Eastmanville School District #1

 

There were 12 school districts in Polkton Township.  They were arranged in the township so that the children would not have to walk more than 2 1/2 miles to school.     The old one-room buildings usually had windows along one side facing the sun.  The smaller children in seats nearest the windows for more light.  The classes had maybe one or more in a grade and as many as 40 students in a school.  The older students helped the younger ones with reading and arithmetic.  One teacher had charge of the nine different grades and also attended the children's recess activities.     The Eastmanville School was the oldest in Polkton Township.  The first building was constructed of logs with the dimensions of 16 by 20 feet in 1842.  This school was rebuilt in 1849 with a frame building at a cost of $349 and placed near Leonard and the east side of 68th Avenue.  Eventually the school was moved to 13777 68th Avenue.     The school district grew in population and a second addition to accomodate the needs.  The school was closed in 1956 when the outlying one-room schools were annexed to the Coopersville Area Public School District.  The children are picked up by school buses and transported to Coopersville.     Eastmanville Village School, 1855 A list of the scholars who attended the District School No. 1 of the Town of Polkton and Village of Eastmanville for the term commencing 14 November 1855 and continuing 17 weeks with their names, ages and number of days attendance.     - L. M. Upton, Teacher Due the teacher for 17 weeks at $4.00 a week - $68.00 Board Bill Mason Eastman, five days Timothy Eastman, nine days Passal Maxfield, ten days H. Fish, nine days L. Kenyon, 16 days A. Dickey, 53 days B. Cole, 1 day

  

Transcriber: ES
Created: 11 May 2009