Hooker County, nestled in the Sandhills of Nebraska, has a vast and elaborate history when it comes to education. Here's a look at some of the various country and public schools Mullen and the surrounding area have had to offer.

One of the first things our pioneers did when they arrived here in the vast Sandhills of Nebraska was to provide a school or some method of education for their children. The area of Hooker County was no different.

According to Lizzie Wolfenden (Kime), one of the early students and teachers, education didn't come easy before the organization of districts and tax-supported schools. But people realized the importance of being able to read, write, and "figger." When Lizzie was 15 years old, she was employed as a housekeeper for $25 a month. However, she was dying to go to school so she quit her job when she learned a teacher was coming to educate her and the neighboring children. When the teacher cancelled her term for family reasons, Lizzie was devastated. With the community desperately needing a teacher, the parents called an impromptu meeting and decided that Lizzie could teach! Lizzie was very reluctant, only having four years of schooling (two at Valentine and two in the country.) She was also concerned about being in charge of two bigger, older boys who probably wouldn't obey her. But, she figured, teaching would be a lot better than the back-breaking, sod-busting work to be done at home. So she agreed to teach on one condition - that she could quit the moment the boys gave her any trouble. Lizzie was paid $25 per month and "Board 'Round." This meant Lizzie would take turns rooming and boarding with parents of her pupils for a week at a time.

The schoolhouse was a small soddie about 12 feet by 16 feet with a wood floor, which at that time was a luxury. Lizzie taught at the school for a two-month term. She says it was one of her most thrilling experiences and that she learned more in those two months than she ever did as a pupil.

By the early 1890's, a few communities were building sod school houses equipped with homemade furniture. There were some desks, but not much natural lighting was provided.This school was a graded school, which meant it was separated into grades. Some of the books were ones that the pupils' parents had used and donated. A few of them were McGuffey's Reader, Ray's Algebra, Dr. Condron's History of Nebraska, and Barnes' History.

The students had recess at 10:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. During this time they played Fox and Geese and went sleigh riding on homemade sleds.

-- McConnell, Marcelyn, et al. "The Mullen Roundup." n.p., n.d.

-- http://www.oldfashionedclipart.com/clip.htm

District Number Six was organized in 1903. It was located in southwestern Hooker County, on the Dismal River. Nan Barneby was the first teacher, and her students were Jess Thompson and Frank Shimmin. The building was a soddie that had a special covering on its roof made of hay, sod, and gyp designed to prevent leaking and in the summer kept the hot air out. Nan was paid $8 a month and was supposed to stay half of the year with Thompsons and half of the year with Shimmins. She stayed one night at Thompsons and spent the rest of the year at Shimmins - the reason why is unknown. Mr. Katron was the County Superintendent at the time.

After Nan Barneby left District Number Six, Mary Neal stepped in to teach at the tiny school. By 1901, she had five students. The old stove burned cow chips, which were picked up by the hired men. Several years later, Mary taught at the school again, where the students learned bookkeeping, civil government, and general courses for grades 1-8. Some of the games they played during recess were catch ball and pum-pum-pull-away. They opened school every morning by singing their favorite song "Where All We Want The Wind to Blow" out of Uncle Sam's Song Book.

-- McConnell, Marcelyn, et al. "The Mullen Roundup." n.p., n.d.

-- http://www.oldfashionedclipart.com/clip.htm

South Cherry County and Hooker County had several unorganized schools prior to 1892. Parents utilized any available building and even used their own homes when nothing else was convenient. Since there were no tax funds available, the financial responsibility was shared among the parents. Two- and three-month terms were thus developed. Text books were donated by parents and only homemade furniture was available in the schools. Most schools around present-day Mullen were ungraded, meaning students advanced as rapidly as they could. Often, students would attend school until age 20 or 21 and would be bigger and older than the teacher.

