The following article is from the Hooker County Tribune in Mullen, NE on August 12, 1993.
Pick a cool evening or afternoon and take a short drive to the country – about 20 miles north of Mullen. Setting about 2 miles east of Highway 97 on Jim and Pat Bridge’s (sic) place, just barely visible from the highway, is the old District #66 schoolhouse. The little red schoolhouse served students in the southern Cherry County district for many years and now it is ready again for children and adults to learn.
Kids are immediately attracted to the six old wooden desks lined up neatly in front of the teacher’s desk, ready with slates and chalk. Also available for their enjoyment are several puzzles and games. Musicians will enjoy the almost century old piano that Pat has tuned yearly and gives piano lessons on.
Readers will want to browse through the shelves of books holding Pat’s personal library, along with books of her mother’s, Elsie Roth’s and of course, the old school books that came along with the building. Others will simply enjoy seeing a part of the area’s and perhaps their own, past – be it District #66 or one of many other country schools they attended.
The little schoolhouse was presented as a gift to Elsie Roth in 1987. The school had not been open since 1981 and it was time to take care of the building before it was destroyed by cattle in the school yard. The school board was aware that Jim and Pat Bridges, Elsie’s niece and husband, were wanting to purchase the schoolhouse to restore and preserve for historical purposes, so they presented it to Elsie for that purpose. Dr. R. G. Roth, Elsie’s father and Pat’s grandfather, had been instrumental in the establishing of District #66 and the school to serve the children of the district.
Elsie herself had taught at the school for two years after completing Normal Training at Mullen High School. Pat writes in her history of the school, “Having been given this school was a source of great joy to Elsie and one of her most meaningful experiences with the goodness of country people.”
Elsie turned the title over to Jim and Pat as it would be located on their land and they would do the renovation work. The school board requested it be moved as they didn’t want to keep up the school yard, so Jim O’Brien, Chuck Anders and John Golden (Bridge’s (sic) hired hand) assisted Jim in moving the school house 10 miles south to its current place beside Marsh Lake. None of them will probably ever volunteer to move any building using a stack mover again, but they did eventually get it in place on its new foundation.
Pat then took over the renovation. The roof was in good shape but everything else needed work. Pat peeled off all the old wallpaper, then found most of the old paperboard was rotten, so Jim and she tore it out and replaced it with sheet rock and re-papered the walls. Pat also removed the old finish from the board floor and replaced it with a warm mahogany finish that included a few character spots. She also replaced broken window panes, puttied, caulked and painted the windows.
Everything, including desks, books, stove, maps, piano, high jump, and two outhouses came with the school. Pat is currently searching for a large yard bell or one to hang by the front door; a flag and flag pole and a real slate board to replace the green paper board. She would also like to hook up the water pump and plant some trees around the school.
Adding to the local interest in the school is a roster of teachers and students listed from 1924 to 1981. Teachers include many familiar names. Grace Marsh was the first teacher listed in 1924, with one student, Elver Lanum. Elsie Roth then taught for 2 terms from 1925-1927. Other teachers were Ruth Johnson (Huddle) 30-32; Thelma Ovenden 32-33; Fern Andrews (Reigle) 33-34; Ione Howard 34-35; Harriet Kime (Isom) 35-36; Amy Adel Dooley 36-37; Mabel Knapp 40-43; Sylvia Robinson 42-45; Waiva Phipps 46-47; Mrs. Marvin Towne 47-48; Lela Daily 48-50; Mrs. Corwin Emmons 50-51; Margorie Reigle 56-57; Margorie Reigle Pearson 57-58; Shirley Cotant (Shears) 58-59; Mardell Huddle 59-60; Grace Wiese 60-61; Betty Murphy 61-62; Pearl Marsh 62-76; Grace Wiese again 76-77; Faye Boyles 77-81. School was not held from 37-40 and 51-56.
Students are also listed, but you’ll have to visit the school and look over the roster to read all the names as they are too numerous to mention here. School size ranged from one to ten students with six to eight students common until the 70’s when the students dwindled to two and 4 each year.
So whether it be to stir up some memories, browse through the library, or let a child sit at an old desk and write on a slate, instead of playing Nintendo, plan to visit the little red schoolhouse north of Mullen. Jim and Pat have done a great job of saving the school for everyone to enjoy!
EDITORS NOTE: This article is brought to you by the Hooker County Tribune in cooperation with the Sandhills Tourism Council. We will be bringing you a series of articles about local points of interest. The Council meets each Thursday evening at 7:30 at the Mini-Mart.
by Sue Pearman