SCHOOLS OF YESTERYEAR
Paris No. 1 - Shemka School, Part 2
by Janis Stein

Join in the continuation to learn how the 1881 fire affected school enrollment as well as plans the district fathers made in the early 1900s to build a new, yellow brick schoolhouse.

For many years, the building that once served as Paris No. 1’s Shemka School (also spelled Schemke by some) later served as the old Paris Township Hall. Paris No. 1 stood on the north side of Atwater Road, one-half mile east of the intersection of Atwater and Parisville Roads or one-half mile west of the intersection of Atwater and Minden Roads in Section 23 of Paris Township, Huron County.

The Annual School Inspectors Report dated 1874 shows 191 children between the ages of five and 20 years lived within the district boundaries of Paris No. 1. Of these children, 96 were between the ages of eight and 14, and a total of 75 students were enrolled. Six months of school were held. A male teacher taught for two months, earning a total of $64, and a female teacher taught the remaining four months of school, earning $128. The Town Clerk got the location right this time, plotting Paris No. 1 in Section 23 on the north side of what is now Atwater Road, and the report listed the value of the school at $1,250.

The School Inspectors Report listed Anthony Slawik as the School Director from 1876 through 1888. The report dated 1878 states a total of 200 students were enrolled at Paris No. 1, despite the fact that only 150 seats were available. A male teacher taught seven months of school and earned $33 per month for his efforts. To ensure all was well at the school, the Director visited the schoolhouse seven times during the course of the school year, and the Township Supervisor made his appearance three times as well.

By 1880, enrollment dropped to 145 students, and the school term lasted only five months. The report dated 1881 was filed just before the Great Fire, so there was no disruption in recordkeeping. Though no mention is made on the Annual Inspectors Report regarding the Great Fire of 1881, the only indication that something was amiss appeared in the 1882 Inspectors Report. It showed enrollment declined from 145 students to just 67. The following year, 1883, 58 students attended Paris No. 1. One female teacher taught 115 days of school during the six-month term, and she earned $30 per month. The following year, a male teacher taught the same amount of children over the same time period and earned $40 per month.

By 1885, the report indicated one significant change; the school term was lengthened to 140 days over a seven-month period. The September 1888 report showed that Vincent Polk would replace Anthony Slawik as Director for the ensuing year. The following year’s report, 1889, showed 241 children between the ages of five and 20 years lived within the district. Of those children, 99 were between the ages of eight and 14, and a total of 64 students were enrolled. The school’s value declined to $800, and one female teacher taught eight months of school, earning a total of $240 for the year.

The year-end report dated September 1, 1890, showed enrollment increased dramatically to 92 students – the highest number since the 1881 fire. One female teacher taught 200 days of school over a 10-month period.

The Annual Statistical Report for 1904-1905 showed Joseph W. Zinger taught 10 months of school, earning a total of $470. Ninety-five students were enrolled at Paris No. 1, with 199 children between the ages of five and 20 living in the district. Of the 199, 62 children were between the ages of 14 and 18 and, of these 62, only two students attended school. One student pursued studies above the eighth grade in the subjects of Theory & Art, School Law and Algebra.

According to this statistical report, the students would soon have a new building. One question read, “Is schoolhouse to be built in the ensuing year?” to which the answer was “Yes.” The next line on the report stated, “Cost of same: $1,500.” “Building: $925” was listed under the expenditures, along with $30.62 for repairs. The school officers signed the report: Vincent Polk, Director, Address, Parisville; Peter Kowalski, Moderator, Minden City; and Paul Gliniecki, Treasurer, Parisville.

The following year, the district’s forefathers proceeded with their plans and did, indeed, decide it was time to build anew. According to the 1938 history, in 1905, the old wooden school was torn down, and a new yellow brick school, measuring 28 by 48 feet was built in its place. Four windows on both the east and the west side of the schoolhouse allotted plenty of light. The new yellow-brick schoolhouse contained the main classroom and two cloakrooms. Forty single seats faced the teacher’s desk to the north; the children’s desks, varying in size to offer comfort, accommodated the students attending Shemka School. Each morning the children recited the Pledge of Allegiance, the flag standing in the northwest corner of the schoolroom, and when thirsty, the children drew water from the pump just southwest of the school, toward the road.

According to the expenditures listed on the Annual Statistical Report for the 1905-1906 school year, the district paid an additional $767.50 for the building, $0 for the site, and Joseph W. Zinger earned $500 for teaching 10 months, or 200 days, of school. Other expenditures included repairs (listed on the report in parentheses next to repairs included outhouses, well, painting, windows, etc.) of $6; furniture (such as desks, stove, bookcase, organ, etc.) of $103.82; apparatus (which could have included a globe, maps, charts or a dictionary) of $47.00; fuel, $25.90; incidentals (which might have been anything from a broom, chalk, a pail or towels), $3.55; and $9 was spent on insurance. The janitor’s salary totaled $27, and the officers’ salaries totaled $55. The value of the school property was listed at $2,000. The annual report was signed by the Director, Vincent Polk, of Ruth; Moderator, Peter Kowalski, Minden City; and Treasurer, Paul Gliniecki, of Ruth.

Be sure to look for the continuation next month to learn about Shemka’s teachers at the turn of the twentieth century, including Frank Kolar who, although he had signed a teacher’s contract, found himself receiving a draft notice and serving in World War I instead.

©2011 Stein Expressions, LLC