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By: Jim Fitzpatrick |
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Email: jim@nunica.com |
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Local Farmer in Polkton Township writes for the Coopersville Observer. |
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Along Brandy Creek By Jim Fitzpatrick
The Coopersville Observer January 13, 2014- - No. 121 |
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Two guys, both named Jim, have an idea. They are going to save the old one room school house and accompanying woodshed on Leonard Road at the south end of 88thAvenue. Others like the idea also. That includes local residents whose families have been educated there for two and three generation, those that attended similar one room schools around the countryside and some who just plain want to preserve a part of local history they consider significant to the community. So the two Jims formed a committee of two. Shortly thereafter, Rochelle, Kathy, Jan and Pat came onboard and initial momentum for the project is underway. Pieces of a captivating puzzle of the past began to fall together. Fund raising has been established, dollars are flowing in to make the purchase from the present owner.
A few weeks ago one of the original outhouses was discovered at a near by residence. Then a photo surfaced of the school with teacher and students out front, the very same outhouse in the background off to the left. The story goes that that one was for the boys, girls outhouse was to the right and not in the photo. A wider entrance to the classroom was constructed in 1947 which included running water and real flush toilets. John Vargo purchased the then obsolete two small structures for five dollars each and moved them to his farm a mile east of the school. He used one at his home for its original purpose and the other was converted for use as a milkhouse near the barn. John's property changed hands, the barn came down, Jack F. hauled the little old milkhouse/outhouse to his place to the west; where it rests in his yard today as a storage shed.
With that in mind the two Jims high tailed it over to see Jack, thinking they might talk him out of it so that it could again be part of the original South Evergreen school setting. Right off it appeared that Jack wasn’t about to entertain that idea. The three guys wondered around the yard for a time, looked over and photographed the item of interest, got an overview of Jack’s life history in the area including his attendance at the Fisher one room school to the north. A final comment from Jack was that he understood that a restoration project “ought to be as original as possible” and that he would give some thought to his ownership of the old outhouse. The two Jims smiled at each other with shrugged shoulders and went on their way. |
