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THE HISTORY OF THE MECHANICSVILLE SCHOOLS

     Three institutions stand out in the history of Iowa—namely the home, the church and the school. The founders of Mechanicsville built their homes, churches and schools in quick succession.

     In the year 1850, the present site of Mechanicsville was claimed by Joseph Stratton. Subsequently it became the property of George Weaver, who in turn sold his interest to John Onstott. In 1855, he, in company with Daniel A. Comstock, plotted the original village of Mechanicsville. The territory embraced in the survey amounted to sixty acres, and lay to the extreme west of what is now the town.

     Shortly thereafter, Mr. Comstock relinquished his right, moved to a distant point, and left Mr. Onstott sole owner of the village site.

     Two years later in 1857, David Darwart became proprietor of a tract of land adjoining the eastward boundary of Mr. Onstott’s plot. Mr. Darwart’s land was known as the “Iroquois” tract and lay about 40 rods east of what Mr. Onstott owned. Mr. Darwart secured this land, had it plotted, made arrangements with the Northwestern R.R. for the location of a depot. This made a total of 120 acres for the village site.

     The independent school district of Mechanicville was first set aside in 1853. Before this time, that section of land went by the name of “Pioneer Grave.” The first school of the district was built at what is now the west end of town. This one-room school was built by John Onstott. He cut the timber, consisting largely of oak and elm, for the school house from Pioneer Grove. The rafters, studding and joists were hewed lumber of quaking asp wood. The shingles and lath used for the building were made by hand by Mr. Onstott. The school had six windows and one door. The window glass, together with the finishing lumber used in making the desks, was hauled on a one-horse wagon from Muscatine. Elizabeth Sterns was the first teacher. The expense of running the school and paying the teacher for the first term, which was three months, was obtained through subscriptions from the pupils attending. The first public instruction taught in this building was a winter term under George Whistler.

     “Notwithstanding our primitive surroundings, we were fortunate in having teachers who inspired us, and required us to learn our lessons. Our main battles were with the three ‘R’s” and I am fully persuaded that we were able to read intelligently, write legibly and spell as well as the average student today.” This was the opinion of one writer on the subject of pioneer school days.

     In 1866 an independent school district was formed. There was some opposition to such a move and it required a lawsuit with a decision from the supreme court to settle the dispute. The first board of education was duly elected and organized with Aaron B. Oakley, president and Amos G. Miller, secretary. E. J. Rigby was selected as principal; Ellen Culver, teacher in the intermediate department. There was no instruction above the eighth grade.

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     The growth in attendance during the early years made it necessary to use the old Presbyterian church building, a frame structure located on Main street just north of where the present school stands. Mechanicsville’s next school was a frame building and now serves as the residence on the Doris Stout farm east of town. The building was a two-story frame structure which faced south on the location of the present school. It’s site was just west of where the present building now stands. One interesting feature of this early building was the bell. It was not placed on the building, but on a wooden tower built near the school house. The rope to ring the bell was drawn through an opening in one of the second story windows and thus handy for the janitor or teachers to ring.

     During the quarter century from 1850 to 1875, the town increased in population and the need for a larger and more permanent school building caused the community to erect a three-story brick building at a cost of $10,000. The cornerstone from this building was saved when it was wrecked in 1908, and is now embedded in the lower hallway of the present structure. According to this stone A. Armentrout was president of the board of education; Sam T. Buell, secretary; and W. Huber, treasurer. Members were A. Bennett, H. Prentice, J. E. Mellon, J. W. Helmer and J. W. Fritz. This three-store building, erected in 1875, was located on the present school grounds and faced south. It had a tower for the school bell and that same bell is in use on the present building, calling children and grandchildren of those called by it in the earlier days. An interesting feature in the construction of the building was its mansard roof.

     In 1907 the district purchased for playgrounds all the ground lying immediately south of the schoolhouse to the railroad, about 13 lots in all, belonging to the A. J. Stahl estate and Samuel T. Young, for $1,200.00. Of the 97 votes cast, 86 were in favor of the purchase.

     There were no ballots cast by women. In March, 1908, the voters cast their ballots for a new building to replace the 1875 structure, in this election 341 votes were cast; 204 by men; and 137 by women. The election authorized the district to be banded for $20,000 for the new building.

     Messrs. Dieman and Fiske of Cedar Rapids, were awarded the job of drawing plans for the new school. Mr. Reimer of Marshalltown secured the building contract; F. L. Wilson of Mechanicsville, the plumbing and the Oskaloosa Heating Company installed the heating plant. Construction began in the spring of 1908 and was ready for use early in the fall of that same year.

