Scott School
Collection: Caldwell History
Title
Scott School
Subject
Schools
One-room schools
Rural schools--Kansas
Description
Clippings and brief narrative history of the Scott School, District 110, Bluff Township, Sumner county, Kansas, from 1875 - 1956..
Creator
Jenista, J. R.
Publisher
Caldwell Public Library, Caldwell, Kansas
Date
ca. 2010
Rights
Format
application/pdf
Language
English
Type
Scrapbooks
Files
Citation
Jenista, J. R., “Scott School,” Digital Caldwell, accessed April 19, 2024, https://caldwell.digitalsckls.info/item/4.
Text
FYI
According to the Bluff Town-ship Board, Scott school will remain standing. Since building is not handicap accessible voting was moved to Caldwell.
The Old Scott School House
Scott school located on the Bluff City road approximately 6 miles west of Caldwell is one of the few remaining country schools still standing. At one time every district had its own school - Falls Center, Hahn, Pleasant Valley, Spring Creek, Bailey, Drury, etc.
Many area people attended Scott school and they are saddened to hear that plans are to raze the structure as it is no longer feasible to pay for the upkeep. It had been used for a voting place, but as the population declined this was moved to the community building in Caldwell.
Now, all that is left are the wonderful memories. All of you who attended a country school remember the single wooden desks in a row, (one teacher had all eight grades), the coal burning stove, which left a fine layer of soot, taking lunches in
a metal lunch pail, the chalk board and the cleaning of the erasers outside each day, the trek to one of the two outhouses, a hand pump for water, children’s laughter as they played tag, Annie Over, Ring around the Rosie, and those wonderful community meetings with “Home Grown” talent, kerosene and Coleman lanterns and visiting with friends and neighbors. All the while the children could play outside, in the darkness and no one needed to worry about them. And we can’t forget those last day of school dinners with tables loaded down with fried chicken, potato salad and all the other delicious food made from “scratch”.
So, to all of you who ever attended or taught in a country school, treasure those memories because soon that is all you will have when these last structures
are no more
■
GEUDA SPRINGS - Metzinger, Bill J., 82, died Sept. 12, 2008. Service 10:30 a.m. Wed., Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Survivors: wife, Hugolene; sons, John, Tom, Jamie, Jim, Bill; daughters, Joanie Unhru & Jeanie Jacoby; 2 sisters, many grandchildren. Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home.
Obituary
Robert Eugene Metzinger 1927-2005
Robert Eugene Metzinger, 78, of Arkansas City died Friday, September 2, 2005 at his residence.
The Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 6, 2005 and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Arkansas City. Father Charles Seiwert will celebrate. Interment will follow in the Riverview Cemetery in Arkansas City.
Gene was born August 3, 1927 to William Henry Metzinger and Dorothy Agnes (Oliver) Metzing-er in Caldwell, KS. He attended schools in Caldwell, graduating from the high school; Gene joined the United States Navy serving during World War II.
On March 29,1951 he married Maye I. Reeves in Winfield where the couple made their home. Gene worked at the flour mill and the post office until moving to Arkansas City in 1963. Gene worked full time for the postal service and was a farmer. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Knight of Columbus, where he held most offices. __________
He was also a member Spencer Ralston Post #1254 V.F.W., where he was past commander in 1976 and 1977, member of Shelton Beaty Post # 18 American Legion and the Naval Reserves. He worked as the janitor for Sacred Heart Catholic Church also.
Gene is survived by his two sons, Randy E. Metzinger ans his wife, Cindy of Dallas, TX, Robert J. Metzinger of Arkansas City; daughter Christina Helvy and her husband, Ryan of Arkansas City; grandchildren, Kristen Metzinger, Josh Metzinger and Chad Metzinger all of Dal- las, TX
Candace Utt, Bradley Utt, Cody Utt, Heather Utt, Jasmine Helvy, Jessica Metzinger and Megan Metzinger all of Arkansas City; brother, Bill Metzinger and his wife, Hookie of Gueda Springs; two sisters, Ma ry Ellen McCorgary. and her husband, Gene of Gueda Springs and Adell Padgett of Ponca City OK and 5 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife; two brothers Don and Dale Metzinger; two sisters, Dorothy Conrady and Betty Metzinger.
A memorial has been estab lished with the Hurricane Relief Fund through Catholic Chari ties.
On motion it is voted that a school be taught in this district 7 minths during the ensuing year. A winter school of 4 months commencing the first Monday in November, and a summer school of 3 months commencing the first Monday in April.
That allowed the month of March off between the two sessions. A vote was taken to employ a male teacher for the winter term and a female teacher for the summer term.
A motion was usually made and voted on that those using text books belonging to the district pay for them. The books usually cost somewhere between $.16 and $.88 each.
Some of the books used however were loaned.
In 1890 they voted to build a coal house that would hold two tons of coal, and to drill a well.
In 1901 they voted to hire Ada Lassel to teach for the winter months and if she proved satisfactory to let her teach the summer months as well. She did well and not only taught the entire year, but the following year as well.
In 1917 the present School House was constructed at a cost of $3,138.70, which included the desks, furnace, piano, coal and insurance. The total for lumber was $1,118.50. Russel P. Mendenhall underbid B.E Crosslin by $75, his bid being $387.
The members of the local Anti Horse Thief Association, now known as The Anti Thief Association, donated work to build the basement. The old building was sold to Joe Bobek, Sr., for $100 and was moved to the farm where Alvin Subera now lives.
The piano was sold to A.D Grimm for $7.50, the Furnace to Wm Scribner for $25, a lamp to Fred Cloud for $150, and the school house plans to Harry Freely for $10.
