1915

This picture shows the Hughes school as it looked in 1915.  It was built in 1887, and used regularly as an elementary school for grades 1 though 8, until 1922.  After that time, it was used alternately as a janitor's residence and a storage building by the Liberty Township School Board.

1975

This picture was taken in 1975 before the restoration work began.  Obviously, the years of neglect had taken their toll.  The school board could not justify the use of public funds for the major repairs that were needed, and considered demolishing the building.  The Liberty Township Historical Society was organized in 1975 and decided to restore the school.  The building was in an advanced state of disrepair and the project proved to be costly and time consuming.  The project was financed by fund raisers, dues and donations.  Almost all of the labor was donated by the members of the society.

This picture depicts how the Hughes School looks today after the restoration effort.  The ceiling and internal walls were removed and the old roof was torn off and replaced.  All of the interior plaster and woodwork were refinished. The bell tower is a duplicate of the original, built to match  photographs furnished by former students. The tower contains the original bell, which was found in the attic of  the Liberty Elementary School.   The Hughes school was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

The room inside is furnished with the teachers desk that was in use when the school closed.  There are also student desks of different vintage simular in type to those originally  used by the school. The Liberty Township Historical Society meets here the second Thursday of every month at 7:30 p.m.

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