McCorkindale Schoolhouse
Situated between the Campus Services Building and the Wildcat Fitness Trail on the northeast edge of campus sits a small white building that’s older than Wayne State College itself. It’s an education building, but not like any of the rest of WSC’s buildings for education. This one-room schoolhouse is known as the McCorkindale Schoolhouse and represents classroom education of years past.
Built in 1880 and originally located south of Wakefield, Neb., the McCorkindale Schoolhouse served as District 13 in Wayne County for nearly 80 years. The schoolhouse was named after Mamie McCorkindale, who served as the rural school superintendent at Wayne State College for 27 years, from 1920 to 1947.
In the superintendent role, McCorkindale was involved in preparing teachers to teach in rural schools. She herself had previously taught in rural schools in Dixon County, Wakefield Public Schools, and Pierce Public Schools.
In 1965 the school was purchased by the Wayne State Foundation, moved to the WSC campus, and named in honor of Mamie. The Foundation restored the school with donations of furnishings and equipment from alumni and friends and from other rural schools.