Marjorie Schaffer taught the last term in the old School House and the first term in the new building.
Social affairs that have been held in the building over
HISTORY OF SCOTT SCHOOL District 110 - Caldwell, Kansas
The first term of Scott School was held in 1879 in a little sod house on the Melo Subera farm, just northwest of the farmhouse which is east of the present school building.
The three month term was taught by Miss Laura Scribner, whom we later knew as Mrs Joseph Bailey, mother of Mrs Maude Horn. Those three months were March, April, and May. She received a salary of $50 for the three month, which averaged $16.66 a month
September 14th, 1880, at 8:00 A.M a special meeting was held for the consideration of building a school house. They voted to erect a building, the cost of which was not to exceed $345. A committee consisting of Ziba Leonard, M.F. Leonard, and C.S Palmer was appointed to procure plans, specifications and estimates, and report back at the next school board meeting.
The school house was erected during the months that followed at a cost of $322.72, thus not exceeding the $345 limit.
Quite often in the 1880s the annual report in part read as follows:
the years have included Red Cross, Farm Bureau, Anti Thief Association meetings, political elections, and of course P.T.A. In 1918 a box supper was held in the building that did quite well, netting $25.55.
In 1941 venition blinds were installed, and in 1942 the District voted to continue on Standard Time and not to observe Daylight Savings Time.
In 1947 the Scott and Doster districts were combined as District 201. The two schools continued to operate as before through 1948, but in 1949 the Doster School was closed and the district paid transportation costs for students living over 3 miles from the Scott building.
In 1949 the building was wired for electricity.
Electric lights were enjoyed for the first time on dark days and at evening programs. Previous to that time, kerosene and gasoline lamps were used.
After being filled with gasoline the tanks of the gasoline lamps had to be pressurized with a small hand pump to make them operate correctly. These lamps were remembered for running out of air in the middle of a program and someone having to pump more air into the tank so it would burn brightly again.
The coal furnace that had been installed in the basement when the building was built in 1917 was replaced in 1938 with a large metal coal stove in the schoolroom. In 1950 a butane forced-air furnace was installed.
Salaries paid teachers over the years are interesting. Teachers' wages increased form $16.66 a month in 1879, to $25 in 1880, then to $30, $37.50, and to $40 in 1889.
For some unknown reason this dipped to $30, then $25, and finally back to $40 in 1899.
The salary was $50 a month from 1909 to 1916, $80 in 1919, $92.50 from 1920 to 1927, and on up to $115 by 1930.
Another dip then followed to $75 a month, then back to $85. One can only suppose that politics may have played a role in the current teacher's salary during these times. School boards change just as teachers come and go.
Teachers' salaries increased first to $100 a month and then to $250 a month in 1948. By 1955, the final year for the Scott School, the salary had steadily risen to $358 a month.
Other interesting items of expense are as follows:
1880 - Horse feed: $4.50 (to some place in Wellington)
1882 - Coal: $12.50
1890 - Whitewashing School House: $1.50
1896 - Curtains: $.15 Chalk: $.15 Broom: $.15
1921 - Load of cobs, oil, and kindling: $117.44
1944 - Curtains: $3.48
1954 - Chalk: $1.96
From 1944 to 1949 the annual coal bill averaged about $90. From 1950 to 1955 the annual gas bill averaged about $120.
The yearly expenses to run the school:
1887 --- $ 198.90 (5 month term)
1896 $ 270.93 (8 months)
1912 $ 574.18 "
1929 — $ 946.35 "
1947 --- $4, 800.00 "
1954
$4,750.00
In 1953 a new well was drilled. An electric pump, lavatory, and hot water heater were installed. There have been at least 3 water wells. The first one southeast of the School House, the second northeast of the School House, and the last one drilled by the south side of the building.
A coal shed used to be west of the School House but has been gone for several years, as the basement of the present building was used for storing coal.
The horse barn which was southwest of the School House was moved away a few years ago. A Merry-Go-Round bought in 1927, swings and teeter-toter have all been removed from the playground.
There were as many as 31 students attending school in one year at the Scott School.
Those known to have had an 8-year perfect attendance record include Frank Kubik, Fred Cloud, and Stella Subera.
In 1954 the Doster School building was sold to Charles Grimm and in 1956 District 201 was annexed to Caldwell District 20. Kindergarden pupils attended the Caldwell school beginning January, 1956, and grade school in September of that year. The Scott School House now belongs to Bluff township.
April 28, 1955
March 27, 1934
Scott school group tours Arkansas City. They saw Arkansas . City Milk Association, The Daily Traveler and KSOK radio sta-tion. Pupils making the trip, were Vlasta Albert, Wayne, Wencel, Paul Prochaska, Jeanet-te Buresh, Carolyn Wencl, Ruth Bobek, Linda Buresh, Sharon Volavka and Connie Kloefkorn.
Last meeting of season held at Scott Literary. Some numbers on program were: Music by Charles and Rose Krenek and Solo by George Buresh.
Yours with love.
Scott School Has Homecoming Sunday
A large group gathered at the Scott school house Sunday May 4 for their second home coming. A bountiful dinner was enjoyed at noon.
The president, Calvin Subera, called the meeting to order. In the absence of secretary, Miss Clara Kubik, Mrs. Harry Kubik,
secretary protem, read the min-utes of last year’s meeting. Communications were read from Lt. Edwin Petrik, Pvt. David L. Kubik, Mrs. Gladys Metz, Mrs. Mol-lie Huston, Mrs. Veronica Olivier and Sister Georgiana.
