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Local Education Organization
Community Schools

About Rock County's Education

Education began in the homes of the early settlers as many mothers taught their own children and in some cases a few other children came to join in learning. Offtimes a settler would give the use of a room of his house for the school until a schoolhouse could be built. The early teachers taught under very primitive conditions.

Our first school buildings were small sod or log structures with usually 2 windows. The rooms were heated with a fireplace, topsy stove or the old round heaters. Students huddled near the stove to keep warm and were not very successful. Blackboards were very small or non-existent. Books were in limited supply as were any other equipment. The teacher was also the janitor. She started the fire, emptied ashes, carried in fuel, primed the pump (sometimes having to thaw it first) and she did all the cleaning. The teacher would have to learn how to bank the old round coal heater so that it would hold fire all night or carry kindling to start the fire and get the schoolhouse warm before the students arrived the next morning.

W.H. Rugg was the first Rock Co. Supt. of schools being elected 12-24-1888. The following was an article written by Jane Peterson:

There were problems in education in pioneer days. Some of them were not so different from our problems now. One teacher sent his report to the county superintendent with this message written on it: "The children are behind in their work and do not have any interest in learning." The next report contained this comment: "For some reason which I do not know, the children seem to be discontented or dissatisfied with the school or me." The next month there was a different teacher and she finished the term which ended June 7.

Attendance was poor in pioneer days. Many times children were kept home to pick corn, pick up potatoes, or to work in other ways. There were many illnesses as this was before the days of compulsory immunizations. Measles, whooping cough, diphtheria, flu and colds were common. Teachers gave whatever physical examinations there were and we find records of many children with poor sight, hearing and teeth.

Very few schools had wells, flag poles, pictures, library books and playground equipment. In spite of this, the schools were often the center of the social life of the community. Church was held there, box socials, debating societies and literary clubs. The pioineers wanted their children educated and many finished their grade school education, went on to high school and college.

In 1908 Rock Co. had 66 school districts, in 1986 there were 7.

SCHOOL DISTRICTS

KIRKWOOD - The Kirkwood school Dist 1 was organized by direction of the County Supt. of Holt Co., the 31st day of July 1880. The first school board was comprised of C.A. Duncan, George Green and W.H. VanEpps. Early day teachers included Dora Strand, Mrs. Hanford Armstrong, Mrs. Arter. The first school building was a log cabin which stood just north of where the Kirkwood church now stands. It was taught by Mrs. Alva White.

Dist. #2 - by Margaret Sybrant - District 2 was organized by W.G. Townsend, County Supt. of Brown Co., 9/10/1884. It was abandoned, 3/22/1905 and reorganized 3/23/1907 by George M. Hopkins, Rock Co. It was attached to Dist 72, 8/25/1954. Some of the surnames of students were: Swinney, Ash, Bates, Stoner, McKinley, Erb, Tuckers, Caskeys, Dyes, Schuberts, Nelsons.

Dist. #3 - by Margaret Sybrant - District 3 was organized by County Supt. Will H. Rugg 10/3/1889. Some of the surnames of the students were: Davis, Carlisle, Buell, Goochey Lesher, Ege, Lindsay, and Powell.

Dist. #4 - by Margaret Sybrant - District 4 was organized From Dist. 591, Holt Co., 8/16/1890. Organized again 10/5/1891. Some of the surnames of students attending were: Seier, Harter, Link, Boerger, Zlomke.

Dist. #7 - by Lorene Kernan. This was Glenwood and located 5 miles west, 1 1/2 miles south of Bassett. District 7 was organized on 10/19/1889 by County Supt. William H. Rugg. This school had a large attendance in the era from 1914 to 1950. The schoolhouse was sold in 1973.

Dist. #8 - by Lorene Kernan. District 8 was organized on 1/20/1890 by County Superintendent Rugg. In 1920, wages had increased to $90 a month. The school house burned down in the summer of 1942 after being struck by lightening.

