Early Schools of Lucas County Iowa

Saturday, June 15, 2013

Chariton's Four Original Schools

Pictures from the Past

by MaLinda Travis

Chariton's four original schools

School #3 - North - This is the old Bancroft School, later called Alma Clay, which

once housed the high school. Bancroft was formerly called the North School.

(Look for the next school in the next Chariton Herald-Patriot)

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

The Chariton High School #7 Senior Class of 1913 - 100 Years Ago

Senior History by Dagmar Johnson (1913, a year going but not soon to be forgotten)

We Seniors well remember the fall of 1909, when as Freshmen we began our High School life. We marveled at our teachers and upper classmen, who seemed to find us rather amusing. Now we know that the attention they gave us was interest, because even then, they recognized the possibilities in us. Gradually the trembling feeling left us as we became more accustomed to our surroundings.

Our school year gone and we were Sophomores. Although this name (“Wise Fools”) was translated for us by our assembly speakers and impressed upon our minds in many ways, we are today proud of that eventful year. Our class, unusually resolute in spirit, and influenced by a will to do things, decided to come into a closer social contact with each other and form a club. But alas! As our organization was not appreciated by our faculty, our club was abandoned. Feeling ran high for a time, but it gradually subsided. As there were more good times in store for us, we forgot about our would-be club and entered into all fun with a true class spirit.

When we were Juniors, consent was given to us to organize in a proper and fitting manner. We assumed a motto, “Harder work and less fun,” but in spirit the motto read, “Harder work and more fun.” This year we displayed our dramatic art for the first time in our High School career. It is useless to repeat what renown we won in presenting to the public, “The Private Secretary.”

At the close of our Junior year, we kindly consented to give a banquet and reception in honor of the Seniors whose departure did not cause us any grief, for we knew then that the next year we would be Seniors.

At last, that year has come, 1913, and it is our last year we have tried to make it an enjoyable one and we certainly have succeeded. We have had parties, dinners, and bob rides. Our class play, “Miss Hobbs,” was a greater success than we had hoped for. If our audience enjoyed the presentation half as much as we enjoyed the rehearsals, we feel well repaid for our effort.

But now book reviews and orations must occupy our minds until we have, to our credit, completed our High School years. Then “We Finish to Begin.”

The first annual we have of the graduating class of Chariton High School is 1913. They began their Freshman year 100 years ago. Below are the pictures of this class:

Monday, October 29, 2012

Prairie Hill, English No. 6

Sunday, October 7, 2012

Pleasant Prairie Country School

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Columbus School Bell

Click on picture to enlarge

Frank Myers has a very interesting article about the bell in front of Columbus School. If you would like to read it click here: Columbus School Bell

Below is a picture of the old school where this bell called in the children.


Click on picture to enlarge

Friday, January 7, 2011

Cory School #6

Cory School #6 was located west of Chariton in Whitebreast Twp. These pictures were obtained from the Lucas County Genealogical Society.

From the Chariton Leader May 17, 1949 - Cory Pupils enjoy all Day Outing Friday - Twelve pupils of the Cory School were taken on a tour of Chariton Friday by their teacher, Miss Minne Lee Reeves. Included on the tour were the Chariton Ice Company, Steinbach Lockers, Quality Bakery, Chariton Newspapers and the jail. A picnic dinner at the East park was followed by the group attending the matinee at the Ritz theatre. Pupils taking part were, Ruby Cook, Mabeth Henderson, Ronny Tanner, Sharon Cook, Roger Collins, Dannie Trumbo, Richard Tanner, Roland Collins, Barbara Tanner, Vera Cook, Beverly Tanner and Betty Tanner.

Fire Destroys Rural School

From the Chariton Leader April 24, 1951

Fire about midnight Friday entirely destroyed the Cory School house west of the county home. It is not known how the fire started, but it apparently spread from an adjoining coal shed to the building. The CharitonVolunteer Fire department answered the call but the fire was too far along. Miss Minne Reeves is the teacher and there are 19 days of school remaining. The pupils are being transported to Chariton for the remaining school period and a room in the Columbus School has been assigned for this work. The township board is to meet Thursday evening to determine future plans. There are 15 pupils in the school this year.

Pictures from the Past by Sanda Stump appeared in paper on April 19, 2012.

From the Chariton Leader dated May 17, 1949: Pictured is Cory School #6 which was located west of Chariton in Whitebreast Township. Also pictured is Neva Holder Duer's class picture. On April 24, 1951 (from the Chariton Leader) about midnight the Cory School House, west of the County Home, was entirely destroyed by fire. It was not known how the fire started, but it apparently spread from an adjoining coal shed to the building. The Chariton Volunteer Fire Department answered the call but the fire was too far along. Miss Minnie Reeves was the teacher at the time and there were 19 days of school remaining. The pupils were transported to Chariton for the remaining school period and a room in the Columbus School had been assigned for this work. The Township Board was to meet to determine future plans. There were 15 pupils that attended Cory School #6.