Windom High School - Eagle Yearbook (Windom, MN)

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Since the time of Qll r. l'rentiss the schools in Cottonwood County have grown to 137 teachers and 86 school houses. Above is a picture of the old frame school building at VVindom. In the background can be seen the new school house not yet completed. The picture, as it is marked, was taken at Halloween time. The students, as is shown by the picture, were evidently giving the old building' Z1 fare- well reception. The building is now owned by I. G. Redding. The second Hoof is used for a lodge hall, the iirst tloor is the Xlfindom Fire Department headquarters and the basement is 21 bowling' alley. The building itself, however, has undergone very little change. , Ill: 7 , lllll 10

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that I would not get away that fall, I again applied for the school, and was en- gaged at the same wages as before for a tive months' term, with Miss Emma Chapel as primary teacher. There was no telling when I would get my pay, for school and county orders were already considerably below par. Nobody had any money except the money sharks, and they were slow about loaning it, even at thirty-six per cent interest. I had accumulated considerable personal property, and it took time to dispose of this, together with my horses, and besides, my time was not out as county sup- erintendent until the following spring. Notwithstanding the hard times and the poverty of most of the people, we had a much better school that winter than two years before when I taught. Many of the pupils were the same as then, but there were quite a number of new ones. .VVe had some interesting pupils in the school that winter. Two of Miss Chapel's sisters, young ladies. were in my room. One of them, Nellie, later be- came a teacher, as did also Eva Cook, Netta Sackett and Della Clark, I giving each of them certificates. There were also a number of large boys in the school, none of whom, however, as I recall, became teachers. The courses of study this winter were quite similar to those of the first winter. Many incidents took place in the school that would be interesting to relate, but time and space forbid. Most of these were amusing, but one was extremely sad, and caused a gloom not only over the school, but over the entire community. It was the death of VVill Steadman, the older brother of Frank. He was a fine boy, and well liked by every one. I helped to dig his grave. which was done mostly with a pick, as the ground was frozen to the very bottom of the grave. During the holidays we had a vacation, and I utilized this time to visit the country schools. Some of them were held in private houses, but there were a num- ber of fairly good school houses. Those in the northwest part of the county were among the best. In visiting these schools in the summer time, I usually rode on horseback, and remember once in july, '75, of riding twenty-five miles and back to visit two schools in the southwestern part of the county. One or two of the schools in the northwestern part of the county, among the Scandinavians, had out- line maps and an unabridged dictionary, and were quite up-to-date. A Vtihen I was appointed county superintendent, there were but ten schools in the county, but before my time was out they had increased to twenty-four. I do not believe I have forgotten a single pupil in my school at VVindom. A very warm attachment arose between the teacher and most of the pupils. I should like to mention every one of them by name, but space forbids. XYhen visiting Vtiindom and Cottonwood County last june, a picture of the scenes connected with that school when I was there was often before me. I looked at the beautiful school building in XYindom now, and wondered if the pupils appre- ciated how they were favored, compared with those of the early days. XN'hile in Cottonwood County, my experiences were then regarded by me as very great hardships, but I now look back upon them with pleasure, regarding them as truly educational. Sincerely yours, XVM. PRENT1ss. IZm'roR's Note.-lllr. Prcutiss was the first principal of schools in W'indom. 9

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HEN good old school days are ended, And the honor comes to us with a prideg When all of our errors are mended, And none of us ever have lied, There is good that comes we decided From honesty backed up with pride. For life is hardly worth living When you have been sentenced and tried Tho some have been fired and called bacli, We all have our good points and bad: We have our virtues and vices, As Adam and Eve even had, But deception is the cause of all trouble,- Tell the truth and you'll always be glad. -R. I... C 11