McKinley School House by Jenna Wolterman
Since the early 1910's a schoolhouse has been part of the farm site where Mark and Carleen Wolterman live, located west of Adams, although they weren't aware of the building's history. To them it was a garage. When daughter Jenna was assigned by Mr. Earl Orvik, Southland high school social studies teacher, to write about an abandoned building, Jenna chose the schoolhouse and spent hours of time researching the building
McKinley School was named after President McKinley and was located on the northwest corner of section 34 in Marshall Township. The first board members were P.J. Sathre, Stork Peterson and John Fardahl. The average wage for a teacher was about $35.00 per month. Country schools were built about every four miles. This was so that no children had to walk father than 2 miles to get to school Most children walked, some rode horse, and some were dropped off by their parents.
The building was built so it could be moved in case there weren't any kids in the area or the section. It could be moved to a new area where there were more children to use it. The building had a solid wood floor and eight windows that were located on the north, west and south sides of the building. The east side had no windows, most likely as that was the entryway at the time and also the wall where children hung their coats.
The school was used for many purposes including school board meetings, Mothers Club, which met monthly. There was a basket social held in 1808. The profits were used to purchase a dictionary. In 1901 the Mothers Club enjoyed a party on a Friday afternoon. The children put on a program and Katie Murphy was the teacher. At the end of the program she was presented with a gift from all of her students. It was a pretty toilet seat as a Christmas gift.
The evening Christmas program was the most important activity during the winter season. Parents built a stage of boards on cement blocks with homemade curtains to pull on a wire, and made temporary seating on planks for the audience. They sang songs and had at least two plays, recitations, and may have had a piano solo. After the program they would have a great lunch. Santa would come. He would bring fruit, popcorn peanuts and hard ribbon candy. The Young Peoples Society from the Little Cedar Lutheran Church also met there in 1908.
An average day of a country school would be to first get the fire in the stove started. Some used wood and some used coal to heat the building. In the winter the teacher would have to scoop a path out to the outhouse. If it was stormy she would tie a long rope to the outhouse so the children could find their way back. and not get lost. The teacher was responsible to get the water pumped and brought in before the children got there at 9:00 AM
When the children arrived they all gathered outside to raise the flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance. Some schools at this time said a prayer or sang a song. The class work usually started with reading, then math, and recess. At recess the kids played softball, or in the winter, Fox and Goose, and built snow forts. Snowball fights were prohibited because the big boys would throw too hard. After recess, spelling, penmanship, and English were taught. Lunch break was next and kids brought their own lunch. It was usually brought in an empty Karo syrup pail. Some lucky kids brought a potato or jars of soup or beans to heat up on top of the stove. The lids were loosened and were placed in a dishpan with water in it and then put on top of the stove. After lunch, geography, history, and science were taught, except on Fridays when music and art were taught instead. Sometimes they had physical education outside which was mostly softball, kick the can, or pump pump pull-away. On a special day, it would involve a walk in the woods, where they would learn about the environment, different birds, insects, and flowers. The school day ended between 3:30-4:00 in the afternoon.
The children used separate slates with chalk to do their work. In 1899, the State of Minnesota provided all students with slates. Before that new law students had to buy their own and a lot of families had to share. There were 15 to 20 kids in the while school and one to three in a class, with only one teacher. The classes were first through eighth grades.There wasn't any age to go with a grade. The students worked at their level and advanced when they were able.
In those days, God came first, then work, then education. Some students had to skip school for periods of time to help at home. The older students were sometimes paired with younger students to help them with their facts or spelling or reading. Some students were 18 and 19 years old who came to learn English. They were all Norwegian that went to this school. If caught peaking Norwegian in school, they would be disciplined. Speaking of Norwegian was discouraged because they needed to learn English to succeed in this country.
At the end of the day, the teacher had to clean windows, floors, outhouses, and prepare for the next day. Women country school teachers in the early days were not allowed to be married, play cards, or be caught alone in a carriage with a man other than their brother or father. Teachers dedicated their lives completely to the education of other people's children. Some teachers were boarded with the parents of the children that attended the school. That would mean living out of their trunks most of the time and not owning their own home.