Dist. #9 - by Naomi Frizzell. The Pleasant Hill school was 1st organized as District 9 on 2/15/1890 by Will H. Rugg, Supertintendent of Rock Co. The District was disolved in 1971. Many students and some of the teachers rode horses to school and a barn was provided for shelter.

Dist. # 10 - Fish Lake School - by Patsy & Carol Ann Zahl, Mickey & Shirley Lanz - The early settlers children attending school there were: Lanz, Cameron, Sybrant and Minnig, followed by their children. The building was heated with a wood stove, water was carried in a bucket from a flowing well, children brought food in glass jars and heated it in hot water on the stove for their noon lunch.

Dist. # 11 - Spann-Willowdale School - by Betty Christensen. District 11 was in the Kirkwood Precinct. The year 1946 was the last year school was held there. The first teacher about 1915-1916 was David Peacock, the last in 1945-46 was Doris Peacock Eastman.

Dist. # 13 - District 13 was organized 3/28/1890 by W. N. Rugg. They had school until 1926 & dissolved & transferred to Dist. 35. Surnames of some of the children attending this school were: Strohms, Moore, Biltoff, Copper, Brown, Sandall.

Dist. # 14 - Cook School. District 14 was organized by Holt Co. Supt. 1/5/1881. Three pupils attended the first term, Thomas Popke and boys named Robinson and Morrison. It was dissolved on May 28, 1962.

Dist. # 18 - by Audrey Olson - Newport -The first report of schools in this district came in 1887 when there were two schoolhouses. In 1887, the enrollment in the district shows 63 boys and 56 girls. The schools ran for three months, and perhaps several sessions each year. Seven teachers were listed: Horance IcIntrye, M.E. Bowser (Mary Elizabeth Bowser), W.H. Rugg, Effie Taylor, Huld Hinebaugh, and Della Mason. Sports played a big part in the school activities. Basketball teams, Track, Baseball, Boxing, and Wrestling.

Dist. # 19 - by Margaret Hasch. - Mariaville School - The Mariaville School was founded 6/15/1887. School board members were William Birchard, J.L. Harriman and James Vargason. Other families attending the school were: Peacocks, Browns, Armstrongs, Andersons, hasches, Sharps and others.

Dist. # 20 - by Mary Kaup - The 1890 census shows that District 20 was made up of 9 families with a total of 23 children. The families consisted of: Charles Thompson, W.F. Weaver, G. Hornby, J.A. Fike, W. Tyler, G. Cooper and Walter Crouse. Written records for the school began in 1908-09. 1917-1918 was the last year for the school and it merged with District 21.

Dist. # 21 - by Mary Kaup - School District 21 was offically organized in 1890. Its location was 1 mile west and 4 miles south of Newport. Names taken from the census of 1890 show that the District consisted of 13 families. They were: A.J. Taylor, Judson Hall, a. Bohl, D. Klinesmith, C.D. cole, John Kincaid, J.J. Keller,C.W. Harrington, Florrin Geseriech, John Taylor, Hammorah Taylor, Ernie Boyde and Joseph Grime. School District 21 holds many memories for those who attended there. Charles Thompson recalls a hot dog roast held on the last day of school. After digging a large pit, they filled it with too much brush and almost set the country on fire. Lloyd Stolcpart rode a mare to school one day and when it was time to go home, he found a colt by her side. Roy Stewart remembers when Harley Geseriech threw a few shot gun shells in the coal stove one cold morning and caused quite a commotion.

Dist. # 22 - by Grace Johnson - District 22 was organized 3/14/1891 and located 4 1/2 miles southwest of Newport. On 4/6/1960 school officially closed for District 22 and merged with Dist. 21. Early school board members were: J.H. May, John Lane, Fred Strelow.

Dist. # 25 - Rock Creek School - District 25 was located near the banks of Rock Creek not far from the old Hart place. It was organized Nov. 25, 1884. It was a frame bulding with three long windows on each side, it became the center of community social activity. Christmas programs, box socials, and pie socials were among the social events, and the voting place for Long Pine precinct. The first schoolboard members were Mr. Popke, Mr. Sparks and Mr. Robinson.

