SCHOOLS: Russell Corners School, Augusta, Eau Claire Co., WI ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Nance Sampson 28 March 2000 ==================================================================== The following information was extracted from the Centennial Celebration program of the Russell Corner School. Centennial Committee Walter LUEDTKE, General Chairman History Earnest PIHL, Walter LUEDTKE, Mrs. Seldon RUSSELL Program and Invitations Mrs. Mervin CARLSON, Wilmer FELDMAN, Mrs. Abijah HERRICK Display Mrs. Ninus CARLSON, Mrs. Lawrence BANN, Mrs. Ervin KNUTH Mrs. Herbert ZANK Reception Mrs. Walter GABLER, Mrs. Elizabeth NEUBAUER, Abijah HERRICK Seldon RUSSELL Dinner Mrs. William ARRIES, Mrs. Dean OLSON, Mrs. Norbert PEUSE Mrs. Willis RUGOTZKE PROGRAM Welcome..............................General Chairman, Walter LUEDTKE Community Sing Comments by former Superintendents and Teachers Accordian Selection..................Marvel ARRIES and Janice BANN Comments by former Pupils God Bless America HISTORY OF RUSSELL CORNERS SCHOOL 1862 - 1962 It's 1862. The Civil War is a year old. Some men have gone to fight. At times when a little news is brought back, interest runs high. Because people were given the opportunity of paying some of the young men to go to war, Augusta area people raised $12,000 to pay the volunteers and to buy bonds. This is a considerable amount when one realized that there were only about 50 families in the area at that time. This area, even at that time was considered prosperous. It was on July 4th, 1862 that the Wisconsin Senator, traveling from Sparta to Chippewa Falls wrote: "West from Augusta, 3 to 6 miles, is a very elegant location, good finished buildings, and other conveniences. The Southeast corner of Lincoln is also a fine area." But there are other more pressing problems than the war. Crops, taxes, roads, and now a school. "Our kids need a school, here, in our own community." On April 17, 1862, the Town Board called a meeting at the John Roberts home - (now Norbert PEUSE home). The necessary steps were taken to organize a school district and John HACKETT was chosen director; William ARRIES, treasurer; Elisha HULL, clerk. On June 9th, a second meeting was called and the site for the school was chosen -- the present site. They were to purchase 1½ acres at a price to be set by the board. (At this time only ½ acre was actually purchased.) The price was set at $25.00. A 6 day notice was given the owner of the land, William JEWELL, before occupancy was taken by the school. Since no mention was made of erecting a building at this time, it is presumed that the "shanty", as it was called, was already on the spot. It was also voted at this meeting to hold 3 months summer school, to be taught by a female teacher. $75.00 was raised to pay the teacher for the 3 months, plus $25.00 for incidental expenses. On June 16, 1862, a contract was signed by the Board and Louisa VICTORY. School was then opened on this same date, June 16, 1862. In the fall, the board encountered some difficulties with the State as an unqualified teacher had been hired and no report was turned in. The State withheld financial aid until the reports were made. The Annual Meeting was held on September 29, 1862 at 7:00 p.m. This meeting was adjourned and reconvened on October 6th at 6:00 p.m. The school board was authorized to assess the school taxes. A 3 months summer school was again voted and a female teahcer was to be hired. This year $75 was raised for incidental expenses. The records show that the district paid: Books .............$1.65 Teacher's salary ..........$25.00 Repair of school ..$2.50 Teacher's board............