Girl Scout Gold Award Project Preserves Elwood Schoolhouse History

A piece of Elwood history was permanently preserved on June 17 as graduating Elwood-John H. Glenn High School senior and Girl Scout Sophia Vitevitch unveiled a historical marker commemorating the district’s former Elwood Schoolhouse. The project, located just east of James H. Boyd Elementary School on Cuba Hill Road, was completed as Vitevitch 's Girl Scout Gold Award.

Vitevitch’s interest in the historic Little Red Schoolhouse began more than a decade ago when she noticed the small building while riding the school bus. As an eighth grader, she and two fellow troop members researched the schoolhouse for their Girl Scout Silver Award, examining historical documents and photographs at the Huntington Historical Society, interviewing former students and creating a website documenting the building's history.

Building on that work, Vitevitch spent more than a year researching and fundraising to install the permanent historical marker, ensuring future visitors can learn about the landmark and its place in the district’s history.

Vitevitch thanked Richard Martin, the director of Historic Services at Suffolk County Parks and Historical Sites; Huntington Historical Society historian Robert Hughes; the district’s administrators and faculty; the Elwood Public Library’s staff and board members; Girl Scout Gold Award mentor Cheryl D’Agostino ; and everyone who contributed to the project through donations and support.

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