From “The hitching post…” column in the Ottawa Herald, a series of articles about early Franklin County schools researched by Bruce Fleming and written by Herald Editor and Publisher Jim Hitch. This article appeared 26March, 1992.
Pleasant Valley, district 94, was organized in 1885 and on Oct. 10 of that year J. Wemmer deeded an acre for the school. The property was to “be kept fenced hog-tight.”
Clara (Talley) Davis was the teacher when the school was closed for good in 1952. Her last students were Benton “Ben” Nitcher, Calvin Price and Mary Ann Pickenpaugh. Members of the last school board were Dean Guy, Don Pickenpaugh and Robert L. Davis.
Clarence Koch, 306 Elm, taught at Pleasant Valley for two years. “I remember when Louis Dengel, Ottawa funeral home director, would come out from town and show travel films for community meetings.
My three brothers went to school at Pleasant Valley, from 1926 to 1929, and on Jan. 20, 1927, the grading methods were changed from using excellent-good-poor to a percentage method using A,B,C,D and F.”
Koch quoted from the 1928-29 grad card of his brother, Ralph. “The following grade system was adopted by the Council of Administration Jan. 20, 1927 and has been adopted by practically all the city school systems and a number of the higher schools of learning in the state. It is hoped that every teacher in Franklin County will use it this year.”
“Grades are based upon the following qualities: scholarship, initiative, attitude, cooperation and improvements.”
According to Koch, A represented 93 to 100 percent; B, 87 to 92 percent; C, 80 to 86 percent; D, 75 to 79 percent and F, below 75 percent.
Viola (Wemmer) Ferns, 1504 S. Oak, fondly recalls the woods next to the school. Some of the trees were leaning, she said, “Which made them great for climbing.”
Chuck Peed, rural Williamsburg, said that after the school closed the building was deeded to Mt. Olivet Church for a dollar. The congregation used the school for worship and as a fellowship hall while its own church was being remodeled.
After the remodeling was completed, the schoolhouse was sold to Lee Martin, who tore it down for lumber to build his house.
Other teachers known to have taught at Pleasant Valley include Dorothy Price, Agnes (Baker) Schweitzer and May Sharon.
Former students known still to be living in Franklin County are Chuck Peed, Ben Nitcher, Calvin Price, Mary Ann (Pickenpaugh) Channon, Glen Miller, Jack and Bo Davis, Laura Sutton, Gene, Ray and Will Adams, Patty (Adams) Carey, Robert (Ware) Hughes, Viols (Wemmer) Ferns, Nellie (Webber) Ferns, Mildred (Seyler) Pearson, Vera (Dannelly) Figgins, Betty (Dannelly) Garber and Elva (Whigger) Smith.