Big
Grove township was
organized in 1845. …….Jesse McGrew taught the first school; the first
school house was built of logs, and was located on Mill creek, about a
mile southwest of Solon……There were eight independent school districts
in the township……….Mr. Pratt reports, the first school was taught by
Mrs. Fanny Pratt at her house on Section 31 in Cedar township (on line
between Cedar and Big Grove) in the summer of 1841, charging one dollar
per month per pupil. She afterward married Anderson Meacham, and the
first school house was built by the neighbors clubbing together, in
1842; a log house, on the southwest quarter of Section 23.
But
Mr. Lingle reports the first school house was built on Section 9, by
Chauncy Fowler, in 1843 or ’44. He says it was about fourteen feet
square—built of round logs: but there was one log left out, and the
hole was covered with greased paper for a window. There was no floor;
and a big fireplace at one end, with a huge back-log and forestick, and
then plenty of small wood, served to keep it warm in the coldest days.
Source:
History of Johnson County 1836-1882, pg. 692
Solon
It
is reported that the first school house in the town of Solon was built
by or known as the C. H. Palmer school house. ( No date given.) The
graded school was organized in November 1878. In 1879 the corporation
built a fine two-story frame school house, with a tower—four rooms, and
seating capacity for 500(?); cost $3,499.
The first school board
consisted of the following gentlemen: Secretary, A. J. Beuter;
Treasurer, L. M. Lawer; directors, D. A. Pratt, P. B. Anders, and W. E.
Kester.
The first teachers in the graded school were:
W. H Martin, principal
Miss Lillie Harvey, assistant principal
Miss Minnie Sterrett, intermediate
Miss Annie Nedobety, primary
The number of pupils enrolled was 200, the actual attendance was 165.
The
officers of the school board (about 1883) were: D. A. Pratt, president;
F. J. Wertner, secretary; Chas. Pratt (member); L. M. Lawyer, treasurer.
The present board of teachers are, for 1882-83:
A. B. Sargent, principal
Miss Emma J. Vandenbury, grammar department
Miss Edith H. McDonnell, intermediate department
Miss Laura M. Connelly, primary department
The teachers and pupils have commenced and made good progress toward
establishing a school library.
The
people were so proud of their new school that in 1879 they had a nice
pamphlet printed, containing the officers' and teachers' names, the
rules adopted, the school calendar, the schedule of studies, etc. all
in high-toned city style.
Source:
History of Johnson County 1836-1882, pg 698
Big Grove Township School Houses
#
1 Stone Academy in Section 11
# 2 Hazel Green in Section 3
# 3 Salubria in Section 5
# 4 White in Section 15
# 5 Oak Grove in Section 35
#
6 South & North Edgewood in Section 27
# 7 Buresh in Section 21
# 8 Horse Shoe Bend
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School District Maps in 2009
(click images to enlarge)
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Map credit: Johnson
County Auditor
Data gathered as a result of the Johnson County Schools Project
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