Remembering Bad Rock School

GLADYS SHAY / For the Hungry Horse News

It was Nov. 21, 1954, when Bad Rock School District 1 was annexed with School District No. 6 in Columbia Falls.

Annexation was approved with 74 to 58 residents approving in the Nov. 15 election that year. Lulu Barnard, county superintendent, issued the order for annexation. Many voters were former Bad Rock School students. Some discussions preceding election were volatile.

Previous election, Feb. 4, 1954, saw 61 Bad Rock voters favoring annexation with 54 opposing. That election was declared void when ascertained an inadequacy of signatures on the petition.

In September, 1954, there were 25 Bad Rock students enrolled in Columbia Falls. There were only 13 at the two room Bad Rock School.

Once again thanks to my cousin, Fred Huggins, for providing a small Bad Rock School brochure approximately 97 years old.

Our mothers, Gracie Oertel and Ella Lewis, were listed as second graders, which could indicate booklet was printed about 1912. Grace and Verna Hoyt, teachers, included inspiring poems and advice for students.

Trustees listed were Mrs. Margaret Lenon, president; Cyril Hellman, Finley Arnett, with Mrs. Lily Arnett, clerk.

Names of students in the two room school contain many familiar names. Many children in the Bad Rock community became our ancestors.

Grade eight students in Upper Room (Room 1) were Lina Heller, Amos Hellman, Harry Lewis, Ella Wagner and Glenn Wiles.

Grade seven students were Florence Gilchrist, Alfred Gilchrist, Nellie Heller, Edith Howell, Theresa Lee and Everett Lewis.

Grade six had Leslie Krull, Robert Lee, Stasia Lee, Albert Lewis and Roy Michels.

Grade five was largest class consisting of the following: Charles Dake, Tom Geeslin, Mary Hellman, Harry Howell, Roy John, Oscer John, Herman Michels, Charles Oertel, Leida Oertel, Buryl Ott, Matthew Stone and Agnes Wagner.

Lower Room (Room 2) at Bad Rock School had following classes.

Grade 4 boys and girls were Daisy Barrett, Dougald Gilchrist, Alice Hellman, Anna Hellman, Mary E. Hellman, and Lester Ott.

Grade 3 included Dolly Barrett, Ernest Gilchrist, Joe Hellman and Harold Wiles.

Grade 2 boys and girls were Alberta Barrett, Myrtle Gephart, Arthur Haines, Ray Howell, Percy Lenon, Ella Lewis, Gracie Oertel and Myra Stone.

Grade 1 had Ronald Gilchrist, Alice Hellman, Helen Hellman, Cora John and Floyd John.

Primary grade students were James Haines and Eva Wallace.

NOTE: Alice Hellman also listed in both grades 1 and 4.

Gladys Shay is a longtime resident and columnist for the Hungry Horse News