Corinth was known in 1867 as Cody’s Mills, named after Mr. Cody who had his mills there. And it was on April 12, 1867, that a petition was sent out as follows:

We the undersigned, residents in fractional school District No. 3, in the township of Byron, do hereby petition the Board of School Inspectors for said Township to institute such proceedings as the law requires, for the division of Factional District No. 3, and to organize that portion of it lying east of the quarter section line of sections, 36 and 26 into a new School District.

Thus District 6 Fr. was formed by school inspectors of the townships of Byron and Gaines, May 18, 1867. John J. Cutter, Amos B. Smith, Isaac C. Brower, Silas L. Hamilton and George Cook. N. K. Evarts was appointed to call the first meeting which was held the first Monday in June, 1867 at 7 P.M., at the store of J. Woodham. Every legal voter in the new district (which included the east half of Section 25 and 36 in the township of Byron and section 30 and 31 of the township of Gaines excepting the east half of the southeast half of the quarter of section 30 in township of Gaines) was notified in person or a note left at their homes.

Meeting held June 3, 1867, at Cody’s Mills, at Woodham’s Store. Peter VanLew was elected chairman and these men were elected for office: N. K. Evarts, Moderator; E. W. DeCamp, Director, and James M. Lane, Assessor.

A special meeting was called June 25, 1867, to take action concerning the chosen site between the properties of Abram Jacob Rosenberg, on the east side of the Plank Road, (known as Division Ave.). Moved and carried to build school house 22 x 36 x 12 ft. high. Committee of Peter VanLew, J. M. Lane and E. W. DeCamp chosen and authorized to collect subscriptions, then to let the job of building and need to raise a tax of $300.00 to build said school house if there were enough children.

Then a meeting was called again, September 3, 1867, and it was decided to add 4 feet to the width of the building and make it 26 x 36 x 12 feet high and to give it two coats of paint in the fall. Color to be light brown, trimmed with darker brown, the cornice, cornerboards and window casings two shades darker. Voted to have 3 months winter school and 3 months summer school. Also voted, that each family furnish a cord of wood for each scholar sent to school.

On September 7, 1868, a school meeting was held, voted to raise a two dollar tax per scholar. Also, voted to build a fence around the school house. Then too, it was decided to have 4 months winter school and 4 months summer school. They voted to buy 19 ½ cords of wood 2 ½ feet long, to be part Ash and Maple, not more than ½ cord of Basswood at 98 cents per cord. At this meeting it was also decided to have 8 months of school, and the question of lady or man teacher was left up to the board. Sometimes boys were to hard to handle a man teacher would be hired in place of a woman teacher. Julia Portor was the first teacher to teach at Cody’s Mills, which is known today as Corinth. She taught twelve weeks commencing December 9, 1867, and was paid $3.00 a week, and teaching five full days. In the early days the most the school term was, was 3 months at a time, sometimes less. If harvesting had to be done, the older boys would stay home and work. Then weather conditions made it so that the spring and summer terms were better months for the younger children.

Mr. E. W. DeCamp was Director from the first meeting in 1867, then known as Cody’s Mills, until 1871, when the name was changed to Corinth, Michigan. Mr. P. B. Wright was director from 1873 to 1887, a term of 14 years. J. VanLew was director from 1888 to 1892, then Frank King was director from 1893 to 1930.

In 1882, it was voted at the annual meeting to put in a well, up to that time the children carried the water from the nearest neighbor, a good block away, J. Rosenberg’s home. Also, the teacher took care of the janitor work. Then the yard never was taken care of, so in 1891, at the annual meeting, it was decided to plow, level and seed the school yard, to be let to the lowest bidder, who was Frank Marshall, amount was $4.75. At each annual meeting, the amount of money needed was figured out, such as teacher’s wages, fuel, necessary repairs, then the tax payers money would be subscribed for. In 1899, it was decided at the annual meeting if any Non-Resident came to Corinth to go to school that they paid in advance, the amount of $ .50 a month tuition. In 1894, according to the state law, the following books were authorized to be used: Vis Harpers-Readers, Sanders – Spelling, Harpers Arithmetic, Harpers Geography, Reeds and Kelloggs Grammar, Barnes History, Spencerian Copy Books, Townsends Civil Government, Hutchinson Physiology. In 1905, the school was put on 9 months school term.

In the spring of 1926, the old school house was move to Bert Terpstra’s farm, one mile south of the school location, at 10638 Division Ave., S. In the summer of 1926, the new school was built, it was designed by Mr. and Mrs. Harry Burgess. It has one class room and a library room. The library room could also be used for a classroom if needed. Also, a full basement which was made into a recreation room, with a platform, to be used for entertainment. The P.T.A. meetings were held also in this room. There also was a separate room for heating facilities.

In the fall of 1926, the pupils went to the new school, and Mrs. A. (Whitcomb) Burgess taught in 1925 in the old school, and in 1926 in the new school. Frances McCarty taught from 1927 to 1930.

In 1944 and 1945, the children were sent to Caledonia on account of shortage of teachers and the Corinth School was closed for that period. Then it was annexed to the Byron Township Schools, now known as "Byron Community Schools". At present the Free Will Baptist Church is using the building. However, it maybe a possibility that it will be re-opened again in the fall of 1957 for school purposes.

Rule No. 1 – No Scholars are expected to appear at School with an unclean and slovenly person, or with garments indecently torn.

Rule No. 2 – When at School, every pupil is to have his or her proper seat, and not allowed to leave their seat without permission of the teacher.

Rule No. 3 – Immediately on entering the School, hats, caps, bonnets and other garments shall be placed on hooks or shelves assigned to them for that purpose, and each pupil is expected to keep his or her books and desk in good order.

Rule No. 4 – No books are to be read in school hours except such as belong to the Studies and exercises except by permission of the teacher.

Rule No. 5 – A quiet attention to business is required. Consequently, all unnecessary noise is forbidden.

Rule No. 6 – No disrespectful obscene or profane language shall be uttered in or about the school house or grounds. Such language shall be regarded as a misdemeanor of the highest kind and incurable cases may be expelled from school.

Rule No. 7 – No pupil shall be allowed to speak disrespectfully to the teacher or their fellow pupils, or attempt in anyway to lessen the influence of the teacher in school.

Rule No. 8 – All communications between scholars are to be avoided during the hours of studies and recitations. This comprehends whispering, writing notes on slates or in any other way of communicating, except, by permission of the teacher.

Rule No. 9 – When school is dismissed at noon, pupils are expressly forbidden to stand on or run over the Seats and Desks.

Rule No. 10 – Wrestling, Scuffling, Boxing, and bounding or throwing balls in the school room is strickly forbidden.

Rule No. 11 – Pupils are forbidden to Snowball any person or persons passing school house, or climbing on any wagons or sleighs passing the school house.

Rule No. 12 – Any person who shall willfully or otherwise injure the premises, shall be liable to pay in full for all damage he has done.

Rule No. 13 – School being closed in the afternoon pupils are required to leave immediately for their respective homes, and, show proper respect to very person or persons, they may meet on their way home.

A violation of any of these rules shall be deemed a misdemeanor.

By K. Hanna, Moderator

J. F. Hacker, Assessor

J. Van Lew, Director

Approved by District Board – John VanLew, Clerk of Board