Tuesday, August 28, 2012

One Room Schoolhouse Reunion--August 2012

The Brace School in Fall River which my grandma restored over the last 20 years. My grandpa, dad and aunt went there through 8th grade.
Photo: Dolly Sauer Brace School House summer 2012 reunion
Photo: Dolly Sauer Brace School House summer 2012 reunion
Photo: Dolly Sauer Brace School House summer 2012 reunion party 
Nathaniel Davauer Photography
Photo: Dolly Sauer Brace School House summer 2012 reunion

Nat (my son)  took these photos for Dolly (my mother-in-law),  y,who restored the schoolhouse, named the Brace School (in honor of her great, great uncle, Henry Brace, who donated the land on which to build the schoolhouse in Fountain Prairie, WI... 
So, it's now in the family and is a wonderful place to visit...kind of like 'Little House on the Prairie'

We have had several classes have an actual day of school there, re-enacting what it would be like 'in the olden days.'   Dolly makes it extra fun by having the kids participate in churning cream to make butter using an old butter churn, and they get to help make the mashed potatoes too, because how else to enjoy the freshness of butter?  There is nothing like 'hands-on' learning. 
The kids love the use the old slates, go through the separate hall doorways for boys and girls and play the old recess games like 'Annie Annie Over' (teams on opposite sides throwing the ball over the schoohouse roof & running to catch and tag the person with the ball).  
Just good old fashioned fun.  
A lot of past attendees came out to enjoy the day, the oldest being Ken Gohr, who will be 99 next wk. 
He is shown holding his original diploma.  He is the guy we bought our farm from.   
Happy Birthday Ken!  
Some good memories were shared all around that day (August 5th).  
Good food too--not freshly churned butter, & mashed potatoes, but a friendly community potluck.


Nathaniel Davauer  
(also, fyi...his professional website is  www.davauerphotography.com  )

3 comments:

Life's a Beach! said...

My great aunt taught at a one-room schoolhouse in Kansas and I can still remember visiting her there when I was little. It makes me wonder now if the building's still standing.

How cool that your family's kept it alive!

krisla said...

Beck, that is really something that you did have that experience...neat. It would be great to find if it does still exist--so many have been turned into other dwellings or torn down.
We do have fun with it, esp my mother-in-law...not sure how we'll maintain it after she goes! :-) k

Unknown said...

Dolly gives my seniors at the near by assisted living a tour every year! I love Dolly!!