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District No. 15 School

District 15, Honey Creek School History

"Honey Creek School District 15

"Known also as Honey Creek School, probably because of its proximity to Honey Creek, District 15 was located directly south of Peru just off Highway 67. The oldest record available was in 1871 when William Dailey was the director, or secretary. That year it was necessary to spend $100.60 to dig a new well and build outhouses. Also $5.85 was spent on building repair. There was an interesting breakdown of the three teachers who had been in charge of instruction during this time. Lottie Giles was paid $90, William Bridge $160 and Leroy Mason was owed $8.55. Perhaps the money ran short when the well had to be dug. Five years later in 1876 there were 38 males listed in the district between the ages of 5-21 and 42 females. The number who actually attended was 29 males and 23 females. It is important to remember that at this time in our history many young men and women were unable to avail themselves of much education because of the demands of farming, housework and care of younger children in the home.

"Dee Jarvis began his teaching career in 1936 at Honey Creek. He recalled the Dan Reeves children, Margaret and Josephine; the Walter Reeves youngsters, Viva and Maria: Guy Cope's son Carl and daughter Mary Alice and four of the Richard Parriott offspring — Norma Jean, Donaldeen, Betty and Dick. Mr. Jarvis recalled staying at the home of Carl and Vyril Adams as did Frieda Ihrig and Ruby Baker, other teachers in the district. Betty Parriott began her scholastic pursuits as a kindergartener under Dee and years later when she was a senior at Peru State College she had a class under him as one of her final requirements for becoming a teacher. Dee remembered a school program that was given while he spent his two years at District 15 and it was probably for Christmas and was entitled "Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe."

"Among those who served on the school board throughout the years were Guy Cope, Vyril Adams, Richard Parriott, Otto Fike.

"Among the teachers who served for varying numbers of years were Marguerite Stanley, Gladys Koeppel, Gladys Sears and Eltiste Keil.

"According to the records, the last year the school was open was 1955-56 with Mrs. LaVerta Cox as teacher. The school board who were servⁱng when the decision was made to send the children to Peru were Otto Fike, June Hayes and Dan Reeves.

"The Honey Creek school building is still standing and is presently owned by the man who began his teaching career within its walls — Dee Jarvis."
Ref: A History of Nemaha County 1987. Reference number - 978.274 N433b, State of Nebraska Historical Society Library, Lincoln, Nebraska

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EEM 26 Oct 2005