ROSS STATION SCHOOL, DISTRICT NO. 8
Ross Station came into being with the coming of the railroad. A depot was built and James Tolan was the telegraph operator. He kept the Post Office and a small store. Elmer Quackenboss was the rural carrier.

Mr. Tolan taught telegraphy to many young people in the community. There was a hotel and thirteen houses cluttered around the depot.

Some of the families living there during the 80’a and 90’s were: Tolans, Quackenboss, Lanes, Pat Norton, section boss for the railroad: Pelton’s, Weaver’s, McCarthy, Smith, Tanksley and Dierdorf. Cal Dierdorf was a midget, who became a well known cigar advertiser. Much oke the present day "Phillip Morris."
Norton Gilbert came to Byron township in 1851, by covered wagon, drawn by an ox team. He had two sons, Charles H. (father of Mrs. Jennie Weaver), he was six years of age and Freeman three years.

An improvised school was provided for the children at the place now owned by Arthur Hill on 84th Street. They reached this place by following a blazed trail through the woods from their home on the farm now owned by Frank Dielman, Clyde Park Ave., SW. This was only temporary.

A group of settlers joined in establishing a school in 1855 by leasing an acre of land for 99 years from Mr. George Hall and with their hammers, saws and axes built the building which now is know as the Hall or Ross School. The lease was changed to a deed from George Hall for District No. 8 (Ross School) September 10, 1908, stating in the deed that the school property be reverted to Mr. Hall when ceased to be operated as a school.

Mrs. Sarah Hall was the first teacher to teach at the Ross School. Her children who attended the school were Bert Hall, who later taught there; Ida and Freeman Hall.

Captain Edward Moore, one of the first sailors to sail around Cape Horn, the tip of South America, erected the first frame house in Byron township. The home is now occupied by Mrs. Charles Swainston on Clyde Park Ave. The Moore children received their education in this school. They were: John, Gertrude and Allie A. K. Moore.

There have been many more pupils who have received their education in this little one room school who are well worthy of mention. None have found their way into the so called F.B.I. Files or any other crime records.

Mr. R. Rider has been the teacher since 1927 and he states that one can see the wide boards that were used in those days in building the school.

 

 

ROSS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 3 - 1902 CLASS

First Row Seated - Left to Right - Kenneth Hilton, William Hacker, Frank Ewing, John Hulst, Percy Ewing, Lee Schwander
Middle Row Left to Right - Patricia Norton, Helen Wise Winifred Norton
Back Row Left to Right - Roy Weaver, Jaynal Lane, Douglas Quackenboss, Avis Stauffer, Fredericka Hacker, Teacher, Thressa Wise, Frederick Lane


ROSS SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 3 - 1916 CLASS

Front Row Left to Right - John Alles, Howard Weaver, George Elzinga, John Hansma, Harm Beute, Catherine Alles, Anna TerBeek, Bernice TerHaar, Thressa Doorn, Winifred Koster, Cecelia Martin, Dorothy Alles, Jenny TerBeek, Cora Beukema, Irene Beukema
Second Row Left to Right - Lester Brown, Henry TerBeek, ---- Lohman, William DeGlopper, Eugene Weaver with bat, Harm Alles, Howard Quackenbos, Bertha Kreuzer, Unknown, Sadie Doorn, Rosella Martin, Ruth quackenbos
Third Row Left to Right - August Beute, Don TerHaar, Henry Doorn, Unknown, Kate Doorn, Minnie Beukema, Bertha Kreuzer, Bertha VanSolkema
Fourth Row Left to Right - ---- Loom, Jack Hansen, Henry Elzinga, Ralph Miedema, Clarence Koster, Della Elzinga, Iean Kreuzer

 

A FEW OF THE TEACHERS OF ROSS SCHOOL BETWEEN 1855 - 1910

TEACHER

YEAR

BLACKSHIER, MARY KOUGH

1883

GILBERT, FLORENCE

1910

GODWIN, FANNY

1885

HALL, SARAH

1855

HANNA, ELIZABETH

1884

HENDRICKS, EDWARD

1897

ISABELLA SINGER

1893-1894

LOOMIS, MAUDE

1892

PRINDLE, CHARLOTTE

1865

QUACKENBOSS, LIBBIE C.

1891

QUACKENBOSS, LIBBIE C.

1895

SHORT, JOHN

1896

SMITH, ABBIE

1910

SONES, GEORGE D.

1886

WEAVER, JENNIE (GILBERT)

WITTERS, MYRON

1910

WRIGHT, PAUL E.

1889

 

Created: 8 November 2013