Halloween night, the schools hosted a Halloween party with a bonfire and games. Christmas they had a Christmas program with the help of the Mothers Club. The children practiced everyday from Thanksgiving until the day of the program. The Christmas programs were enjoyed by everyone and included songs, plays, recitations, and dialogues. Some schools hosted a Valentine basket social. It was held on the eve of the holiday, but never on a Sunday.
At the end of the year, they would invite other country schools to play softball, have a spelling bee, tug of war, and compete in other fun activities. It was called Fun Day. Most everyone came and brought good food for everyone. The day would end with homemade ice cream, which was a special treat.
Before the turn of the century, this was all the education most people had. The students were expected to complete an eighth grade exam before graduation from the eighth grade. High schools became more popular aft the turn of the century. However, country schools continued until the 1950's in some places in Mower County.
The reason they closed the McKinley School was that the school districts in this area all decided to consolidate in 1917. At that time most of the children were bused to Adams where there was the new public school or to Sacred Heart private school. The students' bus driver was Earl Weness. The bus was a farm wagon that had a top on it and was pulled by horses. It did have benches built in so that the kids could sit down.
At that time the country school building was sold to John J. Fardahl and moved to his homestead. It was used for a blacksmith and a wood shop. Behind the shop was a smoke house and behind the smokehouse was the chicken house. John died in the 1930's. The farm was inherited by one daughter, Caroline, and four sons, Lewis, Melvin, Alfred, and Nels. Alfred died in the 1940's; Melvin and Caroline passed away in the 1970's; and Louie sold the farm to Mark Wolterman in 1979. Louie moved to Austin and passed away in the 1990's.
Resources: Marjie Meier, Bob Radloff, Polly Jelinek, Sandy Scheevel, Ella Marie Lausen, Georgia Jech, Harvey Sathre; Mill on the Willow:The History of Mower County; Kites on the Pump Handle: Remembrance of One-Room Schoolhouse Days by Lola Prigge; Jelly Bread in My Syrup Pail: A collection of Stories, Memories, and Photos in Mower County Schools by Marjie Meier; Mower County Plat Books from 1915 to 1921.
McKinley School was named after President McKinley and was located on the northwest corner of section 34 in Marshall Township. The first board members were P.J. Sathre, Stork Peterson and John Fardahl. The average wage for a teacher was about $35.00 per month. Country schools were built about every four miles. This was so that no children had to walk father than 2 miles to get to school Most children walked, some rode horse, and some were dropped off by their parents.
The building was built so it could be moved in case there weren't any kids in the area or the section. It could be moved to a new area where there were more children to use it. The building had a solid wood floor and eight windows that were located on the north, west and south sides of the building. The east side had no windows, most likely as that was the entryway at the time and also the wall where children hung their coats.
The school was used for many purposes including school board meetings, Mothers Club, which met monthly. There was a basket social held in 1808. The profits were used to purchase a dictionary. In 1901 the Mothers Club enjoyed a party on a Friday afternoon. The children put on a program and Katie Murphy was the teacher. At the end of the program she was presented with a gift from all of her students. It was a pretty toilet seat as a Christmas gift.
The evening Christmas program was the most important activity during the winter season. Parents built a stage of boards on cement blocks with homemade curtains to pull on a wire, and made temporary seating on planks for the audience. They sang songs and had at least two plays, recitations, and may have had a piano solo. After the program they would have a great lunch. Santa would come. He would bring fruit, popcorn peanuts and hard ribbon candy. The Young Peoples Society from the Little Cedar Lutheran Church also met there in 1908.
