Maroa Grade School - Grade Yearbook (Maroa, IL)

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 If If HISTORY Z? SCHOOL The first public school In Marta was In 1858-59. So school building had been erected yet, but by that time there were nearly two dozen children and persons of school age In the village and Immediate neighborhood, ar.i the people realized the necessity of providing them the means of acquiring a common school education. The only vacant building in the town wa3 a fraa structure which had been the quarters of the construction gangs when the railroad was built, and abandoned when that work was completed. This building was fitted up where it stood, ar.d in the fall of 1858 there was opened in it the first public school ever held in Maroa. A new school home was built during the summer of 1659- The building was a frame and was located on the north part of the ground on which the present building stands. The lot was bought of the Associated Land Co., a corporation with headquarters in Massachusetts, and it is a noteworthy fact that the deed to this lot was executed and acknowledged at the town of Salem, renowned for its witchcraft persecutions during colonial times. On the right of March 31 1661, a severe wind storm struck the little village and did a good deal of damage to buildings. The new school house was lifted from its foundation and carried about ten feet to the east and quite badly racked. Temporary quarters were secured elsewhere for. the school while the school building was righted and repaired. At a meeting of the school board held Aug. 23, 1862, the tax levy for school purposes was fixed at one-half of one per cent, and the sum of $330. was appropriated, $275. for teachers, $30. for fuel, and $25. for incidental expenses. 40

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SAFETY PATROL Clarence Ethington, Richard Cole. Bill Blrge, Oren Groves, Jack Clark, Mr. Fassett, Sponsor, Eddie Hall, Larry Anderson, Charles Glenn, Phillip Reason. COOKS Anna Pulliam, Normaline Monts, Oma Reed, Laura Schroeder, Louise Archey 39

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HISTORY OF SCHOOL (Continued) By the fall of 1864 the school population had so Increased that two teachers had to be employed for part of the year. Both teachers taught In the same room. Additional ground having been purchased and the old building moved away, work was begun on a new school building in the summer of 1866. The new building was a two-storv brick of four rooms. An east wing of two rooms was added In I8b7. During the summer of 1875 a one-room frame school house was built on the rear end of the school lot, back of the main building. By 1877 the school had a principal and four teachers. The average monthly wage at this time was about $45. to $50. per month. At a meeting of the board held April 3, 1882 it was decided that more ground was needed. Two acres of ground lying east of and adjoining the school lots were purchased for $500. By 1890 the population of the town had reached a point where by law the management of school affairs should pass from a board of directors to a Board of Education consisting of a president and six members. About this time it was decided to purchase a steam heating plant for the brick school. W. C. Dine was given the position as Janitor and held this position until June 16th, 1941, completing nearly fifty-two years of Janitorial service to the school. In 1895 improvements included the laying of concrete walks about the school buildings, and extending the city waterworks to the school premises. In 1916 the present brick building was erected. It contained twelve classrooms, an assembly and a small gymnasium. In 1953» four classrooms and a gymnasium were added. The old gym was converted to a kitchen and lunchroom for school lunches. The assembly is being used at present as a visual aids room and the new gymnasium provides a space for public meetings and assembly. It is interesting thus to follow the history of the schools through the past century. Starting with two dozen pupils and one teacher in 1858, in a village of but a few scattered houses, a mere speck upon the bread, unbroken prairie, we have seen their gradual but constant growth and development until now there is an enrollment of over three hundred elementary pupils. Also during that period a new high school has been built and has an enrollment in excess of 130. The total enrollment of of the two schools in the village is about 450 pupils. Information taken from a catalogue and course of study of the public schools of Maroa, 111. in 1901. 41