Education Commons^™

District #82 - Carey High, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

Early records indicate that a small one room school was painstakingly raised before the turn of the century, in 1876, which was 9 years after Nebraska attained statehood. The land had been plotted and arranged in districts, each serving its own community needs.

That first year 60 students were enrolled, ranging in age from 5 to 20.

It sometimes took two decades to complete requirements for a grade school (sometimes called grammar school) education, as school was held on a "come when you are able" basis.

District #87, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

A small white frame building known as District #8 7 opened its doors September 1, 1886 to the children of this Czech community two miles west and one-half mile south of Wahoo, Nebraska. One wonders how this small structure accommodated the attendance which sometimes soared to as many as 40 or 45 children.

District #83 - Sunnyside, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

Looking back in the records of District #83 it was interesting to note they were written in the Czech language and dated back to 1898. According to the Secretary's book the boundary shown in 1899 is almost the same as it is today. The mill levy at that time was 15 and the valuation was $15060. There were approximately 70 children up to age 21 who attended school on an ungraded system.

District # 75, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

In June of 1870 my grandfather, the late M.S. Hills homesteaded in Section 2, Township 15, Range 6 of Mariposa precinct, Saunders County. He was the first settler in the area.

The surrounding area settled rapidly. Many of the settlers were foreign born, and while they had received a good education in their native country, they could neither read nor write in the English language. Many of them could not express their ideas or thoughts in what was a foreign language to them, and they could not speak the language well enough to be understood.

It did not take long …

District #70 - South Center, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The first classes held in District #70 were held in a home that was made of sod. It was located somewhere near the vicinity of the Harvey Wageman farm. A wooden structure was later built in the same area. The next school building was a small log cabin on the hill west of Ernie Chapek's. It didn't last long. After this, (between 1872-1880) a large one-room school was built on the site of the present school building. A pot-bellied stove stood in the middle of the room. There was a 6"to 8" high platform at the front of the room …

District #72 - Mead, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

On January 23, 1875 Mead School, District No. 95 was formed and included Sections 25, 26, 27, 34, 35 and 36. At the annual meeting in 1876 the board voted to build a school house 18' x 36'. At a special meeting bonds were approved in the amount of $600.00 to build and furnish. the school. However the County Clerk informed them that according to law they could not vote a bond of more than $380.00. So they decided to vote the $380.00 and build the schoolhouse for that 1 amount. The one-room frame building was located on the NW¼ …

District #61 - Happy Hollow, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

Happy Hollow School District #61 is located three miles south and two miles west of Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska.

The school never had a well, so the pupils took turns going to the farm of Christian Peterson who lived a short distance east of the school. Everyone wanted to go after the water, so to solve any argument the teacher had them take turns. So there was never a problem of not having water.

District #60, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The history of School District #60 dates back to 1874 when Mr. and Mrs. James Breed of Kane County, Illinois, for the sum of one dollar, sold one-half acre of ground on which the schoolhouse was built.

The land from the line of trees just south of the schoolhouse to the south end of the playground is rented from Mrs. Henderson for the sum of $5.00 per year. T

here were no records for the first eleven years of·the school's existence. However, in the year 1885 records show that there were twenty-one pupils enrolled, and in 1888 an enrollment of …

District #44, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The first school in Chapman Precinct was organized in 1869. The first meeting was held in Mr. Thomas Chapman's home. Mr. Chapman was elected director and Mr. J. D. Lehmkuhl was elected treasurer. The first schoolhouse was completed and was taught by H. N. Roger in 1870. This school was located in the middle of the section.

This section also includes information on District #32 and District #71

District #36 - Malmo, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The first building of District #36 was located about a half mile east of the present village of Malmo.

It was here the children of the early settlers of the district began their education and drank water from a flowing spring on the bank of nearby Cottonwood Creek.

District #31 - Ceresco, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The first school for Ceresco, District #31 was a one-room building erected in the summer of 1872 across the road from the Hunter farm where the Edwin Frasier family now live. Mrs. John Riddle was the first teacher, followed by Nina Flore and Florence Hillman. Mrs. Ira Nelson boarded the teacher until the town was moved.

District #24, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

School District #24 held its first class in 1879, records indicating that 50 students registered, but attendance was poor. The original one room structure (exact size unknown) was located in the same place as our present building, the latter having been completed on October 15, 1888.

District #27, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

Records dating back to 1870 show that Moses Stocking was the director of District No. 27. There were 39 children in the district. The post office was Eldred.

Bishop Neumann H.S., Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The beginnings of Neumann High School go far back into the history of the Catholic Church in the Wahoo area. However, in June of 1959 Bishop James V. Casey strongly urged the pastors of the Wahoo Deanery to consider establishing a central high school to serve the area, On April 30, 1960 a letter was sent from the pastors to Bishop Casey expressing a commitment to initiate this program. This was a momentous decision.

District #119 - Otoe Creek, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

On January 12, 1960 a petition was organized to merge District #33 and District #46. District #46 was known as Otoe Creek School because of its location on the south bank of Otoe Creek on Highway 77. The petition was voted on and passed that as of April 29, 1960 Districts #33 and #46 shall be known as Otoe Creek School District No. 119.