| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
Page 169
Transcribed by Sharon Elijah, November 21, 2019
Map of Port Louisa Township
| 1. Blaul |
| 2. Bluff |
| 3. Harrison |
| 4. Hopewell |
| 5. Weaver |
| 6. West Port |
Port Louisa Township is bounded on the north by Muscatine County, on the east by the Mississippi River, on the south by Jefferson, and on the west by Wapello and Grandview Townships. Among the earliest settlers of this township were James Major, William Kennedy, Samuel Chaney, John Ronold, Levi Stephens, G. H. Crow, Albert McClung, James Irving, D. P. Herron, William N. Herron, Henry Rockafellow, William Flinn and Sam F. Parris. The first school in the township was taught by John Holmes. Eliza J. Ronold and Miss McConnell were the first lady teachers. The first child born is supposed to be Emily Ronold. Rev. Alexander Blakie preached the first sermon. David Herron and Nancy Gerrick were the first couple married. John Ronold was the first justice of the peace. The township of Port Louisa stretches along the Mississippi River, and contains much waste land, although it has within its borders a number of fine farms. The religious element predominates in its population, the United Presbyterian having the largest membership.
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The Little Blaul schoolhouse, as I remember it from 1932 and 1933, was hardly worthy of the name “schoolhouse”. It was a small, weatherbeaten building that had a rough, bare wood floor, three windows and only one door. There was a small desk and chair for the teacher and four rows of pupils’ desks. One row had only two desks and the rest of the wall beyond the door was occupied by hooks for hanging wraps. There was a shelf for lunch pails, a water bucket and a wash basin. There was a blackboard at the front of the room and I think there was an organ. A coal stove furnished our heat. Our pump for our water supply was just outside the door. Of course, we had two outhouses also.
Blaul school, at this time, was located not too far from the Mississippi River; I suppose it was about two miles. The roads at that time were dirt and gumbo. In wet weather they were almost impassable, so the teacher and pupils did a lot of walking. Sometimes the student who lived the farthest from the school rode a horse, but there was no shelter for the poor animal.
For the 1932-33 term there were ten or twelve pupils: Clyde, Kenneth, Mark and Charles Grimm; John and Ester Wallace; Verla Hartsock; and the Phillips children – Carl is the only name I remember, but I think there were five of them. The classes that year were two through seven but not all grades inbetween.
Before the 1935-36 term, when I came back to Blaul, the little schoolhouse had been moved to a better location. There were no improvements to the building, but it was situated on a better road. That winter there was so much snow –often I walked across the frozen slough wading snow above my knees. There were days I couldn’t get to school because the roads were blocked with snow—days that had to be made up later. The playground was larger and better at this location, but there was still no kind of playground equipment. I think this was the poorest little school in the district –in the whole of Louisa County, for that matter.
There were three families represented during this year: Berneice, Junior, Bobby and Joe Dean Curry; John and Esther Wallace; and Lawrence and Lois Eaton.
In spite of the lack of facilities, I enjoyed my pupils (my kids, as I called them) and my teaching. Miss Ada Smith, a helpful and courteous person, was our country superintendent during this time.
Picture: BLAUL, 1920.
Mae Gast’s pupils.
Front row, left to right: Virgil Reid, Donald Eads, Earnest Yoder, Gustin Dusenberry, Orville Reid.
Middle row: Verlee Reid, Richard Reid, Ralph Wykart, Mildred Wykart.
Back row: Myrle Reid, Bertha Yoder, Mona Dusenberry, Mildred Reid, Hazel Eads, Austria Dusenberry.
In 1866 a vote was passed of a tax of 10 mils on the dollar on all taxable property for the purpose of erecting a new school house and 1 ½ mils for the contingency fund (fuel and school purposes). A vote was taken to supply 2/3 of the teacher’s salary hereafter by public money and the rest by a tax on the pupils.
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Pictures: Blaul school, 1932 or 1933.
