District 67 South - Restoration

Location was 3.5 miles west and a short distance north of Haigler, Nebraska

People will make it happen
Grand plans for a schoolhouse makeover
By Richard Bartholomew The Benkelman Post

If you are a newspaper reader who scans the front page, then flips to the classified ads, you are probably not aware that an effort to save a part of Dundy County heritage is taking place in the Haigler area.

An idea spawned in March of this year, by Stan and LaNeta Carlock after driving around the countryside, is really taking hold.

The idea is to move a oneroom schoolhouse (District 67 South) to a location in Haigler and make it an appealing and functioning asset to the village and have it become the Haigler Cornerstone Museum.

The old school building is located about 3 ½ miles west and a little north of Haigler on land owned and farmed by Steve and Jody Crouse. After being approached about the idea, the Crouses endorsed it and donated the building.

There is much history in the schoolhouse with many current county residents of the Haigler area having personal or family ties to it. It is reported that one school year there were 27 students enrolled at 67 South and in 1925 there were three sets of twins at the school.
According to county records, School District 67 was organized in 1893. It is thought that the schoolhouse was built in the late 1890s, maybe about 1897. The first school census on record is 1902 and, as of this time, the first known photograph of the building was taken in 1905.

As the population of the area grew, another facility was built to the north and so the first one became known as District 67 South. Children received instruction at the school through December 1945.

Much historical data about 67 South has been gathered and reviewed including available student and parent censuses, listings of members of the school board, teachers and recorded memories and recollections of the school.

For the project at hand, a location in Haigler has been established from village lots donated by the Carlocks and a sign put in place for identification. The sign reads: “Future Home of Country School Dist. 67 South.”

It is estimated that the cost of the preservation and restoration project will be $25,000. The Carlock brothers, Stan and Marv, and their wives, LaNeta and Mary Ann respectively, are funding the relocation of the building to Haigler.

The Collicott sisters – LaNeta Carlock, Myrna Mulligan and Galena Webster – have been the leading force in getting the funding started for the project. Their sacrifice of staying a night in the old Haigler jail netted $3,160. They had set a goal of $3,000 in “bail” contributions.

As of Friday, June 22, the funding drive has accumulated about $10,000. Other sources of funding, such as grants from the Kiewit Foundation, the Hansen Charitable Foundation, the Hester Foundation, Wal-mart and Wells Fargo are being explored as to application and support.

Parks resident Jerry Shaw, of Ben and Jerry’s construction, has been retained to prepare the foundation and other concrete work for the building at its new location in Haigler. Groundbreaking for that part of the project is planned for sometime in July.

Much has to be done to ready the structure for the move to town. It has been abandoned and left to the elements of nature and man’s irrigation for more than 60 years.

Williams Housemovers, Inc. of Hastings is in charge of the move and is providing advice and guidance on preparatory work. A date in August will be set for the transport, and co-ordination with all the affected utilities and other governing entities is now in progress.

The old structure will be brought back to a condition of glory. Originally, the building had three windows on the north, three on the south and two on each side of the front door which faced east. Sometime during its school days’ life, the windows on the north were closed in and three additional windows were added to the south.

Once in town, the structure’s front door will face south toward Noble Avenue and have three windows on the west and east exposures. It will be made compliant with today’s access requirements.

The restoration work is anticipated to take about three years and be completed in 2010.

Once complete, plans are to furnish the schoolhouse as it would have once been outfitted as a one-teacher learning facility. It would then have the distinction of being the only completely restored one-room country schoolhouse in Dundy County, a county that at one time had 65 school districts, although not all had schools or schoolhouses.

Monetary donations to the project are tax deductible and being processed through the Dundy County Community Foundation.

Your contribution can be sent to: Save School Sixty-Seven South Haigler Project, P.O. Box 144, Haigler, NE 69030-0144.

If you cannot help financially, contributions of labor, materials and furnishings will also be very much appreciated.

For further information about the project, call Stan and LaNeta Carlock at 308-397-3226. You can also reach them via e-mail at carlock@bwtelcom.net.

