USA > Minnesota > Mower County > Burr Oak School days, 1853-1953 > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Visiting John Everill
Tr. Eve. ill was born in Dane County, Wisconsin. He was married to Has. Averill in Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Everill had no children. They moved to District 23 in 1920. The bought their far from Pronk Nayzik and have lived there thirty three years. Mr. Everill was elected to the school board and served ten years. Mr. Picd Gravenich, Mr. Walter Elward, Mr. Frank Pelch and Mr. Joc Helebrandt served also.
Reporter - Norma Toate
The Epleys
Barl and Margaret Epley moved to this district in March of 1944. Thic, live on a one hundred sixty acre farm. The Epleys have six children, Wirce boys ond three girls. Their names are Richard, D. rlene, Roger, James, Mary JoAnn and Jone Marie. Mr. Epley is a member of the school board.
Reported - Dick Haney
The Praizlers
In 1917 Mary and Joseph Praizler bought the John Duerst fana west of the Burr Oak School which was the family home until the fall of 1952. On this farm the; reared their two children, Georgena and Robert.
Gcorgona studied to become an elementary grade teacher, and Robert graduated from the University of Minnesota as a chemical engincor. At procent, Georgena, Mrs. A. N. Bliton, lives in Austin, end Robert resides in Chicago, Illinois.
The late Joseph Praizler, who died July 12, 1952, was preceded in death by his wife, October 12, 1934.
They loved their family and farm-home and cave their best to thom. Their perseverence, will-power and ambition helped then to achcive their modest and honorable standards of live. Each one served as members of the school board of District 23 for Many years. One incident that remained in their memories was the damage caused by vondals who entered the school in the summer of 1928. Ira Syck apprehcated the youths and recovered most of the water-soaked books and supplico frou a wooded hide-out.
A Letter from a Former Student
Doar Gone,
I received your surprise letter inquiring of the past. I attended the same school you are now attending. That was my firot grado there. Martha Hillier, who now teaches in Austin, was my first teacher. I lived on a farm about one mile south-east of the Oasis, on which the Elwards now live.
In those days tore were no buses to pick us up. I had to walk frox that far, northeast through the woods, to the little white school house. Oscar Felch, Gertrude Watt and Walter French are the only students I remember now. There were no roads. It was just a trail, and they were not graveled.
he Watt girls lived East of the school, in the first house on the same side of the road. The place then belonged to Bert Perkins. The Trenches lived couth of the school, the first place down the road.
Yours sincerely,
- George: Rice
Memories of a Former Teacher
I have been asked to reminisce just a little, hoping that I might recall incidents of the two years, 1920-21-22, spont as a teacher in your school.
I hadn't planned to teach in 1920, but yrs. Eunice Rice, Count. Superintendent, net me downtown, and said that she was very much in need of an experienced teacher for District 25. I hesitated, because I had my home and two children to care for; but when I thought it over and found someone to catisfactorily care for the children, I accepted.
I thought it would be just for one year. However, I think that teaching school is a habit, and the next year found me with my little Gray pony wending my way into the country again.
The autumn mornings were thrilling. The winter mornings were conetlhes quite exciting, when a blizzard raged so that only the pony Incw just where we might be going.
It io cuch a pleasure to remember some of the boys and girls.
Frances Falch, a first grader, just loved to read. She read uany booke her first year.
I recall che boy who objected to giving any more time to a Civen loscon. I insisted. He said, "Well, I know it now". I said, "Well, you cpond couc more time on it, just for the sake of obedience thio tic. What do you suppose I might have been if I hadn't learned to obcy " He replied, with a twinkle in his eye, "Well, maybe en old maid."
Then I recall taking my five year old son with me to visit the : pchool one day, but only that once, thank you. Little John Walsh come in crying to tell me that my son had called him a pro-German. Then there was tragedy also. Three children of the district dice of black diptheria, two little daughters of Mr. and Mrs. James Wilson and a little Johnson girl. Two of the little girls had been attending our school. One was a pre-school child.