Front row, left to right: Esther Wallace, Verla Hartsock, Betty Rose Porter, Marilyn Brei, Clyde Grimm, Ronald Brei, Kenneth Grimm, Marcus Grimm, Ruth Phillips, John Wallace, Charles Grimm
Front row, left to right: Junior Curry, Marilyn Buster, Mervin Buster, John Wallace. Middle row: Paul Curry, Bobby Curry, Esther Wallace, Bernice Curry, Thelma Curry. Back row: Rex Curry and teacher, Bessie Rauschenberger
In March 1869 they levied a tax of 10 mils on all taxable property to build a school house. The March 5, 1870 minutes included the plan and specifications of the school house to be built.
In March 1872 the old schoolhouse was offered at auction to the highest bidder subject to the approval of the board; it was sold to Wm. Kemp for ten dollars.
In March 1873 it was ordered that the stove then in the school house be sold to highest bidder and delivered at the close of summer school. It was sold to John Carey for $2.20 “provided said stove shall not be any worse condition at the time of delivery than when sold.”
On Motion it was ordered that the sub director cause two privies to be erected upon the school house lot, and that he set out a suitable shade tree upon the same.
On motion it was ordered that the sub director purchase a new stove for the school.
On motion of John A. Kemp, it was ordered that the new school be named the Iowa No. 4.
On March 2, 1874 a bill of $15.00 was allowed for stove.
In March 1876 it was decided that Winter term of school would commence on the first of November.
The director was to instruct the teacher “to allow no scuffing in the school house. That the teacher be responsible for all damage done to school house during school hours. Motion was made to have a male teacher for Winter term.”
In 1877 it was decided that hitching racks be made and set. “New posts to be split white oak or burr oak and the poles to be white oak and bolted on with ½ inch bolts. Contract sold to highest bidder, J. A. Kemp, for $11.75 to be done by July 1st 1877.”
In 1881 a motion was made that “a wire fence be put on three sides of the school yard and a board fence on the front, posts to be seven feet apart. Fixing of the pump to be left to the sub director.”
In 1882 it was decided that the schoolhouse was to be built by May 1, 1883. “Also pump fixed by May.” They decided to take one month of summer school and add it to the Winter term.
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Pictures: Blaul school, 1935 or 1936.
Front row, left to right: Joedean Curry, John Wallace, Junior (Glen) Curry.
Back row: Gus Rexroth (teacher), Bob Curry, Bernice Curry, Thelma Curry, Esther Wallace, Paul Curry
Blaul school, 1938.
Front row, left to right: Joe Dean Curry, Glen Curry Jr., Betty Louise Yoder, Bob Helm, Dick Curry.
Middle row: John Wallace, Bernice Curry, Paul Curry, Bob Curry.
Back row: June Harder (teacher)
| Year | Teacher | Months | salary per month |
| 1918-20 | |||
| 1920-21 | Mae Gast | 8 | $80 |
| 1921-22 | Mae Gast | 8 | $80 |
| 1922-23 | |||
| 1923-24 | Mary Rextroth | 2.5 | $80 |
| 1921-31 | |||
| 1931-32 | Ruth Crow | 9 | $65 |
| 1932-33 | Bessie Raushenberger | 8 | $60 |
| 1933-34 | |||
| 1934-35 | Gus Rextroth | ||
| 1935-36 | Bessie Raushenberger | ||
| 1936-37 | Martha Winters | ||
| 1937-38 | June Harder |
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Raymond Schneider attended the Bluff school which is situated on Bluff Road about twenty to twenty-five rods north of the former Ellsworth Kennedy place, now owned by Harlan Wiederrecht. Raymond attended through the eighth grade; there was an enrollment of twelve to fourteen pupils most of the time. His teachers were Homer Winder, Ethel Cilly, Roy Cilly, Jennie Sellers, Clara Warren, and Myrtle Erwin.
