “Formally dedicated in the year ’62 (1862), with appropriate music and speaking, and a prayer for the good it might do.”  
Julie Serles, a teacher of the Stoughton Public Schools. 

After fifteen years in 1877 a wing of three additional rooms was built onto the 1862 school.

While compiling research material on Stoughton’s early history for the city’s centennial observance in 1947, the late Harry O. Hale gathered together information concerning the first schools here, which started in a log cabin and then moved into the traditional “little red schoolhouse”.  Through courtesy of Mrs. Hale, the Courier in August 1968 reproduced his history of education in Stoughton for a special back-to-back edition of the paper. 

Luke Stoughton reasoned early to himself, “There must be education in this land”, for a school was one of the first institutions begun in the village.  Started in 1850 and in 1851 the (Red Brick Schoolhouse) was opened for classes.     
Stoughton Courier, Aug. 15, 1968 

As told by Olga Nuland when giving history of the First Universalist Church of Stoughton, she writes “Before building the church, services were held in the little red brick schoolhouse on the corner of North Page and West Main Streets which is now the site of the F.B. Hyland residence.  Services were held whenever a minister was available.  In 1858 the church was built.”  “After the little red schoolhouse in which the first church services were in held in Stoughton, was condemned, the First Universalist Church was used as a public school until they had erected another one near the present site of the Central Grade buildings.”  

The Red Brick Schoolhouse was later raised.  The site became the home of Dr. Hyland and family.  -- (Possibly raised in 1875 and first replaced by a house built by James Hutson, proprietor of the Hutson House and site later became the house location Dr. Hyland and family.)

Stoughton Area Country Schools,  click for more information.