Union School

Kinmundy Historical Society

UNION SCHOOL

Alma Township, Marion County, Illinois

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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?

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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

Teachers from UNION SCHOOL – District #80 (Alma twp.)

Years not know Elmer Squibb

Grace McMurray

Alta Raver

Bertha Kell

Amanda Brasel (Hawkins)

1903-1904 Mabel C. Stevenson ($40)

1911 (fall term) Bessie Lynch

(spring term) Latta Hanawalt

1912 Opal Hanawalt

1913 Jennie McCastle

1914 & 1915 Clara Lee

1916 W.A. Moore

1917 Chessie Donoho

1918 T. Clark Kagy

1919-1920

1921-1922 Ethel Pathel

1923 Tom Stephens

1924-25-26 Helen Parkinson (Hanes)

1927 Lillian Crutchfield (Duncan)

1928 Myrtle Kagy

1929-1930 Lucille May

1931 Lois Davidson

1932 Alta Austin

1933-1934 Merle Baker

1935 Alta Austin

1936-1937 Verniece Helm McBride

1938 Alta Austin

1939 Verna Black

1940 Golda Beard

1941 Helen Vowell

1942 Mabel Hicks

1943 Bessie Hiestand

1944-1945 Berniece Geibe

1946 Verna Black

1947 Lucille Baker

1948 Vera Sheffield

1949-1950-1951 Beryl Smith

1952 thru 1957 Vivian Campbell

Consolidated with Salem district #111

Students enrolled in 1956-1957 – last year of Union School.

Howard Kagy

Charlene Suddeth

Richard Cary

Brenda Sellers

Gregory Suddeth

Karl Squibb

Rita Meador

Sara Squibb

Phyllis Bolinger

Byron Lowery

Kaye Lowery

Erma Meador

Union School – District No. 80

The first location of Union School was in Alma township, in Section 30, a half mile north of Tonti road east, on the old Charleston Road. In 1867, church services were held in the school house, until the congregation decided to build a church so they could have regular services. There is no record known as to when the first school house was built, or any of the teachers. Sometime between 1867 and 1878, this building burned.

On February 14, 1878, Joseph Anglen and his wife sold one acre of ground located three quarters of a mile east of the church on Tonti road, in Section 31. The first trustees of the school were John White, Joel Spitler and John Humphrey. The cost of the land was five dollars. About 1900, this building burned. It was discovered first by one of the little boys, who raised his hand to tell the teacher. For some reason the teacher chose to ignore the lad until some of the older pupils told her the school was on fire.

After the new school was built, another land transaction was recorded, June 26, 1906, from Elmer Squibb and his wife, Rose. This was the same land description as that in 1878. It was sold for the sum of twenty dollars. It is thought that an error in the deed may have been the reason for this second transaction.

In 1957, the district was consolidated with Salem Elementary School, district 111, and the land and building purchased by Jim Storment. Keith and Joann Wahlstrum now own the site. Only a few hickory trees mark the location. In 1911, in the teacher’s end of the year report, she stated there were fourteen nice trees in the yard. Property of the school included a wash pan, water bucket and tin cup.

Mrs. Vivian Campbell taught the last term of school, which with thirteen pupils attending, closed May 1957. One of the desks used through the years was donated to the one-room School Memorial by Rita Meador Tolka and Erma Meador Bumgarner.

Earliest records found in Marion County Court House began with 1911. There were 39 students attending the fall term, September thru March, with Miss Bessie Lunch as teacher. Among the pupils were Paul Garner, Grace Crippen, Paul, Mary and Sarah Squibb, Mattie, Elizabeth, Jimmie and Eugene Garner, Clark Garner, Opal Lynch and Ethel Pathel. Latta Hanawalt taught the spring term (45 days) in April and May. Salary was $25.00 to $40.00 a month, with thirty to fifty pupils. Records show seven months till 1919, eight in 1926, and in 1956, school was extended to nine months.

During part of November and December 1918, school was closed because of Spanish Influenza. Records kept by the teachers described cooperation they had with pupils, school board and parents. One teacher left a very complimentary note to his successor, quote, “May you find pleasure in imparting the truth to the boys and girls of Union School, as I have. They are good sheep, and the shepherd must lead them into the paths of usefulness in order to make useful men and women. May success follow you and your work, Yours truly, W.A. Moore.” (He was the father of Virgil Moore, now (1980) living in Salem. One of Mr. Moore’s pupils still remembers him as a remarkable gentleman, and a very good teacher.)