Other teachers at Bluff were Marie Bretz, 1910; Hazel Winder, 1912; Alfred E. Beldrige and Hazel Wiederrecht, 1913; Vernon Wiederrecht, 1913; Bertha Kreiner, 1914; Bessie Dickson, 1915; Mildred Menefie, 1916; Mattie Hayes, 1917; Marie Bridges Down, 1918; Nellie N. Lee, 1919; and Mabel Wiederrecht, 1920.
The first school in Port Louisa Township was located in Section 7 approximately ¾ mile northwest of Odessa on land then owned by W. D. Kennedy, who settled there in 1835. In the early 1840s the school was taught by Rev. John Holmes in Possum Hollow.
The school in which Rev. Duff taught at Harrison was a ‘lean-to” built up against a two story frame that stood on top of Harrison Hill on the north side of the road, opposite the present Dr. Paul Kopf home (the former Clyde Torode home). The building had a puncheon floor. The seats, for which each pupil furnished his own back, were also of puncheon.
The pupils furnished goose quills for writing and the teacher was required to make the pens. There were no lead pencils, so they made their own ink.
Teachers at Harrison were: Alma Syphirt, 1918-19; Ina Gore, 1920; and Mable Wiederrecht, 1921.
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Pictures: HARRISON, 1907-08.
Front row, left to right: Harold McChesney, Quentin Schneider, Mae McDill, Pliny Wagg, Dewey Hasher, Florence McDill. Middle row: Irene McDill, Wayne Wagg, Earl Schneider, Irene Torode. Third row: Everett Wagg, Earl Tilton, Carl Schneider, Harley Wagg. Back row: Veta Marshall, Charles Paris, Mildred Schneider, Bertha Torode.
A school souvenir
Port Louisa TP., Louisa Co., IOWA November 24, 1903 – March 20, 1903 Presented by MISS EVA BROCK Teacher SCHOOL OFFICERS Theo. Wilton, Director Wm. Nelson, President J. R. Syphrit, Secretary
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Page 175
Picture:
Harrison school was destroyed by a tornado in 1902
It is not known when Hopewell school was built but it was shown on the 1870 Atlas as being in Section 8 of Port Louisa Township where the original building still stands.
Records show that James and John Beatty taught there. Alice B. Walton taught for eight consecutive years prior to her marriage in 1883. All eight grades were taught in the one room, and Sunday School and church services were also held there. Pictures of the early 1900s show about thirty pupils; however, more children attended during the winter months.
In the late 1920s Mattie Montgomery was hired; she taught for nineteen consecutive years for $40 a month. Lots of families had no other teacher. The last year that it was a one-room school, there were forty pupils. In 1954 they added another room and hired two teachers, one for the lower grades and one for the upper.
There were also school programs and box socials. The box social was a way of raising money for school supplies. The teachers were also the janitors and carried their own kindling and coal. Later with two rooms, oil burners were used.
Picture:
Hopewell school with the added side room.
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Picture: Hopewell
Large group of people, who are not named
It was a sight to behold as children from the Hopewell school on Muscatine Island carried the names of 28 Presidents around the grounds of the school and on to the Island Cemetery to be placed in front of young, healthy trees about to be planted.
All this sign waving and tree planting was due to the dedication of Alice Walton Beatty, a former teacher who had begun her teaching career at the Hopewell school in 1875.
Mrs. Beatty loved the rural area known as Muscatine Island, and it was her desire to help make it even more beautiful by planting numerous trees on the school grounds and also at the Island Cemetery and at the Methodist Church. Not only did she wish to plant the trees, but she was also anxious to incorporate patriotism and love of county into the hearts of children, so she had 28 sturdy designs made to be placed in front of the trees.
Excitement was deliciously thick as the horse-pulled wagons and buggies and even one or two new fangled autos pulled up to the school for the beginning ceremony. Proud parents, grandparents, and all the other folks of the area were on hand for the big event.
