Towns, Cities and Churches

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1889 Business Listings

1911 Business Listings

Plat Maps and Land Owners

 Schools

 In 1897 there were 35 school districts. Below is a numerical list of each school district. 

 Fairview District 1 

Located in the extreme southeast corner of Phillips County, this school district was established in 1908.The district was divided by petition from the residents of the lower half which became District 5, Pleasant Valley. This district serviced students until the 1960's when it joined Holyoke Re-1J.

 The first school year was for a term of four months, the teacher was Mildred Kiner who received a salary of $40.00 a month.

Location:   11Miles east, 8 miles south of Holyoke. 

Amherst District 2 

Although no records are available, it is believed that there was a school in Amherst as early as 1890. The citizens petitioned for a vote which would secure a bond to build a school in 1893. A 26 x 40 foot building was raised, 40 desks, a teacher’s desk and chairs were purchased and paid for in 1894.  That same year, the school district began charging a 75 cent monthly tuition to every out of district child that attended school in this district.

 In 1917 this district consolidated with district 2, 17 and 79 which student enrollment to 122. A branch high school was established which served the area until 1949.  In 1918 a brick school house was built to replace the 3 small building. The new building also served as a community center and both served the area until 1966 when it too consolidated with Holyoke. By 1970 the school had been auctioned off and demolished. It is also interesting to note that Amherst had a parochial school in 1909. 

Sunny side District 3 

This district was once located in Logan County.  Established in May 1887, records show that the district frequently gave and received land which changed its boundaries. 1894 districts 3, 72, 44 combined which allowed them to offer 9 months of school instead of the usual 3 months. One teacher would travel to each district and conduct school for 3 months.

School in District 72, as it was known in 1888 was held in a sod house which measured 12 x 24.  In 1889 a framed building was purchased from Ann Lemley and moved it to the Peter’s claim. By 1903 a new building was erected, with a basement, which served as living quarters for the teacher. In 1952 the building was purchased and moved to Holyoke to be used as a residence.

Location: 9 miles north 3 miles w of Holyoke. 

Green Prairie District 4 (joint with Sedgwick) 

This district was formed while this area was still in Logan County and for awhile the district was jointly used by Phillips and Sedgwick counties. The school was a one room framed building with a basement. After the district was dissolved the building was used as a community center. The building was later sold and moved to Julesburg. The land in Phillips County was given to District 2 and District 39

Location:  15 miles north on 385 north side of road. 

Pleasant Valley District 5 

Establish in May 1887 this district was located in Logan County and covered a large area South of Hwy 6, east to the state line and south to the county line.  In 1908 by vote of the residents, the County Superintendent split the district, with the lower half becoming Fairview.

In November 1922 the district was hit by a tornado, the building was destroyed and the teacher died. The State Line church and a residence was also destroyed. A new building, which included a basement was constructed in 1923 and also served the area as a community center.  In 1953 the school was renovated and restrooms and a library were added.  The School served the area till 1960 when the building was sold and moved to Nebraska.

 Location: 10 miles east and 3 miles south of Holyoke. 

Highland Center District 6     Consolidated 

The original district, Peyton Valley District 6 was organized in October 1889 a covered the greater part of the southwest corner of Phillips County.  In 1918 the County Superintendent annulled district 6 a consolidated Payton Valley, Hilltop and one other district into Highland Center District 6.

 In 1919 large brick building was constructed. The new school came complete with a gym, 4 rooms and a auditorium   There was a large two story teacherage and a 2 stall bus barn. The teachers were required to live in the teacherage during the week which was later used as living quarters for the cook and janitor. By 1919 a branch high school was established here. The district consolidated with Haxtun in 1960, the building was sold to Marvin Carlson, who used it as a community center.  Building burned in 1979. 

Location:  8 miles south on Hwy 59, 2 miles east of Haxtun. 

Prairie Star District 7 

Originally this district was form sometime before the turn if the century, but there is no record establishing the exact date. It is estimated to have been between 1890 and 1896.  Sometime after that date the district was annulled, for to failure to maintain the school.

