Duckcreek School Burns, 2005

I still remember the old Duckcreek School building that once stood in Blackcreek Township. It was located about three miles north of Chatt on State Route 49, just a little north of Wilson Road.

Duckcreek Church was located across the road and a little to the north of the school, near Duckcreek Cemetery. The church was destroyed by a tornado in 1920 but the cemetery is still there.

According to the 1978 Mercer County Ohio History, Duckcreek School District #4 was the first school in Blackcreek Township and was started in 1852. The brick Duckcreek School building was built in 1893.

Duckcreek School stood for over 110 years until it was struck by lightening and burned on 18 July 2005.

John and Janet Myers lived on their farm across the road from the school and witnessed the destruction of the building. Bernard Krall lived in the house that was located north of the school building and used the school for storage. The house was later sold to the Amish.

A big thank you to Janet Myers for sharing the photos she took of Duckcreek School that day.

Duck Creek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Duckcreek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Duck Creek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Duckcreek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Duck Creek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Duckcreek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Duck Creek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Duckcreek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Difficult to read, but probably Chattanooga Fire Department trucks.

Duck Creek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Duckcreek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Duck Creek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Duckcreek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Duck Creek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Duckcreek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Duck Creek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Duckcreek School fire, 2005. Photo courtesy of Janet Myers.

Below is an aerial photo from Google Earth. The photo was taken 28 February 2006, about six months after the fire. You can see the location of the school and the brick rubble on the west side [left side] of the road, near the road, at the bottom of the green grassy area. The Myers farm is across the road to the right.

 

Google Earth after the fire, February 2006.

Google Earth after the fire, 28 February 2006.

4 comments

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    • Janet Myers on December 2, 2016 at 6:15 am
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    Nice job Karen on the history of Duck Creek. And you are welcome for the pictures.
    Janet

    1. Thank you and I do appreciate the photos. Even though the school is burned out, I think they are the only photos I have of it.

    • Andy Gappa on December 2, 2016 at 11:41 am
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    Karen,
    Any ideas where the original records for the Duck Creek Cemetery are? I’d hate to think they are gone with the wind of that tornado back in 1920. I’ve got quite a few relatives there and some missing ones that may be there. Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
    Andy Gappa

    1. I do not know, unless the Blackcreek Township trustees have some records.

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