We're proud to share Stone by Stone—a community campaign dedicated to preserving one of Lincoln's most cherished landmarks: our historic 1859 Schoolhouse.

The Schoolhouse has been part of the community for more than 165 years. After closing as a school in 1948, it was preserved through the efforts of local residents who recognized its importance. Today, it continues to welcome thousands of students, families, and visitors, offering an authentic glimpse into education in nineteenth-century rural Ontario.

Now, the Schoolhouse needs the community’s support once again.

Years of exposure to Ontario’s changing seasons have caused the stone masonry and mortar to deteriorate. The Stone by Stone Campaign will help fund the specialized restoration work needed to stabilize the building and protect it for the future.

This work is about more than repairing stone. It is about preserving a place where generations of children have learned, where visitors experience history firsthand, and where the community continues to gather.

Over the coming months, we will share stories from the Schoolhouse’s history, provide behind-the-scenes updates on the restoration work, and highlight opportunities to donate, volunteer, attend events, and support the campaign.

The Schoolhouse was saved by the community once before. Together, we can ensure it continues to inspire future generations, one stone at a time.

A Place Where Lincoln's Story Began

For more than 150 years, the 1859 Jordan Schoolhouse has stood as one of Lincoln's most recognizable and cherished heritage landmarks. Built as School Section No. 4 (S.S. #4), this one-room school welcomed generations of local children and remained at the heart of the Jordan community for nearly ninety years.

When it opened in 1859, the Schoolhouse reflected progressive ideas about education, health, and classroom design. Large windows filled the room with natural light and fresh air, while a sloped floor ensured every student could see the teacher—and the teacher could keep watch over the class. Though modest in size, the building represented a significant investment in the future of the community.

Inside its stone walls, as many as 60 students between the ages of 6 and 16 learned together under the guidance of a single teacher. Lessons focused on the "three Rs"—reading, 'riting, and 'rithmetic—but education extended far beyond textbooks. Students developed practical skills, learned moral values, and experienced a disciplined daily routine that reflected nineteenth-century rural life.

When the Schoolhouse closed in 1948, its story could easily have ended. Instead, in 1953, the building was given a new purpose. Purchased by Jordan Wines and returned to the community, volunteers transformed the former classroom into Jordan's first museum, filling it with agricultural tools, artifacts, and local history. Their vision laid the foundation for what would become today's Lincoln Museum & Cultural Centre.

Since then, the Schoolhouse has been restored to reflect a typical classroom from 1908. Today, thousands of students, families, and visitors step back in time each year through immersive educational programs, costumed interpretation, and guided tours. More than a historic building, it is a living classroom where history is experienced rather than simply observed.

Why It Matters Today

Historic buildings are more than bricks and mortar, they are places where community memories live. The 1859 Schoolhouse connects us to the generations who learned within its walls, the volunteers who saved it, and the countless visitors who continue to discover Lincoln's story today.

After more than a century and a half of enduring Ontario's changing seasons, the Schoolhouse now requires significant masonry conservation. Time and weather have taken their toll on the stonework, and careful restoration is needed to ensure the building remains safe, stable, and welcoming for future generations.

Through the Stone by Stone Campaign, we are investing in the future of this remarkable landmark. Every donation helps preserve not only a historic building, but also the educational experiences, community memories, and local stories that continue to bring it to life.

Together, we can ensure the doors of the 1859 Schoolhouse remain open for the next generation of learners—one stone, one story, and one generation at a time.

How Your Donation Helps

Builders help lay the groundwork by supporting the stabilization of individual stones and sections of the Schoolhouse.

Master Masons strengthen larger sections of the Schoolhouse and help ensure the building can weather generations to come.

Architect donors help shape the future of the Schoolhouse by supporting major structural stabilization and long-term preservation.

Every gift contributes directly to stabilizing and preserving the Schoolhouse. Donations support masonry stabilization, foundation reinforcement, and structural work that will protect the building for decades to come.

To recognize the important role of community support, donors will be acknowledged through the following giving levels: