Greetings Historians’, Relatives, Volunteers and friends,

I am Alva William Medbery Jr. and the only son of Paris L. (Duck) Medbery, who is the daughter of Elmer Duck. Elmer Duck was the teacher at Doe Creek Schoolhouse. I wanted to give everyone here a little walk through on how school was conducted there many years ago. I received this information from my mother and want to apologize to any Historians’ gathered here as her memory is not the best these days. So please bear with us as we go through the typical day, of school, as they were so many years ago.

At the time, Paris was going to school she had two other sisters that also went to Doe Creek Schoolhouse, but this did not mean that they went to school at the same time. You see in those days children had chores that they had to accomplish prior to going to school. Paris had to milk the cows every day prior to heading to school. She always brought a bag lunch, although she tells me that they did have tin boxes back then. She would generally bring a sandwich and a piece of fruit and sometimes she would carry her father’s lunch.. They always walked back then and she would walk about a mile on a gravel road. This was about the same distance for all the children. Her father would leave earlier, as he had to get the schoolhouse ready. Place the flag out in front of the school and if it was cold start the fire in the wood stove.

School started at 8 and ran through to 12 for lunch, 30 minutes for lunch and then continued until 4 o’clock. Mr. Duck would bring the children into the schoolhouse by ringing a bell located in front of the school. My mother tells me that there were about 40 children in school, ranging from grade 1 through grade 8. Most of the children were in the grades 1 through 3 and they sat in the front three benches, with the older children in the back benches. All children had school books issues by the state and worked out of them throughout the day. School teachers had little problem with discipline back then, as Mr. Duck knew all the parents and a little talk went a long ways. My mother can only remember her father spanking a child one time and this was when he caught one boy peeing on another boy. She also cannot remember her father ever taking a day off, even though he was a very busy man. When he got through teaching he still had a farm to run and because he was a teacher everyone in the town went to him with all sorts of problems. He was the veterinarian and the ace of many trades.

Once a month, on a Saturday, my grandfather would take a bus to Lexington for a teacher’s meeting. My mother would tag along and walk through the different stores. Also during harvest time the school would shut down for whatever time was necessary to harvest the crops. When they returned to school they would go as long as they needed to make up the time. This included summer if necessary.

My mother recalls a Elma Jean Mcpeak, who she says was her best friend at that time. I and my mother would like to sincerely thank all the people who put many hours into rebuilding this schoolhouse and to those people who continue to volunteer to maintain it. We apologize for not being there, but promise to return. If anyone has specific questions for my mother about the schoolhouse or her life back then they can ask them through this computer email address; apmedbery@yahoo.com Again, thank you and God Bless.

Written by Paris Lavelle (Duck) Medbery with her son Alva William Medbery Jr.