OAK GROVE SCHOOL
Tonti Township, Marion County, Illinois
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408 S. Washington St.; Kinmundy, IL 62854; (618) 547-7731
Teachers from OAK GROVE SCHOOL – District #61 (Tonti township)
(1881-82) G.B. Lovejoy
(1887-88) Effie Watkin
(1892-93) Miss Lutie Crippen
(1896-97) Mary R. Weiss
(1897-98) Miss Nettie McGlumphy
(1898-99) Ella Kline
(1903) Jessie Hutchins
(1907-08) Alvin Chandler
(1908) Byron Millican
(1908-09) Tom B. McCartan
(circa 1911) Myrle Warren
(1911-12) Tom B. McCartan
(1915-16) Dwight Day
(1918-19) Mrs. Nora Wyatt
(1921-22)
(1922-23) Beryl Statton
(1923-24) Beryl Statton
(1924-25)
(1925-26)
(1926-27) Alvin Chandler
(1927-28)
(1928-29) Lois Davidson
(1929-30)
(1930-31) Effa Featherly
(1931-32) Helen Wantland
(1932-33) Helen Wantland
(1933-34) Rada Garrett (later became Rada (Garrett) Caldwell Ford)
(1934-35) Ava Williams
(1935-36) Ava Williams
(1936-37) Mrs. Ava Williams
(1937-38) Mrs. Ava Williams
(1938-39) Ruth Hawkins
(1939-40) Willadene Kniseley
(1940-41) Willadene Kniseley
(1941-42) Miss Gladys Harris
(1942-43) Gladys Harris
(1943-44) Ruby Sullens
(1944-45) Ruby Sullens
(1945-46) Beryl Smith
(1946-47) Miss Martha Mulvany
(Jan. 1947 - May 1947) Wilma (Osborn) Purcell
(1947-48) Miss Wilma Osborn (later became Wilma (Osborn) Purcell
(1948-49) Miss Wilma Osborn (later became Wilma (Osborn) Purcell
(1949-50) Miss Wilma Osborn (later became Wilma (Osborn) Purcell
(1950-51) Miss Wilma Osborn (later became Wilma (Osborn) Purcell
(1951-52) Mrs. Wilma (Osborn) Purcell
(1952-53) Mrs. Ruby Sullens
July 30, 1953: Due to the large number of pupils, it was decided to open the Oak Grove school west of Alma. Last year, the school closed and was planning to send their pupils to Alma. But Alma is already overcrowded, so by reopening Oak Grove, the condition is partly corrected.
Kinmundy-Alma Rural Attendance Center at Oak Grove School:
(1953-54) Mrs. Jessie (Long) Weyhrich
(1954-55) Haven Burk
(The above information was gathered from "The Kinmundy Express" articles, Marion Co. School Directories, and school photos.)
Oak Grove – District #61 – Tonti twp. - Teachers
(One Room School Memorial – Archives - Salem, IL)
Lottie Hanowalt
Jessie Kutchin
Alvin Chandler
Frankie Chandler
Marie Margaret Coughlin
Tom McCartan
Nora Wyatt
Millie Long
Bertha Long Rogers & Roy Mulvaney
Roy Mulvaney – 1914 – also 1916
Dwight Day – 1915
Bessie Chance
Dora Brickley
Jennie Sullens – several terms at various years
Lorene Ramsey – 1921
Ruth Doolen Conant
Rhea Frampton Basom
Burl (Statton) Smith – 4 terms
Ruby Sullens
Helen Wantland Millican
Rada Garrett Caldwell Ford – 1933 & 1934
Ava Williams
Willadene Kniseley Brown
Ruth Hawkins
Wilma Osborne Purcell
Martha Mulvaney Caldwell
Gladys Harris
Ruby Sullens
It consolidated with #301 Kinmundy-Alma
Names of people living in the district and some who served on the school board on the bottom of the sheet
