The McDonough district school route takes us to the original location of this school on what is known as the Bliven-Sherman Road which is in the vicinity of Bowman Lake and runs from the McCall Road (Preston) west. There were two schools at this site; next week readers will be shown the schoolhouse in its present location. The photo, which is the earliest that the historian has in the McDonough school history files, shows students, more than likely, at the side of the original school. We regret that these students were not identified.
Mrs. Jennie Preston, to which this writer is great full for her extensive research, wrote the following paragraphs of the history of this school. This documentation is quoted verbatim as she documented it in 1976.
“There are few McDonough residents who have school day recollections of this particular district, sometimes called the Daniels School District. The schoolhouse is found part way up a very steep hilt past the Houghtaling residence. Many adults who saw their schooling here can tell you of the childhood joy they had on this hill on a winter’s day at recess. In fact, some of the children lived so that they could almost slide the whole distance home after a day of classes. What a marvelous break between school and the evening chores.
“There were two schoolhouses at its location which was often the case in any district. Today there is one very visible foundation which was the more recently built structure and the less distinguishable one can be found at the left. (Note: if possible these photos will be in the forthcoming article). Around 1920, the newer schoolhouse was build and therefore suffered fewer hardships before the final closing of the school. The older building remained standing and was used for a woodshed for the new schoolhouse, as well as a great source of pleasure and entertainment for those children who liked climbing adventures. One large tree found in close proximity was due to the efforts of an Arbor Day celebration. It is a happy reminiscence for many of our grandparents and parents Centralization of this school district occurred ca. 1933 with the McDonough Union School. The schoolhouse was sold to Burt Nicholson, formerly of Preston. He tore down the building and rebuilt exactly the same near the Preston Four-Corners. One difference seen by people familiar with the building in both sites is that it has a squatty appearance today. The reason for that the building’s original foundation was very high in comparison to its present location.”
Next week we will look at the books and records that Mrs. Preston was able to obtain for her research. If any additional information is available relevant to “school day memories” identification of the students in the photo, please do not hesitate to contact either this write at pfscott@frontier.com or Donna Robb at djrobb@frontier.net 647-5659.