Rural Schools – Pella Township

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Pella Township Schools

FAIRVIEW SCHOOL

The earliest records found for School District #1 of the Town of Pella are dated August 27, 1870. From 1870 through 1879 the school building was located on the Carl Klebesadel property which was approximately one-half mile north of where the Fairview School was located during the years 1880 through the 1960’s. During those early years, most of the business conducted at the annual meetings involved the establishment of the district budget, setting teacher salaries, determining the length of the school year and acceptance of bids for wood to heat the school. The entire budget for the school term that began in 1870 was $335.15. Of that amount, $150 was paid out for the teacher’s salary.

The term for that year was five months. At the annual meeting in 1879 it was decided to build a new schoolhouse. The new building was to be located either at the corner of Section 20, 21, 28, or 29. At a special meeting held in November of that year, the very southeast corner of Section 20 was chosen as the building site. A one-half acre of land was purchased from Fredrick Wichman for $60. Julius Netzel was selected as the builder. Netzel was to be paid $20 when the foundation was completed with the remainder as needed during the course of construction. The final cost of the building was to be no more than $597. Under the terms of the agreement, the new schoolhouse was to be forty feet long, twenty-eight feet wide and fourteen feet high on the sides. The foundation was made of stone laid in lime mortar. The building contained eight windows, two entry doors and a 6′ x 6′ x 8′ high belfry. The building was situated so that the front door would face the east. Two outhouses were also built, one for boys and one for girls.

In 1885 it was decided to extend the school term to six months beginning in November. A male teacher was hired for this winter term. Some years the school term was divided. A four-month term began in November and a two-month term began in May. A lady teacher was allowed to teach the spring term. Although a ten-month term was experimented with in 1890 the school term varied from year to year between six and seven months.

In 1894 a controversial health issue arose regarding the vaccination of the students.

The following is a quote from the clerk’s records. “A special school district meeting of the District No. I in the town of Pella held pursuant to due notice given on the eighth day of May 1894 to be held on the 14th day of May, 1894 at 6 o’clock in the afternoon of that day at the schoolhouse of School District No. I of said town for the purpose to take a vote on the question whether the children all of school age shall be vaccinated or if the district will stand all damage and fine whatever came against such board.” The voters decided that the district would accept responsibility for all complaints that arose from the vaccination program.

Several minor changes took place during the late 1890’s and early 1900’s. A new school bell was purchased in 1894. The school term continued to change from year to year. A five-month winter term remained in effect with the spring term being either two or three months. A woodshed was constructed in 1902 that measured 16 feet wide by 24 feet long.

On October 17, 1908 certain parts of Section 18 in the town of Pella were transferred from School District #1 to Joint School District #1 of the town of Grant.

At the annual meeting in 1909 it was decided to drill a well on the school grounds.

It was also decided that a new schoolhouse be built the following year. A $1,000 building fund was raised to begin the building project. Nine bids received from various contractors with the lowest bid going to Frank D. Schweers at Shawano for $4825. This did not include a furnace. A new school bell was also purchased for $134.85. At a special meeting called on the 26th of February 1910 the board met to decide if the money needed to build the new building should be borrowed from the State Trust Fund at 3.5% interest or if it should be borrowed from individuals in the community. A decision was made to borrow $4,200 at 4% interest from five different individuals. By 1916, this loan had been repaid.

A special meeting was called on the 7th day of May 1910 to sell the old school house. Louis Westphal purchased the building for $54. Albert Jesse purchased the old bell for $8. During the school term of 1910-1911, there was a 9th grade class consisting of seven pupils. This was the only time in the history of this school that there was a ninth grade.

Individuals that appear to have been active and instrumental in the era from 1870 through 1910 were: Fredrich Wichman, Wm. Moldenhauer, Julius Schilling, Wm. Rosenow, Wm. Wolf, Albert Desse Sr., Wm. Buss, August Ehlert, Ernst Westphal, Carl Moldenhauer, August Wolf, Herman Hacker, August Reimer, Gust Schilling, Carl Buss, Herman Binder, Fred Rienke, Albert Jesse Jr., Fred Radis, Wm. Grimm, August Wichman, Robert Mansee, Wm. Westphal, Herman Pankow, Albert Haufe, Otto Genskow, August Genskow, Gust Schachtschneider, Fred Westphal, John Brown, Otto Koepke, Frank Ehricke, Henry Genskow, August Suhring, Charles Moldenhauer, Fred Mansee, Gust Schwertfager, and Louis Westpahl.

Physical changes and updates continued as time went on. Two new outhouses were built in 1911. In 1913 the board authorized the addition of storm windows to the new school building. At the annual meeting held on June 7th, 1915, it was decided to install a steam heating system in the school building that had been built in 1910. The heating system was purchased from Schweer Hardware of Shawano for $1,000. This system was fueled by wood until 1944. In 1927 a fire escape for the second floor was purchased for $391. Labor cost for installation was $17.30. This was unique in that it was spiral in design and remained a topic of interest for the life of the building. A downstairs fire escape was added in 1943. Unable to hire a janitor for the 1944-1945 school term, the board decided to install a coal fired stoker for the steam boiler.

At the annual meeting held on July 8, 1946, it was decided to drill a new well, install a pressure water system and indoor toilets. The new well and water system were installed by Henry Schweer for $631.91. Shawano Hardware installed the indoor toilets and septic system for $4,145.

Beginning July 1, 1949, School District #1 of the town of Pella was integrated with the Marion School District. Alvin Ewald who was the clerk for District #1 was elected to serve as a member on the Marion School Board.

A period of consolidation closed many rural schools during the 1960’s. Fairview continued to operate until 1966. After that date students from the area were bused to Marion where a new elementary school had been constructed.

INCIDENTALS

SCHOOL NAME: Originally this school was referred to as the Elm Grove School.

Records do not indicate when the name was changed to Fairview, but I believe that it may have changed when the new school building was built in 1910.