Eureka Masonic College
Encyclopedia
Eureka Masonic College, also known as The Little Red Schoolhouse (originally the Richland Literary Institute) in Richland, Holmes County, Mississippi
, is widely known as the birthplace of the Order of the Eastern Star
, created by Robert Morris
.
s of Holmes County, Mississippi
, as the Richland Literary Institute. The lodges raised $3,400 to erect the two-story brick
school building.
The Holmes County Masons hired Robert Morris away from Mount Sylvan Academy in Oxford
to run their new school. In 1848, the school was renamed as the "Eureka Masonic College."
Morris was concerned that the female relatives of Masons could not share in the benefits of Freemasonry
. In the winter of 1849-1850, while in Jackson, Mississippi
, to recuperate from an attack of an ailment that he described as rheumatism
, he focused his attention on developing a women's Masonic organization. During that winter he developed a system of degrees and other principles for that organization, and in February 1850 wrote Eastern Star's first ritual, titled The Rosary of the Eastern Star.
Morris left the school some time thereafter, moving to Masonic University
in LaGrange, Kentucky. Eureka Masonic College operated until 1861, with a curriculum that never extended past the college preparatory level. During the Civil War
, the school building housed the regiment
al headquarters for a Mississippi Infantry regiment.
public school for African American
s. It continued to be used for this purpose until the 1958-1959 school year.
, which undertook an extensive restoration project that was finally completed in 1979. Ownership was transferred to the Order of the Eastern Star in August 1968.
along Mississippi Highway 17 near Interstate 55
. The building's footprint has dimensions of 30 feet (9.1 m) by 60 feet (18.3 m). There are Federal style fanlight
s over the doorways on its two primary facade
s. The first story
is divided into two large classroom
s, and the second story contains a single large meeting hall. At the time of its construction, it was "undoubtedly, the largest building in rural Holmes County."
Richland, Holmes County, Mississippi
Richland is an unincorporated community located in Holmes County, Mississippi. Richland is approximately northwest of Goodman and approximately north of Pickens.-Historic places:...
, is widely known as the birthplace of the Order of the Eastern Star
Order of the Eastern Star
The Order of the Eastern Star is a fraternal organization that both men and women can join. It was established in 1850 by Rob Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who had been an official with the Freemasons. It is based on teachings from the Bible, but is open to people of all...
, created by Robert Morris
Rob Morris (Freemason)
Dr. Rob Morris was a prominent American poet and Freemason. He also created the first ritual for what was to become the Order of the Eastern Star.-Early life:Many references state that Rob Morris was born on August 31, 1818, near Boston, Massachusetts...
.
History
The educational institution was established in 1847 by the Masonic LodgeMasonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
s of Holmes County, Mississippi
Holmes County, Mississippi
-National protected areas:*Hillside National Wildlife Refuge *Mathews Brake National Wildlife Refuge *Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge*Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:...
, as the Richland Literary Institute. The lodges raised $3,400 to erect the two-story brick
Brick
A brick is a block of ceramic material used in masonry construction, usually laid using various kinds of mortar. It has been regarded as one of the longest lasting and strongest building materials used throughout history.-History:...
school building.
The Holmes County Masons hired Robert Morris away from Mount Sylvan Academy in Oxford
Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city of Oxford in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract....
to run their new school. In 1848, the school was renamed as the "Eureka Masonic College."
Morris was concerned that the female relatives of Masons could not share in the benefits of Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
. In the winter of 1849-1850, while in Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi
Jackson is the capital and the most populous city of the US state of Mississippi. It is one of two county seats of Hinds County ,. The population of the city declined from 184,256 at the 2000 census to 173,514 at the 2010 census...
, to recuperate from an attack of an ailment that he described as rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
, he focused his attention on developing a women's Masonic organization. During that winter he developed a system of degrees and other principles for that organization, and in February 1850 wrote Eastern Star's first ritual, titled The Rosary of the Eastern Star.
Morris left the school some time thereafter, moving to Masonic University
Masonic University
The Masonic University was an educational facility operated by the Grand Lodge of Kentucky in La Grange, Kentucky, located twenty miles northeast of Louisville, in the mid-nineteenth century...
in LaGrange, Kentucky. Eureka Masonic College operated until 1861, with a curriculum that never extended past the college preparatory level. During the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, the school building housed the regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
al headquarters for a Mississippi Infantry regiment.
Segregated public school
After the Civil War, Holmes County took over the abandoned schoolhouse for use as a segregatedRacial segregation in the United States
Racial segregation in the United States, as a general term, included the racial segregation or hypersegregation of facilities, services, and opportunities such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation along racial lines...
public school for African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s. It continued to be used for this purpose until the 1958-1959 school year.
Restoration of building
Following the school's closure, the schoolhouse was leased to the Order of the Eastern StarOrder of the Eastern Star
The Order of the Eastern Star is a fraternal organization that both men and women can join. It was established in 1850 by Rob Morris, a lawyer and educator from Boston, Massachusetts, who had been an official with the Freemasons. It is based on teachings from the Bible, but is open to people of all...
, which undertook an extensive restoration project that was finally completed in 1979. Ownership was transferred to the Order of the Eastern Star in August 1968.
Location and architecture
The Eureka Masonic College building is located in a rural setting in Holmes CountyHolmes County, Mississippi
-National protected areas:*Hillside National Wildlife Refuge *Mathews Brake National Wildlife Refuge *Morgan Brake National Wildlife Refuge*Theodore Roosevelt National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:...
along Mississippi Highway 17 near Interstate 55
Interstate 55
Interstate 55 is an Interstate Highway in the central United States. Its odd number indicates that it is a north–south Interstate Highway. I-55 goes from LaPlace, Louisiana at Interstate 10 to Chicago at U.S. Route 41 , at McCormick Place. A common nickname for the highway is "double...
. The building's footprint has dimensions of 30 feet (9.1 m) by 60 feet (18.3 m). There are Federal style fanlight
Fanlight
A fanlight is a window, semicircular or semi-elliptical in shape, with glazing bars or tracery sets radiating out like an open fan, It is placed over another window or a doorway. and is sometimes hinged to a transom. The bars in the fixed glazed window spread out in the manner a sunburst...
s over the doorways on its two primary facade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
s. The first story
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
is divided into two large classroom
Classroom
A classroom is a room in which teaching or learning activities can take place. Classrooms are found in educational institutions of all kinds, including public and private schools, corporations, and religious and humanitarian organizations...
s, and the second story contains a single large meeting hall. At the time of its construction, it was "undoubtedly, the largest building in rural Holmes County."