Douglas County KS Schools
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Douglas County KS School information provided by
Raymond Stone
Hesper School
Hesper School District No. 5
With the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Kansas became a territory in 1854.The first
Quakers came to the area attempting the territory free from slavery. On June
4.1855 the “Kansas Free State” reported that a disease similar to cholera
carried off three very interesting young Native Americans who were attending
school at the Friends Mission in Hesper, Kansas. This is the first evidence
of any school in the Hesper community. The first recorded Quakers arriving
in the area were Jonathan and Phebe Mendenhall, who came to the area in
covered wagon in 1858 from the state of Indiana. They held worship services
in their home about a mile east of the village of Hesper. Soon a 24 foot
square building was moved from Leavenworth to be used as a meeting house.
Others believe that Sarah and Levi Woodard were the first to arrive in the
area. The Woodards named their farm “Hesper,” from the Greek God “Hesperus”
who led the stars out at night.
The first school in this community was started in 1859 in a log cabin, south
of a general store owned by two brothers by the name of Hadley. An
unofficial school was held in the general store for a few years.
Elizabeth and Jeremiah Hadley deeded one acre of land to the School Board of
District No. 5 on March 26, 1863 at the northeast corner of N. 1100 Rd. and
E. 2300 Rd. It is believed that the aforementioned log cabin sat on this
site.
The log structure became quickly inadequate and was replaced by wood framed
building. This small building served District No. 5 until 1888, when a third
building was constructed on this site.
The Quakers of the Hesper community were very education minded and want the
very best of their children. A higher learning facility was wanted and
needed for the community. The nearest high school at the time was in
Lawrence, which seemed to be too far of a distance. In 1884 Penelope Gardner
sold the district a four acre tract of land where upon a two story building
was constructed. The structure was designed and built by Curtis Nadlehoffer
and Haskell Wood of Lawrence. The new facility was known as “Hesper
Academy.”
Earliest records indicate that Irvin Stanley was the first principal. At
this time, the first year consisted of three twelve week terms. This three
year system was soon changed to a four year course. The Academy served the
district for twenty-eight years. One hundred fourteen students graduated
from Hesper Academy in those twenty-eight years.
Hesper Academy was proud of their large bronze bell, cast in Troy, New York.
It is now mounted on a concrete and stone base near the front of the Friends
Church of Hesper.
Marian C. Kidder taught the 1897-98 term of Hesper No. 5. The school members
were Samuel Stanley, S.H. Davis and A.W. Armstrong.
A second room was added to the 1888 building by the beginning of the 1898-99
term. Records indicated the possible enrollment of 95 students for the 1898
term and possibly 70 students for the next year, so the addition was
imperative. With this addition, an additional teacher was required. The main
teacher was Sena Marvel, with Ella Bartlett, Annie Hollister, Cora Elliot
and Leroa Smith serving as the second teacher. It is unknown why four
teachers were needed for this second teaching position.
Jennie Armstrong and Cora Elliot taught the 1899-1900 term, with Samuel
Stanley, A.W. Armstrong and S.H. Davis serving on the school board.
Jennie Armstrong with Jennie Hill, Jennie Armstrong, with Lena Davis, Lizzie
Tuttle with Jusith Lindley, Maida Donahue with Jessie Fitz, Alma Watson with
Lena Brecheisen, Margaret White with Millie Davidson, Belle Howard with
Carrie Cox, Belle Howard with Katherine Brecheisen and H.P. Evans with Elsie
Setzer were the teachers of the early 1900’s.J.C. Schooley A.J. Kohler and
Oscar Votaw served on the school board for the term ending in 1910.
The next decade required only four terms taught by two teachers: Gurney Hill
and Mildred Davis taught the 1910-11 term, the next two terms only had on
teacher per term, Mrs. J. L. Parks, Bertha Elsworth. The next two term
required two teachers Mary Henley with Kathryn Garratt, and Mary Henley with
Zella Pfleger. The next three terms were taught by Lena Brecheisen, followed
by Ethel Pfleger. The last term of the decade had two teachers Alvena Knzig
with Mrs. Carl Kelley. Serving on the school board for the term ending in
1920 were Herbert Watson, A.J. Koehler and Samuel Stanley.
The 1920’s were taught by: Alvena Kanzig, Nina Anderson, Esther Brecheisen
with Zella Page, Eunice Torrence, Robert E. Lee, and Harold Smith.
Enrollment had declined to 38 students. Olive Day, E.H. Grob and Raymond
Stanley served on the school board.
Teaching the 1930’s: Inez Jensen with Opal Shaw, Johanna Griffis with Opal
Shaw, Johanna Griffis, Irene Neis, and Florence Brown. Hazel Harris, George
Votaw and E.H. Grob comprised the school board.
Veda Stanton, Ramona Stanley, Ramona Stanley Brecheisen, Grace Warner and
Isabelle Byers were the teachers of the 1940’s until the term ending in
1946.
Consolidation plans had been discussed for District No. 5 as early as 1922.
It was then discussed to consolidate with Fairview No. 21, but nothing
became of it. Finally on May 2, 1947 it was decided to consolidate with
Eudora District No. 28 to form the new District of 89
DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 5*
Annual Meeting on March 31, 1870
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