SCHOOLS OF YESTERYEAR
Hillside School Memories
Sand Beach #7, Part 1
by Janis Stein

Join me as I delve into the history of the construction of Hillside School, located one-half mile south of Jenks Road, on Klug Road.

Prior to the formation of the Hillside School district, children in the area made the long trek to Rock Falls School, some students walking as many as four miles. A law was passed forcing additional school districts to be created so that students did not have to walk such a long distance.

In 1882, one year after the Great Fire of 1881, parents of the school children gathered to determine what needed to be done to offer their young the finest education possible. Surnames of the day included Chapman, Tucker, Glennie, Hargreaves, Mitchell, Smith, Taylor, Wellock, Wills, Piotter, Kohn, Cazwell, Wies, Jurgess and Reisner.

According to information documented at the close of 1938 by teacher Mrs. Hobkirk, minutes from the meeting included the following information: The meeting was called to order by John H. Tucker who was chosen to act as chairman on September 18, 1882. Lewis McDonald was elected as secretary. First on the agenda delegated by the law was to elect three school officers. These men were elected by a majority of district members present: John H. Tucker would serve as Moderator for a term of three years; James B. Glennie would act as Hillside’s Director for a term of two years; and John Campbell would serve as the Assessor for one year.

The meeting’s minutes continued to detail the steps to be taken to form a new district. It was moved and carried to build a schoolhouse 24 feet by 28 feet; the school would be of wood construction. The side walls and the ceiling would be of narrow matched lumber, 7/8 by 3 ½ inch face. The Building Committee was nominated; James B. Glennie, John Campbell and Abraham Banker would ensure the schoolhouse project would move forward in a timely manner. The decision was made to hold six months of school, four months in winter and two months in summer. A motion was moved and carried to raise $85 for teacher’s wages and $35 for incidental purposes. It was then moved and carried to give bond on the district for $500 payable in five years.

After seeing their children previously walk four miles to Rock Falls School, several members of the district wanted to ensure their children would have a short walk. A motion was made to build in the center of the district, and the following votes were cast: 14 voted for the center and four were in opposition. It was then moved and carried that the committee buy ½ acre of land for the schoolhouse site from George W. Mitchell and pay $25 for the same.

The indenture filed at the county courthouse showed the land was deeded from George W. Mitchell and his wife, Sara Mitchell. The half-acre parcel was located in Section 22, Huron County, one-half mile south of Jenks Road, on Klug Road. The contract was entered into by School District No. 7, and the document was dated November 4, 1882.

John Tucker was awarded the job of building the school. Tucker was a millwright and had a good deal of building experience. According to the brief history of Hillside School documented in 1938, John Tucker was credited with building the first lumber mill at Rock Falls; he then procured jobs in both Saginaw and Bay City, erecting mills in those towns as well.

Hiring a teacher came next on the school board’s agenda. Along with building the school, John Tucker offered advice in this area, too. Tucker’s daughter, Ida, who was 16 years of age, had already one year’s worth of teaching experience under her belt, having taught at Engel’s Corners. Hiring a teacher immediately was of grave importance due to the current law stating once a district was organized, three months of school must be conducted before the district could draw any primary money from the state.

Ida Tucker became Hillside School’s first teacher and taught three months, receiving $21 per month as pay; her wages were paid from money raised by taxes. The records indicate Etheline Middaugh was hired for a three-month term, beginning January 1883. This information would leave one to believe Ida Tucker taught the three months prior: October through December of 1882. How long did it take John Tucker to build the school? Did he begin work as soon as the September 18, 1882, meeting was held, prior to the deed being signed in November of the same year? It seems likely, for in those days, a man’s word was good and a handshake even better.

Be sure to look for the continuation next month to learn more about the happenings at Hillside.

© 2008 Stein Expressions, LLC