Dist. # 26, - Organized 3/17/1891 by Supt. Will H. Rugg, Supt. of Rock Co., the Wewel School, sometimes called Diamond Valley School was located 4 south, 1 east, 1/4/ south of Newport. First families in this District were: Joseph Mason, Robert Mason, Vinsent Krziza, Fred Kinney, Louis Stracke and John Behr.

Dist. # 27 - Lane School - Located six miles north and three west of Newport. Organized 12/31/1883 by W.G. Townsend, Supt. of Brown Co. Families in this District in 1889 and 189 were: John Andrews, Elmer White and M.M. Lane.

Dist. # 29 - Cuba School - by Ralph Sawyer -Mr. Putnam built the school and early families who were in the District were: Hallers, Kendalls, Wheelers, Brinckerhoffs, Ruperts, Coens, Powells, Ellises, Stanfords, and Glasfords. For a number of years the school house was not used just for school but also for church meetings. The school house was furnished with "double" desks where two pupils sat in the same seat and shared the desk.

Dist. # 30 - Pony Lake School - by Opal Schoenenberger - District 30 was organized 12/3/1884 by W.G. Townsend, Supt. of Brown County. It was first known as Perch and later Pony Lake due to a change of location of the Perch Post Office. The first student was in 1890 and was Grover Linke, and in 1892 he was still the only student.

A school house was built in 1897 and in 1889 the following students attended: George and Ralph Ammon; Minnie and Nancy Linke, Grover, George, Otto and Lillie Linke, Clara and Paul Weigand, Benny and Harry Ammon.

Dist. # 33 - by Joe Copeland - District 33 was organized in 1883 by april 1884 there were 28 students enrolled. They included the families of Turpins, Armstrong, Barber, Gillette, Hutton, Belmar and Nash. The 1942-43 term was the last year school was held at the school house. The District dissolved in the early 50's.

The teacher and the students carried their lunch to school, also water, as there was no well.

I remember once on a warm fall day the door was open and a rattlesnake crawled in the school house. The teacher and kids went out the window.

Dist. # 34 - District 34, also known as Turkey Foot School was organized April 14, 1891. Sunday School was also held there. Stahl, Linderman and Garland children went to school there until the district was dissolved 2/21/1942.

Dist. # 35 - In 1891 District 35 was formed. It was called Green Valley School. The families attending this school were: rutne, Taylors, Deversen, Petterson, Maurer, and Sandall. They had school there until 1973.

Dist. # 36 - Farr School - by Audrey Olson - The Farr School, sometimes called the Thurlow School was located about 2 miles east and 7 miles south of Newport. Organized April 14, 1891 by W. H. Rugg, County Superintendent. On June 25, 1949 District 36 was discontinued.

Dist. # 37 - The Grant School by Lorene Kernan. District 37 was organized on March 15, 1884 by Brown Co. Supt., W.G. Townsend. This school was located seven miles west and six miles north of Bassett. On June 1, 1959 it was made part of District 29.

Dist. # 38 - Hammond - by Phyllis Sybrant - Hammond was organized on March 5, 1894 by J.A. Nugent, Rock Co. Supt. The name "Hammond" ws taken from the fact that the post office of Hammond was at that location, with Barnhart (Barney) Miller as the Postmaster.

The school census in June of 1894 listed 30 children coming from families: Stephenson, McShane, Scott, Griffith, Slattery, Jahn, Ganly, Brown, Dunham, Leahy,Powell, Dawson, Ammon, and Corlis.

Students in the early days either walked to school, maybe several miles, rode horseback, or drove a buggy. Lewis Brown built a small, movable barn on skids, which was transported back and forth to the school, so his boys could house their horses in inclement weather.

The Hammond district was closed May 31, 1974.

