This was a time in history when there was no hot or cold running water, electricity or indoor plumbing.  The older students were given the responsibility of bringing in water from the well and carrying in wood for the stove.  The younger students would be given responsibilities according to their size, such as cleaning the black board or taking erasers outside for dusting.  (This would have taken place later on when the schools had black boards.)

 

As there were children from the ages of five to fifteen or sixteen attending at the same time, the teacher would gladly ask an older student to help out by reading to or assisting the younger ones while she worked with the older group.

 

In 1876, the town appropriated $508.95 to pay five men for supplying transportation to and from school.  This transportation for children who lived too far away from the schools to walk was provided by a horse-drawn wagon call a "sulky," "pung," or "barge."  Some children might have ridden a horse if their families had one.   In later years they might have ridden a bicycle.

 

Respectfully submitted by  Sue Basile