A Cemetery With A Fair View

After the Civil War, Stillwater’s lumber industry and with it the city itself was booming. Between 1860 and 1870, the population nearly doubled from 2,380 to 4,124.

During its infancy, the needs of Stillwater’s deceased were handled by either a small, loosely organized community cemetery on the bluffs above the Stillwater Prison or by even smaller family plots on private land. As more and more people began calling Stillwater ‘home’, a longer term solution had to be created.

On October 31st, 1867, a committee comprised of civic leaders formed Stillwater’s first Cemetery Association. Their primary goal was to identify and set aside land in the growing community for a permenant cemetery.

The area of land they settled upon became known as “Fairview” and would house the remains of Civil War heroes like Samuel Bloomer and several of the Valley’s lumber barons – including the most powerful of their cadre and a founding member of the Cemetery Association, Isaac Staples.

The following article is a detailed description of the grounds before even a single headstone was set in place. From the paper’s glowing praise on the beauty of the landscape you’ll see that the name “Fairview” is very appropriate.

The New Cemetery – Stillwater Republican – June 30, 1868

There is no disputing the fact that the selection of the site for the new Cemetery was the best that could be made, and we doubt if there is a more beautiful one in our whole State. It is situated about one mile south from the Sawyer House on probably the highest place of ground between here and Afton. It is now enclosed with a good substantial picket fence. The entrance is from the east end or side, and as you enter the grounds you immediately come to a mound which is of an oval shape and very symmetrical in its proportions, upon which there are some two hundred lots laid out, quite a number of which are thirty three feet square.

Some twenty by twenty, some eighteen by twenty, and some sixteen by twenty. From the top of this mound looking to the north, the poor farm is visible over the bushes and trees some six or seven miles distant. Turning round towards the east the eye gets a wide and beautiful range of country, varying from five to fifteen miles in width. Turning toward the south and you have a beautiful view of the lake for a number of miles, including the villages of Hudson and Lakeland and a few farms under improvement.

Continue turning toward the west and you have a view of quite a number of improved farms, some five or six miles distant. Among them is the farm of Rev. Mr. Langely. Turning still further to the west and the ground continues to rise and the view is not so extended but just as picturesque, the ground being more broken, with occasionally a little lake. A good view of Lilly Lake and Holcombe’s addition is also had. On the north and south sides of this large mound are two smaller ones of equally symmetrical proportions which are not yet laid out into lots, but will form the basis for some beautiful deigns to correspond with the larger one. About half way down this large mound a broad avenue is laid out, in an oval form, corresponding with the mound, and sufficiently wide for teams to pass. With a pleasant day it will form just a nice walk for most any of our citizens to visit, and we assure them that they would be fully repaid by a visit to the place.

We understand that many of the most desirable and largest lots have already been engaged and that in a few days the Association will be ready to give deeds for the lots. It is in good hands and we have no doubt that ere long the place will be all that it should be and one of which our citizens will not be ashamed.

One Room Schools

Lesson #1: The Teacher and the School Board

by Dustyn Dubuque

Can you imagine being a teacher in a one room school? In most cases, teachers were young women, often times only 19 or 20. In the 1930s a man or woman only needed to attend a normal school for 2 years to get their teaching certificate. The first of these being Winona State Normal School which opened in 1858. These schools were necessary as some counties had over a 100 one room schools, Washington County had 79.

For a one room school teacher there were many expectations for them to follow. Parents expected them to be role models for their children. Teachers often dressed up and treated the kids like their own. In many cases if a teacher wanted to be married or have a child, she would be fired. In a teacher’s contract it was provided they have proper “room and board.” Often the teacher would live with a family of one of the children they taught. Teachers could be moved from house to house throughout the school year (some cases moving a dozen times).

There were many rules of conduct a teacher would have to follow when being in charge of a one room school. Some examples would be keeping the schoolroom clean, clean the black boards, sweep the floors, ring the school bell at 9 o’clock, start a fire early, have drinkable water on hand, prepare for Christmas, and on Arbor Day beautify the school grounds. A century ago in order to serve on the school board one must have a child in that school. Each member would be elected and each member would receive a payment for their duties (between $5 and $10 a year). The school board also had the duty of hiring and firing teachers for their particular school. On July 15th, 1937 Florence Lagerstrom signed a contract to teacher a School District #2, Hay Lake School for $810 for the year, $90 in monthly payments. It was also noted in the contract Florence would receive two weeks of vacation for Christmas and one week for Easter. Lagerstrom was also off all legal holidays. She taught at the Hay Lake School for one year, 1937-38.

The school board was also in charge of paying the teacher along with an issues with the building itself. One room schools were a staple in most communities and maintaining its appearance required constant attention.

A school board member’s job was taken very seriously.