USA > Minnesota > Mower County > Burr Oak School days, 1853-1953 > Part 1
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BurrOak School Days 1853 -1953
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Drawn By Ardell Blume Dick Haney 20 Tax
300 + $3.20
Dedication
To all of the men, women, boys and girls who have attended Burr Oak School
Acknowledgment
We wish to thank all of those who helped to make this history possible. We especially want to thank Oscar Felch, Mro. Frank Pelch, Collie Felch Waugh, Mrs. Skinner, Mro. Camp, Ervin P. Cuact, Fred Gravenish and many others for their information and interest
Staff
Editor - Gene Converse Accistant Editor - Arlecn Blume
Business Manager - Ardell Blume Reporters - Dick Honey, Noma Teats, Phillip Baldwin, Jurene Hogan, George Morse, Karen Sukow, David Edison Stoff Advisor - I'rs. Wilma Nobbs
1
The Organization of School District 25
Sanicl fittle and wife, Amanda, on May 8, 1567, decdcd the following property to District 23. Obadich Smith and Edwin French wore witnesses to the transaction.
Beginning at the S.K. quarter stake of the II. W. quarter of Section 7, 102, 17, rumming 10 rods north on section line- East 8 rods - South 10 rods - West 8 rods to the point of begin- ning. 4 acre of land.
Filed May 27, 1867 at 2 2.M.
School Buildings in District 23
In 1857, District 23 included District 40, which is the school just north and cast of us on the highway. The first school was taught by Jane Reeves in a board shanty on Section 6, owned by Henry Fero. The term commenced in the last of May 1867. In the fall of that year, a log schoolhouse was erected for cducational purposes in the township. Martha Slocum was the toached. In 1367 the district was divided. The southern part retained the old mmber and a temporary building was created in the south- west comer of the northwest quarter of Section 7. Amanda Streaver tougit the first term in this building. In 1868 a school house was created on this some site. Rebecca Otis taught first in this building.
In 1893 Obadich Smith built the present school on the same sito. For his work he received $200.00 and the old building. He troded the old building for a tean of horses. This building is used as a granary on the Blume farm. According to this information, our procent building is sixty years old.
Phillip Baldwin, Reporter
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Hur Oak School 1005
The foll wing pupilo were enrolled in Burr Oak School in 1895
Pupils betwoon 5 - 8 Louis Pronch Oscar Folch Idward Watt
Pupils between 8 - 16 Idina Pronch Valter French Callie Pelch George Pelch
Pupils between 16 - . 21 Pronk Folch Bertha Prench
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Burr Oak School 1896
The following pupils were enrolled in Burr Ock School in 1896
Shirley French George Folch
Oscar Felch
Ixide French
Valter French Lowis Prencli
radio Vett Mable Watt
Teacher - Cora Dell
Average cost per pupil - 33. 0125 The monthly salary for winter and spring was $26.50
Burr Ock School 1898
Attendance for 188
George Pelch
Occar Folch Walter French
Louis French
Nabol Watt George Rice Shirley French Ruccoll KcBride
The teacher for the fall tema was Mabel French The teacher for the winter torn was Fily Thompson
Dick Honey, Grade 6
Teacher and Salary
1.
1835
Araminta Weseman
2. 1896-1897
Cora Bell
4 terms
$25,00 per month
=
=
Fall Terms Winter "
3.
1808
Mabel French
1
=
28.00
=
11
Spring " Fall
4.
1899
Edith Carter
2
37.50
Winter
5.
1900
Lulu Enright
3
25.00
=
"
Spring All
6.
1901
Martha Hillier
1
25.00
=
"
Winter."
