Reminiscing

Nearly 50 former students, teachers gather to remember country school days

By Lynda Jensen
Editor

Beautiful weather and even better memories marked the Maynard Lake reunion Sept. 2 north of Dassel, as nearly 50 former students and teachers gathered to remember years ago.

Former teachers who were able to attend included Jean (Beckman) Petersen and Clara Johnson, the latter of whom will turn 99 this fall.

In fact, Jean Peterson was presented with a framed copy of the original letter she used to apply for the teaching position at the school. It read as follows:

Mr. Franklin Schmidt

Clerk of School District 30

Dassel, Minnesota

Dear Mr. Schmidt:

Please consider me an applicant for the position of teacher in School District 30 for the following school year.

I was graduated from the Dassel High School in June 1944. I will complete my course at the Teaching Training Department in Litchfield on June 1. Our class had the privilege of taking the Red Cross First Aid Instructor’s Course; therefore I had a teacher’s certificate in that work. Also, I am capable of playing the piano quite well.

Besides the practice teaching I have had in this course, I have taught Sunday School for the last two years.

On December 14, I shall be 19 years of age. My height is five feet, five inches and my weight is 128 pounds. I am of Swedish descent and a member of the Lutheran Church. My health is good.

My references are as follows: Miss Abbie A. Cale, Teacher Training Teacher, 724 Marshall Ave. S., Litchfield, Minn.

Miss Ellen Mauschund, teacher in District 15, where I did my rural practice teaching, Route 3, Litchfield, Minn.

Mr. CJ Moe, Superintendent of Schools, Dassel, Minn.

Very Truly Yours,

(Miss) Jean Beckman

The program included several students who reminisced, from Harland Anderson (Pete Anderson’s son) to Sandy Olson Brekke, covering every decade from the 1930s to the ‘60s. The school was closed in 1961.

Root beer floats were enjoyed, along with a singalong. The restored school bell was put on display, with a collection being taken for its care and upkeep. It will eventually be turned over to the historical society, either the Dassel Area Historical Society, or the Meeker County society, whichever is able to preserve it, Howard Anderson said.

Originally, the school was founded in 1876 by William and George Maynard. The first teachers were Emma Smith for the winter school session, and Ida Hull for summer in 1876-77. Smith was paid $25 per month and Hull was paid $22 per month.

A log school house was built a half-mile farther south than the present site. The school was moved to the present site, which is at the Iver Johnson farm north of Dassel, in 1886. The bell and bell tower were added that year, too, Anderson said.

The event was the result of nearly a year of hard work done by several people. About 69 letters were mailed to alumni, Howard Anderson said.

The following is a list of teachers and students who attended the Maynard country school.