The president thanked the different committees for their splendid cooperation. It was voted to have the first Sunday in May for the Scott School Home Coming. Election of officers: president, Calvin Subera; vice president, James Buresh; secretary and treasurer, Ernest Metzinger.
Mrs. Ruth Frazier announced the following program: Miss Charlene Grimm led the group in singing “Home on the Range,” “School Days” and “In the Little Scott School House;” song, “Sugar Time” by Connie, Trudy and Kathy Kloefkorn, Gerald, Sharon, Terry and Ricky Volavka, Ruth, and Frank Bobek, Dean Prochas-ka and Kathy Williams; tap dance by Kathy Williams accompanied by Calvin Subera; choral reading, “The Bear and the Rabbit” and “Zing Zanga Tree,” Ruth Baker, Sharon Volavka, Connie, Trudy and Kathy Kloefkorn; saxophone solo, Paul Prochaska, accompanied by Mr. Subera.
Vocal solo, Greg Marshall, accompanied by Mrs. Helen Marshall; reading, Mrs. Mary Buresh; ballet dance, Kathy Williams, accompanied by Mr. Subera. School history by Mrs. Harry Grimm.
The meeting adjourned to meet again next year, first Sunday in May.
July 14, 1993
Fifty years ago a county teaching certificate included ex- aminations in 15 subjects for those wanting to teach. The study was based on inquiries of 550 teachers in one-teacher schools and 200 teachers in towns or cities.
According to the report, teachers were asked about 112 different activities. Of those, rural teachers expected to assume and perform 61 of them. None of the grade teachers did these: ♦Meet with the school board ♦Advise school board as to the needs of the school ♦Purchase school supplies ♦Receive and audit school supplies
♦Enforce compulsory attendance law
♦Enforce health and quarantine laws
♦Provide publicity for the school
♦Teach agriculture
♦Teach home economics (sewing and cooking)
♦Provide socializing for children from isolated homes ♦Teach all subjects in eight grades
Other activities not teaching classes were: ♦Coach dramatics
♦Serve as school librarian ♦Make decisions on the basis of tests and measures ♦Prepare and serve hot lunch ♦Conduct opening exercises profitable to all grades at the same time
♦Live in a home without modern conveniences ♦Walk a mile or two to school ♦Serve as a source of information for individuals in the community
♦Assume active leadership in
movement for improving recreational facilities of community
♦Assume leadership in community organizations ♦Take full responsibility for sanitary condition of building and grounds
♦Start fire in the mornings ♦Keep fire in stove or furnace ♦Protect school building against tramps and other marauders
♦Bring drinking water
Year Teacher Wage Term
(monthly) (months)
1879 Laura Scribner $16.66 3
1880 J.B. Lowrey $25.00 3
1881 Sarah Vaughn $21.00 3
1881 Elsworth Thomas $25.00 3
1882 C. Kingman $30.00 1
1883 Molly Sexton $34.00 3
1883 Mrs. M. WiIson $30.00 4
1885 Mrs. Kate Hannum $37.50 4
1885 J.F. Blankenship $42.50 6
1888 G.E. James $35.00 6
1887 Mils Lowel $32.50 5
1888 Wm. Richards $40.00 6
1889 Minnie Olney $40.00 6
1890 N.D. Stephenson $40.00 5
1891 Ada Franklin $30.00 3
1891 H. Shankland $35.00 5
1892 Ada Franklin $30.00 3
1892 C.H. Soucek $33.35 5
1893 Carrie Lassell $25.00 3
1893 Nannie Cresshow $35.00 5
1894 E.A. Ridings $25.00 3
1894 N.D. Stephenson $30.00 5
1895 Carrie Lassell $25.00 3
1895 Carrie Lassell $25.00 8
1896 Sarah Brown $27.50 8
1897 Lou Bybee $30.00 6
1898 Laura Emmert $35.00 7
1899 Dollie Murphy $40.00 8
1900 Dollie Murphy $40.00 7
1901 Ada Lassell $35.00 7
1902 Ada Lassell $35.00 7
1903 Susan Thornton $40.00 7
1904 Susan Thornton $40.00 7
1905 A.G. Adams $45.00 7
1906 Stella Thornton $46.00 7
1907 Stella Thornton $50.00 7
1908 Stella Thornton $50.00 7
1909 Stella Thornton $50.00 7
1910 Stella Thornton $50.00 7
1911 Stella Thornton $50.00 8
1912 Helen Lassell $50.00 8
1913 Helen Lassell $50.00 8
1914 Ethyl Longstreth $50.00 8
1915 Ethyl Longstreth $55.00 8
1916 Marjorie Schaeffer $60.00 8
1917 Marjorie Schaeffer $67.50 8
1918 Mabel Donham $62.50 8
1919 Mabel Donham $80.00 8
1920 Media Hillard $92.50 8
1921 Mabel Roc $92.50 8
1922 Mildred Fisk $92.50 8
1923 Pauline Fisk $92.50 8
1924 Cleola Kubik $87.50 8
1925 Cleola Kubik $92.50 8
1928 Bola Jean Robertson $92.50 8
1927 Gladys Nulik $92.50 8
1928 Mary Baker $87.50 8
1929 Edna Burgmier $100.00 8
1930 Edna Burgmier $115.00 8
1931 Bernice Clester $80.00 8
1932 Margaret Frisbie $80.00 8
1933 W.A. Shoffner $75.00 8
1933 W.A. Shoffner $90.00 8
1935 Paul O'Hara $75.00 8
1936 Paul O'Hara $85.00 8
1937 Wendell H. Deffenbaugh $80.00 8
1938 Kate Marsh $75.00 8
1939 Kate Marsh $85.00 8
1940 Kate Marsh $85.00 8
1941 Mollie Huston $90.00 8
1942 Mollie Huston $100.00 8
1943 Opal Lois White $100.00 8
1944 Esther Rathburn $135.00 8
1945 Esther Rathburn Cassell $165.00 8
1946 Zana Czaplinski $169.00 8
1947 Zana Czaplinski $232.57 8
1947 Inez Ruth Needles $189.60 8
1948 Zana Czaplinski $232.60 8
1948 Inez Ruth Needles $189.60 8
1949 Ruth Glasse $204.50 8
1950 Ruth Glasse $205.30 8
1951 Jean Walta $234.30 8
1952 Mollie Huston $286.30 8
1953 Mollie Huston $277.50 8
1954 Mollie Huston $283.40 8
1955 Mollie Huston $358.00 8
Withholding tax became effective in 1943.
