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Crispell School Museum Sold

The Albert J. Crispell family sold their historic one room school museum in October 2003 to Mr. and Mrs. F. Charles Petrillo. The school had been built in the 1800's. This building is located near the Outlet area of Harvey's Lake, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Albert and Rachel Crispell bought the building in 1988, when it was being used as a storage place for flea market merchandise. They restored it to a schoolhouse museum. The Crispell family enjoyed showing this private museum to friends, relatives, educators, and to anyone who expressed an interest in seeing it. Albert Crispell died in February 2001. Rachel, his wife, was concerned about future maintenance of the site, but she was reluctant to sell the building because she wanted the historic school to be preserved. Mr. F. Charles Petrillo had visited the museum in the past. Mr. Petrillo is an attorney, historian and author of books about the Back-Mountain area of Luzerne County. His mother had attended this school. In October 2003, the Crispell family sold the Outlet School Museum to Mr. and Mrs. Petrillo. The Petrillos plan to maintain it as a school museum.

Background: Albert and Rachel Crispell bought the Outlet School building in May 1988, when it was being used as just a storage building. Albert had the desire to rehabilitate this building because he had begun his teaching career here in September 1937. This building was also the only school his mother, Helen Mae Hoover Crispell (1886-1973), had ever attended. Albert was born and grew up on a farm near Noxen, Penna. He received his teaching certificate after a two-year course at Mansfield Pennsylvania Teachers College in 1937. He was hired to teach at the Outlet School the night before school started in September. He taught here until he was drafted in 1941. He served in the United States Army during World War II until 1945. The Outlet school was still operating during part of the time he was in the military service, but it had been closed before he was discharged. This school building was eventually sold to private owners and was used in various ways. After Albert returned from the army, he taught seventh and eighth grades at the Laketon building at Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania 1946-47. He returned to Mansfield College and earned the Bachelor of Education degree in 1948. He got his Masters of Science in Education degree at Penn State in 1950. He received his Doctor of Education degree from International University in 1982. His career included being a teaching principal in Hokessin, and in Newark, Delaware 1948-1954. He was an elementary school principal in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania from 1954 until his retirement in 1983.