Anamosa - A Reminiscence 1838 - 1988

’ I 1
also a secretary-treasurer, who attended these
meetings. kept the minutes, dispensed the money, and
was the source of much valuable information. For
many decades Miss Ida Lake served capably in this
position.
The school buildings themselves were very simple.
functional, one-room buildings. The furniture consisted
of a teacher's desk and chair; a large heating stove with
a tin shield around it, and the childrens' desks. Some
schools had double desks, which seated two pupils. The
desks were of graduating sizes, as children ranged in
age from five years into the teens.
A long bench, or seat. at the front of the room was the
recitation bench to which a group of children came to
recite as their grade and subject tum came. Many times
the school consisted of all grades, primary through
eighth. Recitation time was necessarily brief and
subjects sometimes had to be on alternate days.
Supplies were sometimes meager, so an effort was
made to have some sort of school program to raise
money. Each child would have a part in the program
which consisted of recitations. songs, plays or skits.
Sometimes older high school students would put on a
play.
Of course. refreshments were a big part of the
evening. Sometimes there was a sack lunch or plate
lunch, or even a basket supper.
The ladies brought decorated baskets filled with
goodies for two. These were auctioned off to the highest
bidder, while the lady waited, hoping that the right
man bought her basket, as he would be her supper
partner.
Sometimes the children sold chances on something,
such as a goose or handmade linens.
All of this took many hours of practice, and a lot of
work decorating. But the fellowship, praise, and
earnings from parents and friends, made it all
worthwhile. The money that was raised bought
something for the school, such as playground
equipment.
Ingenuity was a quality that was needed by rural
teachers who served various roles. One of which was to
teach nutrition. On cold winter days the usual cold
lunches were sometimes supplimented by something
hot. The top of the heating stove served as a range. A
large container with water in it was used to place small
covered jars of food, brought from home. The food was
ready by noon.
Another method was to place scrubbed potatoes on a
discarded oven rack. which was covered by a large pan.
which provided baked potatoes for lunch. At times. the
youngsters brought cleaned cut vegetables. and soup
f,
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A 1927-28 photo of Cass Center School students.
front row, from left: Joseph McNamara. Clare
Buckner, Leo McNamara, Albert Oltmanns. Carl
Oltmanns. Carl Oltmanns; second row, Alvina
Johnson. Leona Tholen. Maxine Johnson. Maggie
Ulferts. Mary Louise Yount, Mary Louise McNamara.
Mary Watters, Marie Oltmanns; third row, Lucille
Yount, Bob Kula, Hermina Cordes. Alvina Tholen,
Louise Mull, Ester Tolen, Virginia Yount, Homer Mull,
Ruth Watters, Herman Tholen: back row, Teacher —
Clara Andressen. Louie Ulferts, Carl Ortgies, and
Kenneth Johnson. (Photo submitted by Marie Capron)
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