The Frantz One-Room School was the 3rd of the seven one-room schools to be opened in Eldred Township in the 19th century. It opened in 1855 and closed in 1945.  In the early days, lessons were in German.  The basic textbook was the Bible.
(The 7 schools were: Gower, Kleintop, Frantz, Christman, Barlieb, Smith Gap and Correll).

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The schools were named for the families that donated the property for each.

Students of all ages & grades sat on benches and later at desks - often two younger students to one desk.  Boys sat on one side of the room and girls on the other.

If a girl student was too chatty, her punishment was to sit with the boys.

The teacher would call one grade level up to the front of the room to sit on a single bench, and they would be instructed there.  Then they would be sent back to their desks to continue the lesson based on the teacher's instructions, as the next grade came to the front bench.

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Students would walk to school.  The schools were situated so that all the students could reach one of the schools on foot.  They would bring their lunch in a pail and were able to place the pail on the centrally-located potbelly stove to heat it.

There was no high school in Eldred, but in 1929 Polk Township built a high school and, by special permission, Eldred students could attend high school there (sometimes students were also permitted to attend grammar school there).  Previous to this time, Eldred students only had the option of attending high school in Palmerton. With the opening of Polk High School, they had a choice between the two.

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The Frantz was the second school to close (the Barlieb closed in 1928), the Frantz in 1945.  By 1947 there were only 4 left.  When a school closed due to low attendance, the children were bused to a nearby school.  The Frantz School students were sent to the Gower School.

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You may notice the remains of an outhouse at the edge of the woods.  There had been a second one - closer to the road.  In front of both, there was a "privacy" wall to keep folks from seeing inside the outhouse while the door was being opened or closed (both outhouses had two seats).

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You can make arrangements to see the inside of the school on a personal tour by emailing oneroomschoolhouse485@gmail.com.  The building is also available, free of charge, to not-for-profits and fraternal groups to hold their meetings.

Back to your car - As you pull out go directly across Church Road onto Keystone Lane (there is no signage).