Picture: Hopewell
This photograph was taken June 4, 1908 with the teacher, Miss Webster. The students are not listed in order: Maggie Jarvis, Elma Storms, May Anthony, Maude Seright, Maude Wilson, May Placke, Martha Hardman, Laurie Welk, Hattie Anthony, Gertie Seright, Mildred Strouse, Dollie Stence, Nellie Placke, Mabel Jarvis, Edith Anthony, Alfred Bohling, Louie Storms, Warren Seright, Robert Grim, Ralph Hardman, Chet Anthony, Freddie Bohling, Marion Funk, Ike Welk, Donald Funk, Fritzie Welk, John Hardman, Ronald Strouse, Lester Jarvis, Keith Anthony, Jessie Jarvis.
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Little boys with slick-backed hair and girls wearing their finest dresses carried the wooden signs attached to iron stakes with the names of George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester A. Arthur, Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson.
Men of the community pounded the stakes in to the ground. And there they stood—silent reminders of a happy event. The tree continued to grow, the children grew older, time went on and everything seemed to change. Autos were more and more numerous. Electric refrigerators replaced ice boxes, radios replaced the wind-up victrolas and people became more active with the details of their daily lives—not to mention World War I.
No one seemed to really notice that the signs no longer were in front of the trees that had grown tall and strong. It was just one of those things that happens with the years. The signs seemed to have disappeared.
From time to time some of the old timers would tell their children about them, but no one knew where they were and no one really seemed to care a great deal.
The woman who had the dream of presidential markers standing beneath thriving trees was born on land where the present Louisa Generating Station is now located and one mile east of the school.
She loved that building. The school was more than a school. It was the social “headquarters” for nearly everything that took place in the community from showers to voting. But like the signs, it was to disappear. The school was to be no more. In 1959 the school district incorporated into the L-M School and the building was sold to Max Jarvis. In the early 60s Jarvis bought the building and converted it into a grocery store and home. He sold it in 1976 to Al Digman, who operated the store for three years. In May 1979 Wilber Canady purchased the store and living quarters.
Recently Canady and his wife decided to explore the attic above the portion that used to be the school to see if there might be some old books, but they found those memorable, historical signs.
Mrs. Charles H. (Mary Anna) Wilson, niece of the woman who was responsible for the signs, said “It is intriguing to know the signs are still in existence. To me it seemed like a part of history come to life again. I’d heard about them, but I’d never seen them.”
Many people will see them in the next few days. They will be displayed all over the northern section of Port Louisa voting precinct urging people to vote at the Kilpeck Community Friends Church.
Mrs. Wilson said, “We have over 300 eligible voters in our district and the voting will be held at the Kilpeck Church, a quarter mile north of where the original school was and where the Island Grocery Store now stands.”
People won’t be voting for Grover Cleveland, Theodore Roosevelt or William Howard Taft, but they will be voting and one can’t help but think that Alice Walton Beatty would be proud.
Picture: HOPEWELL.
Front row, left to right: Bill Tisor, Jim Wilson, Don Wilson, Larry Wilson, Randy Reed, Dennis McGill, Jeanie McKillip, Joyce Tisor, Clarence Reed, Sandy Tisor, Chet Tisor, Earl McGill, Jr., Dick Bohling, Garry Snyder, Jerry Schrader.
Second row: Carol McKillip, Mary Snyder, ?, Pauline Reddick, Nancy Starkweatner, Edna Reed, Kathy Bartenhogen, Ruth McKillip, Betsy McCormac, Marci Wilson, ?, Rosalee Reddick, Josephine Reddick, Judy Stoneking.
