1959 History of Reardan Schools

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Chapter 2

This page is part of the Reardan History 1959 booklet that was written by the Washington State History class of 1958-1959.

The earliest symbol of education around here was a small building, founded in 1879 by the settlers on the Peter Walsh ranch. No one seems to know who or when it was built. It was then known as the schoolhouse.

Eighteen-eighty records a three-months’ session of school. In 1881 there was no school, but it was in session again in 1882. Miss Sneider, who came from farther west in the Big Bend country, is the first and only teacher mentioned in connection with the building. The school was later sold to Mr. Houston who moved it to his farm opposite the Harder place.

The next schoolhouse was built in 1883 and it was located near the cemetery.

In 1883, Lincoln County was organized and by this time the school was being used as an all-purpose center–church, theater, and dance hall.

The first recorded meetings of directors, who are in possession of our local school, began in January 1895. One of the most pressing problems at that time was the purchase of sufficient wood to heat the school. Our district was referred to as #10 which is considerably different from the #210-412 which it now bears. In February of 1895, mention is made that the salary per month for the principal was $50.00 and the one other teacher was to receive $35.00. It is interesting to note that these salaries were only for a three months’ period because it was never certain if the school would be able to continue for more than that length of time. The directors as listed in June of 1895 were: M. Olsen, J. R. Davidsen, Peter Tramm, and C. Waner, clerk. The minutes of July, 1895, indicated that the two teachers chosen for the fall term were told that school would commence “about the first of October.” At the same meeting, notices were to be posted for “ten cords of 18-inch wood cut green and dried to be delivered in September.” Times were lean and money hard to come by, so there is mention of the borrowing of money to pay teachers’ salaries and ‘other expenses.’

In December of 1896, it was decided that a section of the schoolhouse referred to as ‘the hall’ would be rented for dancing at the price of $5.00 per night, in advance! In February 1897, the clerk of the board was told to instruct the teachers that they were to have a fire built by 8:30 a.m. and the bell was to be rung promptly at 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. It was also moved and seconded that each teacher do his or her own janitor work. In March of ’97 school was stopped for one week because of bad roads. Sounds familiar doesn’t it? In February of 1898, the board decided to purchase enough lumber to build a wooden sidewalk to connect with those being built by the town. School was discontinued in May of that year. In 1898, it was found necessary to equip a third room with forty seats and desks, so the Reardan school was obviously growing.

In November of 1900, Mr. W. H. Padley was employed as principal at $65.00 per month. He had two women to assist him at $50.00 per month. In 1902, the board members were listed as: Wm. Schultz [sic], J. W. Hughes, T. G. Stevenson, O. B. Setters, clerk. Nineteen-hundred-three found the grade level of the Reardan school raised to the 10th grade and ‘including same.’

We might be inclined to wonder a little about the parties our grandparents attended when we find that on May 13, 1904, the school board took this action, “Resolved, that we shall not allow any of the teacher to attend card parties or dancing parties.”

One special meeting in August of 1902 was so interesting that we copied it: "School board met. Present T. G. Stevenson, William Schulz, and John W. Hughes. Motion carried to paint woodshed and put wood in shed also to move back houses further back. No further business. Meeting adjourned."

Progress was on the way when a contract was let for furnishing the school with an air pressure water system including drinking fountains, etc. for $500.00 in the year 1910.

The first graduation class from high school was in 1909 and numbered three. They were Ernest Davidson, Albert Ryder, and Charles Zeimantz. Mr. Padley the superintendent of the Reardan Schools for nine years, had gradually introduced high school work. The 1910 class also numbered three: Iva Davidson, Ella Moriarty, and Josephine Lacey.

The old high school building was erected in 1906. The present high school was built in 1928. Our fine new grade school was built in 1952 and the agriculture and shop building were remodeled at this time. At this time next year, a modern gymnasium will stand on the site of the old high school.

So the Reardan schools have grown from a little one-room school in 1879 to the consolidated schools of today accommodating nearly 400 students.