Writing to renew his subscription to the "old home paper," Dr. Clarence C. WRIGHT, osteopathic physician, 124 Fallowfield Ave., Charlerof, Pa., says:

"Enclosed you will find [a] check to apply to my account. As I have been away from your county since 1898-9 I can't yet give up your paper, for there are a few of my friends remaining whose names I occasionally see.

"In hunting through an old trunk a few days ago I found an old picture that had been lost for some time, or laid away carefully. It was a picture of part of my last school, taught at Rice Center 1898. How I would love to meet them once more. here are the names: Roy ROBINSON, Luella GLENDENNING, Lois SCONCE, Flora GLENDENNING, Grace GLENDENNING, Warren CURRY, Nettie STEPHENS, Mabel ROBINSON, Ralph SCONCE, Geo. STEPHENS, Almeda MILLIGAN, Anna STEPHENS, Ella STEPHENS, Mamie SPENCER, Maud ROBINSON, Lela GLENDENNING, Cecil SPENCER, Ross ROBINSON, Ralph BLACKMAN, Ora ROYSDON, Orpha GRINDROD, Carrie GRINDROD, Lulu ROYSDON, Prodie SCONCE, Clara LONG, Bessie LONG, Clara GRINDROD, Orville ROYSDON, Geo. POOL, Jesse ANDERSON, Jefferson STEPHENS, Charlie GRINDROD, Charlie ROBINSON. One little girl was dressed in white and whose name I can't recall.

"In closing, I send best wishes to them all.

"For the benefit of the STEPHENS family I might add that I recently found a will of one John STEPHENS dated 1877 and gives information and history of New Jersey family."

Submission by Ann Wyer, August of 2012

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, September 15, 1932

Rice Center reunion, as told by a pupil of Rice Center school, which might be of interest to those living at a distance who could not be present, Sunday, September 11, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wesley GLENDENNING at the Asa HUGGINS residence in west Mount Ayr.

The day was ideal and folks from a distance began to arrive at an early hour while those close by could attend church in various places. According to the register, Mrs. Luella HARDEN was first on the ground with the coffee and Jesse ANDERSON with tables. They were soon arranged by the Misses Lily GLENDENNING, Velma GREENMAN, Margaret HARDEN and Ilene HUTCHINSON. Flags were waving amidst the tall pines all about the lawn and a banner at the entrance of the driveway gate with "Rice Center School District No. 5" so no one would miss the place.

At the noon hour Mr. Geo. TENNANT presided and and invocation by Mr. R. M. BUCK, former teacher of the school. After feasting on all the good things several pictures were taken and those who sat in the back seats forty years ago were told to sit down in front while those who sat in the little seats in front were told they could stand up behind. "How times do change!"

Next the teachers assembled around an old table where they usualy sat while eating their lunch for dinner since with thirty-six to forty pupils in all grades, they hadn't time to sit in the chair any other time.

The teachers present were as follows:

Mrs. Eva LONG SPENCER, Mrs. Fannie BALDWIN BUCK, Mrs. Cora LONG MERRITT, Mr. T. W. NAPIER, Mr. R. M. BUCK, Mrs. Pearl BROWN HOLMAN, Mrs. Lola SPENCER STEPHENS, Mr. Ohmer (sic, should be Omer) VARNER, Mrs. Mable ROBINSON STEPHENS.

Mr. Geo. TENNANT gave the history of the building and location of the Rice Center school house. Mrs. BUCK was called on next. She responded with a short talk after which she introduced her pupils by calling the roll and having each pupil come to the front and stand in line facing the audience and relate some little incident that occurred in school. She didn't seem to be a bit afraid of any of us saying anything bad as we had a good school. Willie POOR received the most cheers since he told who was the prettiest little girl and who his best girl was. Mrs. Eva SPENCER called her pupils next who responded by standing. Mrs. Cora MERRITT responded gracefully and spoke of the pleasant associations we had together, and of the pleasant calls and luncheons we still have together, especially mentioning one at the the home of Hattie RUSH DANIELSON, of Lamoni. Mr. T. W. NAPIER spoke next with several jokes and a good history of Iowa, remembering all the pupils that went to school to him. Mr. R. M. BUCK made a good talk and called the roll of the pupils who went to school to him. Mr. Ohmer (sic) VARNER made a good talk and told of falling in love with his wife and enjoying teaching so well he still teaches in Diagonal. Mrs. Lola STEPHENS told what fun it was to put on a Christmas program in a one-room school house with some old flickering lanterns. Mrs. Pearl HOLMAN spoke of her splendid boarding place and the good eats, and the price she paid and the price she received per month for teaching, also of a teacher's life as next to a mother in school. Mrs. Mabelle STEPHENS called all her teachers by name.

