Dewey School

District 110

                    Dewey School

             District Number 110

The first Schoolhouse in District 110 or as it was known until 1903, District 9 was located on the section 34 and was built in the year of 1856.  Charles Mayo was elected first moderator of the school and Joseph Mayo Jr. was selected first secretary.   The judges of the election were Peter Sheen, James Lang, and William Dickenson.   Joseph Mayo, William Dickenson, and James Lang were the first directors.

  The school is located in the midst of a fertile farming district, which was settled by a number of English persons.  The first school was named the British Institute by the surrounding districts because of the English settlement, a name that stuck by it for many years.  The first session of school was taught in the fall of 1856 by Loveady L. Woodward who had a salary of $4.50 per week and “boarded around.”  She also taught the British School in 1859.   This time she was paid $20.00 a month and had to board herself.  In 1858 Amos Edwards taught school for $65.00 and had his board paid.  John Ellis taught school here for $60.00 a month and had to pay his board.  Edward Auten, residing at Princeville, was one of the teachers who had spent most of their lives around here.  He taught the British School and was paid $30.00 a month,

In 1856 teachers were paid by the week and hired for a period of 8 or 12 weeks.  In the year 1860, this system was changed so that the teacher was hired for a period of three months and there were three terms a year.  This was superseded in 1877 by a term of six months each year and this idea was in vogue until 1885 when the 8 month school year was adopted and has been in use ever since.  Fifty-six teachers have taught in this district. 

In 1867, director’s had a meeting to discuss plans for a new schoolhouse. They finally decided to spend $10.00 and repair the old building.  The schoolhouse was a frame building, with benches long enough to seat about four pupils each, in front of which separate desks were placed.  An old-fashioned cannon stove heated the room, and there was no vestibule or cloakroom.

In 1874 a new well was dug which cost $12.75.  Two years later the school received new seats.  Miss Purple taught that year.  She later went as a missionary to China, and while returning to the United States she took sick on board the ship and died.  She was buried at sea.

In 1898, a new schoolhouse was finished.  It was build east of the old school.  The new building was 21 by 34 and cost $517.15.   The old schoolhouse was sold to E. Garland for $5.00. 

The dedication took place in the fall with a former student, Dan R. Sheen, making the principle speech of the evening.  At this time the school was named Dewey, in honor of the Spanish American War General.

The same building is in use, having undergone many improvements from time to time.  A new sanitary heater has been installed in 1917, to comply with the sanitation law, the windows were rearranged and a new cloakroom built on the North.  At this time a new large chimney was also erected.  The school had a large library and sufficient reference books to take care of its needs.  The playground is equipped with regulation equipment. While the enrollment is much smaller than it was back a number of years, the people in the community take a great interest in the welfare of the school and support it in a wholehearted manner.

1943-44  Annabel Adkins

             Wilma Gordon