YESTERDAY IN HINTON COUNTRY
By Cleo Sipma, unknown date

Country schools dotted the hills and vales around Hinton from the late 1800’s until the fifties.

The interviews of former pupils of the country schools revealed apparent pride in the quality of education provided by the schools.

They said that the discipline was good—it had to be—the teacher and the students were in one room together all day except for recess and noon.  They respected their teachers, not only for the quality of educations they offered but also for their stamina in keeping the fires attended and braving the cold and snow each day.  The teachers boarded at the homes of the pupils.

Everett, Lester and Roy Julch attended Hungerford No. 3 in James, Iowa, where their father Philip had been a student.  Everett’s children, Orvis, Marian and Philip, also attended the school.  The school closed in 1955.  Faye Yount was a long time teacher in the James area.  Everett said that the Christmas pageants directed by her were special and that parents and friends packed the school.  The women decorated boxes and filled them with good food.  These were auctioned off to the highest bidder, who had the pleasure of eating with the lady who prepared the box.

During recess the children would go for bobsled rides on a four-runner sled made by Everett and pulled by a pony.