SCHOOL YEAR 38-39

Ruby Danielson, Teacher

1. John Asplund

2. Dale Olson

3. Willard Carlson

4. Clyde Miller

5. Norma Miller

6. Richard Asplund

7. Earl Freeman

8. James Johnson

9. Violet Carlson

10. David Johnson

11. William Asplund

12. Jean Johnson

13. Wilton Johnson

SCHOOL YEAR 38-39

Ruby Danielson, Teacher

1. John Asplund

2. Dale Olson

3. Willard Carlson

4. Clyde Miller

5. Norma Miller

6. Richard Asplund

7. Earl Freeman

8. James Johnson

9. Violet Carlson

10. David Johnson

11. William Asplund

12. Jean Johnson

13. Wilton Johnson

14. Betty Johnson

15. Alyce Anderson

16. Robert Anderson

17. LaVonne Johnson

SCHOOL YEAR 39-40

Ruby Danielson, Teacher

1. Dale Olson

2. Willard Carlson

3. Violet Carlson

4. Earl Freeman

5. James Johnson

6. David Johnson

7. Jean Johnson

8. Wilton Johnson

9. Alice Anderson

10. Robert Anderson

11. Betty Johnson

SCHOOL YEAR 40-41

Valry Benson, Teacher

1. Willard Carlson

2. Violet Carlson

3. Earl Freeman

4. James Johnson

5. Daniel Johnson

SCHOOL YEAR 41-42

Valry Benson, Teacher

1. Rosalie Boreen

2. Marilyn Boreen

3. Violet Carlson

4. Earl Freeman

5. James Johnson

6. Daniel Johnson

7. Alfred Watkins

8. Frances Watkins

9. Leona Boreen

10. Jean Johnson

11. Wilton Johnson

12. Alyce Anderson

13. Betty Johnson

14. Robert Anderson

15. Rose Freeman

16. Allan Schmidt

17. Rodney Boreen

18. Darrell Erickson

19. Shirley Schmidt

SCHOOL YEAR 42-43

Olive Zeigler

1. Marilyn Boreen

2. Violet Carlson

3. Earl Freeman

4. James Johnson

5. Daniel Johnson

6. Alfred Watkins

7. Frances Watkins

8. Leona Boreen

9. Jean Johnson

10. Wilton Johnson

11. Kenneth Waataj a

12. Alyce Anderson

13. Betty Johnson

14. Robert Anderson

15. Rose Freeman

16. Rodney Boreen

17. Allen Schmidt

18. Shirley Schmidt

19. Darrel Erickson

20. Kenneth Floren

SCHOOL YEAR 43-44

Olive Ziegler, Teacher

1. Alfred Watkins

2. France Watkins

3. Leon Boreen

4. Wilton Johnson

5. Alyce Anderson

6. Betty Johnson

7. Robert Anderson

8. Rose Freeman

9. Allan Schmidt

10. Shirley Schmidt

11. Rodney Boreen

12. Darrel Erickson

13. Eugene Boreen

14. Marilyn Schmidt

SCHOOL YEAR 44-45

Olive Ziegler, Teacher

1. Goldie Anderson

2. Dale Luedtke

3. Wilton Johnson

4. Alyce Anderson

5. Betty Johnson

6. Marvin Anderson

7. Melvin Anderson

8. Robert Anderson

9. Rose Freeman

10. Allan Schmidt

11. Shirley Schmidt

12. Irma Anderson

13. Darrel Erickson

14. Doloris Freeman

15. Marilyn Schmidt

16. Geroldyne Anderson

17. Gilbert Anderson

18. Darlene Johnson

19. Lois Nelson

SCHOOL YEAR 45-46

Jean Beckman, Teacher

1. Alyce Anderson

2. Betty Johnson

3. Mar-vin Anderson

4. Melvin Anderson

5. Robert Anderson

6. Rose Freeman

7. Allan Schmidt

8. Irma Anderson

9. Darrel Erickson

10. Dolores Freeman

11. Marilyn Schmidt

12. Geroldyne Anderson

13. Gilbert Anderson

14. Lois Nelson

15. Bonnie Johnson

16. Jacquelyn Koessel

17. Barbara Schmidt

18. Darlene Johnson

SCHOOL YEAR 46-47

Jean Beckman, Teacher

1. Marvin Anderson

2. Melvin Anderson

3. Robert Anderson

4. Rose Freeman

5. Allan Schmidt

6. Shirley Schmidt

7. Irma Anderson

8. Darrel Erickson

9. Dolores Freeman

10, John Shannon

11. Marilyn Schmidt

12. Geroldyne Anderson

13. Gilbert Anderson

14. Lois Nelson

15. Bonnie Johnson

16. Jacquelyn Koessel

17. Barbara Schmidt

18. Howard Anderson

19. Winnifred Erickson

20. Margie Johnson

21. Clarice Nelson

SCHOOL YEAR 47-48

Helen Ramey, Teacher

1. Fay Anderson

2. Inna Anderson

3. Gilbert Anderson

4. Howard Anderson

5. Lois Anderson

6. Geraldyne Anderson

7. Darrel Erickson

9. Winnifred Erickson

9. Rose Freeman

10. Dolores Freeman

11. Bonnie Johnson

12. Margie Johnson

13. Lois Nelson

14. Clarice Nelson

15. Clarice Oberg

16. Allan Schmidt

17. Shirley Schmidt

18. Marilyn Schmidt

19. Barbara Schmidt

20. Matt Lahti

21. Audrey Miller

SCHOOL YEAR 48-49