Third row: Mrs. Hazel Plum –teacher, Alfred (Morris) Wilson, Tom Schroder, Janet Berry, Richard Stoneking, Bobby Hargrave, Lillian Reed, Jack Wilson, Janet Snyder, Dick McCormac, Ruth Starkweather, Grace Hargrave, JoAnn Wilson, ?, Al Bohling, Bryant Fuller. Back row: Larry Snyder, Karen Bartenhagen, Barbara Wilson, Audrey Kublick, Donna McKillip, Bill Gieserigan, John Bohling, Wilbur Canady, Jerry Rose, Audrey Shoemaker, Harriet Reed, Jim Hargrave, Karen Berry, Mrs. Ollie Hewitt- teacher.
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Picture: Group of students with teacher.
Song, “Whosoever Will”—By the school.
Recitation, “A Queer Little Esquimo”—Marguerite Frey.
“Morning Song”—By Boys
Dialogue, “Going For a Doctor”—Helen Martin, John Hardman.
Song, “The Elephant”—De Ett Rockafellow.
Dialogue, “A Joker in Disgrace”—Characters: John Frye, John Hardman, Donald Rockafellow, Inez Johnson, Bessie Rockafellow and Florence Johnson.
Recitation, “A Busy Time”—Edith Thompson.
Dialogue, “Buying Eggs”—Characters: John Frye, Clytha Kinsley, Florence Kinsley.
Instrumental Duet—Inez and Beulah Johnson.
Recitation, “My Kitty in the Basket”—Grace Thompson.
Instrumental Solo—Beulah Johnson.
Song, “Tramp, Tramp, Tramp”—By Boys.
Recitation “We Have A Secret”—Gladys Fowler.
Song, “My Kitty”—Florence Johnson
Dialogue, “Interviewing Servant Girls”—Characters: Edith Anthony Bessie Rockafellow, Any McIntyre, Beaulah Johnson, Hattie Anthony, Myrtle Fowler, Inez Johnson.
Instrumental Solo—Bessie Rockafellow
Recitation, “Off to School”—Helen Martin.
Song, “Jacky Frost”—Helen Martin and Lucy Welk.
Recitation, “March Wind”—De Ett Rockafellow.
Instrumental Solo—Inez Johnson
Recitation: “March”—Lucy Welk.
Song—By School
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| Year | Teachers | Months | Salary Per Month |
| 1918-23 | |||
| 1923-24 | Beulah Phillips | ||
| 1924-25 | Mary Rexroth | ||
| 1925-26 | Mantie Montgomery | 9 | $75 |
| 1926-27 | Mantie Montgomery | 9 | $90 |
| 1927-28 | Mantie Montgomery | 9 | $90 |
| 1928-29 | Mantie Montgomery | 9 | $100 |
| 1929-30 | Mantie Montgomery | 9 | $100 |
| 1930-31 | Mantie Montgomery | 9 | $100 |
| 1931-32 | Mantie Montgomery | 8 | $80 |
| 1932-33 | Mantie Montgomery | 8 | $75 |
| 1933-34 | Mantie Montgomery | ||
| 1934-35 | Mantie Montgomery | ||
| 1935-36 | Mantie Montgomery | ||
| 1936-37 | Mantie Montgomery | ||
| 1937-38 | Mantie Montgomery | ||
| 1938-39 | Mantie Montgomery | ||
| 1939-41 | |||
| 1941-42 | Nau Walsh | 9 | $110 |
| 1942-43 | |||
| 1943-44 | June Harder | 9 | $110 |
| 1944-45 | June Harder | 9 | $150 |
| 1945-46 | Dorothy Montgomery | 9 | $170 |
| 1946-47 | June Harder | 9 | $170 |
| 1947-48 | Mantie Montgomery | 9 | $200 |
| 1948-49 | Hazel Plumb | 9 | $250 |
| 1949-50 | Wm. H. Matthews | 10 | $300 |
| 1950-51 | Mrs. Emma Orr | 9 | $250 |
| 1951-52 | Mrs. June Harder | 9.5 | $300 |
| 1952-53 | Paul Stuart | 9 | $350 |
| 1953-54 | Mrs. Ollie Hewitt (lower) | 9 | $300 |
| Mrs. Hazel Plumb (Upper) | 9 | $300 | |
| 1954-55 | Mrs. Ollie Hewitt (lower) | 9 | $310 |
| Mrs. Hazel Plumb (Upper) | 9 | $310 | |
| 1955-56 | Mrs. Ollie Hewitt (lower) | ||
| Mrs. Hazel Plumb (Upper) | |||
| 1956-57 | Mrs. Ollie Hewitt (lower) | ||
| Mrs. Dorothy Grim (Upper) | |||
| 1957-58 | Mrs. Ollie Hewitt (lower) | 9 | $250 |
| Mrs. Dorothy Grim | 9 | $250 | |
| 1958-59 | Mrs. Ollie Hewitt | 10 | $350 |
| Mrs. Dorothy Grim | 10 | $350 |
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Picture: HOPEWELL, 1958.