$16.00 Let's look at the valuations for a moment. In 1857 the Eau Claire County Board equalized all the land in the County at $3.12½ an acre. In 1862 the Russell Corners District had a valuation of $19,884. The exact boundaries of this district are not clear, but those assessed for the school tax were: 1862 LAND OWNER 1962 LAND OWNER Wm. ARRIES Art ZELL John ROBERTS N. PEUSE James H. HALBERT T. ERICKSON Curtis FEAR E. STENSON L. S. BANGLE L. MARTINSON John R. CARTER Elmer BANN Peter PALMER ---------- E. L. HULL Erv. KNUTH James WOODBURY L. BANN Wm. BANGLE ---------- John YOUMAN I. STENSEN George SHEPPARD A. STRAUCH J. A. PALMER ---------- Alex GETMAN LEUDTKE Robert FORSYTHE ---------- Wm. JEWELL Schoolhouse corner area J. C. HACKETT CARLSON Nicholas SHONG E. PIHL George PALMER ---------- Obadiah WORKS R. EMANUEL Let us compare that valuation of $19,884 to the 1961-62 valuation of $1,170,000. On this, the district voted in 1961 to raise $4,000.00 for school purposes. The balance of $1,580 which it cost to operate the school was paid by the state, the county and a Utility tax. In the summer of 1863, school opened on May 25th for 3 months with Mrs. C. M. BROWN as the teacher. She was to receive $14.00 a month, which was later increased to $16.00 by a special assessment on the taxpayers. A month of school was 22 days. According to the school census, that year there were 22 boys and 19 girls over 4 and under 20 years of age. The average daily attendance was 19. Average number of days each pupil attended was 42. McGuffy Readers and McGuffey Spellers were used that year. The value of the school building was placed at $50.00. Later in the summer of 1863, the district voted to also hold 3 months of Winter School. This made 6 months in all. Winter school was usually in November, December and January with only "one" day off at Christmas. Those families sending pupils to Winter School were to furnish ½ cord of wood per pupil to be delivered by December 1st. Those who did not have the fuel there would be assessed for the cost of the fuel. Since many did not furnish fuel, the first contract to supply fuel was let to Nicholas SHONG for 10 cords at 87½¢ a cord. The total cost of operating the school that year was $108.60. A Treasurer's Bond was drawn and signed by Wm. ARRIES and Obadiah WORKS. ScHolars in 1863 were: Mansfield ARRIES James CROUCH Dan ROBERTS Wm. ARRIES Arthur FEAR Emily ROBERTS James BANGLE Phelemia FORCYTHE Hester ROBERTS Jane BANGLE Ida HACKETT Sarah Jane ROBERTS Joseph BANGLE Samuel HALBERT Almira RUPELL Libbie BANGLE Ira HULL Ernest RUPELL Marie BANGLE _____ JILLETT John WOODBURY Mary BANGLE Alice PALMER Rossetta WOODBURY Rossetta BANGLE Barton PALMER Freeman WORKS Sarah BANGLE Charles PALMER Julia WORKS Wealthy BANGLE Frank PALMER Frank YOUMAN Wm. BANGLE Mary PALMER George YOUMAN William BROWN Alice ROBERTS Helen YOUMAN Ben CROUCH Alice ROBERTS Laperly YOUMAN HIGHLIGHTS OF LATER YEARS 1868 At the school meeting it was voted to build a new building. A contract was give to Daniel P. RUSSELL. Certain specifications for the buildings: 27 x 37 Outside -- underpinned by substantial stone wall -- 16" from the top of the ground to bottom of sills -- 14' from sills to top of plates -- 16" from center to center of studding, rafters, and joists -- outside: sheeting and clapboards -- balloon roof. Cost -- $885.00 The people were looking forward and extending educational ideals and aims for the future citizens. 1875 It was voted to have 7 months school. 1880 A cheese factory was built, increasing the valuation of the district. 1886 $25.00 was first appropriated to buy school books. Thereafter they were furnished. 1886 Eight months school was voted. 1889 Woodshed and toilets were built. 1901 Brick schoolhouse was built. 1920 Electric lights were installed. First rural school in the county to do this. 1920 A petition was first presented to consolidate with a neighboring district. Not passed. 1922 Motion was made to consolidate with the Augusta Schools. Not passed. 1941 A Parents Club was organized for the purpose of furthering school activities and to sponsor a plan to serve hot dinner to the students. A part of the hall was partitioned off and made into a kitchen, a cook was hired and dinners were served at a cost of 75¢ per pupil per week. In 1962 that cost had increased to $1.25 per week. 1941 An addition was made on the North side of the building for inside toilets and a wash room. 1950 A motion was made to consolidate with the Augusta District. Motion was not carried. 