Wages after that year are take home pay.
Nov. 24, 1897
Mr. Grove of Doster shot 61 jack rabbits and 11 cottontails to win the prize for the most rabbits in the Blackstone hunt. The total shot was 423 jacks and 93 cottontails.
March 9, 1938
Doster Boosters 4H Club meets. A demonstration by Apo-lene and Anna Kolarik was given for the girls and one by James Main and Max Kolarik for the boys. Helen Hoyt and Anna Kolarik sang a duet and Miss Hoyt discussed music appreciation.
July 22, 1920
Ad for “The Store at Dos-ter”
Peaches - 95₵ gal. or 6 for $5.40
Apricots - 95₵ gal. or 6 for $5.40
Tomatoes - $2.10 doz. or $4.15 case
Corn - $1.60 doz. or $3.15 case
Tractor oil - 700 gallon
September 19, 1955
Scott PTA has meeting with following program.
Vocal solo, Kathy Kloefkorn; piano solo, Ruth Bobek; vocal duet, Connie & Trudy Kloefkorn; piano solo, Sharon Volavka; reading, Gerald Volavka; piano solo, Connie Kloefkorn.
March 6, 1919
The A.H.T.A. served a banquet to returned soldiers at Scott School.
March 25, 1939
Scott School report:
March “A”' Honor Roll - Helen Buresh, Milford Wencel; “B” Honor Roll - Dale Kubik, J.R. Jenista, Elvin Vavra, Donnie Balaban, Fred Cadek;
Perfect Attendance: Donald Balaban, Mary Ellen, Donnie, Gene, Bill and Dorothy Metzin-ger, Milford Wencel, Elvin Vavra, J.R. Jenista, and Fred and Joe Cadek.
Rutha Dean Shoffner Glasse taught Milford Wencel and she taught Wayne Wencel.
Scott School from the year 1946 (ap- proximate).
Rutha’s father was the teacher. Rutha Dean also taught at Scott School from 1948 to 1951
April 12, 1948
Scott PTA has program. It included: Piano solo - Wanda Kloefkorn; Music - Arnold Su-bera and Charles Krenek; Harry Jenista showed films which children enjoyed.
May 10, 1939
Mrs. Adolph Balaban was hostess to a group of youngsters May 7 in honor of her son Don--ald Eugene’s seventh birthday. Refreshments of fruit salad with • whipped cream, light and dark cake and favors of all day suckers and balloons were served to the little guests which included: Donna and Doris France, J.R. Jenista, Elvin and Betty Ann Vavra, and Milford Wencel.
APriI 23,
At Scott School, Milford Wencel, J.R. Jenista, and Fred Cadek were among those having perfect attendance for the year.
Milford and J.R. also had averages above B for the entire year.
In
Remembrance
Obituary
Elvin James Vavra 1930 - 2010
Graveside services for longtime Dolores, CO, resident Elvin James Vavra were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 7, at Summit Ridge Cemetery in Dolores,
Elvin was born January 21, 1930, the son of James Anton and Libbie Emma (Subera) Vavra. He passed away at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington, NM, on Tuesday, August 3, 2010, at the age of 80.
Elvin grew up on the family farm during the Great Depression. He served our country by joining the Navy in January 1951 and was honorably discharged in October 1954. He was on the battleship USS New Jersey. He came home and married Jackie on December 8, 1956, in Sedan, KS. He started working in the oil fields and moved to Monticello, UT. He lived there for a short time and then moved to Cortez, CO, and then on to Dolores where he raised his children at their home on the beautiful Dolores River. He continued to work in the oil fields and was a driller for Mesa Drilling Co. for many of those years. Since his retirement, he had lived in Dolores , and made frequent trips to his family farm in Kansas. He loved to visit with family and friends and attend auctions and military or political events. Elvin had strong work ethics that he continued to have until the day of his accident. He had an accident that lead to his death while he was cutting firewood.
Elvin will be sorely missed by his family.
Surviving Elvin are his sister, Betty Ann Norman of Paden, OK; his children, Deborah Jean (Michael) Rosso of Cortez, CO; Glen Elvin (Deb-bi) Vavra of Bloomfield, NM; Linda Sue (Ted Hawkins) Vavra of Cortez, CO; his stepson, Monte Carl (Linda) Pope of Anchorage, AL; 12 grandchildren; and seven great-great grandchildren. Elvin was preceded in death by his parents; by his wife, Jacqueline Roxanne Vavra; by his son, James Anton Vavra; by his brother, Frankie Vavra; and by his stepson, John Dwayne Pope.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ute Mountain American Legion Post #75, Cortez.
Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome. com and click on the obituary section.
The Caldwell Messenger, August 11, 2010.