7. . 1902
Alice Meany
1- "
25.00
11
5
Winter "
8. 1903
Emeilie Hart
2
40.00
=
=
Fall
=
9. 1904
Edith Carter
1
1
30.00
= =
Spring Fall
10. 1905
Libby Stillwell
All "
28.00
=
=
Winter
Spring
11. 1906
Minnie Paulson
1
=
35.00
=
=
winter
12. 1907
Nellie Flonergan
2
30.00
=
=
Winter
Spring
15. 1908
Emma Jensen
2
11
30.00
=
=
=
14. 1909
Rose Ames
1
=
35.00
=
A11
11
15. 1910
Catherine Baker
3
3
All "
40.00
11
=
=
18. 1913
Mrs. Emma Phillips
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42.50
=
=
11
19. 1914
Grace Martin
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42.50
=
11
10
=
20. 1915
Margaret Roberts
=
21. 1916-17
Dulcie Hogan
=
=
45.00
65.00
=
=
23. 1920
Ethel Milbrad
.
24. 1921-22
Mrs. Burt Dibble
90.00
=
=
11
1
30.00
=
11
Spring
= = = = " 11
16. 1911
Hazel Wilder
40.00
11
=
=
11
45.00
=
=
=
=
22. 1918-19
Fern Adler
1
23.00
11
Spring
= = = = =
:
:
=
11
Spring
60.00
35.00
=
Fall
Kathryn Gahagan
Winter "
17. 1912
Myrtle Carter
28.00 30.00
=
Emily Thompson
Bertha Kind
30.00
30.00
45.00
A Visit with Mrs. Skinner
by Arleen Blume
"ro. Skinner was superintendent of Mower County from 1890 to 1900. She visited the schools twice a year. It was difficult Visiting 129 districts twice a year, but she only missed four districts in her ten years as superintendent.
In the winter she visited the schools with horse and cutter, and in summer she visited with a horse and buggy. She remembers of visiting in District 23 very well.
An unusual case in a district happened when a man teacher, without a teaching certificate, began to teach anyway. An unusual case in another district happened when a mother wouldn't send her children to school. There was a compulsory education low then, so an attorney had to come out and settle it.
One of the funny incidents that she remembers was the morning she went to visit a school and saw the teacher sitting on the steps crying. She went to see what was the matter. The children had locked her out of the schoolhouse.
One of the good things that she remembers was visiting the schools when she had to drive out on Monday mornings and stay all week visiting different schools. At night she had to stay at different houses. The people were always nice to her, and let her stay whenever she wanted to.
Mrs. Skinner had made a trip to Europe some years ago and brought back all kinds of interesting things from there. One was a mummy's hand. Just the other day, a gray-haired old man came up to her on the street, and said he remembered when she used to visit the schools showing all the things she got from Europe. He was a pupil in one of the schools che visited.
A Visit with Mrs. Skinner
by Arleen Blume
"ro. Skinner was superintendeit of Mower County from 1800 to 1900. She visited the schools twice a year. It was difficult visiting 129 districts twice a year, but she only missed four districto in her ten years as superintendent.
In the winter che visited the schools with horse and cutter, and in summer she visited with a horse and bugsy. She romembers of visiting in District 23 very well.
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An unusual case in a district happened when a mon teacher, = without a teaching certificate, began to teach anyway. An unusual case in another district happened when a mother wouldn't cend her children to school. There was a compulsory education law then, so an attomey had to come out and settle it.
One of the funmy incidents that she romabers was the morning che wont to visit a school and saw the teacher sitting on the stops crying. She went to see what was the matter. The children had locked her out of the schoolhouse.
One of the good things that she remembers was visiting the schools when she had to drive out on Monday mornings and ctay all weck visiting different schools. At night she had to stay at different houses. The people were always nice to her, and let hor stay whenever che wanted to.
Mro. Skinner had made a trip to Europe some years ago and brought back all kinds of interesting things from there. One was a munny's hand. Just the other day, a gray-haired old man cane up to her on the street, and said he remembered when she used to visit tie cchools showing all the things che cot from Europe. Ilc was a pupil in one of the schools che visited.
