Alma School history, teachers, and P.T.A.

Histories of the

Alma Public School

and the

Alma Parent Teacher Association

Alma, Illinois

We are looking for photos of people and/or places from around Kinmundy & Alma. Can you help?

Or maybe you have stories or memories from the "Good Old Days"? What do YOU remember?

The Kinmundy Historical Society would be honored to preserve your memories and stories. We also have the

equipment to scan (or copy) your photos so that they may be enjoyed now as well as for generations yet to come!

We would love to hear from you! For more information, please contact:

Dolores (Ford) Mobley – Dolores@ford-mobley.com

208 Joan Dr.; Divernon, IL 62530; (217) 625-7527

Gladys (Corrie) See – gsee49@yahoo.com

408 S. Washington St.; Kinmundy, IL 62854; (618) 547-7731

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1925-1926: Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades; Delsie (Knight) Malone Ford - 4th, 5th & 6th grades; Grace (Ross) Jackson - 7th & 8th grades;

1926-1927: Earl Jackson - High School; Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades

1927-1928: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades; Delsie (Knight) Malone Ford - 4th, 5th & 6th grades; Grace (Ross) Jackson - 7th & 8th grades;

1928-1929: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades; Delsie (Knight) Malone Ford - 4th, 5th & 6th grades; Ann (Mazanek) Arnold - 7th & 8th grades;

1929-1930: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades; Delsie (Knight) Malone Ford - 4th, 5th & 6th grades; Ann (Mazanek) Arnold - 7th & 8th grades;

1930-1931: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades; Grace (Ross) Jackson - 4th, 5th & 6th grades; Ann (Mazanek) Arnold - 7th & 8th grades;

1931-1932: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades; Grace (Ross) Jackson - 4th, 5th & 6th grades; Ava Williams - 7th & 8th grades;

1932-1933: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades; Kathryn (Laswell) Williams - 4th, 5th & 6th grades; Mary (Winks) Weeks - 7th & 8th grades;

1933-1934: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades; ?Kathryn (Laswell) Williams - 4th, 5th & 6th grades; Ann (Mazanek) Arnold - 7th & 8th grades;

1933-1934: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades; Kathryn (Laswell) Williams - 4th, 5th & 6th grades; Ann (Mazanek) Arnold - 7th & 8th grades;

1934-1935: _______________; ________________; _______________; Mr. Rolland Williams - High School

1935-1936: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades; Kathryn (Laswell) Williams - 4th, 5th & 6th grades; ______________ - 7th & 8th grades;

1936-1937: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades; Kathryn (Laswell) Williams - 4th, 5th & 6th grades; Miss Alice Readnour - 7th & 8th grades;

1937-1938: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades; ____________ - 4th, 5th & 6th grades; Mary (Winks) Weeks - 7th & 8th grades;

1938-1939: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades; Kathryn (Laswell) Williams - 4th, 5th & 6th grades; Grace (Ross) Jackson - 7th & 8th grades;

1939-1940: Merle W. Baker - Principal; Teachers: Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson, Mrs. Kathryn (Laswell) Williams, Miss Lulu W. Foster. Ham Stipp - janitor.

1940-1941: Merle W. Baker - Principal and High School teacher for Freshmen & Sophomores.

Teachers: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st & 2nd grades; Mrs. Kathryn (Laswell) Williams - 3rd, 4th & 5th grades; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson - 6th, 7th & 8th grades.

1941-1942: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st & 2nd grades; Mrs. Kathryn (Laswell) Williams - 3rd, 4th & 5th grades; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson - 6th, 7th & 8th grades.

1942-1943: Miss Lulu W. Foster - 1st, 2nd & 3rd grades; Mrs. Kathryn (Laswell) Williams - 3rd, 4th & 5th grades; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson - 6th, 7th & 8th grades.

1945-1946: Miss Lulu W. (Foster) Owen - Room 1; Mrs. Ann (Mazanek) Arnold - Room 2; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson - Room 3.

1946-1947: Miss Lulu W. (Foster) Owen - Room 1; Mrs. Ann (Mazanek) Arnold - Room 2; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson - Room 3.

1947-1948: Mrs. Lulu W. (Foster) Owen - Room 1; Mrs. Phyllis (Middleton) Smith - Room 2; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson - Room 3.

1948-1949: Mrs. Lulu W. (Foster) Owen - Room 1; Mrs. Phyllis (Middleton) Smith - Room 2; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson - Room 3.

