Florida Historical Markers Programs - Marker Detail

Description: Founded in 1886 as a community project, the Little Red Schoolhouse was the first one-room school built in southeast Florida. With $200 for lumber from the Dade County School Board the men of the community, led by George W. Lainhart volunteered their labor to construct the 22-by-40 foot building. Its original location one mile north of the Flagler Memorial Bridge on Lake Trail in Palm Beach was property donated by the David Brown and John C. Hoagland families. The Ladies Aid Society raised additional money for school furnishings. Sixteen-year-old Hattie Gale taught the first class of students ranging in age from Pupils arrived by boat, bicycle or on foot. The one-room school served families living around Lake Worth until 1901. It was then turned into a gardeners’ shed on the John S. Phipps property. In 1960 the structure was moved to Phipps Ocean Park and was refurbished by the Gardeners Society of Palm Beach. The Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach is leasing the building from the Town of Palm Beach for preservation and pioneer education.