Oh, ycs. Life moves on. Now those boys and girls are men and wo .. cn, conding children to school.
Irs. Burt Dibble
Early Teachers
These teachers taught Burr Oak School prior to 1304. No authentic records were kept prior to that time, so we are unable to give the date.
Peter Paul Mascie Norton
Minnie Cancron Almoda Trucsdale
Kate Van Camp Claro Ellis
Maggie Vale Annie Vale Hilton Bowers
Effic Goodman Sadie Litchfield
Olive Savoce lily Thompson
Dick Haney
Int resting Sidelichts
This was taken from the clerk's report of 1894. The average cost per pupil was $1.86. Today, the average cost per pupil is $203.06.
In 1804, (150.00 was voted for special tax.
Lic silver maples on the grounds were planted by the Watts children over sixty years ago.
In 1028, at the school board meeting, a motion was made to dig a well and fence the yard. This was voted on each year and defeated until 1935. At that time they voted to dig the well but - not fence the grounds.
In 1937, the entry was built and swings purchased.
In 1048, the oil burner was bought.
In 1050, clectric lights were installed, the exterior shingled, floors refinished end new encylopedias purchased.
In 1953, a back door was cut to the building. Supply cupboards built, new globe, flag, dictionaries and four desks were purchased.
The Johnsons
Mr. and Mrs. Bennie Johnson moved to Burr Oak on April 1, 1934. They were transferred fro : Woodson to Burr Oak in the fall of 1934. Phery, Floyd, Harold, Arling, Gloria Daphine and Nolan all went to school in Burr Oak.
Burr Oak School 1900 by Ardell Blume
There were nine pupile enrolled in 1900: The teacher was Clara Doge. The following were pupils:
Shirley French
Lewis Pronch Valtor French Jeocio lillior Edward Hillier May Show
Oscar Felch Tohney Gehesan Gertrude Watt
It was interesting to note that $169.69 was the acount spent, and $175.00 was the amount voted. That year they paid $132.00 for fuel. Their bond interest wes $3.66. Their other expenses, which included teacher's wages and supplies, were $71.95. The cash on hand was $5.95.
Rules for Penmanship 1895
The following was taken from an old register of 1895. These cre the rulco that were .cet up by the State Department in 1895.
1. There should be only two classes, one using long, properly charpened slate pencils and sponges, the other using copy books, jons and inh.
2. The first mentioned class should include all pupils of the first two grades, the other, all pupils of the "Third Reader Gradc", and such pupils of the two higher grades as have not acquired sufficient skill in penmenship.
3. rith tact the teacher shoud carry on the instruction of both classes at the same time.
4. Let the constant ain be to attain as speedily as possible, legibility, neatness, and case and rapidity of movement.
Burr Oak School 1920
Teacher -- Ethol Milbrand
Pupils --
Joseph Brusky Emma Johnson Opel Wilson Lillian Espo Annic Johnson Edna Pitoock Georgena ?raizler
Francis Welsh
Goldie Vilson
Luclla Walsh
Tillio Pitcock
Ruby Wilson
VI
Burr Oak School 1930
Teacher -- Mrs. Arthur Johnson
Pupils --
Lilliani Svojkovsky II. rold Graff Kar: Valch Bobi Praizler
Adolph SvojLoveky
LaVerne Graff Ircne Wolch
Rucsoll Wil ont
Ilton Graff Dorothy Graff
Mildred Lostrud
Roger Svojkovsky
Dorothy Elward
Burr Oak School 1940
1
Teacher -- Betty Strong
Pupilo --
Myron Graff Milo Hyland Floyd Johnoon Milford Kulff Moxinc Graff Harold Johnson
Arling Jolinson Ruth Valler
Mayphene Graff Gloria Johnson Donald Johnson Audrey Kulff
Ruby Walker
Betty Lou Hyland Marilyn Parr Lois Jeon Spurgeon
Burr Oak School 1953
Teacher -- Filma Nobbs
Pupilo --
Gono Converse
George Horse
Ard cll Blu.le
Rosemarie Blue
Arlocn Blume
Marvin Lovlein
David Edison
Marlene Sukow
Dick Haney
Richard Gunderson Joan Teats
Phillip Baldwin
Karen Sukow
Nancy Wessels
Homa Toais
Patricia Rieman
Patricia Lovlein
Carole logan
Garrett Baldwin
Jurone Hogan
Doar T'rs. Nobbs and Students
Thinking of the history of Burr Oak School in the twenty years we have lived near it, sends many thoughts about in my mind.