Helen Ramey, Teacher

1. Geraldyne Anderson

2. Darrel Erickson

3. Winniked Erickson

4. Dolores Freeman

5. Clifford Freeman

6. Bonnie Johnson

7. Margie Johnson

8. Jacquelyn Koessel

9. Lois Nelson

10. Clarice Nelson

11. Clarice Oberg

12. Audrey Miller

13. Fay Anderson

14. Irma Anderson

15. Gilbert Anderson

16. Howard Anderson

17. Lois Anderson

18. Richard Provencher

SCHOOL YEAR 49-50

Hilma L. Sandlund, Teacher

1. Darrel Erickson

2. Winnifred Erickson

3. Dolores Freeman

4. Clifford Freeman

5. Bonnie Johnson

6. Margie Johnson

7. Jacquelyn Koessel

8. Lois Nelson

9. Clarice Nelson

10. Clarice Oberg

11. Audrey Miller

12. Richard Provencher

13. Irma Anderson

14. Gilbert Anderson

15. Howard Anderson

16. Orville Anderson

17. Janice Miller

18. Geraldyne Anderson

19. Mary Olson

SCHOOL YEAR 50-51

Hilma L. Sandlund, Teacher

I - Geraldyne Anderson

2. Winnifred Erickson

3. Clifford Freeman

4. Susan Johnson

5. Bonnie Johnson

6. Margie Johnson

7. Jacquelyn Koessel

8. Janice Miller

9. Jane Miller

10. Lois Nelson

11. Clarice Nelson

12. Clarice Oberg

13. Mary Olson

14. Audrey Miller

15. Richard Provenchur

16. Irma Anderson

17. Gilbert Anderson

18. Howard Anderson

19. Lois Anderson

20. Orville Anderson

21. Percy Anderson

SCHOOL YEAR 51-52

Sylvia Carlin, Teacher

2.

3.

4.

5. Janice Miller

6. Jane Miller

7. Clarice Nelson

8. Clarice Oberg

9. Mary Olson

10. Audrey Miller

11. Howard Anderson

12. Lois Anderson

13. Orville Anderson

14. Percy Anderson

15. James Olson

1. Winnefred Erickson

Clifford Freeman

Susan Johnson

Margie Johnson

SCHOOL YEAR 52-53

Sylvia Carlin, Teacher

I - Winnefred Erickson

2. Jane Miller

3. Joanne Miller

4. Larry Oberg

5. Steven Olson

6. Mary Olson

7. Lois Anderson

8. Percy Anderson

9. Janice Miller

10. James Olson

11. Orville Anderson

12. Susan Johnson

13. Ralph Anderson

14. Richard Johnson

SCHOOL YEAR 53-54

Elsie Maikkula, Teacher

1. Susan Johnson

2. Richard Johnson

3. Jane Miller

4. Joanne Miller

5. Steven Olson

6. Mary Olson

7. Orville Anderson

8. Percy Anderson

9. Ralph Anderson

SCHOOL YEAR 54-55

Elsie Maikkula, Teacher

1. Susan Johnson

2. Richard Johnson

3. Jane Miller

4. Joanne Miller

5. Steven Olson

6. Mary Olson

7. Orville Anderson

8. Percy Anderson

9. Ralph Anderson

10. James Olson

11. Lucille Nussbaum

SCHOOL YEAR 55-56

Elsie Maikkula, Teacher

1. Susan Johnson

2. Richard Johnson

3. Jane Miller

4. Joanne Miller

5. Marlyce Miller

6. Donald Nelson

7. Steven Olson

8. Percy Anderson

9. Ralph Anderson

10. Linda Anderson

11. Carol Ann Olson

12. Ernest Marking

13. Lucille Nussbaum

14. Renee Maikkula

SCHOOL YEAR 56-57

Ellen Rokala, Teacher

1. Richard Johnson

2. Joanne Miller

3. Marlyce Miller

4. Donald Nelson

5. Steven Olson

6. Percy Anderson

7. Ralph Anderson

8. Linda Anderson

9. Carol Ann Olson

10. Ernest Marking

11. Kathleen Eastling

12. Lester Eastling

13. Sandra Olson

SCHOOL YEAR 57-58

Ellen Rokala, Teacher

1 . Richard Johnson

2. Marlyce Miller

3. Donald Nelson

4. Steven Olson

5. Sandra Olson

6. Ralph Anderson

7. Linda Anderson

8. Carol Ann Olson

9. Ernest Marking

10. Kathleen Eastling

11. Lester Eastling

SCHOOL YEAR 58-59

Ellen Johnson, Teacher

1. Ralph Anderson

2. Maryce Miller

3. Donald Nelson

4. Carol Ann Olson

5. Linda Anderson

6. Kathleen Eastling

7. Lister Eastling

8. Ernest Marking

9. Sandra Olson

10. Kathleen Eastling

SCHOOL YEAR 59-60

Ellen Johnson, Teacher

1. Linda Anderson

2. Lester Eastling

3. Kathleen Eastling

4. Caroline Eastling

5. Ernest Marking

6. Sandra Olson

7. Carol Ann Olson

8. Kathy Olson

9. Donald Nelson

10. Marlyce Miller

SCHOOL YEAR 60-61

Ellen Johnson, Teacher

1. Linda Anderson

2. Kathleen Eastling

3. Lester Eastling

4. Ernest Marking

5. Sandra Olson

6. Caroline Eastling

7. Marcia Miller

8. Darrell Eastling

9. Kathy Olson

10. Dwight McKenzie