A one room Schoolhouse building is celebrating its 100th birthday with many happy days of youth learning and teachers teaching. Holverson District 65, now a community building, was built 100 years ago. This school year and in the spring of 1925, there were 41 students enrolled. But let’s go back to when the school was really started. On October 18, 1873 a special meeting was held at a unknown location to select a site for a building J. A. Chambers, James W Dunkins and Kude Holverson as board members chose the south east corner of section 23, township 24, range 9 as the location.
Then in March 1894, the location was changed to section 27, township 24, range 9. There was no reason given for the change. Some school terms were three months or four months with a long break for six to seven months. Each year, the school board would vote the length of the school term. Teachers were hard to find and anyone who had any liberal education could be hired as a teacher until later when teacher training was devised. The school board and county superintendent would test the person after a four week training course to determine if they’d pass the examination. Most teachers at this time were single ladies who would board at the home of someone in the district. They were always getting to school early to start the fire to warm the building each day and ensure their classrooms were clean and tidy.
On April 20th, 1883 a decision was made to build a stone building 35 feet long and 21 feet wide. There were between 25 and 32 students enrolled, depending o the time of year with farm work and people moving in and out of district. The August 13th, 1885 board members were B H Talkington, SF Stewart and William H Wiggins. Oscar L Fechemon was the teacher.
May 10th 1889 a bid of $690 for the new school was approved to W.R. Patton. Henry A. Westbrook was the teacher at a salary of $40 dollars per month. Family names on register at this time were Totland, Evenson, Holverson, Nystol, Stewart, Talkington and Wiggins.
In 1913, a $5000 dollar bond was passed no and other details were available on this. On September 7,1923, William Teter parched $4200 dollars of bonds for building a new school to be paid off in fifteen years at 4 & 3/4% interest. It was approved by the state school board and county superintendent and, in 1923, the present east half was built by G.O. Olson for a cost of $4289 dollars. School board members were L.A. Totland, George Wiggins & Fred Wall.
Then, in 1925, E.H. Dix added the west half on at a cost of $2800 dollars to be identical to the east half. Ella Shields was the teacher at $85 dollars per month and had 26 students. Then, in the fall, Dorothy Hodgson was also hired as teacher wages were increased to $110 dollars per month with 41 students.
By this time in history, out houses were going away and Holverson had indoor plumbing. Such a large holding tanks under the floor which were flushed with water going into a septic system outside. It was the job of the older boys to carry water from the well every day at the end of school to pour down the stools. These were cleaned before school each fall then refilled with water. The system continues to function today.
The interior of the building has a set of sliding doors in the middle, which was used to close off the space for two-room teaching when two teachers were present. There were black boards on each end of the building and 2 separate coat rooms – one for girls and one for boys on each side of the entry doors. There was also a built-in bookcase with storage drawers under it. Coal and wood stoves were used to heat the school, then fuel oil and now propane. 8th grade students at this time included John Wiggins, Gussie (Holverson) Breech, Raymond Osmondson and Herman Totland.
April 11,1924 there was an entry of selling the old school building to Otis Hellman for $40 dollars to be moved off-property. Activities by students in the early years were such games as hop-scotch, marbles, tag and hard ball (early baseball.) In winter, there were indoor activities such as games, puzzles, bingo and some crafts.
Christmas programs were a beloved tradition, with students putting on plays they often wrote themselves, accompanied by the singing of Christmas songs. Music held a special place in those celebrations, serving as a true form of entertainment. No Christmas program was complete without a tree, most likely cut down by a student’s father, and decorations handmade by the students themselves.
The last day of school was always a fun event. Two or three schools would often come together for games and a large communal meal. In later years, schools would hold track and field competitions, either between individual schools or at the county level. During the spring, schools would have baseball games. Eighth-grade graduation ceremonies were commonly held at the school or at a county-wide event in Eureka.
In 1924, the school’s land was leased to S.J. Polhamus and G.J. Smith for oil exploration at a cost of $2,000, and one well was drilled. On August 9, 1927, the school purchased a “Merry Whirl” (playground equipment) from Wichita Equipment for $190. That year, the school had an enrollment of 60 students, with Edith Riley and Virgil Churchman serving as teachers, earning $120 and $102 respectively.
