Washington School District 46

By Nellie Curnutt Poulsen

For Bonneville County Heritage Association, September 21, 2005

Washington School opened in 1914 and closed in 1978. The red brick two-room building sat on a high foundation with a full basement located on the southwest corner at the intersection of St. Clair and 97^th South. It faced north with large windows across the front and back to give adequate light for the classroom. Only one room was used for classes; the other had a small stage, which was used for the students to put on a Christmas play for the parents. The school was a gathering place for the community much like the old grange halls.

There was a large flight of stairs with hooks along the steps on which the children hung their coats. A pedestal stood at the top of the stairs, on which a bucket of fresh water was placed each morning. A tin ladle hung on a hook above the bucket for the children to drink from, as there was no running water in the building. Nor were there any toilets inside; there were outside privies as they were called for the boys and girls. Also at the back of the building was a loafing shed in which the horses were tied, as many children rode horses to school. The only other transportation to and form school was walking. A few rode bikes, but it was a graveled road and not many children had bicycles.

Winters were much more severe then than they are now, and the roads would drift so full of snow that even the snowplows could not get through much of the time. When that happened, my father had build a box sled, which he filled with fresh straw and quilts and took us by sleigh pulled by horses through the fields, picking up children along the way. We lived one and one-half miles from school.

In the classroom hung a picture of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln and a flag. Every morning before starting classes we all stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance, after which the teacher read to us for fifteen to twenty minutes, something we all looked forward to.

The first graders sat at the back of the room at a long low table on small chairs; the other students at desks, the smaller grades at the back and the older grade at the front. The teacher sat at a large desk in the front of the room with a bench along one side. Each class was asked to come to the front and sit on the bench for each subject. We had fifteen minutes per class per subject, after which we returned to our desks and studied while the other classes had their turns. If we needed to ask the teacher for help, we would raise our hand and the teacher would call us to her desk, but we didn’t do that often, as it would disrupt the class having their lesson.

There were usually 25 to 35 students total in the school and the teacher lived in a small house on the school grounds. There was no running water in her house either for most of the years the school was used. During the last eight or ten years running water was installed in her home and a small bathroom.

Reading, math and penmanship were strongly stressed. We had multiplication drills and spelling bees. If discipline was needed the student was required to stand at the back of the room in the corner facing the wall, which was humiliating so correction wasn’t often needed. We had art classes and made various items for our parents by using wood-burning sets, and clay. During the last few years of my schooling there, Helen Aupperle came every few months and gave us art instructions.

Shortly before Valentines Day a crepe paper-covered cardboard box was put in the classroom for the children to put their valentines in that we made during the art time. We were allowed to purchase some valentines as well. The day was ended with letting the classes out early and opening our valentines, after which we had cookies and punch served to us, which was often provided by some of the mothers of students as well as the teacher.

After Thanksgiving the teacher would select a Christmas play to be put on by the students. We were given parts; the folding doors would be opened and we would begin practicing after classes. Onita Hoff came to the practices and played the piano for us, as there was always much for us to sing. ON the evening school was dismissed for Christmas vacation, the parents and neighbors gathered at the school for the production. The costumes were made by our mothers, and after the program, Santa (usually played by Mark Hoff) came bringing paper bags with oranges, peanuts and hard candy for all the children. When that was over all the chairs and desks were pushed to the sides of the room, and everyone danced to the music provided by Onita Hoff, Myrtle Markenson and Elaine Markenson; piano, violin and accordion. Sometimes Onita would bring her marimba and play that for us as well.

In the spring we played softball on the lawn at the frontof the school and had softball games with Dewey School, which was located not far from where Sandy Downs is now located. Our parents would take us to the games and their school would come to ours for games. During recess in the good weather, besides ball we had swings and a Giant Stride to play on as well as hop-scotch, jacks and other games. During the bad weather we went to the basement and played games together such as Red Rover and Pom-pom-pull-away.

Fighting and quarreling didn’t often happen as the older children helped and played with the younger children. We loved our school and our teacher. One teacher was there for some ten years. I had her for most of the small grades and after had three other teachers before graduating.

When students graduated from the eighth grade we sat on small chairs at the front of the students and were presented with diplomas.

Our years at Washington School were ones of happiness and learning. The friendships that were formed with all the students have remained with each of us that attended and our wonderful memories have remained with us throughout our lives.

Thank you, Mary Jane, for giving me the opportunity to share some of my fond memories with each of you.

Nellie Curnutt Poulsen