[Editor’s Note: Aunt Naomi divided her memories up by periods of her life, and not into these little parts. I’ve taken the liberty of cutting chapter 3, Elementary School, into 6 parts to make it easier for us to talk about them one at a time. Thanks Aunt Naomi for writing all of this down.]
The following students made up the enrollment of Oak Grove School, grades 1 through 8 over the years I attended: Roy Blockberger; Shirley, Ralph, and Glen Robinett; Delores Vieseman; Barbara and Jimmy Goetz; Freddy and Darlene Hammond; Rochelle and Carol Shellman; Geneva and Myrene Englebrecht; Marilyn Probst; Floyd and Mary Jane Siebeneck; Mary, Esther, Ina Golden; Leland Sappenfield; Bobby Crede; Cleo, Lolly, Naomi and Lloyd Sommerer.
The school was set in woods with an area large enough for the school, a play yard on all sides, a woodshed, two outhouses and a well with a pump. The entrance side faced what is now called Deer Run Road. The entrance had large cloak rooms on each side. That is where we put our coats, boots, hats, lunchboxes, balls and bats. Cleaning supplies like push brooms, cleaning compound and other items were kept there also. Books and other school supplies were also stored there. Rows of seats of various sizes ran up and down. They were secured to planks on the floor, so could not be easily moved. The wood heating stove was in the middle of the room. The water crock set in a back corner. There was a cabinet with glass doors for a library. We didn’t have many books to read but the Cole County Bookmobile came once a month and we were allowed to choose books to read. They were returned the next month and new books chosen. The teacher’s desk was on the “stage.” This was an 8” rise in the front of the school and the students recited at the teacher’s desk on the stage.
Blackboards (black slate) covered the entire front wall (except for the window) and part of the side walls on the stage. When the students presented a play, curtains would be pulled open and shut on a wire extending from one wall to the other across the front of the stage. Portraits of Washington and Lincoln hung on the walls. I have wonderful memories of Oak Grove and appreciate being able to attend a “one-room country school.”
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