Class dismissed: Couple transforms Greene County school into luxury home, selling for $2.4M
Rick Smith went back to school and took his family with him.
He and his wife, Crystal Smith, purchased the former Perry Elementary School in Mount Morris, Greene County, at an auction in 2015.
They paid $340,000. Now they are selling it for $2.4 million.
They refurbished the building into a modern luxurious home. They also preserved recognizable details.
It’s not just a schoolhouse-turned-living-space for the couple and their two daughters.
Stepping foot inside to the long hallway is more like a walk down memory lane for Rick Smith. He attended grade school there from 1969 through 1977.
“We thought it would be cool to own our own school, and it was even more enticing because Rick went to school here,” Crystal Smith said as she gave a tour of the house last week.
Keith Herrington, an associate broker for Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, said the changes the couple made to the house while still keeping some of the original amenities make it an interesting home.
“This is the most unique property I have ever been involved in selling,” said Herrington who has been in real estate since 1984. “It’s got a great vibe, a great feel. They really had a vision for this house.”
The property encompasses 11 acres. Below is a virtual tour:
Crystal Smith said the vision included updating, but not totally erasing the feel of a school building.
That’s why there are still working drinking fountains in the hall. And the stage where her husband performed in school plays remains. The boys’ and girls’ bathrooms have been kept. More than 30,000 pennies are lined on the floor with the “In God We Trust” side facing in both the boys and girls restrooms, which have been renamed “Romeo” and “Juliet.”
Those familiar round clocks above the doorways still tick away.
Pencil sharpeners are attached to walls next to original dry-erase boards in classrooms turned into bedrooms, 31 feet long by 31 feet wide,for the girls. There is a basketball court in a space that used to be the lunchroom and school multipurpose room.
They write daily messages and inspirational quotes rather than math problems and history lessons.
The principal’s office was converted into a library. The nurse’s office is still there because Crystal Smith is a registered nurse.
When the couple purchased the building, the original school bells signaled change of classes. They retained the intercom system. Daughters Jaclyn and Paige use it to ask their mom to bring them something to eat or drink.
“I will bring them food or a beverage only if they say ‘please’ and ‘thank you,’ ” Crystal Smith said.
There is a new heating system from ADI from Morgantown, and a cooling system was done by Ruthrauff Service from Morgantown, W.Va.
The school district invested $1 million in the building in 1998.
After purchasing the house, Rick and Crystal Smith spent a few years renovating. In December 2018, they moved in.
The teachers’ locker room and lounge became an entertaining space, complete with a kitchenette. Mailboxes have teachers’ names on them.
The cafeteria was turned into a kitchen with two large islands. One has a mini-refrigerator and sink. An original stainless steel counter is used for storage. The appliances are all concealed except the stove.
There is a mini ice chip drawer and a walk-in pantry.
Rick Smith often tells his family about his favorite lunch lady who always gave him extra food — his aunt Jamma Basile.
They added a five-bay attached garage.
There are nine bathrooms and four bedrooms. The shower in the master bedroom is 9 feet by 8 feet. There is a game room that was the computer room and school library. They’ve hosted pingpong tournaments. An exercise room holds several pieces of equipment. A broom closet was converted into a dog-grooming area.
Original desks have been repainted orange and black – the colors of the trucks for the family business, Jack’s Recycling, that was started by Rick Smith’s father, Jack, in 1962. A favorite vehicle in the garage is the 1979 Ford tow truck — an original company vehicle.
“I love the history of this house,” said Jaclyn Smith, 18, a high school senior. “I love to hear the history from the person who lived it and what is was like back then.”
The house, at 145 School Road in Mount Morris, has been on the market for six months. The couple plans to retire to a lakefront property.
“It’s been a fun project,” Crystal Smith said. “It’s been an adventure. We love doing this kind of stuff. You only live once. I don’t know if there is anyone as crazy as us who wants to live here.”
The house is 14,000 square feet. Garages add another 12,000 square feet.
“It’s a great house to play hide-and-seek,” said Paige Smith, 14, a high school freshman. “I love to hide and scare people. I used to hide in one of the school lockers before my mom took them out.”
Throughout the home are motivational sayings, many which reflect the importance of faith, Crystal Smith said.
“God blessed us to be able to do this,” Crystal Smith said. “We appreciate every day we’ve lived in this house. It’s important to be kind and love others and to be grateful for everything you have. We have been fortunate to live in such an amazing house with so many great memories.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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