1949-1950: Mrs. Lulu W. (Foster) Owen - Room 1; Mrs. Phyllis (Middleton) Smith - Room 2; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson - Room 3.

1950-1951: Mrs. Lulu W. (Foster) Owen - Room 1; Mrs. Phyllis (Middleton) Smith - Room 2; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson - Room 3.

1951-1952: Mrs. Lulu W. (Foster) Owen - Grades 1 & 2; Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams - Grades 3, 4 & 5; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson - Grades 6, 7 & 8.

1952-1953: Mrs. Lulu W. (Foster) Owen - Room 1; Mrs. Bertha (Rose) See - Room 2; Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams - Room 3; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson - Room 4..

Mrs. Maxine (Cox) Barksdale - music teacher; Ham Stipp - janitor. ___________ - cooks.

1953-1954: Mrs. Lulu W. (Foster) Owen - Room 1; Mrs. Bertha (Rose) See - Room 2; Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams - Room 3; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson - Room 4..

Mrs. Maxine (Cox) Barksdale - music teacher; Mr. Broeker - band instructor; Ham Stipp - janitor. ___________ - cooks.

1955-1956: Mrs. Lulu (Foster) Owen - Room 1; Mrs. Susie Malone - Room 2; Mrs. Ruby Sullens - Room 3;__________

1956-1957: Mrs. Lulu W. (Foster) Owen, Mrs. Susie Malone, Mrs. Ruby Sullens, Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams, Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson;

1957-1958: Mrs. Lulu W. (Foster) Owen - 1st & 2nd grades; Mrs. Susie Malone - 3rd & 4th grades; Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams - 4th & 5th grades; Mrs. Ruby Sullens; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson;

1958-1959: Mrs. Lulu W. (Foster) Owen - 1st & 2nd grades; Mrs. Susie Malone - 3rd & 4th grades; Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams - 5th grade; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson - 5th & 6th grades; _____________

1959-1960: Mrs. Lulu W. (Foster) Owen - 1st grade; __________________; Mr. Fred Gammon - 4th & 5th grades; Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams - ________; Mrs. Grace (Ross) Jackson - 6th grade

1960-1961: Mrs. Lulu W. (Foster) Owen - ______; Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams - 2nd & 3rd grades; ________________; Mr. Fred Gammon - 5th & 6th grades;

1961-1962: Mrs. Lulu W. (Foster) Owen - ______; Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams - 2nd & 3rd grades; Mrs. Pauline Holt - _____; Mr. Fred Gammon - 5th & 6th grades;

1962-1963: Mrs. Pat Baldridge - Room 1; Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams - Room 2; Mrs. Pauline Holt - Room 3 - 2nd & 3rd grades; Mr. Fred Gammon - Room 4 & principal;

1963-1964: Miss Donna Koch - _____; Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams - _______; Mr. Douglas Woods - 4th & 5th grades; Mr. Fred Gammon - 5th & 6th grades.

1964-1965: _______________, _______________, _________________, Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams - 5th and 6th grades.

1965-1966: Miss Sue Ross - ______, Miss Wilma McClelland - _______, Mr. Douglas Woods - 4th & 5th grades, Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams - ____________ & Principal.

1966 1967: Miss Sue Ross - ______, Miss Wilma McClelland - 2nd & 3rd grades, Mr. Douglas Woods - 4th grade; Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams - 5th & 6th grades;

Mr. Robert Murphy - band; Mrs. Ferdie Leach - music; Bessie Phillips - cook; __________- janitor.

1967-1968: Miss Sue Ross - 1st grade; Miss Wilma McClelland - 2nd & 3rd grades, Mr. Douglas Woods - 4th grade; Mrs. Nellie (Nichols) Williams - 5th & 6th grades;

Mr. Roy Adams - ?band; Mrs. Ferdie Leach - music; Bessie Phillips - cook; Mr. John Phillips - janitor.