The school district didn't become organized until around 1910. It was then the district furnished some books and supplies. The pupils used slates instead of paper. Cow chips or whatever was handy was used for the stove. During recess, the children played shinny, crack-the-whip, blackman, and baseball. Some children had two to five miles between home and school, and the more fortunate ones rode horseback or wagon. One boy, Floyd Moran, even rode 20 miles, left his horse 2 miles from school and walked the rest of the way with schoolmates! Without these hardworking pioneers, our schools and level of education would not be what it is today.

-- McConnell, Marcelyn, et al. "The Mullen Roundup." n.p., n.d.

-- Hooker Co. Historical Society. "History of Hooker County Nebraska." Vol. 1. Dallas: Curtis Media Corporation, 1989.

Plans for a school house in the town of Mullen were laid in 1902, but because of bad weather the plans were postponed until spring 1903. This school was located on the northwest corner of the town, by the present-day Episcopal Church. It was built as a school, but also served as the first Methodist church and was also home to several Mullen social events, such as box socials, literaries, meetings, etc. This school was short-lived, however, as it burned down in April 1904.

Another two-story building was erected in 1907. This building had two classrooms on the ground floor and two on the second floor as well as a principal's office at the end of the hall. This second floor was used for high school students until a high school was built in 1917. The Elementary School was used until 1938, when it was condemned for unsafe use. It was moved to the back of the lot and a $36,000 brick building took its place in 1939. This building had 5 classrooms, an office, and a basement with a stage at the east end used for school programs and activities. The old frame building was reconstructed for a new high school Vocational-Agriculture building.

In October 1971, a vote for a bond to be issued for building an addition to the 1939 brick building passed. The new addition was built adjoining the south side of the east portion of the original building. This large room was used to accommodate both elementary and high school students for the lunch program. It was and still is used for music lessons, spelling bees, recreational activities, and large community meetings. The kitchen was remodeled, the old lunch area was turned into an Art room, and two classrooms were combined into one for speech therapy. All rural students were bussed into Mullen so the Hooker County rural schools have all vanished. A lot has changed in the last century!

-- Hooker Co. Historical Society. "History of Hooker County Nebraska." Vol. 1. Dallas: Curtis Media Corporation, 1989.

-- http://www.neb-sandhills.net/mullen/photo_album.htm

The first Hooker County High School students attended the frame Elementary School located in northeast Mullen. Their classes were held on the second floor above the elementary students. By 1916, they had 30 students occupying the top floor. The first graduates of Mullen High School were Elvia and Sylvia Fox in the class of 1916.

Seeing a great need for a high school building, one was planned and built in 1917 on top of a hill in the northwest section of Mullen. Five students graduated in the Class of 1917. All graduation ceremonies were held in the second floor of the Roseberry Hall until a new addition was made to the original high school building. The high school continued to be successful, opening in 1918 with an enrollment of 43, the largest enrollment in the history of the school since 1912.

The new high school building, an addition joined to the left of the original 1917 building, was completed in 1928. An auditorium, office, and restrooms were built on the first floor. The new assembly (multi-purpose) room was on the second floor to the left of the stairs. Fourteen members of the Class of 1928 graduated in the new auditorium.

A new Junior-Senior High School building was planned in 1964. This was joined to the left of the 1928 building. The old 1917 building was razed and parking space was added in its spot. The '28 building was remodeled for a multipurpose room, a small remedial classroom (special education room), locker rooms, and a music and band room. The new section of the school, all built on the ground floor, included a number of large classrooms, three offices, a teacher's lounge, library, a Home Economics (now FCS) room, a Science room, a typing room, restrooms, and storage rooms. Graduating classes have had as many as 40 students. Graduation exercises are now held at the Lariat Auditorium, which is property of the School District.

Mullen High School underwent yet another reconstruction & addition project from October 2002 to June 2003. The old multipurpose room, locker rooms, music room, art room, and weight room were torn down and replaced. The school now has a state-of-the-art weight room, locker rooms, a small multipurpose room, and spacious new music and art rooms. Everyone is thrilled with this new addition.

-- http://www.neb-sandhills.net/mullen/photo_album.htm

-- Photos courtesy of M. Andrews