MUSCATINE COUNTY, IOWA SCHOOL NEWS

Source: Muscatine Journal & News Tribune, 23 November 1929, page 12
Submitted by Phyllis Hazen, May 16, 2019

PIKE TOWNSHIP’S EARLIEST SCHOOL HISTORY RECALLED AT DEDICATORY CEREMONIES

    Pike township’s first school, taught by David Purington, was held in the home of the teacher’s brother, just a short distance northwest of the present Adams school. This was before a railroad was built in Pike township, back in 1850. This interesting data was disclosed when the Adams district of Pike township held a homecoming and dedicatory service at the Adams school Friday evening. A crowd that filled the new structure participated in the exercises. The ceremony was the second of its kind to be held in that township this month. Lacey school being dedicated a few weeks ago.

     Mrs. Maggie Adams, who attended Adams school in 1875, gave some interesting school history. Others who were in school in the late 70’s and early 80’s responded to the roll call.

     W. R. Schmitt, present secretary of the board, who had a prominent part in the present school building program, responded to the roll call as a former teacher of the school. He was an instructor there about 25 years ago. Nina Quimby, now a teacher at Newhall, Ia., and Miss Mildred Smith, teaching at Atalissa, sent messages.

     Mrs. Fred B. Mapes, a teacher a number of years ago, compared present school conditions with those of earlier days, in the following letter, read during the ceremonies:

     “As most of you already know, the first school in Pike township was taught in 1850 by David Purington in a room set apart in his brother Jesse’s log house. The next year a school house was built. I am unable to recall the number of terms I taught at Adams, but my last term was 50 years ago last spring. I had 56 pupils enrolled but my average was perhaps a little more than half of that number. The older pupils stayed out of school if there was any work at home and quite often there was.”

     “The majority of we teachers did our own janitor work, and carried water from the nearest well. The teacher and older pupils usually cleaned the school room every spring and fall. Now when in memory I go back to those cold, winter days, when the children were obliged to huddle around the stove, the older ones perhaps holding the smaller ones on their laps to make more room, ‘tis then I say in my mind what a happy change from the old cracked door, loose window panes, and the cold, cold, floor to this fine comfortable up-to-date building that stands on the site of the poor old wreck that I knew.”

Three Addresses Given.

    Talks were given by E. A. Sparling, city superintendent of Schools, E. D. Bradley, county superintendent, and the Rev. Charles Clark, pastor of the Christian church at Nichols.

     The necessity of the youth of today acquiring all the educational advantages available was pointed out by Mr. Sparling in his message, “Better equipped schools provide a better incentive to pupils to go ahead and improve their education,” he said.

     Mr. Bradley spoke on factors necessary for good schools, emphasizing the need for co-operation between parents, pupils teachers and school boards to make the most efficient school system.

     The significance of the occasion from the laymen’s viewpoint was presented by the Rev. Mr. Clark. “Training of youth is America’s greatest business”, he said.

     Present pupils of the school, under the direction of Miss Felicitas Mills, teacher, offered a miscellaneous program. A social period closed the evening’s program. **