The list below indicates what has been added during

Oct 2007

to the Country School Pages

Click on previous months to see what history has been shared:
FEB -- MAR -- APR -- MAY -- JUN -- JUL -- AUG -- SEP

Added more news items: Elgin No. 6, Seney school, 4 Jun 1940
Added Remsen No. 2 Memories, by Helen Maass Bottjen
Biography of teacher, Emma Smeenk Kloster, written by her daughter Twylla is now posted online. This includes some very nice pictures of Mrs. Kloster. Thanks, Twylla, for sharing your Mother's bio!
Grant No. 7 photos contributed by former teacher, Mrs. Margaret Pecks. Mrs. Pecks taught at Grant No. 7, 1953-1955. Grant No. 6 Photos 1958-1961; Grant No. 8 photos 1957-1958 and Grant No. 4 photos also added. Thanks, Margaret, for sharing with all of us so generously!
Mrs. Margaret Pecks also contributed photos for her other schools--Remsen No. 1 and Washington No. 5.
Remsen No. 2 photo added from 1937, Dorothy Gaden teacher. Preston No. 5 photos added, Gladys McMahon teacher. The Preston No. 5 photos were contributed by former student, Norman Barker. Thanks, Norman, for sharing!
Added one end-of-the-year souvenir booklet, Washington No. 6, 1921-1922; teacher was Edna Manz
Two teaching contracts were posted: Edna Manz, Washington No. 5 and Hilda Manz, Washington No. 6 and Normal Training Certificate for Margaret Kock, June 1940.
Eighth Grade Graduation Diploma posted for Esther Lauretta Plueger, 1937
Normal Training Certificate posted for Esther Plueger, 1943.
America No. 4 photos have been posted. The photos taken during the timeframe of teachers, Margaretta Kilker and Helen Schnepf, 1935-1940.
Teacher obituaries posted and linked: Mrs. Esther E. (Paulsen) Wilson, Liberty Consolidated 1951-1955; Mrs. Blanche Cummins Siebens, Portland Stuart School 1922-1924 and Portland Riverview School 1924-1925.
More Elgin No. 8 photos were submitted, teacher Elizabeth Schlesser, 1939-1941
Added Stanton No. 1 Memories, Stanton No. 1 Photos and Stanton No. 2 Photos, by Dennis Wolf. Added Stanton Twp School Building History, researched by Dennis Wolf. "Thanks, Dennis!"
Added Memories of Meadow No. 1, by former pupil, Clarice Ricke Schmit
Preston No. 1 Photos added--contributed by Kathy Klemme, daughter of former teacher, Saverna Langel 1941-1942
Sioux No. 2 Photos added--contributed by Kathy Klemme, daughter of former teacher, Saverna Langel 1942-1943
Stanton No. 1 Photos added--contributed by Kathy Klemme, daughter of former teacher, Saverna Langel 1943-1950
What happened to the school buildings? Preston No. 1 photos & history now online. Dallas & Kathy Klemme are the new owners and are restoring the building!
Added Elkhorn Twp news item from the Kingsley News-Times, 29 Aug 1937
Added one more photo to Johnson No. 4 Photos--Johnson Twp Pupils Become Reporters, LeMars Globe-Post, April 8, 1954
Elgin Seney School--added two newspaper photos of the children and their teachers. Upper Grades, LeMars Sentinel, 30 Oct 1961 and Lower Grades, LeMars Sentinel, 4 Dec 1961 (If anyone has access to the actual original photos--please contact the county coordinator, thanks!)
Added two newspaper photos of the children and their teachers. Preston No. 1, LeMars Sentinel 13 Nov 1961 and Grant No. 3 Craig School, LeMars Sentinel, 16 Oct 1961 (If anyone has access to the actual original photos--please contact the county coordinator, thanks!)
Added two old news articles: Stanton No. 1, LeMars Globe-Post 12 Jan 1892; and Elkhorn Twp Schools, LeMars Globe-Post 12 Jan 1892
$230 Ran Rural School for a Year in 1870's--speech given by Supt. Miss Christine Petersen, May 2, 1958, at Westfield Community School District building dedication.
Two school news items were submitted by Karen Harrington: Hancock Twp, LeMars Sentinel, 29 Nov 1897; and Fredonia No. 1, LeMars Sentinel April 15, 1895. "Thanks so much, Karen, for finding these."
Teacher obituaries found and linked: Rose Wenner Homan, Remsen No. 6, early 1900's; Frank Heemstra, Union Consolidated, 1946-1947; Raymond Bjork, Union Consolidated, 1944-1945.
More township news added: Stanton Twp & Perry Twp from March 19, 1934; Lincoln No. 5, Nov. 17, 1938; Elgin No. 6 Seney news, Nov. 17, 1938; Fredonia Twp News, Nov. 17, 1938; and Elgin No. 6 Seney news, Dec. 27, 1897.
Contributor Bruce Atkinson shared an obituary of one of the early teachers in the county: Mary Emma Taylor. She married Frank Gabel on 14 Mar 1905, Plymouth Co. "Thanks, Bruce, for sharing with all of us." Bruce also shared--"My grandmother Sarah Jane Taylor Gabel was a teacher when she got married in March 1899. My sister has the bell that she used at school."
Interesting obituary article found telling of the USE of the schoolhouse for the funeral: Lincoln No. 3, LeMars Sentinel October 18, 1894.
Early Teacher obituary contributed by family researcher, Bruce Atkinson. "Thanks, Bruce." Teacher was Miss Anna Laura Strader. Also from Bruce more teacher obituaries: Frances Gabel Bell, Johnson No. 4 & Washington No. 3; Isabella Taylor Dry, Johnson No. 3; William G. Taylor, Johnson No. 3; Leona K. Ludwig, Washington No. 5, Fredonia No. 9, Remsen No. 5, Stanton No. 1, & Lincoln No. 3.
Fredonia No. 1 Memories contributed by student, Henry L. Darville, son of Mr. & Mrs. Leslie Darville.
Eighth Grade Diplomas & Program June 1932, and High School Certificates of twins, Henry & Edith Darville. Contributed by Henry L. Darville. "Thanks, Henry, for sharing these wonderful original items!"
Bruce Atkinson has submitted another Early Teacher news item and obituary: Mrs. Bessie Robertson Locer, 21 Apr 1911, news item.