Jack Wilson, Janet Berry, Maurice Wilson, Dick McCormac, Dorothy Grim, Teacher.
The Weaver school was in the Mississippi River bottom. The school was named for Bill Weaver’s father, H. O. Weaver, a lawyer who owned the land in the area. He took special interest in the school and was very helpful with any problems.
I taught there in 1927 and 1928. I rode horseback four and one-half miles and, like other country school teachers, I built the fire and did the janitor work. During January and February I boarded with Ray and Lieta Rose, who lived nearer the school.
Ada Smith was County Superintendent, and she made surprise visits to all county schools. She was a very good superintendent.
We were expected to have about three school programs for the public during the year. The most memorable was my first in October. The program was great and a box supper followed. The ladies brought a decorated box filled with goodies for supper. Their boxes were auctioned off and the lucky fellow ate with the girl whose box he bought. Somehow I got through the evening, but the next morning my mother had the doctor for me: a case of “nerves.”
Picture: WEAVER SCHOOL.
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In the late 1920s Freeman Reed was teaching at Weaver school located two and one-half miles from Port Louisa. The school averaged twenty-five students ranging from first grade to eighth grade, and Mr. Reed taught them all. Mr. Reed would stand in the doorway at 9:00 a.m. ringing the bell to call the students. The school was heated by a round oak stove that burned wood or coal. Kerosene lamps with reflectors were hung on the walls for lights.
On the first day of school, fathers brought the kids by horse and wagon. The rest of the year they walked from three to five miles for their education. The school was only one room, so the teacher had to be very stern with the students. If a student was unruly or caught chewing dad’s tobacco or smoking in the “outhouse” or fighting or tormenting the girls, you could find him staying after school cleaning erasers or the blackboard. Other punishments were standing in the corner, staying in during recess, sitting with your head down on your desk. Maybe even a twelve inch ruler or the switch that was kept on top of the organ would be used.
The pledge of allegiance was said every morning before classes began. The older boys brought in water from the outside pump. Lunches were carried to school in a five pound lard bucket.
There were special activities during the school year such as the Christmas program, but a boxed supper was the highlight of the year. The box supper would be auctioned off to the highest bidder, with the money going to the school. When you bought a boxed supper, you got to eat with the one who prepared it. On the last day of school the students enjoyed a picnic.
The school later was moved to the bottom of Port Louisa Hill because there weren’t enough students to attend at the original location. Other teachers came, two of whom were Helen Johann and Esther Stroller. The school was moved one more time, just the other side of Michael Creek Bridge, closing its doors around 1960. Later the old schoolhouse caught fire and had to be torn down.
Picture: Of children and adults by a school building.