Dist. # 39 - Plainview School - This school lies straight north of Newport. It was in operation continually from 1890 until it merged with Dist. 18. Some of the families in the area were - Spragg, Jarder, mcLaughlin, Burnes, Menuey, Fuller, and Fox.

Dist. # 40 - This District was organized March 31, 1897 by Hugh Miller. District 40 was north of the present Helm house and was moved one mile west in 1943. Some of the children's surnames in that school in 1948-49 were: Helm, Hollenbeck, Schroder, Kreitman, Hubert, and Anderson.

Dist. # 41 - Thurman- by Bernice Kuchera. Six districts have combined all or part of their land to form the present Thurman school. The original Thurman school was Dist. 12 organized 10/13/1884 by W.G. Townsend, County Supt of Brown Co. At that time Rock Co. was part of Brown Co. In 1940 part of Dist. 43, called the Mule Foot school was attached to Dist. 12.

Dist. 41, called the Highland Park school, located just west of Dist. 12, was organized in 1885. In 1945, Dist. 48, called the Union Grove School, was dissolved and attached to Highland Park. In 1962, Dist. 59 was dissolved and attached to Highland Park. In 1964, Dist 12 was disolved and attached to Dist. 41 and called the Thurman School. On 6/15/1965 Dist. 44, the Willow Grove school was dissolved and attached to the Thurman School. The schoolhouse in Dist. 41 that was built in 1892 burned to the ground in the middle of the night just before Christmas. The Ed Kucheras offered their home so the students could have school until a new schoolhouse was built.

Dist. # 42 - Twin Lake - by Dollie Stout - Dist. 42 was organized 3/23/1908 by Charles G. Ammon, Superintenden Mrs. Maud Woods. The 1st term pupils were Effie Carpenter, Earl, Chester, Minnie, Florence, Walter, Rosa and Bessie Woods, Gladys & Harold Jeffery, Harold Haldorson, Cornelius and Mabel Gibbs, Carrie Courtney, Raymond Grimm.

It was not a tornado but one morning when the teacher and the pupils reached the school, the schoolhouse was gone. Some investigating and following tracks it was soon found to have been moved over the weekend to another location, closer for some and much farther for some of the pupils. The following week all the pupils did not attend at the different location. The next weekend the structure was moved again by the "other side", to the original spot. Not long after that the next prank took place. The horse manure out of the horse barn was cleaned out and thrown into the schoolhouse. That sight greeted the teacher and pupils probably on a Monday morning.

District 42 was discontinued 4/12/1948.

Dist. # 43 - Mulefoot School - by Dollie Stout - District 43 was organized 2/2/1909 by Charles G. Ammon, superintendent. The following is a list of pupils for the first term: Bernice and Pauline Gibbson, Edmund, Allen and Fred Erickson, Lisle and Glen Clements, Forest and Glen McFarland, Dewey Spraggins, Vinnie and Howard Comstock.

On 2/1/1940 this district was dissolved.

Dist. # 44 - Willow Grove - by Merle Duffy - Willow Grove was organized 3/10/1885 by W.G. Townsend, Supt. of Brown Co. Some of the families there in 1889 were: Larson, Olson, Isaason, Johnson, Hudlow, Magasson, Smith and Hallderson. The term was 4 months. District 44 dissolved in 1965.

Dist. # 45 - Barker - by Lorene Shear - District 45 was located 11 miles northwest of Bassett. It was organized 3/14/1885 and discontinued 5/9/1944. It was also used by the American Sunday School Union for the Communit Sunday school and church. Rev. Lewis Sharp, a farmer in the community served as the main minister.

They had literary debates, spelling bees, box socials and plays, the actors and actresses being the men and women of the district.

Dist. # 47 - by Ruth Gurney. The summer of 1909 found enough homesteaders in the northeast corner of Gracy Precinct to make the forming of a school district imperative. On 10/4/1909 the district was organized.