Original Format
Looseleaf notebook
Title
Scott School
Subject
Schools
One-room schools
Rural schools--Kansas
Description
Clippings and brief narrative history of the Scott School, District 110, Bluff Township, Sumner county, Kansas, from 1875 - 1956..
Creator
Jenista, J. R.
Publisher
Caldwell Public Library, Caldwell, Kansas
Date
ca. 2010
Rights
Format
application/pdf
Language
English
Type
Scrapbooks
Files
Citation
Jenista, J. R., “Scott School,” Digital Caldwell, accessed April 19, 2024, https://caldwell.digitalsckls.info/item/4.Text
FYI
According to the Bluff Town-ship Board, Scott school will remain standing. Since building is not handicap accessible voting was moved to Caldwell.
The Old Scott School House
Scott school located on the Bluff City road approximately 6 miles west of Caldwell is one of the few remaining country schools still standing. At one time every district had its own school - Falls Center, Hahn, Pleasant Valley, Spring Creek, Bailey, Drury, etc.
Many area people attended Scott school and they are saddened to hear that plans are to raze the structure as it is no longer feasible to pay for the upkeep. It had been used for a voting place, but as the population declined this was moved to the community building in Caldwell.
Now, all that is left are the wonderful memories. All of you who attended a country school remember the single wooden desks in a row, (one teacher had all eight grades), the coal burning stove, which left a fine layer of soot, taking lunches in
a metal lunch pail, the chalk board and the cleaning of the erasers outside each day, the trek to one of the two outhouses, a hand pump for water, children’s laughter as they played tag, Annie Over, Ring around the Rosie, and those wonderful community meetings with “Home Grown” talent, kerosene and Coleman lanterns and visiting with friends and neighbors. All the while the children could play outside, in the darkness and no one needed to worry about them. And we can’t forget those last day of school dinners with tables loaded down with fried chicken, potato salad and all the other delicious food made from “scratch”.
So, to all of you who ever attended or taught in a country school, treasure those memories because soon that is all you will have when these last structures
are no more
■
GEUDA SPRINGS - Metzinger, Bill J., 82, died Sept. 12, 2008. Service 10:30 a.m. Wed., Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Survivors: wife, Hugolene; sons, John, Tom, Jamie, Jim, Bill; daughters, Joanie Unhru & Jeanie Jacoby; 2 sisters, many grandchildren. Rindt-Erdman Funeral Home.
Obituary
Robert Eugene Metzinger 1927-2005
Robert Eugene Metzinger, 78, of Arkansas City died Friday, September 2, 2005 at his residence.
The Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 6, 2005 and a Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Arkansas City. Father Charles Seiwert will celebrate. Interment will follow in the Riverview Cemetery in Arkansas City.
Gene was born August 3, 1927 to William Henry Metzinger and Dorothy Agnes (Oliver) Metzing-er in Caldwell, KS. He attended schools in Caldwell, graduating from the high school; Gene joined the United States Navy serving during World War II.
On March 29,1951 he married Maye I. Reeves in Winfield where the couple made their home. Gene worked at the flour mill and the post office until moving to Arkansas City in 1963. Gene worked full time for the postal service and was a farmer. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, the Knight of Columbus, where he held most offices. __________
He was also a member Spencer Ralston Post #1254 V.F.W., where he was past commander in 1976 and 1977, member of Shelton Beaty Post # 18 American Legion and the Naval Reserves. He worked as the janitor for Sacred Heart Catholic Church also.
Gene is survived by his two sons, Randy E. Metzinger ans his wife, Cindy of Dallas, TX, Robert J. Metzinger of Arkansas City; daughter Christina Helvy and her husband, Ryan of Arkansas City; grandchildren, Kristen Metzinger, Josh Metzinger and Chad Metzinger all of Dal- las, TX
Candace Utt, Bradley Utt, Cody Utt, Heather Utt, Jasmine Helvy, Jessica Metzinger and Megan Metzinger all of Arkansas City; brother, Bill Metzinger and his wife, Hookie of Gueda Springs; two sisters, Ma ry Ellen McCorgary. and her husband, Gene of Gueda Springs and Adell Padgett of Ponca City OK and 5 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife; two brothers Don and Dale Metzinger; two sisters, Dorothy Conrady and Betty Metzinger.
A memorial has been estab lished with the Hurricane Relief Fund through Catholic Chari ties.
On motion it is voted that a school be taught in this district 7 minths during the ensuing year. A winter school of 4 months commencing the first Monday in November, and a summer school of 3 months commencing the first Monday in April.
That allowed the month of March off between the two sessions. A vote was taken to employ a male teacher for the winter term and a female teacher for the summer term.
A motion was usually made and voted on that those using text books belonging to the district pay for them. The books usually cost somewhere between $.16 and $.88 each.
Some of the books used however were loaned.
In 1890 they voted to build a coal house that would hold two tons of coal, and to drill a well.
In 1901 they voted to hire Ada Lassel to teach for the winter months and if she proved satisfactory to let her teach the summer months as well. She did well and not only taught the entire year, but the following year as well.
In 1917 the present School House was constructed at a cost of $3,138.70, which included the desks, furnace, piano, coal and insurance. The total for lumber was $1,118.50. Russel P. Mendenhall underbid B.E Crosslin by $75, his bid being $387.
The members of the local Anti Horse Thief Association, now known as The Anti Thief Association, donated work to build the basement. The old building was sold to Joe Bobek, Sr., for $100 and was moved to the farm where Alvin Subera now lives.
The piano was sold to A.D Grimm for $7.50, the Furnace to Wm Scribner for $25, a lamp to Fred Cloud for $150, and the school house plans to Harry Freely for $10.
Marjorie Schaffer taught the last term in the old School House and the first term in the new building.
