History: 

Education in formal classrooms in the townships now comprising the FairfieldUnionLocalSchool District began with the first recorded land transfer in 1818. Frederick and Mary Miers donated land for school purposes in RushcreekTownship on the west edge of JerusalemCemetery. The school name was EastCenter.

Prior to the first land transfer, school was conducted in a number of homes, cabins and churches such as the second story of a log spring house which stood on the Frederick Harman, Sr., land along "Zane's Trace."

The best record now available providing the name, location, date and land donors for early public schools and academies was compiled by Charles Goslin. His records are included in this history for the townships and partial townships now comprising FairfieldUnionLocalSchool District. Following is a brief description of public schools in each village, the location of one-room schools and their consolidation into the Pleasantville, Rushville and BremenLocalSchool Districts and the subsequent consolidation and formation of the FairfieldUnionLocalSchool District.

Pleasantville

A cornerstone was laid on August 7, 1860, for the FairfieldUnionAcademy at Pleasantville. The academy had two brick buildings: a dormitory which contained rooms for the students, reading room, and boarding hall; and the other building contained a chapel, recitation rooms, cabinet and society rooms.

FairfieldUnionHigh School derives its name from the academy.

The last commencement of FairfieldUnionAcademy was held in 1903 and the buildings were torn down in 1923.

Construction of the PleasantvilleHigh School began in 1900 on the grounds of the academy. The west building housed the elementary students on which site is now a park. The first class to graduate from the new high school was in 1924.

The rural schools of Snake Run, Eight Corners, Baptist Corner and Grange Hall were brought to Pleasantville during the 1920's. A short time later Zeigler, Mock, Oakthorpe and SalemSchools also joined the PleasantvilleSchool District.

Pleasantville and Rushville consolidated in 1957 to form the present FairfieldUnionLocalSchool District. Bremen joined with the two schools in 1960. The last graduating class in Pleasantville was in 1962.