In 1910 the residents again voted to organize the district and a white framed one room school house was built. The school was heated with a coal stove and on very cold morning, Mr. Mc Donnall who lived across the road, would go over and start the stove. The district offered a hot lunch program, which consisted of the teacher heating a pan of water on the stove, where student could place glass jars filled with food from home to heat. The district dissolved in 1950, the building was sold moved to Holyoke for a residence. 

Location:  4 miles north and 1 mile east of Paoli. 

Evergreen District 8 

Evergreen was originally established June 1887.  In 1904 the district was annexed to Harmony district 26 when it failed to maintain the school. The school itself was a white framed building. One of the chores preformed by the students was getting water from the McDorman farm ¼ of a mile away.  The last day of school all meat a picnic and a good game of baseball with the students for the Lone Star School some four miles away. The district was dissolved in 1952 and the building was moved to town. 

Location: 7 miles east of Holyoke on south side Hwy 6. 

Hilltop District 9 

When Hilltop was organized in 1893 there were ten school aged children in the area.  In 1896 the district voted to consolidate with District 27. The newly formed district became District 9. The school was a large 1 room framed building and there was a small stage at the front of the room.

 Most of the teachers boarded out with local families but when one teacher refused to do so, the school board, built a small sleeping room. The school served as a community center, with Sunday school, parties and dances being held there. The district was dissolved in 1953 the building sold and moved to Holyoke closed.

Local lore has it that one of the teachers’ chewed tobacco and would spit the juice out an open window. 

 Location: 5 miles east on Hwy 6, 7 miles south 1/2mile west of Holyoke. 

Sunbeam District 10 

Sunbeam District, a wooden one room building was established 1916. The school had no well, so the water was carried from the farm across the road and. corn cobs and coal were used to heat the school. 

 During a severe blizzard in the 1920's, Mr. Hinzie, (who stood in for Santa Claus during Christmas plays) walked ½mile to the school to rescue the children. Looping a long rope around each of their waists he tied each child to the other then taking the loose end of rope he tied himself to the children. These small-fry caravans walked the ½ mile back to Mr. Hinzie house, using to the fence line as a guide. Once back at Mr. Hinzie home, the children were feed and allowed to stay there till the storm subsided and their parents could come to get them. 

A special treat for the children was being able to explore the 3 room cave in the hillside behind the school house. It is believed that the cave was dug by J.P. Anderson, a miner, who used it a living quarter.

 In those days the Pledge of Allegiance was said, the flag was raised, the Bible was read and a Scripture verse was memorized. Currents events were read from Capper’s Weekly and the Literary held Box Socials to raise money for supplies.  During the last few years of the schools existence, the teacher rode the bus from Haxtun to the school. The district was dissolved in 1949. 

 Location: 3 miles south of Haxtun. 

 Plainview District 11 

Once known as the Flaker school it was originally established in April 1917.   The district was formed from District 71 and District 66 and served the children of this area till 1947. 

Location:  5 miles east and 1 mile north of Haxtun

Liberty District 41 

In 1888, when this district was formed this area was still part of Logan County.  It was a rather large district and its boundaries changed frequently. At some point in time a portion of this district was annexed and formed district 19.

A new large framed school complete with a basement was built in 1916.  It has been said that the first hot lunches served at this school were baked potatoes which were cooked on top of the furnace. In 1917 the school had a phone and offered bus transportation. 

 Location: 4 miles north of Holyoke on Highway 385. 

Fairfield District 47(linked to pictures) 

The first school was held in a granary on Edward Anderson's farm in early 1880’s and was taught by his teenage daughter. In 1888 the district was organized and became known as Fairfield.  School was held in a sod house.  In 1920 a framed school house was built that measured 20 x 30 feet and it was used for the next 16 years. 

In 1916 this district joined with Sedgwick County and a new two room school house was built. Students were transport to school by bus. By 1925 an addition was added to the school bring the total classrooms to 3. There was a two year high school, an auditorium and teachers apartment in the basement. In 1959 the district was closed, the school and surrounding ground was turned over to the Fairfield church. 

