Title
THE BEGINNING OF STARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS
Creator
James Randall
Text
THE BEGINNING OF STARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICTS
By James Randall
Taken from the minutes of a Stark County Commissioners meeting: “July 10, 1883 at 10 a m board met, all present, also the clerk. On Motion School Township, number One (1) was made to consist of all of Stark County, Dakota, west of the west line of range number Ninety Five (95). School Township number Two (2) be that part of the said county between the east line of range number Ninety Four (94) and the west line of range number Ninety Five (95): School Township number Three (3) to be all of the said county numbered on Range Ninety Three (93); School Township number Four (4) to consist of all of that portion of the said county east of the west line of range number Ninety Two (92) . . ."
The county of Stark was organized in Dakota Territory on May 30, 1883. The county, as organized, ranged from the South Dakota line on the south to the Missouri River on the north, to the Montana line on the west, and to west boundary of Morton County on the east, the same as the present boundary between the two counties.
The first school boards were as follows: Dickinson School District #1: C. H. Klinefelter, director; Charles H. Merry, clerk, and B. F. Fowler, treasurer. Gladstone School District #2: Theodore Dunn, director; A. Jopp, clerk, and R. J. Turner, treasurer. Taylor School District #3: C. B. McVay, director; H. E. Vannier, clerk, and William J. Trivelpiece, treasurer. Richardton School District #4: Edward Hughes, director; Carl Liman, clerk, and Adolph Willer, treasurer.
Through the years districts were carved out of the original districts until the 32nd district, Zenith, was created in 1921. In the 1950's reorganization was started in the county so that by 1975 districts had reorganized and/or annexed, until there were only five districts operating high schools and three districts operating elementary schools.
STARK COUNTY SCHOOLS
Dickinson Press Diamond Jubilee Issue and Records at Court House
The earliest report made on Stark Co. schools in 1883, listed 16 school houses in the entire county, with 346 children attending. Besides 16 school buildings, school was held in homes and churches for short periods of time.
School conditions in 1883 were very primitive, according to the county superintendent at that time and there was little equipment available. The teachers were young and inexperienced and few had any preparation for their work. Attendance was poor and school was usually held for a short time during the winter and a short term during the summer. Rarely did children attend more than 12 or 18 weeks during a school year.
In addition to the four school districts organized in 1883, Newport #5, Springvale #6, Antelope #7 and Alpha #8 were organized July 1885. South Heart # 9 and Belfield #10 districts were added, 1887. Elm Grove was established, 1894 and Plum Creek the next year. Versippi #11 and New Hrades (Novi Hradic) # 12 were organized in 1896. They were followed by Fischer #15 Shipley #16 and Garden #17, 1897. American New Hungary (Lincoln) was organized in 1898. Davis Butte followed, but it was in Dunn Co. and is no longer included. In 1913 Farmers Valley became # 19, followed by Scheffield, Stolz and Wildrose. Green River #24 and Grand Meadow #25 were organized in 1914, Scenic (Duval) and Lefor in 1916. Ash Coulee in 1919. Aurora #31 and Zenith # 32 in 1921.
Records show that even as late as 1905 only 53 teachers out of 111 teaching in the county had teaching permits. Yet the children that they taught became community builders and have helped to make the Stark Co. area what it is today.
Much credit for the development of the Stark County school system goes to the men and women who pioneered as county superintendents. They traveled the county by horse and buggy, sled and occasionally even on foot, doing their duty to raise the standards of the schools within the county. The list of superintendents includes; Charles S. Burk, Tom F. Evans, Alice Ellison, Dr. V. H. Stickney, D. F. Clark Suss Finger, Ida Saunder, Delis Spears, Lloyd Rader, Mary Nolan, Charles E. Ward, H. O. Pippin, Leo E. Witzlaben (appointed but failed to qualify) Petra Lee (acting), R. L. Swenson, Mrs. R. L. Swenson (acting), James Randall and Robert Scott.
Taken from the minutes of a Stark County Commissioners meeting: “July 10, 1883 at 10 a m board met, all present, also the clerk. On Motion School Township, number One (1) was made to consist of all of Stark County, Dakota, west of the west line of range number Ninety Five (95). School Township number Two (2) be that part of the said county between the east line of range number Ninety Four (94) and the west line of range number Ninety Five (95): School Township number Three (3) to be all of the said county numbered on Range Ninety Three (93); School Township number Four (4) to consist of all of that portion of the said county east of the west line of range number Ninety Two (92) . . ."
The county of Stark was organized in Dakota Territory on May 30, 1883. The county, as organized, ranged from the South Dakota line on the south to the Missouri River on the north, to the Montana line on the west, and to west boundary of Morton County on the east, the same as the present boundary between the two counties.
The first school boards were as follows: Dickinson School District #1: C. H. Klinefelter, director; Charles H. Merry, clerk, and B. F. Fowler, treasurer. Gladstone School District #2: Theodore Dunn, director; A. Jopp, clerk, and R. J. Turner, treasurer. Taylor School District #3: C. B. McVay, director; H. E. Vannier, clerk, and William J. Trivelpiece, treasurer. Richardton School District #4: Edward Hughes, director; Carl Liman, clerk, and Adolph Willer, treasurer.
Through the years districts were carved out of the original districts until the 32nd district, Zenith, was created in 1921. In the 1950's reorganization was started in the county so that by 1975 districts had reorganized and/or annexed, until there were only five districts operating high schools and three districts operating elementary schools.