__________________ CHECK PAGE AT LIBRARY
|
Names of Trustees (Town 3, Range 2) |
Names of Directors at Oak Grove School (#61) |
|
|
1915-1916 |
C.E. Hopkins, R.V. McCarty, J.H. Kretzer |
James Osborn, A.I. Shreffler, H.B. Sullens |
|
1918-1919 |
W.J. Baker – President; T.H. Boring – Clerk; J.M. Sanders, W.L. Cope – Treasurer |
Jesse Aldrich, Arthur Shreffler, Jessie Sullens |
|
1920-1921 |
W.J. Baker – President; John Sanders – Clerk; T.H. Boring, W.L. Cope – Treasurer |
J.D. Aldrich, Arthur Shreffler, John F. Gragg |
|
1922-1923 |
W.J. Baker – President; J.H. Kretzer – Clerk; J.M. Sanders; W.L. Cope - Treasurer |
J.D. Aldrich, J.C. McCarty, Luther Sullens |
|
1923-1924 |
J.M. Sanders – President; W.J. Baker – Clerk; John Kretzer; W.L. Cope – Treasurer |
J.D. Aldrich, J.C. McCarty, Luther Sullens |
|
1926-1927 |
W.J. Baker – President; J.H. Kretzer – Clerk; C.E. Cavins; W.L. Cope – Treasurer |
Louie Jezek, J.D. Aldrich, Luther Sullens |
|
1928-1929 |
H.C. Davidson – President; J.H. Kretzer; Ottis Davidson; W.L. Cope – Treasurer |
Basil Sullens, J.D. Aldrich, Joe Sullens |
|
1930-1931 |
Otis Davidson – President; J.H. Kretzer; W.M. Campbell; W.L. Cope – Treasurer |
Basil Sullens, M. Shreffler, Gordon Shreffler |
|
1931-1932 |
W.M. Campbell; J.H. Kretzer; W.L. Cope – Treasurer |
M. Shreffler, Basil Sullens, Gordon Shreffler |
|
1932-1933 |
Otis Davidson, J.H. Kretzer, Lauren Carter; Walter L. Cope – Treasurer |
M. Shreffler, Basil Sullens, Gordon Shreffler |
|
1933-1934 |
Otis Davidson, Lauren Carter, J.H. Kretzer; Walter L. Cope – Treas. |
M. Shreffler, Basil Sullens, Gordon Shreffler |
|
1934-1935 |
Otis Davidson, J.H. Kretzer, Laurn Carter; Walter L. Cope – Treas. |
J.D. Aldrich, Basil Sullens, M. Shreffler |
|
1935-1936 |
Laurn Carter – President; Otis C. Davidson; J.H. Kretzer; W.L. Cope – Twp. Treas. |
J.D. Aldrich- President; Basil Sullens – Clerk; C.M. Heskett |
|
1936-1937 |
Laurn Carter – President; Otis Davidson; J.H. Kretzer; W.L. Cope – Twp. Treas. |
J.D. Aldrich- President; Basil Sullens – Clerk; C.M. Heskett |
|
1937-1938 |
Otis Davidson – President; J.H. Kretzer; Mel Shreffler; W.L. Cope – Twp. Treas. |
J.D. Aldrich – President; C.M. Heskett – Clerk; Luther Sullens |
|
1938-1939 |
Otis Davidson – President; J.H. Kretzer; Mel Shreffler; W.L. Cope – Twp. Treas. |
J.D. Aldrich – President; C.M. Heskett – Clerk; Luther Sullens |
|
1939-1940 |
Chas. Lynch, J.H. Kretzer, Mel Shreffler; Otis Davidson – Twp. Treas. |
J.D. Aldrich – President; C.M. Heskett – Clerk; Luther Sullens |
|
1940-1941 |
J.H. Kretzer – President; Charles Lynch; M. Shreffler; Otis Davidson – Twp. Treas. |
Henry Bender – President; C.M. Heskett – Clerk; Luther Sullens |
|
1941-1942 |
Charlie Lynch – President; John Kretzer, R.R. Rhodes; Otis Davidson – Treas. |
Luther Sullens – President; C.M. Heskett – Clerk; Henry Bender |
|
1942-1943 |
John Kretzer – President; Charles Lynch – Clerk; R.R. Rhoades; Otis Davidson – Twp. Treas. |
