Kinmundy Historical Society

 

 

 

 

 

        ALLEN SCHOOL

   Alma Township, Marion County, Illinois

 

     Remember that you can use CTRL-F to find a particular surname within these pictures.

              There is also a Grade School Index available on the "Photo Catalog" page.

 

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        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

            or

 

            Gladys (Corrie) See – gsee49@yahoo.com

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

 

 

Teachers from ALLEN SCHOOL – District #76 (Alma township)

 

(1903-04)   Lula Hanawalt ($33.33)

 

(1915-16)   Mrs. Bessie (Lynch) Hiestand

(1916-17)   Eva Beard

(1917-18)   Miss Bertha Hanna (later became Mrs. Bertha (Hanna) Allen)

(1918-19)   Miss Bertha Hanna (later became Mrs. Bertha (Hanna) Allen)

 

(1920-21)   Leta Humes

(1921-22)

(ca 1922)   Mrs. Bessie (Lynch) Hiestand

(1922-23)  Alice Readnour

(1923-24)  Mrs. Bessie Hiestand

(1924-25)

(1925-26)

(1926-27)   Mrs. Ethel Fyke Kniseley

(1927-28)

Dec. 1927 – Mrs. Bessie Hiestand

(1928-29)   Bessie L. Hiestand

Sept. 29, 1929 – Miss Helen Wantland

(1929-30)   Bessie L. Hiestand

(1930-31)   Mrs. Bessie L. Hiestand

(1931-32)   Mrs. Bessie L. Hiestand

(1932-33)   Mrs. Bessie L. Hiestand

(1933-34)   Mrs. Bessie Hiestand

(1934-35)   Mrs. Bessie Hiestand

(1935-36)   Mrs. Bessie L. Hiestand

(1936-37)   Mrs. Bessie L. Hiestand

(1937-38)   Miss Wiladene Kniseley

(1938-39)   Miss Willadene Kniseley

(1939-40)   Bernice Wyman (according to Marion Co. School directory)

(1939-40)   Miss Wiladene Kniseley

(1940-41)   Miss Wiladene Kniseley (she married Joe Brown after her final year and had been teaching at Allen since she  

                   graduated from SINU.  They will reside in Jonesboro.

(1940-41)   Bernice W. Lewellen (from Marion Co. School Directory)

(1941-42)   Miss Bernice Lewellen

(1942-43)   Maxine (Cox) Barksdale

Oct. 29, 1942: The Allen School south of Kinmundy was seriously threatened by fire late Wednesday, when a field east of the school house caught fire and with the wind behind, burned toward the school.  The teacher saw that the fire was getting close to the school and took the children out and to their homes.  The Kinmundy Fire Dept. was called to the scene of the grass fire and with the help of several men and neighbors, were able to throw enough water on the School house and on the grass around the school to keep the fire from doing any harm when it reached the school.  The fire was the second serious grass fire near Kinmundy in the past 2 weeks.  The other fire was north of Kinmundy on the O. GORDON farm.

(1943-44)   Mrs. Maxine (Cox) Barksdale

(1944-45)   Martha Mulvany  

(1945-46)   No school  

Sept. 5, 1946: “Pleasant Grove” column: “Allen School started Monday with Mrs. Marjorie Walkington as teacher.  The three districts: Allen, Elder, and Red Lick are combined.  Mrs. Don Shaffer is taking the children.”

(1946-47)   Mrs. Marjorie Walkington

(1947-48)   Mrs. Marjorie Walkington

(September 4, 1947) School started at Allen School on Sept. 1, and the pupils from Wilson will attend there this term, owing to the shortage of pupils in our district.

(1948-49)   Mrs. Marjorie Walkington  

 

C-4: Consolidated No. 4 district meeting at Allen School

(1949-50)   Mrs. Marjorie Walkington

(1950-51)   Mrs. Marjorie Walkington

(1951-52)   Mrs. Anna L. Ballance

(1952-53)   Mrs. Anna Ballance

 

Kinmundy-Alma Rural Attendance Center at Allen School

(1953-54)   Mrs. Anna Ballance 

(1954-55)   Mrs. Anna Ballance

 

(The above information was gathered from "The Kinmundy Express" articles, school photos, Marion County Directories of School Teachers, One Room School Museum binders, and information from those who had attended school there.)

