Mellette County, South Dakota
County & Town Histories -
Berkley School District No. 3
Berkley School District No. 3
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Berkley School District No. 3
by Arthur Siegmund and Mrs. Edward Piper
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book, published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
This school was originally established at what was Berkley, South Dakota, one of the townsites established by the Jackson Brothers of Dallas, South Dakota. While it remained at this location only about four years, its history is interesting and many things that were new and firsts of that time occurred.
The school district was set aside in 1912 and bonds were voted for the construction of a schoolhouse. J. A. Siegmund, J. H. Moses and C. B. Holland were members of the school board. School was opened on September 23, 1912, in an empty restaurant building, with George E. Grimes, newly graduated from the University of Nebraska, as teacher. Construction on the new building was delayed due to some legal matter. The roof of that old building leaked, the walls and floors were full of cracks and knot holes, and many times recitations had to be suspended until the pupils warmed themselves. The few desks were not of the right size, and many of the pupils had to sit around a rickety old table and on wooden benches. There was no feeling of discouragement, however, and school was held in the cold storage house until Christmas vacation.
The first year of school was ended on June 13, 1913. A week's vacation was held in April. A few pleasant social gatherings and picnics were held for parents and pupils, and all saw the last day of school come with real regret. The average daily attendance for the first year was slightly over seven.
The second year of school began on September 9, 1913, with Mr. Grimes again installed as teacher. So great was the attendance and numerous the grades that the board found it necessary to engage another teacher to teach the primary children. Mrs. Dora Walker was hired for this position.
Activities during this second year included getting out four issues of a school paper plus an Annual. This was an unheard of project in those days, especially for a small school. There was a debating team that debated with the White River and Dallas high schools.
The third year school opened with Mr. N. A. Gerig and Miss Buskirk as teachers. The attendance continued to. be good, but some of the extra activities instituted by Mr. Grimes were dropped.
While school was going on in Berkley there was also a school in session on the H. Swanson homestead, which is now owned by V. J. Piper. Mrs. E. L. Peoples was the teacher during the school year 1913-1914. The next year this school was moved to the Mayfer homestead. W. P. Peterson taught this school for the next three years until it was combined with the Orr School in 1918. Students in this school were Archie and Rex Orr, Evald and Eric Erickson, Clyde Bice, Floyd Weed, Charles Schaeffer, Lloyd and Raymond Moses. Lloyd Moses is now a Maj. Gen. in the u. S. Army stationed at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois.
The Berkley School District consisted of the townships of Mosher, Butte, and Berkley. Butte had one school known as the Sinclair School (Butte Valley). The last teacher at this school was Mabel Wheeler during the school year 1933-1934. The building is now owned by George Golder of Wood. Butte School District divided from Berkley in 1946, according to information taken from the clerk's records of previous years. This is the only record available of Butte District No. 28.
The Rockview School was located on SE1/4 of 12-40-27. The first teacher was Theresa Cordes in 1923. Other teachers were Lenor Hurst, Hollie A. Funk, Anna Durrin, and Mrs. Howard Piper. Records show this school was closed in 1933 and the building was bought in 1942 by Ray Rankin. Some of the former students were Robert and Hollis (now Mrs. Frank Bruning of Wood) Galbraith, Hazel and Evelyn Rankin, Marie and Melvin Weaver, the Roe, Good, Whitby, Bartlett, and Jongewaard children. This school was also known as the Rankin School.
The Orr School was moved to its present site in 1918. Teachers were Chestie Baker, Jessie Sinkler (Mrs. Lee McDonaId), Faye Goodsell, Katherine Cordes. Hattie Hoff, Ellen Hoblit, Josephine Erickson (Mrs. Art Schlagzker), Winifred Robbennolt, Ellen Orr, Mrs. Anna Picking, and Ruth Weed. The last year this school was in session was in 1935 with Berneice Cruise as teacher. A number of former students in this school were the Larson, Erickson, Sykora, Orr, Weed, Norup, Good, Connelly, Goff, Kenzy, and Scaddin children.
The Matousek School began shortly after the Orr School. The teachers included Mrs. Whitby, who also taught a ninth grade for her oldest daughter and Marion Matousek; Josephine Erickson, Minnie McCarthy (Mrs. Chris Lauritsen), Mrs. Olson, Mrs. Page, Arthur Toman, Mrs. Bernard Eklund, and Joan Hutchens. Berneice Pfeifer was the last teacher of this school in 1946-1947. Students attending school were the Whitby, Draine, Hutchens, Pfeifer, Rulo, Matousek, Harper, Piper, Hole, and Herman children; Shirley Hagman, Marilyn Skalla, Harvey McLain, and Marion Paulson also attended. This school closed in June, 1947, and there has not been an active school in the Berkley School District since that time. The majority of the students now in the district attend school in Wood, South Dakota. The Orr School building is now used for general elections, special elections, township meetings, and school meetings.
This is the history of the Berkley School District to the best of our knowledge, according to information taken from old records of the district; also information received from Mr. Lloyd Hole and Mr. and Mrs. Chris Lauritsen of Wood, South Dakota.
by Arthur Siegmund and Mrs. Edward Piper
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book, published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
This school was originally established at what was Berkley, South Dakota, one of the townsites established by the Jackson Brothers of Dallas, South Dakota. While it remained at this location only about four years, its history is interesting and many things that were new and firsts of that time occurred.
