Education Commons^™

District #18 - Mt. Zion, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The first school term in District #18 was in 1893. There were twenty pupils taught by Newton A. House. The term was from April 10 to June 2.

District #105 - Staats, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

District No. 105 was organized on October 5, 1880. It consisted of the North half of Sections 16 and 17, all of Sections 4, 5, 8, 9, Township 16, Range 8. The boundaries have been changed at various times.

When it was first organized the district was known as the Staats School. Some of the early pupils were Minnie, Sadie, Ralph, Clarence. George. Harry and Jennie Scott; Will, Lou, George, Lulu, Anna, Lena, Max and Jake Warner. Also among many others were Emma and Hattie Staats.

District #104 - Prague, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The first school house in Chester Precinct was in District No. 51 and was known as the Willow Creek School. It was a sod house and the first teacher was Miss Wheeler. She walked four miles to school and was paid $25.00 a month.

Later on District No. 84 was organized, being partly in Elk and partly in Chester Precinct. The school house was located on Martin Vanek's farm about 2½ miles southwest of the present village of Prague. The district was found to be too large so it was divided. One school was located at Vaclav Frana's farm, half …

District #107 - Cedar Bluff, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The first school house for District 107, Cedar Bluffs, was built on the Knapp farm one-half mile north and 3/4 mile east of Cedar Bluffs. It was just a claim shanty.

In 1870 a building was purchased from Mr. Cowan on the Knapp property. It was moved to the farm of John Scheer northwest of town.

District #74, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

In the early 1870's a sod house served as the first school for District #74. The school was given the name Happy Hollow School. The building was located on the NW¼ of Section 24, Newman Precinct. It was later moved a half mile south on a half acre of land donated by Joseph B. Bartek.

A new school with three windows on each side was built in about 1900 by carpenters, Pallat and Brabec. The first building which had two windows on each side was purchased by Joe Caha and moved to his farm one half mile south.

District # 81 - Oak Ridge, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

District #81 was formed on March 1, 1873 and included 15 sections. On February 2, 1878 three sections were transferred to District #101. At that time the schoolhouse was located a mile north of the present one.

The first report was filed in 1873 by J.W. Vandemark. It showed 29 children in the district, 25 attending school. School was open 60 days.

District #54 - Racek, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

Early records in the office of the County Superintendent show that in 1872 the director of District No. 54 was M.A. Malloy. There were 18 boys and 18 girls enrolled with Mary Fleming, teacher. She received a salary of $25.00 a month for the 4 month term. In 1873, the length of term was increased to 5½ months and the salary was $26.00. Census showed 46 children, age 5 - 21.

District #51 - Willow Creek, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

School District #51 known as "Willow Creek School" was established in 1883. The sod structure was built in the Southeast corner of the W½ of Section 14, now owned by Julius Nemec. In 1885 a frame building was erected on gratis land deeded by Jacob A. and Martha Wolfe, 500 feet East of the original site in Section 20, now owned by Leo Steinbach. The present building 4 miles North and 1 /2 mile West of Prague, Nebraska was built in 1918.

District #50 - Ithaca, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The first school in District #50, Ithaca was built by Elijah Dech in Section 20 of Wahoo Township. He built it on his own farm and his daughter Martha was the first teacher. When the new school was built the old schoolhouse was moved into Ithaca and remodeled for use as a home and it is still being used as a home today.

St. Wenceslaus Elementary, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

St. Wenceslaus School has served the community at Wahoo for over 65 years. Records dated back to 1920 indicate it was staffed by the Benedictine Sisters for 13 years. During the early years it encompassed grades one through ten. The Sisters lived in the school, and students were allowed to board there.

St. John's Catholic School - Weston, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The construction of St. John's School in Weston was begun in 1954 with the approval of Bishop Louis B. Kucera of Lincoln. Rev. Otto M. Ekhaml was the pastor of St. John's Church at that time. The building consists of a one-story concrete, brick veneer structure having five classrooms, library, office, gymnasium and a convent. The additional rooms in the basement are used as meeting rooms.

District #118 - Rock Creek Center, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

School District #118 was formed April 1, 1905, detaching from Dist. #40. The schoolhouse was built on the Anton Jelinek farm on the SW corner of Section 15, township 13, Range 6 in Rock Creek precinct.

The first school term began November 26, 1906 with 35 pupils ranging in age from 5 - 18 and offering grades 1-7. Some pupils attended only 27 days with a high attendance of 112 days. The teacher was Sadie Ethell. The school term ended M"ay 24, 1907. The school board members were G. L. Lambert, Joseph Bouc and J. J. Wondra. The school teacher's …

District #39 - Wahoo, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The first school in Wahoo was outside of what is now the city limits. It was a one-room building in the southwest corner of the old town, near what is known now as the Lindau farm.