Souvenir of Weaver School
PUBLIC SCHOOL District No. 2 to 3 Port Louisa Township, Louisa Co, Ia. C. FLOE LOUDERDALE Teacher SCHOOL OFFICERS S. F. Pantle, Pres. Ray Sypirth, Sec. Wm. McDill, Treas. J. D. Letts, Sub. Director PUPILS
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| Years | Teacher | Months | Salary Per Month |
| 1917-18 | Ruth Cocklin | ||
| 1918-23 | |||
| 1923-24 | Audrey Thompson | ||
| 1924-25 | |||
| 1925-26 | Margurite McKinney | 9 | $80 |
| 1926-27 | Margurite McKinney | 9 | $75 |
| 1927-28 | Genevieve Collins (Sheelabarger) | 9 | $75 |
| 1928-29 | Anna Mary Coottrell | 9 | $80 |
| 1929-30 | Carol Bissinger | 9 | $65 |
| 1930-31 | Freeman Reed | 9 | $65 |
| 1931-32 | Helen Johann | 9 | $75 |
| 1932-33 | Elizabeth Gresham | 9 | $75 |
| 1933-34 | |||
| 1934-35 | Esther Stoller | ||
| 1935-36 | Esther Stoller (Brown) | ||
| 1936-37 | Esther Stoller (Brown) | ||
| 1937-38 | Nellie Young | ||
| 1938-39 | Nellie Young | ||
| 1939-40 | Closed |
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Picture: Souvenier from C. Floe Louderdale
PULBIC SCHOOL District No. 2 to 3 Post Louisa Twp., Louisa County, Ia. C. FLOE LOUDERDALE Teacher SCHOOL OFFICERS S. F. Pantle, Pres. Ray Syphrits, Sec. Wm. McDill, Treas. J. D. Letts, Sub. Director PUPILS
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Page 183
This school was sometimes called the Port School or Skunk Ridge. My mother, Gertrude (Creswell) Collins, taught in this school before she was married. Several years later I started there in first grade. We moved quite a bit, but in 1919 my mother was the teacher again and I went to school with her. My first grade teacher was Miss Hallie Lee from Letts. Some of the pupils who attended were: Charlie Cocklin, Frank Beik, Brad Wheeler, Steve Pantel, Lloyd (Ding) Jackson and also Buril Johnson’s brothers and sisters.
In later years the schoolhouse was moved below the hill and down the road about two miles.
i>Picture: Students standing before school house. No identification.
Nettie Hayes taught here for two years—from September 1927 to May 1929. At this time there were four schools in the township. This was probably referred to as the Port Louisa school. It sat at the top of Port Louisa Hill, now sometimes called the Molly Walker Hill, which is reached by turning left at the Ivy Beik home. This building was moved twice after Nettie taught there. The second time it was moved across Michael Creek.
Some of the children attending were: Omer Wheeler; Dorothy and Mary Lou Downs; Clyde McGill; Donald, Kathryn, Norma and Clinton Cocklin; Gertrude, Carol and Louis Peterson; Anna and Chester Wheeler; Bernice Wilson; Vincent and Howard Schweitzer; Ruby and Lucille Fry; Robert McKinney; Wesley Wheeler and Otis Bollinger. Ernest Downs was the Director.
Picture: WEST PORT.
Front row, left to right: Bertha Browning, Dallas Stroh, Ella Carey, Kitty Creswell, Ruby McGrew, Call Walker, Clifford Creswell, Frank Browning, George Wheeler.
Second row: Myrtle Wheeler, Anna Wheeler, Maggie Wheeler, Fannie Oats (teacher), Kate McGrew, Agnes Walker, Mable Creswell, John Wheeler. Third row: Jennie Hiller, Nettie Kemp, Elmer Kemp, Chet Walker, June Creswell, Isabell Creswell, Nona Carey, Andrew Wheeler.
Page 184
Picture: WESTPORT STUDENTS
At the time I was teaching at Westport, in Port Louisa Township, the schoolhouse was on top of Port Hill and about half a mile north on a mud lane. If the weather was bad I had to leave my car out at Ott Kammerer’s and walk the rest of the way. One day the weather had not looked too bad in the morning, but early in the afternoon a bad blizzard started developing and rapidly intensified. This was the winter of 1932, probably the very worst of the depression. There was no unemployment compensation or food stamps at that time. The children had worn all of the warm clothes they owned.
