Old Halfway Prairie is Dane County's oldest existing country schoolhouse, though repeated remodelings conceal an original framework of logs. The land was donated for school purposes in 1844 by Mary Fowler, a widow and member of the British Temperance Immigration Society. Halfway Prairie was named by early lead miners who often camped there while traveling from Mineral Point to Portage, and Old was added in 1915 to distinguish it from a later school. Early school terms followed the rhythms of the seasons and farm work, with the fall term closing after the first heavy snowfall and the spring term opening when the roads did. Early teachers were paid $20 to $30 per month, while board and room cost $2.00 per month. The standard eight month term was adopted in 1895, and in 1964 Dane County accepted the land and buildings as a park site.