School: West Eaton

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Meinholdt, Gemmeke, Pratt, Lenherr, Thorson, Zetsche, Podobnik, Ozanich, Parkel, Miller, Liebzeit, Hoteling, Robins, Hilton, Hutchins, Miller, Burch, Dewey, Dutcher, Helwig, Warner, Johnson, Larson, Burns, Vollrath, Lindquist, Cleisby, Cole, Boson, Ross, Gates, Reese, Drew, Losen, Jordan, Zelainis, Gosar, Humke, Horn, Fravert

----Source: Family Scrapbook

The first meeting of the West Eaton School was held October 10, 1890 with Gottlob Meinholdt - Chairman and Treasurer, Theodore Meinholdt - Clerk, and George Gemmeke - Director.

Motion was made and carried that the site for the new school shall be on SW corner of SW quarter of N quarter of Section No. 8, Township No. 26. North range 2 West containing 1/2 acre. Rent at one dollar per annum to be paid for said school site.

Motion made and carried that district shall pay $3.00 per month for the use of the north room at the residence of Gottlob Meinholdt for the school term 1890-91, a term of 6 months from October to the end of December and from March to the end of May.

E. T. Pratt was hired to build an 18x26 frame building at a cost of $295.00 to be completed by August 15, 1891.

The original name of the school was the Meinholdt School. In 1909 they wanted to move the old school to the road that is now the town line instead of consolidation. After many heated discussions this obstacle was dropped and the school remained on the same location. At this time the school term was lengthened to eight months. The tax levy was $300.00 compared to $3500.00 today.

In 1918 the school district was changed. A petition was circulated and two thirds of the vote sanctioned that the present school property should be purchased from Alfred Lenherr for the price of $70.

In 1920 a motion was made to build a new school. It was first voted to build a two room school and later a decision was made to build a one room school.

In 1922 there were 60 students crowded in the little school. The joint districts of Eaton and Hendren borrowed $10,000.00 from the state trust fund for the purpose of building a new larger school. The building committee consisted of Abe Thorson, Robert Zetsche, Mike Podobnik, Joe Ozanich and Frank Parkel. The new school house was built in 1923.

It was a one room building with a large basement, indoor toilets and a wood furnace. The old building was sold to George Miller for $155.00 and the woodshed to Alfred Lenherr for $18.25. Enrollment was greatly decreased as the new Rocky Run School took many of the students.

In the year 1936 the teacher's salary was $76.00 a month and included janitor work. Students were hired to sweep floor in the evening after school for a dollar a month.

Classes lasted for 10-15 minutes and were held on recitation benches in front of the room so as not to disturb those who were studying at their desks. Workbooks were bought only for the first grade. Other seatwork, questions and tests were made by the teacher as she read their weekly assignments and made lesson plans for the week.

Christmas programs were held for parents and friends. Many times the better plays were entered into competition with other schools at Greenwood High School. Prize money was theirs to keep.

At this time one year of training qualified a person to teach. With a first grade certificate a teacher could teach for five years without summer school. By 1943 the requirement was raised to two years.

In 1943 the school was closed and children were transported to Greenwood. In 1948 it was reopened for a few grades from consolidated schools. In 1952 the school closed. The building was sold to Harry Liebzeit and the land was sold to John Verhunce on which he built his home.

The following is a list of teachers who taught for a one year period unless otherwise stated: In 1890 Myrtle Hoteling, the first teacher; Mabel Robins, Ray Hilton, Elmer Hutchins, Lynn Miller (half-term), Sadie Burch 1 1/2, Anson Dewey, Sophia Dutcher 2, Ella Helwig 8, Hazel Warner, Julia Johnson, Ruth Larson (part-term), Alice Burns, Emma Vollrath 2, Ella Lindquist 2, Minnie Lindquist 2, Clarence Cleisby, Sarah Cole, Emma Boson 3, Pearl Ross, Mrs. Gates, Anna Reese, Susie Drew 3, Sarah Losen, Josephine Jordan, Stanley Zelainis 6, Sophie Gosar 4, Ruth Humke 2, Laverne Horn, Elvira Fravert 3.

Submitted by: Sophie Gosar