Public input sought for future of historic Brodtville school

By Correne Martin

In 1852, some 163 years ago, a one-room schoolhouse was built on the settlement of Brodtville. Twelve years later, in 1864, the original building sold for $71, and a new 26x40 schoolhouse was constructed for $285 in taxes from the township—which was then Patch Grove Township and is now Wyalusing Township.

These days, when most of the men mentioned in those historical minutes now lie in the graveyard behind the schoolhouse, the future of the 151-year-old deteriorating facility is up in the air.

The town of Wyalusing is seeking public input on what to do with the Brodtville School, which was turned over by the unicorporated community to Wyalusing about three years ago. Liability insurance and basic maintenance costs of the rarely used, rundown building are the reasons why the town board is contemplating tearing it down. An auction of historical items has been mentioned as a way to add to the perpetual care fund of the cemetery and school grounds. No decisions have been made yet however.

Town Clerk Betty Cooley summarized the town board’s current position. “What we’re hoping is to peak some interest,” she said. “Wouldn’t this be a great place to have open again?”

In the meantime, the schoolhouse sits nearly empty among the hills of farmhouses in Brodtville. The only furnishings are a couple desks, a dozen student chairs, an ornate wooden piano and a built in corner cabinet. Framed black-and-white photographs of early 20th century classmates sit unclaimed. An old-time school day schedule is copied onto the blackboard. An American Legion honor roll from the 1990s hangs on the wall. Dusty, handwritten community club records lie in desk drawers. A few Halloween decorations remain from the more recent days when the schoolhouse served as a haunted house.

Perhaps the most fascinating piece of history inside the creaky building is an enormous, hand-painted, fabric banner that spans over half the classroom’s width and all of its height. The banner, whose origin and artist are unknown, shows an honor roll of sorts of Patch Grove, Bloomington and Bagley area businesses from yesteryear: the Brodtville Factory, Harris Sawmill, Patch Grove Creamery, Bagley Creamery, Weigel Trucking Service, Walz Lumber, Ray’s Market, Behlmer Garage, Sedlmayr’s Market, Myron E. Moore General Blacksmithing, Peoples State Bank, Oates Chicks, Hoskins Furniture and Funeral Service, Prairie City Bank, G.C. Lucey Hardware, Ford Sales and Service, and Chas Harris Lumber.

“There’s so much history here. I hate to see it all thrown away,” Cooley said.

A partial Brodtville School history transcribed in 1961 by Carl E. Boorman, from meeting minutes dated 1852-1864, paints a modest, authentic picture of those early days.

There were 27 children ages 4-20 in the district in 1852. Wm. H.S. Palmer taught for $15 per month and Sarah Clark taught for $7 per month. Yearly expenditures showed $46.61 was paid for teachers, $17.50 for repairs, $3.16 for library books and $4 for a lawsuit. Subjects were reading, spelling, grammar, arithmetic and geography. The original brick building on one acre was valued at $250, with no fence and no blackboard, outline maps, closets or privies (toilets).

In 1854, a 4x4 blackboard was built for $1.50 and the building was painted cream yellow and white for $13.75.

Two years later, enrollment jumped to 60 students—27 boys and 33 girls—for eight months of classes. The total expenditures were $123.16.

In 1857, school was cut to a duration of seven months.

In 1858, a population explosion boosted enrollment to 101 children.

Depreciation set in, valuing the schoolhouse at $150 in 1860. In that eighth year of existence, the school district board moved to build a privy/pit that would measure 5x8x6.5.

“That was apparently considered to be simply an educational ‘frill’ and the motion was lost,” Boorman wrote in his historical account. To cover such a basic need for boys and girls back then, they concealed themselves in nearby hazelnut patches, while their fellow chums guarded against “unauthorized” visitors.

In the war days of 1861, there were 89 school children and the schoolhouse improved in value to $175.

In 1862, there were 99 kids and the pay among male and female teachers became equal at $16 per month.

In 1864, the new schoolhouse took shape, with a foundation of stone, two front doors, two entries, seven windows and seats to accommodate two scholars each. That facility is what stands today.

In Boorman’s history, he commented, “Parents of those days were determined to give their boys and girls the best education they could afford.” Though education isn’t its focus anymore, the sentimental landmark now faces the same fate many old buildings do: Serve a purpose or be gone forever.

The public is urged to share its opinions or interest in the building with the Wyalusing Town Board before it’s too late. Contact Roland Legler, chairman, at (608) 996-2307. Additional board members include Cooley, Lynn Schreiber, Dennis Mulrooney and Eric Fuller.