 

 

Year

Names of Trustees for Alma twp.; Town 3, Range 3 

Names of Directors for Allen School (#76)

1915 - 1916

Homer Kagy, C.M. See, L.N. Kennedy;

S.K. Spitler – township treasurer

W.T. Griffin, Wm. Griffin, S.H. Hiestand

1918 - 1919

L.N. Kennedy – President; Homer Kagy – Clerk;

C.M. See; S.K. Spitler – Treasurer

W.N. Jacobs, Len Alderson, Oscar Smith

1920 - 1921

L.N. Kennedy – President; T.H. Purcell – Clerk;

E.G. Ford; S.K. Spitler – Treasurer

Marshall Kagy, Oscar Smith, L.A. Alderson

1922 - 1923

E.G. Ford – President; F.H. Purcell – Clerk;

L.N. Kennedy; S.K. Spitler – Treasurer

C.W. Giffin, C.B. Hiestand, Oscar Smith

1923 - 1924

E.G. Ford – President; L.N. Kennedy – Clerk;

Homer Kagy; S.K. Spitler – Treasurer

Oscar Smith, C.B. Hiestand, C.W. Giffin

1926 - 1927

E.G. Ford – President; H.P. Smith – Clerk;

J.W. Griffin; S.K. Spitler – Treasurer

C.B. Hiestand, Oscar Smith, C.W. Giffin

1928 - 1929

C.E. Rainey – President; J.W. Griffin; E.G. Ford;

H.D. Thompson – Treasurer

C.W. Giffin, C.B. Hiestand, Oscar Smith

1930 - 1931

Clyde S. Hiestand – President; C.E. Rainey; E.G. Ford;

H.D. Thompson – Treasurer

Frank Embser, Claude Hiestand, C.W. Giffin

1931 - 1932

E.G. Ford; J.A. Broom; Clyde Hiestand;

Joe Mazanek - Treasurer

C.W. Giffin, C.B. Heistand, Frank Embser

1932 - 1933

Clyde Hiestand; E.G. Ford; J.A. Broom;

Joe Mazanek – Treasurer

C.W. Giffin, Frank Embser, C.B. Hiestand

1933 - 1934

Clyde Hiestand; E.G. Ford; J.A. Broom;

Joe Mazanek - Treasurer

C.W. Giffin, Frank Embster, Claude B. Hiestand

1934 - 1935

Clyde Hiestand; E.G. Ford; J.A. Broom;

Joe Mazanek – Treasurer

C.W. Giffin, C.B. Hiestand, Frank Embser

1935 - 1936

Clyde Hiestand – President; E.G. Ford; Roy Telford;

Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer

C.W. Giffin – President; C.B. Hiestand – Clerk;

Frank Embser

1936 - 1937

Clyde Hiestand – President; E.G. Ford; Roy Telford;

Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer

C.W. Giffin – President; Frank Embser – Clerk;

C.B. Hiestand

1937 - 1938

Clyde Hiestand – President; E.G. Ford; Roy Telford;

Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer

C.B. Hiestand – President; Frank Embser – Clerk;

C.W. Giffin

1938 - 1939

Clyde Hiestand – President; C.E. Rainey; Roy J. Telford;

Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer

C.W. Giffin – President; C.B. Hiestand – Clerk;

Oran Alderson

1939 - 1940

Clyde Hiestand – President; C.E. Rainey; John Broom;

Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer

C.W. Giffin – President; Oran Alderson – Clerk;

C.B. Hiestand

1940 - 1941

Clyde Hiestand – President; J.A. Broom; C.E. Rainey;

Joe Mazanek – twp. treasurer

C.B. Hiestand – President; Oran Alderson – Clerk;

Ted Embser

1941 - 1942

C.E. Rainey – President; J.A. Broom;

Joe Mazanek - Treasurer

C.B. Hiestand – President; Oran Alderson – Clerk;

Ted Embser

1942 - 1943

C.E. Rainey – President; J.A. Broom; D.C. Meador;

Joe Mazanek – Twp. Treasurer

Ted Embser – President; Oran Alderson – Clerk;

Roy Miller

1943 - 1944

C.E. Rainey – President; John Broom; D.C. Meador;

Joe Mazanek – Twp. Treas.

Oran Alderson – President; Roy Miller – Clerk;

Theo. Embser

1944 - 1945

C.E. Rainey – President; J.A. Broom; D.C. Meador;

Joe Mazanek – Twp. Treas.

Theo. J. Embser – President; Mrs. Harriet Miller – Clerk;

Oran Alderson

1945-1946

C.E. Rainey – President; Dave Meadors; J.A. Broom;

Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer

Theo. J. Embser – President; Harriet Miller – Clerk;

Oran Alderson

1946-1947

C.E. Rainey – President; J.A. Broom – Clerk;

Dave Meadors; Joe Mazanek – Twp. Treas.