The teacher's wages were the .. $25.00 to $55.00 per month. Mrs. Skinner, es Superintendent, received $100.00 a month. There were twelve non teachers then. Mrs. Skinner's office was in the second story of the Court House. There were 129 districts and 2 joint districts. The qualifications a teacher needed to be able to teach in a rural school were to take an examination and have a third grade certificate. There were also first grade and second Crado certificates.
The pupils had to the same as they do now. The, had to : graduate from the elchth grade. .
A Visit with Oscar Felch by Arleen Blume and Norma Toats
Occas Folch was born in Marchall Township nine milco from here. He went one term in the old schoolhouse.
The incide of the school was all covered with wood and had four windows with blinds on. The, had no storm windows. The boys had to hang their coats and caps on nails. Docks and seats wore .lodo of rough boards. One water pail and one box of chalk hod to lest for three years. They got their water from the Blume form in a tin pall. They had a dipper in it, and each child took turns drinking out of the dipper.
In bad weather the parents had to take their children to school with horses and a sled. When the children did something wrong in school, they had to stay in, and sometimes they were beaten with a ruler. In nice weather they played all kinds of games. When there was a lot of snow they had snowball fights at recess.
Some of Mr. Pelch's schoolmates were the following: Geheson, who now lives on Lincoln Street, George Rice, who lives
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seven milco out of Austin on a farm, George Folch, his brother, Bertha French, who now lives in Minneapolis, the Watt children, the Hilliers, the Perkins, and Callie Wall, who lives in Austin.
Occor Felch married Eva Loomis in 1920. They lived in District 25 for sixty seven years, living on the same fara all the time. Mr. and Mrs. Pelch had no children. Mr. Felch is the oldest settler hore in this district.
The children had five readers in those days, and when they got through the fifth reader they would be through school.
At that time, one of the hardships was the bad weather. when it was stroming and the roads were bad, they had to travel with horse and bugey. Sometimes the roads were so bad the buggy would tip over. Then, they had to unhitch the horses, tie them to the buggy, and try to get it back on the road again. It took them a long while to get to town, and it was sometimes a week before they got back home again. That is why they didn't go to town very often, and then only when they had to.
Some of the pleasantest things that Mr. Felch remembers of those days happened on Sunday when all the neighbors went sleigh riding. The non had reces with their horses and sleighs, and then they would just ride and talk together. On Sunday night they went over to the neighbors. Usually the women would sit and sow, talking over their problemas, and the men would sit and talk about their farus and their troubleo. then later, they would gather around the fire and sing a fow songs. The women would fix a lunch, and then they would go home. The teachers which Mr. Folch remembers the best were Amy Varco, who was always good to them, Louis Enright, who was a good teacher and still could manage the children well, Edith Carter, who teaches in town now, and Martha Hiller, who was also a good teacher.
Austin H. Polch, Mr. Folch's father, was on the school board for a chiort whi .c. Byron French and John A. Thompson were on the school board before Mir. Folch went to school. Other school board members wore John French, Sylvester Thompson, John Durst, Frank Folch, Jake Budgor, Joe Helebrandt and Oscar Felch.
Some of the old settlers were A. J. French, Byron French, Obadiah Smith, Mr. Gahagan and John Rice.
Mr. Felch remembers a few of the funny episodes of those days. When Oscar Folch was five years old he visited school. All the boys hung their hats on nails then. He went to hang his hat up, but the teacher said, "I'll take the hat." He thought she was going to take his hat away from him. He jumped out of the window and ron to the neighboring farn where his mother was. Byron French lived. there at the ti ... c.
If there was any water left in the pall at the end of school, they conctinos forgot to empty it. The water would frecse over night and break the pail. They either borrowed one or went without water the next day.
They hod their maps in a steel box hanging on the wall. There were mapo of the United States, North America, South Amcrice and all the occons. They were rather tor at the bottom. All the children who didn't like geography tore big pieces off the maps every time they walked by. Finally, there were no hops left.
