The West Crisp School

Children of West Crisp can’t go to school in the building where their parents attended - the old school having burned to the ground in February, 1926.

The present structure, a two-room school was erected soon after that and takes a high place in affairs of the community

Teachers and Pupils

Jacob Bloemers is principal of the school and teaches the early elementary room. His pupils are: Geneva and Harold Diekema, Josephine Hehmke, Merle Hop, Janet Knoll, Alvin Nienhuis, Merle Nienhuis, Cliffmond Nienhuis, Roger Nienhuis, Jay Neinhuis, Raymond and Clarence Raak, Marian Tenkinck, Marian Timmer, Harold Troost and Helen Walters.

Miss Constance Hellman teaches the primary room and the the following pupils: Hollis and Adrianna Brouwer,, Florence and Ernest Diekema, Evelyn Hemmeke, Mariln Hop, Vernon, Victor, Doland and Kenneth Nienhuis, Kenneth Martinus, Gordon Raak, Horace Troast, Raymond Troast, Ella, Bernard and Lester Wolters and Howard Weener.

The account of the destruction of the old school building appeared in the February 18 issue of The Sentinel in 1925 as follows:

Pupils Orderly

“The West Crisp school house, district No. 9 located exactly one mile west of the village of Crisp, was burned to the ground about 10:30 Wednesday forenoon when fire broke out near the chimney. Before it was possible to put out the flames, they had gained so much headway that they were beyond control and in about half an hour’s time the two-room school was in ashes. Practically nothing was left standing of the building. There being no fire-fighting equipment, the volunteers who came to the scene of the fire were helpless and could do nothing to save the building.

“The pupils left the burning building in good order when the fire was discovered and there was no panic. No one was injured. The pupils marched out of the school in an orderly fashion with their wraps and other belongings, and volunteers succeeded in removing most of the furnishings from the building, such as books and other equipment, except of course, the seats which were screwed to the floor.

Building Insured

“The amount of the loss could not be ascertained from the members of the board who have not yet had an opportunity to look up the records, but the building was insured and it is believed that the insurance was adequate to cover the loss. The school was built about ten years ago (20 years ago now). The teachers were Jacob Bloomers and Maggie Johnson. The members of the board are Jacob Hop, Peter Brandsen and J.J. Slag.

“No decision has as yet been reached about rebuilding, but members of the board said Wednesday noon, while the fire was still smoldering in the ruins, that unquestionably the school would be rebuilt as soon as possible. What will be done for the rest of the school term has not been decided.”

Olive Township Historical Society