Vilburn School Contributed by Nute Chapman,Jim Hall,Sally Beatty

                   VILBURN SCHOOL



Vilburn is located in Ocqueoc Twp. on the SW corner of Ocqueoc Rd. & Twin 
School (T.35N.-R.3E. Sec. 32, NE �, NE �). It was opened in 1884. It was 
originally a log school and had been Mick Fitches home and serviced the 
children of the Vilburn , Reiger , and Meadow families, all of whom were 
early settlers. This school still stands and is now a private residence.



TEACHERS



Bertha Case - 1906

Felix Heron � 1920

Olive Kerr � 1927

Margaret Haskill � 1938

Esther Storms-Dean







STUDENTS

Ethel Bigelow � 1906

August Bruder - 1906

Hattie Bruder � 1906

Push Bruder

George Campbell - 1906

Edmund Gilbert � 1906

Acie Lampkin - 1906

Edgar Lampkin � 1906

Ethel Lampkin

Arthur Luft � 1906

Rose Mason � 1906

Bob Middaugh - 1906

Johnny Middaugh � 1906

Henry Rose � 1906

May Vilburn - 1906

Mamie Windsor - 1906

Rollin Windsor - 1906



The following is information given to us by Margaret Haskill in October 
2011:



�My first year was at Vilburn was 1938 and I think it was a failure. I was 
fresh out of PICN. Most of the children were larger than I�85 lbs. 5�2� in 
heels! Most children grades 7-8 were boys skilled in farm chores and hunting 
so sitting in a classroom was a bore! After that year I declared never to 
teach again but WWII changed my mind and I found teaching to be fun, 
rewarding, and a joy. A few years of growing made a difference in attitude 
and ability.



In the winter time, we would have a hot lunch, although not at Vilburn. I�d 
walk to school and was boarded by the Meadows. An 8th grade boy always built 
a fire in the winter months We had an outdoor toilet and had to carry water 
in a pail to drink.



One of my saddest memories was hearing on the radio in November of 1958, 
�SOS This is the Bradley�, SOS and learning Dennis Meredith (Metz School) 
had not survived.



My happiest memory was keeping in contact with Sherryl Altman ( Grambeau 
School) a sixth grader and niece of Beth Johnson.



Our time of computers, TV, etc, is a great learning advantage, but the one 
room school also gave meaning to education. Not only did it stress the 3 R�s, 
it added one more called responsibility. The older children cared for the 
little children and in an emergency; the teacher could leave the room in 
charge of an 8th grade student.



The children played such games as Run Sheep run, Anti-Over, Fox and Geese, 
Prisoners Base, Softball, Tag and Dodgeball .�



The Grambeau School was the last one room school in 1956 and after a family 
of four moved away, we were a group of 6. We had a great time and often on 
Friday afternoons we went to the Metz School, taught by Clara Corriveau . We 
had spell-downs, ball games, and film strip movies. We also joined their 
group and had our Christmas program.







Schaedig , Cynthia, The history of Ocqueoc, 1976.

Margaret Haskill , October 2011.



Compiled and Contributed by Nute Chapman, Sallie Beatty, & Jim Hall