One-Room Schools in Southwest Missouri Network Hosting Fun Events this Fall and Winter

November 12, 2011 Local News 1 Comment

One-Room Schools in Southwest Missouri Network Hosting Fun Events this Fall and Winter

Historic one-room schools make great rural community centers but the buildings require time, effort and resources to maintain.
Groups and individuals wanting to maintain one-room schools in the Ozarks are working on a number of projects to benefit their historic buildings according to David Burton, civic communication specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
“These volunteer groups are working with MU Extension, the Ozarks Country School Association and each other to improve these historic buildings and find new volunteers to help keep these community buildings thriving,” said Burton.[adsenseyu1]
Upcoming winter events include a movie screening, and an oral history project to capture the stories of former one-room school students and teachers.

The following events related to area one-room schools are taking place this month:

MUSIC AND FOOD AT BUNKER HILL – Nov. 19

The annual fundraising sing and auction at Bunker Hill School (McDonald County) will begin at 7 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 19. Jamey Cope and band will provide the music. Jamey will also act as auctioneer as he sells pies, cakes, handmade quilts, baby quilts, hand bags, totes and more made by the ladies of the Bunker Hill Quilt Club. Door prizes will be given away and refreshments will be served. The school is located five miles north of Pineville, Mo. on Hwy. W, or go five miles east of Anderson on Hwy. 76 to Hwy. W and turn right. For more information, call Linda Johnson at (417) 223 4684.

FUNDRAISER IN TABERVILLE – Nov. 12

All-you-can-eat biscuits and gravy with orange juice, milk, or coffee will be offered from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Nov. 12 at the Taberville Fire Barn on Hwy. H in Taberville. Suggested donation is $5 per person. There will also be a bake sale and raffle. Proceeds will go toward the restoration of nearby Ward School. The Ozarks Country School Association is quickly becoming the Missouri Country School Association.

OPEN HOUSE IN CAVE SPRINGS – Nov. 13

The Cave Springs Memorial Church (located in Cave Springs) will have an open house from noon-3 p.m. on Nov 13. According to the book, “A History of Rural Schools in Greene County, Mo,” the first school in Cave Springs was organized in the 1870s and among its teachers were several professors from New York, until smallpox broke out in 1880s and scared away teachers and students for several years. The first community school met on the lower floor of the Presbyterian Church (know called the Cave Springs Memorial Church). Directions to the church (former school) are as follows: take U.S. 160 west past Willard, go right on Missouri 123, take right on Farm Road 181. The church is about two miles down the road on left. For more information, call (417) 862-5460.

RESTORATION IN MCDONALD COUNTY – Ongoing

A group is organizing in McDonald County (Missouri) to purchase the New Bethel School building and to begin restoring it. Built in the early 20′s, New Bethel was used as a school until 1945. It is one of the last rural schools still standing (and in its original state) in this extreme southwest corner of the state. For more information, contact Karen Almeter at 417-845-6855.

More information about the MU Extension community development program known as the Ozarks Country School Association can be found online at http://extension.missouri.edu/greene or by calling the Greene County Extension Center, (417) 881-8909.