Gregory County, South Dakota Rural Schools
Gregory County, South Dakota Rural Schools Compiled and edited by the Gregory County Historical Society School Committee
Artwork by Betsy DeLoache
PRINTEDIMPRESSIONS Freeman, SD •
March 2022
Gregory County, South Dakota Rural Schools Compiled and edited by Gregory County Historical Society Dallas, South Dakota 57529 gregorycountyhistoricalsociety.com Published by Printed Impressions Freeman, South Dakota 57029 printedimpressionsd.com Copyright @ 2022 by Gregory County Historical Society All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or otherwise the written permission of the publisher. Library of Congress Control Number: 2022906361 Printed in the U.S.A. by Mennonite Press, Inc., Newton KS 67114
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DEDICATION
John “Jack” Broome This book is dedicated in memory of John “Jack” R. Broome. Jack was a lifelong educator who spent most of his career in the Burke School System. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and his Masters Degree in Education Administration, Jack began his career as a teacher in Burke, then spent a few years teaching and coaching in Iowa, before returning to Burke as the Superintendent, and later, in addition to Burke, he also served as Superintendent at Bonesteel/ Fairfax, the position he held until his retirement. %HVLGHV EHLQJ DQ HGXFDWRU LQ SXEOLF VFKRROV -DFN ZDV WKH XQR൶FLDO KLVWRULDQ RI *UHJRU\ &RXQW\ ,Q WKLV SRVLWLRQ KH continued to educate many about the rich and storied history of Gregory County, including the history of Gregory County rural schools. As member of the Gregory County Historical Society, Jack was often “the program” at the historical society meetings. His knowledge of the people, events and happening in Gregory County was truly amazing. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The Gregory County Historical Society, the publisher of this book, would like to acknowledge the following: The books of Adeline S. Gnirk, which she titled, The Saga of Sully Flats, The Saga of Capitol City, The Saga of Ponca Land and The Saga of Missouri River Reveille, from which some information about Gregory County Rural Schools was gleaned. Information was also collected from several booklets about individual rural schools in Gregory County. It would be remiss not to mention the rural schoolteachers, boards of education and County Superintendents who made a book like this possible, as well as former teachers and students who have contributed memories, pictures and articles that are included in this book. Please note that there was no attempt to correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. so that the stories which were contributed by many people would remain just as they were submitted. 3
GREGORY COUNTY 1912
GREGORY COUNTY 2021
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SCHOOL NAME BUTTE VALLEY PATTERSON RAMBRANDT UMBERGER CARLOCK DOWLING PLEASANT HILL RAMIS SIOUX VALLEY CALDWELL DALLAS MELROSE SINKULAR UNKNOWN NAME CLIMBING HILL FAIRVIEW GORDON JEPPESON MEADOWBROOK PLEASANT VALLEY DIXON (TOWN ) LINCOLN POCAHONTAS WASHINGTON LONE TREE UNKNOWN NAME UNKNOWN NAME EDENS HARVEY HAMBEK HEINART REZAC BROWN HILLSIDE INDIAN SCHOOL MCMANIGAL PONCA BUSH (KRUEGER) HALSTEAD KRAMBECK VIKTORA
ALLOWAY EAST CENTRAL STAR LAPOUR SOESBE WOIDNECK UNKNOWN NAME HAPPY HOLLOW JONES W. CENTRAL PONCA VALLEY PONCA VIEW S.E. JONES VOLMER LANDING CREEK N #1 LANDING CREEK N #2 LANDING CREEK S #1 LANDING CREEK S #2 LANDING CREEK S #3 GINGERY RAYMOND WINDY RIDGE McCUMBER NEUHARTH PLEASANT SIGHT PLEASANT VIEW BUNNELL HALL RYAN SMITH SUTTER BROADBROOK KINGSBURY PLEASANT VALLEY
