Totem Pole Tales-The Gordon School Submitted by Nute Chapman From Onaway Outlook December 14, 2012

CAPTION #1:  STUDENTS AT THE Gordon School.  Back from left, teacher Alma Bischer, students Winnie Frier, Fern Loumis, Vira
Pomranke, Doug Fellabaum, Ed Glawe, Elias Jarvis and Elton Jarvis.  Middle from left, Marvin Gordon, Grace Frier, Helen Loomis, 
Ruth (Pomranke) Whitsitt, Valintine Lincoln and Nora Buck.  Front from left, Merriel (Schuler) Russell, ?, Ronnie Gordon, 
Dick Glawe, Lloyd Schuler and Harold DeRosia.


CAPTION #2: THE GORDON SCHOOL as it looks today.

 
   The Gordon School is located in Ocqueoc Township on the northwest corner of North Allis and Dittmar Road 
(T33N, R3E, Sec 18,SW 1/4, SE 1/4).


   The first Gordon School built at this location was in 1884 and was the first school in Ocqueoc Township.  Michael Fitch
was the first teacher.  We do not have a picture of the first school on this location.  The late Orin Frier told me that the
first school was a log cabin.


   The school still stands today and when Ocqueoc Schools consolidated with Onaway, the school was used to house the Ocqueoc 
school bus.  One of the longtime bus drivers from Ocqueoc that I remember well was Glen Lound.  Glen attended this school as a 
boy.


   Some of the families that attended the Gordon School were the Allens, Coles, Harwarths, Friers. Godons, Lounds, and Pomrankes.
Ed Fillabaum, Adaline Reiger and Alma Bischer were teachers there.


   Gail (Pomranke) LaLonde and her brother Gary attended the Gordon School the last year it was in operation.

   The wood shed from this school was moved to the Fitzpatrick home in Millersburg by Alger Freel in the 1950s and is still in 
use today.


   Today the school is owned by Clifford Kortman, who uses the building for storage.


   This week's picture is of students at the Gordon School and was shared with us by the late Orin Frier.


-From The Onaway Outlook, December 14, 2012, p. 3.
    

Retyped by J. Anderson.