Chandler School

(Evansville School)

Land was donated for the school on February 22, 1888 by William T. and Mary H. Chandler. Directors: E. C. Broadus, Robert Cottingham, and John Engle.

It was consolidated with Middle Grove in 1941 for high school education. 1950-51 was the last year classes were held at Chandler.

Chandler School 1919-1920

Boys:

Charley Johnson, Harry Utterback, Bill Burk, Fred Lepper, Luther Broaddus, Estin Meals, Lee Lepper, Delbert Utterback, Arthur Null, I. Nichols, Kenneth Utterback, Arnold Brown, Russell Riley, Artie Haise, Loyd Powell, Austin Powell, Gilbert Riley, Bill Hopper

Girls:

Back: Jewell Powell, Dorothy Meals, Thelma Null, Dorothy Brown, Mattie Nichols, Mattie Utterback.

Front Frost, Carry Mae Hopper, Lillian Hopper, Wilma Murphy, Marie Feland, Elsie Cross, Francis Johnson, Mae Powell, Utterback, Utterback, Virginia Powell, Dorothy Lepper

Memories of Alma Jean Null

Mother awakened me by saying, “Alma Jean, wear your overshoes when you go out to feed Euky and Ticklebritches, it rained last night.” It seemed like I just went to bed! I washed, and put on the clean clothes Mother had placed on a chair the night before. Soon I was out feeding my bantam chicken and cat, and back into the house to eat breakfast. Before we were finished, Mother saw the Kirgan boys on our North side. That was a signal for us to get into our caps, coats, and overshoes. When Roy, Ralph and Harry came through our yard, we three Nulls; Thelma, Arthur & Alma were ready. As we went through Evansville, Wilma Murphy and her step-brother, Artie Hayes, joined us. Their father owned the saw mill. Clay Farrell owned the store and his son, Roy joined us, as did Elsie Cross. She lived with her grandparents, Willie McNear, who did odd jobs. The three Riley kids, Nadine, Russell, Gilbert, always waited for us in the Wabash Station. Their father, Al, was section boss and they lived by the tracks in the section house. We were quite a gang five girls and nine boys. As we approached the creek bridge, the Evansville bully ran ahead and said as we climbed upon the bridge railing, “Follow the leader and get your nose rubbed in it.” Everyone drove horses so there was plenty for one’s nose to be rubbed in. I was the smallest of the gang and I held back. Roy saw me come back, helped me upon the railing and held my hand.

At the bridge we took a path through my father’s farm. This saved us from walking on a muddy road. On Mondays lots of cattle and hogs were driven to Evansville to be shipped. We were urged to take the path, it was safer for us and we didn’t scatter the livestock. We crossed the road and went across my grandfather, W. K. Hall’s farm. Then through the B. Goslin woods. One time I asked whose land it was and was told B. Goslin. I had heard about the birds and bees, and not it was bees and goslins.

As we enetered the school house, Miss Mary Farrell finished washing the two water buckets and handed one to Roy and the other to Russell. We were soon settled down to a day of learning. While the older kids were at the black board, Miss Mary had the first and second grade kids come to her desk and she would listen to us read.

Noon was a special time. Some would trade part of their lunch, but I never would.

I always wanted Wilma and Elsie to go to the toilet with me. We would open the door and jump back and see what would run out. It was full of spider webs, devils darn needles and oak leaves. Near by was a little branch, and that is where we played. In 1919 or 20 there was no playground equipment. We played with acorns. We took the cap off and filled it with moist sand. We thought we had pretty pies. We hunted for pretty rocks. The older kids played Blackman, fox and geese, and ball.

About 3 o’clock Wilma, Elsie and I were asked to take the erasers outside and dust them. Two of the older boys would fill the buckets with coal and empty the buckets of water. Soon the bell would ring and I was one day closer to reading Black Beauty for myself.