Theo. J. Embser – President; Ray Vandeveer – Clerk;

H.J. Barksdale

1947-1948

Dave Meadors – President; J.A. Broom; C.E. Rainey

Theo. Embser – President; Ray Vandeveer – Clerk;

H.J. Barksdale

1948-1949

D.A. Meador – President; C.E. Rainey; J.A. Broom;

Joe Mazanek – Treasurer

Theo. Embser – President; Ray Vandeveer – Clerk;

H.J. Barksdale

1949-1950

New C-4 District formed:

W.D. Meador – President; J.A. Broom; C.E. Rainey;

Joe Mazanek – Treasurer

Jack Barksdale – President; Ray Vandeveer – Clerk;

John W. Shaffer

1950-1951

D.C. Meador – President; J.A. Broom; C.E. Rainey;

Joe Mazanek – Treasurer

Leo Stock – President; Ray Vandeveer – Clerk;

John Shaffer

1951-1952

D.C. Meador – President; J.A. Broom; C.E. Rainey;

Joe Mazanek – Treasurer

Leo Stock – President; Ray Vandeveer – Clerk;

John W. Shaffer

1952-1953

D.C. Meador – President; J.A. Broom; C.E. Rainey;

Joe Mazanek – Treasurer

Leo Stock – President; John Shaffer – Clerk;

Herbert Anderson

  

(The above information was gathered from Marion County Directories of School Teachers.)

 

Allen School; Alma Twp., Marion Co., IL

 

Allen School – District 76; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL - 1909

Back row: Abe Alderson, Gene Griffin, Clyde Hiestand, Claude Hiestand, Anna Englebrecht – teacher, Alice Embser

Front row: Delpha Sipes, Dot Sipes, Anna Giffin, Adda Alderson, Charles Embser, Lester Yost, Ruby Giffin, Anne Alderson, Ted Embser

 

 

Allen School – District 76; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL – 1913-14

Included in picture are Frank, Ted, Jerry, Leon, and Charlie Embser.  The teacher was Susie Hite.

 

 

Allen School – District 76; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL – Mrs. Bess (Lynch) Hiestand, teacher; ca 1922

Back row: Eura Shaffer, Delbert Smith, Ira Shaffer, Mrs. Bess (Lynch) Hiestand, _____ Atteberry, ______ Bass

Middle row: Marjorie (Hiestand) Deadmond, Wilma (Hiestand) Monical, ________________, ______________, _________________

Front row: Ralph Hiestand, Uriah Smith, John Shaffer, Dan Hiestand

 

 

 

Allen School – District 76; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL – Ethel Knisely, teacher; 1927

Front row: John Shaffer, Dan Hiestand, ____________, _____________, Martha June Hiestand, Nelda (Shaffer) Wilkins,

                  _______________, Ralph Hiestand

Middle row: Marjorie (Hiestand) Deadmond, _______________, Nora Shaffer, Mrs. Ethel Knisely - teacher

Back row: Arno Shaffer, ___________, Eura Shaffer, ____________,  Ira Shaffer, _____________

 

Allen School names; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL – Ethel Knisely, teacher  -  Students with families – Last day of school - 1927

 

(Note: These are people in the rows in the general order.  There are some missing names though.)

Back row: Oscar Smith, Art Bass, Virgil Hiestand, Will Hiestand, Ira Shaffer, Osborne Bass, Herman Kagy, Eura Shaffer

 3rd row: Leroy Knisely, George Hiestand, Dwight ______, Delbert Smith, Uriah Smith, Arnold Shaffer, Lois Basom, Nora Shaffer, Ann Giffin,

             Mrs. Ethel Alderson, Mrs. Lora Bass, Jennie Hiestand, Ethel Knisely – teacher

 2nd row: Sam Hiestand, Willis Rose, Mrs. Oscar Smith, Mrs. Tom Shaffer, Willadene Knisley, Johnny “Windy” Stevenson, Virginia Foster,

             Tessie Bass, Corine Stevenson, Marjorie (Hiestand) Deadmond, Elsie Rose, Wilma (Hiestand) Monical, Arlene Alderson

 Front row: John Shaffer holding Lela Pearl Shaffer, Donald Shaffer, Dan Hiestand, Verlie Bass, Ralph Hiestand, Walter Hiestand, _____________,

             Martha June Hiestand, Nelda (Shaffer) Wilkins

 

 

Allen School; 1933

Allen School – District 76; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL – Oct. 11, 1933; Bess Hiestand, teacher

Back row: Helen Marie (Embser) Basom, Lester Basom, Pauline (Vandeveer) Joines, Wilma (Hiestand) Monical,