1968-1969: Miss Sue Ross - 1st & 2nd grades; Miss Wilma McClelland - _____; _________________, Mrs. Nellie Williams - ___________

In 1853 the Illinois Central Railroad was laid, and in 1854 the town of Rantoul, later named Grand Mound City, and finally called Alma, was laid out by John Martin. The Martin, French and tilden Additoin consisted of six blocks. Children from this settlement attended the little one-room school located east of town in the Pleasant Hill neighborhood and taught by John Abbot (whose family lived where the John Broom family now live.) In 1869-70 William "Uncle Billy" Ross taught the school. In 1898 the school was moved to the location of the "Pullen home" (at the Southeast corner of Broadway & Seventh Streets - which are now vacant lots.) This building later burned and was replaced by a 2-room building (with a hallway between the rooms). (The lumber from this building was later used for the building of the "Pullen house" by John McNeal.) The two-room building was taught by various teachers who included: J.E. Whitechurch and Scott Kniseley (who later became County Superintendent of Schools.)

When the Christian sponsored college (which was built in 1897 a few rods north of the "then" present building) was discontinued for lack of funds and low enrollment. The building was turned over to Alma to be used as a grade school. The "Checkerboard" (so-called from the design of the eaves under the roof) across the road from the college was the home of the college president Henry Boles, and the Rosa Winks home, then the home of Whittier "Whitty" ross, housed out-of-town college students. (According to other notes of Lulu (Foster) Owen and info. from Mary (Winks) Weeks, one of the houses was a dormitory for men, and the other house was used as a dormitory for the women.) The old college building, a large, square, dormer-windowed building consisting of four large rooms below two rooms and a chapel above, was being used as the grade school for Alma when it burned in 1912. The school term was finished in the Baptist Church, Mazanek Hall and the "Checkerboard".

School began the following October in the new building, the one now in use. It had two rooms upstairs, but only one large room downstairs, (the partition being put in later), and a partial basement. One room was used as a playroom until December 8, 1919 when a two-year high school was established (later accredited in 1922) with T.B. McCartan as principal and teacher. Pearl McCartan and Gordon Winks were the grade teachers.

At the end of the term in May, 1941, the High School was taken into the Kinmundy Community High School District as voted on in March 8, 1941. The following fall, the rooms were moved up one room and a lunch room was added and sponsored by the Alma Parent Teacher's Association (which had been organized october 15, 1934.) In 1948 or 1949 (?), the rest of the basement was excavated and completed. A water system and indoor toilets were added. In September 1952, the kitchen was moved to this basement room to make room for another teacher. This made a total of four teachers, each teaching two grades. On May 9, 1953 a vote was taken to form a Unit District which would include Alma, Kinmundy, Meacham, Omega, Foster, and part of Tonti townships. The measure passed and the school was taken into the Kinmundy Community High School district.

Thirteen candidates filed for election to the KCHS board. The candidates were, P.H. Robnett, J.B. Maxey, and Max A. Metcalf from Kinmundy township; Mont Ritter and See Millican from Omega township; Herman G. Soldner, Otis E. Tate and Clark Hampsten of Meacham township; John S. Ford and William Hester, Alma township; and Mark Arnold, Foster township.

This board had jurisdiction over 500-600 grade and high school students. It replaced 10 grade school boards and one high school board.

Rollin Williams from Sept. 1934 until Dec. 13, 1935. (Merle Baker completed the term from then until 1936.)

(Source: Handwritten notes of Lulu Foster Owen (tucked into a 1942 school album which sold at auction at her death by her family.)

The Alma Parent Teacher's Association was organized Oct. 15, 1934 and has been an active, helpful organization in the school.

The first Alma School was located where White School is now. It was taught by Uncle Billy Ross.

Then about 1898 the school house was moved where the Pullen house stands. It then had two rooms and a hall. It remained there until the old college didn’t prove to be a success.

When the college proved unsuccessful it was given to the town for a grade school. The old school was torn down and the Pullen house built out of the lumber. The grade school remained in the old college building until it burned in the spring of 1912. This school being taught by Mr. and Mrs. T.B. McCartan.

The present school building was then built. It only had three rooms. The lower room covering the first floor. Teachers being Mr. T.B. McCartan and his daughter Pearl. The high school was established in 1919. They have had a high school before, but it was not a credited one.

They continued having high school until 1941 when it was taken into the Kinmundy Community High School District.

After the high school was taken away, the rooms were moved up one room and a lunch room was added.

At present, those serving our school are Mrs. Grace Jackson, principal and teacher of grades seven and eight. Mrs. Ann Arnold teacher of grades four and five and six. Mrs. Lulu Owen, teacher of grades one, two and three. Mr. Ham Stipp, Janitor, and Mrs. Nina Middleton and Mrs. Blanch Austin, Cooks.

