South Woodland School No. 5

Woodland Township, Decatur County, Iowa

South Woodland School, 1914 - 1915, Zelta Robison, teacher
Submitted to the Leon Journal-Reporter by Tonita Helton
Decatur County Journal
Leon, Decatur County, Iowa
Thursday, October 23, 1913

The South Woodland school house was destroyed by fire Thursday night. It was insured for $250 but the teacher and pupils lost all their books.
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The meeting at Woodland, Oct. 18, 1913, to consider the consolidation of five of the schools, viz: Riddle, Beavers, Woodland, South Woodland and Gnat Ridge, was well attended and much interest shown. Prof. Hugh S. Buffum, of Fairfield, made a very convincing talk favoring consolidation. Prof. Long, Principal of the Garden Grove schools, who had taught five years in consolidated schools gave an interesting talk also. County Superintendent Miss MABEL HORNER, of Leon, was present and favors the consolidation. Petitions are being circulated to secure the signature of one third the electors of the last election to see if it shall be brought to a vote.

~ Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert, February 8, 2010


School House Burned in Woodland

Last Thursday evening about 7 o'clock the school house near Isaac Loucks' in Woodland township, was discovered to be on fire by Mr. Loucks, who lives about a quarter of a mile from the school house. Leaving his wife and little granddaughter in the house, he hurried to the fire with his two daughters and Miss Gussie Lyon, who was teaching the school and boarding with Mr. Loucks. The school ma'am was first on the ground, but only succeeded in getting out a bench, as the roof and ceiling were enveloped in flames and the room was full of smoke. It was a frame building ceiled with pine and was not long in burning down. As two school houses had been burned in the district before this one, the report was circulated that it was set on fire, but Mr. L. is positive that it caught in the flue, from the way it was burning when he reached there. It will probably deprive the district of school privileges for some time.

On returning from the fire in about an hour the family were horrified to find Mrs. Loucks sitting on the lounge dead! Ollie Parks, the little three-year old girl, said her grandmother fell asleep, and she got a pillow and tried to have her lie down, but she wouldn't. She was a stout, healthy woman, but had complained a few times recently of pain in the heart and shortness of breath. Drs. Layton and Van Werden made a post mortem examination and found that her death was caused by heart disease. It was undoubtedly super induced by fright, as she insisted on going to the fire with the family instead of staying home. She was 62 years old Nov. 30, and was respected by her neighbors and acquaintances. The funeral was held on Sunday, the remains being buried in the Leon Cemetery.

We understand Mrs. Loucks was insured in the Centennial for $2,500.

Copied by Judy Chastain, February 21, 2003

NOTE: According to Leon Cemetery's transcription, Olive LOUCKS, wife of I., died December 20, 1880, aged 62 years.
 

South Woodland School, Woodland Township, 1930, Clara Massey, teacher.

Jack Perkins, Junior Rose, Doris Hill, Lyle Karns, Max Dyer, Jean Rose, Wilma Kost, Marjorie Hill, Bernice Kost, Duane Perkins, M.L. Rains, Veta Evans, Leola Kost, Elizabeth Rains, Ethel Kost, Adeane Perkins
 
Original page created by Sharon Becker, 2013; reformatted by Conni McDaniel Hall, Oct 2019.
 
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