1962 Voted not to join the Augusta district before July 1962, at which time the County School Committee would set the district into and make it a part of the Augusta Common Schools District. Thus at 4 different times, when the question came up, the people of the district showed that they preferred to remain as a separate district and keep their one-room school. The school remained the center of interest. The two main events of the school year, throughout its history have been the Christmas Program and the end of the year Picnic. Both of these have been well attended and enjoyed by parents and friends. Probably the least change has taken place in the Christmas program. It still, as many years ago, consists of recitations, songs and dialogues. The ownership of most of the land has changed. Today we find only two families who are descendants of the people living here in 1862, who are still in the district. They are the Arthur ZELL family and the William ARRIES family, both descendants of William ARRIES, who helped organize the school. Marvel, Franchion, and Malia ARRIES, who attended school in 1961-62 and Shonnie and William, Jr. are the great, great, great grandchildren of this same William ARRIES. A Century of Progress! A hundred years of which we may well be proud. From 3 months of school without books, maps, charts or blackboards to a fully equipped school of over 700 books, the newest maps, globes, newspapers and magazines. From a shanty to a brick school with modern hot lunch room, oil heating, full-length windows and indoor toilets. With a change in belief that children should attend every day that he is able. With a change in the requirements to teach from about two years of high school to at least two years of college and a change in salary from $14.00 a month to $375 a month. These changes have taken place in a growing, changing world, thus keeping pace with it. Russell Corners School, so named because at one time the RUSSELL family owned the land on all four corners, now complying with the state law becomes a part of the Augusta School District. It is hoped that the building may be used for an historical museum and a meeting place for civic and youth groups. Thus it would still be useful as a center of education and growth. TEACHERS AT RUSSELL CORNERS SCHOOL 1862 TO 1962 1862 Louisa VICTORY 1892 Mary LOGAN 1863 Mrs. C. M. BROWN 1893 Grace CALDWELL 1863 & 1864 Marie BORIE 1894 Adelbert KETCHUM 1864 (1 term) Sally FRENCH 1894 Grace CALDWELL (2nd term) Jane RUSSELL 1894 Kate LIVERMORE 1865 Louisa VICTORY 1895 Addie VALLEAU Mrs. L. STONE 1896-1897 Agnes HEWITT 1866 Mrs. L. STONE 1898-1899 Eva CALDWELL Jane RUSSELL 1899 Nellie DAY 1867 Jane RUSSELL 1900-1901 Hattie McDONALD Hannah RUSSELL 1902 Cora MAYO 1867-68 L. A. STRADER 1903-1904 Pearl WORKS 1868 Elsa CROWLEY 1905-1906 Laura RUSSELL 1869 Mary FLANAGAN 1907-1908 George SCHROEDER 1870 Sarah ROBERTS 1909 Jennie WADLEY 1871 H. A. GORDON 1910 Lottie BLACK 1872 H. A. GORDON 1911-1914 Marion SEARLS 1873 Hattie GOODRICH 1915 (spring) Electa SPONDLEY 1874 Aldula STONE 1915 Dagmar STAI 1874 Thomas L. WELLS Lillian STAI 1875 Retta TUTTLE 1916 Gerda STAI 1875 H. E. POLLY 1917 Lillian LEE 1876 S. R. ANDERSON 1918-1919 Bessie GREEN 1877 S. R. ANDERSON 1920 Jeannette THOMPSON 1878 Maggie ANDERSON 1921 Edith MOATS S. R. ANDERSON 1922 Jennie LINDQUIST 1879 Grace HENDERSON 1923 Daisy HERRICK 1880 Fred HAWES 1924 Delmar HART 1881 Mary CROCKER 1925-1927 Margaret DAVEY 1882-1883 Freeman WORKS 1928 Byrl ELKONTON 1884 Cora PICKETT 1929-1932 Lorena ELLAND 1885 Elmina STRADER 1933-1936 Marion GIBSON 1886 Mrs. Mary LaROSE 1937-1938 Lillian ZAHN 1887 Lofton KETCHUM 1939 Bertha MILLER 1887 Hattie LaGRAVE 1940 Helen MILLER 1888 Nellie WELLS 1941 Dorothy PERNOT 1889 Frank H. GUNN 1942-1944 Esther HALE Nellie WELLS 1945-1946 Francis Elbert WEST 1890 Frank H. GUNN 1947-1951 Marion BALLIETT 1891 Nellie PERRY 1952-1953 Margaret SOLIE 1892 Grace CALDWELL 1954-1962 Marion BANN Note: The Russell Corner School building became a private residence after the school was consolidated with the Augusta School District. The Russell Corner School building is located on the corner of County Roads O and HH, just west of the old Russell Corner Creamery.