Looking back at the one room school

By Helen Boertje

West Pella seems a surprising name for a school located so far from the town of Pella. School historian Carl Nollen believes the name originated from the nearby settlement in the 1850’s of three Dutch families from Pella: Koen Van Iperen, Arie Kamp, and John Scholten. When West Pella was established it was a part of Swan township. At some time in the past Swan township became a part of Pleasant Grove township. West Pella was located about 5 miles S. E. of Swan at the intersection of Erbe St. and 60th Ave.

The first mention that I find of this school is a report by County Superintendent Samuel Ridenour who visited this school on 3-19-1872. Teacher Jno. Alexander is employed for a four months term at $37.50 per month. There are 49 scholars enrolled with an average attendance of 30. “All the branches taught except history. Order good. This is the last day of school; all were interested. The teacher works with great zeal. Quite a number of visitors present.” (the Iowa Voter)

When Lena Nugteren Vanden Berg taught there during the school year of 1941-42, she had only seven pupils, six boys and one little girl. From time to time the school received government commodities. She remembers heating cans of beans on the oil burner to supplement the children’s lunches.

Lena is well known for her muscial talent which she used to engage her students in music appreciation. She writes. “The school had a piano so usually on Friday afternoons after recess we would have music. No instruments but mainly things to keep rhythm with such as drums, cymbals, triangles, wristlet with bells, etc. These all belonged to me. The kids really enjoyed this.” She enclosed the picture of the students with their instruments. The other picture was taken at the picnic held on the last day of school. The women are the mothers of her students. Lena is on the left and next to her is Mrs. Prichett the woman with whom she boarded.

Teachers included Jno. Alexander 1872, H. C. Williamson 1892, F. E. Wells, Henry Johnson 1895, Ione Printz, Ola Fairley, Nora Spalti 1800, D. M. Martin, Amanda Brown, Nellie Morrow 1900, Ethel Hays, Maude Inskeep, A. J. Reed 1901, Pearl Monroe, A. J. Reed 1902, A. J. Reed, Ross De Viny, Pearl Monroe 1903, Ross De Viny, Meryl Sterling 1904, Minnie Powell 1905, Grace Freel 1906, Adah Profitt 1907-08, Mayme Murphy 1909, Edna Spries 1910, Lloyd S. Rouze 1912, Helen Beem, Lloyd Rouze 1914, Marie Shoemaker, Everett Walker 1915, Sadie Billingsley 1916, D. W. Martin 1917, Florence Beckwith, D. W. Martin 1918, Gladys Abram, Florence Crone 1919, Iva Profitt 1920, Nadina Freel 1921-22, Velma Rhinehart 1924, Lela Galvin Morgensen 1925, Blanche Boren 1927-29, Clara Savage, Evelyn Gurney 1932, Evelyn Gurney 1933, Genevieve Reese 1934-36, Marie Hegwood 1937-38, Miss Ruth Harrison 1939, Evalyn Johnson 1948, Opal De Heer 1950, Mrs. Velda L. Dunn 1951-54.

The next school will be McMillen in Clay township. Contact me at 641-628-4716 or helenboertje@iowa telecom.net

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