The first school in Brayton was held in the Nellie Freeman building on the north side of main street. Records show Maurice Bascom and J. D. Cotton taught there before the present school was built in 1894.
On May 19, 1894, John T. Jenkins and his wife, Darthula Jenkins, sold the north half of block five, in the town of Brayton, for $150, to be used for school purposes only. The property was entered for taxation on March 13, 1897, by auditor, Mr. Solmer and filed for record by M. N. Esbeck, recorder.
Trees Planted on Arbor Day, 1894
Prof. Brinkerhoff, instructor of classes of the upper room of the Oakfield Academy and Mrs. Nettie Bruner, teacher in the primary department, marched the whole school across the "pike" to aid the new school in an Arbor Day planting. An impressive program was given before the trees were planted. (Daisy Cannon was one of the small children taking part in this event).
The old maple trees on the north side of the building from the 1894 planting remain. Many years later, some of the first old trees had to be replaced. Three young trees were planted in the late 1920's on the east side, two of which are still living. These trees were planted to honor our young people who had served in W.W.I and had passed away. Those so honored were Thorvald Hansen, Edwin Hansen and Opal (Cannon) Hallock.
As many of the old school records were not available, some dates and exact details are missing. Oakfield and Brayton teachers were hired by the same director. The teachers names were listed together and as the schools were so closely associated, all known names were included.
Early directors of the schools were: Dr. Koob, D. J. Chamberlain, L. P. Rasmussen, Ward Smith, R. Miller, F. W. Stager, James Larsen, H. M. Jensen, Wilbur Bills, Walter Brown, Charlie Sykes, Theo Ordway and K. P. Hansen.
Early teachers of the two schools were: Soren Nelson, Mae Jenkins, Ide Cannon, Nellie Bookout, Glen Crabb, Clara Ordway, Lottie Smith, Pluma Freeman, Gladys Chamberlain, Ethel Bisom, Vivian Bartlett, Laura Maulsby, Katherine Miller, Marie Freeman, Agnes Miller, Edna Miller, Hilda Cannon, Margaret Andersen, Rose Rasmussen, Marjorie Hansen and Nan Clemensen.
Since 1932, the Brayton teachers were: Hilda Cannon, Ernestine McGovern, Mildred Krogh, Miriam Bartlett, Helen Christensen, Evelyn Essington, Dorine Koob, Barbara Bjorn, Miriam Briggs, Christa Runge, Adeline Andersen, Mary Simonsen and Lila Mae Crinnigan.
Records show that until 1941 there were still sixth, seventh and eighth graders from Brayton School attending Oakfield School. In the early years of the Brayton School, all children first through fifth, stayed in town while the older ones crossed the "pike" to Oakfield.
Many of those wishing to attend high school in Exira rode the Rock Island twice a day. Then buses were run by private owners. Among the drivers were: Charley Bisom, Teddy Vorm, Einar Nelson and Chris T. Christensen. By the early and mid-thirties, there were no buses so students were driven by their parents, hitch-hiked or stayed in Exira to attend school. In the early 40's, the school provided bus service for the area.
In 1959 both schools closed due to reorganization of the school system. The children now attend the Exira Community Schools. The two schools still stand - Oakfield as a private home owned by Mr. and Mrs. Alvie Akers, and Brayton as a Sunday School and meeting place for the Baptist Church. The Baptists purchased the property after the school closed. They have kept the building and grounds beautifully through the years.
Transcribed by Cheryl Siebrass, September, 2017, from the History of Brayton 1878-1978, pp. 44-45, 48.
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