HILLSDALE—A cold day in Hillsdale set the stage for this historic featured photograph, captured at the intersection of Hillsdale Avenue and Magnolia Avenue. The scene offers a glimpse into the town’s rich history, anchored by two prominent buildings.
The main building visible in the photo is the Hillsdale Grammar School, prominently situated on the left. Built in 1889 at the corner of Hillsdale and Magnolia, the school featured just four rooms and a single teacher for 36 pupils. As the town grew, so did the school. In 1906, four more classrooms were added, but the rapid expansion of Hillsdale soon rendered the facility inadequate.
To meet the community’s needs, a larger grammar school—later named for George G. White—was constructed on the same property in 1921. Grades one through six were transferred to the new building, while the original school continued to house grades seven and eight through the 1930s. Today, George G. White Middle School still stands on the site, having undergone multiple expansions to accommodate Hillsdale’s evolving educational demands.
Beyond the school, barely visible behind where the man is standing, is the original Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. This historic church was built in 1890 and initially located on Park Street near the railroad tracks. In 1894, it was moved to Hillsdale Avenue, where it served the community until 1966. At that time, the original structure was torn down to make way for the present-day Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, which continues to serve the Hillsdale community.
Accompanying photographs provide a closer look at these historic buildings, showcasing their architectural details and significance to Hillsdale’s development.
Together, these landmarks paint a vivid picture of Hillsdale’s evolving identity, linking the past to the present and preserving the memory of its foundational years.
— This column originally ran in this space Jan. 29, 2018.