Luther Sullens – President; C.M. Heskett – Clerk; Henry Bender |
|
1943-1944 |
Charlie Lynch – President; John Kretzer; R.R. Rhoades; Otis Davidson – Twp. Treasurer |
Luther Sullens – President; C.M. Heskett – Clerk; J.H. Shreffler |
|
1944-1945 |
Charlie Lynch – President; John Kretzer; R.R. Rhodes; Otis Davidson – Twp. Treasurer |
Luther Sullens – President; C.M. Heskett – Clerk; J.H. Shreffler |
|
1945-1946 |
Charlie Lynch – President; R.R. Rhoads; Lorin Cope; Otis Davidson – Twp. Treasurer |
J.H. Shreffler – President; C.M. Heskett – Clerk; Archie Caldwell |
|
1946-1947 |
Chas. Lynch – President; R.R. Rhoads; L.V. Cope; Otis Davidson – Twp. Treasurer |
J.H. Shreffler – President; C.M. Heskett – Clerk; Archie Caldwell |
|
1947-1948 |
Charles Lynch – President; Rubin Rhoads, Lorin Cope; Otis Davidson – Twp. Treas. |
J.H. Shreffler – President; C.M. Heskett – Clerk; Archie Caldwell |
|
1948-1949 |
Charlie Lynch – President; R.B. Rhoads; Lorin Cope; Otis Davidson – Twp. Treasurer |
J.H. Shreffler – President; C.M. Heskett – Clerk; Archie Caldwell |
|
1949-1950 |
Loren V. Cope – President; R.B. Rhodes – Clerk; B.E. Duncan; Otis Davidson – Treasurer |
Archie Caldwell – President; C.M. Heskett – Clerk; Warren Osborn |
|
1950-1951 |
Loren Cope – President; R.B. Rhodes – Clerk; B.E. Duncan; Otis Davidson – Treasurer |
Bud Caldwell – President; Warren Osborn – Clerk; Glen Jones |
|
1951-1952 |
Loren Cope – President; R.B. Rhodes – Clerk; Bert Duncan; Otis Davidson – Treasurer |
Archie Caldwell – President; Warren Osborn – Clerk; Glen Jones |
|
1952-1953 |
Loren Cope – President; R.B. Rhodes, Bert Duncan; Otis Davidson - Treasurer |
Archie Caldwell – President; Louis Glen Jones – Clerk; Glen Osborn |
(The above information was gathered from Marion Co. School Directories.)
"The Marion County Democrat - Dec. 18, 1896
"Oak Grove School. The following pupils did not whisper during the third month of school. Cora SULLENS, Bertha BENDER, Luella BORING, Ina BENDER, Ida BENDER, Dwight PURCELL, Lucy ALEXANDER, Alma ALEXANDER, Lora PURCELL, Cecil SHREFFLER, Irma PURCELL. Mary R. WEISS, Teacher."
"The Marion County Democrat - Jan. 29, 1897
"Oak Grove School. The following pupils of Oak Grove school did not whisper during the fourth month of school. Cora SULLENS, Bertha BENDER, Luella BORING, John BORING, Alma ALEXANDER, Noah SULLENS, Lucy ALEXANDER, Cora PURCELL, Ida BENDER, Alice WILLIAMS, Irma PURCELL, Isa BENDER. Those who did not miss a word in spelling during the month are Cora SULLENS, Luella BORING, Alice WILLIAMS, Noah SULLENS, Irma PURCELL. Mary R. WEISS - teacher."
"The Marion County Democrat - Dec. 18, 1896
"Roll of Honor. Those who have not been tardy or absent during the past month at Oak Grove School are Roy SANDERS, Forrest SANDERS, Eva SANDERS, Irma PURCELL, Bertha BRADLEY, Maggie BRADLEY, Omer OSBORN, and Rosa OSBORN. Ella KLINE, teacher."
