Oh, if only these walls could speak - Czechoslovak Society of Arts ...

Selected Papers from the 2003 SVU North American Conference, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 26-28 June 2003
consisted of four teaching nuns and one or two housekeepers. In 1960, there were 187 children
enrolled. Then, in the mid sixties and into the seventies the number of pupils declined. The staff
of teaching nuns was reduced as a result of the declining enrollment in the school, and, as a result
of a declining number of teaching sisters due to declining vocations. Finally, in May of 1976, the
Motherhouse of the Sisters of Notre Dame notified the parish that they could no longer staff the
school. Teaching duties then fell to lay teachers.
For short time periods after 1976, the “Old School” served as a home for some of the lay
teachers and as a home for the parish custodian. For the most part, however, it served as a
storage facility for the next 25 years.
1917 to 1955 - The Boarders
One of the most unique uses of the “Old School” was that of “boarding house”. This was
made possible when, in 1917, a major renovation of the buildings interior took place. The
building was reconfigured so that local farm children could be brought to school on Monday
morning, learn their lessons, live in the “Old School” or “convent” as it was getting to be known,
and return to the farm on Friday after classes. Boarding of the local children continued until
1955.
Imagine, if you will, as many as 30 boys and girls living together with 4 teaching nuns
and 2 housekeeping nuns. What would it have been like? What values would the children have
learned from this experience?
The year was 1947 and Lester Humpal, a local Spillville resident and clever young farm
lad who spoke only Czech, something not uncommon in the Spillville area as late as the mid
1950’s, was “on the run”. He was following the winding curves of the Turkey River. He was on
the run from the square building topped with a cupola’s cross; on the run from the intimidating
nuns who only spoke English in class; on the run from the convent where his family had left him.
Lester thought he was home free, but a farmer caught him three miles from the school and
took him home. His father dragged him back to the convent, where he spent eight school years
during his young life.
The time in the convent with the nuns, and other youngsters, although traumatic at times,
provided a foundation that lasts a lifetime. Lester says he learned values. Values like discipline,
responsibility and teamwork. Values he carries to this day. Lester is now 62 and working to save
the “Old School.”
Lester understands the boarders formed a second family, a home away from home. They
worked together, and the oldest ones helped the littlest ones with their chores. The youngsters
also took full advantage of the 90 minutes of free time allotted the children each day after school.
They would don their “roughin’ clothes” to play softball or tag. “There weren’t any cliques,
everyone was equal.”
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