An average day of a country school would be to first get the fire in the stove started. Some used wood and some used coal to heat the building. In the winter the teacher would have to scoop a path out to the outhouse. If it was stormy she would tie a long rope to the outhouse so the children could find their way back. and not get lost. The teacher was responsible to get the water pumped and brought in before the children got there at 9:00 AM
When the children arrived they all gathered outside to raise the flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance. Some schools at this time said a prayer or sang a song. The class work usually started with reading, then math, and recess. At recess the kids played softball, or in the winter, Fox and Goose, and built snow forts. Snowball fights were prohibited because the big boys would throw too hard. After recess, spelling, penmanship, and English were taught. Lunch break was next and kids brought their own lunch. It was usually brought in an empty Karo syrup pail. Some lucky kids brought a potato or jars of soup or beans to heat up on top of the stove. The lids were loosened and were placed in a dishpan with water in it and then put on top of the stove. After lunch, geography, history, and science were taught, except on Fridays when music and art were taught instead. Sometimes they had physical education outside which was mostly softball, kick the can, or pump pump pull-away. On a special day, it would involve a walk in the woods, where they would learn about the environment, different birds, insects, and flowers. The school day ended between 3:30-4:00 in the afternoon.
The children used separate slates with chalk to do their work. In 1899, the State of Minnesota provided all students with slates. Before that new law students had to buy their own and a lot of families had to share. There were 15 to 20 kids in the while school and one to three in a class, with only one teacher. The classes were first through eighth grades.There wasn't any age to go with a grade. The students worked at their level and advanced when they were able.
In those days, God came first, then work, then education. Some students had to skip school for periods of time to help at home. The older students were sometimes paired with younger students to help them with their facts or spelling or reading. Some students were 18 and 19 years old who came to learn English. They were all Norwegian that went to this school. If caught peaking Norwegian in school, they would be disciplined. Speaking of Norwegian was discouraged because they needed to learn English to succeed in this country.
At the end of the day, the teacher had to clean windows, floors, outhouses, and prepare for the next day. Women country school teachers in the early days were not allowed to be married, play cards, or be caught alone in a carriage with a man other than their brother or father. Teachers dedicated their lives completely to the education of other people's children. Some teachers were boarded with the parents of the children that attended the school. That would mean living out of their trunks most of the time and not owning their own home.
Halloween night, the schools hosted a Halloween party with a bonfire and games. Christmas they had a Christmas program with the help of the Mothers Club. The children practiced everyday from Thanksgiving until the day of the program. The Christmas programs were enjoyed by everyone and included songs, plays, recitations, and dialogues. Some schools hosted a Valentine basket social. It was held on the eve of the holiday, but never on a Sunday.
At the end of the year, they would invite other country schools to play softball, have a spelling bee, tug of war, and compete in other fun activities. It was called Fun Day. Most everyone came and brought good food for everyone. The day would end with homemade ice cream, which was a special treat.
Before the turn of the century, this was all the education most people had. The students were expected to complete an eighth grade exam before graduation from the eighth grade. High schools became more popular aft the turn of the century. However, country schools continued until the 1950's in some places in Mower County.
The reason they closed the McKinley School was that the school districts in this area all decided to consolidate in 1917. At that time most of the children were bused to Adams where there was the new public school or to Sacred Heart private school. The students' bus driver was Earl Weness. The bus was a farm wagon that had a top on it and was pulled by horses. It did have benches built in so that the kids could sit down.
At that time the country school building was sold to John J. Fardahl and moved to his homestead. It was used for a blacksmith and a wood shop. Behind the shop was a smoke house and behind the smokehouse was the chicken house. John died in the 1930's. The farm was inherited by one daughter, Caroline, and four sons, Lewis, Melvin, Alfred, and Nels. Alfred died in the 1940's; Melvin and Caroline passed away in the 1970's; and Louie sold the farm to Mark Wolterman in 1979. Louie moved to Austin and passed away in the 1990's.
Resources: Marjie Meier, Bob Radloff, Polly Jelinek, Sandy Scheevel, Ella Marie Lausen, Georgia Jech, Harvey Sathre; Mill on the Willow:The History of Mower County; Kites on the Pump Handle: Remembrance of One-Room Schoolhouse Days by Lola Prigge; Jelly Bread in My Syrup Pail: A collection of Stories, Memories, and Photos in Mower County Schools by Marjie Meier; Mower County Plat Books from 1915 to 1921.