Berrien County Genealogy Project presents...
Berrien County Rural Schools
Copyright 2002 - 2011, Brenda
Sears, Baroda, MI 49101 -- All rights reserved CONTACT
NEW: PICTURES below
this chart! If you have a school picture and would like to submit
it for this page, please send it through the CONTACT link above.
Highlighted school names are pictured below the table. Brenda
Sears
|
Antoik - Berrien #2 |
Elm Valley - Weesaw #8 |
North Shore - Benton #2 |
|
Arden - Royalton #5 |
Eureka - Pipestone #1 |
Oak Forrest - Bertrand #9 |
|
Avery - Three Oaks #1 |
Evans - Lincoln #4 |
Oak Grove - Berrien #7 |
|
Bacon - Royalton #4 (click to view
picture) |
Fairland - Niles #21 |
Olive Branch - Galien #7 |
|
Bainbridge - Bainbridge #7 |
Fairplain - Benton #5 |
Painter - Berrien #12 |
|
Bakertown - Bertrand #7 |
First - Pipestone #7 |
Painter - Weesaw #7 |
|
Bard - Benton #10 |
Forrest - Bertrand #5 |
Pearl - Benton #3 |
|
Barnhardt - Niles #10 |
Forrest Hill - Bertrand #9 |
Penn Yan - Bainbridge #3 |
|
Baroda - Baroda #2 |
Franklin - Berrien #2 |
Pier - Hagar #5 |
|
Baroda - Lake #2 |
Galien Township - Galien #5 |
Pollywog - Bertrand #9 |
|
Basswood - Three Oaks #1 |
Gard - St. Joseph #1 |
Pucker Street - Berrien #20 |
|
Batton - Galien #8 |
Gardner - Weesaw #4 |
Pyle - Weesaw #6 |
|
Beaver Dam - Galien #3 (click to
view brochure) |
Germany - New Buffalo #4 |
Range Line - Niles #9 |
|
Bedinger - Oronoko #6 (click to
view picture) |
Geyer - Niles #14 |
River - Sodus #5 |
|
Bell #48 - Niles #2 |
Gitchell - Bertrand #10 (click
to view pic) |
Riverside - Hagar #6 (click to
view pics)) |
|
Berrien Springs #52 - Oronoko
#1 (see pictures) |
Glendora - Weesaw #1 |
Riverside - Chikaming #3 |
|
Bertrand - Niles #4 |
Gray - Coloma #3 |
Royal - Royalton #3 |
|
Boyer - Bainbridge #6 |
Hand - Berrien #3 |
Ruggles - Baroda #3 |
|
Boynton - Benton #14 |
Harbert - Chikaming #4 |
St. Joseph Valley - Niles #21 |
|
Brandywine Jr. High - Niles #2 |
Hatfield - Niles #8 |
St. Joseph Valley - Berrien #4 |
|
Bridgman - Lake #7 |
Hathaway - Lake #8 |
Sawyer - Chikaming #2 |
|
Brick - Bainbridge #4 |
Hills - Baroda #1 |
Shanghai - Pipestone #3 |
|
Brick - Niles #13 |
Hills Corners - Weesaw #1 |
Shawnee - Oronoko #7 |
|
Broceus - Buchanan #3 |
Hinchman - Oronoko #2 |
Sleepy Hollow - Niles #7 |
|
Brong - Weesaw #4 |
Holbrook - New Buffalo #3 |
Sodus - Sodus #2 |
|
Bronson - Bertrand #12 |
Holmes - Bertrand #20 |
Sorter - Benton #4 |
|
Brown - St. Joseph #2 |
Hollywood - Royalton #6 |
South - Galien #7 |
|
Browntown - Chikaming #6 |
Howe - Bertrand #6 (click to view
pics) |
South Lincoln - Lincoln #5 |
|
Buckhorn - Royalton #5 |
Hull - Benton #6 |
Spinks Corners - Bainbridge #5 |
|
Bundy - Hagar #1 (Opened 1844) |
Indian Hills - Buchanan #8 |
Spring Brook - New Buffalo #3 |
|
Burg - Bainbridge #12 |
Ingraham - Coloma #4 |
Spring Creek - Three Oaks #1 |
|
Burke - Oronoko #4 |
I. X. L. - Pipestone #11 |
Stanley - Benton #7 |
|
Burke - Pipestone #16 |
Johnson - Benton #8 |
Stevensville - Lincoln #6 |
|
Byers - Bainbridge #8 |
Kansas - Bertrand #2 |
Stewart - Lincoln #2 |
|
California - Lake #5 |
Kelsev - Buchanan #7 |
Stickney - Watervliet #5 (click
to view pic) |
|