On October 14, 1934 about 25 parents met at the Alma Church for the purpose of organizing a Parent Teachers Association. Mrs. G.R. Williams of Salem was present and explained the aims and ideals of the association and the necessary procedure of organizing and affiliation with the State congress of Parents and Teachers.

The first regular meeting was held at the school building the next week with 25 charter members, and the following officers were elected for the first year: President, Mrs. Rhea Shreffler; Vice President, D.C. Day; Secretary, Kathryn Williams; Treasurer, Lulu Foster.

The school year of 1934-35 was the first year of our Alma Parent Teachers Association.

Our first undertaking was a penny supper which we held in the Mazanek building, and the proceeds were $34.06. $31.07 of this was used for electric light wire and fixtures to wire the school building, the work being done and donated by the men of the town. This filled a long felt need, and has been much appreciated by the pupils and teachers, especially on dark winter days.

At the May meeting it was voted to organize a band, using some of the instruments owned and donated by citizens of the town, but which would have to be reconditioned. This work was paid for by individual donations, and by the proceeds of a cafeteria supper, held May 9^th, which netted $28.30. In June of that year we still had a balance of $22.31 in the treasury so a reconditioned piano was purchased for the school. This ended our first year of P.T.A. work.

Our Association began the year of 1936-1937 with D.C. Day as president, Jess Donoho vice president, Mary Winks secretary, Lulu Foster as treasurer, and a balance of $108.92 in the treasury. A sizable donation was added to this by the school district and play ground equipment, consisting of a slide and three swings was purchased and set up, also two new basketballs, sweatshirts and pants were purchased for the basketball squad – I might add that though pretty well worn, these suits are still in use by our present team.

The P.T.A. was influential that year in procuring the services of a doctor and nurse, who gave smallpox vaccination, diphtheria and typhoid shots to all pupils desiring them. This ended our year’s work.

In 1937-1938, our president was William E. Williams, vice president and secretary unknown, treasurer D.C. Day, and our enrollment was 31 members.

Two new basketballs were purchased for the team that year, also twenty-five Golden Song Books for the use of the school and Parent Teachers Association.

In the fall of 1937, several of our patrons attended a sectional P.T.A. meeting at Bridgeport and while there held the next district convention in Alma. This invitation was accepted and the convention was held here the following spring, with a large attendance.

Mr. Williams was reelected as our president for the year 1938-1939. 37 members were enrolled.

At the beginning of the year 1939-1940, Mrs. J.C. Wilson was president of the P.T. A., but due to illness was forced to resign. She was replaced by Mrs. Merle Baker, with Mrs. Earl Jackson as vice president, and Mrs. Jess Donoho treasurer, Sec. unknown.

A nice sum was made that year through the sale of magazine subscriptions. We had 31 members that year.

For the school year of 1940-1941, our P.T.A. officers were: President, Mrs. Warden Bishop; Vice President, Mrs. Ella Mae Hester; Secretary, Mrs. Opal Coyne; Treasurer, Mrs. Grace Jackson. We had an enrollment of thirty-one members and began the year with a total of $49.50 in the treasury.

That year we secured and paid the expenses of a speaker who helped us organize the Allied Youth Movement among our Young people.

In April we purchased one dozen steel folding chairs and contributed $5.00 to the Child Welfare Fund. This ended our school year with $20.67 still in the treasury.

Mrs. Ella Mae Hester was our president for the year 1941-1942; ___ Vice president;, Grace Jackson – Secretary; Kathryn Williams – treasurer. 41 members were enrolled.

A pie supper was held in October and the receipts were $23.27. A penny supper in November netted $25.17. It was in this month that a meeting of mothers was called to discuss a school lunch room. The idea was favorably received and it was voted to start the project with the P.T.A. as sponsor. With money in the treasury and public and personal donations, the necessary dishes, pans, silverware, kerosene and groceries were purchased. The school board purchased the stoves and lumber and other material needed to convert what was then the primary room – into our present day kitchen.

The work of building the tables, seats, and storage space was done by Mr. Stipp.

The P.T.A. continued to sponsor the lunch room the first three years, while the school board has operated it the last two years with the P.T.A. helping in any way possible.

The association sponsored a paper drive in 1941-42 to help the war effort, and the school children collected and sold $20.10 worth, which was placed in the treasury to help with the expenses of the kitchen.

