Tales of our Beginnings Cadott • Cornell • Lake Holcombe areas Ruby’s first school was built around 1905, and was a small building behind the Ruby Store. Paid $12 a month, the teacher had free board. Later, the school had to be enlarged and another room was used for the upper four grades. At that time, the enrollment was eight children. By 1922, there were children ready to attend high school, so the room used for manual training and home economics, was divided off, and a teacher was hired for the ninth and 10th grades. Additional students also came from Arnold, Colburn and Huron. There were only five students in the two grades in 1929, so the board discontinued the high school, paid tuition to Stanley, and a bus transported children there. It was at this time, the school was partitioned and some of it was moved down the road to the Hartzells. Many people came to Ruby, because they wanted to work at the saw mill, with about a dozen houses from the store corner, up to where the old schoolhouse was. On the other side, there were six houses, with a board sidewalk. The students walked to school, except in the case of a big blizzard. When that happened, Fred Olmstead or Ed Anders took a horse, with sleigh and drove the children to school. Two little girls reportedly froze their feet every morning, on the way to school, because the horse that pulled the cutter was so slow. The teacher would have the older girls thaw the little ones’ feet with snow. When it came time to build the new school, the old building was moved and used as a church. The new school had a wood frame under the brick outer skin and was a two-room structure, with a basement. This school was called Elmdale. It is unknown when the country school closed, but it was used in 1971, when Lake Holcombe High School was being constructed and it wasn’t ready in time for classes to start. Robert Bayerl and Ken Mahalko took the sixth graders to Elmdale, an experience those students still remember fondly. Don Schultz tore down the Elmdale School in 2002. (Courtesy of the Holcombe Centennial 1905-2005) Ruby Elmdale School Ruby classroom interior First school, after the partition was moved to the Hartzell property 1910 Ruby School, with high school Tales of our Beginnings Cadott • Cornell • Lake Holcombe areas Ruby’s first school was built around 1905, and was a small building behind the Ruby Store. Paid $12 a month, the teacher had free board. Later, the school had to be enlarged and another room was used for the upper four grades. At that time, the enrollment was eight children. By 1922, there were children ready to attend high school, so the room used for manual training and home economics, was divided off, and a teacher was hired for the ninth and 10th grades. Additional students also came from Arnold, Colburn and Huron. There were only five students in the two grades in 1929, so the board discontinued the high school, paid tuition to Stanley, and a bus transported children there. It was at this time, the school was partitioned and some of it was moved down the road to the Hartzells. Many people came to Ruby, because they wanted to work at the saw mill, with about a dozen houses from the store corner, up to where the old schoolhouse was. On the other side, there were six houses, with a board sidewalk. The students walked to school, except in the case of a big blizzard. When that happened, Fred Olmstead or Ed Anders took a horse, with sleigh and drove the children to school. Two little girls reportedly froze their feet every morning, on the way to school, because the horse that pulled the cutter was so slow. The teacher would have the older girls thaw the little ones’ feet with snow. When it came time to build the new school, the old building was moved and used as a church. The new school had a wood frame under the brick outer skin and was a two-room structure, with a basement. This school was called Elmdale. It is unknown when the country school closed, but it was used in 1971, when Lake Holcombe High School was being constructed and it wasn’t ready in time for classes to start. Robert Bayerl and Ken Mahalko took the sixth graders to Elmdale, an experience those students still remember fondly. Don Schultz tore down the Elmdale School in 2002. (Courtesy of the Holcombe Centennial 1905-2005) Ruby Elmdale School Ruby classroom interior First school, after the partition was moved to the Hartzell property 1910 Ruby School, with high school
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok
