A historic one-room schoolhouse in Erie County just reopened after major renovations, and it played a role in the region before Buffalo even existed.
AKRON, N.Y. — As part of America’s 250th anniversary celebrations, Erie County leaders gathered Friday in Akron to mark the completion of renovations at a historic one-room schoolhouse.
Officials said the upgrades will expand educational programming and improve public access to the site. The renovation project included installation of a new septic system, repairs to the building’s chimney and sidewalks, and the addition of an ADA-accessible restroom.
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Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz said the improvements will allow Friends of Limerick to broaden its educational offerings while giving more visitors the opportunity to experience what school life was like in the 1800s.
“Before there was a city of Buffalo, there actually was a school on this location. So I want you to think about that,” Poloncarz said.
“Dating back to the early 1800’s, the village of Buffalo didn’t really exist at this point. The hub of what was even not Erie County at that point, it was Niagara County in the early 1800s. It didn’t become Erie County until 10 years after the original school was built.”
Officials said the project was funded through an Erie County Cultural Capital Grant, part of broader efforts to preserve local landmarks and commemorate the nation’s 250th anniversary.