James Herrington was the only school board member listed in the 1911-12 term. That year Harry Scott was hired as teacher for a term of 3 months at $40 a month. Luella Hieter was the only pupil in the district from 1919-1920.

The last term of school held in District 47 in the original schoolhouse was 1940-41. Royce Jordan and Thurl Briggs, the only pupils, completed 8th grade that term. On 4/29/1950 the District was dissolved.

Dist. # 48 - Union Grove by Virginia Hunt Steele - This school was organized on 3/17/1885. The schoolhouse was located 6 miles south and 2 miles west of Bassett. A partial list of families having children in school were: Dick Hunt, M. Dugger, Berger Hallgrimson, George Farley, Ora Bahr, and Jesse Tallmadge.

The district was dissolved on 6/18/1945 and attached to District 41.

Dist. # 51 - Grimm School - by Dollie Stout and Clara Grimm - At first when homesteaders moved into this area there was no school, even though there were a number of children to go to school. The Twin Lakes district had been organized two years prior to this so a few went to that adjoing school. District 51 was organized 3/30/1910 by Charles G. Ammon, county superintendent. The 1st board members were: H. S. Childs, H. L. Sybrant, Clarence Smith. The first school held was 3/6/1911-5/26/1911. That first year the following studence were attended: Myrtle, Clarence, Mattie and Millie Stoner; Clara, Jennie and Jim Sheldon, Effie Carpenter, Ross Sybrant, Lulu simon, Raymond, Clara and Ollie Grimm, willie and Pearle Simon.

H.S. Grimm built the schoolhouse, close to their home. District 51 was dissolved 6/22/1962.

Dist. # 54 - The HillSide school sometimes known as the Moody school was organized 8/22/1885 by W.G. Townsend, Co. Supt. of Brown Co. F.D. Moody was the director in 1900. Family names in this school in 1900 were: Henry Beach, Virgil Beach, F.M. Johnson, Emile Schoenenberger and F.P. Moody.

Dist. # 55 - Pleasant Hill by Roy Buoy - Pleasant Hill is the southeastern most school district in Rock County. It was organized in 1910 and is still in operation. Residents known to be living in the district at that time were: John H. Buoy, Ed Beckley, John P. Schroder, J.H. Beckley, Myron L. Gilbert, G.P. Murphy, Lena Boyles, James N. Boyles, Fred Synovec, George Hibnes, Effy Griffin, Chris Anderson, Dave Hammond, Frank L. Losure, L.C. Parsons, Tunis Andersen, Chas. H. Foxworthy, George Page, Dewitt Page and W.H. Parsons, a practicing dentist and the first teacher.

Dist. # 56 - Arter School - was located not far from the banks of Ash creek and a mile from the old Arter place which was known far and wide for the luxurious growth of pine trees. It was organized on 8/4/1885. Board members included: S.J. Arter, Charles Arter, George Watts.

Dist. # 59 - by Geneva Davis - This was a Brown-Rock Co. school. In 1921 part of Dist. 23 was attached to a Brown Co. district and was known as 59B. School was held in the schoolhouse and at the home of Chas. Morton. In 1955, the schoolhouse was moved farther east about two miles. This was to accomodate families (Anderson, Morton, Davis) who had school age children and lived to the east end of the district. The school district was consolidated with Dist. 41 in 1962.

Dist. # 63 - by Audrey Olson.District 63, the McKeown school sometimes called the Fox shool was located 2 east, 1 south and about 3/4/ mile east of Newport.

McKeown School retained the number 63 until it was discontinued in 1920 and dissolved in 1932. Then it became a part of Dist. 18.

Families listed in 1890 in the school were: F.A. Kinney, L. Stracke, R.W. Mason, Mrs. Eva Barr, J. Mason, A.Q. Morrison, Mr. Brant, A. Hepburn, G. Weels, W.D. Baylis, Mr. Godfry and Vinjent Krziza.

Dist. # 67 - by Audrey Olson. The year 1889 located about 2 miles east and 7 miles south of Newport. Organized 3/26/1886 and dissolved 6/5/1965.