A rural school, and most especially our Burr Oak, is a symbol of the neighborhood. It's teacher and students within set the spirit and standard for it's people in homes and farms around it. All can recall, come Christmas, that the walls of our school can scarcely hold all who wish to cather up and add to their Christine spirit by witnessing "The Program". This is especially true in recent years, when a portion of the program portrayed the true and single story so beautifully for all of us. A warm, good fecling wolled up in the young and not so young alike.
This is an incident mixed with sentiment that I recall. When Mr. Joseph Helebrandt passed away, many in our district remembered that fow hed the best interests of our school more at heart thon he. The day before his funeral, two students, Arleen Blume and Karen Sukow, a bit breathloss and flushed fron running to our home from school, held out a moist handful of coins collected by the teacher and studento to add to a memorial to one whose generous decds did not go unnoticed. His son, Dr. S. A. Helebrandt was touched and
1
plcoued upon hearing of this incident.
No history of Burr Oak would be complete I feel, if an orchid were not presented to our teacher of the past several years, Mrc. Wilmo Hobbs. Under her guidance, the tone of school was kept on a high plene. Evidence of interesting projects, varying from scason to season was found on the bulletin board, in an aquarium, a bird or cocoon collection, et cetra.
Sincerely and gratefully yours, Mrs. Fred Gravenish
z 1
Memories of District 23
Ny first teacher at Burr Oak was a Niss Helen Baker. this must have been in the fall of 1909. I remember her only as a small lady, to whom I could run for help with my school problems. I recall her telling me that I was a good singer, but telling my older sisters that I sang without making a sound.
My first mistake in class that I remember was to leave one lotter out where there should be double letters. Miss Baker always told ne, "Now I'm going to let you write it over ten times so you don't forget again. " Because she let me write it, it never seencd like punishment. My mother tells me that I cried when she left school at the end of the term. I would like to meet her just to thank her again.
My second grade teacher woo a Mrs. Phillipo. Now school work got a little harder. I had to write words without a book, and I didn't like it. My dog used to follow me to school. Mrs. Phillips told de to leave him home from now on, and I was plenty mad at her until we got acquainted. Our school was cold that winter again. Tro. Phillipo always let me study near the stove, so we were pals acin.
One of the schoolboard members chased us off thin ice the next spring, and he used a whiip to prove he meant, "stay off".
I spoke my first piece at Christmas and lived through the stage fright to spec . again.
There was never a dull moment at Burr Ook in 1911 with Miss Kyrtle Carter as teacher. I now applied honest effort and worked to be neat at all times. I practiced penmanship, but in comas and periodo, but I lived through that too. The big boys built a dam in the road ditch and flooded the school grounds in the spring. We had to play inside for a week because of the and. I still wonder why a school ground is often lower then a road and loft that way for years. We played sand lot baseball every su mer. Kiss Carter's brother come to visit us that spring, and he was the first left handed hitter
we had while I was catcher. Near the end of the term we broke the bat, and that "busted" up the ball Comics. One boy took this broken bet, and tried to see how close he could come to the other boys bare feet without stabbing then. It couldn't last, and he hit a big boy's foot. Every kid wanted to see him get his nose punched. I happened to be on the school porch, but when I heard the racket I ron to sec, because I didn't want to miss anything. When I came
around the corner of the school house I ran right into that broken bat. I got the splintered end against the right side of my nose, n'cor the cye. Miss Carter washed it out, but since the eye wasn't hurt we just marked it lucky. I had lots of headaches for the rest of the tern.