Mrs. Hester was reelected as president for the year 1942-43. That year we paid $20 into the community school garden at Odin and received in return – cans of fruit and vegetables. 268 additional cans were purchased by donations and by dimes contributed by the school children.

In February of that year a Penny supper was held which added $31.68 to the treasury.

Our first P.T.A. meeting for the school year of 1943-1944 was held in October at the school building with a potluck supper. Mrs. Gertrude Gammon was president of that year; Mrs. Bert Humes, Vice President; Mrs. Edith Williams, secretary; and Mrs. Grace Jackson, Treasurer; and we had an enrollment of 44 members.

A $5.00 T.B. Health Bond was purchased and the P.T.A. sponsored a T.B. test and immunization program, the work being done by the county nurse and a doctor from Salem.

Our president Mrs. Gammon, attended the National Parent Teacher’s Convention in Chicago that year.

P.T.A. officers for the year 1944-1945 were Mrs. Genelle Aldrich, president; Mrs. Lola Williams, vice president; Mrs. Ella Mae Hester, Treasurer; and Mrs. Melba Dietrich, secretary.

Additional dishes for the kitchen were purchased, also a $5.00 T.B. Health Bond.

Groups of the mothers met at the school kitchen in the summer and fall of 1944 and canned 136 quarts of tomatoes, and 140 cans of pears for the use of the lunch room. The fruit and glass cans were donated by the patrons.

The same officers were re-elected for 1945-46, the present school year. There are 40 members.

This ends the review of the year by year accomplishments of the Alma Parent Teachers Association and now, in lighting these candles, one for each of the twelve years, it is with the hope that we shall continue to prosper and grow in the years to come – that we may always be able to serve and aid our school and our children.

The village of Alma is on the northwest corner of the township on the Chicago branch of the Illinois Central Railroad. It was first laid out by John S. Martin 1854. It was named Rantoul, after an officer of the railroad, but another town had been given that name, and it was changed to Alma.

Doctor Hutton built the first store house in 1853, and was the first postmaster. Smith and Hawkins conducted the first blacksmith shop and John Ross the first grist and saw mill. Jefferson Hawkins was the first Methodist Preacher; John Ross, the first Christian preacher. The Methodist Church was built in 1871.

The first school house was burned and the second one was built in 1866 and 1867. It was a two room building, but is not now used. Some of the members of the Christian Church, conceived the thought of a Christian College at Alma. The Rosses and others gave land and money and a good two story school house, or college, was built and a college opened, but after a few years struggle, the property was sold to the district for public school purposes.

Mr. Abbott was one of the first school teachers and was an outstanding educator and leader of the community of that time.

Alma has grown from a hamlet to a village, and was incorporated in 1896. It has many business houses and has the trade of this, and Tonti and Foster township. On the 28^th of December, 1908 a fire broke out in a large barn and destroyed the entire business part of Alma. Several stores, warehouses, shops and restaurants were burned and as all were of frame, the loss was total, but with true American grit, the ashes were hardly cold before the debris was being cleared away and preparation for brick buildings were under way. In July of 1908 the large fruit cannery was burned.

One of the first pioneers of the community, Wm. Ross, introduced the netted Gem melon, a small, oval, heavily netted, green fleshed fruit; Mr. Ross brought the melon seeds back from Texas in 1855. The melons were grown commercially for several years by local farmers and shipped to the Chicago market in barrels. At one time the shipments reached 10 to 15 carloads a day.

In the same year that Mr. Ross introduced the melon, he also started the keifer pear tree which he imported from Texas. Other trees were grafted from the original tree; the beginning of many large pear orchards in the surrounding community. The original tree is still standing.

The first section house in Alma was located near the Mike See place and J.T. Claytors father was the first section foreman, and they lived in the section house. The tool shed being located across the railroad.

Mike See was one of the first station agents; the family lived above the station until their house was completed.

The first bank was located in Mr. Mallot’s store, located where Roy Gregory now has his filling station.

On March 8, 1941, the High School District of Alma was consolidated into a community High School with Kinmundy as its center. When high school was out in the spring, the Alma High School was no more.

In the fall of 1941, the grade school convened with Mrs. Grace Jackson as principal, Mrs. Kathryn Williams, and Mrs. Lulu Owens as teachers. This same year a lunch room was put into our school. The P.T.A. sponsored and outfitted the room. Help was given by the national program of P.W.A. and many surplus products were used. It was a success and the next year found the lunch room again in action.

