Barnegat Light Public School facts for kids
|
Barnegat Light Public School
|
|
 |
|
 Location in Ocean County, New Jersey
Location in New Jersey
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 501 Central Avenue, Barnegat Light, New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Built | 1904 |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001178 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | June 7, 1976 |
Imagine a time when all the kids in a town went to school in just one room! That's exactly how it was at the Barnegat Light Public School in Barnegat Light, New Jersey. This special building served as a one-room schoolhouse for children in Ocean County, New Jersey, from 1903 until 1951. After its school days ended, it found a new purpose. In 1954, it became the Barnegat Light Historical Society Museum, helping people learn about the town's past. Because of its important role in education, this historic schoolhouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 7, 1976.
Contents
A Look Back: School Days in Barnegat Light
Building a Community School
The Barnegat Light Public School was finished in 1904. It was a simple, yet important, building for the small community. In a one-room schoolhouse, students of different ages and grades all learned together in the same classroom. One teacher would teach everything from reading and writing to math and history. This was a common way for small towns to educate their children many years ago.
From Classroom to Museum Exhibit
The school served the children of Barnegat Light for almost 50 years. It closed its doors as a school in 1951. At that time, a new, larger school called the Long Beach Island Consolidated School opened. This new school brought together students from several nearby towns.
Just a few years later, in 1954, the old school building was given a new life. It was officially opened as the Barnegat Light Museum. Today, the museum helps visitors explore the history of Barnegat Light. It holds many interesting items from the town's past.
Spotlight on the Fresnel Lens
One of the most amazing things you can see at the museum is a special Fresnel lens. This lens once belonged to the famous Barnegat Lighthouse. A Fresnel lens is a very powerful type of lens. It was designed to make a lighthouse's beam of light shine much farther and brighter. This helped ships navigate safely along the coast. Seeing this large, historic lens up close is a real treat for anyone interested in lighthouses and maritime history!
Explore More