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; Ella McCulley – teacher
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; Jessie Hutchins – teacher; 1903
Back row: Rosie Osborn, Irma Purcell, Lora Purcell, Isaac Powell, _____ Ship, Eva Sanders, Boyd Bender, _____ Black,
Fila Heskett, Lina Heskett
Third row: (Next to Rend) Eula Purcell
Second row: Savina Sullens, Bill Heskett, ______Sanders, __________________________, Ruth Purcell
Front row: _____ McCarty, _____ McCarty, Relza Sullens, Harry Heskett, Harry Shreffler, Leslie Shreffler
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; May 4, 1909
Dutch, Pud, and Leslie Shreffler were in this photo
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; Myrle Warren – teacher; circa 1911
Back row: Myrle Warren – teacher, Noel Dean, Clyde Greenwalt, Elmer Ashvoch, Hazel Bullard, Loren Bullard, Green Cannon
Middle row: Velma Burgess, Gerald Gilson, Leona Dean, Wilma Cannon, Willie Kester, Cloyd Greenwalt, Nellie Sanders
Front row: Asa Holman, Lossie Holman, Herman Dean
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL - circa 1909
Ruth (Chandler) Wikenhauser (she was born in 1894) is in the back row – 3rd from the left with the dark coat
Oak Grove School students; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; circa 1909
Ruth (Chandler) Wikenhauser was born in 1894 and is in this photo.
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; 1915-16
Back row: Ralph Houston, Carrie Organ, Mildred Sullens, Irene Organ, Jesse Organ
Third row: Darrel Sullens, Ruth Williams, Floyd Williams, Carrol Sullens, Mary McCarty, Devere Sullens, Ira Williams
Second row: Fern Williams, Kenneth McCarty, Helen McCarty, Chester Organ, Loren Williams, Phillip Aldrich
Front row: Charles McCarty, Hurshel Shreffler
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; circa 1918
Back row: 1) _______, 2)_______, 3)________, 4)________, 5)________, 6)________, 7)________
3rd row: 1) _______, 2)_______, 3) Lodema (Wikenhauser) Bayliss, 4)________, 5)________,
6) Lena (Albert) Bullard, 7)________, 8)________
2nd row: 1) _______, 2)_______, 3)________, 4)________, 5)________, 6)________, 7)________,
8)________, 9)________, 10)_________
Front row: 1) John Edward "Bud" Wikenhauser, 2)_______, 3)________, 4)________, 5) Loren Albert
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; circa 1919
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Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; 1932
Students of the Oak Grove School chose a downed tree as a setting for the picture in 1932. The school was located near Alma and included students in Grades 1 through 8. The picture was the property of Mary Mulvaney Gibbens and she is shown in the foreground in the light colored dress. Others are Cecil Aldrich, Russell Sullens, Russell Osborne, Tanner Mulvaney, Delilah McWhirter Caldwell,
Gladys Shreffler Yund, Lahome Howell, Glen Aldrich, Bessie Aldrich McWhirter, Bessie Sullens Jones, Lila Osborn Jones,
Imogene Sullens, JoAnn Smith, Jean Smith
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp, Marion Co., IL; Rada (Garrett) Caldwell Ford – teacher; Oct. 13, 1933
Back row: Ray Sullens, Tanner Mulvaney, Dicie Donoho, Jennie Ellen Kramer, Bessie (Sullens) Jones, John W. “Bill” Caldwell, Russell Osborn, Cecil Aldrich,
Delilah (McWhirter) Caldwell, Rada (Garrett) Caldwell Ford – teacher
Middle row: Hubert Gamblin, Edwin Shreffler, Bessie (Aldrich) McWhirter, Dwayne Smith, Mabel Faye Kramer, Joanne Smith, Mary (Mulvaney) Gibbons,
Imogene (Sullens) McNee/McNie, Jean (Smith) Gray, Lila (Osborn) Jones
Front row: Norma (Sullens) Hawkins, Wilma (Osborn) Purcell, Dewey Kramer
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp, Marion Co., IL; Ava Williams – teacher; 1935-1936