SCHOOL NO. 75 74 73 58 33 31 32 35 69 71
48 45 46 50 49 47 57 96 96 96 56
40 42 41 44
8 7 6 4
63 65 99 64 87 84 83 85 86 82
21 20 54 52 51 53 92 92
4 14
TOWNSHIP
SECTION
BURKE BURKE BURKE BURKE CARLOCK CARLOCK CARLOCK CARLOCK CARLOCK DALLAS DALLAS DALLAS DALLAS DALLAS DICKENS DICKENS DICKENS DICKENS DICKENS DICKENS DIXON DIXON NORTH DIXON NORTH DIXON NORTH DIXON SOUTH DIXON SOUTH DIXON SOUTH EDENS EDENS EDENS EDENS EDENS ELLSTON ELLSTON ELLSTON ELLSTON ELLSTON FAIRFAX FAIRFAX FAIRFAX FAIRFAX GREGORY HUSTON HUSTON HUSTON HUSTON HUSTON HUSTON JONES JONES JONES JONES JONES JONES LANDING CREEK NORTH LANDING CREEK NORTH LANDING CREEK SOUTH LANDING CREEK SOUTH LANDING CREEK SOUTH LINDLEY LINDLEY LINDLEY LONE STAR LONE STAR LONE STAR LONE STAR LUCAS LUCAS LUCAS LUCAS LUCAS PLEASANT VALLEY PLEASANT VALLEY PLEASANT VALLEY
SW1/4 26-96-71 SW1/4 11-97-71 SW1/4 8-97-71 NW1/4 28-97-71 NE1/4 11-95-73 NE1/4 10-95-73 NW1/4 25-95-73 SW1/4 28-95-73 NE1/4 7-95-73 NE1/4 28-97-73 NE1/4 7-97-73 SW1/4 29-97-73 SE1/4 18-97-73 NW1/4 36-97-73 SW 1/4 14-96-73 SE1/4 5-96-73 NE 1/4 11-96-73 SW 1/4 - 26-96-73 NW 1/4 - 32-96-73 SE1/4 17- 96-73 NE1/4 18-100-73 SW1/4 26-100-73 NW1/4 13-100-73 NW 1/4 36-99-73 NE1/4 11-99-73 NW1/4 29-99-73 NW1/4 8-98-73 NW1/4 12-98-73 NW1/4 24-98-73 SE1/4 30-98-73 SE1/4 27-98-73 NE1/4 29-95-70 NE1/4 12-95-70 NW1/4 21-95-70 SE1/4 15-95-70 NE1/4 25-95-70 SW1/4 24-95-68 NW1/4 34-95-68 SE1/4 30-95-68 SE1/4 10-95-68 NE1/4 36-97-73 NE1/4 19-98-72 NE1/4 21-98-72 NW1/4 33-98-72 NW1/4 8-98-72 SE1/4 23-98-72 NW1/4 11-98-72 SE1/4 30-96-72 SE 1/4 17-96-72 NE1/4 7-96-72 SW1/4 23-96-72 NE1/4 35-96-72 SW1/4 2-96-72 NE1/4 16-100-72 SW1/4 17-100-72 NE1/4 36-99-72 SE1/4 7-99-72 SW 1/4 26-99-72 SW1/4 17-96-68 NE1/4 10-96-68 SE1/4 26-96-68 SE1/4 27-95-72 SW1/4 11-95-72 NE1/4 8-95-72 NW1/4 29-95-72 NE1/4 25-98-71 NE1/4 8-98-71 NW1/4 29-98-71 NE1/4 11-98-71 SW1/4 27-98-71 5 NW1/4 29-95-69 SE1/4 26-95-69 NE1/4 23-95-69
DATE OPEN
DATE CLOSED
1904 1906 1907 1909 1912
1969 1942 1968 1941 1968
1906
1967
1907
1968
1908 1908
1966
1908 1907 1908 1908 1908 1907
1965 1958 1964 1967 1969 1967
1905 1907 1905 1907
1968 1967 1966 1968
1907
1967
McCONNELL RICHARDSON
RAJEWICH/HILL SCOTT
1905 1910
1967
1919 1912
1946 1947
1919 1900 1901
1946 1919 1919 1919 1919
1899
OTHER NAMES
PERLENFEIN/CERNEY
abt 1954 1918 1915 1905
1965
SIEVERS FOLEY
1905 1921 1905 1919 1909 1905
1950 1972 1964 1939 1941 1941
KRACHT JANSEN/SLAUGHTER ROBINSON McCARTHY HUGHES/LEIBEL BOTTOMSTONE/KENNY HAWK HALVA
1909 1907 1906 1906 abt 1915 1906 1905 1907 1907 1906 1893 1893
1965 1966 1960 1968 1967 1967 1966 1967 1945 1919 1942 1960
OSLER SCHAMBER MENSCH
NEUHARTH PLEASANT SIGHT PLEASANT VIEW BUNNELL HALL RYAN SMITH SUTTER BROADBROOK KINGSBURY PLEASANT VALLEY PLEASANT VIEW STAR BERG FREDRICKSEN JACOBSEN RANDALL #1 RED SCHOOL ECHO FERRIS (KIRWAN) KERR RANDALL VALLEY SUNNY HILL KALLENDER OLD DALLAS POWELL RHOADES # 1 RHOADES # 2 STREETER BAILEY BURNT ROCK 1 BURNT ROCK 2 SCHRIEVER WOODSIDE LEONARD MAHRT MULLEN PRAIRIE HOME SUNNYSIDE STECKMAN ALLUM GOODMAN KLUG MILLER LEWIS MILLER PLEASANT HILL SCALP CREEK BENTZ
ELLIS OLSON STAR VALLEY CARROLL CASKEY HILLS HORNBECK PLEASANT VALLEY WANAMAKER NORTH GRAY SOUTH GRAY EAST GRAY BRANAM LUTZ UNION WHITE HALL EMERY HILLSDALE MEADOW VIEW PENSE SWAGGER
52 51 53 92 92
4 14 5
3 26 2 3 1 2 4 97 97 22
12 11 67
67 91 91 91 91 81 81 16 19
25 17 18 30
29 30
39 38 37 9 88 24 88 10 88
LONE STAR LONE STAR LONE STAR LUCAS LUCAS LUCAS LUCAS LUCAS PLEASANT VALLEY PLEASANT VALLEY PLEASANT VALLEY
SW1/4 11-95-72 NE1/4 8-95-72 NW1/4 29-95-72 NE1/4 25-98-71 NE1/4 8-98-71 NW1/4 29-98-71 NE1/4 11-98-71 SW1/4 27-98-71 NW1/4 29-95-69 SE1/4 26-95-69 NE1/4 23-95-69