On September 3, 1928, the current coal house was constructed with an underground storm shelter for the protection of students and others in the area if needed. The floor has supported many tons of coal over the years and remains solid and dry today, with a total construction cost of $141. In 1928, the teachers were Edith Campbell, who earned $120, and Laura Wheeler, who earned $135.
In 1930, the building’s electrical system was installed at a cost of $112, courtesy of the Kansas Electric Co. The teaching staff that year included Lara Wheeler, who earned $140 per month, and Lillie Aaroe, who received $125 monthly.
In 1932, a phonograph was purchased for $67.81, thirteen tons of coal cost $89, and a broom was 85 cents. That year, the school had 45 students enrolled, with Effie Postlewait and Lillie Aaroe serving as the teachers, each earning $110 per month.
In 1935, the current stage, complete with a roll-up curtain, was added to west end of building. Mary Hutton and Lillie Aaroe were teachers earning $60 each per month.
During the summer, the school hosted ice cream socials featuring large five-gallon freezers of homemade ice cream in flavors like chocolate, vanilla, fresh strawberry, and fresh peach. The men would drive to town, retrieve a pickup-load of block ice wrapped in tarps, and then hand-crank the freezers. Homemade cakes of various kinds were also served.
When black diamond watermelons were ripe, they would be cooled in the spring house water for several days. Then, on a Saturday evening, the community would gather to eat the chilled watermelon and socialize. Often, a baseball game would be played as well.
The Upper Fall River Jayhawkers 4-H club also held their meetings at the school during this time.
In 1883 the Lady’s Society of Upper Fall River Lutheran Church was formed and later held their annual bazar at the school each year on the Friday evening after Thanksgiving with a supper of hot chicken or beef sandwiches, salads and homemade pie. Chocolate fudge candy was a fast seller at the auction. Handmade quilts would bring hundreds of dollars. Sadly in 1987, it was moved into Eureka to the bigger church.
In 1946, some of the expenses were KP&L for $3.00 month, a new coal bucket was 98 cents and new water cooler was $3.85. Wanda Keck was teacher at this time and was paid 132 dollars per month with 12 students enrolled.
In 1949, the Teterville Trolley began transporting high school students to Eureka. The bus driver, Dale Forcum, was paid $40 per month by school district no. 65. By 1975, Forcum’s wages had increased to $95 per month. His daily round trip route covered 40 miles from Eureka to Teterville, with each district on his route paying based on the number of students transported. During this time, the teachers were Marjorie Osmundson, who earned $190 per month, and Ruth Kribble, who was paid $230 per month for the fall semester. The school had an enrollment of 27 students.
In 1950, the school board received $5.00 a year for their services. Ruth Kribble continued as a teacher. In October of 1951, 19 new slim-line lights were installed at a cost of $480 dollars. At the time, the school board members were Harrel Shaw, Mrs. Wallace (Faye) Gray & Mrs. Clarence Brice. On April 4th, Highland Dist #116 consolidated with Holverson.
On March 18, 1952, a slide was purchased. By this time, the flooding of oil wells had leached into the school’s well water, making it salty and unfit for drinking. In response the following year, on November 4, 1953, a cistern was hand-dug by seven men at a cost of $293 for labor and $336 for materials. The school introduced hot lunches, hiring a local woman to cook daily. In 1955, Letha Wolfe was hired as a teacher, earning $307 per month with sixteen students enrolled.
On June 15th, 1962, Teterville school #21 was consolidated with Holverson. On August 18th, a sale was held and all property of Tetervillle was sold. The board members at the time were Charles Wiggins, Faye Gray & George Olson.
In May 1963, Holverson School had only 7 students, prompting the decision to close the school. Students were then given the option to attend either Eureka or Hamilton schools, whichever they preferred. On October 10th, 1972, Eureka School District #389 signed over the land and building to South Salem Township. At the time, Dr. Hal Dewell was the president of the school board.
In August 2015, a new fire station was constructed on the southeast corner of the school grounds to accommodate the community’s need for additional fire trucks. Three fire trucks now have a dedicated home to protect our beautiful Flint Hills region.
The school building serves as a monthly gathering place for the Community Dinner, held on the first Monday of each month. It also hosts various special events, including weddings, family reunions, and fall church dinners.
The information in this historical account was drawn entirely from school records. I am proud to have graduated from the eighth grade at Holverson School #65 in 1958.
– by Leta Ann (Gray) Divine
How Holverson Looks Today
