BRANT SCHOOL DISTRICT

I am not sure where this article came from.  It was sent to me with no details.

Records from the County Board of Education date only from 1896 and since earlier information was not available to record concerning Brant #2 School District, we will begin at this particular time.

In 1896 and 1897, Mary C. Curtis taught the school Crane Town, now called Oakdale.  Then in 1901 Ina Jones came to teach for two years.  She was followed by J.R. Crane who taught for one year.

In 1902 and 1903 Winnie Jones taught the Oakdale school for $176 for 9 months.  The board members were: Winsor Ward, Director; F.W. Foak, moderator; and Pyllis Dibble, Treasurer.

Voters met on October 5, 1859 with school board members Chairman, B.W. Lane; Director, C.L. Luther; Treasure, P.R. Hill followed in office by Lanson Rhodes in 1860.  Minutes of meeting as follows: Bought of A.B. Dunn, one log house for school house for $35 to be set De. 1st.  Bought of P.R. Hill, 70 rods of land for school site located on section 29, S. 1/2 of S.W. 1/4.  Bought 1 stove $8.50 and 25 links of pipe for 10 cents each or $2.50.  The school patrons were liable for teachers wages and were assessed a portion plus assessor's fee of 5% for collecting.  John M. Gregory was Superintendent of Public Instruction in Michigan at that time.

Among early teachers were Elizabeth McClaren, Delia Ackley Millissa Winters later Millissa McIntyre, Jennie Nicholson.  In April 1882 the site of present school S 1/2 of S.E. 1/4 of Section 30 was bought from George and Hannah Ann Portlaw for $50.00 and contract was made with John Limbocker to furnish lumber for building new school house.  School board at that time was Charles Huntley, Nathanial Crane, Allen McDougal.  The first teacher in the new school was Joseph Doan who has been the teacher since beginning of winter term of 1881.  He continued as teacher until end of June 1883 followed by William Kidd, Mrs. H.B. Sanderson and Miss Emma Pattee until end of July, 1884.  Mr. Doan taught later at times for several terms over a period from March, 1885 to April, 1901.  He owned the Leutz store at the same time.  Other teachers names during these years 1885-1901 may be of interest to many and include Theodore Folby, Elmer Judd, Mary Hegler, Edna Cook, Thomas Jennings, Ben Finley, Mina Miller, Nellie Spencer.

A few price items appear in the records during these years which are worth mentioning to show extreme changes.  1 broom and 1 box of matches for school came to 27 cents, speller 22 cents, dipper 13 cents.

Women in the district cleaned the school house for $2.00.  Wood was delivered and piled in the woodshed for $.77 per cord.  Window panes, 10 cents, school bell $15. 

This district annexed to Chesaning and elementary pupils were taken by bus to Brady Community School in September, Eeret Thurston, Kenneth Haney, and Archie Miller, and Mrs. Eleanor Thurston, teacher.

Report of Miss Alma Pratt, teacher, term October 4, 1880 to February 11, 1881.  Number of days taught 76, Average daily attendance 32.  On roll 70.  Pupils attending: No other early lists are available.

BRANT #4

The first frame school built in Brant Center was in the year of 1882 on the S.W. corner of the Wm. Ward farm where Verne Ward now lives.  Later this school was sold for $50, $4 for the two privvies, and $800 was raised to build a new frame school house 30'x44' on the present site.

The first school officers were:

Giles McKeon and Ira Smith were appointed to work with the Board on the building committee.  At the meeting in 1882 it was decided to raise $80 for teacher's wages, $8 for wood, and $30 for incidentals. 

The first contract was awarded to Ella Bliss.

Some of the students listed for these earlier years were: