Our Past Is Present September 4, 2017

September 4, 2017

            You are reading “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            The dedication of a new school is a “Big Deal.”  This is a culminating event in celebration of the investment, planning and establishment of a learning environment for students to be successful during their formative years, and then into their future and for the community to use also.  In the early days of rural school buildings the dedication of a new school building in the Maple Grove District was for the same purpose.  It was September of 1926, when the new school was formally dedicated.  It was north of Junction City on the Milford Road. The building was completed during the summer months and was built to replace the school previously destroyed by fire.  The new school was made of stone.  It had a large basement with half of the being above the ground. It was intended that this area would also serve as a community affairs room.  The crowd at the dedication packed the building and many in attendance had to stand outside.  An instrumental duet was performed by Mr. and Mrs. Fairchild of Milford followed by a vocal solo by Mrs. T.L. Jones.  Dr. Draper conducted the dedication and Mrs. Ida Grammar, the County School Superintendent made a brief speech, as did Dr. John Brinkley.  At the conclusion of the dedication, a basket supper was served in the basement.  The Maple Grove School had fifteen students with Miss Margaret Harris as the teacher.  She later became Mrs. Pierce Powers.