In 1946, the Lower Grades were taught by Wilma Gruhn and included, from left, back row, Myra Kay Meeves, Janet Ehrichs, Virginia Dammann, Richard Dammann, Sandra Lacy, Barbara Spence, and Delores Schroeder; and front row, Myrene Rowedder, Sandra Dammann, Raymond Spence, and Joyce Spence.

Students in about 1947, taught by Aurelia Lamp, were, from left, back row, Aurelia Lamp, Melvin Sinow, Ronald Schilling, Roy Schilling, Gene Ehrichs, Joe Brandt, Dewey Schilling, Wallace Schroeder, Roland Meeves, Wava Lacy; and front row, Donald Lacy, Daryl Rowedder, Alan Lorenzen, Margaret Schroeder, Kenneth Dammann, LeRoy Dammann, and Chris Brandt.

ODDS AND ENDS
When I taught in Aspinwall there were no graveled roads. Even Highway 141 was all deep ruts. There were times in spring and winter when my Model T Ford had to be parked in Ehrichs' Garage and I boarded with the Pete Siem family.
Elsie (Kuhl) Wilhelm

Upper Grade students in about 1948, taught by Marie McSorley, were, left to right, Dewey Schilling, Melvin Sinow, Alan Lorenzen, Myrene Rowedder, Ronald Schilling, Sandra Lacy, Chris Brandt, Daryl Rowedder, Roland Meeves, and Donald Lacy.

1949-1951
1949: Miscellaneous Bills Paid, Teacher Salaries (one teacher) $188.30
January, 1950: Tuition paid to P.H. Jones, Manning School District: $878.70.
February, 1950: Light Bill, Iowa Public Service, $25.00; August, 1949, Cleaning School House, $25.00; August, 1949, Cobs, $5.00; February, 1950, Aspinwall Co-op, Coal, $44.39; January, 1951, Oil Stove, $188.89; January, 1951, Tuition, $1,132.11; May, 1951, Ehrichs Garage, Fuel Oil, $107.21.

ODDS AND ENDS
Our teacher, Vivian Marr stayed with us (room and board) when my sister Virgene was in fourth grade and I was in kindergarten.
Donna (Schacht) Mahnke

ODDS AND ENDS
When I was four years old, we moved to Aspinwall, and a year later I was enrolled in the Aspinwall School. We were the last class to be so enrolled, as the next year we were to attend the Manilla School System. My first teacher for that first and only year was Mrs. Milo Clark, and I can recall that she always had time to spend with those of us in the lower grades, even though the older kids demanded so much of her time. Another thing I remember about the Aspinwall School was the sand box we played in during recess. It had white sand!
Mark Grundmeier, Manilla

Page 98

Janice Ress 1st Grade Student at Aspinwall 1952-1953 Taught by Regina Lally

Students of Regina Lally in 1954-55 included:

Kathy Musfeldt, Keith Musfeldt, Mrs. Lally, Raymond Spence, Patricia Wanninger

Terry Henkelman, Carol J. Spack, Joan Hollander, Carla Musfeldt, Ricky Hofsommer

Pat Musfeldt, Jim Soll, Marilyn Soll, Dale Koester, Carolyn Soll

Darrell Weems, Lynn Hollander, Roger Schroeder, Diane Musfeldt, Ronnie Hollander

ODDS AND ENDS
Aspinwall was always my "home town." As a youngster I always walked that steep hill to school. During the winter we were sometimes fortunate enough to have our dad take us to school in a horse-drawn bobsled. Riding a horse to school and tying it to the fence during the school hours was always lots of fun.
School programs were always given at Christmas time and school picnics held in the spring. Eighth grade graduates always attended graduation ceremonies at the old German Hall, now the Ritz Theater, at Denison. All Crawford County eighth grade graduates received their diplomas in a group and group pictures were taken.
Mrs. Alvan (Elaine Schroeder) Hansen

Page 99

In 1956, the school interior looked like this; Mrs. Milo Clark was the teacher. Students included, back row, left to right, Lynn Hollander, Terry Henkelman, Darrell Weems, Ricky Hofsommer, Tammy Jansen, and front row, Jim Soll, Pat Wanninger, and Keith Musfeldt.

Students in about 1957, taught by Mrs. Milo Clark, were, from left, back row, Dale Koester, Ron Hollander; third row, Carol Spack, Carla Musfeldt, Beverly Weinbrandt, Pat Musfeldt, Marilyn Soll, Kathy Musfeldt, Carolyn Soll; second row, Joan Hollander, Darrell Weems, Keith Musfeldt, Myra Weems; and front row, Cindy Henkelman, Lynn Hollander (hidden), Terry Henkelman, Nancy Weems, Jim Soll, Pat Wanninger, and Tom Jansen.

