The above photo was submitted by Warren Walker who stated, " I (Warren) am #5 the little boy on the right front all by himself digging dirt. My brother Junior #4 died when he was 23 years old. Laura Mae Cagle #1 married Uncle Hugh Walker (my father's brother). She lived to be 88 years old. Hazledene Cagle #6, Laura Mae Cagle Sister, is now 80 years old this date 2004. I tried to get the original of the above photograph, but could only get a black & white copy. At one time in my life I had access to many photos of my past, but they are now lost. My brother, Junior, told stories about China and Dragons. China was on the other side of the Earth....... If you dug a hole straight down you would be in China. I was always digging in the dirt looking for China ........I had no idea it was so far away."

On September 5, 1931, I started school. I had just turned five years old. The schoolhouse was a two room wooden frame building with a large schoolbell. The school had two outhouses (boys and girls). The schoolhouse was heated by wood stoves.

Water was provided by a well and hand pump. There was a pipe with holes in it attached to the pump. When the water was pumped it would run down the pipe. The internal water pressure of the pipe caused the water to flow out of the holes just like a water fountain. During recess or lunch time, a student would pump and the other students would line up and drink the water coming out of the holes.

Like most country schools the Students, Teachers, Schoolboard Members and others kept the school heated, clean, and repaired. The land for the schoolhouse was once part of the A. F. Walker property, and I assume, had been donated/sold to the Independence school district by my Great-Grandfather Adolphus Ferdinand Walker.

It was located next to Grandfather A.L. Walker's apple orchard and the Missouri & North Arkansas RR's track. At one time, as I recall, it had eleven grades. In 1931 the grades were first thru eighth. It was a country school. The school was always raising money through pie suppers or cake walks. There was always a large Christmas tree and gift giving during Christmas.

The school had two teachers. I only remember Mary Goodwin, she was my first grade teacher. I would follow my brother Junior to school. It was about one quarter of a mile from my house. My mother asked Mary if it would be alright if I started school. Mary agreed, and that is how I started school the day I turned five.

Mary Goodwin's parents lived one block from my grandfather Walker's house in Exeter. I still remember their neat white wooden frame house with it picket fence and hedge. It was the prettiest house on the block. Their house was the place to go for Trick or Treat on Holloween. They always had home made cookies and candy.

The school building in the photo burned down and was rebuilt, but today the school is Gone. ..... Gone Forever.

The school is listed on the 1909 Standard Atlas of Barry County Missouri webpage and shown on the map Township 23N, Range 28W Section 32. I Appreciate and thank Mary Homesley for sending this information to you for these webpages.....It certainly helped my old memory concerning my Youth.