Social affairs that have been held in the building over
HISTORY OF SCOTT SCHOOL District 110 - Caldwell, Kansas
The first term of Scott School was held in 1879 in a little sod house on the Melo Subera farm, just northwest of the farmhouse which is east of the present school building.
The three month term was taught by Miss Laura Scribner, whom we later knew as Mrs Joseph Bailey, mother of Mrs Maude Horn. Those three months were March, April, and May. She received a salary of $50 for the three month, which averaged $16.66 a month
September 14th, 1880, at 8:00 A.M a special meeting was held for the consideration of building a school house. They voted to erect a building, the cost of which was not to exceed $345. A committee consisting of Ziba Leonard, M.F. Leonard, and C.S Palmer was appointed to procure plans, specifications and estimates, and report back at the next school board meeting.
The school house was erected during the months that followed at a cost of $322.72, thus not exceeding the $345 limit.
Quite often in the 1880s the annual report in part read as follows:
the years have included Red Cross, Farm Bureau, Anti Thief Association meetings, political elections, and of course P.T.A. In 1918 a box supper was held in the building that did quite well, netting $25.55.
In 1941 venition blinds were installed, and in 1942 the District voted to continue on Standard Time and not to observe Daylight Savings Time.
In 1947 the Scott and Doster districts were combined as District 201. The two schools continued to operate as before through 1948, but in 1949 the Doster School was closed and the district paid transportation costs for students living over 3 miles from the Scott building.
In 1949 the building was wired for electricity.
Electric lights were enjoyed for the first time on dark days and at evening programs. Previous to that time, kerosene and gasoline lamps were used.
After being filled with gasoline the tanks of the gasoline lamps had to be pressurized with a small hand pump to make them operate correctly. These lamps were remembered for running out of air in the middle of a program and someone having to pump more air into the tank so it would burn brightly again.
The coal furnace that had been installed in the basement when the building was built in 1917 was replaced in 1938 with a large metal coal stove in the schoolroom. In 1950 a butane forced-air furnace was installed.
Salaries paid teachers over the years are interesting. Teachers' wages increased form $16.66 a month in 1879, to $25 in 1880, then to $30, $37.50, and to $40 in 1889.
For some unknown reason this dipped to $30, then $25, and finally back to $40 in 1899.
The salary was $50 a month from 1909 to 1916, $80 in 1919, $92.50 from 1920 to 1927, and on up to $115 by 1930.
Another dip then followed to $75 a month, then back to $85. One can only suppose that politics may have played a role in the current teacher's salary during these times. School boards change just as teachers come and go.
Teachers' salaries increased first to $100 a month and then to $250 a month in 1948. By 1955, the final year for the Scott School, the salary had steadily risen to $358 a month.
Other interesting items of expense are as follows:
1880 - Horse feed: $4.50 (to some place in Wellington)
1882 - Coal: $12.50
1890 - Whitewashing School House: $1.50
1896 - Curtains: $.15 Chalk: $.15 Broom: $.15
1921 - Load of cobs, oil, and kindling: $117.44
1944 - Curtains: $3.48
1954 - Chalk: $1.96
From 1944 to 1949 the annual coal bill averaged about $90. From 1950 to 1955 the annual gas bill averaged about $120.
The yearly expenses to run the school:
1887 --- $ 198.90 (5 month term)
1896 $ 270.93 (8 months)
1912 $ 574.18 "
1929 — $ 946.35 "
1947 --- $4, 800.00 "
1954
$4,750.00
In 1953 a new well was drilled. An electric pump, lavatory, and hot water heater were installed. There have been at least 3 water wells. The first one southeast of the School House, the second northeast of the School House, and the last one drilled by the south side of the building.
A coal shed used to be west of the School House but has been gone for several years, as the basement of the present building was used for storing coal.
The horse barn which was southwest of the School House was moved away a few years ago. A Merry-Go-Round bought in 1927, swings and teeter-toter have all been removed from the playground.
There were as many as 31 students attending school in one year at the Scott School.
Those known to have had an 8-year perfect attendance record include Frank Kubik, Fred Cloud, and Stella Subera.
In 1954 the Doster School building was sold to Charles Grimm and in 1956 District 201 was annexed to Caldwell District 20. Kindergarden pupils attended the Caldwell school beginning January, 1956, and grade school in September of that year. The Scott School House now belongs to Bluff township.
April 28, 1955
March 27, 1934
Scott school group tours Arkansas City. They saw Arkansas . City Milk Association, The Daily Traveler and KSOK radio sta-tion. Pupils making the trip, were Vlasta Albert, Wayne, Wencel, Paul Prochaska, Jeanet-te Buresh, Carolyn Wencl, Ruth Bobek, Linda Buresh, Sharon Volavka and Connie Kloefkorn.
Last meeting of season held at Scott Literary. Some numbers on program were: Music by Charles and Rose Krenek and Solo by George Buresh.
Yours with love.
Scott School Has Homecoming Sunday
A large group gathered at the Scott school house Sunday May 4 for their second home coming. A bountiful dinner was enjoyed at noon.
The president, Calvin Subera, called the meeting to order. In the absence of secretary, Miss Clara Kubik, Mrs. Harry Kubik,
secretary protem, read the min-utes of last year’s meeting. Communications were read from Lt. Edwin Petrik, Pvt. David L. Kubik, Mrs. Gladys Metz, Mrs. Mol-lie Huston, Mrs. Veronica Olivier and Sister Georgiana.
The president thanked the different committees for their splendid cooperation. It was voted to have the first Sunday in May for the Scott School Home Coming. Election of officers: president, Calvin Subera; vice president, James Buresh; secretary and treasurer, Ernest Metzinger.