The school district was set aside in 1912 and bonds were voted for the construction of a schoolhouse. J. A. Siegmund, J. H. Moses and C. B. Holland were members of the school board. School was opened on September 23, 1912, in an empty restaurant building, with George E. Grimes, newly graduated from the University of Nebraska, as teacher. Construction on the new building was delayed due to some legal matter. The roof of that old building leaked, the walls and floors were full of cracks and knot holes, and many times recitations had to be suspended until the pupils warmed themselves. The few desks were not of the right size, and many of the pupils had to sit around a rickety old table and on wooden benches. There was no feeling of discouragement, however, and school was held in the cold storage house until Christmas vacation.
The first year of school was ended on June 13, 1913. A week's vacation was held in April. A few pleasant social gatherings and picnics were held for parents and pupils, and all saw the last day of school come with real regret. The average daily attendance for the first year was slightly over seven.
The second year of school began on September 9, 1913, with Mr. Grimes again installed as teacher. So great was the attendance and numerous the grades that the board found it necessary to engage another teacher to teach the primary children. Mrs. Dora Walker was hired for this position.
Activities during this second year included getting out four issues of a school paper plus an Annual. This was an unheard of project in those days, especially for a small school. There was a debating team that debated with the White River and Dallas high schools.
The third year school opened with Mr. N. A. Gerig and Miss Buskirk as teachers. The attendance continued to. be good, but some of the extra activities instituted by Mr. Grimes were dropped.
While school was going on in Berkley there was also a school in session on the H. Swanson homestead, which is now owned by V. J. Piper. Mrs. E. L. Peoples was the teacher during the school year 1913-1914. The next year this school was moved to the Mayfer homestead. W. P. Peterson taught this school for the next three years until it was combined with the Orr School in 1918. Students in this school were Archie and Rex Orr, Evald and Eric Erickson, Clyde Bice, Floyd Weed, Charles Schaeffer, Lloyd and Raymond Moses. Lloyd Moses is now a Maj. Gen. in the u. S. Army stationed at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois.
The Berkley School District consisted of the townships of Mosher, Butte, and Berkley. Butte had one school known as the Sinclair School (Butte Valley). The last teacher at this school was Mabel Wheeler during the school year 1933-1934. The building is now owned by George Golder of Wood. Butte School District divided from Berkley in 1946, according to information taken from the clerk's records of previous years. This is the only record available of Butte District No. 28.
The Rockview School was located on SE1/4 of 12-40-27. The first teacher was Theresa Cordes in 1923. Other teachers were Lenor Hurst, Hollie A. Funk, Anna Durrin, and Mrs. Howard Piper. Records show this school was closed in 1933 and the building was bought in 1942 by Ray Rankin. Some of the former students were Robert and Hollis (now Mrs. Frank Bruning of Wood) Galbraith, Hazel and Evelyn Rankin, Marie and Melvin Weaver, the Roe, Good, Whitby, Bartlett, and Jongewaard children. This school was also known as the Rankin School.
The Orr School was moved to its present site in 1918. Teachers were Chestie Baker, Jessie Sinkler (Mrs. Lee McDonaId), Faye Goodsell, Katherine Cordes. Hattie Hoff, Ellen Hoblit, Josephine Erickson (Mrs. Art Schlagzker), Winifred Robbennolt, Ellen Orr, Mrs. Anna Picking, and Ruth Weed. The last year this school was in session was in 1935 with Berneice Cruise as teacher. A number of former students in this school were the Larson, Erickson, Sykora, Orr, Weed, Norup, Good, Connelly, Goff, Kenzy, and Scaddin children.
The Matousek School began shortly after the Orr School. The teachers included Mrs. Whitby, who also taught a ninth grade for her oldest daughter and Marion Matousek; Josephine Erickson, Minnie McCarthy (Mrs. Chris Lauritsen), Mrs. Olson, Mrs. Page, Arthur Toman, Mrs. Bernard Eklund, and Joan Hutchens. Berneice Pfeifer was the last teacher of this school in 1946-1947. Students attending school were the Whitby, Draine, Hutchens, Pfeifer, Rulo, Matousek, Harper, Piper, Hole, and Herman children; Shirley Hagman, Marilyn Skalla, Harvey McLain, and Marion Paulson also attended. This school closed in June, 1947, and there has not been an active school in the Berkley School District since that time. The majority of the students now in the district attend school in Wood, South Dakota. The Orr School building is now used for general elections, special elections, township meetings, and school meetings.
This is the history of the Berkley School District to the best of our knowledge, according to information taken from old records of the district; also information received from Mr. Lloyd Hole and Mr. and Mrs. Chris Lauritsen of Wood, South Dakota.
Berkley School built in 1912
Students of both high school and grade school posed for this picture in front of Berkley School. In the back row (left to right) we see Maymie Shepard, Helen Siegmund, Marie Siegmund. Those in the second row are Fred Hamilton, teacher; Verne Hutchins, Emma Teutsch, Irene Cerney, Vere Hutchins, Eric Erickson, and Leona Sawyer. Third row, Orvell Siegmund, Jennie White Eagle, Susie White Eagle, Christine Erickson, teacher; Della Ward, teacher; Lila Wagner. Fourth row, Ted Wagner, Raymond Sawyer, Clair Hutchinson, Clarence Wagner, Dorothy Sawyer, Edna Larsen, Ada Wagner, Fifth row, Ted Palmer, Lloyd Walker, Albert Wagner, Jake Palmer, Henry Fly.
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