The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1912-07-04

we cannot question the fact that
those old schools, with their limited
equipment and requirements, turned
out men and women who made honor
fable and successful citizens, and whose
lives and accomplishments may well
stand as examples to succeeding gen
erations.
But excuse this long DEPRESSION.
The methods Of dealing with offend
ers of the public peace in those early
days We're unique and original; besides
a generous use of the rod, the one on
whom the wrath of the gods descended
was made to hold a weight at arm S
length; to stand on tip-toe with his
nose IN ring drawn on the wall, or
any other such torture as the ingenuity
could devise.
Occasionally, the boys were made to
sit with the girls, or vice-versa; but
this did not always prove to be pun
Iishment; on the contrary it was found
in several cases to be rather an incen-
tive to disobedience and kindred evils.
Not in every case, however, as one of
the leading men of the town refused to
go to school because the girls would
pull his coat-tails.
| There were no district officers at
that time, the township school commits
sioners having charge of the schools.
These commissioners were Mr.. John c.
Holmes and Mr.. Benjamin Hatch
They visited the school at regular in
tervals, one of them questioning the
Pupils to ascertain the progress they
were making, while the other furnished
amusement for the little ones by going
to sleep, during these little maps his
mouth served as trap for wandering
and inquisitive flies.
About 1916 school district was reg
ularly organized, and frame school
house erected; it stood about halfway
between where the present building
stands and the home of Mr.. Clausen.
Miss Backus was the first teacher in
the old building, which, after serving
its time as a temple of learning, was
purchased by Mr.. E. A. Carpenter and
removed to the rear of his house, and
used as a storeroom, and is still being
so used by Mr.. Christensen. Many a
good time did we have in that old
room when the Carpenters lived there.
The present building was erected
about 1868, and was considered quite a
wonderful and elaborate building, be-
cause it had a basement to be used as
woodshed, ,play-room, and cloak room.
Miss Lydia Bourne had the honor OF be-
ing the first teacher in this model build
ing.
No record of the old times would be
complete that failed to mention the
spelling schools, which were the educa-
tional events of the winter, calling to-
gether the spoilers, good, bad and in
different, from the schools for miles
around. This district was proud of
some of the champion spoilers of the
county, namely Henry Foote, Scion
Perry, Harrison Pierce, Sylvia Bailey,
and Olive Blackman.
The school has always held high
rank among the schools Of the county.
District No. 2, Somers, was known as
the Banner School, but we took the
honors from them in competitive ex-
animation during the time Mr.. P. r.
Barnes was teacher.
We may well be proud of the boys
and girls who have gone forth from
these doors to become successful farm
ers, mechanics, and business men.
Among the professions we have law
yers, physicians, dentists and teachers.
Of the latter we counted nearly forty
who received all or part of their educa-
ton in this little room.
| failed to recall any of the pupils
who have entered the ministry, though
several of the girls are successfully
filing the more difficult position of
minister s wives.
1t was during the reign of Mr..
Barnes that these beautiful trees were
planted. Alvin Carpenter carried on
the good work by replanting where the
first had failed to grow. How much
they added to the pleasure and COM
port of the little ones who now occupy
these seats, and how much we appre-
ciatet them in these annual home COM
ings.
That the old school is held in fond
remembrance by former teachers and
pupils is evidenced by the interest and
enthusiasm shown in these annual