Mrs. Ruth Frazier announced the following program: Miss Charlene Grimm led the group in singing “Home on the Range,” “School Days” and “In the Little Scott School House;” song, “Sugar Time” by Connie, Trudy and Kathy Kloefkorn, Gerald, Sharon, Terry and Ricky Volavka, Ruth, and Frank Bobek, Dean Prochas-ka and Kathy Williams; tap dance by Kathy Williams accompanied by Calvin Subera; choral reading, “The Bear and the Rabbit” and “Zing Zanga Tree,” Ruth Baker, Sharon Volavka, Connie, Trudy and Kathy Kloefkorn; saxophone solo, Paul Prochaska, accompanied by Mr. Subera.
Vocal solo, Greg Marshall, accompanied by Mrs. Helen Marshall; reading, Mrs. Mary Buresh; ballet dance, Kathy Williams, accompanied by Mr. Subera. School history by Mrs. Harry Grimm.
The meeting adjourned to meet again next year, first Sunday in May.
July 14, 1993
Fifty years ago a county teaching certificate included ex- aminations in 15 subjects for those wanting to teach. The study was based on inquiries of 550 teachers in one-teacher schools and 200 teachers in towns or cities.
According to the report, teachers were asked about 112 different activities. Of those, rural teachers expected to assume and perform 61 of them. None of the grade teachers did these: ♦Meet with the school board ♦Advise school board as to the needs of the school ♦Purchase school supplies ♦Receive and audit school supplies
♦Enforce compulsory attendance law
♦Enforce health and quarantine laws
♦Provide publicity for the school
♦Teach agriculture
♦Teach home economics (sewing and cooking)
♦Provide socializing for children from isolated homes ♦Teach all subjects in eight grades
Other activities not teaching classes were: ♦Coach dramatics
♦Serve as school librarian ♦Make decisions on the basis of tests and measures ♦Prepare and serve hot lunch ♦Conduct opening exercises profitable to all grades at the same time
♦Live in a home without modern conveniences ♦Walk a mile or two to school ♦Serve as a source of information for individuals in the community
♦Assume active leadership in
movement for improving recreational facilities of community
♦Assume leadership in community organizations ♦Take full responsibility for sanitary condition of building and grounds
♦Start fire in the mornings ♦Keep fire in stove or furnace ♦Protect school building against tramps and other marauders
♦Bring drinking water
Year Teacher Wage Term
(monthly) (months)
1879 Laura Scribner $16.66 3
1880 J.B. Lowrey $25.00 3
1881 Sarah Vaughn $21.00 3
1881 Elsworth Thomas $25.00 3
1882 C. Kingman $30.00 1
1883 Molly Sexton $34.00 3
1883 Mrs. M. WiIson $30.00 4
1885 Mrs. Kate Hannum $37.50 4
1885 J.F. Blankenship $42.50 6
1888 G.E. James $35.00 6
1887 Mils Lowel $32.50 5
1888 Wm. Richards $40.00 6
1889 Minnie Olney $40.00 6
1890 N.D. Stephenson $40.00 5
1891 Ada Franklin $30.00 3
1891 H. Shankland $35.00 5
1892 Ada Franklin $30.00 3
1892 C.H. Soucek $33.35 5
1893 Carrie Lassell $25.00 3
1893 Nannie Cresshow $35.00 5
1894 E.A. Ridings $25.00 3
1894 N.D. Stephenson $30.00 5
1895 Carrie Lassell $25.00 3
1895 Carrie Lassell $25.00 8
1896 Sarah Brown $27.50 8
1897 Lou Bybee $30.00 6
1898 Laura Emmert $35.00 7
1899 Dollie Murphy $40.00 8
1900 Dollie Murphy $40.00 7
1901 Ada Lassell $35.00 7
1902 Ada Lassell $35.00 7
1903 Susan Thornton $40.00 7
1904 Susan Thornton $40.00 7
1905 A.G. Adams $45.00 7
1906 Stella Thornton $46.00 7
1907 Stella Thornton $50.00 7
1908 Stella Thornton $50.00 7
1909 Stella Thornton $50.00 7
1910 Stella Thornton $50.00 7
1911 Stella Thornton $50.00 8
1912 Helen Lassell $50.00 8
1913 Helen Lassell $50.00 8
1914 Ethyl Longstreth $50.00 8
1915 Ethyl Longstreth $55.00 8
1916 Marjorie Schaeffer $60.00 8
1917 Marjorie Schaeffer $67.50 8
1918 Mabel Donham $62.50 8
1919 Mabel Donham $80.00 8
1920 Media Hillard $92.50 8
1921 Mabel Roc $92.50 8
1922 Mildred Fisk $92.50 8
1923 Pauline Fisk $92.50 8
1924 Cleola Kubik $87.50 8
1925 Cleola Kubik $92.50 8
1928 Bola Jean Robertson $92.50 8
1927 Gladys Nulik $92.50 8
1928 Mary Baker $87.50 8
1929 Edna Burgmier $100.00 8
1930 Edna Burgmier $115.00 8
1931 Bernice Clester $80.00 8
1932 Margaret Frisbie $80.00 8
1933 W.A. Shoffner $75.00 8
1933 W.A. Shoffner $90.00 8
1935 Paul O'Hara $75.00 8
1936 Paul O'Hara $85.00 8
1937 Wendell H. Deffenbaugh $80.00 8
1938 Kate Marsh $75.00 8
1939 Kate Marsh $85.00 8
1940 Kate Marsh $85.00 8
1941 Mollie Huston $90.00 8
1942 Mollie Huston $100.00 8
1943 Opal Lois White $100.00 8
1944 Esther Rathburn $135.00 8
1945 Esther Rathburn Cassell $165.00 8
1946 Zana Czaplinski $169.00 8
1947 Zana Czaplinski $232.57 8
1947 Inez Ruth Needles $189.60 8
1948 Zana Czaplinski $232.60 8
1948 Inez Ruth Needles $189.60 8
1949 Ruth Glasse $204.50 8
1950 Ruth Glasse $205.30 8
1951 Jean Walta $234.30 8
1952 Mollie Huston $286.30 8
1953 Mollie Huston $277.50 8
1954 Mollie Huston $283.40 8
1955 Mollie Huston $358.00 8
Withholding tax became effective in 1943.
