Douglass School 1943 Top Left to Right: (1) Leonard Grisham (2) Glendal Grisham (3) Teacher – Essie Grable (4) Wanda Porter (5) Dorothy Cox (6) Bill Gholson (7) Tyler Hess (8) Frances Ann Cox (9) Stanley Grisham (10) John Gholson (11) Bill R.Gaines (12) James Gholson |
| Douglass school has been gone for years now. It was located in Saline County Illinois about a half mile south of the Hamilton/Saline County line and about a half mile east of Route 142. At the hyway there is a sign that points to Douglass Church & Cemetery that was about 1/4 mile east of the Douglass School. Glendall Grisham who lived just down the road always came early and fired up the furnace so we would all be warm. On the west side & toward the rear of school was a well with a hand pump. We were all instructed to bring our own cup to drink from like the Scouts use that collapse. In the back of school was small barn type shed where you could put horses & probably was used as such at one time. We used this building to play in, also the big woods nearby. When recess was over the teacher would walk outside and ring a hand held bell and we would all come running back to the classroom. When we played softball we had one lady teacher that was catcher. I remember a swinging bat broke her wristwatch. The windows were all covered with the usual black grates to keep them from getting broken. My brother & I walked about a mile and a half sometimes through farm fields (closest way) or down the L & N railroad tracks. The railroad is gone and the tracks have been removed. Due to water over the road or heavy snows we came in many times late as songs were being sung at the piano, which was one of first things that started the school day. The teacher taught all grades in the one room. |