by Maralyn Fink
The saga continues.
1919-1926
In 1917 the United States entered World War I. In 1918 on November 11 an Armistice was declared and the war ended. Thse were the years of Prohibition and Woman Suffage Amendments. Wilson, Hardiing and Coolidge were the Presidents of our country.
At East Ward the teachers were Grace Rimmer, Ms. Butler and Sara Pouch. Following these teachers were Bess Conley Osgood, Helen Gould Judd and Hazel Risdele Culver.
A few of the students attending during this time were Gerald Bunge, Raymond, Gene and Bob Eich, Robert Pratt, Ruth Pratt Roof, R. G. Warstler and Kenneth Penix.
1927-1936
The nation’s leaders were Calvin Coolidge, Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt. The depression years were in progress. Prohibition had been repealed and the nation was struggling to raise above the depression with such things as TVA and the New Deal.
The staff at East Ward remained about the same. In 1934 Dorothy Welch joined the teaching staff.
Several individuals familiar to St. Johns today were entered on the East Ward kindergarten roster.
1929 – Raymond Parr
1931 – Dorothy Pratt Salters
1932 – Robert Cole
1934 – Leonard Puetz
1934 – Jean Mary Castell * 2nd grade
1935 – J. E. Crosby
1936 – Dean Wakefield
1936 – Richard Boling
1936 – Charlie Cordray
1936 – Louise Tilford Fernholz
1937 – Richard Tilford
The early kindergarten years were called sub-primary classes as reading was taught as part of the curriculum. The children attended all day but on a shorter session (each morning and afternoon) than what the other grades attended. Miss Evelyn Putnam taught these classes in 1927-32.
In 1934 the kindergarten curriculum changed and the teaching of reading was removed from the kindergarten curriculum. Kindergartners became the familiar half-day students.
1937-1946
Franklin D. Roosevelt and Harry Truman were Presidents during the time. The United States had entered another World War and eventually ended that war with a new precedent in history–the Atomic Bomb.
The Atomic Age may not have had a dire affect on the people in St. Johns, but awareness in technology increased. Education became more important and classes at East Ward began to grow in size. It was during this time that Teresa Merrill came to teach at East Ward. She began in 1937 as instructor in the fifth and sixth grades as well as principal. Working with her during this first part of her career were Evelyn Putnam, Betty Cornell and May Belle Clara.
1947-1956
The United States saw a change in Presidents as Dwight D. Eisenhower replaced Harry Truman. At East Ward, however. Teresa Merrill remained as principal and was working hard innovating new programs.
Back: Greg Penix, Marcia Penix, Mickey Lynam, George Gavenda. Middle: __, Susan Wirick, Linda Greer, Brian Waltz, ____, ___ Front: Bob Ebert, Stuart Robertson, Jim Lancaster
Mrs. Merrill started the Safety Patrol Squad during this time. She was able to get the Automobile Club of Lansing interested in the project, and each year they sponsored a trip to Washington D. C. for the boy who received the most points. Dick Rasdale and Cayle Beagle were two East Ward boys who were awarded that trip. Robert Boling was the Captain of the first Patrol Squad. Other patrol boys recalled are:
Robert Cook
John Joslyn
Tom Welsh
Jim Lancaster
Bobby Lee
Douglas Kovieu
Larry Flak
Marvin Ball
Jim Wert
Robert Wagner
Jerry Bunge
Curtis Brown
Not to leave the girls out, Teresa Merrill initiated a Service Squad. These girls assisted other teachers, helped the younger students and kept the halls and rooms in order. Some of the first Service Squad members were:
Marliyn Muston
Carolyn Nickel
Mickie Lynam
Maureen Dunke1
Marilyn Moore
Susan Wirick
Sharon Roof
Carolyn Farrier
Joyce Marten
Beverly Leavitt
Carol Griffith
Elizabeth DeGeer
Viola Atkinson
Marilyn Blizzard
In the years following 1951 the East Ward kindergartners were bussed to the Swegles Street School. The children attended school only half of a day and were bussed back into their area at the end of the half day’s session.In 1956 the kindergarten classes were again returned to the East Ward school and remained for fourteen years.
