SEGMENT: SCHOOL ACTIVITIES, NON-FARM WORK, & WOMEN'S WORK
Ruth Brasell>UIS Collection B's>UIS Collection B's, Segment 1
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- SCHOOL ACTIVITIES
- Not much cooperation between schools for activities. Each year there was a Christmas Program with students from the school. Based on Christmas Idea, not Santa Claus. "Our programs were simply beautiful." Local parents would help with the program. Sometimes they held potluck dinners at the schoolhouse. During the winter the food would be left out for the next day. Dinners were at noon, without parents. Children ate a great deal at the dinners. In early years there was at least one box supper accompanied by a program.
- NON-FARM WORK
- Schoolhouse had no lights. Instead, there were large windows to the north and small windows to the south, so that on dark days there was enough light. There were no emergency lights. There was a coal furnace in the schoolhouse. Mrs. Brasel carried the coal, swept the ashes, and swept the floor. "I never felt myself abused." Enjoyed the work and stayed at the schoolhouse into the night. Walked to the schoolhouse or was driven by her daughter later on. Closed school only once due to blizzard; recalls a story about being snowbound.
- TRANSPORTATION
- Most children walked to school. Some were taken by parents. Mrs. Brasel walked a mile and a half each day, leaving at sunup.
- WOMEN'S WORK
- Took care of fire in schoolhouse. Banked the fire so it would be ready in the morning. Enjoyed the work.
