[2][3] At the time of Sawyer's attendance at the school, it was located in Sterling, Massachusetts.

The property was later purchased by Henry Ford[4] and relocated around 20 miles (32 km) to the east, to a churchyard, on the property of Longfellow's Wayside Inn, where it stands today.

[2] Ford operated the school for the benefit of children of his employees at the Wayside Inn.

[5] After closing in 1927, prior to its move, the school reopened for a further twenty-four years, with an average of around sixteen students of grades one through four.

[2][5] The school has windows on the right-hand side and at the rear; its blackboard occupies the interior of the left-hand wall.