The Pleasant Grove school

We are fortunate that in our state there are still numerous reminders of an earlier age. An age where Education was made available to the masses in the form of the ubiquitous country school. Rural children lived away from larger towns in a time before every person had at least one car or truck, so what was to be done to ensure they received the knowledge needed to get ahead in the world? The answer again is the country school.

Just the other day I had a chance to visit one such reminder of those earlier days. Located near the village of Buda, the Pleasant Grove school has been standing for 116 years and still looks just as strong as they day it was built. The school opened in 1902 with Kitty Cummings serving as it's first teacher.  The school was there at the start and end of World War one. It was there during the Great Depression. It was there during the bombing of Pearl Harbor that ushered in a Second world war.  It was still standing, and serving students, during the Korean conflict.

It stood the test of time until 1960 when finally it closed with Clara Skaggs as it's last teacher. Most of these old schools have been torn down, or left to rot but for Pleasant Grove it has been repurposed as a barn. The day we were there it was quiet and peaceful but one could almost imagine the ringing of a bell as children were called to class.

It should be noted that this is on private property and we were allowed to take our photo's with the landowners permission. My special thanks to Carole Novak and Larry Moore for sharing their memories of attending the school and showing us around.

The Roggy cemetery and school

On a recent outing we drove to the location of the Roggy school and cemetery. It's located just a few miles outside of Princeton on a small country road. I was told that until recently it was filled with brush and debris and not visible. Indeed Lil Nick and I drove past it several times in our adventures without even realizing it was there!

 I haven't been able to find out much about this place as yet but what I Do know is that a school was in operation here from 1902 thru 1918. The first teacher there was Mabel Walter and the last was Verna Stone. Perhaps my readers can contribute what They might know. It's located up a short embankment with no way for a vehicle to enter the premises. I ended up parking a short distance away at a field entrance as it is too narrow to park on the road itself. 

That being said there several interesting markers there as well as the old school bell. If you get an itch to explore with good weather finally here go check it out!

The Old Danish church

The first Danes arrived in Sheffield and settled the area in 1854, holding their first services in 1868. St. Peters Danish Evangelical Lutheran church was organized in 1869 and by 1873 they had 33 members.  Originally they had bought a small church which proved to be Too small  so a new church was built and dedicated on September 112th, 1880. The Sheffield congregation also has the distinction of being the oldest Danish Lutheran's in America.

When the new church opened they boasted 150 members and dues were: 7.00 a year for farmers with 80 acres or more, 6.00 a year for those with less than 80 acres, bachelors were asked to pay 4.00 a year and spinsters paid the least, 2.00 a year. Pastors were paid 500.00 a year.  Eight years after opening its doors membership had risen to 200 members and the congregation was Thriving.

Over the years alterations were done and undone. Some of the historical discoveries made include original stenciling along the top of the inner walls, a painted mural was discovered behind the altar during a renovation. Original frescoes were found on the ceiling and the original baptismal font was discovered up in the attic, in pieces, and buried under Six loads of dead pigeons!

In one corner is a replica of the "Danmark" a Danish naval cadet training ship used in WW 2.  There are two bells in the steeple both of which work and are rung for special occasions. In 1973 the church was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. I Want to give a big Thank You to Lil Nick for going inside and taking the majority of these photo's. Also a thank you to the curator of the Sheffield historical society across the road for her help and the opportunity for a private tour.