SCHOOLS OF YESTERYEAR
Paris #3 Later Known as Maurer School, Part 1
by Janis Stein

The history of Paris Township includes the two horrific fires of 1871 and 1881, and the many buildings left in ruin included country schools. While old plat maps show Paris #3 stood in Section 8 of Paris Township for decades, its origin begins in the small settlement of Cracow.

Paris Township #3 originated in Section 9 in Paris Township in a Polish settlement named Cracow, the school’s history dating back to a time when the area was heavily timbered, and the Great Fire of 1881 had not yet ignited.

According to an 1875 map, courtesy of the Library of Michigan in Lansing, the original school was located on what is now known as Priemer Road, one-half mile east of McDonald Road or one-half mile west of Polk Road. According to the 1875 map, in addition to the school, Cracow was also home to a sawmill. When the settlement of Parisville petitioned for a post office in 1870, “the name of the nearest office on the same route, on the other side, is Cracow, its distance is about 3 ½ miles, in a North West direction from the proposed office,” according to a 1977 book titled Parisville Poles. (Cracow earned its name from Kracow, Poland.)

The Annual Statistical Report for Paris #3 for the 1879-1880 school year indicated the money on hand on September 1, 1879, totaled just $30.44. Amanda Hannah and Martha McNiell were listed as “qualified teachers employed” for the year; the children attended six months of school, or a total of 117 days. The number of children between the ages of five and 20 living within the district numbered 126; of these children, just 55 were students attending Paris #3.

The schoolhouse and the property it sat upon were valued at $300, and Paris #3 had been built with enough room to seat 100 children. The studies pursued by the children of the district included Reading, Spelling, Writing, Arithmetic and Geography. Though maps were available to aid the students in their geography lessons, the school lacked a globe and a dictionary. Likewise, the school had no library to date.

This same statistical report was dated September 20, 1880. The report indicated the female teachers were paid a total of $127, and $30 was spent “for all other purposes.” Mr. William Maurer was listed as the name of the Director for the ensuing year, and the post office address was Verona Mills.

Jenie Metcalfe taught seven months of school to 50 children during the 1880-1881 session, earning a total of $140. Much to the delight of both teacher and students, 21 new books were purchased for $17.45 and a library was born.

The 1881 fire caused havoc as the flames burnt their way through Paris Township as it did through so many others within the Thumb area. Records indicate James Bostwik taught during the 1881-1882 session; only four months of school were taught for a total of 80 days. The material of the construction of the school was listed as a frame schoolhouse, rather than the other choices of stone, brick or log.

Although 151 children between the ages of five and 20 remained in the district, enrollment dropped to 42 children, and $350 was listed as the amount spent under the expenditures account titled, Building/Repair, School Expense. No details were recorded in the ledger as to whether the school burnt or what exactly the money was used for, but another $305 was spent under the same account for the 1882-1883 school year. William Maurer, Director, signed the Financial Report for the year ending September 4, 1882, as did Donald Shaw, Moderator, with a post office address of Bloomfield.

Based on the School Expense expenditures, the writer surmises the school burnt completely in the 1881 fire, or the district salvaged what they could to begin anew. The other schools in Paris Township were built with yellow brick, while the school, later known as Maurer School, was not.

In a book titled Fiery Trial, written by Judge James H. Lincoln and James L. Donahue, a chart depicting the area ravaged by the Great Fire of 1881 clearly shows Paris Township was in the “burnt district.” According to their book, “the Michigan Legislature appropriated…fifteen thousand dollars for construction of 46 schools in Sanilac, Huron and Tuscola Counties.”

When Maurer School closed in 1957, one former student recalls his elders stating the school had stood on Maurer Road for 74 years. Assuming that oral history is correct, the math indicates the school in Section 8 was built in 1883. If in fact Paris #3 received any state money to rebuild, it is likely it would have taken a year or two before the people concerned themselves with their children’s education. Their foremost worries included building new shelter, planting a winter wheat crop and securing enough food to last them through the winter.

Lois A. Gardener taught seven months of school in 1882, earning $196; in 1883, Campell McMillan, taught only five months and earned $165. Perhaps the money listed under School Expense, mentioned above, was used to build a temporary structure until a new school could be built.

An 1890 map indicates the settlement of Cracow ceased to exist, and Paris #3 was then shown to stand in Section 8, one-half mile south of the intersection of Purdy Road and Maurer Road. Going forward, the residents commonly referred to Paris #3 as Maurer School, though some 1920s’ teaching records indicated Paris #3 was sometimes called Smith’s Corner School, the name stemming from that settlement located on the corner of Purdy and Verona Roads.

Maurer School stood on the east side of Maurer Road, and rather than the more common yellow brick in the area, the schoolhouse was constructed with siding, the boards painted white. The woodshed stood on the north side of the school, while the children played on a small baseball diamond on the school’s south side. The boys’ outhouse stood in the southeast corner of the lot, and the girls’ stood in the northeast corner. A well and flagpole completed the traditional schoolyard.

Alice E. Siggans led the Maurer students in 1884, and one former student recalls her as being “Maurer School’s first teacher.” Enrollment rebounded with 61 students in attendance in 1884, and for the first time, eight months of school were held, with the teacher earning $280. Ms. Siggans stayed on for another two years with enrollment climbing to 71 students in 1886. Ms. Siggans faced some tough male students; a later teacher’s note indicated Ms. Siggans ended up marrying one of those tough young men named Paul Maurer!

In the General School Laws of 1885, Section 15, Chapter III, it was stated Physiology and Hygiene needed to be included in the curriculum. It would take until 1888 before Maurer School complied with this law, instead teaching Orthography, Reading, Writing, Arithmetic, Geography and English Grammar. In 1887, U.S. History was added to the curriculum, followed by Physiology in 1888 and Civil Government in 1889. In 1891, the report indicated the district complied with Act No. 147 of the Public Acts of 1887 by furnishing free textbooks. In 1893, the annual statistical report added a new question of whether the district had available a U.S. flag and flagstaff. It would be another four years before Maurer School proudly waved their flag.

Some confusion must have arisen during the 1880s regarding reporting the number of children attending school. Directions on the Annual Statistical Report stated: “Directors have sometimes added the total number of scholars attending the winter school to the total number in the summer school, and reported the sum as the whole number of children attending school during the year. This is wrong. It is the number of different children who have attended that is required. Be particular to count no scholar twice. If by any error the exact number cannot be told, give an estimate.”

Join in the continuation next month as I delve into Paris # 3s expenditures from the late 1800s.

© 2008 Stein Expressions, LLC