Elmwood Newsletter - February 2, 2011

"The Village of Elmwood has been known throughout its history for a vitality beyond that of many of its neighbors.  This strength has found its roots in many ways-at one time in a hotel and a newspaper, always a fine doctor and an outstanding drug store, barber shops, good music for every occasion, many churches, a railroad, and the good black soil that made everything possible.  But, for a little place of its size, the one feature of the village has always been its school.  There is a pride about the letters E.H.S. for Elmwood High School that brings scores upon scores of grads back each year for the famous alumni banquet, that began in '06.  Outsiders, particularly those who trace their academic days to larger schools, find it hard to understand how, and why, so many people would work so hard and travel so far to get together again.  This root is a school system that provided a curriculum, and a faculty, that always met the challenge of those who wanted to learn." (quoted from "Elmwood A Village Portrait" by Elmwood Centennial Committee)
The school district for the village was organized on October 5, 1887.  Before that, pupils had attended school at Stove Creek, one mile east of Elmwood.  Later this school was moved to a location 2 miles east of Elmwood.  The first school in the village was only an old dwelling house furnished with an insufficient number of seats, a table, a chair, a heating stove, and water pail and dipper, and a broom.  Miss Addie Bailey Greeson was the teacher to 60 pupils, from aged 5 to 18.  Later the school was divided, with the older students being sent to the G.A.R. Hall with E. E. Good of Peru as a teacher.   Over the next few years, construction progressed on a new school building and more teachers were hired.  On May 25, 1894, the first class (six students) completed 10 grades, entitling them to the honor of being the first graduating class of E.H.S.  The school closing programs were held in the grove at Clapp's woods (1/2 mile east of town) where "a picnic and gay time climaxed the school year."   In 1900 the eleventh year was added and then the first class to graduate from twelve grades was the Class of 1912.  
In 1910 the district voted a $16,000 bond issue to erect a new building, west of the school built in 1889.  The new building was completed in 1911. (To be continued in later newletters.)

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Seed Orders Due by February 4th!  Hurry and Order!

NINTH ANNUAL ALDRICH FOUNDATION SHORT STORY CONTEST ANNOUNCEDOriginal short stories by Nebraska authors are currently being accepted for the 2011 Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation's short story contest.

Story length should be 1,000-2,000 words (there is no minimum word requirement for the Intermediate category) and submissions should be written in the wholesome spirit displayed by Bess Streeter Aldrich in her works.  No essays, please.

Prizes will be awarded at the annual Spring Banquet of the Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation.  Cash prize amounts are:  Adult:  1st Prize  $100.00,  2nd Prize  $50.00,  3rd Prize  $25.00.  High School (grades 9-12) and Middle School (grades 6-8):  1st Prize $50.00, 2nd Prize $25.00, 3rd Prize $15.00.  Intermediate School (grades 3-5): 1st Prize $25.00, 2nd Prize $15.00, 3rd Prize $10.00.

Writers, please send a cover sheet with your name, address, e-mail address, phone number, title of story, and two copies of your story, one with your name and one without. Please include a line telling how you learned about the contest.  For students, add age, grade, school, and teacher's name to the cover sheet.  Please enclose a SASE for return of contest results.  Stories will not be returned.  Families of Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation Board Members are not eligible.

The due date for submissions is the author's birthday, February 17, 2011 (postmark date).  Send submissions to:  Bess Streeter Aldrich Foundation, P.O. Box 167, Elmwood, NE  68349.  A complete list of rules can be found at www.BessStreeterAldrich.org.

Donuts for Dads was a hit for Andy Clements and his son.  Yum yum!

Elmwood Murdock School Schedule

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