Mrs. Mary J. BROWN, being the oldest person present, gave a history of early days where the ladies went visiting on horseback. We are very sorry to say some of the pupils didn't happen to be present to call on them. It has been said they will be called on the next time since this promises to be an annual affair.

Those present were as follows:

Wesley GLENDENNING, Nellie GLENDENNING, Lily GLENDENNING, Luella HARDEN, Margaret HARDEN, Walter HARDEN, Ilene HUTCHINSON, Grace GARTIN, Roy SWARTZ, Zella SWARTZ, Asa HUGGINS, Margaret HUGGINS, Walter HUGGINS, Nona COLE, Welma GREENMAN, Ed PRIMMER, Kate PRIMMER, Virgie GLENDENNING, Nettie ROBERTS, Oscar ROBERTS, Lena ROBERTS, Ella ROBERTS, Lee ROBERTS, Anna DEIBERT, Earl DEIBERT, Donella DEIBERT, H. A. SALTZMAN, Ferne SALTZMAN, H. A. SALTZMAN Jr., Bertha SALTZMAN, Emerson SALTZMAN, T. J. STEPHENS, Nova TYRREL, Clara WILKINSON, Roy WILKINSON, Robert WILKINSON, Dorothy WILKINSON, Winnie SWARTZ, Evelyn SWARTZ, Debbie SWARTZ, O. C. VARNER, Nina VARNER, Lola STEPHENS, Lloyd STEPHENS, Billie STEPHENS, John Ross STEPHENS, J. O. RICHARDSON, Ella RICHARDSON, Emma ELLIOTT, A. W. ELLIOTT, Muriel STEPHENS, John BUCK Jr., Ruth BUCK, William BUCK, Paul R. BUCK, T. W. NAPIER, Olga NAPIER, Alice HUDSON, Walter HUDSON, Lloyd HUDSON, Paul VARNER, Alvin VARNER, Clay DENNEY, Lela DENNEY, Lester DENNEY, Myrtle PATTERSON, Mrs. Mary J. BROWN, A. J. BROWN, Edna BROWN, Orville KING, Pearl HOLMAN, Eleanor HOLMAN, J. S. BUCK, Fannie BALDWIN BUCK, Geo. A. TENNANT, Fannie TENNANT, Bernice CAMPBELL, Guy SPICER, Minnie SPICER, A. L. SPENCER, Eva STEPHENS, John LAHS, Clara LAHS, J. F. LAHS, Ira A. MERRITT, Cora MERRITT, Peter ____, Donald STEPHENS, Paul VARNER, Joe STEPHENS, W. W. POOR, Maud POOR, George STEPHENS, Mabell STEPHENS, Jesse ANDERSON, Marion ANDERSON, R. M. BUCK, Fannie BUCK, W. G. NICHOL, Mary Elaine POOR, Ella Louise POOR, Ella McPHERSON, E. A. McPHERSON.

All departed late in the evening thanking Mr. and Mrs. GLENDENNING and Mr. Asa HUGGINS for their kind hospitality.

Submission by Ann Wyer, August of 2012

1. Anne REESE, 2. Royal _______, 3. Vernal ____

1. Roy RUSH, 2. Cleo BRAMON, 3. Roy DEIBERT, 4. ____ GOLDEN

 

RICE CENTER SCHOOL, 1908

Lola Maude SPENCER, teacher

 

RICE CENTER SCHOOL

Back Row, left to right: unknown at far left, Ray D., unknown, unknown
Front Row, left to right: unknown, Vera SEFRIT, Gladys D., Ann SEFRIT, Orr SEATON, Bert SEFRIT, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, unknown, Gladys BRAMON, Leona BLUNCK, Arlene GEIGER, Audrey SEFRIT

 

RICE CENTER SCHOOL, date unknown

Back Row, left to right: unknown at far left, Ray D., unknown, unknown
1. Gladys BRAMON, 2. Grace DONAHOE, 3. Gladys DEIBERT, 4. Ray DEIBERT, 5. Arlene DILLINGER, 6. Bessie BLUNCK, 7. Louise ___, 8. Leo _____

 Source: Photograph albums of Pearle V. (Bramon) Foland
Complied by Sharon R.Becker