Kinmundy Historical Society

 

 

 

 

 

   HAPPY HOLLOW 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 HAPPY HOLLOW SCHOOL  - District #75 (Alma twp.)

 

(1890-91)   Charlie Wilson     

(1903-04)   Edw. C. Rainey ($25)

(1911-12)   Clare Stevens 

(1914-15)   John Kagy

(1915-16)   Mrs. Bessie Lynch Hiestand

(1916-17)   Miss Irma Coffin      

(1917-18)   Miss Elizabeth Purcell

Jan. 31, 1918:  Happy Hollow District: School was closed at Happy Hollow on account of measles but will open again on Monday morning.

(1918-19)  Helen Merz

 

(1920-21)  W.A. Moore

(1922-23)  Mrs. Bessie Hiestand

(1923-24)  Mabel Foster

 

(1925 ca)  Hazel Boughers

                 Mabel Foster

 

(1926-27)   Mrs. Alta Austin

 

(1928-29)   Dorothy Beryl Statton

(1930-31)  Miss Dorothy Beryl Statton

(1931-32)  Miss Dorothy Beryl Statton

(1932-33)  Miss Dorothy Beryl Statton

(1933-34)  Miss Dorothy Beryl Statton

(1934-35)  Miss Dorothy Beryl Statton

(1935-36)  Miss Dorothy Beryl Statton

(1936-37)  Miss Dorothy Beryl Statton

(1937-38)  Miss Dorothy Beryl Statton

(1938-39)  Miss Dorothy Beryl Statton

(1939-40)  Mrs. Beryl Statton Smith

(1940-41)   Ruby M. Sullens

(1941-42)   Mrs. Ruby Sullens 

(1942-43)   Mrs. Ruby Sullens  

(1943-44)   Mrs. Bess Hiestand

(1944-45)   Mrs. Maxine Barksdale

(1945-46)   Mrs. Lyman Malone

(1946-47)   Mrs. Lyman Malone

(1947-48)   Mrs. Ruby Sullens (1st half of year) / Faye Allison  (2nd half of year)

(1948-49)   Mrs. Maxine Barksdale

(1949-50)   Mrs. Joe Luttrell

(1950-51)   No school    

 

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

 

 

Year

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

Names of Directors for Happy Hollow School (#75)

1915 - 1916

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

S.K. Spitler – township treasurer

E.E. McColm, Albert Coffin, W.R. Foster

1918 - 1919

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

C.M. See; S.K. Spitler – Treasurer

Chas. Carpenter, Albert Coffin, E.L. Kagy

1920 - 1921

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

E.G. Ford; S.K. Spitler – Treasurer

E.L. Kagy, T.C. Kagy, Grant Brannen

1922 - 1923

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

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

E.L. Kagy, L.E. Basom, J.M. Holbert

1923 - 1924

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

Homer Kagy; S.K. Spitler – Treasurer

Geo. F. Crist, L.E. Basom, J.M. Holbert

1926 - 1927

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

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

G.F. Crist, Grace Kagy, J.M. Holbert

1928 - 1929

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

H.D. Thompson – Treasurer

Geo. F. Crist, Grace Kagy, T.A. Shaffer

1930 - 1931

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

H.D. Thompson – Treasurer

Mrs. Grace Kagy, W.S. Brown

1931 - 1932

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

Joe Mazanek - Treasurer

George F. Christ, Grace Kagy, W.S. Broom

1932 - 1933

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

Joe Mazanek – Treasurer

W.S. Broom, Grace Kagy, Albert Meyers

1933 - 1934

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

Joe Mazanek - Treasurer

Albert Meyer, Mrs. Grace Kagy, Mina Holbert

1934 - 1935

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

Joe Mazanek – Treasurer

Albert Meyer, Cecil Anglen, Mrs. Minnie Holbert

1935 - 1936

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

Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer

Mrs. Mina Holbert – President; Cecil Anglen – Clerk;

Edgar B. Kagy

1936 - 1937

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

Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer

Wm. J. Walsh – President; Cecil Anglen – Clerk;

Edgar Kagy

1937 - 1938

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

Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer

Wm. J. Walsh Jr. – President; Cecil Anglen – Clerk;

Edgar Kagy

1938 - 1939

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

Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer

W.S. Broom – President; Wm. J. Walsh Jr. – Clerk;

Edgar Kagy

1939 - 1940

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

Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer

W.S. Broom – President; Wm. Walsh – Clerk;

Edgar Kagy

 

1940 - 1941

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

Joe Mazanek – twp. treasurer

W.S. Broom – President; Wm. J. Walsh – Clerk;

Edgar B. Kagy

1941 - 1942

C.E. Rainey – President; J.A. Broom;

Joe Mazanek - Treasurer

W.S. Broom – President; William Walsh – Clerk;

Edgar Kagy

1942 - 1943

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

Joe Mazanek – Twp. Treasurer

W.S. Broom – President; Wm. J. Walsh – Clerk;

Edgar B. Kagy

1943 - 1944

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

Joe Mazanek – Twp. Treas.