1907 1906 1906 abt 1915 1906 1905 1907 1907 1906 1893 1893
1966 1960 1968 1967 1967 1966 1967 1945 1919 1942 1960
PLEASANT VALLEY PLEASANT VALLEY RANDALL EAST RANDALL EAST RANDALL EAST RANDALL EAST RANDALL RANDALL WEST RANDALL WEST RANDALL WEST RANDALL WEST RANDALL WEST RHOADES RHOADES RHOADES RHOADES RHOADES RHOADES SCHRIEVER SCHRIEVER SCHRIEVER SCHRIEVER SCHRIEVER SCISSONS SCISSONS SCISSONS SCISSONS SCISSONS SCISSONS SPRING VALLEY SPRING VALLEY SPRING VALLEY SPRING VALLEY ST. CHARLES ST. CHARLES ST. CHARLES STAR VALLEY NORTH STAR VALLEY SOUTH
SE1/4 8-95-69 NE1/4 7-95-68 NW1/4 19-95-65 NW1/4 21-95-65 NW1/4 33-95-62 SW1/4 17-95-65 2 MI. SE OF FORT SE1/4 20-95-69 NW1/4 18-95-65 NE1/4 19-95-66 SW1/4 23-96-66 NW1/4 32-95-66 SW1/4 14-97-72 NW1/4 32-97-72 NE1/4 19-97-72 NW1/4 10-97-72 NE1/4 34-97-72 SE1/4 11-97-72 SE1/4 20-96-69 SW1/4 8-96-69 NW1/4 33-96-69 SW1/4 26-96-69 SE1/4 3-96-69 NE1/4 30-98-70 NE1/4 11-98-70 SE1/4 9-98-70 SW1/4 24-98-70 SW1/4 8-98-70 SW1/4 24-95-71 NE1/4 19-95-71 SE1/4 26-95-71 SE1/4 29-95-71 NE1/4 11-95-71 NW1/4 13-96-70 SE1/4 30-96-70 NW1/4 10-96-70 SW1/4 27-96-67 NE1/4 30-95-67
1910 1896 1917 1910 1910 1857 1899 1900 1901
1946 1944 1954 1917 1917 1910 1959 1958
1899 1909 1905 1905 1906
1955 1927 1908 1926 1962
STAR VALLEY SOUTH STAR VALLEY SOUTH STAR VALLEY SOUTH TURGEON TURGEON TURGEON TURGEON TURGEON TURNEY EAST TURNEY WEST TURNEY WEST TURNEY WEST UNION UNION UNION WHETSTONE EAST WHETSTONE WEST WHETSTONE WEST WHETSTONE WEST WHETSTONE WEST WHETSTONE WEST
SE1/4 1-95-67 SW1/4 25-95-67 SW1/4 22-95-67 NW1/4 27-97-70 SW1/4 5-97-70 NE1/4 8-97-70 SW1/4 3-97-70 NE1/4 30-97-70 SW1/4 8-99-71 NE1/4 17-99-71 SW1/4 28-99-71 SE1/4 25-99-71 NW1/4 9-96-71 SE1/4 19-96-71 NE1/4 28-96-71 NE1/4 28-97-68 NW1/4 8-97-69 SE1/4 15-97-69 NE1/4 34-97-69 SE1/4 25-97-69 NE1/4 32-97-69
1906 1909 1903 1900 1893-1895 1892-1895 1904 1913 1904 1905 1905 1910 1912 1909 1912 1905 1910 1905 1905 1905 1900 1899
1900 1901 1900 1906 1912 1913 1905 1910 1905
SCHAMBER MENSCH
WITT/JUMP ROSEHILL
FORT RANDALL
1963 1947 1936 1919 1919 1938 1967 1947 1912 1967 1949 1966 1965 1970 1970 1910 1921 1934 1960 1954
1944 1956 1958 1957 1949 1949 1969 1938 1944 1945 1967 1956 1950 1965 1959 1949
1905 1905 1906 1905 1900 1890-1892 1904 1944 1942 1956 1899-1900 1956 1942
KERR KIRWAN OLD TRUSTY NYQUIST
HALL HOLMES/CLARK HALL LEWIS CRILLEY
RIVERSIDE RIVERVIEW SMITH
BEEKER
FOUR MILE SCHOOL
SHADY LAWN SIX MILE SCHOOL
HANSON EAST GRAY
WANAMAKER LONG GLASER MULEHEAD
* The locations listed were taken from a 1912 Atlas of Gregory County. Please keep in mind that they often changed locations when the schools were moved and also often changed names.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS Dedication Foreward County Map With Townships Labeled Spreadsheet Listing Schools & Locations Chapter 1: Burke Township..................................................................................................................8 Chapter 2: Carlock Township.............................................................................................................25 Chapter 3: Dallas/Gregory Townships................................................................................................49 Chapter 4: Dickens Township.............................................................................................................57 Chapter 5: Dixon North & South Townships....................................................................................108 Chapter 6: Edens Township..............................................................................................................142 Chapter 7: Ellston