Chase County, NE Schools
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District Schools
In 1971 the Chase County Historical Society published Volume IV of their Chase County History series in which they included information on early schools in Chase County. I am grateful for their permission in providing the following information which they had gathered from people who had attended the schools or lived in the locality of the schools. Many Chase County residents gave valuable help on gathering information for this history. The Chase County Historical Society maintains a file on each school district in their museum in Champion, Nebraska.
Districts 75 - 76 |
Superintendents |
District 75
The first school in this District was a sod building built in the mid 1890's on the southeast corner of 36-8-42. This building was used until 1902 at which time school was then held in Henry Miller's sod house. It was later held at the home of James Davidson's sod house. The District had a frame building built in the early 1900's until 1945 when it closed. The final location of the school was in section 30-8-41. Research for this District was provided by George Smith, who also provided the following information regarding the names of teachers, when they taught, how long they taught, and wages they were paid. Note that during the Depression years the school terms were cut, and the teachers' salaries were reduced:
| Rilla Peterson | 1908 - 1909 | $35 | 6 months |
| Dessie Eagan | 1909 -1910 | $42 | 6 months |
| Nora Stickels | 1910 - 1911 | $45 | 6 months |
| Mrs. Shutt | 1911 - 1912 | $45 | 6 months |
| Eva Long | 1912 - 1913 | $45 | 6 months |
| Opal Dagget | 1913 - 1914 | $50 | 6 months |
| Lois Watkins | 1914 - 1915 | $50 | 6 months |
| Lillie Murphy | 1915 - 1916 | $50 | 6 months |
| Matilda Peterson | 1916 - 1917 | $45 | 6 months |
| Gladys Davidson | 1917 - 1918 | $50 | 6 months |
| Gladys Davidson | 1918 - 1919 | $60 | 6 months |
| Elsie Smith | 1919 - 1920 | $55 | 7 months |
| Myrtle Davidson | 1921 | $50 | 3 months |
| Alberta Wienold | 1921 - 1922 | $95 | 7 months |
| Alberta Wienold | 1922 - 1923 | $95 | 7 months |
| Alberta Wienold | 1923 - 1924 | $100 | 7 months |
| Edna Myers | 1924 - 1925 | $90 | 7 months |
| Audrey Martin | 1925 - 1926 | $90 | 8 months |
| Katie Arnold | 1926 - 1927 | $90 | 8 months |
| Velta Spady | 1927 - 1928 | $90 | 8 months |
| Evelyn Watkins | 1928 - 1929 | $90 | 8 months |
| Evelyn Watkins | 1929 - 1930 | $90 | 8 months |
| Emma Jones | 1930 - 1931 | $90 | 8 months |
| Bleyn Johnson | 1931 - 1932 | $85 | 9 months |
| Lucille Swink | 1932 - 1933 | $75 | 9 months |
| Lucille Swink | 1933 - 1934 | 60 | 8 months |
| Gertrude Langin | 1934 - 1935 | $50 | 8 months |
| Gertrude Langin | 1935 - 1936 | $55 | 8 months |
| Amy Olson | 1936 - 1937 | $55 | 8 months |
| Myrna Myers | 1942 | $75 | 2 1/2 months |
| Elsie Browning | 1943 - 1944 | $90.40 | 8 months |
| Marjorie Morse | 1944 - 1945 | $108.50 | 8 months |
District 76
Lutis Bard told researchers that the first school in this District was built in the winter of 1899. It was about 10' by 20' with shiplap siding. No lath or plaster were used. A hand-made table 2' x 6' was used as a desk. Students brought chairs from home to sit on. There was no blackboard. The building was heated with a two-lid laundry stove.
The first term of school was held from march 27, 1899 to June 16, 1899. Verda Leena Prall was the teacher. She had two pupils, Emma Kruger and Lutis Bard, both ten years old. Both students had perfect attendance for the term. The director was U. G. Censer, who visited the school twice while it was in session. The County Superintendent also visited the school. Hazel Cooper Tallman, who taught in the district, said that the original building was eventually replaced in 1907 by patrons of the school District who donated their time and labor.
Alpha Rural High
Alpha Rural High was located in the village of Champion. Classes were held for the 9th and 10th grades in the north room of the basement of the grade school before a building was constructed. A house in champion was rented at one time for the 11th and 12th grades which was attended by four students: Elva Bauerly, Genevieve, Kilpatrick, Earl Collins (all 11th graders), and Lois Beard, who graduated as the only student to graduate from Champion High School.
Mary Ellen Smith began teaching the 11th and 12h grade, but was unable to get her teaching certificate to continue teaching. Louis Spetts taught until Christmas, at which time Miss Springer (later to become Mrs. Billie Pyle) taught the remainder of the year. After this year students for the 11th and 12th grades attended high school in Imperial.
The Alpha Rural High School building was constructed in 1934 and now houses the Chase County Historical Society. Freda Smith Heim taught at the school from 1942 until 1945. Freda told researchers that one year she taught freshman subjects and the next year sophomore subjects. She said that the school had 3-act plays, and used the proceeds from one play to send a boy to the Mayo Clinic for medical help. The Districts comprising the Alpha High School District were 12, 25, 44, 33 and 14.
County Superintendents of Schools
Name
Years served
W. A. Reed
1866 - 1887
Anna M. Prall
1888 - 1889
Anna Watters
1890
Lucinda Taylor
1891
David Ogilvie
1892 - 1895
Loren Jenkins
1896
Edward Travis
1897
L. E. Rogers
1898 -1899
Ida M. Kelly Kimberling
1900 - 1903
Nellie Dick
1904 - 1907
Leccia Fletcher Seward
1908 - 1914
Evea Moreland
1915 - 1916>/td>
Addie Spangler
1917 - 1920
May S. O'Conner
1921 - 1923
Nellie Dick
1924
Mary E. Eskew Nothnagle
1925 - 1930
Millie B. Ingold
1931 - 1938
Leta Wine
1939 - 1944
Lorena A. Cook
1945 - 1954
Sylvia Zigler
1955 - 1961
Alma Diffendaffer
1962 - 1970
Charlotte Wine
1971 -