School Memories

Florence Albright, who now resides in Castalia, was born in the Big Foot community, located about 3 miles from Volney. Many tales regarding the origin of the name were circulated, but probably the most accurate story is that an Indian of large stature had wandered through the area leaving large footprints to be found by late settlers.

"Big Foot" is south of highway 76, south of crossroads vicinity.

Albright's parents, Emil and Carrie Pufahl, farmed in the area. Some of the other neighborhood farming families sent their children to the Crossroads School because it was closer than to the Big Foot School. For years Johanna Cavanaugh taught the Crossroads School.

The Big Foot School usually had an enrollment of about 12 pupils. The room was heated with a wood stove, so there was a constant danger of fire. Pupils dried there mittens near the stove in the winter and wet overshoes made puddles on the floor.

Students walked long distances to school, envying the pupils who lived nearby. One teacher that Albright mentioned was Ella Thompson, who taught various schools, including the seventh and eighth grades in the Waterville School. "She was a very good teacher and a strict disciplinarian. You learned - or else," she said.

After the death of Emil Pufahl, the family moved to Rossville. The 3 children attended the Rossville School. After she finished the 8th grade, Albright took her freshman year in the same school. This school was discontinued after the Waterville School was built. The Rossville School consisted of 2 rooms, one for the lower grades, the other for the upper classes.

Albright's brother, Paul, became a teacher, and often walked many, many miles from his home to the school where he started the fire, did janitorial duties, besides his regular teaching job. He taught the Bear Hollow School and one of the rooms at the Rossville School, among other schools.

~Postville Herald, Wednesday, April 22, 1987, pg 16

Florence (Pufahl) Albright Obituary