The history of the School District No. 2 at Jamestown Center is described in old records as:

The four corners of sections 9, 10, 15, and 16 was a swampy place with many fallen trees with Canadian thistles amidst the standing timber. A schoolhouse was built near this pond.

This was in 1852-1853. The schoolhouse was located on the northwest corner of the NW ¼ NW1/4 of Section 15. There was a desk around the room on three sides, against the wall, with a seat in front. If one wanted a back to the seat, they only had to turn around and lean against the desk. The stove was in the center. The teacher’s table was on the north side and near the door. Some of the early teachers were Anise Brown, Elizabeth Friz, Maria Gitchel, Dexter Stilwell, Naomi Norton, Millard Styles, Horace Keyes, Emma Abbott and there were others, for this schoolhouse was used thirteen years. No records are in existence.

All religious and township meetings and funerals were held in this log schoolhouse, besides exhibitions and spelling contests.

When the new schoolhouse was built in 1865, the old log building was moved across the road on section 16. When in readiness, Mrs. Skeels (Aunt Kitty), widow of Spencer Skeels, moved in and lived there a number of years. She did weaving for a living.

The first teacher in the new schoolhouse was Charles Christle. Others who followed were Mattie Kimball, O. R. L. Crosier, Libbie Cilley, Byron Sweet, Melissa Utter, John Woodward, Rodinthy Stranahan, Frank Carpenter and Alice Hess?. This list is incomplete.

Today the present generation, riding by this school lot, now improved, can have no idea that this pond of water ever existed. All that goes in the making of good roads has been done here.

Through its progressive people, now living here, the old frame school building has been replaced by a new structure.

Present member of the school board are: President, Dr. William Reus, Secretary, Albert Zagers, Treasurer, George VanRhee, and Trustees, Horace Hall and Henry Van Noord.

The present building was erected in 1886 and a library later was added to it. CWA work in the winter of 1934-35 completed the basement.

The school is the center of activities of many kinds for the community. The school’s capable band and orchestra are under the direction of Bert Brandt.

The pupils of the school are as follows:

Tenth graders: Lewis DeVries, Julia Grit, Hobard Hall, Raymond Huizenga, Norman Kellogg, Merlin Klooster, Harry Laating, Benjamin Haterink, Kenneth Richardson, Justin Schipper, Dick VandeBunte Gerard VanKlevering, Lillian VanNoord, Gordon VanRhee, Skiney Venema and Alice Wiers.

Ninth graders: Theodore Bowman, Lorraine Brouwer, Alma DeVries, Ernest Ensing, Junior Meengs, Jay Ocoback, Leonard Reus, Sarella VanOss, Elizaabeth VanRhee, John Venema and Julius Zagers.

Eighth graders: Fannie DeKliene, Arnold Holleman, Hermina Kunnen, Florenec Redder, Ivan Sneden, Eugene Tacoma, Gerald VanNoord, Lewis VanRhee, Robert Zagers.

Elementary pupils taught by Miss Holleman are: Grace Petroelje, Leona Wiers, Howard VandeBunte, Evelyn VanNoord, Beatrice, VanNoord, Mavis DeGroot, George VanRhee, Curtis Lamers, Myra Sneden, Jane Reus, Evelyn Reus, Priscilla Petroelje, Frederick Tacoma, Nelson Ensing, Joyce Lamers, Creighton DeGroot, Jeanette Dyersen?, Leona VanOss, Gladys Meyer, Dick Kuiper, Howard VanKlompenberg, Marvin Holleman, Muriel Hall, Marian Reus, Robert VanNoord, Roswell Stilwill, Jeanette DeKleine, Ruth VanNoord, Donald DeWitt, Florence _________? And Edmund Sneden.

Lower elementary pupils teacher was Miss Koster: Arlene Beek, Loretta __, Arlene Bowman, Lois De_, Jason DeKock, Robert De__, Delia DeWitt, Joyce DeW________, _ce DeWitt, Cornie Doesema, ________lyn Doezema, Kenneth Heu__________, Patricia Hollis, Jay H__________, Mary Jean Kruis, Paul ___, Shirley Lanting, James _______, Reuben and Willard Meyers, _____ Ocobock, Anna Mae Petroelje, _______ald Petroelje, Helen Kro________, William Reus, Lorraine_______, Margaret Struik, Walter __________, Bernice Vander Kooi, Carol ______Velde, Wallace Vander Ve______, Dorothea VanDyke, Willis V__________, Dale VanHoven, Jo__ _________Hoven, Roger VanKlompenberg, Martha VanRegenmorter, ___________Van Rhee, Gladys Van No_______, ___________en and Irwin Van Noord, Edwin Wiers and _____________Zagers.

Otto Yntema was the principal, Esther Holleman and Miss ____________Kloster were the teachers.

Transcriber: Evelyn Sawyer
Created: 5 July 2003
URL: http://ottawa.migenweb.net/schools/jamestown/dist2.html