Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, February 26, 2015, Page 11

From "Snapshots of History" by Mike Avitt:

"When rural schoolhouses were first built in Ringgold County, they were built where the need was the greatest. But eventually districts were formed and education became organized. It was decided to place a rural school every two miles so a pupil would never have to walk more than a mile to school. My notes say [July 1890. . . ] is the time frame when the schools were placed about every two miles. . . ."

Jefferson No. 4 was located 3 miles north of Diagonal, known as Willow Grove, securing its name from a row of willow trees just east of it.

The first building was replaced about 1912 with a new structure. The older building being moved to the Rick AYERS farm to be used for storage. Later as AYERS bran was destroyed by fire, the school building was dismantled and used in builing a barn which since has been destroyed.

As in most communities the school was the center of the social life. The Christmas program and Last Day of School picnic were great events in the school year. Sometimes a Halloween program, Washington's Birthday and even last day of school.

Crafts were activities looked forward to each Friday afternnon, using cigar boxes, or orange crates for materials. There was fun competition also in ciphering, spelldown, and geography contests.

On February 15, 1922, the county nurse, Edith STALLARD, reported that she found only one school in Ringgold County where every pupil was overweight. This was at theSchool in District No. 4, Jefferson Township. The students were Stanley OVERHOLSER, Mildred KILGORE, Lynabell OSHEL, Carol JOHNSTON, Marl KILGORE, Gonald BUTT, Emanuel HAYDEN, Unity JOHNSTON, Sammie OVERHOLSER, Vern OSHEL, Grace BUTTS, Vyletta OVERHOLSER, Paul KILGORE and Ralph OSHEL.

In the thirties [1930's] the winter hot lunch program included one hot dish cooked on the heating stove located in the center of the room. This food was brought from home by the pupils. This responsibility for food was shared equally with no concern for number in a family. The teacher and older students were responsible for the cooking, the younger ones helped with the dishes. This was done with water carried by pupils of the teacher from a nearby residence. Willow Grove didn't have a well until in the forties. One was dug on adjoining land. It is still there today [1981].

In the thirties a box supper was held to raise some money for school supplies, with Rick AYERS as Auctioneer. The total auction was $7.

A few winter mornings the room would be warm as a person passing by had slept there. No one having been seen.

Sunday School and Church was held there in the thirties with Dorothy JESSUP preaching.

On cold winter mornings the heating stove was the center of activity as mittens must be dried, ink bottles thawed even though they weren't going to use it. The children who walked to school were often very cold.

Some of the teachers were:

Although the school was originally closed in the late 40's, it was re-opened for the 1950-51 school term. The teacher was Gladys McCONNELL, now of Shannon City. Students were Carol OVERHOLSER, Marian and Judy HANSELL, and Nellie Lou and Dannie COVERDELL.

Other teachers in the late 1940's were Eugene FLEMING, Lucille VANDERPLUYM, and Mrs. CRAWFORD.

As we reminice about the life in the rural schoolroom, we can compare it to programs in television. Each child would learn from the other age children as they reviewed their lessons for the teacher.

The Jefferson Township School District will sell at public auction on Monday, September 26, [1949] five rural schoolhouses in the Diagonal area. The schools, names of which will be familiar to most readers of [The Mount Ayr] Reporter are Willow Grove, Mortimer, Hiawatha, Cottonwood and Cornith. Also to be sold are the schoolhouse sites, outbuildings, pumps, and any other equipment remaining after the schools were closed. The sale will be conducted by Mrs. Lola HAILEY, secretary, and Leland AHBURN, president, with Dennis OWEN of Tingley the auctioneer and Clark SIMPSON, clerk. An advertisment in this issue of The Reporter gives the time when each building will be sold, and other information of interest of prospective purchasers.

Willow Grove school was purchased by Zenas KILGORE. It was remodeled into a home, located on his farm.

Front Row, left to right: Myrtle McGINTY - teacher, Bea (OSBORN) McKUNE, Berhta (OVERHOLSER) McANNICH, Maye (BROWN) LEE, Ward BROWN, Harold BAB, Willard BAKER

Front Row, left to right: Minnie BAKER, Linnabel (OSHEL) TRIDLE, Sammie OVERHOLSER, Stanley OVERHOLSER, Royal OVERHOLSER, August JOHNSTON, Harry KILGORE, Eunice KILGORE, Raymond CHRISTY, Doyle BAKER

FRONT ROW, left to right: Minnie BAKER, Linnabell OSHEL, Sam OVERHOLSER, Stanley OVERHOLSER, Royal OVERHOLSER, August JOHNSTON, Harry KILGORE, Eunice KILGORE, Raymond CHRISTY, Doyle BAKER

Middle Row, left to right: Vyletta (OVERHOLSER) SCHOTT, Carol JOHNSTON, Donald BUTT, Emanuel HAYDEN.

Front Row, left to right: Vern OSHEL, Grace (BUTT) SACKETT, unknown, Paul KILGORE

Front Row, left to right: Marie (HAYDEN) INGLE, Doris (CARSON) FREDICKSEN

BACK ROW, left to right: Marie HAYDEN INGLE, Dorothy OSHEL, Nile BAKER, teacher - Fern OSHEL, Eleanor JAMES, Doris CARSON

MIDDLE ROW, left to right: Bill OVERHOLSER, Barbara JAMES, Otis CARSON, Robert HAYDEN, John OSHEL, Jessie CARSON

FRONT ROW, left to right: Harold JOHNSTON, Louse HAYDEN, Ruth JOHNSTON, Bob OVERHOLSER

The Diagonal Progress would like to THANK Mrs. Donald BUTT for the help on Willow Grove School.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, February 26, 2015, Page 11

From "Snapshots of History" by Mike Avitt:

"As gravel roads and school buses made rural schools obsolete, they were sold. . . .Sales were common during the 1950s. . .Jefferson Township schools No. 3 [Mortimer/Nulph School], 4 [Willow Grove School], 6 [Hiawatha School], 7 [Cottonwood School], and 8 [Cornith/Brush College School] were all sold September 26, 1955 at public auction. "

SOURCE: Diagonal Progress, Diagonal, Ringgold County, Iowa, Sept. 24, 1981

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, April of 2010; updated September of 2015