--The Benkelman Post and News-Chronicle, Wednesday, June 27, 2007

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FUTURE HOME OF COUNTRY SCHOOL DIST. 67 SOUTH

	"Have you seen the big sign with red bows on Porter Avenue? It says "Future Home of Country School District 67 South." Plans are under way to save the one-room country schoolhouse, move the school from the country to town and do a complete restoration. Stay tuned for more information as the project develops. One-room schoolhouses were important in the development of our country and local citizens are happy that South 67 is to be moved from its lonely corner in Steve's cornfield to a place of prominence in the village. Stan and LaNeta Carlock are spearheading the project." -- The Benkelman Post & News-Chronicle - April 25, 2007 Fund drives & tours are being planned for Haigler alumni weekend, grants are being written, and initial work is being done on the school --getting it ready for the move in early August. The one room country school house was in a cornfield owned by Steven and Jody Crouse. They have donated the building, Stan and I are paying for the move to Haigler, the Carlock brothers (Stan and Marv) have been doing all the cleanup work inside the school and will lay a new subflooring for the move. We have already received some donations of dollars, materials, and labor. Stay tuned for more news as the project continues to develop. -- LeNeta Carlock Top
SISTERS WILL SPEND NIGHT IN THE OLD HAIGLER JAIL TO RAISE $$$ FOR SAVE SCHOOL SIXTY-SEVEN SOUTH (ONE ROOM COUNTRY SCHOOLHOUSE) PROJECT IN HAIGLER.
	The three Collicott sisters (LaNeta Carlock, Myrna Mulligan, and Galena Webster) will be spending at least one night in the old Haigler Jail. Why? They are helping to raise $$$ for the Save School Sixty Seven South (one room country schoolhouse) project in Haigler. Bail is set at $1,000 each (total of $3,000) to release the sisters from their jail sentence. The community is asking for your help to bail the sisters out of jail by contributing your tax deductible dollars for the preservation and restoration of this one room country schoolhouse. It will be the only completely restored (inside and outside) one in Dundy County. The schoolhouse will not survive much longer in its current cornfield location. Steven and Jody Crouse have donated the building. The Carlock brothers (Stan and Marv) and their wives, LaNeta and Mary Ann are funding the relocation of the building to Haigler. The cost estimate for preservation and restoration is $25,000. Any and all contributions will be greatly appreciated--so these three poor ladies will not have to spend much time with the snakes, spiders, mice, and other rodents now residing in the old Haigler jail. Please make your tax deductible donation payable to and send to: Save School 67 South Project PO Box 144 Haigler, NE 69030. Top
Save School 67 South - Haigler Project - Fundraiser at Haigler High School Reunion
	To keep you all informed on the progress of the Save School 67 South Country School project, we are pleased to report that the Collicott sisters (LaNeta Carlock, Myrna Mulligan, and Galena Webster) have almost made their jail sentence bail. They have raised $2,614. County Commissioner Scott Olson was acting deputy who arrested and rope tied the 3 ladies at the Haigler Alumni Sunday potluck at the American Legion Community Building. They did spend some time in the Haigler Jail, but since their $3,000 bail has not yet been met; they will have to return to spend more time in the jail. If you have not yet joined the effort to help the ladies meet their bail; you may send donations to Save School 67South Project, PO Box 144, Haigler, NE 69030. Top
SISTERS SPEND NIGHT IN HAIGLER JAIL for SAVE SCHOOL 67 SOUTH PROJECT--------- RELEASED FROM SENTENCE AFTER MAKING $3,000 BAIL
	Well, they did it! What some people won't do to raise money for the Save School 67 South Project. As was noted in last week's news, the three Collicott sisters (LaNeta Carlock, Myrna Mulligan and Galena Webster) almost made their bail after the alumni weekend. However, some pledges were withheld until they returned to jail for a full night. So, Sunday, June 3, Red Willow County Sheriff Gene Mahon, a lawman with Haigler roots, returned to his hometown to re-arrest the 3 ladies. As a crowd gathered to watch, the ladies were delivered to the scene. Sheriff Mahon handed out jail uniforms, and handcuffed the three. Laura Pearl Wall frisked the ladies before they were escorted into the jail. This was for real, and the gals spent the entire night inside the jail. The jail had not been used since 1940. There was barely enough room for 3 cots and bedrolls; a candle burned; food was delivered so they wouldn't go hungry; and visitors came and went throughout the night( including several cats and a snake). But, the gals survived the night (without any sleep), and they did make their bail of $3,000. In fact, they made $3,160. So, they were treated to breakfast by the Haigler Cafe the next morning. When asked, how was the night in jail? -they all said, "One night was enough!" The money raised is a good start for the project. But your help is still needed. The cost estimate for preservation and restoration is $25,000 plus the moving cost of the school from country to Haigler. All donations are tax deductible and are going through the Dundy County Community Foundation. If you have not yet contributed and wish to be included in the donors listing, which will be posted inside the schoolhouse, please make your donation payable to and send to: Save School 67 South Project, PO Box 144, Haigler, NE 69030. Top
