In the mid-to-late 1800s the Walnut Hill School House was constructed by William Larkin, “Uncle Bud.” In 1909 the school became a local dwelling as new schools were constructed in the area. In 1995, the school was relocated to public property in order to insure historic preservation. There the school stood until Hurricane Ivan hit in 2004 completely demolishing the building. The wood was kept until 2005 when grants allowed the Ruritan Club to begin restoration. They began by sorting through the wood and determining which wood was still usable, since no photographs existed of the original structure the contractors used oral and some written history to reconstruct the building. The building was rebuilt following original design as much as possible and with new additions to the structure to insure that the next storm would not demolish the building. The school house is now a museum for school children. [Click here for recent history](http://www.northescambia.com/?p=2671)