The oldest schoolhouse in Miami-Dade County, originally built in 1887 with wood salvaged from old sailing ships, is undergoing a welcomed restoration, but not without unexpected challenges.
The structure, known as the Miami Schoolhouse, sits on the grounds of Coconut Grove’s Plymouth Congregational Church. While it had long appeared to be in good shape, a recent clearing of surrounding vegetation revealed extensive wood rot.
“The wood was rotten, so we took it out,” Hugh Ryan of Hugh Ryan Construction told CBS News Miami. His company, which has restored buildings across Coral Gables and Coconut Grove, is leading the project.
Church and preservation group back effort
The schoolhouse, once relocated from the center of Coconut Grove to the church campus, had previously been restored with financial help from the church community. For church staff and the congregation, the project remains a point of pride…