By James Randall
Taken from the minutes of a Stark County Commissioners meeting: “July 10, 1883 at 10 a m board met, all present, also the clerk. On Motion School Township, number One (1) was made to consist of all of Stark County, Dakota, west of the west line of range number Ninety Five (95). School Township number Two (2) be that part of the said county between the east line of range number Ninety Four (94) and the west line of range number Ninety Five (95): School Township number Three (3) to be all of the said county numbered on Range Ninety Three (93); School Township number Four (4) to consist of all of that portion of the said county east of the west line of range number Ninety Two (92) . . ."
The county of Stark was organized in Dakota Territory on May 30, 1883. The county, as organized, ranged from the South Dakota line on the south to the Missouri River on the north, to the Montana line on the west, and to west boundary of Morton County on the east, the same as the present boundary between the two counties.
The first school boards were as follows: Dickinson School District #1: C. H. Klinefelter, director; Charles H. Merry, clerk, and B. F. Fowler, treasurer. Gladstone School District #2: Theodore Dunn, director; A. Jopp, clerk, and R. J. Turner, treasurer. Taylor School District #3: C. B. McVay, director; H. E. Vannier, clerk, and William J. Trivelpiece, treasurer. Richardton School District #4: Edward Hughes, director; Carl Liman, clerk, and Adolph Willer, treasurer.
Through the years districts were carved out of the original districts until the 32nd district, Zenith, was created in 1921. In the 1950's reorganization was started in the county so that by 1975 districts had reorganized and/or annexed, until there were only five districts operating high schools and three districts operating elementary schools.
STARK COUNTY SCHOOLS
Dickinson Press Diamond Jubilee Issue and Records at Court House
The earliest report made on Stark Co. schools in 1883, listed 16 school houses in the entire county, with 346 children attending. Besides 16 school buildings, school was held in homes and churches for short periods of time.
School conditions in 1883 were very primitive, according to the county superintendent at that time and there was little equipment available. The teachers were young and inexperienced and few had any preparation for their work. Attendance was poor and school was usually held for a short time during the winter and a short term during the summer. Rarely did children attend more than 12 or 18 weeks during a school year.
In addition to the four school districts organized in 1883, Newport #5, Springvale #6, Antelope #7 and Alpha #8 were organized July 1885. South Heart # 9 and Belfield #10 districts were added, 1887. Elm Grove was established, 1894 and Plum Creek the next year. Versippi #11 and New Hrades (Novi Hradic) # 12 were organized in 1896. They were followed by Fischer #15 Shipley #16 and Garden #17, 1897. American New Hungary (Lincoln) was organized in 1898. Davis Butte followed, but it was in Dunn Co. and is no longer included. In 1913 Farmers Valley became # 19, followed by Scheffield, Stolz and Wildrose. Green River #24 and Grand Meadow #25 were organized in 1914, Scenic (Duval) and Lefor in 1916. Ash Coulee in 1919. Aurora #31 and Zenith # 32 in 1921.
Records show that even as late as 1905 only 53 teachers out of 111 teaching in the county had teaching permits. Yet the children that they taught became community builders and have helped to make the Stark Co. area what it is today.
Much credit for the development of the Stark County school system goes to the men and women who pioneered as county superintendents. They traveled the county by horse and buggy, sled and occasionally even on foot, doing their duty to raise the standards of the schools within the county. The list of superintendents includes; Charles S. Burk, Tom F. Evans, Alice Ellison, Dr. V. H. Stickney, D. F. Clark Suss Finger, Ida Saunder, Delis Spears, Lloyd Rader, Mary Nolan, Charles E. Ward, H. O. Pippin, Leo E. Witzlaben (appointed but failed to qualify) Petra Lee (acting), R. L. Swenson, Mrs. R. L. Swenson (acting), James Randall and Robert Scott.
Taken from the minutes of a Stark County Commissioners meeting: “July 10, 1883 at 10 a m board met, all present, also the clerk. On Motion School Township, number One (1) was made to consist of all of Stark County, Dakota, west of the west line of range number Ninety Five (95). School Township number Two (2) be that part of the said county between the east line of range number Ninety Four (94) and the west line of range number Ninety Five (95): School Township number Three (3) to be all of the said county numbered on Range Ninety Three (93); School Township number Four (4) to consist of all of that portion of the said county east of the west line of range number Ninety Two (92) . . ."
The county of Stark was organized in Dakota Territory on May 30, 1883. The county, as organized, ranged from the South Dakota line on the south to the Missouri River on the north, to the Montana line on the west, and to west boundary of Morton County on the east, the same as the present boundary between the two counties.
The first school boards were as follows: Dickinson School District #1: C. H. Klinefelter, director; Charles H. Merry, clerk, and B. F. Fowler, treasurer. Gladstone School District #2: Theodore Dunn, director; A. Jopp, clerk, and R. J. Turner, treasurer. Taylor School District #3: C. B. McVay, director; H. E. Vannier, clerk, and William J. Trivelpiece, treasurer. Richardton School District #4: Edward Hughes, director; Carl Liman, clerk, and Adolph Willer, treasurer.
Through the years districts were carved out of the original districts until the 32nd district, Zenith, was created in 1921. In the 1950's reorganization was started in the county so that by 1975 districts had reorganized and/or annexed, until there were only five districts operating high schools and three districts operating elementary schools.