Subscribe..
CHANTLER SCHOOL – SCHOOL SECTION NO. 5, PELHAM
[Pelham Historical Calendar 1980]
This school was built in 1872, but the original building was on the other side of the tracks. The rural setting is still intact and beautiful. An addition was made in 1961, which enabled it to house two classes very comfortably. The school has been changed into a home now, the owners being Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Miejadlik. Our sketch shows the earliest building.
 |
 |
The first written information that we found us in the school year January to December, 1890. The pupils were registered in four “Classes”, not grades, totalling twenty-four children. The attendance was not all that it should be, perhaps because of bad roads in wintertime, and chores at home in the warm weather. The average attendance in January was 14.3. We were happy to find teachers name Sarah Gaiser. An interesting fact is that school continued through July and August and the school year ended on Dec. 31. A new teacher arrived to begin the year 1891, Annie Leppert. In January, 1899, when Mr. E.V. Augustine was the teacher, class 5 had been added, which was perhaps equivalent to the first year of High School now. In 1922, when the inspector, Mr. J.W. Marshall signed the register, he remarked, “Neat and Complete and Well-kept.” It was heart-warming to see the “Selected Scripture Readings” in the front of the register, and to all appearances it was well-used.
On Sept. 1, 1921, Mildred Haist was in charge with six “levels” of pupils. We conclude that she was very satisfactory, as we see she is listed as teacher until 1925, with thirty pupils and seven grades to manage. She may have stayed longer, but we have no written proof. In 1929 when the enrolment rose to forty-one, two teachers were considered necessary—Viola R. Culp and Laura P. Fee. As they were separated into nine classes, it is obvious that they were trying to give their young charges as much individual attention as possible. There were many excellent teachers in these small schools. My they be long remembered. Mr. Edmund Kline also taught here, and Miss Bessie Marshall who is in our class picture. Following Mr. Jerry Murray, Mrs Mabel Davison and Mrs. Catherine Rice, Mrs. Lois Tobias was the very last teacher, when the school was closed, in June, 1970.
Add A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.