Monday, February 07, 2005

The Guernsey Dale School Bell

Guernsey Dale school bell
This bell has some family history behind it. It's from the one-room country schoolhouse where my mother went to school back in the Thirties and early Forties. The Guernsey Dale School, out in the countryside over in central Wisconsin. In fact my mom didn't have far to go to get to school, since the schoolhouse was located right next to the farm where she grew up.

A little white country schoolhouse, all the grades together in one room. And this was the bell that the teacher would ring, to call the kids in from recess.

Some years later, the Guernsey Dale School closed, and seeing as it was right next to their farm, my grandparents bought the schoolhouse. (Later my cousin bought the schoolhouse from them, nice for a weekend getaway from Milwaukee, deer hunting, et cetera.) At some point my grandmother gave this bell from the Guernsey Dale School to my mom, and Christmas before last, my mom gave it to me. And now it sits on the end table in my living room, an interesting piece of Wisconsin history and family history.

Labels: ,

4 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Does your family still own the school? My parents farm right next to the school and my aunts and uncles went to school there!

Monday, February 23, 2009 1:36:00 PM  
Blogger Paul Burgess said...

The Guernsey Dale School near Wautoma? Yes, that property is owned today by my cousin.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 7:13:00 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Sweet! Yep thats the one! That is so cool that you have the bell!! 3 of my Aunts and Uncles went there and my Great Uncle was teacher there once!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 7:09:00 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

GUERSY DALE SCHOOL

As you may have heard, we will be moving the Guersy Dale School house this spring. We have some small donations coming in for the cost of moving and setting the school up. We hope to then fix the roof. We will need a lot of help on this project and I will be asking again soon. Do you have pictures of the inside and out side of this school.
As you may have heard, we are still working on a school book for Waushara County. I am looking for pictures, stories, and info about the school you or your family may have gone to. This book will include parts from everyone that donated something. These books will be a piece of history that can help others to understand. I really need your help.
Some of the questions are as follows.
1. Submitted by:
2. What was the name of the school that you attended?
3. What years did you attend this school?
4. What was the name of the teachers you had?
5. Where was the school located at the time you attended?
6. Is the building still standing?
7. How many students, and their names if you can remember?
8. How did you get to school, walk, car, horse, sled?
9. Did you carry a lunch, what did you bring, what was it carried in?
10. How did the school get water?
11. How was the school heated?
12. What did you do at recess time?
13. Did the school have play ground equipment?
14. Was there a flag pole? Did you say the Pledge of Allegiance and/or pray?
15. Do you have a story you can share with us?
16. If you were a teacher, What was it like to teach several grades?
17. Do you know how long your school was operational?
Please consider helping as soon as you can. As we will continue to add to our books. I am hoping to have many stories and items to share when we open the Guersey Dale School to the School Children..
waushara county museum

Wednesday, February 25, 2009 12:54:00 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home