                  Vernon Sullivan, Mabel (Atteberry) Barrell, Mrs. Bess Hiestand - teacher

Middle row: Bernice (Waggoner) Mulvany, Pauline Yost, Juanita Yost, Mae (Basom) Brannon, Sammie Hiestand, Charlie Atteberry

Front row: Darrell Randolph, Walter Hiestand, Lewis Atteberry, Melbourn Yost, Ray Atteberry

 

Allen School – District 76; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL – Some of the faces from 1942-43 & 1943-44

Back row: Lois Alderson, Bessie Embser, Harriet Miller

Middle row: Jean (Hiestand) Moore, Rojean (Alderson) Kline, Lois Jean (Miller) Easley, Rosalie (Alderson) Maxey

Front row: Barbara Miller, Mary Jane Miller, Phyllis Miller, Phyllis Jean Embser

 

 

Allen School – District 76; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL – 1942-43 & 1943-44

Back row: Phyllis Jean Embser, Mary Jane Miller, Phyllis Miller, Rosalie (Alderson) Maxey

Front row: Rojean (Alderson) Kline, Lois (Miller) Easley, Barbara Miller, Jean (Hiestand) Moore

 

 

“The Kinmundy Express” – June 4, 1943: “Orchestra Entertains.  Pleasant Grove: Mrs. Jack BARKSDALE and her orchestra of Allen School consisting of the MILLER girls, Lois, Mary Jane, Phyllis Jean and Barbara, Rosalie ALDERSON, Jeanie EMBSER and Jean HIESTAND played and sang two numbers at Youngs’ Chapel Church Sunday night.  Clyde ROSE, who is taking guitar lessons from Mrs. BARKSDALE played with them also.  As Rogene ALDERSON was ill and unable to go, Mrs. BARKSDALE filled her place at the piano.  Parents of the children who attended the church services were Mrs. Roy MILLER, Mr. and Mrs. Ted EMBSER, Mr. and Mrs. Herschel HIESTAND and Mr. and Mrs. Pearl ROSE.  Mr. and Mrs. Loren KLINE also accompanied Mr. and Mrs. Herschel HIESTAND there.”

 

 

School Districts Join Forces to Open One School

1947

 

            When the school directors in the four school districts of Allen, Wilson, Redlick and Elder, Alma township, Marion County, found that their enrollments were too small to provide adequate educational facilities for the students if each school was operated as a unit, they immediately united in an informal association to send all the students to a single school

            Because of the more central location of the Allen School building, this site was chosen as the combined unit.  The 18 youngsters of all 4 districts are this year attending the Allen school.

            Under this arrangement no law had to be passed; no approval of the school trustees was needed; no petition had to be circulated and no election had to be held.  The good people of the four districts just got together and formed a gentlemen’s agreement to pool their resources, hire a teacher, and go on about the business of giving the kids an education.

            This is the first year the experimental association has been tried and all reports indicate that it is going over with a “bang”.

            Mrs. Merle Walkington, Iuka, is the teacher, and Theo. Embser, J.H. Barksdale, and Ray Vandeveer are the school directors.

            Last Friday night, the first monthly community meeting of the current school year was held at the school in the form of an old fashioned pie supper.  The monthly community meeting, however, has been a tradition in the area for the past several years.

            At these meetings, the fathers all get together for a general good time and “potluck” supper.  Problems of the district, if any, are then given a public airing and everyone has a voice in providing a remedy.

            Mrs. Walkington reports the pie supper Friday night cleared $488.19.  The money will be used to install drinking fountains for the youngsters.  The school already has electric lighting.

 

Allen School – District 76; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL – 1947 Pie Supper fundraiser

Ray Vandeveer, Beatrice Allphin, Twila (Kenley) Baker, Marjorie (Keller) Walkington – teacher, Phyllis Embser

 

 

 

Allen School – District 76; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL – 1949-50; Mrs. Marjorie Walkington, teacher

Back row:  Mrs. Marjorie Walkington, Rosalie Wooden, Twila (Kenley) Baker, Phyllis Jean Embser, Beatrice Allphin, Freddie Mayberry, and John Walker.

Middle row: Larry Charlton, Lee Stock, Bill Shaffer, Edward Repec, Hazel (Allphin) Garrett, Tommy Shaffer, Donald Kenley, Buddy Helm, Eugene Kenley, and Jimmie Courson.

Front row: Helen Ann Shaffer, Gwendolyn Pickett, Colleen (Morrow) Osborne, Joan (Anderson) Bauer, Francis (Hiestand) Smith, Suzanne (Hiestand) Garrett, Shirley (Kenley) Wantland, Bobby Embster, and Flory John Repec.