In 1912, we had a new teacher, Miss Grace Martin. Our school took on a new look. First came the eye tost. I found out I had gone blind in my right eje during school vacation. Dad now took me to Dr. J. :. Rogers. He said we were four months too late in coming to
him. The only thing he could do was to fit ne with classes to protect the other efe. Miss Carter took bows, arrows, and play swords cway frou uo to keep us frou hurting our playmates. I certainly can't blanke her. The kid with the broken bat was just having fun. It io juct concthing that happened. I still lived through it and I still mark it lucky.
Our school building was enlarged. We even had storn windows and a bigger hooting furnace, so we were really getting up in the world.
i A dental cacau salesman brought us samples. One little fellow ate half of his before !'iss Martin noticed what he was doing.
The teachers had been furnishing and getting us all the books we needed fro .. the library in Austin, but now we had a few of our own. We got a globe, come large maps, and a water cooler for summer. Hot lunches wore started in winter during the two years I had Miss Martin as teacher. I think every child will admit che was tops and a Go- cotter for us. Hics Martin had trouble with boys using tobacco. She expelled two and whipped one. That stopped all use of tobacco for that year. In the last school program I had to be the comedian, so I took top honors. I wonder if I have forgotten how to malic a willow whistle.
I nearly forgot to tell about the day I was hung. We had very little playground equipment, so we made our own. Someone brought a rope, and we put up a swing, mostly for the Girls. One day we tried climbing rope. That broke the rope on one side. My kid brother wont up the other rope and then pulled the rope up after him. It was my turn next, and he wouldn't throw the rope down. I went up the treo to get the rope and box his ears. He made a loop and tossed it over my head. When I tried to take the loop off I fell out of the tree. the rope wasn't long enough, and my feet didn't touch the
1
ground, the big boys caw what was happening. They ran over and caught no end untied the rope almost before it pulled tight. I wanted to punch my kid brother, but he ran to Miss Martin for protection. Thon che acled a big boy to cut the old rope out and put it in the fuel room before concone did get hung.
I can't help but notice the changes in the school setup over the forty odd years. When we had a Christnos program, Santa Claus hold the spotlight, and Jesus wasn't even mentioned in the entire program. These dess you can hardly tell the difference between a public school Christmas program and the programs we have in church Sunday School at Christmas. We were taught to read, write and spell the word prayer, but no one thought of teaching us to ask God's Bloocing when we sat down to our lunches. Now, however, we know that at least a few teachers are trying to encourage the children to remember their table prayers, even at school lunch rooms and cafeterias. More power to then; or perhaps I should say, "May the Lord bless the; all, both teacher and children. " I'm not trying to point out or insinuate that our teachers of yesteryears were not pious people. I just want to point out the change of schedule and as to what was expected of our teachers.
Now, just a word to the teachers of today in this little rhyme. "Thou must be true thyself,
If thou the truth woulds't teach. Thy soul must overflow, If thou another soul would reach. It need the overflow of heart To give the lips full speech. Let us pray. Oh, let me teach the truth of life, In the most effective way.
And let me live the life I teach In the presence of God cach day. Oh, let me learn as did the twelve, To teach for Mankind's sake. Let us pray further for all teachers. We implore thy blescing oh, God, on all of us, the Men and women, Who teach the children of our nation. Teach us to reverence young lives. Gird us for our task with patience and tranquillity. Give us special tenderness for those who need us most. 'e give thanks for the Godly teachers we have had. lay the strength and beauty of Christlike service shine through our lives. May we constantly train ourselves to be more like the Great teacher, our Master, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Erwin P. Quast 1000 Foster Street Au tin, Minnesota
A
-
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.