From
HISTORY OF MILLS COUNTY, IOWA, 1985
SCHOOL DAYS AT HENDERSON
At the time the town of Henderson came into being, the nearest school was two miles southeast of town, called the Union Valley School. Many early residents attended that school including Mrs. Cady Cooper Phillips, Kate Baumgartner Hockenberry and Theresa Baumgartner Irwin. Other country schools in Anderson Township were Benton, Box Elder, Fairview, Anderson, Pickerell and Farm Creek.
The first school in town was built in 1881 between the present-day sites of the Christian and Methodist churches. The directors were Ed Lawrence, J.J. Ewing and Thomas Phillips. This building was town down and another wooden one built in the Boileau Addition in the south part of town in 1896. The cost was $2800 and eleven grades were taught. The first graduating class was the Class of 1897: Jesse Owens, Pearl Pierson, Ralph Creamer, Claude Owens, Elmer, Harlan & Edna Priest, Anna Asell and Lena Baumgartner. This building burned to the ground in February 1908 and was replaced by a two-story brick structure on the same site.
The Henderson school was consolidated in 1920 and a new addition built onto the south. As a result, many of the country schools were closed and used for other purposes. Only those outside the designated area of consolidation remained open. Those students, when they finished the eighth grade, then attended high school in Henderson.
In the years of 1939 and 1940 the school budget for annual operations was $11,500.00. This covered the Superintendent's salary of $1600 per annum and teachers' salaries of $70 per month. By this time the school had replaced the original G.W.W. buses which had served the district about twenty years. The purchase of 1939 model G.M.C. buses was a blessing in disguise as these had to accommodate the school through the war and black market periods.
Throughout this era the school had a most versatile janitor. He especially watched out for all the students. If some of the little girls or boys had shoes that needed to be half-soled, Mr. Otis Farrington took care of it. He carried a big railroad watch and rang the old school bell right on the dot - except one time when Arlene Harbor Gamble came to school late and requested the bell be rung after she got upstairs and into the assembly hall. After the war started the school boiler needed to have new flues installed. No help was available since all the skilled personnel were either in the service or involved in war industries, so Mr. Farrington and Gordon Steiner made the installation.
A new gymnasium and kitchen facility was added to the school in 1949. Soon after, a hot lunch program was started. Parents donated meat and garden produce and helped with the canning and preserving. This practice was dropped when the government became involved with the school lunch programs.
The last class to graduate from the Henderson Consolidated school was the Class of 1960: Alice Rieken Brown, Robert Magers, Richard Wiegman, Lewis Steiner, Velda Wallace Myers, Judy Harold Smith, Ralph L. Cole, Robert Fleming, Doris Morris Fleming (Harmon) and Bonnie Siefford Delli Colli.
The schools at Emerson, Hastings, Henderson and Strahan were merged into the Nishna Valley School District in 1960. The high school center was at Emerson, the junior high at Hastings, and elementary grade centers were at Henderson and Strahan. In 1963 the high school and junior high students were enrolled in the new Nishna Valley School that was built on Highway 34 near Hastings. In 1971 classrooms were added for the grades and the centers at Henderson and Strahan were closed.
The old brick schoolhouse at Henderson was torn down in 1980 but the gym and kitchen remain and serve as a community center maintained by the Little League Association.
The first school in town was built in 1881 between the present-day sites of the Christian and Methodist churches. The directors were Ed Lawrence, J.J. Ewing and Thomas Phillips. This building was town down and another wooden one built in the Boileau Addition in the south part of town in 1896. The cost was $2800 and eleven grades were taught. The first graduating class was the Class of 1897: Jesse Owens, Pearl Pierson, Ralph Creamer, Claude Owens, Elmer, Harlan & Edna Priest, Anna Asell and Lena Baumgartner. This building burned to the ground in February 1908 and was replaced by a two-story brick structure on the same site.
The Henderson school was consolidated in 1920 and a new addition built onto the south. As a result, many of the country schools were closed and used for other purposes. Only those outside the designated area of consolidation remained open. Those students, when they finished the eighth grade, then attended high school in Henderson.
In the years of 1939 and 1940 the school budget for annual operations was $11,500.00. This covered the Superintendent's salary of $1600 per annum and teachers' salaries of $70 per month. By this time the school had replaced the original G.W.W. buses which had served the district about twenty years. The purchase of 1939 model G.M.C. buses was a blessing in disguise as these had to accommodate the school through the war and black market periods.
Throughout this era the school had a most versatile janitor. He especially watched out for all the students. If some of the little girls or boys had shoes that needed to be half-soled, Mr. Otis Farrington took care of it. He carried a big railroad watch and rang the old school bell right on the dot - except one time when Arlene Harbor Gamble came to school late and requested the bell be rung after she got upstairs and into the assembly hall. After the war started the school boiler needed to have new flues installed. No help was available since all the skilled personnel were either in the service or involved in war industries, so Mr. Farrington and Gordon Steiner made the installation.
A new gymnasium and kitchen facility was added to the school in 1949. Soon after, a hot lunch program was started. Parents donated meat and garden produce and helped with the canning and preserving. This practice was dropped when the government became involved with the school lunch programs.
The last class to graduate from the Henderson Consolidated school was the Class of 1960: Alice Rieken Brown, Robert Magers, Richard Wiegman, Lewis Steiner, Velda Wallace Myers, Judy Harold Smith, Ralph L. Cole, Robert Fleming, Doris Morris Fleming (Harmon) and Bonnie Siefford Delli Colli.
The schools at Emerson, Hastings, Henderson and Strahan were merged into the Nishna Valley School District in 1960. The high school center was at Emerson, the junior high at Hastings, and elementary grade centers were at Henderson and Strahan. In 1963 the high school and junior high students were enrolled in the new Nishna Valley School that was built on Highway 34 near Hastings. In 1971 classrooms were added for the grades and the centers at Henderson and Strahan were closed.
The old brick schoolhouse at Henderson was torn down in 1980 but the gym and kitchen remain and serve as a community center maintained by the Little League Association.
H E N D E R S O N
Henderson Schools Will Continue
From
The Malvern Leader
January 12, 1933
The Malvern Leader
January 12, 1933
The recent bank closing in Henderson threatened for a time to close the schools as it tied up most of the school funds.
But that was unthinkable, so thought faculty and pupils. They talked over the matter and the teachers offered to donate their services for a time and the bus drivers also offered to do this.
It was found, however, that some county funds might be available - enough to buy fuel and gasoline and to pay the teachers and bus drivers $25 per month each with the exception of Supt. and Mrs. Dory who offer to donate their entire services for the time being, or until taxes come in.
The senior class then voted to have a quiet graduation with no outside speaker and a very modest junior-senior party and low-priced diplomas. All concerned are showing a wonderful spirit of cooperation to keep our schools running and we believe it presages a very successful school year. The seniors have asked Supt. Dory to give their commencement address.
But that was unthinkable, so thought faculty and pupils. They talked over the matter and the teachers offered to donate their services for a time and the bus drivers also offered to do this.
It was found, however, that some county funds might be available - enough to buy fuel and gasoline and to pay the teachers and bus drivers $25 per month each with the exception of Supt. and Mrs. Dory who offer to donate their entire services for the time being, or until taxes come in.
The senior class then voted to have a quiet graduation with no outside speaker and a very modest junior-senior party and low-priced diplomas. All concerned are showing a wonderful spirit of cooperation to keep our schools running and we believe it presages a very successful school year. The seniors have asked Supt. Dory to give their commencement address.