Shady Corners School, Mark Township

The Shady Corners School was located at the corner of Williams Center-Cecil Road and Fountain Street, in the southeast corner of Section 22, Mark Township.  This was an extra school in the township, formed because of the large number of students who lived in the immediate area.  

The school burned in 1911 when a threshing machine stopped in front of the school with engine problems.  As the driver revved his engine, sparks flew out of the top of the machine and landed on the roof of the school, starting a fire.  That year, the children finished school in someone's chicken coop because only a short period of the school year was left.  (Interview with G. Donson, 2000.  Her mother attended this school.)

                   Photo of the rebuilt school after the fire


Defiance Daily News - Tuesday, March 7, 1911

"DESTROYED BY FIRE

Was School House Near Mark Center.

Children Escaped in Safety But Buildings and Contents Were Completely Destroyed.

Sparks from a passing engine set fire to the country school house at Shady Corners, one mile south and one mile east of Mark Center Monday afternoon.

The building and contents were completely destroyed.  The insurance on the building amounted to $500 and on the contents, $150.  At a special meeting of the board of education of the special district held Monday evening, it was decided to rebuild at once.

School had just been resumed for the afternoon when the teacher noticed fire breaking through the ceiling.  The room was quickly vacated, and no sooner had the children made their exit than the entire structure burst into flames.  It was found impossible to save any of the contents.  The building, which was a frame structure, was burned to the foundation."