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CLIPPER SCHOOL No. 3
Middle Fork Township
Rollie K. BROOKS, a veteran of the Civil War, was hired to teach the winter term of 1868 at the Clipper School in Middle Fork Township. One day the pupils asked BROOKS what kind of treat he would give them on closing day of the school term. BROOKS solemnly stated that he had no intention of treating the students. The following morning, BROOKS arrived at the schoolhouse, finding himself locked out. The students vowed that they wouldn't unlock the door until BROOKS agreed to give them a treat on closing day. BROOKS walked away, pretending to go back home. The boys opened the door and ran out after him. Turning quickly, BROOKS ran into the schoolhouse. At the end of the day, however, the boys waylaid BROOKS as he made his way home. They threatened to duck him in if the creek if he did not promise to treat them as was the custom. Due to the coldness of the creek water, BROOKS promised. It is assumed the students got their treat on closing day.
Sept. 4 '99 - Mar. 30, 1900
Lester HOFFMAN, Teacher
PUPILS
| Pearl GUTHRIE | George OLIVER |
Grace FERGUSON |
| Andrew MEKEMSON | Ivan HOFFMAN |
Archie MEKEMSON |
| Edna MEKEMSON | Ernest EATON |
Allen FERGUSON |
| Ethel GUTHRIE | Maud GUTHRIE |
Leslie DENNIS |
| Jim ATHEY | Elmer ATHEY |
Ona HOOVER |
| Ray HOOVER | Mell HOOVER |
Ethel EATON |
| Susie FERGUSON | Ollie FERGUSON |
Elmer FERGUSON |
| Ollie GUTHRIE | Vergil GUTHRIE |
Clay DENNEY |
SOURCES:
Mount Ayr Record-News, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa, February 10, 2007
AVITT, Mike. Pages and Pictures from the Past. . .Ringgold County, Iowa 1855-2005 p. 17.
Paragon Publications, Inc. Mount Ayr. 2009.
Redding, Iowa: The First Hundred Years 1882-1982 p. 43. 1982
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009
Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, February 26, 2015, Page 11
From "Snapshots of History" by Mike Avitt:
"When rural schoolhouses were first built in Ringgold County, they were built where the need was
the greatest. But eventually districts were formed and education became organized. It was decided to place a rural school every two miles
so a pupil would never have to walk more than a mile to school. My notes say Middle Fork No. 3 [Clipper School] was moved to the geographical center of that
district in late July 1890. . . .As gravel roads and school buses made rural schools obsolete, they were sold."
Clipper School was moved from its original location in 1951 and used as storage on the Kenneth QUICK farm. Located
three miles south of Delphos.
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