The 1950s brought some innovations to the East Ward curriculum and general educational offerings. A projector and screen were purchased so that educational films could be used with the children’s classes.
Dark shades were also bought for the windows so the films could be seen better. The teachers were required to preview the films over at the high school (R. B. Wilson) so they could present a good lesson on the film. During this time a TV was purchased. The children had lessons in Spanish, music and science via the TV unit.
Starting in the 1950s new library books were added each year to the East Ward library which was housed in the main hall. Mrs. Allison, the librarian, came one day a week to help the children check out books.
In the fall of 1952 Mr. Lancaster, Superintendent of St. Johns Schools, came over to East Ward and took a look around. He decided East Ward needed some new lights. At that time there were a few hanging lights
in each room. Soon after, new fluorescent lights were installed in all four rooms.
In 1955 new desks for the students and teachers were purchased. New tile flooring was also laid in each room. Outside a jungle gym was added to the playground.
During these next. ten years the United States had three Presidents: Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson. The Viet Nam War was the major issue this decade.
In St. Johns Teresa Merrill had given the principalship to Mrs. Gertrude Bennett. Mrs. Bennett was assisted by six teachers during her six years as principal (1957-63). Three teachers were Beatrice Pung, Edith Walling. Henrietta Longenecher, Alice Thrun, Dorothea Beagle and Thelma Weismiller.
A few more alterations were made on East Ward during this time. In 1957 a piano and electric drying tube were bought for use in the basement. In 1958 the third grade room gained new cupboard on one whole wall. In 1959 more cupboards were added to the kindergarten room. Also in 1959 Stan Cowan donated a refrigerator so the milk used at recess break and bus children’s lunch could be cool and fresh.
Margaret Puetz had the principalship at East Ward the first part of the decade. While working as principal, she also taught the second grade. Working with her were Pat Kuenzli, Margaret Wyrick, Ron Holley Mryna Tate, Retha Cook, Eather Hendershot and Erma Fritz. Mr. Holley was East Ward’s first male instructor.
In 1970 kindergarten was again bussed to the Swegles Street school. The students attended the afternoon session and were returned by bus to the East Ward area at the end of the day. This method is still in effect today. When promotions are granted in k1ndergarten, the children attend the East Ward school for grades 1, 2, 3, and 4.
The 1970s also brought the start of a hot-lunch program to East Ward. Students have the option of eating at school regardless of distance from home. Hot lunches are prepared in e1ectronic ovens at Central and transported to East Ward. The hot lunch program is government supplemented.
During this decade the United States saw Richard Nixon get elected president. Upon the resignation of R. Nixon a Michigan man came to be President. That man is our current President, Gerald Ford. Perhaps teachers at East Ward are working with a future President.
One hundred years from original construction East Ward is still one of our important elementary schools. The principalship has been given to Mrs. Ethel Huot. She shares this job between Swegles Street School
and East Ward. During the 1975-76 school year the East Ward staff consisted of Margaret Wyrick, Carol MacDonald, Linda Parr and Mike Muehlenbeck.
The years have caught up with East Ward. In spite of the excellent care given by custodians such as Mr. Bond, Charlie Couter, Art Salters, Ray Stevens, Dale George and Ernie Baker, the need for updating has come. Mrs. Huot has succeeded in promoting some renovative projects that directly affect the safety and education of East Ward students.
The old hall library just did not meet the needs of our next generation and caused much confusion with movement of students in the hal1. Therefore, a basement room was converted into an attractive reading room equipped with bookshelves, good lighting and space for special reading-counseling area.
A book list has been compiled and teachers have sacrificed their dole of PTA money to use in ordering better reading material for the students.
The teachers lacked a good conference and work room. Mrs. Huot saw that the other basement room was renovated. Paneling, paint and the addition of a table, shelves and lights helped to convert this room into useable workspace that the teachers desperately needed.
Next week: Teresa Merrill and some of the others who made the building a school