Mr. Folch remembers that Obadiah Smith, who built the present school, did not have a roof on his house at one time. When it snowcd, it would fall right on his bed and sometimes cover him. Then ho strung chcete across his bedroom. When they were full of snow, he would get up, shake the out, and put them back up again.
There were good teachers and some bad teachers then. one teacher, instead of heving classes, would rather spend the whole day scolding and beating the children. Another one licked them with a bugsy whip when she got angry. Another teacher would just walk up to the children and slep then or box their cars as she passed.
A Visit with Mrs. Felch by Arleen Blume
Clara Fischer Felch was born in Austin Township in 1879. She went to Minneroka School in Lyle Townohip. The school was a frame building planned like this school but had no coal bin. Walter Rand Cavo the school that name. It had a pot-bellied stove with coal for fucl. There were no seats. They had boards for desks and benchco to sit on. Their maps were in a case which pulled down like a window chade. The school was blown down by a cyclone when lirs. Folch woo cighteen. Then they built the school which is still in Lyle now.
They played "Rescue" and "London Bridge" at recess. They had spelling boes, bas .et socials, sowing, cards and puzzles to put toccthicr.
At Christmas time they had a bough of an oak tree for a Christmas tree with popcorn and cranberries for decorations.
After school there was no recreation of any kind unless the neighbor's children called. Then they played hide and go seck or played house in the cornerib.
Clora Fischer was married to Mr. Frank Felch in 1905. After they were married, they came to District 23 in 1905 ond lived on a farm. They hed it for forty eight years, and it is still the Felch for. They had two children, Florence Felch Peterson and Francis Felch Morce. The children attended school here. Francis is the
mother of George Horse, who is now attending school hore. Bir. Fclch was on the school board for twenty five years. Mr. Folch passed away on March 9, 1944.
One of the hardships was trying to get to town. In the spring when the roads were muddy they used to get stuck with a horse and buccy. The wheels got covered with nud, and they had to get out and push cad get all muddy. In the winter the snow got very deep and they didn't get to town very often.
Some of the pleasantest things that she remembers of those days cre the Fourth of July Celebrations, County Fairs, and the Grange mectingc.
Memories of District 23
I was the first mother who attended the Mother's Club. A mocting wos called to organize, and I was the only one to chow up. I was rather glad, as I was on my way to my Grandma Perkin's bedside, one che passed away a few days later - thirty three years ago. My Grandmother, or the Perkin's family, settled sevent: six years ago on what you now all know as Graveniches farm. In fact, the silver maple planted on the school grounds on Arbor Day almost sixty years ago, was cont by Mrs. Perkins by her two grandchildren, Nabel and Edward Watt, who lived with hor and attended the school. Going still further back, we talked to one of the pupils that attended the school which che was a little girl. She was Ada Storey, now Mrs. Roy Dibble. She cayo, on account of wolves and going thru the woods, 1 che was carried on the backs of older pupils or the Gohagan boys, especially Jack. She still lives in Austin, and is a out cichty five years or older. She lived where Joe Lamping lived. All the Perkins family attended the school, and eight of our family went to school tore.
Mro. John Walsh, 606 W. Bridge St. Austin, Mn.
at night they would hear the howl of wolves and look out the window to see them silhouetted against the night sky.
Yaking & home war at thet tihe was another problem, which the; culved, somewhat, by putting clean straw under the hand- woven carpets, and tar papering and banking the foundation. Cook stovco, heaters and hard coal burners provided warmth, but even at that, there were many nights when the cold was really felt, despite all efforts.
Ur. Lamping served several teras on the school board with Joli French and Burt Manchester. One of the outstanding teachers at that time, who remains in the memory of the children, was Miss Grace fortin, who is still a resident of Austin.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Lapping were active in the district and cave freely of their oc. viocs whenever called upon.