     The Board of Education at that time consisted of C. M. Buffington, president; S. T. Buell, treasurer; J. H. Onstott, secretary; and C. C. Stookey, C. M. House, C. W. Johnson and John Secor, members. Until the building was ready, classes were held in different places in town. The Methodist church was used for the primary department; the rooms over Cranford’s Furniture store for the high school recitation and the City Hall housed the elementary and upper grades.

     The new building was designed for the elementary grades and the high school. Grades were housed on the first floor and the high …

Page 4 … school on the second. No auditorium or gymnasium was included in this building.

     During the following years the consolidated school movement gained momentum and on June 9, 1917, there was filed with the Board of Directors of the Mechanicsville Independent District, a petition signed by 174 voters stating that territory surrounding the town should be incorporated with the present district. This territory comprised an area of nearly 50 sections of land, lying in Fremont, Pioneer and Linn townships. Accordingly, June 21, 1917, was set aside for voters to cast their ballots on the question: “Shall the proposed Consolidated Independent District of Mechanicsville, Iowa, be established?” The proposed consolidation was defeated at the polls. Three years dependent District, a petition sign before the voters with a district later the matter was again brought about one-half as large proposed for consideration. This time the measure passed and the district was consolidated in 1920.

     The period from 1908 to 1920 saw several refinements and improvements in the building and grounds. In 1915 the domestic science and manual training rooms were equipped. The library was also improved by the addition of new books. Also, it was at this time that bleachers were placed on the athletic field at their present site. Consolidation of the district in 1920 brought with it a crowded condition in the building erected in 1908 and bonds were voted to build an addition in 1926, at a cost of $64,000.

     The new addition consisted of four classrooms, superintendent’s office, combined gymnasium and auditorium, and dressing room equipped with showers. The gymnasium is one of the best in the state, with a block-on-end floor, one of the very few to be found in this state. Members of the Board of Education at the time were: W. A. Jackson, president; John Carville, secretary; H. C. McCormick, treasurer; John Clifton, B. C. Andre, E. C. Smith and John I. Cook, members of the board.

     Again it was found that our buildings were overcrowded.

     On April 1, 1952, a new building was erected, which was located across the street east from the other buildings. The cost of this building was $75,000. It housed the Home Economics, the Vocational Agriculture classes, music department and the busses.

     Schools added:

     1951—Walnut Grove

     1956—Rome Township Independent – School District No. 6 – Hazel Hill Rural – Independent School District of Jones.

     1958 – Linn Township.

     So far the history of the school has been confined largely to the building program followed. It is interesting to make a brief survey of the course of study offered in the high school during this period of time. The graduates of the class from 1886-1889 were graduates from the first two years of high school work, or at the end of the tenth grade. Another year of work was added in 1890 and two high school curriculums were offered, Latin and English. The difference between the two courses was during ninth and tenth grades. Those taking the Latin courses were not required to study Physical Geography and Book Keeping in the ninth year or Civics and History Review in the tenth year. The eleventh grade had the same work for …

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… both courses. The major emphasis in the high school work was in the fields of Latin, English, Mathematics and Physical Science. No mention is made of courses in commercial work or in the arts. The persons who attended school at that time were supposed to be there because they were interested in being prepared for college work.

     The classes graduating in 1891-1906 completed eleven years of work in the school. In 1907 the twelfth year was added to the high school curriculum. No information is available as to just what this additional year did to the high school program of studies, but it is very likely that the program was not very much different from that listed for 1916. By this time the two curriculums were named Latin and Normal Training. Manual training and home economics had been added and were taught in the tenth grade. Ancient history and bookkeeping were offered in the ninth grade. In the twelfth year pedagogy was offered those taking the normal training course and Latin to those taking the other courses.

     The curriculum in the high school at present does not differ markedly from that of 1916.

     Some changes have been made to bring the school in close touch with the community life. Manual training and home economics are offered in the ninth year. There are three courses open to the high school student of today. He may take the college preparatory, the commercial or the general course. Since about ten per cent of the graduates of the local high school enter college there is a distinct need to have a curriculum which is adapted to those who do not plan to enter college. The commercial and general courses do this. The commercial course embraces typing, business arithmetic, bookkeeping and commercial law. The general course gives the student an opportunity to select subjects from both the commercial and college preparatory courses.

     The school provides for a wide extra-curricular program with music, declamatory and dramatics as well as athletics forming the basis of these actives. This program is sponsored with the hope that worthwhile leisure time activities will occupy the pupils’ spare moments. They also help to build a better school and community spirit. In 1952, drivers’ training was added to the high school course.