The first West Ward school was also a one-room frame building on the corner of 6th and Sycamore, one block north of the Court house, facing west. This was built in the late seventies or about 1880. Shortly thereafter a second one-room brick building, still in use was built on the present site in 1903 at a cost of $8000.00.

District #1 - Ashland, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

History of schools in Ashland, Nebraska.

District #23, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

Standard School, more familiarly known to its parents as Rural Elementary District No. 23 is located in the NE corner of the NW¼ of Section 23-15-7. Prior to the autumn of 1871 very few distinct district records were kept in the County Superintendent's office, but it appears that District No. 23 was not always in its present location but had its inception in the NW¼ NE¼ of Section 26-15-7.

District #5, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

District #5 was organized north of Ashland in 1869. It included several sections in Township 13, Range 9.

District #19 - Elmwood, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

Many difficulties faced the early settlers when they began establishing schools. Some early school board meetings were recorded in both English and Czech. Records show that although most of the early families were of Czech descent, the early teachers, mostly male, were not.

District #20 - Wann, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The first seven or eight pioneer families, about whom we have already written, realized that there were two elements which are very important to the life and endurance of any enterprise. They are religious worship and education. To carry out these major projects, a school house was built about one half mile east and about one mile north of the present location. Here began the education of the pioneer children. It was here that these seven families met for worship. Realizing the need for a better place of worship they decided to take up a collection for the building of …

District #14 - Morse Bluff, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

Morse Bluff, District No. 14 was formed in 1869. The first school building was located south of the present building and accommodated students through the 8th grade.

District #11 - Platteville, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The first school in Saunders County, according to several area residents, was a dug-out near the bluff - not too far from Brickyard Hill. Though there probably were not districts at that time, the site of this little lean-to dug out of the bluff is on the present District #11 land, and could be considered the forerunner of today's Platteville School.

District #9 - Yutan, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The first schoolhouse was built in 1876, a two-room frame structure accommodating eight grades. It expanded over time, adding high school curricula in 1916.

District #117 - Colon, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

School District No. 117 was formed on December 6, 1901. It consisted of all of Sections 3, Township 15, Range 7, the West half of Section 2, Township 15, Range 7 and the North half of the Southeast quarter of Section 4, Township 15, Range 7. Jesse M. Galloway was the County Superintendent.

A report filed by Henry Peterson, director in 1901 showed 53 children on the school census.

District #115 - North Star, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

Early records in the office of the County Superintendent show that the first school census from District #115 was recorded in 1894 by J. A. White, director. The census showed 9 families in the district.

The first school report on file is dated 1898 filed by J. A White, director with Jesse M. Galloway, County Superintendent. The report shows 32 children attending school

District #110 - Memphis, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The Memphis School. District #110 was formed in 1891. The land organized to form this district was formerly a part of Districts #3, #5 and #6. The same year the first school building, a one-room structure was erected just west of the present location. The members of the first school board selected Mr. Ed Cullen as the first school teacher and gave him a salary of $25.00 per month.

District #113 - Cunningham, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

School District # 113 was organized in 1892. It was named the Cunningham School for John Cunningham on whose land the original school was located. Early area settlers came from Czechoslovakia and some of the old school board minutes are written in Czech.

Students from the Kucera, Kliment, Strizek, Matousek, Hladik and Berniklau families carried their own water to the school along with their school books.

District #111 - Touhy, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

School District No. 111 was organized in 1892 with Miss Nellie Throop, 16 as the first teacher. The school was located across the road from where it stands now. It was moved to its present location in the early 1900's.

District #103 - Weston, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

During the years of 1870 or 1871 a sod school was located on the Frank Staat' s Homestead. The furniture consisted of benches for the teacher and the children.

In 1874 the Bell or Plato School was built. It was located on the south end of Section 5, Township 14, Range 6 East. The interior was lined with siding. The furniture consisted of planks on nail kegs and a wood burning stove. Mr. John L. Coleman taught for a salary of $25. 00 per month.

District #101 - Valparaiso, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

The first public school in Valparaiso was established on Section 22, upon the land of Andrew Johnson, who with the assistance of R. K. Johnson, built a frame schoolhouse. The school was opened in the winter of 1868-69 with Miss Adeline States, later Mrs. C. Johnson as the teacher. Mrs. Johnson taught but a short time, and was succeeded by J. K. Van Demark. The district included the entire precinct and the school board consisted of Andrew Johnson, director; Rev. George Worley, moderator; and R. K. Johnson, treasurer. This building was also used for a Union Sunday School and church. …

District #91 - Riverside, Office Of The County Superintendent, Saunders County

Saunders County Bicentennial Educational History

According to reports in the office of the County Superintendent, the first record of school district #91 is in 1878. The director was Mr. E.D. Malloy whose post office address was Sand Creek. There were 17 pupils in attendance. The number of days taught was 120. The first school census was filed by Mr. F. Ranslem in 1888 and showed 23 families in the district.

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.