Princeton NJ Historical Sites Press Releases

New Jersey's Oldest Schoolhouse Stars in Ken Burns Series Amid Archaeological Discoveries

For 266 years, a relic of New Jersey’s past has sat on a narrow street in downtown Mount Holly, NJ. This fall, it will finally get its chance to be in the national spotlight when it airs on PBS’ highly anticipated The American Revolution, American filmmaker Ken Burns’ latest miniseries on America’s founding struggle.

Built in 1759, the Old Schoolhouse is recognized as the oldest surviving one-room schoolhouse in the state of New Jersey. Known for his documentary films and television series, Burns selected the Old Schoolhouse for part four of the six-part, 12-hour documentary that will premiere on PBS starting November 16, 2025, and air nightly through November 21, 2025. The Old Schoolhouse is expected to be featured on the fourth night, November 19, 2025. The segment was filmed in the summer of 2024.

“When Ken Burns’ documentary company, Florentine Films, came to us asking to film a segment for their upcoming documentary on the American Revolution at the Old Schoolhouse, naturally, we said, of course!” said Ann Talcott, President of the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of New Jersey (NSCDA-NJ), stewards of the Old Schoolhouse. “The segment will feature pieces from our collections at the Old Schoolhouse, which are incredible examples of material culture related to education in the 18^th century. Burns wished to stress how colonists in British America felt about education and its importance, and what better place to film on location than in the oldest one-room schoolhouse in New Jersey.”

In August, the NSCDA-NJ funded an archeological dig in which the small plot at the back of the building was excavated, uncovering pieces of slate from slate tablets and slate pencils, among other artifacts. These findings will be analyzed and eventually displayed at the Old Schoolhouse.

“Watching the archaeologists work to unearth slate tablets and pencils used by New Jersey children centuries ago was especially poignant juxtaposed with today’s back to school supply lists as many children in New Jersey return to school in September,” said Talcott. “It made me realize how lucky we are that this treasured schoolhouse has been preserved to teach us where we came from and to show us how valued education was in the Colonies, a value which is still important to us today.”

But how did this nondescript colonial gem, still on its original foundation, without plumbing or electricity, survive New Jersey’s urban sprawl and penchant for demolition?

In 1759, New Jersey was still a British colony. The fight for independence had not yet begun. Five grantees, among them Quakers, were deeded a small plot of land “for schooling thy child” on New Street in what was then Bridgetown, now Mount Holly, NJ. Subsequently, 21 forward-looking men subscribed to 25 shares of a fund to build a schoolhouse.

Surprisingly, most American colonists were literate. They considered a basic education important. Children were taught to read by their parents, or in a “dame’s school” where one woman taught a small group of children. Boys of wealthier parentage might be educated by a lawyer or clergyman. Colonial citizens saw to it that education was also available to less fortunate children. Throughout the colonies, one-room schoolhouses served this purpose.

Built of brick in the Flemish bond style, the Old Schoolhouse has had only three owners, starting with the original grantees in 1759. The parents of the students paid the schoolmaster directly. 

In 1815, the Old Schoolhouse was deeded to the Female Benevolent Association who ran it as a free school for the poor until 1848. Under the Association, it served as an adjunct classroom for Mount Holly public schools until 1951 when it was deeded to the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of New Jersey. In 1934, the Old Schoolhouse was recognized in the Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS). By the time the Colonial Dames assumed care of the building, it was suffering severe structural degradation.

In 1958, NSCDA-NJ funded a restoration by the noted historic renovation architect, Henry Brumbaugh. While some improvements were later found to be incorrect, the building maintained its colonial integrity and charm and allowed the Society to carry out its mission to preserve America’s historic past. The Colonial Dames use the schoolhouse to educate the public about 18th century education in New Jersey. The old building continues to suffer water damage and climate insults. To mitigate these and to protect the structure, the NSCDA-NJ raises funds for further restoration work.

In 2008, the schoolhouse was placed on the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. It is also a Great American Treasures site, one of 60 historical destinations that illustrate the story of America.

The Old Schoolhouse, 35 Brainerd Street, Mount Holly, NJ, is available for public tours once a month and by appointment. Information on the Old Schoolhouse may be found at peachfield.org/oldschoolhouse.