This is a continuation from last week regarding country School District #53 where I attended grades one thru eight.
Thanks to the neighboring farmer donating land for a softball field, many a recess was enjoying a softball game. The best neighboring country school would challenge us. The teacher from each school was the umpire. In case the two teachers couldn’t agree on a call – the call went in favor of the visiting school. I didn’t realize it then, but it was a great education in kindness.
Other games were kick the can, ant-anti over, tag, plus other get rid of energy games, so we behaved inside.
The school entryway was up steps, thru a door into a room where your boots, mittens, outer clothing, and lunch pail were left as you entered the classroom.
Just off the classroom was a separate room for boys and a separate room for girls. There were hooks on the wall in each room for coats, jackets, etc. to be hung. This room was also where you got a drink of water plus washed your hands from the water pail brought in each day from the hand pump well. This was the old definition of running water – “You ran and got it,” as there was no indoor plumbing.
Off of each separate room was a lavatory (an inside outhouse) containing what looked like a five-gallon pail with a lid and partially sunk in the floor along with toiler paper. Lime was used to keep the smell under control. How this was ever emptied I don’t know as the aluminum container was about five feet in length straight down. (It was jokingly referred to as the “Uffda room”.”
In the classroom there were rows of 10-20 desks depending on the number of students all facing a blackboard with chalk and eraser. If your class was called, you went up to the front with the teacher. Each day began with the pledge of allegiance.
On one side of the classroom was a fuel oil furnace under the control of the teacher. Off to the front of the classroom was a small library with a door leading to the basement. The basement included a small kitchen plus play area for inside activities. There was also an emergency exit in the library.
How many years was School District #53 in operation? I don’t know. But you name the occupation and it had a representative that attended their first either years of schooling at that school (all the way up from farmers, to Lutheran pastors, to teachers, to politicians, etc.).
In case you want to see the inside of a country school – there is one on the grounds of the county museum in Albert Lea and Owatonna.
Money and labor is needed by the Ellendale Heritage Society to help put up a marker for all 21 country schools that merged into the Ellendale School District. Contact Barb Mrotz in Ellendale at 507-688-2257 for further info.
Short Shorts
A. The Period of February 4-18 was so cold, we had to let the Star Eagle newspaper warm up inside the oven before we read the “hot news.”
B. “Shelly is her first name. Being a great rural New Richland mail deliverer is her fame.”
Shelly, thanks for your great service.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in New York. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.