Edgar B. Kagy – President; W.J. Walsh – Clerk;

Warren Smith

1944 - 1945

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

Joe Mazanek – Twp. Treas.

Edgar B. Kagy – President; W.J. Walsh – Clerk;

Warren Smith

1945-1946

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

Joe Mazanek – Township Treasurer

Edgar B. Kagy – President; Wm. J. Walsh – Clerk;

Warren Smith

1946-1947

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

Dave Meadors; Joe Mazanek – Twp. Treas.

Edgar B. Kagy – President; W.J. Walsh – Clerk;

Warren Smith

1947-1948

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

Warren Smith – President; Bert Humes – Clerk;

W.J. Walsh

1948-1949

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

Joe Mazanek – Treasurer

Warren Smith – President; Leo Deadmond – Clerk;

Fred Moody

1949-1950

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

Joe Mazanek – Treasurer

W.H. Smith – President; Leo Deadmond – Clerk;

Fred Moody

1950-1951

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

Joe Mazanek – Treasurer

W.H. Smith – President; Leo Deadmond – Clerk;

Fred Moody

1951-1952

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

Joe Mazanek – Treasurer

W.H. Smith – President; Leo Deadmond – Clerk;

Fred Moody

1952-1953

 

 

 

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

 

 

HAPPY HOLLOW SCHOOL – District 75 – Alma township

By Marjorie (Kagy) Martin Randolph

(One Room School Memorial – Archives - Salem, IL)

 

            Happy Hollow School as I remember it, where I attended school and where it stands now, was approximately one mile west of Brubaker.  I have been told the original building was in a woods I believe a bit north and west of the present location. The school bell is on Calvary Missionary Baptist Church on Hatchery Road, Tonti township.  The flagpole is located on the farm presently belonging to Darrell Randolph, R.R. #1 Alma, Illinois.  When the flag pole was purchased, my Daddy, Edgar B. Kagy, was one of the school board members.  I’m sorry that I do not remember any of the other members names.  The period that I will be touching on and about is from 1932 to 1940, when I graduated from the eighth grade, the graduation being held at Pleasant Grove Methodist Church.  My teacher for the entire grade school term was miss Dorothy Beryl Statton, and we all called her Miss Beryl, a very dedicated and educated teacher, kept discipline and yet good to all her students.  We had all the eight grades and William M. Broom, “Billy”, and I were the only 2 pupils in the 6th   grade so they put the two of us back to take fifth grade twice.  We had a recitation bench and each class came to the front of the room and recited our lesson.  The black board went around the front of the school room, the teacher’s desk sat up on the rostrum.  We had a world globe on a pulley and when we used it, we lowered it to our height.  Also had a long sand box, inside, that we enjoyed, and always at Thanksgiving, we had the Thanksgiving story, used characters, pilgrims, Indians, rounded the mounds for the graves, and studied it, made booklets regarding the First Thanksgiving. We had a big furnace, in the back of the room, and often clothing was dried around it, for we walked to school.  I walked 1½ miles one way, and I never wanted to miss school.  And many mornings, in what I believe was zero weather, Daddy would walk ahead of me, making tracks and breaking the wind, walking me to school so that he knew that I got there.  We all hung our coats, caps and boots in the class room, together with our lunch boxes.  Often we traded with someone at school at lunch time.  We always had recess morning and afternoon and enjoyed playing games, such as softball.  I could never bat , they called “the woodchopper”,  so I took 2 strikes and someone would bat the third ball and I would run. Kickball, Germany, Andy Over the Coal Shed, Flying Dutchman, Drop the Hanky, Dare Base, Blackman, Hopscotch.  In the fall we would make leaf houses, stuffing leaves in the fence around the yard. Then in the winter would ice skate, sled riding down the hills, and fox and goose.  Since the school was surrounded by a woods, we always took a nature study trip in the spring and fall.  Every Friday we had art classes.  We always made our Valentines, decorated a Valentine Box and had a party.  Then we always looked forward to the Christmas program, and Miss Beryl took colored chalk and drew the Christmas story, or scenes, like the wisemen, camels, Bethlehem, and the bright shining over, and the manger scene.  She was a beautiful artist.  Then another high light was the Pie Suppers.  The last of school we always had to have something new, and my Aunt Iva always made me a pretty cotton print dress, that was a special day.

