The Shandon High School -- On December 10, 1869, the residents of Morgan and Ross Townships in Paddy's Run Valley combined the two schools of their territory into the New London School.  What is now known as Shandon Community house served as a school building for two years, Samuel McClelland being the principal.  By 1871, the present five-room brick structure was completed and Miss Schaeffer served as principal.

The first graduation exercises were held in 1892 when the state issued the school a third grade charter.  On January 31, 1916, the school was granted a second grade charter.  At the recommendation of the State Department of Education the New London school united with all the schools of Ross township in 1931 forming the first grade school system now in operation.

The Elementary School of Venice --The Venice schools had their origin in 1814 when the Butterfields, Shaws, Willeys, and others built the first log school house of the district.  In 1825 a second building was erected which was later replaced in 1850 by a new brick structure.  In 1875 the present school was built and operated as a second grade high school and one year normal until 1914.

Prior to the year 1925, Venice was known as the Venice Special District, but at this date all the boards of education in Ross township, including Venice Special merged into one school unit.  Today Venice School is one of the two units in the elementary division of the Ross township rural system, and last year furnished accommodations for 171 elementary students.

The Elementary School of Millville -- Available records show that in 1855, there was a frame building on the present site of the Presbyterian church for the eight grades and two years of high school.

In 1871, the special Millville District was created and in 1872 the present three room school was erected which included two years of high school until 1915.  For several years the school operated as a two-room unit but in 1931 a third teacher was added, making use of all of the three rooms of the school.  In 1932, a transfer of the seventh and eighth grades to Shandon high school was made.

Schools were constructed in or near the village as early as the year 1807.  The schools were first organized under the state law in 1826.  The first teacher employed under this law was William Bebb, who later became Governor of Ohio.  The old Welsh church served as a school house for some time.  In 1869, the New London Special School District was organized and two years later a four room brick building was erected on a three acre tract.

In 1937, the New London Special School District was included in the Ross Township school area, and after 1939 when the modern Ross Township school was erected near Venice the old building was no longer used for classrooms.

The old building is under the jurisdiction of the Congregational Church trustees.  A complete restoration of the building was begun and a modern bathhouse was completed.  It will serve as a permanent site for Congregational Christian church conferences.

 © 2000 by the Butler County Historical Society