Cedar Lane - Niles #12 |
Knight - Oronoko #3 |
Stump - Sodus #13 |
|
Center - Bainbridge #7 (click to
view pic) |
Lafayette - Benton #9 |
Tabor - Sodus #6 |
|
Chadwick - Sodus #1 |
Lakeshore - Benton #2 |
Thompson - Niles #6 |
|
Chikaming - Consolidated #39 |
Lakeside - Chikaming #1 |
Tryon - Royalton #2 |
|
Clymer - Coloma #8 |
Lamb - Bertrand #8 |
Union Pier - New Buffalo #5 |
|
Collins - Pipestone #15 |
Landon - Baroda #4 |
Wagner - Buchanan #5 |
|
Coloma - Coloma #1 |
LaSalle - Berrien #11 |
Waldron - Galien #7 |
|
Columbia - Pipestone #4 |
Liberty - Berrien #11 (click
to view pics) |
Walnut - New Buffalo #2 |
|
Colvin - Buchanan #6 |
Long Lake - Berrien #1 (click
to view pic) |
Washington - Coloma #7 |
|
Coveney - Buchanan #4 |
Maple Grove South - Berrien #8 |
Wilson - Galien #7 |
|
Cowles - Sodus #15 |
Maple Grove North - Berrien
#9 View below |
Wilson - New Buffalo #4 |
|
Cribbs - Bainbridge #2 |
Martindale - Benton #12 |
Winkler - Niles #4 |
|
Currier - Bertrand #8 |
Matchett Peak - Niles #11 |
Witherel - Royalton #1 |
|
Curtis - Hagar #2 |
Mead - Niles #5 |
Womer - Bertrand #4 |
|
Dayton - Bertrand #1 |
Millburg - Benton #1 |
Yellow Mill - Niles #3 |
|
DeMott - Niles #9 |
Miller - Buchanan #2 |
St. Paul's Lutheran- Stevensville |
|
Dutch Corners - Bertrand #3 |
Mt. Pleasant - Sodus #4 |
Lutheran - Bridgman |
|
Eaman - Hagar #4 |
Mt. Tabor - Oronoko #5 |
Lutheran - Sawyer |
|
Eau Claire - Pipestone #10 |
National - Berrien #5 |
S. D. A.* - Berrien Springs |
|
Eaton - Weesaw #5 |
New Troy - Weesaw #3 |
Lutheran - Berrien Springs |
|
Electric Light - Niles #3 |
North Lincoln - St. Joseph #3 |
Lutheran - Glendora |
|
OTHER SCHOOLS not listed here:
Three Oaks School -
Three Oaks (click to view)
NOTES:
*S. D. A. - Seventh Day Adventist |
Bedinger School - # 6- Submitted by Arleta Fritz
Picture taken Oct. 26, 1933 ~ The Teacher was
Candace Neidlinger
Front Row (left to right): Margie Koebel Dunn, Elizabeth
Baab Nifong, Charles and David Lawrence Richards, Willis Stemm,
Betty Street, Beverly Prillwitz Turner and Bob Lemon.
2nd Row (left to right): Irene Stevens, Martha Wingard,
Noralene Zech Sempert, Fred Wrobleski, Clifford Steet, Hilda and
Edna Baab and Myron Henderson. [Fred has chgd his name to Roble]
3rd Row (left to right): Laura Zech Greiger, Joe Wrobleski,
Evadine Wingard, Harold Henderson, Harold Street & Dan Wrobleski
next to teacher, Candace Neidlinger.
Back Row: Roy Wingard, Ed Baab, Evelyn Zech Pierman, Dorothy
Lemon, Selma Baab, Vivian Porter and Geraldine Porter.
To the best of my knowledge; the entire back
row are deceased as is Laura Zech, Edna Baab, Charles and David
Lawrence Richards, Willis Stemm and Bob Lemon.
I have no way of knowing if others are still alive. Didn't know
several of them personally, or married names. Arleta Fritz
If you can identify any of the unnamed
students above, please contact Brenda.
Bacon School - Royalton # 4 - Submitted by Bud
"Ladd Wilson" Burr
If you can assist in identifying the
students, contact Brenda.
Front Row (Left to Right): Boy ?, Girl?, Donald Arent, Adell Adent, Boy?, Girl?
Second Row (Left to Right): Jr. Adent, Girl?, Mary Lou
Burkett, Richard Burkett, Boy?