Mrs. C. F. Granholm 605 Harmon Avenue Austin, Minnesota
Three Generations attend Same School
ON March 10, 1686 my great grandparents, Austin H. Folch and Susch Annette Powers Felch, came to the farm where my great uncle, Oscar Polch, now lives. They brought with them their four children. One of them was my grandfather, Frenk E. Folch, who was nine years old at that time. He, his sister and two brothers were born in Narchall township.
Grandfather went to school in the first school house in District 23. In 1893 the present building was built.
In 1905 my Grandfather and Grandmother were Married. They built the house we now live in. They planted the evergreens, apple and plum trees.
Grend other and Grandfather Pulch had two children, my Aunt, Florence Welch Peterson and my mother, Frances Felch Morse. They both attended school in District 23. My cousin, Nancy Peterson, went to school hore for a while too. We are the third generation of our fallly to go to the same school.
George Pelch Morse, Grade 3
Memories of School Days in District 25
District 23 was the only school I ever attended. M. parents, brother, Frenk, sister, Callie, and brother, Oscar, lived where Mr. send Mrs. Oscar Polch are living today. We all attended school some of the same years. We had one and one quarter miles to walk. He had come cold, storay winters, and the roads would drift badly. Father ted to take us to school with a team and sleigh, and we had a hard tile getting through the deep drifts.
I can remember the picture of "Sitting Bull" was carved on the south side of the wood chied.
I can recall of catching rides on the sleighs of farmers driving by and throwing snowballs at come of the drivers. There worc Really good horses in those days.
I can also recall several of my teachers. I think Kimnie Cancron was the first teacher in about 1890. Then, there were Effic Goodman, Olive Savage, Sadie Litchfield, Amy Varco, Lulu Easter, Cora Bell, Inulu Fright, Daily Thompson and Mabel French. Gertrude Elis, now I'rs. John Skinner, was superintendent.
those were the days of rattle snakes. I can recall when Olive Savage was teaching us. The school kids ran across a rattlesnake northcaot of the school house. Mr. Savage came along with a wagon 1
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and toan. Olive ran out to the road, and he came in and killed it. I also acacaber that come men, who were working on the road, killed one on the roadelde south west of the school house.
I'd like to say that District 23 was a great help to young people, and I surely speak well of this school and the teachers.
George W. Felch Shevlin, Minnesota
Interviewing the Jordano by Norma Teats
Pat Jordan and his wife, Lauretta, lived on the farm that was the obedich Smith place. "r. Jordan and his wife live in Austin now. :
Lauretta Joyce Jordan taught school at Sargeant for oleven years. She taught twenty children and was paid from $20.00 to $50.00 per month. One of the texts used then was the "Robertson Arithmetic". All the other books were "Appleton". Later the books vere the "White Sorico".
Which Mrs. Jordan punished the children, she tweaked their cars of hair to make them behave. She didn't have to do this often. One child would come to school with gum in his mouth. He would pass it around and let everyone chew it. This made the teacher very angry.
They had no hand washing facilities. No one washed his hands, unless badly needed. Then, the had to wipe their hands on trouser logo or skirts, because they had no paper towels. In fact, at first they had no paper at all. They only had black boards and slates.
The school terms were only two Months in the summer and three montho in the winter.
Nrc. Jorden also taught in South Dakota. The children were
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out of school then they were through the fifth reader and the second arithmetic book. They didn't go by Grades, but by the books completed.
Poi Jorden was born in Freeborn County. He went to school at Newry 1 .! a country school.
Pat and Lauretta Jordan were married in 1919. They lived on their for for fifty one ycors, until it was sold in 1951.
Visting Mrs. G. W. Camp
I che Converse and Dick Haney called at the home of Mrs. G. W. Comp on February 24, 1953, at 4:30 P.M.
Mrs. Camp was born in Rock Island County, Illinois, in 1870. She was Married in Illinois to G. W. Comp. Five children were born to Ve. and Mrs. Coup. In 1914 they moved to what is now District 23. Kr. Caso passed away in 1037.
