The old Leedsville School was built in 1873 and has been in continuous use ever since. For its first 35 years it was the place where 19th century children came to prepare themselves for life in the 20th century. In 1880 the citizens came here to vote on changing the name of the town from Leedsville to Linwood so they could establish a post office. In 1908, after a new school was built on Belhaven Avenue, the school board sold the building to the city for $1.00 and for the next 57 years it served as Linwood City Hall. The construction of a new city hall in 1965 meant the building changed its purpose once again and became a library. In 1987 the library moved to new quarters and the Historical Society was granted a 99-year lease and the Leedsville School Museum was established.

In December, 1984, the National Trust recognized the importance of the building and listed it as an historic site on the National Register of Historic Places. At that time there were only 10 such designated structures in Atlantic County and only 13 old school buildings in the entire state of New Jersey. The value of this wonderful old building to every person who has lived in Linwood for the last 126 years is often overlooked. Jim Kirk, the first City Historian, expressed it well at the dedication ceremonies on April 25, 1986.

 . . .this lovely old structure represents all the things that are right about our hometown.. . . Linwood stands (in the old seaman's phrase) copper botomed and iron bound - firmly committed to the preservation of its past for three reasons.

First, so we can live quietly and in peace with all the little ghosts that wander our streets, between dusk and daybreak - the ghosts of Quakers and sea captains, of baymen and farmers.

Second because our fathers taught us long ago that somehow the present and future are tied irrevocably to the past.

Finally, and perhaps most important, so that we may stand before our children and say with pride, "We have kept the faith." James B. Kirk, 1989

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