Source: Ruth M. Brubaker, THE HISTORY OF PLEASANT TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS 1835-1962 (1979), pp. 38-39.

BUSSARD SCHOOL (DISTRICT 2)

As to just when the first log schoolhouse was built for this District is not known for sure but felt it must have been around 1848-49. This is felt was located one mile south of what has been known as the location for the Bussard school.

In 1858, it is believed that a frame building was built for a schoolhouse. But just where is not sure. It may have been on the site as known today. This was built on the Adam Bussard farm. Before the districts were arranged as they were later with schools located two miles apart. Most students in the neighborhood attended the school one mile south. The house and manner in which school was taught seems very odd at the present time. A short description will be given. The house was about twenty by twenty-two feet. The seats were sawmill slabs on legs with the flat side up. A shelf at one end was used as a writing table, and shelves all around the room did service for wraps, dinner and books.

The program was the same for the forenoon and the afternoon. Reading, writing, arithmetic and spelling. All kinds of readers were used. After a class had read they went to the writing table and after the teacher had written a copy at the top of the page for each one, he had to write that page out. The teacher had made the pens of goose quills and each had to be repointed every day. The ink was homemade. Arithmetic, like the readers, were of all kinds. No classwork was done in arithmetic, each individual worked as fast as he could and would. Most of the school spelled at the same time standing in a row around the walls.

Mr. Phillip Amiss, who lived in the district for a number of years taught the last five terms in this building, using the program above. He had eighty pupils enrolled but an average for the term would be fifty-five. The boys carried in the wood and the girls would sweep the floors at noon. The boys gratefully continued to practice for years to come, but the girls became somewhat negligent.

Several literary societies have been conducted by the school and nearly every term had closed by an excellent literary entertainment. Along with a big dinner which was attended by all patrons who cared to come.

It used to be a favorite sport of the big boys to lock the teacher out on Christmas to compel him to treat. This was usually successful but once in awhile the table would turn. Once the teacher went home and did not come  back until the next day. One teacher refused to treat and the boys carried him to the creek and were about to put him in through a hole in the ice when he told them that he had candy at the schoolhouse. Another time the teacher sent the boys to a farmer to get two bushels of apples but he failed to pay for them.

The first brick schoolhouse was built in 1876. This building was used until 1910-11. It was during this time that some more consolidation was taking place in the township. It was felt a larger school was needed for Bussard. So a new brick school was built. This building was used for other things besides school. Some of the community people would get together and have programs put on in the building. Many of the evenings were spent there with lots of enjoyment. Some of those who took part in these programs were, Mr. Glen Walther, Clarence Walther, Ada Walther, Florence Albright, and husband, George Butterbaugh, Effie Bussard, Cliff Blickenstaff and Dan  Boyer to name a few. In the 1920s they had what was called "Hard Time Party."

At one time there was a history started for the Bussard school. John Bussard had it but no one seems to know what happened to it.

There are lots of old memories about the old school. One was that Noble Isley was very well liked by all the girls. Also that Albert Bohnstedt drove for the Bussard school and would let his whiskers grow and spit tobacco. When Densil Ring was only in the first grade, her father drove hack for the school. Since Densil was small and only in the first grade he felt he should haul her to school But the rule was you had to live more than a mile and a half from school to be hauled. For a while she got to ride, until someone told on them. Even though her father felt it was wrong, Densil had to walk the rest of the time. Some remember how Loris Olinger liked to pull a chair out just as the teacher was ready to sit down.

In 1924, some of the older scholars who had attended the Bussard school year before thought it would be a good idea to have a reunion. As to just how long this was kept up is not known for sure but they did have a reunion in 1933. If any after that no record could be found.

But again in 1966, some of the older members again felt this was a good idea and started it again. Paul Walters took it upon himself to dig up all the names and addresses of former students that had attended the school. Inviting them to a reunion at Long Lake in August for a corn roast and hamburger fry with himself furnishing all the eats. This idea went over real well. ...