School: West Eaton
Transcriber:
stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Meinholdt, Gemmeke, Pratt, Lenherr, Thorson, Zetsche, Podobnik,
Ozanich, Parkel, Miller, Liebzeit, Hoteling, Robins, Hilton, Hutchins, Miller,
Burch, Dewey, Dutcher, Helwig, Warner, Johnson, Larson, Burns, Vollrath,
Lindquist, Cleisby, Cole, Boson, Ross, Gates, Reese, Drew, Losen, Jordan,
Zelainis, Gosar, Humke, Horn, Fravert
----Source: Family Scrapbook
The first meeting of the West Eaton School was held October 10, 1890 with
Gottlob Meinholdt - Chairman and Treasurer, Theodore Meinholdt - Clerk, and
George Gemmeke - Director.
Motion was made and carried that the site for the new school shall be on SW
corner of SW quarter of N quarter of Section No. 8, Township No. 26. North range
2 West containing 1/2 acre. Rent at one dollar per annum to be paid for said
school site.
Motion made and carried that district shall pay $3.00 per month for the use of
the north room at the residence of Gottlob Meinholdt for the school term
1890-91, a term of 6 months from October to the end of December and from March
to the end of May.
E. T. Pratt was hired to build an 18x26 frame building at a cost of $295.00 to
be completed by August 15, 1891.
The original name of the school was the Meinholdt School. In 1909 they wanted to
move the old school to the road that is now the town line instead of
consolidation. After many heated discussions this obstacle was dropped and the
school remained on the same location. At this time the school term was
lengthened to eight months. The tax levy was $300.00 compared to $3500.00 today.
In 1918 the school district was changed. A petition was circulated and two
thirds of the vote sanctioned that the present school property should be
purchased from Alfred Lenherr for the price of $70.
In 1920 a motion was made to build a new school. It was first voted to build a
two room school and later a decision was made to build a one room school.
In 1922 there were 60 students crowded in the little school. The joint districts
of Eaton and Hendren borrowed $10,000.00 from the state trust fund for the
purpose of building a new larger school. The building committee consisted of Abe
Thorson, Robert Zetsche, Mike Podobnik, Joe Ozanich and Frank Parkel. The new
school house was built in 1923.
It was a one room building with a large basement, indoor toilets and a wood
furnace. The old building was sold to George Miller for $155.00 and the woodshed
to Alfred Lenherr for $18.25. Enrollment was greatly decreased as the new Rocky
Run School took many of the students.
In the year 1936 the teacher's salary was $76.00 a month and included janitor
work. Students were hired to sweep floor in the evening after school for a
dollar a month.
Classes lasted for 10-15 minutes and were held on recitation benches in front of
the room so as not to disturb those who were studying at their desks. Workbooks
were bought only for the first grade. Other seatwork, questions and tests were
made by the teacher as she read their weekly assignments and made lesson plans
for the week.
Christmas programs were held for parents and friends. Many times the better
plays were entered into competition with other schools at Greenwood High School.
Prize money was theirs to keep.
At this time one year of training qualified a person to teach. With a first
grade certificate a teacher could teach for five years without summer school. By
1943 the requirement was raised to two years.
In 1943 the school was closed and children were transported to Greenwood. In
1948 it was reopened for a few grades from consolidated schools. In 1952 the
school closed. The building was sold to Harry Liebzeit and the land was sold to
John Verhunce on which he built his home.
The following is a list of teachers who taught for a one year period unless
otherwise stated: In 1890 Myrtle Hoteling, the first teacher; Mabel Robins, Ray
Hilton, Elmer Hutchins, Lynn Miller (half-term), Sadie Burch 1 1/2, Anson Dewey,
Sophia Dutcher 2, Ella Helwig 8, Hazel Warner, Julia Johnson, Ruth Larson
(part-term), Alice Burns, Emma Vollrath 2, Ella Lindquist 2, Minnie Lindquist 2,
Clarence Cleisby, Sarah Cole, Emma Boson 3, Pearl Ross, Mrs. Gates, Anna Reese,
Susie Drew 3, Sarah Losen, Josephine Jordan, Stanley Zelainis 6, Sophie Gosar 4,
Ruth Humke 2, Laverne Horn, Elvira Fravert 3.
Submitted by: Sophie Gosar
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