PRAIRIEVILLE
Early settlers in the Prairieville area of
Palmyra Township were interested in education for their children.
There was no schoolhouse as such on the west side of the township.
For a short time school was held in a barn south of Prairieville on
the Levi Gaston farm; then one room of the house was used for school
purposes.
In 1841, Rev. C. B Thummel residing north of
Prairieville and active in the Northern Illinois Synod of the
Lutheran Church, for a time, taught his sons and some other
neighborhood children in his home.
The first schoolhouse in the vicinity was a log
cabin crudely constructed and quite small; the location was near Gap
Grove in 1839 or 1840. It is probably but not certain that it stood
and was marked by tablet as the first schoolhouse in Palmyra.
However, this was not in the boundaries of the Prairieville school
district.
In Prairieville, there was a need for a school
building and a brick school was erected and known as the Grott
School. A few years later the building was sold and converted into a
dwelling by a Mr. Turner, a blacksmith. One teacher at the Grott
School, Mr. Mitchell, taught till the early 1850's and he also held
evening school. Geography and Arithmetic were taught by a singing
method - it was a unique way to teach names of states and capitals,
likewise, multiplication tables.
Then, in 1858 a new two story brick building was
built. The land upon which the building was erected came from
property transferred from Winthrop Seavey to the trustees of schools.
The transfer was dated March 23, 1858. The land was sold "for and in
consideration of the sum of twenty-five dollars," as stated in the
record, and described as "one-half acre, more or less."
The building cost $3,000 to erect. It was a finer
building than any other in the region. It was a wonderful achievement
for such a community in that early day, and reflected the progressive
spirit of Prairieville and the vicinity.
About. the time the building was built, the
triangle of ground was divided into lots and name given to it. As had
been done previously, Religious activities were also held in the
school-house till this church was built in 1880.
There were some stirring times in Prairieville
school such as in the political war campaign of 1860. Several boys in
the vicinity enlisted. Timothy Shaw was the first to enlist and first
to give his life. He died at the front in August 1861. Later, Solomon
Stewart, Emanuel Schick and Theodore Gaston also gave their lives. A
great festival was held at the schoolhouse at the end of the war to
rejoice in the return of those who had survived.
Prairieville joined in the mourning over the
assassination of President Lincoln, which followed so closely to the
rejoicing caused by Lee's Surrender. In response to the Governor of
Illinois' request for services in the memory of the president,
services were held at the Prairieville schoolhouse with Dr. C. B.
Thummel conducting the service.
Years passed with a series of dedicated and
hard-working teachers instructing these early-day students. Their
salaries were meager by present day standards. Records show that
former pupils of Prairieville school pay high tribute to the early
teachers and praised the good foundation of instruction at
Prairieville school, when going on later to college. Many graduates
attained positions which are noteworthy.
Jan. 17, 1930 became a sad day in the history of
Prairieville school as early that day, flames destroyed this historic
building of many memories. School activities resumed shortly
afterwards and were held on the first floor of Prairieville
Church.
A new school was built and the dedication was
held on Sept. 1, 1930.
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