Schools

Schools

In the Spring of 1951, 330 pupils and teachers in the Hellam area engaged in an old-fashioned “flittin’” [moving] from eight one and one two-room school houses to the newly completed modern Kreutz Creek Elementary School. It marked the end of over a century of education carried out in the unique setting of small rural school houses scattered over the landscape in the Township. No longer would the school house bell ring to signal students to hurry their way down dirt paths and rural roads to get to school on time, slide into the wooden seats next to sisters, brothers, cousins and neighbors of all ages and spend the school day under the watchful eye and instruction of one teacher.

The passage of a law in Pennsylvania in 1834 established a system of publicly-funded education that translated to thousands of one-room schools sprinkling the countryside, built only a few miles apart so that every child could walk to school. York County had 327 one-room schools at one time before World War II, most identical in their rectangular construction with three windows on each long side and two windows flanking the front door. The school bell was atop the roof peak over the front door.

Hellam Township’s one room school houses included: Druck Valley School House on Druck Valley Road, Musser School House on Libhart Mill Road, Highmount School House on Furnace Road, Levergood School House on the Lincoln Highway just west of Wrightsville, Kinard School House on Strickler’s School Road, Strickler School House on Ducktown Road, Tracy School House on Tracy School Road, Kreutz Creek School House on Old Church Lane, Rudy School House at 5345 Lincoln Highway, and Hauser School House on Hauser School Road. Highmount School House and Kinard School House are no longer standing; the other buildings have either been converted to other uses or are abandoned.  Hallam Borough had one two room school house.

The Rudy School House building now houses the  Kreutz Creek Valley Preservation Society archives and museum. Among the items on display there are many that pertain to early rural school house days, including old photos, desks and collected articles and news items about the various schools and their occupants.

In 2002, as part of an open house at the museum, several former students who attended the school filled out a questionnaire about their experiences there. A former student who used to live across the street from the school gives us some interesting details about his eight years of attendance at Rudy School from 1939 through 1947. He remembered that less than an hour of time each day was spent in individual grade instruction; the rest of the time in the classroom was spent “keeping quiet” and studying while other classes were instructed. All classes participated together only in openings and sometimes music. Students were supplied with tablets and two pencils – all other tools were shared. Most students had their own textbooks, but some were shared in some classes. Desks were lined up on each side of a central aisle and faced the teacher’s desk behind which were blackboards on the wall.

Recess was held twice a day, ten to fifteen minutes long, and girls and boys had separate play areas. The school did not provide much in the way of recreational equipment, except perhaps a bat and softball. The privies were behind the building; water was obtained from an outside hand pump. The school was heated with a large coal stove in the front of the room and was tended only by the teacher. Many students carried their lunches.

Memories of these early schoolhouse days in Hellam Township are precious – and disappearing fast. If you have stories to share of those days, please contact us.