Submitted by Nute Chapman
From Onaway Outlook March 7, 2014
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Submitted by Nute Chapman From Onaway Outlook March 7, 2014 |
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Caption #1: Millersburg Brick School after the fire February 13, 1953.
Caption #2: Beside the Millersburg brick school in 1926 or 1927. Back from left, unknown, unknown, unknown, Bertha Rose, Crooks,
teacher Miss Ennes, unknown, unknown, Mildred Brenner, Geneva Freel, unknown, Faith Fitzpatrick, unknown and unknown. Middle from
left, unknown, Francis Robbins, Charlotte Nichols, Beauhla Freeman, Phoebe Rose, Ruth Freel, Albena Brenner, Leone Wilson,
Betty Mills, Bob Bonner and Neil Whitsitt. Front from left, unknown, Clarence Henke, unknown, Maurice Freel, Son Crooks, George
Robbins, Len Warner, Ford Fitzpatrick, Henry Crooks, Charlie Petze, and unknown.
(Continued from last week)
It was obvious that additional rooms were necessary to accommodate the influx of students, so the board voted to add four
rooms to the front of the large one room school.
The newly construrcted building was ready in the fall of 1900. Five teachers all graduates of the State Normal School in
Ypsilanti, were hired with Mr. Harry Thoms acting as principal.
The new building provided adequate facilities for classes from grade one through 11. Residents of this little community
were justly proud of their new school. School was held in this new building until 1911 when the Millersburg Fire destroyed
it.
After several meetings and with bond issues being turned down to replace the school, R.P. Holihan paved the way for a
harmonious understanding by offering five and a half lots to the board for $200. The board bought the lots and recommended
that $4,000 in bonds be issued.
Plans were submitted by the board and building began. It was a fine brick school and school was held there until fire
again took its toll in 1953.
The school burned on Friday the 13th, 1953. School reopened one week later. Classes were held for seven -10 in the
community hall. Kindergarten and first-grade were held in the Methodist Church basement. Classes were held in the Village
Hall and in the garage on the site of the present one-story building. Following the Christmas vacation it was ready to
use by the teachers and students.
Much of this information came from Clair Walters, who wrote a local history derived from the personal papers and notes
of her mother, Lucy (Steele) Mills.
A member of the Presque Isle County Historical Society, Lucy Mills came to Millersburg in 1897 at the age of 14.
From the Onaway Outlook, March 7, 2014, page 3.
Retyped by J. Anderson