During "ro. Could's school dass she enjoyed such things as ball Ecco, cociables, slate games and others.
Sho alco told uo the condition of the road, or shall we say t.cil, which was passable by horse and buggy. These roads wrecked the buggles oftenti .c.
Sone of hor most pleasant times were her associations with her neighbors and with the Parent-Teacher's Club, which che helped start. Some of you know Mr. Morgan, our mailman, before he passed away. He was Mrs. Cong's son-in-law.
Nec. Caup had two children that went to school in this district.
Reporters - Gene Converce Dick laney
New Kombers of Our Community
He moved here in October of 1950. There wasn't any electricity hore for a long while, so it seemed odd to be using flat irons and old fashioned lampo in this day and age. After much bickering and waiting, we finally got electricity in this part in August of 1952. We have two sons, one of whom graduated from Austin Central High School. He is in the service now, and the other one is attending the University of Minnesota.
Mrs. E. Herrick
The Blumes :
They moved here March 1, 1951, fro. LcRoy, Minnesota. They live on the Joe Helebrandt farm.
With thou are three children, Arleen, Ardell and Rosemarie. Thicir parents are Rill and Helen Blume. They are engaged in dairy farming.
The Ri emanns
Croline Virginia Paradise was married to Harold LeRoy Riemann in itimenpolic, Minnesota, on October 27, 1945. We have two children, Patricia liarie and Michacl Harold,
Ve moved to Austin in October 1948. This is Mr. Riemann's "home town". We rented homes until we bought two acres of land in Windon Towichip, and built our own home on this land. We completed building and moved into our home in March 1951. We like to think we "carved our home out of the wilderness", because our land was covered with a conse growth of brush and trees, and we had to clear it, before we could begin building.
Mr. Ricmonn, who cerved four and one half years in the United States Army, works as a plumber in Austin.
The Growth of Burrwood Addition
There are twenty lots in Burrwood Addition. Charles Hcald bought this tract from Smith Quick, who was then owner of the Bluno form. Lew Edison subdivided them into lots, 132 feet wide and 660 feet long.
My cister named this addition. She called it Burrwood. There are now seventeen lots sold in Burrwood Addition. Most of the lots have houses on them .-
Icre are some of the people tha live in Burrwood :
1. Mr. and Mrs. Marvin Lovelin came in 1951. The house they are now living in was built by Mr. Lovelin two years. ato.
2. "r. and Mrs. Gunderson came in 1949. The house they are now living in was built three years ago by Mr. Gunderson and his fethicr.
5. ''r. and Mrs. Edison came in 1948. The house they are now living in was built five years ago by Mr. Edison.
4. Mr. and Mrs. Shock cane the first of October of 1952. They bought the house, which was originally built by Ervin Honey. 5. Mr. and Mrs. Otto Sukow came in November of 1948.
6. Mr. and Mrs. Marlond Sukow came in December 1948. They lived in their coroge until their new house was finished in 1953. 7. Mr. and Mrs. Normen Aucra Jr. come in August 1949.
The built their new home, which they are now living in. 8. Mr. and Mrs. Schaefer came in 1943.
9. Mr. and Mrs. Wessels came in 1949. The house they are now living in was built by Mr. Wessels.
10. Mr. and Mrs. Clark came in 1952. The house the are now living in was built by Mr. Clark.
Il. ilr. and Mrs. Honey come in 1049. When they first came, they lived in a cara,e. They first built the house which Mr. and Mrs. Smock are now living in. The built the home Mr. and Mrs. Delaney are how living in. After that, Mr. Honey built their present home. 12. Mr. and Mrs. Converse came in 1952. The house they are living in was built by Mr. Converse a year ago. 13. Mr. and Mrs. Burnett come in 1)52. The home the, are living in is now and was built by "ir. Burnett.
Reporters - Karen Sukow David Edison =
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