Looking back at the one room school

By Irma Dop Williams and Charlotte Shivvers

Thank you, Helen Boertje, for restoring Marion County’s rural schools to their rightful place in our history.

Nestled in the valley at the bottom of four hills was a wonderful country schoolhouse – Sunnyside! With traditional “boys” and “girls” cloak rooms inside and traditional “boys” and “girls” outhouses outside, it looked much like many other country schools. Sunnyside, however, was special – very special – to the students who were lucky enough to attend (which includes the two women who wrote this).

Completed in 1936, Sunnyside stood on two acres about eight miles west of Knoxville. It replaced an earlier version that had been up the hill on what is now McKimber Street. That first school is the backdrop for the students in our picture, a gift from Betty Dop (sixth from the left in the photo). She is Irma’s sister-in-law and Charlotte’s cousin and she told stories of cousins walking through the field to take her to school. Betty also said that her mother and Charlotte’s father attended the first Sunnyside, as did their grandfather, Marcellus Shivvers.

The “new” Sunnyside, shown in the picture with smoke coming from its chimney, was designed according to all the latest recommendations, with wide windows across the south and west sides – perhaps an early stride toward solar heating, at least a way to help the one coal-burning stove provide warmth. Of course, there was no electricity, or running water, or telephone. Trees were very special to that local school board, and there was a fine row of evergreen along the north side with red oak and maple to add beauty and shade (and hide-and-seek cover). One hand-pump well provided the water, the small “coal house” stored fuel, and the flagpole flew our national colors. Pumping water, bringing in coal, and raising the flag were all regular student chores.

The Sunnyside school district encompassed about four square miles. Even by 1936, however, the rural population was declining – which made the teacher-pupil ratio there quite wonderful. Fifteen students would have been a high and after Irma and Charlotte graduated in 1949, there were only three students left so 1949 was the last year for that beautiful “new” school.

Days at Sunnyside began with the Pledge of Allegiance and singing the national anthem; next came some kind of grooming inspection – which could lead to stars up on the list in front. Then the teacher read aloud – Huckleberry Finn, Little Women, Robinson Crusoe – a favorite time! Yes, there were classes, too. Students assembled grade by grade and subject by subject up at the teacher’s desk or at the large table to read and discuss their assignments. All could listen to other classes for additional learning – and to relieve any boredom. Art and music were saved for Friday afternoons when all grades created together – and sang with the aid of a victrola and a wonderful red song book.

But noon and recesses were the high points. Eating came first, of course. Winter lunches often included potatoes baked on the big black stove with the grates on top – or cans of soup heated there. But eating was always fast because there were the games – games probably impossible in today’s tiny metropolitan school yards. At Sunnyside the students might play Flying Dutchman or Fox and Geese in the winter time; and in warm weather it might be ante-ante-over the coal house or three-deep or endless varieties of races, including races on the horses or ponies some rode to school. Everyone had a day to choose games; work-up soft ball was popular but these authors never chose that – because they were both too afraid of being hit by a ball. Rainy days weren’t bad either; games might include skating in stocking feet across the hardwood floor.

Part II of the Sunnyside story will be published next week.

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