Before taking up a detailed history of District Number Two (Grand Island) which necessarily will be of some length, we will digress and treat District Number Four, slightly out of its numerical order.

John M. Hanssen has furnished the following very interesting story, which not only sheds light on the establishment of this particular district, but added to Mr. Stolley's story of the first school, gives a more comprehensive idea of the difficulties under which Hall County's school system started out:

The first record made public concerning district N. 4, of those days, was the definition of its boundaries by Fred Hedde, then adting as county superintendent on December 5, 1867. In short, district No. 4 comprised in addition to present district four all of the present district 28 and district 23.

The first meeting of qualified voters of the new school district was held on November 16, 1867, and the first board elected were H. Wrage, moderator, John Wallichs, director, and John Lassen, treasurer. The first funds for the erection of a school house were collected from the residents in that vicinity, late in 1867, by donations and at the beginning of 1868 they had $148 which thirty men had contributed. A meeting was held at the home of John Seier on January 16, 1869, and it was there decided to lease a site and build a frame school house, 20 x 17 feet and the site then leased is the same site where the present school house of district four now stands (1919). Further action was taken at this meeting to levy on all taxable property at one-half of one per cent and also $1 on each 40 acres to defray expenses. John Lassen, John Seier and Claus Stoltenberg were chosen as the building committee.

The first meeting held in the new school house was on October 1, 1868, and it was then decided to fix the school term at eight months; a tax of one and one-half per cent was levied on all taxable property, plus the $1 on each 40 acres then taken up for paying the debt on the school house and hiring a teacher.

From the early records of this district it is not plain who was the first teacher nor just when school really opened, but since the records of the treasurer of No. 4 show that Louis Lorenzen drew Order No. 1 on May 1, 1869, for $135, it must be surmised that he was the first teacher, for the

school house was not finished until October 1, 1868 and the funds were not raised until later, and if he had a predecessor, there is no record of any pay being made to such predecessor.

At a meeting held June 1, 1871, it was decided to build a log school house in the eastern end of the district, on the site where the school house of district No. 28 now stands (1919). The logs and labor were furnished by the residents of that vicinity and a committee consisting of John Lassen, Theodore Scherzberg and Fritz Mathews, Sr. selected as building committee. It was further resolved to have a term of twelve months of school in the two schools of the district, nine months in the western or first schoolhouse, and three months in the eastern or second school house; that both schools be conducted and financed by District Four. Henry Rief was the first teacher who acted for both schools, at a salary of $45 a month. At a special meeting of June 12, 1873, it was resolved to buy the school site of the western school, one acre each of John Seier and Hans Wrake, for $15 an acre, this being the same location occupied now (July 1919).

In perusing the records of District No. 4 through its fifty-two years of existence, one cannot fail to be impressed with the following distinctive facts:

1rst. The remarkable good salaries paid at all times, considering the adversities met by the farmers of that vicinity in early times. There is no record of less than $400 a month being paid, the rule being $50 and upwards.

2nd. That it was emphasized at every meeting, as late as 1917 when the switch was made to the American language exclusively, that two languages should be taught, with preference given to the American language at all times.

3rd. At the majority of meetings a preference for male teachers was brought forth, and this has been the prevailing rule in this district.

4th. An uncommonly long school term has been maintained, always eight months at least.

5th. Good library facilities have been provided, with special attention also to the heating system.