Back row (standing): Hubert Gamblin, Joann Smith, Bessie Sullens, Ava Williams – teacher, Bill Caldwell, Bessie Aldrich, Imogene Sullens
Middle row (standing): Virginia Sullens, Norma (Sullens) Hawkins, Mary Mulvaney, Lila Osborn, Jean Smith, Jane Heskett, Evelyn Doudera
Front row (standing): Kenneth Doudera, Wilma (Osborn) Purcell, Harley Sullens
Seated in front: Dean Sullens
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp, Marion Co., IL; circa 1940
Back row: Betty Sullens, Annabel Richardson, Louise Eagan, Billie Jo (Heskett) Allison, Wilma (Osborn) Purcell, Lucian Richardson, Shirley Jenkins,
Alfred Eagan, ______ Richardson, Bill Doudera
Front row: Norma Jean Albert
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Oak Grove School; Tonti twp, Marion Co., IL; circa 1940's
Oak Grove School: Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL – Miss Willadene Kniseley’s Class - circa 1940; (Page 1 of 3)
Norma Jean Albert, Josephine Back, Virginia Sullens, Veda Mae Eagan,
_____________, Loren Richardson, Kenneth Doudera, Bill Doudera
Oak Grove School: Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL – Miss Willadene Kniseley’s Class - circa 1940; (Page 2 of 3)
Louise Eagan, Evelyn Doudera, Lucian Richardson, Miss Willadene Kniseley,
Marlene Sullens, Kathryn Heskett, Wilma Osborn, Betty Bender
Oak Grove School: Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL – Miss Willadene Kniseley’s Class - circa 1940; (Page 3 of 3)
Jane Heskett, Rosalee Davis, Annabel Richardson, Bertha Turner,
Ray Albert, Harley Sullens, Sarah Heskett, Betty Sullens,
Billy Gammon, Shirley Jenkins
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; Miss Harris - teacher - 1941-1942 (pose #1)
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; Miss Harris - teacher - 1941-1942 (pose #2)
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; Miss Harris - teacher - 1941-1942 (pose #3)
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; 8th Grade Class - 1941-1942
Evelyn Doudera, Jane Heskett, Wilma (Osborn) Purcell, Virginia Sullens, Bertha Turner
Wilma (Osborn) Purcell teaching at Oak Grove School in Tonti twp.
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; Wilma (Osborn) Purcell - teacher - 1949-1950
Back row: Wilma (Osborn) Purcell – teacher, Donna (Caldwell) Kerley, Kenneth Donoho, Maxine Donoho, Freda Black,
Alta (Albert) Shanafelt, Joann Hanks, Billie Jo (Heskett) Allison, Florence (Donoho) Arnette
Front row: Marilyn Hanks, Larry Heskett, Mark Hanks, Charles Albert, Perry Donoho, Marilyn Alice (Shuler) Spencer, Orville Donoho
1949 June 19, 1950
Wilma (Osborn) Purcell - teacher from Oak Grove School; Tonti twp, Marion Co., IL
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; Wilma (Osborn) Purcell - teacher - May 1951
Back row: Ray Albert, Donna (Caldwell) Kerley, Vera Galbreth, Freda Black, Alice Mulvaney, _____________, Roy Mulvaney
Middle row: Perry Donoho, Kenneth Donoho, __________________, Florence (Donoho) Arnette, Floyd Black, ________________
Front row: Jerry Osborne, Mike Sullens, Orville Donoho, Larry Rudell, Bessie Mulvaney, Brenda Crane
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; Wilma (Osborn) Purcell - teacher - May 1951
Back row: Ray Albert, Donna (Caldwell) Kerley, Vera Galbreth, Freda Black, Alice Mulvaney, _____________, Roy Mulvaney
Middle row: Perry Donoho, Kenneth Donoho, __________________, Florence (Donoho) Arnette, Floyd Black, ________________
Front row: Jerry Osborne, Mike Sullens, Orville Donoho, Larry Rudell, Bessie Mulvaney, Brenda Crane
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; Wilma (Osborn) Purcell - teacher – Oak Grove Boys - May 1951
Back row: Floyd Black, Kenneth Donoho, Roy Mulvaney, Charles Albert, Perry Donoho
Front row: Larry Ruddell, Orville Donoho, Jerry Osborne, Mike Sullens
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; Wilma (Osborn) Purcell - teacher – Oak Grove Girls - May 1951