Families listed in 1889 were: Ernest Myers, W.E. Farr, J.P. Kemple, J.S. Clark Malt Sageser, J. Lesher, John Conrad, C. Boyce, Dianah Conley, Thomas Hement, James Whiting, G.W. Greening, G.M. Fox, J.W. King, Thomas Lucus, Jame Draft, Hannaball Eaton, C.B. Failing, C.H. Patch and Will Fox.

Dist. # 69 - District 69 was organized 2/16/1887 and dissolved 6/3/1959. Students in District 69 in the school year 12/3/1900-3/1/1901 were: Emma, Mary, Rosie, Lizzie, Henry and Carl Ehrsam. In 1929 the families in this school included: Coleman, Coolidge, Forbes, Haszard, Langenberg, Lesher, Nachtman, Neeman, Scott, Thompson and Hobb.

Dist. # 72 - Rose - by Margaret Sybrant - District 72 was organized 2/16/1887. Board members in 1908-1909 were: John Swanson, S.S. Ege, and Charles Swanson.

Dist. # 73 - Valley View (McCullough school) by Lorene Kernan. Dist. 73 was located 2 miles west of Bassett and 1/2 mile north of the cemetery corner. It was organized on 3/3/1887. On 10/15/1953, Dist. 73 became a part of Dist. 17.

Dist. # 74 - In the fall of 1882, the first school district in with the village of Bassett lay, was organized. A one room school house was built south and east of the intersection of main street and Legnard Aven, during the summer of 1883.

During the summer of 1889, a wooden frame 2 story school house was built on the north part of the present school block.

In 1900, dist. 74 had an enrollment of 123 students. In 1904 the first graduation exercises for students completeing 10 grades was held in Bussinger Hall. In 1918 Mr. Shell Kelly was contracted to build a new school building on the school block, south of the wooden frame schoolhouse. This 1918 two story brick building served the elementary students of Dist. 74 until 1956 when the present school building was built on the north side of the school block.

Dist. 75 - Hiawatha school by Bessie Hughes Lanz - The boundaries of School Dist. 75 were officially set in 1887, before Rock Co. was declared a county. Until a schoolhouse could be built, classes were held in the sod home of Mike Ryan, father of the late Celia Buell. A school board was appointed, members were E.E. graham, J.W. Hughes and W.T. Craven. Pupils were from the Ryan, Woodward, Craven, Graham and Hughes families.

Most of the teachers were from 'back east'. They applied and were hired by correspondence. This method seemed to work, they were all good teachers. They boarded with families in the district, and were treated as 'family'.

In 1947, Dist. 75 was attached to Dist 80.

Dist. 77 - Sybrant School by Laura Smith. The first schoolhouse was made of sod and located 1/2 mile north of the present school. The Sybrant school was organized 8/15/1887.

The first pupils were Fred, John, Herbert, and Blaine Sybrant.

The school didn't have a well until 1924 when Fred Sybrant and Ira Smith put down a shallow well with a manual well machine. In 1934 they tore down the old schoolhouse which had windows on both sides and hired Bill and Eldon Sanger and George Linke to build the new one with windows only on the south side.

Dist. # 80 - by Margaret Sybrant - Dist. 80 was organized 2/14/1888. Students attending 5/26/1908 - 7/1/1909 were: Bertha and Ella Ehrsam; Frank and William Graham; Walter Lanz; Lydia and Irene Stoner; Phyllis and Alta Geist; and Ethel Brill.

Dist. # 83 - by Mrs. Paul Bussinger. I am not sure when this school was designated Dist. 83. I have been told it is the oldest schoolhouse in Rock Co. We remember, E.J. Bussinger teling how he walked across the hills from his dugout home in the hills north of Jake Maurers to this schoolhouse where he got his education.

Some of the family names attending school there were: Turner, Lucht, Keller Sanger, Chesnut, Dorsey and Davis.