Today we have several new pieces of equipment that have been added. A general Electric refrigerator, pressure cooker, new cooking utensils, dishes, glasses, and some new silverware.

In 1942 the ceilings of the school were covered with insulation board and the walls were painted, which greatly added to the attractiveness of the rooms. Several new pieces of playground equipment were also added.

The year 1942-43 and 1943-44 we were fortunate to have a music teacher, Mrs. L.E. Hard. In the spring of 1944, an operetta, “Liberty Lane”, was given in the gymnasium in Kinmundy.

In 1947 shrubbery was set out around the schoolhouse by the P.T.A. and was dedicated to the boys from our town who paid the supreme sacrifice in World War II.

The basement was excavated and finished in the summer of 1947. This added a lot of space for a play room and a storage room. The furnace and coal rooms are also housed in the basement.

A duplicator was purchased by the P.T.A. The three rooms donated the money they received as prizes from the Marion County Fair to help buy it.

A Bell-Howell projector for visual-education was purchased by the P.T.A. during the winter of 1947-48.

Some of the needs of our educational system are: a new stove for the kitchen, basketball goals, new basketballs, new textbooks, a gymnasium equipped with a stage, movable unit seats, a nine months school term, and a higher educational tax levy.

Town 3, north, range 3 east of the third principal meridian is Alma. Big Creek and Dumbs Creek drain the township. Big Creek drains to the Kaskaskia and Dumb’s Creek to the Wabash River. Grand Prairie in the north, Summit Prairie in the center, and a very small prairie in the southeast called from a spring there, Red Lick. This township was originally mostly prairie and is now mostly cultivated.

The Illinois Central-Chicago branch, passes across the northwest corner of the township, while the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad, crosses it from north to south.

The two earliest settlers in Alma township were Marshall and John Wantland, who came from Tennessee.

The first school was held in an abandoned cabin and was taught by Isaac Kagy. It was a subscription school. In 1842 the first schoolhouse was built. It stood where the Pleasant Grove church now stands.

William Tully built the first horse mill in 1836. John Beck kept the first store.

In 1841 John Hammers opened a coal mine six feet under ground by stripping, that is removing six feet of surface to a vein of coal two feet thick, but when the railroad brought coal to Alma, the mine was abandoned.

The village of Alma is on the northwest corner of the township on the Chicago branch of the Illinois Central Railroad. It was first laid out by John S. Martin in 1854.

It was named Rantoul, after an officer of the railroad, but another town had been given that name and it was changed to Grand Mound City, but in 1855 was changed to Alma.

Doctor Hutton built the first storehouse in 1853, and was the first postmaster. Smith and Hawkins conducted the first blacksmith shop and John Ross the first grist mill. Jefferson Hawkins was the first Methodist preacher, John Ross, the first Christian preacher. The Methodist church was built in 1871.

The first schoolhouse was burned and the second one was built in 1866 and 1867. It was a two room building but it is not now used. Some of the members of the Christian Church conceived the idea of a Christian College at Alma. The Rosses and others gave land and money and a good two story schoolhouse, or college, was built and a college opened, but after a few years struggle the property was sold to the district for public school purposes.

Alma has grown from a hamlet to a village and was incorporated in 1896. It has many business houses and has the trade of this, Tonti, and Foster townships. On the twenty-eighth of December, 1908, a fire broke out in a large barn and destroyed the entire business part of Alma. Several stores, warehouses, shops and restaurants were burned and as all were of frame construction, the loss was total, but with true American grit, the ashes were hardly cold before the debris was being cleared away and preparations for brick buildings were under way. In the spring of 1908 the large fruit cannery was burned. Alma is one of the chief fruit shipping points of the county.

The first section house in Alma was located near the cemetery. The first express agent was Gex Pullen’s grandfather. He had peaches to ship and he was made an agent so that he could ship his own peaches.

The first bank was located in Mr. Mallot’s store, located where Leslie McWhirter now has his filling station.

The musk melon business was probably Alma’s greatest industry. Many days ten to fifteen cars were shipped out daily.

In 1854, one year after the main line of the Illinois Central Railroad was laid, the town of Rantoul, later named Grand Mound City, and finally called Alma, six blocks in size, was laid out by John Martin. Children from this settlement attended the one room school located east of town in the Pleasant Hill neighborhood. One of its outstanding teachers was a John Abbott whose family lived at what is now the John Broom home. In 1869-70, Uncle Billy Ross taught the school.

