Mellette County, South Dakota
County & Town History - Riverside School District No. 12
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Riverside School District No. 12
Written by Mrs. Mary Opland
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book, published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
The first term of school for Riverside District was held in a shack near the present farm of Ray Schouse. There were two schools in the district, one called Pleasant View and the other Riverside. The first school was east of the site now used. The first teacher was Cornelia McDonald (now deceased) in 1919-1920. The term was from September 8 until May 22, and her salary was $90 per month.
Then a new school was contracted to be built on the present site by a man named Rhinehart. This building burned, and another building was hurriedly erected. School was held in this tar-paper shack for several years until 1928 when a new school was built by Mr. William Kemnitz (deceased).
The names of the earliest school board members that I could find were: Mrs. L. Schervem, Harry Banwart and Paul McDill (1928-1929).
I have a note from one of the earlier teachers, Mrs. Mildred Bennett of Wood. "I came here to teach in the fall of 1924. The schoolhouse where I first taught burnred, and the present was built later. A tarpaper shack was erected quickly and used until the new one was built.
"I had 21 pupils and all grades. Some of my pupils: were: Kermit Kemnitz (son of the man who built the school); Beulah Kemnitz, now Mrs. John Till; Lorene and Geraldine Anderson; the Petra children; the Meisner children, Lewis and Betty Raisch, and Genevieve Hickman (Mrs. Glen McEachran of White River).
"I taught for three years and then left for a period of ten years when I returned , and taught for six years in the same school. Helen M. Fridy was the superintendent and is still living in White River."
During the 30's wages were much lower as that was when hard times hit the state. At one time there was a term or two of only eight months as there was not enough levy assessed to carry the school the nine month term.
In earlier years they had box socials for entertainment and square dances, but I have no particulars about them.
Mrs. Louis Schervem, who lives near the White River bridge on highway 53, was a teacher here in the early 30's. She told me that two or three teachers would get together and hire someone to take them in to White River for teacher's meetings and then they would have to find someone to
take them home again. They rode horseback or walked to school. Their heating system was an old round-bellied coal stove and it was hard to keep the place warm in real cold weather.
Jessie Reinoehl of Winner taught here in 1939-1940 and again in 1952-1953, Marie Regennitter of Vivian was here in 1937-1939 and her sister, Esther, was here in 1940-1941. Both have married and I do not knovl their whereabouts. Maxine Crabtree taught in 1941-1942, Mrs. Etta Engle 1942-1943, Adelia Clark 1949-1950, Maysie Brown Engell 1954-1956, Marie Endes 1956-1957, Jim Burgett 1953 and Alice Gudath finished in 1954. Mrs. Lyle Hulce 1957 and her daughter, Joyce, finished the term 1958.
The present school board and years they were elected: John Till, 1949; Frank Vesely, 1957; and Mrs. Kermit Kemnitz, 1947.
I, Mrs. Mary Opland of Worthing, South Dakota, have been here three years, 1958-1961. I live in a small trailer house on the school-grounds. We boast electricity, an oil-burner, telephone and good equipment. We have a well, also. The first year I had 10 pupils but 4 dropped out about Christmas time. One, Lyle Kemnitz, son of Kermit Kemnitz, graduated in 1958. Three other Kemnitz children, Don, Gary and Sharon have also graduated from here. Bonnie Kemnitz is still a pupil here.
The next year I had five pupils, none going out.
This year I have eight and none will graduate. They are: Gene and David Bennett, sons of William Bennett, Jr., and grandchildren of Mrs. Bennett, former teacher here; Earl and Stevie Vesely, Bonnie Kemnitz, .George and Kenneth Watts, Indian boys, and Mitzi Palmer.
Written by Mrs. Mary Opland
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book, published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
The first term of school for Riverside District was held in a shack near the present farm of Ray Schouse. There were two schools in the district, one called Pleasant View and the other Riverside. The first school was east of the site now used. The first teacher was Cornelia McDonald (now deceased) in 1919-1920. The term was from September 8 until May 22, and her salary was $90 per month.
Then a new school was contracted to be built on the present site by a man named Rhinehart. This building burned, and another building was hurriedly erected. School was held in this tar-paper shack for several years until 1928 when a new school was built by Mr. William Kemnitz (deceased).
The names of the earliest school board members that I could find were: Mrs. L. Schervem, Harry Banwart and Paul McDill (1928-1929).
I have a note from one of the earlier teachers, Mrs. Mildred Bennett of Wood. "I came here to teach in the fall of 1924. The schoolhouse where I first taught burnred, and the present was built later. A tarpaper shack was erected quickly and used until the new one was built.
"I had 21 pupils and all grades. Some of my pupils: were: Kermit Kemnitz (son of the man who built the school); Beulah Kemnitz, now Mrs. John Till; Lorene and Geraldine Anderson; the Petra children; the Meisner children, Lewis and Betty Raisch, and Genevieve Hickman (Mrs. Glen McEachran of White River).
"I taught for three years and then left for a period of ten years when I returned , and taught for six years in the same school. Helen M. Fridy was the superintendent and is still living in White River."
During the 30's wages were much lower as that was when hard times hit the state. At one time there was a term or two of only eight months as there was not enough levy assessed to carry the school the nine month term.
In earlier years they had box socials for entertainment and square dances, but I have no particulars about them.
Mrs. Louis Schervem, who lives near the White River bridge on highway 53, was a teacher here in the early 30's. She told me that two or three teachers would get together and hire someone to take them in to White River for teacher's meetings and then they would have to find someone to
take them home again. They rode horseback or walked to school. Their heating system was an old round-bellied coal stove and it was hard to keep the place warm in real cold weather.
Jessie Reinoehl of Winner taught here in 1939-1940 and again in 1952-1953, Marie Regennitter of Vivian was here in 1937-1939 and her sister, Esther, was here in 1940-1941. Both have married and I do not knovl their whereabouts. Maxine Crabtree taught in 1941-1942, Mrs. Etta Engle 1942-1943, Adelia Clark 1949-1950, Maysie Brown Engell 1954-1956, Marie Endes 1956-1957, Jim Burgett 1953 and Alice Gudath finished in 1954. Mrs. Lyle Hulce 1957 and her daughter, Joyce, finished the term 1958.
The present school board and years they were elected: John Till, 1949; Frank Vesely, 1957; and Mrs. Kermit Kemnitz, 1947.
I, Mrs. Mary Opland of Worthing, South Dakota, have been here three years, 1958-1961. I live in a small trailer house on the school-grounds. We boast electricity, an oil-burner, telephone and good equipment. We have a well, also. The first year I had 10 pupils but 4 dropped out about Christmas time. One, Lyle Kemnitz, son of Kermit Kemnitz, graduated in 1958. Three other Kemnitz children, Don, Gary and Sharon have also graduated from here. Bonnie Kemnitz is still a pupil here.
The next year I had five pupils, none going out.
This year I have eight and none will graduate. They are: Gene and David Bennett, sons of William Bennett, Jr., and grandchildren of Mrs. Bennett, former teacher here; Earl and Stevie Vesely, Bonnie Kemnitz, .George and Kenneth Watts, Indian boys, and Mitzi Palmer.