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THE BRICK SCHOOL HOUSE.- pGathering: of the Old Pupils, After Twenty-five Years,That was a happy thought of Mrs, Mary Arey Nims two weeks ago, which she immediately put into execution, of a gathering of as many as possible of the pupils who attended school at the Coloma brick school house prior to 25 years ago. She and her son sent put as many invitations as they could, for all to meet on the lawn of Alfred Worthington's farm across the road from the school house. Yesterday was the day Bet for the re-union and a pleasant occasion was the result. Be* sides the old pupils their immediate families were invited as well as all the old directors of that period. Many were unable to be present, yet each was represented by some member of the family. The Hour of noon found nearly seventy-five clustered under the shade of the trees around ^hree long tables, with delicious viands disappearing in the mouths of the crowd. The old people were all glad to shake hands'with Elder Mason and wife, of Amboy, who preached in the school house 39 years ago and continued 13 years nearly every Sunday afternoon. The old pupils from afar who were present were Mrs. Cilia Green Hecker, of Morrison; E. A. Emmons (and wife), Tampico; Mrs. Mat Arey Green, Pittsburgh, Penn.; Miss Mattie Arey, for her father Ezra, of 4Sedalia, Mo.; Miss Lena G older for her mother in Chicago, Miss Fleda Jenkins for her father and mother in California; Walter Fox Fox and wife,’ Chicago.All through the dinner hour many reminiscences of the past were brought up and the pranks of the scholars laughed at and the time went pleasantly by, until the inner man was satisfied. The old scholars, some of them grandmothers and grandfathers, went over to the school house, inside and all around the outside, what scenes they did recall. Many of them had not been in the building for 25 to 35 years. We read over initials and names of forgotten schoolmates, some dead and some moved to other climes. These names were cut deeply in the bricks and in the porch posts. Every brick seemed hallowed, as one remarked who had not been inside for over 30 years, “The house seems sacred to me, more than any other building in the world.” Each one present could tell of some special part of the room well remembered by some old association connected with it. To be sure the long benches and desks which used to run across the room holding ten or twelve, have been replaced by double desks, yet we could point out the crack in the lloor which Mrs. Joseph Wright and the writer toed some years ago and learned together for the first time our a, b, e, from the green primer, and we can point the spot where, when a mischievous boy, our next teacher, Mrs. Mattie Arey (Green) sat us on top of the high drum of the stove in the summertime. The instance of being smoked out ‘by the teacher was told, of one Christmas when the boys and girls all wanted a holiday and it was refused. The doors were locked and the teacher climbed the roof and put a board over the chimney.Another, of a bottle of ink exploding when being thawed out at the stove. W. B. Emmons found two peculiarly shaped hooka which he remembered putting up 35 years ago. Behind the house some declared the very holes were found used and worn as “ball goolds” by them, when “barn dooi” and “one old cat” were played. One enthusiastic man who has passed be. yond the half century mark a few years, wanted to stand for “peel away’ again. How vividly the lines of “Twenty Years Ago” came back to each one* We know that each one present hunted up that grand old piece before they went to sleep that night and read it, finding a meaning they had never realized before in those lines. Smith, the photographer was present with his large camera and the old scholars were 1 grouped on the porch and side of the school house and some negatives were taken of them. The following is the group all with the exception of two or I three went to school there prior to 25 years ago, including R. Arey and L. L-Emmons Sr., who were of the original school directors, and Mrs. W. B. Emmons, teacher.Mesdames—Will Curtis, Mary Price,Carrie Burt, Frank Hecker,Alice Shirley, Mary N ims,Mattie Green, Walter Fox,Joseph Wright, Dr. Bauch,E. A. Macomber, Belle Trowe,May Bowman,Misses—Marion Green, Maggie McNeil,Libbie Emmons, Nettie Youard,Messrs—Will Curtis, Alf. Worthington,James Arey, L. L. Emmons Jr.,W. B, Emmons, Walter Fox,E. A. Macomber, E. A. Emmons,R. L. Atkins, R. McNeil,Clayton Landis.A photograph of the whole number present was then taken. The people were then called to order by the appointed chairman W. B. Emmons and right there in the shade of the old I school house the following impromptu program was carried out. A letter was read by Mrs, E.A. Macomber from I Grove Wright who is in California and to whom most of the old scholars pres* I-eat went to school for several yearsand whom all revere. • (The letter will be inserted tomorrow.) Deacon Bichard Arey was then called upon. He with Lehman Lafayette Emmons Sr., and Artemus Ward Worthington were the first directors