Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-05-11


OF Alma were meagre in the extreme.
Miss Rachel Kress now Mrs.
Geo. Gee had rev pupils and
taught them half day al her fathers
house, receiving a dollar week.
The first school that was taught all
day before We had an organized dis
trlc was taught by Miss Fox, VINO
lived at Lansing and walked the
greater part of the distance from
there to Alma AT the beginning OF
each term.
The school house was little
shanty that MIR Ely built, the boards
of which were taken directly frcm
the saw.
The school term lasted four
months aud there were six pupils,
four of whom belonged TO Mrs. Ely.
The teacher was boarded and paid
by Mr.. Ely.
The next school house was situa-
ted near the present site of the Col
lege.
1t was built of logs and had
neither doors nor windows.
There were eleven people in all in
the school and they were taught 10y
a Miss Martha Cole who received
81. so per week.
The first school house in Alma is
the building which is now occupied
by Mr.. Caldwell for his blacksmith
shop. This was situated where the
Wright House now stands.
The school was taught by Miss
Martha Woodin NOW Mrs. Elias
Smith, of ST LOUISE Many and
wonderful are the stories she tells OF
her bill of fare while at Alma.
1t was corn bread, venison, vine
gar or sorrel pie and corn coffee,
three times day.
The next school house was the SO
called "Old School House" which
was situated just east aud one block
south of the Church block.
This was large square building
consisting of four rooms.
School was taught in this building
until 1885, when the present edifce
was finished, and the old school
house was then used for a store
house until 1887 when it was burned
10 the ground.
The present building was built in
1885 at an expense of $4,000.
1t is two stories, red brick with
stone trimmings and heated by
steam.
There are eight seated rooms, one
recitation room library and labra-
tory.
The library is the best of any
school Of its size in the state ana
contains 1900 volumns.
The labratory is well. fitted with
apparatus and Is the most interesting
and attractive room in the building.
The next year aftel the Union
School the College buildings which |
SO beautifully adorns our village !
were built.
They were first occupied by a |
business institution and a normal
school; but it has since been given
to the Presbyterian Synod Of Mich
gan, aud II now ranks as a regular
collegiate school.of the. first order
The first church services were held |
around at the private houses as
there was no church.
AT meeting held in the old !
school house the boys thought 10 |
have little fun SO Master Town
send Arminius Ely, now the present |
highly respectable President OF our |
Village, then a promising lad. OF |
about Is summers and just begiu- |
ming to shave ana MIR. Hayes now a
prominent lawyer Of Nebraska,
threw large pieces of wood upon the
roof and let them roll down. The |
lads amused themselves IN this man
ner the entire evening. Boys are
the same, yesterday, to-day and for
ever)
Rev. Slapper, a United Brethren
minister, conducted the first services
in Alma which were held at the
residence OF Mr.. Kress.
Soon after the school house was
built west of Alma, Mr. Todd
Universallst, minister held services
their.
During the summer of 1873 the
Baptist and Methodist churches
were both built, the first churches to
be erected in Alma.
There had been a class of Metho-
dists here for sometime; but as
many of the leaders mad moved
away no permanent organization
was made until 1871.
During this year reviva! meetings
were held by Rev. Wells and Theo
dore } Hlll,resulting in great many
The members kept increasing and
a church was built, the corner stone
of which was laid 10y Rev. Noah
Fassett.
A number of the pioneers of Alma
were Baptists aud as il was tue dc