Rocky Ford enterprise., 1897-12-23

of our public schools in the district OF
Rocky Ford is one of the interesting sub
iects to be dealt with by the corps OF lady
editors preparing this edition OF The
Enterprise and it might with interest be
elaborated much beyond the assigned
limits that must necessarily be imposed
upon all the contributors.
The original boundaries OF the Rocky
Ford school district when the first school
was opened here may be said to have
been "a miles from east to west and 90
miles from north 10 south. In NIL that
nrea there was no other organized public
school. As this area has narrowed down
to the present limits Of school district
No. 4 the interests aud activities OF edu-
cation have steadily increased until today
the town of Rocky Ford has not only n
school population that is exceptionally
large among county school districts OF
the state but it has Public School
Board and staff OF teachers whose in
terest in and qualification for the man
apement OF our educational affairs may
be pointed to with pride by the ax-paying
citizens Of the district.
The original school house in whnt is
now district No. 4 wis located at "Old
Rocky Forl," n fording place on the Ar
knnsas river, whose rocky bottom afford
ing safe crossing place between the
banks OF this treacherous stream before
the day OF bridges. This "rocky ford
glve name to the locality and was the
name given to the new town on the line
OF the railway when this means OF COM
municution with the outside world gavc
new life and impetus to development
nlopp the line OF the Arkansas Valley.
Tie school house was l5xlG, huilt OF
ntlobe and heated by an old fashioned
fireplnce. The first teacher was Miss
Beaty, n sister OF the Messrs. james and
jasper Beatty, the prominent merchan-
disers OF Mnnzanola. Our reporter has
not been able to follow the career OF
Miss Beaty beyond her work Ms the pio-
neer school teacher Of Rocky Ford, but it
is to be presumed TINT she went the way
OF ofdouble-blessedness so broad and in
viting to the few girls who came west in
that early day. She was succeeded by
Van Hendricks who after plyin. the.
birch for brief sci,sOn left the young
,deu to school in auy direction it pleased
md v went into merchandise. being still
citizen Of our town.
In was in the reign Of Mr.. Hendricks
that a new md somewhat more imposing
school house WIS built in what had be-
come the new town OF Rocky Ford. 1t
was situated on the main street of Tint
day, one block east Of the present Main
street, mud one block north Of the rail-
road. and Inns only with the pnst few
weeks been torn down to make way for
the second lurge brick school house TINT
will soon be ready for occupancy by tho
school children Of the town.
The enrolment of this first Rocky
Ford public school numbered Is. and
consisted mninly OF the families Of Loves,
Swifts, Russells mud Swinks, the hend
Of the latter house contributing rs liber-
ally to this coterie Of pupils rs he has to
other interests Of the town. The first
board OF directors was J. W. Lowe. A.
Russell and Thomas Downing.
In the year 1887 tho growth OF tho
community had become such as to re-
quire the engagement OF two teachers in-
stead OF one, AMI Miss Anna kilgore and
Miss Jennie Burnett were selected for the
positions. In 1888 the large brick school
consisting Of six rooms, wus erected on
the southern border Of tho town and u
third teacher, J. W. Sloss, ns principni'
was added to tho teaching staff. Miss
Haviland succeeded Miss Kilgore. These
three lady teachers all "held down and
.proved up claims OF 100 acres OF land
or more while promoting the education
Of our youth. and full and detailed
history Of the early days OF education in
the Rocky Ford country shonld rightly
contain n cl,npter Of experiences from
each OF these pioneer teachers to which
doubtless Miss l,caty could make inter
esting u,ldendu. il our space permitted.
At this period, lSSS-s9. the board oil
directors consisted OF d. n. Hehu'isn''
I. Dennis and John Stevenson. Tie
growth OF the school population rapidly
increased from this date, and in lS9o the
number OF teachers WIS rather inadequate
but was not Increased ut the opening OF
the term. A general change in the per-
sonel OF the staff, however, occurred. T.
+. Nichols became principal and Miss
Nellie Guthrie and Mrs. Bessie Taylor
becnme his nssistants. VIM. Matthews
md Mrs. Jennie Irvine. became members
OF the board OF directors this year, Mrs
Irvine being tho first woman director III
the district.
At the spring election the board OF di.
rectors again underwent n change, T.. D.
Smith md J. W. Eastwood coming into