A country school, a rural school, a county school, No. 58, whatever you may have called it, the students who received their educations there had a learning experience like no other. Eight grades in one classroom brought new ideas and reaffirmation for several years. Being in the same classroom with all of your siblings must have been an education, too. I’ll bet that nothing escaped Mom and Dad’s ears when the day’s antics were discussed. It must have been quite an experience.

Because fewer and fewer folks can share these memories, the museum’s Program Committee decided to celebrate these schools at the annual Christmas Open House. On Sunday, Dec. 1 from 1-4 p.m., you will have the opportunity to enjoy the ambiance of the country school and the memories of some of those students and teachers as you visit Heritage Hall, alias District #58. It promises to be a fun afternoon.

In keeping with this theme, I decided to share some of the experiences the early settlers in Freeborn County encountered as they established our educational system. The following excerpts are from the &uot;History of Freeborn County, Minnesota,&uot; 1882.

Alden Township, District No. 81 &045; &uot;The first school was taught in a sod house in section twenty-seven, in the summer of 1869, by Olivia Burdick, and after this there were three terms taught in the same primitive structure.&uot; and in District No. 89 &045; &uot;Dette Stillman taught the first term of school (1869) … to an attendance of twelve pupils, for $12 per month and the last term was taught by Chester Maywood, for $23 per month, and an average attendance of twenty-three juveniles.&uot;

Bancroft Township, District No. 24 &045; &uot;A log house was at once erected (1862), 16 x 16 feet, at a cost of $150, which lasted until the year 1881.&uot; and in District No. 22 &045; The first school was taught by Mrs. Margaret Fitzgerald, in her husband’s house in section twenty-six in the summer of 1860 for $1.50 per week.&uot;

Bath Township, District No. 82 &045; &uot;The first school was held in the log (Baptist) church during the summer of 1874.&uot; and in District No. 90 &045; &uot;The first school was taught in the old Catholic Church by Miss B. A. Ryan, aged twelve years.&uot;

Carlston Township, District No. 16 &045; &uot;The school was held in residences until the fall of 1865, when a log house was erected at a cost of $800, size 22 x 30 feet, equipped with patent seats and the necessary apparatus.&uot;

And in Alden, &uot;The Adventists’ Academy was instituted in the upper story or hall of Henry Ernst’s house, by the gentleman in whose house it was kept. The school commenced on the 15th of December, 1875, with from forty to fifty students in attendance; the tuition being from $5.00 to $7.00 per term, in accordance with the studies pursued … The school was continued for several years, but was finally discontinued, as this method of education was too advanced to find its entire support in the local neighborhood in which it was founded.&uot;

Freeborn Township, District No. 13 &045; &uot;The school was held in private houses for about two years when a little shanty twelve feet square was erected (1860), costing about $20, and three years later another school building was substituted, size 20 x 30 feet … In 1876, the neat and commodious schoolhouse was built at a cost of $1,500, size 30 x 40 feet, two stories high, and the finest schoolhouse in the township.&uot;

Geneva Township, District No. 3 &045; &uot;…the summer of 1858, Mrs. Henry King wielded the ferule during this term … the first school (1859) was a log house … put up by a regular ‘Bee,’ each farmer contributing something.&uot; and in District No. 4 &045; &uot;A school was opened in a claim shanty on the town site in 1858. Mrs. Clark was the constituted authority during this term. Afterwards the school was kept in the store of Loyhed & Matison, and then in a building erected for a saloon. The schoolhouse was gotten up in 1865.&uot;

Hayward Township, District No. 60 &045; &uot;They proceeded to build a log house without floor, and with a sod roof, and dignified it by calling it a schoolhouse, but it was the best they could do, and here Miss Emma Fenholt got together thirteen pupils and taught them ten weeks for $2 per week and boarded herself.&uot;

This &uot;History of Freeborn County, Minnesota&uot; lists all of the school districts in the county in 1882, their origins and their teachers, and I could go on for several more columns, but I won’t. I do want to close with the opening paragraph in the Nunda Township section in the &uot;Mediums of Education&uot; category. &uot;Realizing that ‘knowledge is power’ the citizens of Nunda have fortified themselves against that curse to civilization, ignorance, by dividing their territory into eight school districts … It is unnecessary to state, knowing the enterprise of the people here, that the districts are all in good financial condition with neat buildings, and ably managed.&uot;

I thought I had finished this column when I spotted this gem. Nunda Township, District No. 76 &045; &uot;In 1865 a schoolhouse was erected in the village of Twin Lake at a cost of $500, in which the first school was taught by Isabella Wilson to an attendance of forty scholars. This house was used until March, 1881, when a passing engine set it on fire and it was destroyed. The railroad company refused to pay any damages, and upon being sued by the district the courts rendered a judgment in favor of the district of about $450 for the building, and $110 for the lot.&uot;

What a marvelous history our county educational system has, and what fun reading. See you at the open house!

Bev Jackson is executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Museum.