Back row: _______________, Freda Black, Vera Galbreth, Alice Mulvaney
Middle row: _______________, Donna (Caldwell) Kerley, Florence (Donoho) Arnette
Front row: ________________, Brenda Crane, Kaye Mulvaney
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp., Marion Co., IL; 1st Grade class – May 1951
Kaye Mulvaney, Mike Sullens, and Brenda Crane
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp; Marion Co., IL; circa 1951
4th row (girls in the back): Billie Jo (Heskett) Allison, Freda (Black) Hagar
3rd row: Roy Mulvaney, Floyd Black, Mary Alice (Shuler) Spencer, _____ Hagar, Alice Mulvaney, Charles Albert, Larry Heskett
2nd row: Nancy Thomasee, Larry Ruddell, James Sanders, Mark Hagar, Bessie Mulvaney, _____ Hagar
Front row: ____________, Jessie Shuler, Linda Spear
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp; Marion Co., IL; circa 1951
Linda Spear, Nancy Thomasee, Mary Alice (Shuler) Spencer, and Gordon Hagar
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp; Marion Co., IL; circa 1951
Larry Ruddell (grade 3), Jerry Osborne (grade 2), ________Hagar and Larry Ruddell
Orville Donoho (grade 2), Floyd Black (grade 4)
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp; Marion Co., IL; circa 1951
Marilyn Hagar, Ray Albert, and Donna (Caldwell) Kerley
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp; Marion Co., IL; circa 1951
Freda Black, Eileen Galbreth, Billy Jo (Heskett) Allison, and Roy Mulvaney;
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp; Marion Co., IL; Wilma (Osborn) Purcell – teacher; circa 1951
Back row: Doris Jean Sanders, Bessie Mulvaney, ________ Hagar, Floyd Black, _______________, Orville Donoho
Front row: Nancy Thomasee, Linda Spear, Jessie Lynn Shuler, Mark Hagar, Jerry Osborne, Larry Ruddell
Oak Grove School; Tonti twp; Marion Co., IL; circa 1951
Back row: _________ Hagar, Charles Albert, Donna (Caldwell) Kerley, Freda (Black) Hagar, ______________, Roy Mulvaney;
Front row: ______________, Mary Alice (Shuler) Spencer, Larry Heskett, Florence (Arnette) Donoho, Perry Donoho,
Alice Mulvaney, Kenneth Donoho, ______ Hagar
Recess at Oak Ridge School
Patsy Mulvaney
Hop Scotch at recess time – Alta (Albert) Shanafelt and Joann Hanks
Reunions
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Teaching at Oak Grove School
By
Wilma Purcell
Oak Grove School was located two miles west of Alma. My grandfather gave each of his children 40 acres when they married. From my mother’s share, ½ acre was donated for the site for the Oak Grove School. When the school was disbanded, it was considered government property and was sold at an auction. My family bought the land back, and another buyer purchased the building to use as lumber.
About half of the Oak Grove students continued their education at Kinmundy Alma High School, which had formed by consolidation in 1942. That was my first year in high school and the first year for school buses to Kinmundy. I didn’t participate in extracurricular activities because I needed to ride the bus home. A girlfriend and I did attend the prom. I wore a blue taffeta dress, which I still have. At graduation I wore a purple cap and gown.
When I graduated, I started working at the Salem Dress Factory. In December of 1946, I took an eight-subject test at the County Superintendent’s office. If I could pass that test, I could teach. I passed with flying colors. On January 2, 1947, I started teaching at Oak Grove, the only school I ever taught. I was 19.
The school ranged in size from 18-26 students. Grades 1-5 were taught every year. One year, 5th and 7th grades were offered. The following year, 6th and 8th grades were taught. To graduate, a student had to be enrolled for eight years. This might mean that a student completed 8th grade and then had to come back for 7th grade.
