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Carnation
Elementary School |
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Taken from “The Tolt Enterprise” of the Tolt Historical Society Editor Isabel L. Jones The first Tolt school in 1879, known as School District No. 27, was a little log shack on the Sham Morris place north of town. It was small with a window on each side and a crude fireplace in one end for heat. They didn’t have desks, just rough benches made of cedar. There were four students, Albert Prenqatt, Flora and Zidania Morris and David Entwistle. Mr. Hill was the teacher. The students had to furnish their own books, pencils and paper and the teacher had to furnish a complete set of books for his own use. Instead of a bell or a buzzer, the teacher rapped on the desk with a stick. The second school house was also on the Morris Property. It was built as a home and the heating system was a box stove, a big improvement over the fireplace. Rough desks built for two, replaced the benches which was also a big improvement. The first schools were not divided by grades. There were readers from the first to the fifth which is the equivalent to the eighth grade. This seems very strange in this day and time, but it was great when you stop and think that it started with only four students. The third school was built on the Prenatt farm in 1882. It had more windows, a big bell to call school to order and a playground. Miss Bessie Thistlewaite, later Mrs. James Prenatt, was the first teacher. Miss Margie Stafford took over the school in 1889 and the story is that she found out the students hadn’t been allowed to progress since the first year and were only halfway through their first book, so she promoted, them. Records show this school was known as School District No. 113 in 1893. In 1894, Mr. M.E. Durham , who to the time was King County School Superintendent, walked from to Seattle to take the job as teacher for the three months term. Next the Assistant Superintendent, Mr. A.S. Burrows, was hired for the term in 1896. Mr. Burrows was a graduate of the University of Washington and began his teaching career by promising to teach at Tolt for three months and then three months at Pleasant Hill and was promised a salary of $40.00 a month. Directors Morris, George W. Shaw and J.D. Ames and Fred Bagwell the Clerk, but not a Director, extended the term to five months, beginning in September and ending in January. Some of the Board of Directors were hesitant to hire Mr. Burrows because of his lack of experience and he was following troublesome times in the schools. Mr. Burrows said he vividly remembered three events. First was the epidemic of measles that cut the attendance to ten students. Second was the wet, snowy night in November being lost in the cougar pasture just above the old Ames Ferry landing, location of the McDonald park now. He was all alone except for his horse which he claimed was the reason he became lost. Mr. Burrows made a lifetime career of school business in the Seattle schools, then Deputy Superintendent and then King County School Superintendent. Mr. Burrows son, Albert, was high school teacher and principal in the 1940’s in Carnation. Mr. C.E. Boyce began teaching in 1897 and continued for many years in different schools. In 1895, a new Tolt Grammar School was built at the present site of the Carnation Elementary School, independent of the school on the Prenatt place. For two years, there were heated debates because of the difference in opinion as to where the school should be located. Records show in August 19, 1907 Districts #27 and #113 consolidated to form a new District #165. In 1912, Belle Spencer took over the school and continued until 1915. Mr. White followed until 1919, when John M. Weaver was the first grade teacher and also the only married teacher. In those days, teaching for women was not a life time career, it was something to do until the right man came along, one who could support a family because the contracts had a clause which read, “Marriage invalidates this contract.” Salaries were not to exciting either, with depression times they were from $50.00 to an all time high in 1937 of $115.00. Teachers were required to live in the community and help with community activities. Mr. Weaver started the very fine system of hiring special teachers for extra curriculum studies. Some of the wonderful teachers who are still in the area and in contact were: Rose Lakow Metke, who taught music to all classes along with her regular and instrumental in putting on the May Day festivities, along with teaching the fourth grade; Ethel Beieler Gould, home economics and fifth grade; Jennie Berg Werner, art and seventh grade, and Ingred Kellman Pfeffer, who taught penmanship, the Rice System and the sixth grade. In September 1932, Gilbert N. Bonlie became the eighth grade teacher and principal. May, 1934 saw the last class graduate from the great old two story building which had been added onto once, a hallway made into a classroom, but was still too small. Those who attended school there have many fond memories, the big bell that called school in session, James Tait and Jess Patrick, janitors who kept the building in tip top shape, as well as repairing desks, filling ink wells and always there to help students and teachers whenever help was needed. Mr. Patrick was also the janitor in the new building for many years. The school was torn down and by November 1934, teachers and students moved into a beautiful new building. For two and a half months, school had been in the library, the Seventh Day Adventist church, the high school and four classes in the high school gym. One class was on the stage and three on the basketball floor with curtains to divide the classes. The gym was not completed until a few months later and the formal dedication of that beautiful building was held on May 10, 1935. The Board of Directors, who worked lots of long hours were: Charles J. Larson, Chairman; William H. Larson, Clerk; and W.W. Stephenson, Director. Instructors at the time were: Lila Wilkens, Eleanor Fraser, Mary V. Chinella, Ethel Beieler, Ingred Kellman, Hennie Berg and Gilbert N. Bonlie, Principal. We were honored to have Mary Chinella, Ethel Gould, Jennie Berg and Gilbert Bonlie’s widow Irene at the 50th Anniversary celebration on September 16, 1984. Garnet Galvin Paar, who later taught first grade was also in attendance. A letter from Ingred Kellman, who lives in San Diego was enjoyed by many of her former students. In 1935, District No. 110, Stillwater consolidated with District No. 165. District No. 39, Pleasant Hill consolidated with No 215 to make School District No. 223. In 1942, Gilbert Bonlie went to Shoreline School District and Richard Wasmond took over the duties. In 1943, Carnation District No. 223 took in Vincent District No. 122, Novelty District No. 15 and Cherry Valley District No. 14 consolidated to make the Lower Snoqualmie Valley District No. 407. By 1960, The district had outgrown the building and an addition was made to Carnation Elementary. Enrollment by this time was 733 for the district. Richard Wasmund retired in 1968 and Norman Migdal was principal until 1977 when he took over as Cherry Valley Principal. Records show enrollment at 959 in 1970 for the district. September 1977 found James Jordan as Carnation Elementary principal after being a classroom teacher and assistant principal. Vincent and Duvall were brought to Carnation before final consolidation of the districts. At different times, rooms at the high school and portables were used before the Junior High School was built. In 1981, a large addition was added to Carnation Elementary School. A three to six percent growth is shown on our district since 1976. In 1980, there were 1279 students and the 1984 records show 1459.Lower Snoqualmie Valley became Riverview School District No. 407 on September 1, 1986. In 1989 Barbara Warberg took over the duties as principal when James Jordan transferred to the new elementary school in the district, Stillwater Elementary. In 1995 James Jordan returned to Carnation Elementary until his retirement in 2001. Doug Poage was hired as the new principal of Carnation Elementary for the 2001-02 school year and he is presently the principal.
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