Country Schools. . . Antelope County

Neligh News, January 17th, 1929

January 12 marked the forty-first anniversary of the memorable blizzard of 1888. It was indeed an anxious time for Miss Cora Frost, who was teaching school in district 51, near Plainview. The attendance that day was fifteen, two of the pupils being little girls.

By noon the storm was so violent that the director, Ed Watson, and Mr. Davis came for their children in sleds and advised Miss Frost not to permit the rest of the students to start home until the storm was over. These two men experienced considerable difficulty in reaching home after leaving the schoolhouse.

The larger boys carried in a supply of coal, and Miss Frost and her scholars remained throughout the night in the buildings. By keeping the stove red hot, they managed to be quite comfortable, although the temperature outside forty degrees below zero. As the tire-some hours wore one, they amused themselves by playing games, and each one bravely kept from complaining of hunger. The smaller children were covered with wraps, and got some rest.

All were overjoyed when, at 5 o’clock the next morning, George Nelson arrived with a basket of provisions, and later assisted them to their homes, the storm having abated.

Miss Cora Frost taught four years in districts 51 and 62 and in the public school at Brunswick. Altogether, she taught sixty-six terms of school in Antelope county, the terms ranging from two to nine months. The concluding term was finished in 1915.

Her largest attendance was in district 62, where she had an average of thirty-five scholars. For a number of years she received only $20 as monthly wage, paying $8 for her board. Before coming to Nebraska, she taught two terms in Belle Plaine, Iowa, and one term in Kansas during the early days.

A sister, Miss Jennie Frost, commenced teaching in this county in 1883, and completed fifteen terms.

In all, five of the Frost sisters were teachers during pioneer days and they certainly had a big share of the educational progress of Antelope County. Miss Cora believes she has instructed a thousand in all. It is said that there are very few of the older residents of their community who have not gone to school to one of “The Frost Sisters.”

Their mother, now deceased, taught the “three R’s” in Iowa when the state was new. The girls received their education at Belle Plaine, Iowa, which is located in Benton County, Iowa.

These highly respected citizens still live on the Frost homestead near Brunswick, and their many friends hope the remaining years of their life may be as care free and happy as they deserve.