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This would have been the
location of the frame building shown in the photos. This school district
disorganized March 1, 1946, and consolidated with Joint 72,
and later unified into USD#225.
Surnames of
students who attended Western Gem over the years:
Beckman,
Boman, Boyd, Bradley, Britton, Brown, Carlson, Chipman,
Clement, Crissman, Crouch, Cunningham, Diller, Dowell,
Fansler, Fike, Finkeldei, Foster, French, Gooden, Hardy,
Harris, Harrison, Harshberger, Hipp, Horner, Howell,
Huelskamp, Johnson, Lampe, Leatherman, Linder,
Mahan,
Marrs,
Masters,
McBee, McBeth, Nash, Nelson, Norman, Padgett, Plymale,
Porter, Price, Pullman, Ralstin, Reeves, Shogrin, Sutton,
Vann, Wells, Wheeler, Zimmerman, and Zortman.
After it
disorganized the Western Gem schoolhouse was moved to Fowler
and served as the school lunch room. Later it was purchased
by Roy Clark for his home.
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The map
above is made by splicing three pages of the old
1909 Plat Book together in order to show the entire
school district #37.
The modern map at left shows this
school in relation to other schools around it as
well as Meade and Fowler |
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TEACHERS |
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LAST |
FIRST |
YEARS |
|
Giggs |
Josie |
1891-92 |
|
White |
Mabel E. |
1892-93 |
|
White |
Stella |
1893-94 |
|
Wells |
Cyrus |
? |
|
Peterson |
Sarah |
? |
|
Haver |
Eldora |
1905-06 |
|
Bowe |
Florence |
1913-14 |
|
McMeel |
Anna |
1914-15 |
|
Little |
Maurine |
1915-16 |
|
Trigg |
Zelma |
1916-17 |
|
Little |
Forrest V. |
1917-18 |
|
Little |
Margaret |
1918-19 |
|
Livingston |
Beatrice |
1919-20 |
|
Bishop |
Beatrice |
1920-21 |
|
Krisle |
Julia |
1921-23 |
|
McBee |
Sadie |
1923-24 |
|
Norman |
Mary |
1924-25 |
|
McBee |
Edna |
1925-27 |
|
Dalgarn |
Mary |
1927-28 |
|
Snyder |
Mrs K.M. |
1928-30 |
|
Wallace |
Lloyd H. |
1930-31 |
|
Wyatt |
Elizabeth |
1931-33 |
|
McBee |
Eldon |
1933-38 |
|
Kissel |
Oneita |
1938-39 |
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The teacher list at
left has many missing in the early years of the
school.
Western Gem - 1919 |
Western Gem Stories:
From the Meade
County History Book, Georg M. Wells Pioneer
stories:
Both grandfathers
"freighted," that is carried produce from the
neighborhood to Dodge City and brought back
supplies. Buffalo bones was one of the things taken
to Dodge City, and from there were shipped to be
made into fertilizer. …
…Schools were
distant to many of the children. My parents, aunts
and uncles went to Western Gem and later both
parents taught there. School terms were short as
most children had to help on the farms, and in the
home. Never-the-less they had good times. There were
literary societies, spelling bees and Christian
Endeavor. My father and uncle would ride horse back
to these affairs with the lady of their choice
riding behind. Often a group of young folk would go
by lumber wagon, spreading a robe over the hay to
sit upon. They thought nothing of the ten mile trip,
and this was part of the evening's enjoyment. My
father often recalls those “good old days” and
wishes he could hear singing like they used to have.
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From the D.C.
Mahan Pioneer stories:
Early in the fall of
1883, Mr. and Mrs. D.C. Mahan and their six-week old
daughter left Lawrence County, Missouri, in a
covered wagon to seek a new home in the west. ….
…Early in the spring of 1884, they came to Meade
County and settled on the northeast quarter of
20-30-27. Their first home was made of sod with a
dirt floor which required no waxing or polishing. …
As the years rolled on four boys came to bless this
home. …
…As late as 1896, our school was held
in a dugout that at one time had been a residence.
Here we were taught the "Three R's" and the Golden
Rule, also respect for the aged and reverence for
God.
We found this great story about
the last group of kids to attend Western Gem:
WESTERN GEM RURAL SCHOOL GOES ON
EDUCATIONAL TOUR OF KANSAS
The Meade
Globe-News, May 4, 2024
Last fall, when
Miss Oneita Kissel planned her school work for the
coming term, she wanted to have something different
in the way of activities for the last days of
school. This something must be educational as well
as entertaining. The thought of a trip came to her
mind. When voiced, the children promptly agreed this
would be a grand way to close the school year. But
then the question of financing such a trip came up.
It was Miss Kissel’s idea to buy some pigs or calves
and let the youngsters feed and care for them until
the last of school or until the stock was ready to
market.
The parents were
consulted and promised their cooperation.
In the latter
part of November, Miss Kissel bought three small
pigs and a young calf. Two of the pigs and the calf
were taken by the school children to be fed and
cared for; the third pig was taken by the teacher.
The last day of
school April 21, a basket dinner was held and soon
after noon the livestock was taken to Meade and
sold. The money it brought was more than most of us
expected due to the good advertising of the Meade
Sale Company.
Well, at last
the long dreamed of and much planned trip could be a
reality. So, bright and early Tuesday, April 25th,
the youngsters, Miss Kissel and three of the mothers
started on the tour of Kansas.
The first stop
was in Hutchinson where the salt works were visited.
Then on to Salina to see the Historical Indian
Burial Pit. This was very interesting to the
children since part of them had studied about the
Indians in their unit work in school this year.
Manhattan was
the next stop. The group spent the night in
Manhattan and before leaving the next morning
visited the college and campus.
Topeka was the
next place of interest. They were shown through the
State House and visited WIBW. Some pictures were
taken here of interest to school children. Then on
to Lansing. A ball game was in progress at the State
Prison so the group didn’t go through the prison as
all work stops when closed for a game.
Kansas City was
the stop for the second night. The following day and
night were spent in Kansas City, Missouri. The
parks, the zoon, Union Station and a good show. A
visit to the large department stores and many other
interesting things were taken in by the children
here.
Friday morning
the group started on the trip back. They stopped in
Newton to visit the Honn family, relatives of Miss
Kissel’s and former Meade County residents. From
Newton they drove to Wichita where they took in a
carnival and camped for the night. Saturday morning
the group drove to Pratt where about two hours were
spent visiting the State Game and Fish Hatchery.
From Pratt on to Fowler, arriving home about 4:30
p.m.
This trip is one
that will be forever remembered and associated with
the school days of these children.
Western Gem
school is located in the Artesian Valley north of
Meade. The children attending the school this year
are: Billy Harris, Jo Bradley, Richard Bradley, Max
Zortman, Phyllis Boyd, MaryBradley and Jean Bradley.
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