My grandmother and grandfather went to school in this schoolhouse. Can you imagine being stuck in there in the south Georgia heat, along with mosquitoes and gnats? My great-great grandfather built the school.
When I was 5 years old I got to go to a one-room schoolhouse with an older cousin in Nebraska when we were visiting in December. She packed a lunch in a metal lunchbox for both of us and we walked to the schoolhouse. When we came inside & hung up our coats, there was a small table with a large container of water on it and a single dipper for all of us to drink from. There were two outhouses outside towards the edge of the property, one for girls and the other for boys. There were rows of desks and i got to sit with my cousin for the day. Two teachers taught grades from kindergarten to 8th grade. My cousin’s teacher was teaching the older students. But the other teacher would give me the kindergarten papers to work on even though I wasn’t enrolled in kindergarten in my area. I sat quietly and worked on the papers. We had recess and went outside, used the outhouse and played till the bell rang. Went back inside and did more lessons till lunch. Everyone washed their hands at the well outside and then we sat & had lunch & went out to play a little more. In the afternoon the older students assisted the younger students with lessons. When the school day was over the teacher told my cousin that I was a good student and would do well in school and we walked back to the house. It was a pleasantly warm day for mid-December.
@Musicman my aunt said someone gave her a ride to school in one of those covered buggies when she was on a farm a mile and a half from the country school
@exexec they did. See how the school building is raised off the ground? That space beneath allowed for cooler air to circulate through the building. And see how there is space in the ceiling area, between the top of the door and the roof? That also allowed cooler air to circulate. As for the bugs, they could burn citronella candles or other herbs to keep them away. Sometimes they rubbed oils on their skin to repel bugs too.
@MarthaMazz I only know of one person who came through that school who went on to college, became a river boat owner and state senator. I didn't know why he was the exception.
@MarthaMazz My grandfather did. Then he went into the logging business and then owned a turpentine still. He eventually became a tobacco farmer. My grandmother probably left school to learn how to cook, sew, and do other things ladies did. She spent some time as the postmaster of the community post office, a one room shack on my great-grandfather's property.
In the town I grew up in. The original school house was made of thick brick, to combat the summer heat and had 4 classrooms and 1 cloak room/principle office. The oldest of the teachers used to tell stories about going there when she was a little girl. The building still stands on the grounds. As the Drama and Music classrooms.
Amazing family history So if Your great great grandad had not built the school . . Your grand dad And Grand ma. Might never had met And you might it been Born. I believe in no such thing as . Coincidence. Or What if … You were ment to be …
@DearAmbellina2113 Good theories, but not accurate in the real world of that area. There was no "cooler air" to circulate. Citronella and similar items of that era only reduced insects by less than 50%. They did wear long sleeves and long dresses to help with the bugs. Nothing kept the gnats out of their eyes.
@DearAmbellina2113 Wow! A bit judgmental aren't we? I base my statement on on-site experience. IF you doubt my statement about the effectiveness of citronella, check the studies. If you question my assertion that there was no cool air to circulate, spend a summer in deep south GA with the humidity and heat. I am always interested in being educated.
Oh wow!!! That's pretty amazing. They only taught the basics..Reading writing and arithmetic. Also, no million dollar school budget or unions interfering.
@SomeMichGuy My great-grandfather was postmaster, and the post office was a shack on his property. He was succeeded by my grandmother (his daughter-in-law). I have a photo of the PO, too.
