|
|
Audubon County |
Home History Main 1915 History |
CHAPTER XVIII.TOWNS AND VILLAGES.
|
SCHOOLS.In 1871 four thousand dollars had been appropriated for a brick school house at Exira. But, by some kind of shuffling on the part of the school officers, the first warning that Exira people had, a contract was let to John Cannon for the erection of a frame school house at the cost of two thousand three hundred dollars. It was clear that Exira had been tricked out of their brick school house. A two-story, two-room pine box was erected on the present school house premises. It was not a thing of beauty, nor a joy. In 1884 the school house was enlarged by the erection of an imposing two-story edifice of six rooms, adjoining and in front of the former building, at the cost of three thousand five hundred dollars. It was fairly suitable for the town schools until recent years. It was torn down and removed in 1915, after the erection of the present new school house. During the year 1914-15, additional ground was procured, and a new brick school house, fifty-nine by ninety-nine feet, two stories and basement, was erected and equipped, at a cost of thirty-eight thousand dollars. It is modern in every detail; equipped with steam heating system, thermostatic ventilation, waterworks, and fire hose, fire escapes, fire alarm and electric lights, telephone, sanitary drinking fountains, bath rooms, closets and wardrobes. It contains boiler room, with coal and ash bins; engine room; a gymnasium in the basement, thirty-two by sixty feet, eighteen feet high; domestic science room, with dining room and pantry attached; manual training room; assembly room; seven grade class rooms and three recitation rooms; superintendent's office, library, laboratory, rest rooms and lunch rooms. The school grounds are ample, with agricultural building in the rear. Also there is a septic tank in the rear for receiving the sewer drainage from the building. School experts pronounce it the best-appointed and equipped school house of its size in the state at this time. The corps of instructors consist of a superintendent and nine subordinate teachers. The payroll for the present year is $6,500. In addition to being a fully accredited high school, it has been designated a teacher's training school by the state superintendent of public instruction, and, as such, receives state aid of seven hundred and fifty dollars a year. Nonresident pupils are in attendance annually. The number of such pupils for 1914-15 was thirty-seven. The total number of pupils enrolled for the current year is two hundred and sixty-five. The independent district of Exira embraces the west half of section 2, all of section 3, all of section 4, except the south half of the southwest quarter, and the west half of the northwest quarter of section 10, all in Exira township. About 1879-80, Professor Wilcutt, who was then principal of the school, prepared a plan for grading the school and a course of study applicable to the work. The school board, then consisting of George Hardenbrook, William J. Harris. Dr. James M. Rendleman, Hon. John A. Hallock and H. E. Andrews, made the proper order establishing the various grades for the school, also the course of study, in harmony with the recommendation of Professor Wilcutt. The teachers employed from the first have been usually of good ability and their efficiency advanced in harmony with the public demand. Those who have been in charge of the school have been: Louis Harvout, Edwin S. Hill, Mary Crane, David B. Beers, George S. Montgomery, Benjamin F. Thomas, John A. Hallock, Beulah Sylvester, Samuel E. Smith, Daniel W. Scribner, John M. Griggs, Charles H. Andrews, Charles D. Gray, George Lindsey, A. E. Clarendon, Harmon G. Smith, George I. Miller, ---- Curtis, Charles E. Wilcutt, Carl Ross, David P. Repass, Elva Thompson, W. H. Fort, William H. Brinkerhoff, John M. Crocker, Louie Sorensen, Charles W. Johnson, John L. Conger, P. M. Hersom, Fred A. Sims, B. J. Gallagher, Helen Carson, J. L. Harper, William H. Hoyman. It is impossible at this time to even name the subordinate teachers. Among them were Mrs. Beulah Slyvester and Mrs. Margaret J. Roseman, who should be remembered with affection and gratitude for their untiring efforts to assist the boys and girls who attended under their instruction. |
