MUSCATINE COUNTY, IOWA SCHOOL NEWS

Transcribed, as written, by Beverly Gerdts on June 22, 2019

Page 4

OLD GARFIELD SCHOOL TO GET
THE WRECKING BALL
BUILT IN 1888 AND WAS
USED UNTIL 1955

Photo submitted by Beverly Gerdts

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MEMORIES CRUMBLE WITH GARFIELD WALLS

    Brick by brick ... rafter by rafter … another colorful page from the legend of Muscatine is being cast into oblivion. Since 1888, annual crops of the "younger generation" have paraded through the educational processes conducted in the building at the corner of Wallace street and Stewart road. A glittering new structure of brick, steel and glass some four blocks away, has adopted the children that once "belonged" to the old Garfield.

     Since 1955 the classrooms that once echoed to the recitations of the "three-r's" have been silent. The corridors, which once trembled beneath the clatter of feet thundering out to recess, have stood abandoned and mute - as if mourning the loss.

"FLASHBACK"

     They say that as a person expires, his past flashes before him. If a dying school building could acquire the faculty of thinking, perhaps its lengthy history would briefly flicker again as the workmen of the Cash Pace and Sons company dismember its old, but still solid frame.

     The memories would date back to 1888 when it came into being through the vote of the electors of the independent school district.

     The building - four rooms, two on each story - was heated by a hot air furnace. The "gravity system" of ventilation was used, according to a history of schools complied by a "Professor Witter." This would account for four of the six "chimneys" found by the workers. Four of those chimneys were used for ventilation - the other two for the usual smoke exhaust purposes. Before the voters OK'd the $5,000 expenditure necessary to build, the four - room structure, classes were held in a one-room frame building at the corner of Wisconsin and Benham streets.

     This was known as the Musserville school and that name was carried over to the structure at the corner of Wallace and Stewart road. In 1902, more classroom space was needed over the entire city and a $25,000 bond issue (which late proved to be about $13,000 short of the amount needed) was approved by the voters. From this amount, funds for a four room addition to the Musserville school were alotted. With a spacious eight-room school house now available to the people of that area, the name of the school was altered. Garfield school came into being as such in 1904 and remained until 1955 when a tremendous increase in attendance again made construction necessary. This time "adding-on" was neither physically or economically possible ... and the "old" Garfield was doomed.

RECALL PRINCIPALS

     Also included in the memory flashback of the school would have to be some of the personnel which kept it going.

     Although records are not available back to the time of its start in 1888, it is possible to trace the administrators of the school back into the 1890's.

     Most lengthy tenure as principal of Garfield was enjoyed by Miss A. Marea Othmer, who served from 1919 to 1952. Mrs. Marie Herwig Ruthenberg preceded her from 1907 to 1919. Before her were R. K. Corlett, a Mr. TeWinkle and a Miss Franklin and Miss Minnie brown. The latter's term started in the middle 1890's.

     Kenneth Huber has been principal at Garfield since 1952. An even longer list of teachers could be included, in memory but one of the best remembered is Miss Jenny Ewing who taught primary grades for nearly 25 years.

     Garfield has held double attraction for some, having gone to school there as children-then returning later to teach at their old alma mater. Among those are Mabel Stark Webster, Ivy Ryan Wilhite, Rosalind Olson Whicher, Edith Stohr Fluent and Kathleen Asp. Miss Asp is a member of the faculty at Garfield today. Even as the building utters its dying gasps at the hands of the wreckers, it unfolds additional items from the past of interest.

"PLASTER BLACKBOARDS"

     One such item was discovered when the workmen removed the slate blackboards from the classrooms. Prior to the installation of the slate, the plaster on the walls was painted black and the writing, in chalk, done on them. Some of that writing still is legible today. In one section, which was behind the slate, is this inscription: "Steen and Mark, Aug. 26, 1902. Jim Morris." It is theorized that this probably was the writing of the workmen who installed ....

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.... the blackboards- or perhaps worked on the four room addition to the school built at the same time. Basis for the theory is that on the date listed, school probably would not have been in session- this, aside from the fact that the handwriting was of a quality which could be termed better than most pupils of that age could produce.

ONLY BELL REMAINS

When the razing process is completed, there will be nothing left of the "old" Garfield except the ;and on which is stood and the old school bell. That bell, which summoned children to class for over a half-century,hasn't tolled since the new building has been occupied. the property of the Garfield PTA, it was removed from the tower by Pace's men before the razing started. It has been transferred to the school yard at the new Garfield school were it will soon become the only link between the Garfield that Muscatine adults of today remember and the Garfield of tomorrow.

This Article appeared in the Muscatine Journal dated Friday March 7, 1958 and the author was Ron Arnold.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~

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Peggy Law Bean wrote the following article that describes part of southend we all know so well.