Township.............................................................................................................163 Chapter 8: Fairfax Township.............................................................................................................167 Chapter 9: Huston Township.............................................................................................................174 Chapter 10: Jones Township.............................................................................................................190 Chapter 11: Landing Creek North & South Townships....................................................................203 Chapter 12: Lindley Township..........................................................................................................213 Chapter 13: Lone Star Township......................................................................................................216 Chapter 14: Lucas Township.............................................................................................................232 Chapter 15: Pleasant Valley Township..............................................................................................250 Chapter 16: Randall East & West Townships...................................................................................267 Chapter 17: Rhoades Township........................................................................................................274 Chapter 18: Schriever Township.......................................................................................................296 Chapter 19: Scissons Township........................................................................................................300 Chapter 20: Spring Valley Township................................................................................................315 Chapter 21: St. Charles Township.....................................................................................................329 Chapter 22: Star Valley North & South Townships..........................................................................332 Chapter 23: Turgeon Township.........................................................................................................339 Chapter 24: Turney Township...........................................................................................................349 Chapter 25: Union Township............................................................................................................355 Chapter 26: Whetstone East & West Townships...............................................................................361 Chapter 27: Teacher’s Memories......................................................................................................366 Chapter 28: Miscellaneous Information............................................................................................383
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BURKE TOWNSHIP BUTTE VALLEY #75 PATTERSON #74 RAMBRANDT #73 UMBERGER #58
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The Butte Valley School was built in 1904. It was the first community building in the area and was said to be the oldest school in the county. It also served as the Norwegian Lutheran Church until about 1930. It was originally referred to as the McCONNELL School. It wasn’t referred to as Butte Valley until aft 1911. The school closed off and on in the early years due to smallpox and a lack of families. The school closed in 1969. The schoolhouse and furniture were auctioned off. John Osnes bought it and moved it to his farm where it was incorporated into his home as a family room and double garage.