The teacher was her own janitor, bringing in the coal and carrying out the ashes. The fire was banked at close of the day in hopes there would be enough live coals to kindle it in the morning. This did not keep water and ink bottles from freezing overnight. The next morning, the ink bottles were placed near the stove to thaw. If the stopper was not removed, occasionally it would blow out with the noise of a firecracker.

The teacher was nurse to any child having a skinned knee, or tooth knocked out with a baseball bat while playing. She comforted the first grader who cried to go home and see Mom. The days never got too monotonous, something new happened every day. Teachers had a variety of means of punishments. Standing on tiptoe, with the nose in a ring drawn on the blackboard, and standing in the corner were most popular. Corporal punishment was administered with a paddle after the subject was in position – bent over, grasping ankles with hands and waiting. Sometimes the pupil was as tall as the teacher but did not resist.

Special occasions were Christmas and the last day of school. Everyone participated with recitations, songs and plays. The last day of school was a real treat. The pupils in the district all turned out with well filled baskets at noon and all the fried chicken, chocolate cake and apple pie we could eat, and “School’s Out.”

There were no school buses until the late 30’s. Mr. Earl Taylor and Earl Extrom were well known bus drivers. Charles “Pint” Stevenson later continued the tradition. He is the son of Mrs. Earl Taylor, and a former student at Union. A story is told about the muddy roads in this area. A little girl walking to school was unable to lift one foot out of the mud. The mail carrier rescued her and took her to school. She picked up her overshoe when she returned home from school.

Another student told of their love for their teacher. Each afternoon, when school was dismissed, they kissed Miss Helen goodbye. Miss Helen married Earl Hanes during her third year as teacher. I did not have the privilege of being her student, but she is still a very nice lady. Her influence must have reached her students, because Nadine is very nice too.

In 1946 the school was under control of three women: Ethel Stephens, president, Ruth Storment and Ona Fry. Who says we don’t have equal rights.

The oldest former student living in Lyle Leckrone, I believe. He relates that he always looked forward to snow in winter as his neighbor, Mr. Stephens (father of Grace Crippen and Roy Stephens, deceased), always gathered the children this side the school and took them to school on a sleigh.

Union school has prepared students for all walks of life. Among them, Eugene and Sherrill Leckrone, and Howard Lynch were ministers. Richard Cary in a lawyer, associated with Wham, in Centralia. Of course he married one of the daughters. School teachers were Ethel Pathel, Opal Hanawalt, Howard Lynch, Howard Kagy, Sara Squibb Gergeni, Robert Foster, Ruth Simpson Storment, Billy Francis.

Many of Union’s boys served in the Armed Forces to protect our great country. Philip Leckrone and Neale Stephens gave their lives for us.

Union No. 80

Compiled by Mrs. Arlie (Laverne) Meador

May 19, 1980

Union School; Alma Twp., Marion County, IL - District #80

Union School; Alma Twp., Marion County, IL - District #80 - Merle Baker, teacher - 1934

Standing: Merle Baker - teacher, Ruth Horst, Dorothy Leckrone, Mary Annis Lynch, Mary Alice Lynch, June Blackwell, Grace Blackwell, Ralph Parrish, and Helen Parrish Bartley.

Kneeling: Carletta Leckrone, Ralph Sills, Reta Brannon, neal Stevens, ________, and Doris Brannon.

Union School; Alma Twp., Marion County, IL - District #80 - Beryl Smith - teacher - 1950

Back row: Beryl Smith - teacher, Francis "Bud" Lowery, Darlene Lowery, Charles Lowery, Wanda Currie, Lloyd Lowery, Robert Foster, Chuck Currie

Middle row: Shirley Leckrone, Carolyn Cripps, Sherrill Leckrone, Donnie Currie, Henry Suddeth, Howard Kagy, Betty Foster

Front row: Karl Squibb, Charlene Suddeth, Mary Cripps, Martha Foster, Margaret Foster, Byron "Jake" Lowery, Miriam Leckrone, Barbara Sue Currie, John Suddeth, and Demares Lowery.