     Being from south end was like being from a separate small town. Most people had lived there for generations. Everyone knew everyone else, they married each other and stayed pretty much to themselves. It was almost a culture.

     Kids knew they were being watched and better walk the straight and narrow. And they better not step off the sidewalks while they were doing it. It was wise to keep your hands to yourself too. You never knew who might be going by in a car or looking out a window and see you scuffling. And then look out. Our parents watched us, our grandparents, aunt and uncles watched and Miss Othner and the teachers watched us. Being watched was just another way of being loved.

     The stores. Who could ever forget the stores. Double dip ice cream cones were a nickel at Law's. And Edna Law would patiently pick out orders for penny and two for a penny candy. One of those, no those, and two of those and on and on. At James' store Aunt Esther and Uncle Raynard were just like our own family. They loved everyone and we all knew it. Remember Rink's? Dark and dusty and a little scary. I thought George Rink and Aunt None lived in that store, and I think they almost did. I don't think I ever saw them anyplace else.

     Nichols store and Havman's were less known to me but I'm sure they were well known to many of you.

     Does anyone else remember the light pole in front of Toussant's? If the ground was damp and you touched that pole and your bike at the same time you got a real jolt!

     Not one of those stores sold beer and there was never a tavern below the tracks in south end.

     I remember so much about growing up in south end. I could go on for hours. I'm sure most of you share those memories.

     Beautiful Musser Park, the chickens squawking at Swifts, old brick Oregon Street, Oregon Field, the smell of the alcohol plant, the Oregon Trail, dear Old Musserville Church, and Old Garfield School. Miss Othmer and Garfield are part of all of us.

     Remember the assemblies when we always sang "Oh Worship the King". Heaven help you if you pronounced it wayship! And when we sang "The Star Spangled Banner" Robert Steckman was the only one who knew the words to the second verse. He always sang along with Miss Othmer's enthusiastic approval. I learned those words so I could sing them too, but I was never brave enough to go on singing. To this day when I hear the "Star Spangled Banner" it's the second verse that comes to mind.

     Special days for me were the days Miss Stocker came to teach Art. I've always loved t draw and paint. I'm thrilled with a box of fresh, new crayons. And I like to finger paint!

     We didn't have much playground equipment in those days. Just a few jump ropes and balls and one slide. The playground had a boys side and a girls side. The slide was on the girls side but the boys had certain days when they were allowed to use it. Of course on those days the girls must stay off that side. Girls didn't wear jeans to school so they couldn't go up the slide ladder when boys were round.

     Miss Othmer supervised the ball games and marble games on the boys side. Girls weren't allowed in those masculine games. She guided 3 young boys to the City marble championship, whose were Kenny Holladay, Dennis Howard and Carl Strause.

     Brownie and Girl scout meetings were held in the library room in the basement. We also went down there for Library days and when Mr. Scott brought films to show.

     I've written a poem about Old Garfield and I'd like to share it with you now.

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OLD GARFIELD

Roach and Musser whistle blows

It's time to go to school

We all hurried to old Garfield

to learn the Golden Rule

Miss Othmer was our principals

She was nearly twelve feet tall !!

With iron hand in velvet glove

She ruled and loved us all.

Her discipline was swift and strict

But she was always fair.

And if you need a guiding handwriting

She knew how to put it there.

I've seen kids tremble in their shoes

When they knew they'd done something bad

If you got sent to the office

You knew that you'd been had.

But she had a smile for we little ones

and a gentle loving touch.

I believe the reason she was strict

Was that she loved us very much.

I'll bet there's not one old person

From South End who never met her.

Maybe you didn't like her then

But you will never forget her.

Miss Northy, Mrs Wellons, Miss Sywassink

Miss Asp, Miss Rosenthal, Miss O'Toole

These are all the teachers I remember most

when I went to Garfield School.

Miss Northy taught us to read Dick and Jane.

Reading notes and DO RA MI

Why we had to learn that stuff

Was more than I could see.

Miss Rosenthal and Miss O'Toole

Tried very hard I'm sure

To help us learn and understand

And make us more mature.

Miss Stocker came from time to time

To teach us how to draw

And let me tell you of that "art"

Was the strangest you ever saw.

And let's not forget Mr. Bierman

That janitor Supreme

Who took good care of the building

and fairly made it gleam.

When we went to Jr. high

And High School later on

We were proud that Garfield School

Was where we had come from.

Those old South Enders were loyal

Right down to the very last kid

They didn't come from "across the tracks"

The of the world did!!!

Now South End doesn't look the same

And old Garfield's no longer a part

But we will always be from Garfield school

And South End in our heart.

Peggy "Law" Bean 1995

Written for the first "Old Garfield Reunion"

October 14, 1995