TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
TOLD by the PIONEERS - Washington Secretary of State
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Told <strong>by</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pioneers<br />
JOHN P. SPANGLE<br />
Spokane County<br />
In 1872 <strong>the</strong> settlers in <strong>the</strong> Spangle district hauled logs from a near<strong>by</strong><br />
woods and built a log school building 16 x. 20 feet in size, with split<br />
cedar shake ro<strong>of</strong>, rough board floor, desks and benches. Their next<br />
problem was to secure a teacher. A little Irishman named Hugh Mc<br />
Cauley eame along and applied for <strong>the</strong> position. He taught <strong>the</strong> first<br />
three months term. The next- teacher was \\T. B. Renshaw, who<br />
taught <strong>the</strong> second term. This school is claimed to have been <strong>the</strong> first<br />
to be built in Spokane county and was located one-half mile north <strong>of</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> present town <strong>of</strong> Spangle.<br />
ROBERT A. F ARR<br />
Ferry County<br />
I took up a subscription to organize <strong>the</strong> first school in Keller in<br />
1899. This was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> first schools for white children in Ferrv •<br />
county. 'We hired Miss Bessie Shell at $50.00 pel' month to teach this<br />
school. It was held in a tent located on <strong>the</strong> creek bottom in <strong>the</strong> brush.<br />
In 1900 'we built a log school house which later burned down. ,Ve had<br />
three children who atended this school. This district has alwaYIl allowed<br />
<strong>the</strong> Indians to attend <strong>the</strong>ir schools at no expense. There were<br />
more Indians and half-breeds attending' our school than white children.<br />
MRS. FRED FLETCHER<br />
Jefferson County •<br />
,'Then I was about six years old, I started to school in a little log<br />
school house with a dirt floor in which children <strong>of</strong> all ages were taught<br />
<strong>by</strong> one t.eacher. It was necessary at that time, in order to establish a<br />
school district, to have five families within <strong>the</strong> district. This made it<br />
necessary for some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> children to come a long way, for <strong>the</strong> districts<br />
were quite large. One child <strong>of</strong> six. walked three miles each way<br />
to and from school five days a week through a dim trail, and this little<br />
girl <strong>of</strong>ten told on her arrival at school or at home <strong>of</strong> having seen<br />
bear, elk and deer along <strong>the</strong> trail. She was ne\-er attacked, however,<br />
and had no fear even <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> bear.<br />
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