new content added 05/19/2024
new content added 05/19/2024
Spring Brook aka Oil Spring School aka Taylor twp. No. 4 Range 2, Section 7, Taylor twp. |
Taylor twp. No. 4
T.F. Healey, county superintendent of schoolsWednesday, March 6, forenoon
Visited School No.4, same township [Taylor]; W.P Dodds, teacher; number on roll, 47; present, 26. No visitors but director. Mr. Dodds is evidently endeavoring to advance his scholars all that he can, but, like other good teachers, has several difficulties to contend with, one being tardy scholars, another, no blackboard or one that I could not use (being obliged to use the inside of the door) and indifference on the part of the parents.
The scholars present were a clean, neat and pleasant lot of girls, chiefly who answered nearly all of my questions correctly.
Mary Corrigan and Sarah Ellen Gearon take the lead.
~Source: The Mirror and Chronicle, Thursday, March 14, 1872, Lansing, Iowa, Page 3
~Transcribed by Cindy (Maust) Smith
Unless otherwise credited the photos & other info. on this page was contributed by Mollie Meade, whose grandfather, Philip Gavin attended the school. Mollie writes: "I took a photo of the school and outhouse this fall (2020), while in Harpers Ferry. The school was called Spring Brook and also known as Oil Springs. The Oil Spring School was located on the property of Steve and Shirley Hawes. Its original location was two miles north of Harpers Ferry on the Great River Road. The school was then moved to the town of Harpers Ferry, and placed on a lot owned by the Martelle family."
Newspaper article about Oil Spring school.
Spring Brook / Oil Spring school in it's new location in Harpers
Ferry
photographer Mollie Meade, 2020
Spring Brook / Oil Spring school outhouse, now in Harpers Ferry
photographer Mollie Meade, 2020
~~
Undated Brochure (likely
ca1910-1915)
Spring Brook School
Taylor Twp., Allamakee Co., Ia
Mary Joyce, Teacher
Pupils
Philip Gavin
Leo Martell
Joseph Delaney
Joseph Gavin
Ben Gavin
Jimmie Delaney
Herbert Kellog
Louise Martell
Celia Gavin
Ursula Martell
Mary Kernan
Catherine Kernan
Wilma Martell
Sadie Kellog
Board of Directors
Thos. Gavin
Patrick Joyce
Gideon Martell
| ~Notes: - Mary Joyce was enumerated on the 1910 U.S. census Taylor twp., Allamakee co. living in the household of her parents Patrick & Mary J. Joyce. Her occupation was teacher rural school. She was married to George Alyward 9/16/1915, making it likely the brochure dates ca1910-1915. (source: original records on ancestry .com) Mary Joyce Alyward obituary (note that the obit incorrectly gives her marriage occurring in 1911) - Mollie (brochure contributor) is hoping to obtain a photo of the brochure front which has a photo of the pupils, so it can be added on this page. |
~~
Marguerite Bohrer, Teacher's Contract, 1917
Partial transcription of the contract: State of Iowa This Agreement, entered into between Marguerite
Bohrer, a legally qualified teacher of Allamakee County,
State of Iowa, and Thos. Gavin, President Board of
Directors of the Independent School District of Oil
Springs, Township of Taylor, County of Allamakee, State
of Iowa. |
~~
Oil Spring Pupils, ca late 1940's
| Top Row: Rita Martelle, Dick Saddler Middle Row: Doc-Jim Martelle, Marie Saddler Bottom Row: Mary Martelle, Frank Saddler (inset) Teacher - Alyce Evenson Gavin photo source: Betty Palmer-Palmer, daughter of Frank Saddler, standing in the very front). ~contributed by Mollie Meade |
~~
List of students
(source: typed list of some of the students who attended
the Oil Springs / Spring Brook school)
| Aelred Delaney Dale Jones Harley Jones Mildred Jones Martha Cole Lester Delaney Walter Hill Goldy Crowley Cyril Kerran Myrtle Delaney Grace Hill Merrel Kelly Melvin Hill John Jones Leo Jones |
John Delaney Beatrice Jones Agnes Hill Clifton Martelle Rita Kernan Charlotte Hill Philip Gavin Leo Delaney Joseph Delaney Joseph Gavin Ben Gavin Jimmie Delaney Herbert Kellog Louise Martell Cella Gavin |
Ursula Martell Mary Kernan Catherine Kernan Wilma Martell Sadie Kellog John Jr. Hill Floyd Hill Edward Hill Rita Martelle Jim "Doc" Martelle Mary Martelle Dick Saddler Marie Saddler Frank Saddler Margie Saddler Leo Garin |
~*~*~