Northampton’s Center School was one of Carrie Keyser-Swain’s most cherished childhood memories. It was built in 1875 by J.C. Johnson and located at the southwest corner of Bath and Northampton Roads. Johnson was the same architect responsible for the design of most of Northampton’s one-room schoolhouses (there were 8 total), Northampton United Methodist Church, the original 1873 Town Hall, as well as the Keyser-Swain Farmhouse built in 1877. After the new central school on Northampton Road was built in 1925, Center School was moved to the Quine Fruit Farm on Theiss Road in 1937 for apple storage. It was Carrie’s dream since the 1960’s to preserve and restore the one-room school into a museum.
In 1975, she officially began embarking on this journey to move the school back to Northampton town center for restoration. Shortly thereafter, it was moved to opposite side of the road from its original location. Center School sat just down the hill from Carrie’s farmhouse next to Northampton Town Hall and the fire station. The restoration process was slow to start due to lack of funding, with the total estimated at about $20,000. With the assistance of township trustees, the project officially launched in 1977. Carrie and the NHS worked hard for years to devise continuous fundraising efforts, along with work carried out by the devotion of many volunteers. She even used a significant amount of her own money to make the renovated schoolhouse museum a reality. Finally, on August 22, 1982, Center School Museum was officially complete and a dedication ceremony took place on this day with over 100 people in attendance.
Then on the evening of July 12, 1992, a devastating tornado ripped through Northampton. Center School was in its path and it was pulled right off of its new foundation. Thankfully no one was hurt and Carrie’s life and family home were spared. Some artifacts and memorabilia from the school were recovered. The tornado was so powerful that pieces and parts of Center School and its contents were found all the way out in Streetsboro, 15 miles away! Despite this heartbreaking event, the 2nd annual Center School Reunion forged ahead with their scheduled meeting just a couple weeks later. Carrie lived out the next three years in the farmhouse, but eventually moved into a nursing home due to failing health. She lived to be 92 years old. Her conscientious efforts in the community will never be forgotten and she will forever be our SHE-ro!
“Mrs. Swain is president of the Northampton Historical Society and has waged an almost one-woman campaign for 10 years to restore the school”.
-Akron Beacon Journal, August 2, 1979
“Almost single-handedly, with her own muscle, her persuasive tongue and some of her own money, she has been responsible for the preservation and restoration of the 1875 vintage structure where she learned her 3 R’s”
-James S. Jackson, reporter for the Akron Beacon Journal, August 14, 1982
“Mrs. Swain’s perseverance is reflected in a motto that is written on the school’s blackboard: “Good, better, best, never let is rest, until your good is better and your better best.”
-Akron Beacon Journal, January 11, 1985