Mr. Paul B. Chance was the County Superintendent my entire grade school years and we always enjoyed for him to come.

My brothers and sisters also attending Happy Hollow School were Lewis Edgar Kagy, Mable Claudine Kagy, JoAnne Kagy Lyons, and Howard Ray Kagy.  Also students that I recall during my attendance were Mary, Louise, Betty, Jean, Sara, Billy and Russell Broom; Lois and Darrell Smith; Frances & Donald Meyer; Byron Sill; Vena, Josephine & Normal Meador; M. Kenneth Garrison, Billy George Walsh; Wilbur Logsdon; Ralph & Bernice Sills; Donald & Lela Pearl Shaffer; Wanda, Ralph, Jr. & Annabelle Squibb Day; Betty Lou & Richard Wilkins; Lula Eastman; Florence, Everett & Denver Anglen; Edna, Rochelle & Harold Butts; Myrtle Wilkins; William Phillips; and Darrell Randolph, who is my husband.

I’m told that the teacher in about 1925 was Hazel Boughers; Mable Foster; and then Beryl Statton, through spring of 1940.  My sister, Jo Anne Kagy had Ruby Sullens, Maxine Barksdale, Bessie L. Hiestand, Ruth Storment, Faye Allison, and Susie Malone.  In talking to Joyce Smith Crow, who told me she attended Happy Hollow for four years and they closed the school in 1950 and the students went to Alma School.  Among the teachers she had were Susie Malone, Bessie L. Hiestand, Ruby Sullens, Opal Luttrell and a Mrs. Geibe. 

Also I was told the way the school got it’s name was at the time of the meeting to attend to school matters, the children were playing the hollow and someone made mention that the children were happy in the hollow so why not call it Happy Hollow, and I have many pleasant and happy memories of it.  It was located in District #75.  I will endeavor to work on history of the school and perhaps add to the above.  I do appreciate the opportunity of being a part of this project.

 

Sincerely, 

 

Marjorie Kagy Martin Randolph

 

 

 

Happy Hollow School; 1989-1890

 

Happy Hollow School; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL; 1889-1890

 Back row: Harry Wilson, Sam Case, Charley Crist, Elmer Cheeley, John D. Wilson, Frank Wilson, Pink Wilson, Marie Case, Jim Case

Middle row: Claude Rainey, Hayes Crist, Frank Coffin, Will Coffin, Bill Crist, Essa Case, Emma Cheeley

Front row: Maggie McNealy (teacher), Harry Coffin, Laurence Crist, George Crist, Ed Rainey, Lulu Coffin, Ella Perry, Anna Case

 

 

Happy Hollow School; Alma twp., Marion Co., IL; Alta M. Austin – teacher; Oct. 27, 1926

 

 

 

Nov. 3, 1966 – Salem Times-Commoner

The Times-Commoner Reporter Visits BRUBAKER

By Diana Smith

 

"Memories of Happy Hollow"

                "On the crest of a hill, nestled among the trees, stands Happy Hollow School, a monument to hundreds of children who received their basic education there for around half a century.

                On the south side of Brubaker Road, a bit west of Duke’s Store, Happy Hollow has occupied this scenic spot since 1898, soon after the Brubaker community sprang up.  Before that, Happy Hollow was a log cabin in the woods, built in 1891.  The location was changed to put the school in the center of the new community, and for nearly 50 years, eight grades were taught there by such well known teachers as Mrs. Bess Hiestand of Salem, and Mrs. Beryl Smith of Alma.  When Harry Rainey taught there for his two years, the student body averaged around 45, which was the general average, he believes.  Often, students much older than 8th graders, boys about 17-18 and 19, came back to school during the winter when the farm work had slacked off, to fill in the gaps in their schooling.

                But Happy Hollow is no more.  It’s doors were closed in 1950.  The building has since been sold to a local farmer who stores machinery there.

                Back when Harry Rainey was in school, and even when his wife was a student, less than 50 years ago, most Brubaker children could not get a high school even six miles away simply because of the mud roads.  In order to attend high school, they had to board in town.  Mrs. Rainey did this with her grandmother in Vernon to go to high school.

                This problem is hard for city people to understand, because 100 years ago, St. Louis had a high school which was within a few blocks of everyone in town.  Also, more than 80 years ago, students in St. Louis were attending Washington University, which was then downtown, and walking to school.

                But life was not so simple out here in Brubaker and many other communities like it, a fact which a city-bred person does not appreciate."

 

 

Later, after the Happy Hollow School closed, this building served as the church for the Calvary Missionary Baptist Church. 

The congregation met previously in the Brubaker town house starting in about 1951, and later moved to the old Hatchery building on the Hatchery Road. 

This photo was taken after the building was no longer used for either.

 

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