Myrna Buryanek Brunz - Teacher I taught at three different schools from 1950 – 1956, though I was home for 1954-1955 when I had my first child. I was a teacher at Butte Valley, Hall, Pleasant “Site.” I had earned my first-grade teaching certificate from Southern State Teacher’s College, which I attended for one year after high school. I usually drove to school, though I did walk more when I taught at Butte Valley. I once even drove my Ford tractor. I was so nervous my first day of teaching. I thought, “If I can just get though the first six weeks, I’ll have it made.” And I did. I was noted as being a good penmanship teacher, I think it’s a lost art. I didn’t like teaching music as much and I did teach history.
Butte Valley School Burke Township Linda Buryanek, Velma Frey, Marie Frey & Theresa Lubbers; Teacher was Myrna Brunz. Linda Buryanek was her sister, and the other three girls were her students. Butte Valley School was located in the southwest of the SW1/4 of Section 26 on the Jens T. Jensen homestead. It was the first community building erected in that area in 1904 and was known as the McConnell School and the Rosebud Scandinavian Evangelical Lutheran Church. It was not referred to as the Butte Valley School until after 1911. Teachers that served the school were: Anna Crimmns, Ora Baldwin, Jessie Buchel, Marion Buley Florence Richardson, W.J. Byrnes, Margaret Crimmins, Mollie Skibinski, Madge Scholes, Kathryn Rewey, Helen Huseby, Marie Turgeon, Hane Helsing, Lena Willuweit & Ruth Genzlinger. Families that attended the school over the years: Alfred, Bartling, Bryan, Cork, Daley, Degroft, Dix, Frey, Graven, Hanson, Haviland, Hildebrand, Hochhalter, Horst, Kellog,
1940 or 1941 Back Row: Glee Lewis, Carl Frey, Gail Lewis, Ernie Frey, Otto Frey, Melvin Klein, Milo Klein Front Row: Lila Frey, Esther Frey, Joy Hansen, Carol Lewis, Delbert Klas, Lyle Frey. 10
Kibby, Kisman, Klas, Klein, Leuders, Lewis, Lubbers, Marek, Mayer, McConnell, Morgan, Pepke, Pigott, Quick, Roggow, Schoemaker, Teachout, Umberger & Whiteman. In 1906 assignments were taken from Baldwin’s Reader, American Word Book, Radways & Hinman’s Geography, Overton’s Geography, Whites’s Arithemtic, Electric Drawing and Spencerian Penmanship. Then in 1910 Lyte’s Grammar and Overtow’s Physiology were added to the curriculum. In 1911 Teachers’ wages were set at $50 a month with seven months of school. On March 12, 1912, at a special meeting discussion was centered on a bond issue that was requested by the patrons of the board to fund all the indebtedness of the district in the sum of $1400.The majority of the votes were cast to secure bonds payable $200 at the end of the third year and $200 each year after until the debt was paid (at 6% interest). In November of that year a request was made to once again use the schoolhouse for church purposed. It was agreed to provided that the people
concerned furnish the lights and fuel and sweep the floor. Also, the school would not be responsible for any damages. The school was closed from 1916-1925. However, in 1919 it was voted to use the school for public gatherings, dances, socials, and as a meeting place for the Rosebud Scandinavian Ladies Aide. Butte Valley then reopened for the fall term of 1926. In 1940 the school board decided to purchase a new oil stove and provide hot lunches as commodities for this purpose were being distributed by the government. Those commodities included potatoes, onions, rice, beans, macaroni, dried peaches, apricots, prunes and raisins, fresh apples, oranges, and grapefruit, canned beef, canned milk, and butter. The Butte Valley School closed in 1969. The schoolhouse and furnishings were auctioned off. John Osnes purchased the building and moved it to his farm home where it was incorporated into the house as a family room and double garage.
Butte Valley School District #75
Front of Butte Valley School
“OUR SCHOOL” Butte Valley School, #75 sets in the heart of farming and ranching conmunity. It is located 4 miles east of Burke, South Dakota on the Lake Burke Road. There are fifteen pupils in the school. It is represented by four families: The Rudy Kleins, Gerhardt Bartlings, Milo Kliens, and Ivan Umbergers. There are grades one through eight. 11
The stories of Rural Schools in Gregory County have been collected and compiled by the Gregory County Historical Society School Committee. Perserverance is the key to the many children and young adults that studied at these rural schools. We may never know how hard it was to have up to 8 grades of children doing classwork in a one-room schoolhouse, but the writers have done an amazing job of illustrating what it was like to attend a Rural School in Gregory County, South Dakota.