Kellerton's First Schools

HIGGINS, SCOTT, BAKER, BEEDE, CAMP, FITTRO, SMITH, MANNING, ALDRIDGE, COLLINS, CAMPBELL, BEDIER, CHRRYHOLMES, LYPES, MOORE, LESAN, BUCK, COMSTOCK, PALMER, CORBETT, MCMANUS, SNYDER, LUCORE, HICKENLOOPER, KELLEY

Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 4/24/2010 at 02:02:28

KELLERTON'S FIRST SCHOOLS

Around the year of 1877, classes at Kellerton was first held in the parlor of the Jonas HIGGINS home, located near the north-east corner of the town.

Kellerton's first school was built on Block 20 which had been donated by the railroad company when the town was laid out. The building measured about 24-feet wide and 32-feet long, was one-story tall, and contained two rooms. Joe SCOTT was the janitor, receiving a salary of $2.00 a month. Early teachers were Miss Ida BAKER, the daughter of Dr. G. W. BAKER of Leon; and Miss Delia CAMP of Kellerton. Mr. BEEDE taught a three-months term during the winter of 1878-79 at a salary of $3.00 a month. The school directors were Jonas HIGGINS, Sam FITTRO, and John SCOTT.

A subscription school held classes in a room on Decatur Street in a building that was later F. C. SMITH's harness shop.

In the fall of 1880, a new schoolhouse was built on Block 20 at a cost of $1,300. The schoolhouse was a two-story framed building measuring 24-feet by 38-feet with one room on the lower floor and one room above. The schoolhouse was remodeled in 1890. Later, a basement was excavated under the north part of the building and a hot air furnace was installed. Charlie MANNING was the janitor. D. N. ALDRIDGE, Dr. Marsh CAMP, and F. C. SMITH were the school's directors.

During the forenoon of February 5, 1895, one of the coldest days of the winter, a fire broke out, spreading through the entire building within a short period of time. Fortunately, the teachers were able to get all of the students out of the building without incident. The schoolhouse, however, was a total loss.

The school term was completed with classes being held in three rented rooms.

The teachers at the time of the fire were W. M. COLLINS, superintendent; Miss Florence BEDIER; and Miss Gertrude CAMPBELL.

A two-story brick schoolhouse was completed and ready for classes on the following December. The building measured 52-feet square and cost $4,600. J. D. CHERRYHOLMES was the school's superintendent.

Teachers at the Kellerton School between 1879 and May of 1895 included:
Josephus C. LYPES, Miss Etoila MOORE, George M. LESAN, Miss Minnie BUCK, Miss Lena COMSTOCK, Miss Adelaide COMSTOCK, C. S. PALMER, Mrs. Lucy CORBETT, Miss Mary McMANUS, Miss Fannie SNYDER, J. W. LUCORE, Mrs. Horace HICKENLOOPER, Miss Flora CAMP, Chester S. KELLEY, Winfield S. BEAR, Albert P. HEALD, Miss Jennie LOVELL, W. M. COLLINS, Miss Gertrude CAMPBELL. Miss Florence BEDIER

Kellerton High School, Class of 1911
Belle BENWAY, Fern BAYLESS, Helen ALLEN, Bea IRVIN, Alpha BARRETT, Frank IRVIN, A. J. GOODELL, Lawrence EMERSON, Vera BARTOW & Zilpha CHANDLER

pictured - Miss Fannie BLAKEMORE's Primary Classroom, circa 1897

Information from Kellerton, Iowa: A History to 1981. Pp. 19. 1981.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2010

Kellerton's First Schools
 

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