     An alumni association holds a reunion each year, which brings together many of the graduates and friends of the school. This event is held on Decoration Day of each year.

     The school reflects the interest the community has taken to provide wholesome and adequate training for the young people. There have been times when the expenses of operating the school may have seemed to be out of proportion to the good the school was doing the community. In spite of these times, there has been a slow, but steady forward movement in the growth and service of the school. In presenting the merits and successes of the school during the eight-odd years since its inception, due credit must be given the patrons for cooperation and support. No faculty, no board of education, no student body, can make a school a success without the assistance of the parents of the boys and girls who are taught. The watchword of the school well might be, “Education For Service.”

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ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES

     From the days of shinny, pompom pull-away, fox and goose and Indian wrestling to the modern games of baseball, basketball, football and track, is a long call. Basketball was not invented until about 1900 by Dr. Nalsmith; football was played in the colleges until about the time of World War I; and only baseball and track were popular in the small schools until about 1915.

     Records show that track was the earliest form of competitive school sport participated in by high school boys of the school. As early as 1904, Jack Kohl was outstanding in the broad jump and sprint events, David Walshire made a name for himself in the discus throw, hammer throw, shot put and high jump. Carl Thomas also specialized in the weights with more than usual skill in throwing the discus, the hammer and putting the shot. Leo Miller ran the 440-yard and 880-yard dashes and the mile run. Herbert Andre was a strong contender in the pole vault. A relay team made up of Jack Kohl, Clement Wilson, Leo Miller and Carl Thomas, was the best in this section of the state.

     In 1907, the prowess of track athletes in Mechanicsville was demonstrated when Clement Wilson and Everett Ferguson went to the national track meet held in Chicago under the direction of A. S. Stagg. Clement placed first in the 220-yeard dash and Everett third in the mile run. The nations’ best competed in this meet. Clement later attended Coe College where he continued his successes. In 1912 he was chosen as one of the members of the Olympic team that represented the United States in the Olympic games at Stockholm, Sweden.

     The period from 1910 until 1922 fails to reveal much in the way of what was accomplished athletically. In the fall of 1922 the first high school coach was hired. Mr. Monilaw. He started football and this sport was included for ten years, until it was dropped in 1932. The team representing the school during 1923 was one of the best ever produced during the decade of football.

     Basketball was played first out-of-doors as a fall sport. Later a court was fixed up in the Sturges’ opera house, and this was used until the new addition to the school was built in 1926. The teams of 1922, 1923 and of 1933 and 1934 have the best records of the teams representing the school. Two county championship titles have been won by the Junior High basketball teams, one in 1932 and the other in 1916. The 1935 high school team was runner up in the county tournament at Clarence.

     Competitive girls basketball started about 1938 and 1939.

     Between 1922 and 1938 basketball began to fade and much interest was given to track. During this time the “M” relays founded by Don Gemberling, was an outstanding one in eastern Iowa. In 1942 we lost the “M” relays.

     Track has again been started as one of the school sports.

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EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

     During the years a program of activities has grown, which are held outside the regular classroom work. These are planned to provide worthwhile work for the pupil who has leisure time. One period of the school day is set aside to provide time for practice and development of these activities.

     Two activities are planned for the grades. One is the Junior High of Grade Operetta, which is presented by the music classes each year just before the Christmas holidays. The other is a series of spelling contests to determine the person who is to represent the school in the county spelling contest. The winner of the county contest is entitled to go to the state contest, and if successful there, to enter the national contest. Short plays and assembly programs are planned and executed by the pupils from time to time.

     In the high school there are three outstanding events each year. In the Fall, the Junior Class presents its play. Money raised by the class is then used to defray the expenses of the Junior-Senior Banquet and Prom in the Spring. During the winter declamatory holds the spotlight for dramatic exercise. Persons winning first place in the home contest, represent the school in the first round of the state series of contests. Persons placing second in the home contest represent the school in the county contest. Lucille Smith possesses the best record of any student to represent the local school in declamatory work.

     In the spring of the year, the Senior class presents its class play. This play is presented as the final activity of the Seniors. Most of the classes designate that any profit from the play shall be used to leave a memorial to the school. Gifts to the school include a radio given by the class of 1931; two clocks given by the class of 1934; and a water fountain given by the class of 1930. The class of 1935 left a sum of approximately $35.00, to be spent for some fitting memorial.

     A plaque denoting the names of classes who presented the cyclorama to the school was given in 1935. Three classes gave money toward the stage curtain. Other classes have given the clock in the assembly; the magazine rack; the fountain cooler; the mirror in the girls’ rest room; and the podium.