Morning View (Cox) District 48 

This district was named by Charles Peter the County Superintendent of Schools. The first school was a small framed building. Second building which was located a ½ mile closer was a framed building that came from the parochial school in Amherst, which was purchased in 1920.  It had a basement but no teacherage.  The school also served as a Sunday school and a place for many community events. This school was later torn down. 

Location: 9 miles north 1 ½ miles east of Hwy 385 

Fairy Dell District 51 J 

Established in 1888, this district was a joint district with Sedgwick County. This district was named by Reva Smelser, a teacher for the district for a number of years.

In 1915 a larger more modern school was built and served as a community hall and Sunday school. Once a month, a Literacy Meeting was held at the school and the teachers would make popcorn ball and candy to sell at these meeting. The money earned from these sales, bought books for the school library. 

Location: Venango Rd south east of Julesburg. 

Philorado District 57 

 Even though it is believed that this district was in existence in 1888 there is no record of it till 1900. In 1909 a new school house was built which measured 24 x 30 feet which was late sold and moved. In 1918 the districts received the name, Philorado, which is a combination of the county (Phillips) and the state (Colorado) in which it was built. Before then, the school was known as the Johnson School. The school closed in 1946 and the building was sold to the Fleming School district and for a while was used as a school till a new building was built. The building is now home to the Fleming Museum. 

Location:  3 miles east and 2 mile south of Haxtun. 

Meakins and Glenwood District 58 

This district was established in 1888 and at one time was a joint district between Sedgwick and Logan counties.  In 1921, the joint district was annulled and each county received a separate school district. By this time the school was located in Phillips County. District 58 had 2 schools, Meakins and Glennwood.  The Meakins School which was on the west side of district was moved to Haxtun where it was used as a shop, before being torn down. The Glennwood, which was on the eastern side of the district, was moved to town where it was remodeled as a residence. Both schools served the district for 16 years.

Locations:  Meakins 4 miles north and a little west and 1 ½ miles north of Haxtun.

               Glenwood was 4 miles north 3 miles east then 2 ½ miles north of Haxtun. 

Morning Star District 61 

 Originally in Logan County this district was established in 1888.  The first school was held in a sod house but it soon became so unstable, that the “school” was moved to a home 1 mile north. Soon a new framed school and barn were built. By 1950 both were torn down, the lumber sold.

Local lore tell that a favorite prank of some of the students were to toss .38 shells into the stove to hear them explode. 

Location: located 11 miles east of Holyoke on Hwy 6. 

Amitie District 63 

Established in 1888, the first school was a sod house and was named Fairview and had total enrollment of 10 students. In 1895-96 the school was moved and another sod house was constructed. This new school was called Amitie.

 A framed school was built in 1903 and was later used to house the teachers when the last school was built in 1919.   During the years 1920-26 a branch high was established here.  The school was used for many communities gathering, including Sunday school and church services.

 In 1948 the school was renovated. Both students, teachers and community member worked on the renovation and it was a source of community pride for many years.  The school was closed in 1959. 

Location: 4 miles south and 6 miles east of Holyoke 

Paoli District 66 

The first school in this district was located 2 ¼ miles north of Paoli. The school, which was built from sod, was taught by Mrs. Williams.  Later when Mrs. Williams quit, the children attended school 1 mile west of town and stayed with the teacher, Mrs. Charley Chaney during the week.

In the late 1800's a framed school was built 1 mile east and ½ mile north of town along a small creek. This school became known as Wild Duck School, as it sat under the fly pattern for the wild ducks. Later this building was moved to the northeast corner of town and sat across the tracks. The building faced east and the playground was on the south side.

In 1918 a new building was then built on the south side of town. This school had two rooms, one for grades 1,2,3,4 the second for grades 5,6,7,8. The basement had a stage complete with curtains on the south end was used for community gatherings which brought “Standing Room Only” for many events.. Later this area was used to house the teachers and still later it was used as a lunch room.  The large bell a top the school could be heard for miles around.

The end of the year was a community event.  There was a picnic, foot races, and a baseball game with the Dad’s, who had to bat left handed. 

