McLEAN COUNTY HISTORY& GENEALOGY NEWS
By Euleen Rickard
At the turn of the twentieth century country schools all over the country were the center of activities for parents and children. McLean educator, Harvey W. Riggs wrote, “Country schools provided community atmosphere, largely shaping community character and guiding its activities.”
The schools provided social and entertainment activities with programs at Christmas and other times and fund-raising events like cakewalks and box or pie suppers that supported the schools. The teachers had an active part in all events, most times planning and directing them. Without the support of the fund-raising most teachers did not have equipment that she or he needed.
The school was a place for farmers meetings, for lodges and other activities, even marriages were performed at the schools. According to their marriage certificate Mahala Riley was married to Jesse Arnold at the one-room Adams school on the 26th of October, 1913.
Active one-room country schools no longer exist in McLean County and most of the buildings are gone but interest in the history of the schools remains alive.
Interest in the Lickbranch one-room school mentioned in last week’s article brought much information. Mary Ann Stevenson called to tell us that her father P. H. Smith often spoke of the school as they passed the spot where it once stood. She said it was at the corner of Highways 815 and 554, across from Little Flock church. Patty Nalley’s sent information on the school. Her mother Edwina Robertson Nalley attended there.
Listed below are the rural teachers of the 1924-25 school year.
Boston school,teacher Lockie Dillehay, Beech Grove; Shady Grove, teacher Opal Cline, St. Joseph; Back Creek, teacher Ona Hill, Beech Grove; Congleton, teacher Fonda Cox, Beech Grove; Elba, teacher Marguret Hayden, St. Joseph; Hardin, teacher Naomi Denhardt, Calhoun; Brick, teacher Lorene Brown, Calhoun; Glover, teacher Priscilla Lytle, Calhoun; Wolfpen, teacher Mary Porter Moseley, Calhoun; Guffie, teacher Ethel Smith, Calhoun; Eureka, Principal, Inez Porter and Assistant Carrie Porter, both of Calhoun; Sunshine Valley, teacher Malinda Leachman, Calhoun; Brooks, teacher Mrs. Wilfred Ashby, Livia; Leachman, teacher Nina Dodson, Calhoun; Glenville, Principal J. D. Bailey, Calhoun, Assistant Clairene Kerrick, Livia and Substitute, Myra Johnson, Calhoun; Oak Grove, teacher Mabel Dixon, Calhoun; Little Grove, teacher Mrs, Myrtle L. Fulkerson, Calhoun; Fairview, teacher Thelma Graham, Livermore; Buck Creek, teacher Hazel Herndon, Livermore; Nally, teacher Eva Mae Taylor, Livermore; Reeves, teacher Herbert Niceley, Livia; Liberty, teacher Loreen Lee, Livermore; Briarfield, teacher J..O. Cook, Livia; Hillside, teacher Mrs. Herbert Niceley, Livermore; Basin, teacher Mrs. Walter Ellis, Rumsey; Knob, teacher Reta Coin, Livermore; Harrison, teacher Lorene Garst, Sacramento; Island, Principal Maggie Banfield, Calhoun, Assistant Martelle Willis, Island, Jennie Ree Stroud, and Christine Stiles, both of Calhoun; Dughill, teacher Thelma Howell, Island; Ridge, teacher Pauline Fentress, Island; Drake, teacher Urith Nall, Island; Bennett, teacher Otis Wiggins, Sebree; Station, teacher Lestie Brown, Rumsey; Coffman, teacher Evelyn Shaver, Livermore; Semiway, teacher David Montgomery, Evansville, Indiana; Rumsey, Principal Lena Scott, Assistant Londa Scott and Mrs Lavelle Scott Jones, all of Calhoun; Shutt, Principal Horace Bates, Livermore Assistant Mrs. J. C. Landrum, Dunmor and teacher Louise Brown, Island; Pack, Principal, Bradie Worthington and Assistant, Thelma Moore, Sacramento; Branch, Mrs. Alena Meeks, Mammoth Cave; Ellis, teacher Bessie Ross, Rumsey; Adam, teacher Minerva Heal, Livia; Stringtown, teacher. Mrs Clyde Nicholls, Sacramento; West, teacher Mary Miller, Sacramento; Miller, teacher Grace Anthony, Sacramento.
At the time there were four schools for black children in the county; one in Calhoun where Frank A Smit of Owensboro taught, two in Sacramento with teachers Martrine V. Taylor and Mrs. Mary Fields of Owensboro and one called Porter where the teacher was Mrs. Mary Moorman of Utica.
If you have pictures, histories or other information on any of these schools or teachers, please send it to McLean County History & Genealogy Museum, P.O. Box 34, Calhoun, KY 42327.