Fouts School Millbrook Township

The Fouts School 1880 - 1967 The Fouts School was built on a piece of land then owned by J.A. Armstrong, later owned by Newt Stafford. The school was 24' x 34' x 14' high. The land was to belong to the school as long as there was a school there and then to go back to whoever owned the land. I have heard there was a log school just south of the one we knew. Fouts School was built by a man named Denny. He was paid $138.00. They raised $960.00 for the building. The first school meeting recorded was Sept. 3, 1877. At that time they paid the teacher $24.00 per month and was going to have 4 months of school. There were 3 on the school board and they were each paid $5.00. A.J. Armstrong was moderator. They had to put down a new drive well, and Henry Munn was to build two outdoor toilets. George Orr was to buid the woodshet for $34.00. Free books were to be furnished and non residents were prohibited from attending school. In 1890 they paid the teacher $28.00. In 1894 they were going to have 9 months of school and the school meeting in July. In 1912 they voted to enlarge the school house. They were to build on the east end 20 feet and the full width. The men of the neighborhood helped to build the new part. After that was finished the 7th., 8th., 9th. and 10th grades were in that room and we had two teachers. Some of the first teaches were,: Lovel, Donahue, Martha Euss, Marie Hckensen, Nova Beemer, Helen Taggart, Elvira Fisher, Amy Abrahamson, Mr. & Mrs. Moon, Florence Shurlow, Mr. Ritter, Harriet Langworthy, Esther Bott, Guy Tower, Lika Jenkns, Mrs Cookingham, an lots more. Later when electricity came around there were inside toilets put in, a water fountain and lights. They then had school in the east roon because were less children and that room was easier to heat. When the school first opened there were 9 grades, counting the beginners and from 60 to 75 children for one teacher. All classes were heard each day. In the morning the teacher would read to the children and times were all sang. The teacher kept her own fires unless she had one of the of the big boys get in wood and build them for her. Christmas time was one of the highlights of the year. Not much school and lots of practicing for the Christmas play. They put up crepe paper trimmings. The boys would get a big tree that reached the ceiling and was trimmed with paper chains and strung popcorn. Little tin candle holders were snapped to the branches and candles put in them and on the night of the program they were lit. No pretty wrapping paper and bows so lots of the gifts were hung were hung on the tree. At noon and recess we entertained ourselves by playing drop the handkerchief or Londen Bridge is falling down and anti over the woodshed or the school house. In 1927 one half acre of land was purchased from Ben Carlson for a ball diamond. Some of the families in the neighborhood were: Harry Bissells, Croads, Cogswells, Kelholz, Hauses, Huckins, Howse, Culeys, Denmans, Satterlees, Stephens, Wilsons, Fred Bissells, Wilkinsons, Orrs, Burns, Knoxes and Taylors. There were lots more teachers: Bellows, Kellogg, Frances Bissell, Zora Caswell, McKay, Olsen, McFarland, Hatchew, Youngs, Hewlett, Strong, Knopf, Montague, Coulson, and John Brockway. Frances Bissell two different times and the last last time she taught nine consecutive years. John Brockway was the last teacher and he taught six years. There had been lots of different board members: Erie Bissell, Herman Carlson, Ezra Oberlin, Roy Knox, Harold Wilkinson Rea Culey, Jessie Taylor and Dorothy Gigowsky. Jessie Taylor, Dorothy Gigowsky and Ray Knox were the last three. The school closed in 1967 and conolidated with Chippewa Hills. The land then went back to the owner, J.C. Burns, and the school house was torn down. There is a family living in a mobile home there now. The school was on the corner of 50th Avenue and Two Mile Road.

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