The Final Years

Teacher Mrs. Milo Clark taught all grades in 1956, including, from left, back row, Roger Schroeder, Dale Koester, Ronnie Hollander, Beverly Weinbrandt, Diane Musfeldt, Marilyn Soll, Pat Musfeldt, Carolyn Soll; third row, Carol J. Spack, Carla Musfeldt, Joan Hollander, Kathy Musfeldt; second row, Pat Wanninger, Tammy Jansen, Cindy Henkelman, Lynn .Hollander; and seated, Ricky Hofsommer, Keith Musfeldt, Darrell Weems, Terry Henkelman, and Jim Soll.

ODDS AND ENDS
The Aspinwall Independent School has only 17 students but the building is good-sized and the students have modern furniture and equipment with which to pursue their studies. Marvin Linde is the president of the school board. Other members are John Lorenzen, Clarence Lacy and John Meeves, farmers, and Carl Musfeldt of the Aspinwall Cooperative. Kathryn Lakers of Manilla is the teacher.
The Denison Bulletin, October 20, 1950

ODDS AND ENDS
We lived right across the street (north) of the schoolhouse. One extreme winter, the snow banks covered the fences between our pasture and the school yard. I walked on top of the snow banks to go to school without going through a gate.
Dorothy (Ehrichs) Kusel

After the school districts were reorganized, the Aspinwall School closed at the end of the spring term, 1959, and was assigned to the Manilla School District.

Page 100

ODDS AND ENDS
The attractive frame school building is situated on a hill above Aspinwall's main street. It has a spacious playground with trees and lawn as part of the school's attraction.
Cut-lines for picture in Denison Bulletin, October 20, 1950

ODDS AND ENDS
I remember the autograph books and all the beautiful verses; others often were clever, but silly. Many a day we carried these books to school.
Dorothy (Ehrichs) Kusel

ODDS AND ENDS
I remember carrying water up to the school from the well at the bottom of Grassy Hill. More times than not we girls would return with empty buckets after the bull would run toward us in the pasture. Then two boys would be sent to get the water.
Ruth (Brady) Hiatt

ODDS AND ENDS
I treasure the memory of many friends I had through my school years, the two-room school house with its pot-belly stoves, and sleigh riding down the long hill by the school, sneaking in one last ride after the bell would ring. Three of my teachers were the Lally sisters and Alice Guth.
Ellen (Schade) Trout

ODDS AND ENDS
We almost always walked to school; then two persons who were lucky got to go down the big hill to get our pail of drinking water for the day, or go west of the school to Schacht's pump. Then, on our way home, we would walk around through town and get the mail.
Esther (Pfoltner) Jahn, Adair

ODDS AND ENDS
I remember that the highlight of our walk home from the Aspinwall School (we lived across from George Pfoltner then) was to go past the junk!! They used to use the road ditch along the east side of that road that goes to the highway for a dump. Darrell, Nancy and I walked to and from school every day and the highlight of our daily trip was to take time every night to inspect the dump and bring home any new treasures we could find. One time Darrell scrounged around and found a "really neat" old airplane toy and a toy truck. We took our treasures home to show mom and she was surprised to see the same toys return that she had thrown away a couple years earlier!!
Myra (Weems) Luetje

ODDS AND ENDS
The school itself had two big rooms. There was, at one time, two classrooms due to the large number of students. Each room had a teacher. When I was in school, however, we only used one room as a classroom. The other was used for us to play in whenever the teacher was working with another class. There was a school bell in that room (the bell was in the cupola) similar to a church bell. It had a long rope with a huge ring on the bottom that the teacher used to call us back in from recess, etc., with. The rope was several feet higher off the ground than the kids!!!
There was a huge sandbox next to the rope; the sandbox was on legs high enough that we could stand by it to play in the sand. Anyway, I do remember Tom Jansen, Janine Dahleen and me getting into big trouble one day when we were sent in there for playtime. We decided that if we were just a little bigger we'd be able to reach that bell rope. So all three of us climbed up into the sandbox -- Tom reached over and grabbed the rope and all three of us held on and swung back and forth like a pendulum, ringing the bell as we swung! None of us could reach the sandbox again, so we had to get rescued by the teacher. We were not allowed back into the playroom for two weeks and had to do extra work for two weeks whenever our class wasn't busy! It was funny, though. I still remember how much fun we had!
Myra (Weems) Luetje

ODDS AND ENDS
I feel very privileged to have both attended and taught in the Aspinwall school. Delpha (Boyens) Olson was extremely influential in my life.
Dorothy (Ehrichs) Kusel

ODDS AND ENDS
We had church and Sunday School at our schoolhouse in Aspinwall. Church was conducted by the late Rev. Johann M. Ansorge, and Mrs. Olga Hansen was one of our Sunday School teachers.
Esther (Pfoltner) Jahn, Adair

ODDS AND ENDS
When I was very young, two of our Aspinwall ladies dressed in Halloween costume and visited our room. One was dressed as a ghost; the other a witch. One of them had ice in her gloves and we were all in turn to shake hands with this "creature." I became very frightened and loudly screamed. (I was told later I did not sleep very well that night.) No thanks to you - Marie (Schwiesow) Schroeder and Florence (Schroeder) Thomssen -- but I forgive you.
Dorothy (Ehrichs) Kusel