Before the school day began, I had to make sure the building was clean. In the winter, I carried in the coal and fired the coal furnace. The day started with the ringing of the bell at 8:30. Some of the students would walk a lot of miles, and the bell would let them know how fast to walk to be ready to line up outside at 9. Following the pledge, they were seated and started their lessons. The boys wore overalls with a few wearing blue jeans. The girls wore dresses, or sometimes a girl would wear her brother’s overalls. People were still recovering from the Depression and World War II, and they didn’t have much. The three-member school board purchased books, pencils, crayons, construction paper and notebooks for the students. They bought ink in gallon tin cans. It was my job to fill the inkwells. The books and supplies were picked up from Sweeney’s Drug Store in Salem.
There was a cistern in the school entry way with a sink and pitcher pump for drinking water. A bucket of water sat beside it for hand washing. The bathroom was outdoors—one for the boys and one for the girls.
Some of the students brought lunch in metal lard buckets. It might be a peanut butter sandwich on homemade bread or a cold biscuit with fried egg in it. They usually had a homemade sweet—cookie or piece of cake their mother made. There was an orchard by the school, and the owner gave permission for the students to pick fresh fruit in season to supplement the lunch. Some hardly had any food at all. I asked the school board to buy an electric hot plate. Once a week, I would bring soup or ham and beans to provide a hot lunch. They got to depending on that.
The County Superintendent’s office sent an assistant to the school on a monthly basis to evaluate. On the first visit, she knocked. After that, she came in unannounced. The County Superintendent’s office provided a list of questions to use for the 8th grade graduation test. I wrote the exam on the chalkboard. The only duplicating machine was a hectograph. The hand written original copy was laid on a sheet of jelly. About 8-10 copies could be printed before fading out.
The school had a piano, and the county would send out a lady once a week to teach songs. We had a girl in the school whose mother played piano. She would come in between for more practice for the school Christmas program. The group sang, and some students sang solos. The children also memorized recitations for the program. Then I gave each student a gift. I still have a fan shaped vase from one of the families and ceramic duck and chicken from another.
Another holiday we celebrated was Halloween. The children would dress up and have a parade. I would bring hot dogs, buns, and marshmallows. My dad would build a bonfire, and we would have a wiener roast.
I had no college education when I started teaching. After that, I went to school in Carbondale every summer. During the winter, I took classes from University of Illinois in Salem and correspondence classes from University of Missouri. In the beginning, I was paid $80 a month in 12 payments. Each year after that, I got a $10 a month raise.
The first day I taught, a huge 15 year old young man came in with a pistol handle showing in his overalls pocket. He was nearly as old as I was and much bigger. I asked him to bring the gun to my desk and told him I would lock it in a drawer until the end of school and I never wanted to see the gun again. I didn’t have any more trouble with him. Later I learned that the family was very poor and decided he probably was going to kill a rabbit on his way home to have for supper. He quit school at 16.
I didn’t have much trouble, just a few ornery pranks. I remember one incident with a croquet mallet. After a pie supper, a swing set, baseball bats and gloves, and a croquet set were purchased. Everyone wanted to be the pitcher. Since I was still a teenager myself, I pitched and played with them to avoid arguments. One day a croquet mallet was missing. Someone told me it was in the boys’ toilet in the pit. I went in and looked but did not try to retrieve it. No one confessed to the prank. About 12 years ago at an Oak Grove reunion, a group of men were talking about the mallet. The culprit was there and confessed.
The pie suppers were big affairs. All the women in the community, especially the single girls, would prepare a box supper with sandwiches and bake a pie. They would be auctioned, and the winning bidder would eat the meal with the girl who made it. One girl played a joke by making a beautiful pie and filling it with cotton. It brought a lot of money, but the fella was angry, and I gave back his money.
After six year of teaching, we decided we were living off the taxpayer dollar, and he was making enough money, and we wanted a family. So I quit. My greatest pleasure in thinking back over my teaching experience is seeing children grow up and knowing I had a little influence in their success.
Oak Grove - Greenridge Reunion
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