Wages after that year are take home pay.
Nov. 24, 1897
Mr. Grove of Doster shot 61 jack rabbits and 11 cottontails to win the prize for the most rabbits in the Blackstone hunt. The total shot was 423 jacks and 93 cottontails.
March 9, 1938
Doster Boosters 4H Club meets. A demonstration by Apo-lene and Anna Kolarik was given for the girls and one by James Main and Max Kolarik for the boys. Helen Hoyt and Anna Kolarik sang a duet and Miss Hoyt discussed music appreciation.
July 22, 1920
Ad for “The Store at Dos-ter”
Peaches - 95₵ gal. or 6 for $5.40
Apricots - 95₵ gal. or 6 for $5.40
Tomatoes - $2.10 doz. or $4.15 case
Corn - $1.60 doz. or $3.15 case
Tractor oil - 700 gallon
September 19, 1955
Scott PTA has meeting with following program.
Vocal solo, Kathy Kloefkorn; piano solo, Ruth Bobek; vocal duet, Connie & Trudy Kloefkorn; piano solo, Sharon Volavka; reading, Gerald Volavka; piano solo, Connie Kloefkorn.
March 6, 1919
The A.H.T.A. served a banquet to returned soldiers at Scott School.
March 25, 1939
Scott School report:
March “A”' Honor Roll - Helen Buresh, Milford Wencel; “B” Honor Roll - Dale Kubik, J.R. Jenista, Elvin Vavra, Donnie Balaban, Fred Cadek;
Perfect Attendance: Donald Balaban, Mary Ellen, Donnie, Gene, Bill and Dorothy Metzin-ger, Milford Wencel, Elvin Vavra, J.R. Jenista, and Fred and Joe Cadek.
Rutha Dean Shoffner Glasse taught Milford Wencel and she taught Wayne Wencel.
Scott School from the year 1946 (ap- proximate).
Rutha’s father was the teacher. Rutha Dean also taught at Scott School from 1948 to 1951
April 12, 1948
Scott PTA has program. It included: Piano solo - Wanda Kloefkorn; Music - Arnold Su-bera and Charles Krenek; Harry Jenista showed films which children enjoyed.
May 10, 1939
Mrs. Adolph Balaban was hostess to a group of youngsters May 7 in honor of her son Don--ald Eugene’s seventh birthday. Refreshments of fruit salad with • whipped cream, light and dark cake and favors of all day suckers and balloons were served to the little guests which included: Donna and Doris France, J.R. Jenista, Elvin and Betty Ann Vavra, and Milford Wencel.
APriI 23,
At Scott School, Milford Wencel, J.R. Jenista, and Fred Cadek were among those having perfect attendance for the year.
Milford and J.R. also had averages above B for the entire year.
In
Remembrance
Obituary
Elvin James Vavra 1930 - 2010
Graveside services for longtime Dolores, CO, resident Elvin James Vavra were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, August 7, at Summit Ridge Cemetery in Dolores,
Elvin was born January 21, 1930, the son of James Anton and Libbie Emma (Subera) Vavra. He passed away at San Juan Regional Medical Center in Farmington, NM, on Tuesday, August 3, 2010, at the age of 80.
Elvin grew up on the family farm during the Great Depression. He served our country by joining the Navy in January 1951 and was honorably discharged in October 1954. He was on the battleship USS New Jersey. He came home and married Jackie on December 8, 1956, in Sedan, KS. He started working in the oil fields and moved to Monticello, UT. He lived there for a short time and then moved to Cortez, CO, and then on to Dolores where he raised his children at their home on the beautiful Dolores River. He continued to work in the oil fields and was a driller for Mesa Drilling Co. for many of those years. Since his retirement, he had lived in Dolores , and made frequent trips to his family farm in Kansas. He loved to visit with family and friends and attend auctions and military or political events. Elvin had strong work ethics that he continued to have until the day of his accident. He had an accident that lead to his death while he was cutting firewood.
Elvin will be sorely missed by his family.
Surviving Elvin are his sister, Betty Ann Norman of Paden, OK; his children, Deborah Jean (Michael) Rosso of Cortez, CO; Glen Elvin (Deb-bi) Vavra of Bloomfield, NM; Linda Sue (Ted Hawkins) Vavra of Cortez, CO; his stepson, Monte Carl (Linda) Pope of Anchorage, AL; 12 grandchildren; and seven great-great grandchildren. Elvin was preceded in death by his parents; by his wife, Jacqueline Roxanne Vavra; by his son, James Anton Vavra; by his brother, Frankie Vavra; and by his stepson, John Dwayne Pope.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Ute Mountain American Legion Post #75, Cortez.
Services are under the direction of Ertel Funeral Home. For further information or to send condolences, log on to www.ertelfuneralhome. com and click on the obituary section.
The Caldwell Messenger, August 11, 2010.
Original Format
Looseleaf notebook