About 2:30 p.m. I dismissed school and started getting the children ready to go home. The one girl that lived at the top of the hill would be all right, she could stop at the Kammerer’s to warm up if she needed to and she had more and warmer clothes than some of the others. The ones that lived close under the hill would be protected by the hill and the timber, so I got them on their way. That left the bunch that lived down near the Mississippi River. I stuffed the smaller ones down on the floor boards and cushion of the rumble seat of my Model A Sport Coupe, and covered them with a blanket. The bigger ones crowded into the front and we started out. The lane was still passable and I got them home without any frozen toes, fingers or noses.
But when I started back up the Port Hill (which was steep and curved), I hit a slick spot and lost traction. Leaving it in gear, and pulling the gas lever down, I got out and pushed. This worked fine until it hit a dry stretch of road and almost got away from me. In the scramble to get back in I made a big snag in one of my silk stockings, which was a major catastrophe at the time.
Picture: 7th and 8th graders in 1932.
Front row, left to right: Vinnie Hahn, Junior Whitely, Ruby Fry, Robert McKinney, Dora Collett, Robert Whitely.
Page 185
Picture: The Whole Class, 1932.
Front row, left to right: Clyde Beeding, Clinton Cocklin, Junior Harrison, Merlin Hahn, Vivian Beeding, Omar Wheeler. Middle row: ?, Norma Cocklin, Lucille Fry, Wesley Wheeler, Delno Wheeler.
Back row: Robert McKinney, Robert Whitely, Vinnie Hahn, Ruby Fry, Dora Collett, ?, Junior Whitely.
| Years | Teachers | Months | Salary Per Month |
| 1918-21 | |||
| 1921-22 | Ava Erwin Parsons | 9 | $80 |
| 1922-23 | |||
| 1923-24 | Juanita Carter | 9 | $70 |
| 1924-25 | |||
| 1925-26 | Nina Fitzgerald Marshall | ||
| 1926-27 | Grace Brauns | 9 | $80 |
| Conrad Huddle | 9 | $80 | |
| Ruth Chatfield | 9 | $80 | |
| 1927-28 | Nettie Matthews | 9 | $80 |
| 1928-29 | Nettie Matthews | 9 | $80 |
| 1929-30 | Juanita Caarter Schneider | 9 | $80 |
| 1930-31 | Laura Plowman | 9 | $80 |
| 1931-32 | Frances Cummings | 9 | $70 |
| 1932-33 | Mary Archibald | 8 | $60 |
| 1933-34 | |||
| 1934-35 | Delno Stineman | 8 | $40 |
| 1935-36 | Delno Stineman | ||
| 1936-37 | Delno Stineman | ||
| 1937-38 | |||
| 1938-39 | Wanda Young | 9 | $110 |
| 1940-41 | Emma Orr | ||
| 1941-42 | Betty Spitznogle | ||
| 1942-43 | Kathryn Schwob | 9 | $110 |
| 1943-44 | Wanda Young Werner | ||
| 1944-45 | Wanda Werner | 9 | $110 |
| 1945-46 | Wanda Werner | 9 | $160 |
| 1946-49 | Closed | ||
| 1949-50 | Beatrice Smith | 10 | $250 |
| 1950-51 | Phyllis Orr (moved school) | 10 | $250 |
| 1951-52 | Mrs. Eleanor Morris | 9.5 | $251 |
| 1952-53 | Juanita Sands | 9 | $300 |
| 1953-54 | Donald Joe Hankins | 9 | $342 |
| 1954-55 | Donald Joe Hankins | ||
| 1955-56 | Donald Joe Hankins | ||
| 1956-57 | Marilyn Thompson | ||
| 1957-58 | Mrs. Bettie Oakes | 9 | |
| 1958-59 | Mrs. Bettie Oakes | ||
| 1960 (April) | Balance of account paid to Louisa Muscatine Community School District |