The children run happily to their teacher, apron strings catching in the breeze and bonnets hanging down their backs, excited to start a new school day in their one-room schoolhouse. At first glance, it looks like a scene from “Little House on the Prairie,” but then a semi roars by on the nearby highway and it’s obvious that you’re still in the 21st century.
Retired teacher Marilyn Erdman had always wanted to teach a country school. She was drawn to the way that multiple students could work together while all learning at their individual level as well as the coziness of the one-room schoolhouse model. “At a country school house, you had kids of every skill level so you had to meet them in the middle and find opportunities to find success in whatever they were doing,” Erdman explained. “I love the freedom of the country school.”
Erdman had taught at the Eliza Jane School at the Wilder Museum in Spring Valley several times, but would frequently drive by the Pleasant Dale-Watson Schoolhouse, owned by the Fillmore County Historical Society, and think how perfect it would be for a similar prairie school program.
Originally, Pleasant Dale and Watson were two independent rural school districts between Fountain and Preston, but they eventually merged into one which was labeled District 78. The Watson Schoolhouse was used as a school until 1956. In 1957, the Pleasant Dale Community Club purchased the building and used it for activities such as potlucks and bingo. In 1990, the school house was moved to the grounds of the Fillmore County Historical Society in Fountain.
Erdman just happens to attend church with Fillmore County Historical Society Director Bretta Grabau and decided to bring up the idea to her one Sunday. Grabau liked the idea and before long, the first annual Prairie School was being planned at the Watson School.
Open to children from ages 6-12, the Prairie School ran from August 5 through 7 and was attended by six children from all over Fillmore County and even Wisconsin. Erdman taught all three days in a prairie style dress and most of the students dressed up in period style clothing as well. On the first day, lunch was provided and the kids were given small tin pails to pack their snacks in for the other two days as well as a mason jar with a lid in lieu of modern water bottles. Each school day started off with morning chores such as filling a washtub with water for handwashing, and hanging up towels. Every child was given the chance to ring the schoolbell, which is original to the building. Then the children recited the Pledge of Allegiance around the outdoor flagpole, sang a patriotic song, and prayed before heading into the schoolhouse to begin their lessons. Erdman led them in a brief lesson in arithmetic, spelling, reading and penmanship which were done on slates at the authentic old style desks. Then, it was on to more fun activities such as square dancing, stringing button necklaces, churning butter, learning embroidery, making lemonade and ice cream, playing jacks and marbles, soap carving, and more.
The kids who attended the Prairie School were enthusiastic about the experience. Camden Stinar said that his favorite part was making lemonade and he would definitely like to attend Prairie School again. Sisters Rachel and Whitney Hewitt also said they loved it and that it was entertaining. Noel Schmidt, Amelia Alverson and Adelyn Prado all enjoyed the three-day school as well.
Erdman was very intentional about creating an authentic experience for the Prairie School students. She tried to ensure that each item she used during the event was genuine to the period whenever possible. This allowed her to expand the learning opportunities for the children as she explained various objects and how they were used. “Instead of just watching it (historical living) on TV, they can actually experience it,” she explained. Erdman has a passion for history and sharing it with new generations. “If we don’t have our historical antique museums that collect and take care of history, then it ends,” she said. “The kids won’t know what these things are.” She made it a point to encourage the students to imagine life on a prairie and how the Fillmore County area would have looked when it was first being settled.
Grabau plans to make the Prairie School an annual event at the Fillmore County Historical Society and looks forward to next year as the event continues to grow.
Leave a Reply