	Moving Day Wednesday, August 8, 2007, was a significant day for Haigler. Actually, the day before was a big event at the site of 67 South when the movers arrived and began the preparations for loading the building on the trailer. By Wednesday morning the school building, complete with the United States flag displayed, had been loaded on the trailer and moved as far as the entrance onto the highway. Because of the muddy road from the rains of the previous 2 nights a tractor was needed to help it over the hill just before the intersection to the highway. Over a dozen people, former students, children of former teachers and others interested emotionally and curiously in the project had gathered around the intersection to escort or follow the procession into town, which began around 8:30. Two Southwest Public Power employees preceded the procession to lift the power lines in several places. Others had gathered at the prepared site to observe the building being unloaded from the trailer and set down on the foundation. Backing the building between two large trees onto the lot was skillfully executed. Congratulations are due to the movers and all the helpers for a job well done. By shortly after noon the movers were on their way back to Hastings to prepare for a big moving job the next day. But for the Carlocks the project has barely begun. New roofing is the next step. It will take months – possibly even years to restore the inside and outside as much as possible like the original. --Floy Ruggles Top
	The Roof I just took these pictures. Marv and Stan Carlock caught in the act of getting the roof ready for shingling. They have done such a good job on everything. You will notice the stucco has been patched and painted and the flagpole is up. Stan says he cannot remember how long it has been since it was there. --Floy Ruggles Top
	District 67 Progress October 5, 2007 As you can see, the one shows the building with the art designs of all the cracks in stucco after they were filled. The other shows the white paint that was just done this week. Also the original flagpole was donated by Laura Pearl Wall and after lots of work on it, was reinstalled yesterday. The guys have been tirelessly working on restoring roof joints, rafters, etc.etc. and will complete the base covering today. Shingling will begin next week--so no more tarps to worry about blowing off. - Progress is definitely being made - and next spring there will be an open house and old time box supper and ice cream social at the school. We have reached $25,000 goal now. The Hansen Foundation Grant helped lots. We did not get the Peter Kiewit Foundation one -too bad- but we tried! There are others we might try later. Yes, donations of $ and school items from 1897-1945 donated would be most appreciated-still. Thanks to Floy Ruggles, we have some playground equipment donated from a church in Wray and this week I got the bid for a merry-go-round from an old country school near Lincoln. ---More later-- LaNeta Top
	Playground Equipment Country Schoolhouse 67 South now has all the playground equipment installed. The 100+ year old carousel merry-go-round came from a country school near Malcom, Nebraska. Bidding was done on-line to acquire this item. The swings and slide sets came from the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Wray, Colorado. Floy Fisher Ruggles and her family donated this equipment to the church many years ago --and now helped donate it to district 67 South. Plans to add a teeter totter are still in progress. The equipment was installed with the help of volunteers-- Steven Crouse, Marlin Crouse, Marv Carlock, Stan Carlock and Jerry Olsen. Concrete was poured at the bases by the Bob Krutsinger crew of Benkelman. Everyone is welcome to come see the continuing progress at the school site during the open house over Memorial/Alumni weekend. Top
	First Anniversary August 8, 2008 will be the first birthday of the Cornerstone Museum in Haigler. It was moved a year ago from the country cornfield to its new stage in life as a museum in Haigler, Nebraska, the town that calls itself "The Cornerstone of Nebraska." Stan Carlock was at work replacing the plastic covering on the front window to protect the new subfloor from any chance of getting wet in a lucky rainstorm before they have a chance to install the windows. There are three new windows on the east side of the building with plans to have the others done within the next few weeks. The new wiring inside will provide ambient lighting in the completed building. Be sure to stop by and see the schoolhouse if you have a chance. Sign the guestbook and put a donation in the basket provided to help with this worthwile and interesting project. Top
	You Are Invited *********** Come One, Come All HAIGLER'S FIRST ANNUAL FALL TUMBLEWEED FESTIVAL October 19, 2008 12 Noon MT at COUNTRY SCHOOLHOUSE 67 SOUTH ********************************** Old Country School Box Social & Auction Homemade Ice Cream Dedication of School Bell Cake & Pie Walks on Carousel Merry-go-round Games & Awards ********************************** Free Admission: but please bring decorated Box Lunch for Check-in at 12 Noon - 1:00 p.m. 1:00 P.M. Auction of decorated Box Lunches Dress in Old-Time Outfits (Welcomed, but not required) All Proceeds to County School 67 Restoration Fund ************************************* If Bad Weather: Event still held, but moved inside of country schoolhouse and Golden Inn Senior Center.
	-- To Be Continued

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