Community Center (Olson) District 71 

This district was established in 1888.  The actual school site moved several times before the new brick building was built in 1920. The brick building, which was located 1 mile east, 2 miles north and ½ mile east of Haxtun was struck by lightning during construction and burned. A second brick building was later constructed. Because this district was so large, the 1917 the Plainview District was formed from this and Paoli district in 1917. In 1921 this district started transporting students by private car and in 1953 the district consolidated with Haxtun and the building was torn down.

Location: 4 miles east and 3 miles north of Haxtun

Broadway District 77 

 Broadway was the first district organized in Phillips County in 1886. The school was a large sod building, it had 6 windows, the walls were plastered and a blackboard 6x 8 feet was attached to a wall. The desks were homemade and the school open with nothing more than a few books, 35 students and one teacher, James L Wood.

 As the years pasted 2 more building were built, each of them made from wood. The first wooden building was a small one room structure which was later moved to Haxtun, the second school, built in 1942 had one large room a small library and a hall.

In 1945 this district closed, the school was sold and the building was moved to a nearby farm. 

Location: 3 miles south, 1 mile west of Paoli

PLEASANT HILL Unknown District

October 3 - School began September 29th, Miss Works, teacher.

Pleasant Hill school house is located on the northeast of sec 4-6-44. 

Lone Star District 78 

This district first was organized in 1888.  Since there was no electricity to the school kerosene lamps were used when needed.  As a way for students to earn money and for the school to get water, students were paid a small fee to bring a cream can of water to the school. Occasionally students would bring a large pail of soup to school which would be heated on the stove for lunch.

 At the end of the year a large picnic and softball game was held and the students from Evergreen school were always invited. 

Location: 3 miles east of Holyoke on Hwy 6 on the north side of the road. 

 Lakeside District 81 

Lakeside district was first organized in 1888.  In 1917 the west part of this district was annexed and that district became McKelvey.  Lakeside school was a favorite spot for skunks and as everyone knows a skunk problem can be rather “smelly.” In an attempt to “sweeten” the air around the school, the board members crawled under the school with the intention of clubbing the unwanted guests. Later when they emerged, the “scent” of defeat was quite evident.

 Later that night one of these men made a rather odorous appearance at the hospital, when he and his wife arrived for the birth of their daughter. 

Location: located 5 miles west and 8 miles south of Holyoke 

Haxtun District 84 

This district was officially organized in 1889. School was held in a dugout owned by Alice Strohm, which is now where the Haxtun Hospital is located.

Between the years of 1889 and 1905 a framed school house was built. It too has a colorful history, first the building was built south of town, later it was moved into town where it remained a school, It has served as a post office and even a restaurant.

 In 1909 a 2 story block building was erected on land given by the Lincoln Land Company and another block was purchased from Walter Scott, giving a 2 block playground.  Each floor had 2 rooms and there was a small office on the second floor. But the school was soon outgrown so two bungalows were built and were used for the primary grades.

A new brick building was built for all eight grades and the high school in 1919, serving 339 students. 

North Star District 91 

This district was carved from districts 81 and 27 and a district in Yuma County. Because this district was included in two counties, the counties alternated paying the bills. One year Yuma County ran out of money and could not pay for the coal, so the teacher, Dr. Moss and his family picked out cow chips to burn in the stove. Dr. Moss lived in the basement of the school. The district was dissolved in 1957 because it failed to comply with the law. The land in Phillips County went to district 39. 

Phillips County High School and Posegate Hall 

In 1901 the first high school board was organized. The first high school was held in a classroom at the grade school.  High school was free to all county residents, but non county residents were charged $3.00 a month. In 1910 the high school classes were held in the courthouse till a school could be built. Mr. S.S. Worley donated the land and a school was built. But there was one restrictions, Mr. Worley stipulated that no dances could be held at the school. In 1918 and addition was added to the east end of the building, a gym was added in 1949 and as band room in 1956.

Posegate Hall was built in 1919. The dormitory was used to house students during the week that lived on farms. The high school superintendent supervised the hall, his wife planned the meals and the janitor’s wife prepared them. The students were supervised by the teachers, with the men caring for the boy’s, who lived in the basement and the women the girl’s who lived on the top floor.