 

 

Allen School – District 76; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL – Marjorie (Keller) Walkington – teacher – 1950-51

Back row: Barbara (Rose) Butts, Hazel (Allphin) Garrett, Eugene Kenley, Joan Monical, Freddie Mayberry, Rosalie Wooden, Twila (Kenley) Baker,

   Donald Kenley, Tommy Shaffer, Edward Repec, Eugenia (Rose) White

Middle row: Joan (Anderson) Bauer, Francis (Hiestand) Smith, Suzanne (Hiestand) Garrett, Larry Charlton, Billie Shaffer, Jimmy Courson,

   Shirley (Kenley) Wantland, Mary Jane (Anderson) Musgrave, Marjorie (Keller) Walkington - teacher

Front row: Connie Joe Repec, Jerry Shaffer, Nora Shaffer, Helen Ann Shaffer, Bobby Embser, Mary Ann (Vandeveer) Rhodes, Lee Stock,

   Flory John Repec, Margaret (Rose) Sasse Hampsten (Bobby Embser’s dog was a faithful visitor to the school that year.)

 

 

Allen School – District 76; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL –  Mrs. Anna Ballance, teacher - circa 1952

1-Jerry Shaffer, 2-John Ballance, 3) Bill Ballance, 4-Gene Kenly, 5-Lee Stock, 6-Frank "Bud" Helm, 7-Jim Courson, 8-Norman Sullivan, 9-Larry Charlton, 10-Donald Kenley,

11-Margaret (Rose) Sasse Hampsten, 12-Barbara (Rose) Butts, 13-Rosalie Wooden, 14-Nellie Mae (Hiestand) Hughes, 15-Suzanne (Hiestand) Garrett, 16-Carolyn Shaffer, 17-Sharon Stallings,

18-Shirley (Kenley) Wantland, 19-Barbara Stallings, 20-Twila (Kenley) Baker, 21-Joann (Anderson) Bauer, 22-Mary Lee (Helm) Cruise, 23-Hazel (Allphin) Garrett,

24-Frances (Hiestand) Smith, 25-Nora Shaffer, 26-Mary Jane (Anderson) Musgrave, 27-Mary Ann (Vandeveer) Rhoades, 28- Eugenia (Rose) White;     Mrs. Anna Ballance - teacher

                        

 

 

 

Allen School – District 76; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL – circa 1953

Back row: 22-Jerry Shaffer; 23-Eugenia Rose; 24-Nora Shaffer; 25-Paul Wilkins; 26-John Ballance; 27-Buddy Helm; 28-Ivan Wilkins;

      29-Jimmie Courson; 30-Eugene Kenley; 31-Larry Charlton

Middle row: 11-Shirley Kenley; 12-Lee Stock; 13-__________ (possibly Dorothy Wilkins); 14-Suzanne (Hiestand) Garrett;

      15-Barbara (Rose) Butts; 16-Carolyn Shaffer; 17-Donna Collet; 18-Hazel (Alphin) Garrett; 19-Rosalie Wooden; 20-Sharon Collet;

      21- Mrs. Anna Ballance. Teacher

Front row: 1-Margaret (Rose) Sasse Hampsten; 2-Mary Lee (Helm) Cruise; 3-Mary Jane (Anderson) Musgrave; 4-Frances (Hiestand) Smith;

      5- Bill Ballance; 6-Joann (Anderson) Bauer; 7-Mary Ann (Vandeveer) Rhoades; 8-Patsy (Rose) Scott; 9-Janet (Barksdale) Harmon;

      10-Nellie Mae (Hiestand) Hughes

 

          

 

 

 

 

 

Allen School – District 76; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL

 

 

"The Kinmundy Express" - Apr. 16, 1992

 

 

   

"The Kinmundy Express" - Sept. 17, 1992

 

 

 

Allen School – District 76; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL

 

 

Old piano that was used in the Allen School that is still in the school building. 

 

 

 

 

 

Note:  The following photos are pictures of Allen School as it appeared in 2011.   The exterior of the school has been changed quite a bit, with a change in the bell tower, siding,

and the front of the building.   However, this it sits on the site of the old Allen School, and the changes were made to the existing school building. 

The location is on the southeast corner of the Kinmundy Road and the Brubaker Road. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Allen Schoolhouse - April 2021 - by Richard Day - Daybreak Imagery

 

 

Allen Schoolhouse - April 2021 - by Richard Day - Daybreak Imagery

 

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