In 1898 the school was moved to the location of the “Pullen home”. It later burned and was replaced by a two room building. The lumber of this one was used by John McNeal when the Pullen house was built.

The two room school was taught by various teachers, including two, J.E. Whitechurch and Scott Knieseley, who later became County Supt. of Schools in Marion county. When the Christian sponsored College, which was built in 1897, a few rods north of the present building, was discontinued, for lack of funds and low enrollment, the building was turned over to Alma to be used as a grade school.

The “Checkerboard” so called from the design of the shingles, across from the college, was the home of the college president, Henry Boles. The Rosa Winks home, then the home of Whitty Ross, who had both houses built, housed out of town college students.

The college building, a large square, dormer windowed building of four rooms below, class rooms, and a Chapel above, burned in March 1912. The school term was finished in the Baptist church, Mazanek Hall, and “The Checkerboard”.

It had two rooms upstairs, as now, but only one large room down stairs, the partition being put in later. One room was then used as a playroom until December 8, 1919 when a credited two year high school was established with T.B. McCartan as teacher. He was replaced in the grades for the balance of the term by Gordon Winks, Miss Pearl McCartan was lower grade teacher.

In 1941 the High School was taken into the Kinmundy Community High School District, as voted on March 8, 1941. The following fall the three grade rooms were moved up one room and a lunch room was added and sponsored by the schools very active and helpful P.T.A., which had organized October 15, 1934. In 1945 the other half of the basement was completed, and a water system and indoor toilets were added. In September 1952 the kitchen was moved to this basement room, another teacher was added, making four teachers, with two grades to each room.

On May 9, 1953 a vote was taken to form a Unit District including all or part, of the townships of Alma, Kinmundy, Omega, Meacham, Tonti and Foster and passed, and so passes District 74, into a new era and a new District, #301.

The Alma Parent Teacher’s Association was organized Oct. 13, 1934 and has been an active, helpful organization in the school. Achievements of the P.T.A.: Purchase of material and wiring the school building for electric lights; staged a W.L.S. show; purchase of piano; purchase of playground equipment; reconditioning of band instruments; vaccination of pupils for smallpox, diphtheria, and T.B. tests; purchase of basketball suits, sweatsuits, and basketball; sponsored hot lunches for school children; purchase of dishes, and silverware for school kitchen; penny suppers to raise funds; salvaging waste paper for defense.

1936-37 – Officers: Dwight C. Day – President; Jess Donoho – Vice President;

1937-38 – William “Bill” E. Williams – President; D.C. Day – Treasurer

1939-40 – Mrs. Jess C. Wilson - President (due to illness, she had to resign.)

1940-41 – Mrs. Warden Bishop – President; Mrs. Ella Mae Hester – Secretary;

1941-42 – Mrs. Ella Mae Hester – President; Mrs. Grace Jackson – Vice-President;

1943-44 – Mrs. Gertrude Gammon – President; Mrs. Bert Humes – Vice-President;

1944-45 – Mrs. Genelle Aldrich – President; Mrs. Lela Williams – Vice-President;

1945-46 – Mrs. Genelle Aldrich – President; Mrs. Lelia Williams – Vice-President;

1946-47 – Mrs. John S. Ford – President; Mrs. William Hester – Vice-President;

1947-48 – Mrs. John S. Ford – President; Mrs. William Hester – Vice-President;

1948-49 – Mrs. Mrs. Louis Cornell – President; Mrs. Theo. Dietrich – Vice-President;

Mrs. Theo. Dietrich took over as duties of President after Mrs. Cornell moved to

1950-51 - Mrs. Phyllis Smith – President; Mrs. Marjory Barbee - Vice-President;

1952-53 - Mrs. Marjory Deadmond – President; Mrs. Mary Broom - Vice-President;

1953-54 - Mrs. Marjory Deadmond – President; Mrs. Rhea Gragg - Vice-President;

1954-55 - Mrs. Doris Stubblefield – President; Mrs. Gertrude Braden - Vice-President;

First time “P.T.O.” is mentioned – Sept. 1965 – Alma PTO to meet – Sept. 9, 1965

1967-68 – Ray Vandeveer – President; William “Bill” Beard – Vice President;

(The above information was gathered from the Alma Public School yearbooks “The Alma Mater”, Alma P.T.A. Secretary reports, "The Kinmundy Express" articles, and school photos.)