Hardin Township Rural School House News
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Graded Rural School
The
question of graded rural schools is one which at the present time is
attracting great interest among the various school districts of the
county and we are informed that in the near future Eat Lucas and Hardin
townships may both take steps to do away with the district schools and
establish a union school in the center of the township and transport the
school children to and from this school. The plan is in vogue in many
places and proving a success. Speaking of the proposed changes the
Johnson County Teacher of this month says:
At present, East Lucas is
maintaining five schools for an average attendance of only seventy-four
scholars. Many of the heaviest tax-payers in the township think that
this is, to a certain extent, a waste of money, considering the results
obtained. At the annual meeting in March there will be submitted a
proposition to the electors to build a union school in the center of
the township where all pupils may attend and enjoy the advantages of a
good graded school. We sincerely hope, both from the standpoint of a
tax payer and a school man,that the proposition will carry.
As a
result of the loss of the Windham schoolhouse by fire E. O. Buck filed
an affidavit of appeal from the school board Hardin township, fixing a
new site for the schoolhouse. When the trial was called the parties
interested agreed to withdraw all proceedings until after the March
meeting when the board will submit to the electors of Hardin township a
proposition to consolidate their districts and build a union school in
the center.
We highly recommend this action, and believe that the
parties are working for a worthy cause. A union school will forever do
away with neighborhood school quarrels and cutting up of good farms
with school roads, besides reducing the cost and making the school
system much more effective.
In the school year of 1899-1900 Hardin
supported for eight months each eight schools at a cost of $2249.14.
The average attendance for the whole township was only eight-three.
Figure out the cost per pupil. Three teachers in a graded school would
be sufficient to give these children a good education from the a, b, c
of the primer through the a, b, c of algebra, and at a cost of not to
exceed nine hundred dollars per year nine months. Another nine hundred
dollars will pay all necessary transportation and contingent expenses.
This plan will give Hardin township as good a school system as can be
found in any Iowa town, and be an annual savings in cash as compared
with the present system of over four hundred dollars annually. (Source: Iowa City Press-Citizen, Jun 26, 1903, pg. 2)
HOMECOMING HELD AT WILLOW GROVE
225 Former Teachers And Pupils Attend
OXFORD
- Willow Grove school grounds in Hardin township was the scene of a
pleasant gathering Saturday when almost 225 met for their second
homecoming. Of this number over 100 were former pupils and teachers.
Mrs.
Jennie Hetzel Whitehead of Des Moines, a former resident of the
district, was the oldest teacher present, having taught here in 1877 or
57 years ago.
Miss Kathryn Bigley, the efficient teacher for the
last two years and who will return for the coming year, naturally won
the honor of being the youngest teacher present.
Other former
teachers were Jessie Weekes Feree of Des Moines, a teacher of over 50
years ago; Artie Harrington Crow, Lydia Yenter and Clara McKray
Roberts, of over 40 years ago.
Of later years, Ethel Oldaker Powell,
Jessie Frankish Orr, Adelaide Hannon and Merton L. Ferson, now dean of
the law school at Cincinnati, Ohio.
Of the pupils present on this
occasion, Mrs. Mary Dandsdell Stimmell of Iowa City had the honor of
being the oldest. A few of the other older ones were Johanna Griffin
Kenney, Kate McCabe Kaefring, Ida Roberts, Minnie Crow Buck and Ed
Hetzel.
Mrs. Alph Stimmel, now of Iowa City, but a former resident of the district, was the oldest person attending.
A
picnic dinner was served at noon and seeing the bountiful meal
provided, one thought that we, in this part of Iowa, have much to be
thankful for.
Musical numbers by David Fisher of Iowa City and
Harold Webster, each accompanied by Mrs. Earle Webster, followed. Vocal
solos were given by Shirley Maxine Yoder and Rosalind DeFrance.
Doris Kaefring, C. C. Swartzendruber and Miss Bigley gave readings. An entertaining feature was an acrobatic performance by the four children of Mr. and Mrs. Alva Taylor of Ames.
Ferson Speaks
Merton
Ferson, who was both a pupil and teacher, spoke reminiscing of when he
was a pupil and that the friendships formed in youth seemed to be
valued more, and were more lasting than of later years.
Lydia Yenter
spoke of the changes, not only in the pupils and of the few she
recognized, but also that it wasn't the same old building nor the same
old bell she rang 40 years ago.
Jessie Frankish Orr spoke of the
different mode of transportation when she came 23 years ago to Willow
Grove, how she was met at Oxford, where she had come by train from her
home at Downey, by her director with his farm team. She also told of
her cordial reception in the district, of the hearty co-operation of
the patrons, of the social activities of which she was a part, all of
which are of so much value to, and appreciated by, the teacher.
The
interest manifested in the reunion this year was the determining factor
for announcing that another would be held in 1935. (Source: Iowa City Press Citizen, 23 Aug 1934, Thur., pg. 4)
SCHOOL HOLDS HOMECOMING
Many Attend 3rd Annual Event at Willow Grove
Third
annual homecoming at Willow Grove school in Harding township was held
Saturday August 17. A large crowd enjoyed the picnic dinner.
In the afternoon a program, which consisted of readings, songs and short speeches, was given by teachers and pupils.
There
were five former teachers present. They were Mrs. Clara Roberts, Lydia
Yenter, Mrs. Ethel Powell, Mrs. Jessie Orr and Mrs. Katherine Webster,
Miss Myrtle Robertson of Wellman, who will teach Willow Grove this
fall, also was present.
It was decided that the homecoming would be held next year on the same day.
Those
present included Mr. and Mrs. Howard Aynbright and family, Chicago; Mr.
and Mrs. Edwin Orr, Mr. and Mrs. Frankish, Downey; Mrs. Mary Stimmel,
Etta Stimmel, Mrs. Libbie Crow, Mrs. H. G. Stimmel, Sarah Yenter, Lydia
Yenter, Eleanor Henderson, Vera Stimmel, Dr. and Mrs. Fred J. Crow and
Family, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Webster, Mr. and Mrs. Fred H. Crow and
family, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Sheaffer and family, all of Iowa City.
Mr.
and Mrs. W. G. Geyer and family, Kinross; Mrs. Lovell Myers and Marie,
Walford; Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Powell, Parnell; Mrs. Willard Yoder and
Shirley, Kalona; Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Wagoman and family, Keota; Mr. and
Mrs. R. H. Robertson and Myrtle, Wellman; Margaret and Darlene Fry,
Kalona.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Stockman and Donald, Mrs. Mabel Goodrich and Alice, Vivian Leeney, all from Oxford.
From
Willow Grove community were Mr. and Mrs. Seth Mann and family,
Mr. and Mrs. D. W. Kaefring and family. Mr. and Mrs. Merrit Roberts,
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Hoylman and Arthur, Mr. and Mrs. Clint Stimmel,
Arietta Trent, Mrs. Clara Kaefring, Ida Roberts, Frank Crow family, Mr.
and Mrs. Clifford Roberts and family, Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Webster and
Janet, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Miller and family,Mr. and Mrs. C. S. Buck,
Mrs. Nellie Campbell and Lester, Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Hordi and family,
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Webster, Mary Driscoll, John Beck, Fern Kaefring and
family, Leonard McCabe, Ernest Moore, Gilbert Horn. (Source: Iowa City
Press-Citizen, 22 Aug 1935, pg. 3)
Hardin Township School Houses
Bald Hill
#2 Willow Grove
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