of that brick school ho.use. He spoke of the time wfien he first came here. There were only four houses around, all was green prairie and lonely to look upon. Many attempts were made to start a school but it was no go until 1846 an empty barn 14x16 was bought of L. B. Woods-worth for 818.00. This was the first school house between Dixon and Pro-phetstown. This remained until 1854 when the children outgrew the little house in numbers and a new one was talked of. It was first voted to build it of stone but a house in Sterling made of stone so reminded them of a jail that it was again voted on and carried that it be built of brick. They bought a kiln of 100,000 at 84.00 per thousand and what they did not use they hauled to Como for a new church. Miss Me-Clave was the first teacher m it. Money was scarce but the sum was borrowed here and there for it. The whole cost 8832..12 and there were only 36 tax payers. It was built in 1855. Elder Mason was then called forth. He said hecame here a poor young preacher among poor people in a young country in 1856. He remembered his first sermon in Sterling. His text was *‘Despise not the day of small things.” The jjee-ond sermon he preached after he washired was in this school house and here he continued preaching Sunday afternoons for 13 years. At the first revival here there were 60 conversions. He had a warm spot for the brick school house and the old people. He had the honor once of being County Superintendent of the school and gave to several from this district their first certificates. Being called upon Robert McNeil said he was of the second race. He told of the organization of the first school house. How 12 men paid 81.50 apiece and bought for 818.00 the old barn. He told of the first debating society held in it in 1851,six were present.The question was, “That the Indian suffers more from the hands of the white man than the negro does.” The old question used today. James En-derton and himself were chief disputants, As there were only two present at the next meeting the society died in its infancy.At the first years of the school two boys were detailed each Saturday afternoon to chop enough wood to last the next week. At the end of 5 years the old house was sold for 816 and the mouey given to one of their members to go to Albany to buy lumber for a new one. L. L. Emmons, Sr , gave the land for the brick school house grounds. He closed by eulogizing the many who have gone from the school and become good and great people. Alfred Worthington gave an amusing incident of smoking the votes at an election once held there.Mrs. E. A. Macomber then related a funny episode happening to herself. Mattie Arey and Phtebe Allpress on writing poetry on a picture put on her slate alluding to the teacher whom they did not like. His name was Glenn. They were made to read it out loud by him. James Arey wished an organization might be effected to make these unions permanent. It was carried and the following committee was appointed to arrange for the next one* W. B. Emmons, It. McNeil, Mrs. Mary Nims, Alfred Worthington, James Arey and Mrs. E. A. Macomber. The first named was appointed chairman and thelast named secreta y It wass decided to hold the next one the first Thursday in next August. Miss Mabel Worthington was then induced to give one of her laughable recitations receiving the plaudits of the people. “God be with us till we meet again” was then sung and a prayer offered by Elder Mason. The people spent an hour in social chat and then wended their way homeward,thinking the day the grandest of the year._Another GeniusGus Oettinger, the clothier, has a brother, Joe by name, a dentist at Michigan City, who is a worthy son,and a brother to be proud of. He has invented a new scheme for repairing bicycle tires that is far superior to anything on the market. The Michigan City Times speaks of it as follows*“Michigan City has another genius in the person of Joe Oettinger, who has invented a new bicycle tire repairer, which is far superior to any yeton the market. ******The invention iB this:He has a small round piece of steel which is sharpened at the end, over which slips a flanged tube. The flanged tube is placed over the hole in the tire and a small piece of rubber is placed on top of the tube. The rubber is then pushed through the tube passing through both the outer and inner tubes. Liquid cement is then placed in the tube, which runs down and spreads upon the patch. The tire is then blown up and the patch is securely fastened on the inside of the innertube. The operation of repairing a tinctured tire only taked two minutes oe has applied for a patent and will take his invention to Chicago some time this week and illustrate its workings to the large bicycle, manufacturing firms there. The invention is one of the best and most rapid for repairing tires, ever seen in the city and Joe wui undoubtedly make something out of the invention/’
Newspaper Details
Sterling Standard
Sterling, Illinois, US
Thu, Aug 29, 1895
Page 6
Full Page
Clipped by
Colleen L.
USA 29 Jul 2021
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