Third Row (Left to Right): Ida Wagner, Eugene Foster, Delorise
Fillwoke, Fred Fillwoke
Fourth Row (Left to Right): Neil Kretchman, Margaret "Babe"
Katz, Teacher Mrs. Margie Clapsaddle Knuth, Daisy Wagner, Bud
"Ladd Wilson" Burr
A message from Bud "Ladd Wilson" Burr: I remember
Bacon School very well. I attended Bacon School, a one room school
house for 9 years. I grew up in a farm house on Miners Road. That
farm house turned 100 years old in 2009. Miners Road was named
after my Uncle Sam Miners. There were two teachers that taught
while I attended Bacon School, Mrs. Margie Clapsaddle Knuth, and
Miss Mary Block. I walked to school everyday about 1/2 mile from
my house. We had school picnics and holiday parties. The school
had electric lights and a coal furnace. The older boys would keep
the coal furnace going during the day at school. Inside the coal
furnace we would bake potatoes on a rack. There were 2 outhouses
behind the school one for girls and one for the boys. I remember
both teachers drove a Model A ford car to school. The only water
we had was a hand pump outside. We would draw water into a bucket
and bring inside. There was a dipper in the bucket for everyone
to drink with. Bacon School was a special place and I will always
have good memories of my time spent there. My wife and I currently
live in Coloma, Michigan. If you have any more questions please
feel free to contact me. (Thank you Mr Burr for submitting
this wonderful information.)
Long Lake
School - Submitted by Daundra Baker
This is an enlargement of students
from the picture below.
Daundra's grandmother is Harriet "Hattie"
Victoria Fox (1895-1967) in front row with her hands crossed.
If you can assist in identifying the
students, contact Brenda.
Long Lake School - Submitted by Daundra Baker
Daundra's grandmother is Harriet Victoria
Fox, (1895-1967) the girl in the second row from the left in very
back leaning out to have a look-see.
If you can assist in identifying the
students, contact Brenda.
Three
Oaks School , 1889 - Submitted by Dan
Klute
Dan's great-grandfather, Charles Peter
Klute, is in the middle row, second boy from right.
If you can assist in identifying the
students, contact Brenda. (see below
for another pic from this school)
Howe,
Bertrand Township (Bertrand #6) - Submitted
by Dan Klute
Jan 1950
Thank you to Russell B. Clifton for
the following information: "This school served the area known
as Portage Prarie. A book entitled "THE STORY OF PORTAGE
PRAIRIE", written by Alma V. Hartline. Copies of this book
are available in both the Buchanan, Michigan and South Bend, Indiana
Libraries".
IDENTIFIED:
Aunt to Dan Klute, Mary Imogene (Marigene)
Klute (maiden name) is in this picture and Dan's uncle James Anthony
Klute (bottom row, first boy on left), and his father Charles
Franklin Klute (bottom row, 4th boy from left).
In the second row from the front, third
child from the right is Betty Ann Clifton, daughter of Russell
T. Clifton and Clara L. Clifton. She married Dale Mitchell of
rural South Bend, Indiana. Both she and her husband are now deceased.
This information is from Russell B. Clifton, brother of Betty
Ann.
If you can assist in identifying the
students, contact Brenda. (see below
for another pic from this school)
Howe, Bertrand Township (Bertrand
#6) - Submitted by Dan Klute
Feb 21, 1955
The row in the back, directly in front
of the left blackboard, 2nd girl from the left, is Betty Ann Clifton,
daughter of Russell T. Clifton and Clara L. Clifton. She married
Dale Mitchell of rural South Bend, Indiana. Both she and her husband
are now deceased. This information is from Russell B. Clifton,
brother of Betty Ann.
Liberty School, Berrien Center (Berrien
#11)- Submitted
by Cathy Benedict
Circa 1922.
Back row (left to right): Second girl
in (front of door frame) with short hair w barette on her rt.
side is Helen May Staley (1908-1981)
Second row (left to right): Louise
Sharpe (long dark ringlets).
Third row (left to right): There are
only 2 children in this row. The girl on the far right in front
of a gal with a very large black bow is Eloise Ann Staley (1913-2002),
sister to Helen May Staley
If you can assist in identifying the
students, contact Brenda. (see below
for another pic from this school)
Liberty School, Berrien Center (Berrien
#11) - Submitted by Cathy Benedict
Circa 1900 - Darwin Sharpe was the
teacher. He is located just to the left of the pole on the left
side of the porch.
If you can assist in identifying the
students, contact Brenda.
Berrien Springs High School - submitted by Cathy Benedict
The next two pictures date about 1927
- Harold Sharp is third from right side. If you can assist in
identifying the students, contact Brenda.
Berrien Springs High School - submitted by Cathy Benedict
In the picture below Harold Sharp (#27)
is holding the ball. If you can assist
in identifying the students, contact Brenda.
Berrien Springs High School - submitted by Cathy Benedict
Girls basketball team. If you can assist
in identifying the students, contact Brenda.
GITCHELL
School, Bertrand #10 - Submitted by Sierra Holcomb Wagner
She wrote: "...I attended this
wonderful one-room red brick schoolhouse from 1st grade to
6th grade. It was located on the corner of Portage Rd and Old
Chicago Rd off M-60 West. Berrien Co, Bertrand Twp, Niles, MI.
