Five Mile Creek Schoolhouse

The Five Mile Creek Schoolhouse, located west of Harbor Springs on M-119 near Five Mile Creek Road, operated as a one-room school from 1915-1952. Over the years many different teachers educated a small group of students, fired the wood furnace, and cooked a hot lunch. After this small school district voted to annex to Harbor Springs, its doors remained closed only a short period of time. The Five

Mile Creek Community Association paid one dollar for the building and wrote its first constitution in 1954. Word has it that the "mayor" of Five Mile Creek, Jim Smith, wanted a place to play ping pong! In addition, the dinners brought a small community, centered along Five Mile Creek and the shore, together once a month for a potluck meal and the friendship of rural neighbors. Today the schoolhouse dinners continue on the first Saturday of every month at 6:15pm. Association members who reside in the old school district and friends of the schoolhouse from near and far bring a dish to pass and their own table service. Coffee and water are provided by the hosts of the month and there may be a program of interest to the members. More often there is a great meal to be enjoyed and a chance to catch up with friends and neighbors. Annual membership dues help with expenses.