It had an outhouse when I started (attending) and my Dad,
Munsey Holcomb, and Janet Tibbs Dad, Bob (Tibbs), put indoor
plumbing in. Us kids thought we were in heaven. No more cold trips
outside or bees in the Spring. I have tried to find some history
on this school but to no avail. I did find some reference of it's
existance in the 1860's. One year we had our picture in the
paper for being the smallest school in the district. We had 9
kids in the whole school. K-8. It was odd to have so many one-room
schools in the 50's and 60's. I was honored to go there as
Mrs. Payne was a wonderful teacher and gave all of us the one-on-one
attention that we needed. The school is now a house, but the memories
are still there. It was a treat to ring the bell from a huge rope
in the long front hall. Dodgeball in the wintertime. It was
the best".
Thanks for sharing Sierra!
Beaver Dam - Galien #3 -
Submitted by Cathy Yost
Center
School, Bainbridge #7, circa late 1920s
Submitted by Linda Reineberg-Gonzalez:
http://www.reinebergfamily.com
Bottom row (left to right) Victor Vinton, Harold
Rickerman, Dean McMann, Phillip Lee, Lester James.
Second row (left to right) Kathryn Hampton, Elizabeth Krumm,
Margaret Hampton, Anna Loush, Warren Straub, Vera James, Edward
Krumm.
Back row (left to right) Henry Krumm, Stanley Dickey, Donald
McMann, Dorothy McMann, Leona Strauf, Orville Roundy, Teacher
is Gladys James.
Linda Reineberg-Gonzalez mother is Margaret Hampton Reineberg,
her aunt is Kathryn Hampton Lozmack.
Stickney
School, Watervliet #5 - Submitted by
Twilla Brooks
Mrs. Hackett's class of abt 1931. Twilla
Brooks is in the 2nd row, 3rd child (left to right), her brother
Richard Brooks is next to her. According to Mrs Brooks, the teacher
is Mrs. Hackett, she also remembers some students in this class:
The names are incomplete but she remembers surnames Long, Beasley,
Schoonover (sp) and remembers Calvin Bama, Corlas(sp) Bama, Wanda
Lavely, Gordon Vandresick, Rayna and June Phillips, Gloria Gunn
and Ila Dolittle. If you can identify children in this photo,
contact me and I will list them here. Thanks again to Twilla Brooks
and her son Timothy McCoy for this submission.
Maple
Grove North, #9 - Submitted by Cindy
(Howard) Murphy
Mrs. Hackett's class of abt 1931. The
little girls with the necklaces in the front row are Reba and
Anna Gardner now Anna Sommer.
See more pictures from this school
below. If you can assist in identifying the students, contact
Brenda.
Maple Grove North School, #9 - Submitted by Cindy (Howard)
Murphy
1901
Back row (left to right): 1st child
is Olga Tibbs
Middle row (left to right): 5th child
is Anna Gardner, 6th child is Reba Gardner
Front row (left to right):
Maple Grove North, No. 9 - Submitted by Cindy (Howard) Murphy
April 11, 1900
Back row (left to right): 3rd child
from left is possibly Olga Tibbs.
Middle row (left to right): Anna Gardner
is 3rd from the left, Reba Gardner is 4th from the left and brother
Hugh Gardner is on the end, standing in the dark sweater.
Front row (left to right):
Riverside
School / Hagar #6 - Submitted by Kirk Vandenberg
The following three schools are Riverside
School / Hagar #6, Kirk also submitted a list of students and
is uncertain which students/picture the list identifies.
If you can assist in identifying
the students, contact Brenda.
1st (Row?): Ed LaViolette, Joe Virgo,
Erick Noach, Herb Chabot, Hulda Storick, (Benny Marsala), Lila
Frazee, Mabel Merrill, Anna(? hard to read) Marsala, Teacher Eva
Paul, Edna Storick
2nd (Row?): Sam Pecoraro, Alfred Chabot,
Johnny Frazee, Gladys Elston, Joyce Elson (Elston?), Dorothy Denning,
James Hickey, Sophie Frazee, Marie Chabot, Winifred Denning, Fern
Elson (Elston?), Irma Kittell, Frances Moshier, Charlie Frazee,
Will Chabot, Lee Merrill
3rd (Row?): Mary Pecararo, Katherine
Denning, Audi Elston, Emmogene Merrill, Charlie LaViolette, Tina
Virgo, Winfired Tousain, Evelyn Moshier, Edith Schaus.
The arrow in the picture below points
to James Hickey, grandfather of Kirk Vandenberg. Kirk's great
grandmother Mary Jane Broderick Hickey taught at Hagar #6
The following picture of the school
in the distance was taken from the James Hickey farm. Copyright
Kirk Vandenberg
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