Former Browe School students at the Annual Browe Reunion, circa 1910.
Dunn Museum, Browe School History, 2003.0.36.
The Annual Browe Reunion was known county wide. The first was held in 1877 and each year following on the second Thursday in August. Every teacher and pupil of the school was requested to attend.
Pictured in the photograph (above), back row standing, left to right: Joseph Harbarker, C.W. Heydecker, Fidelia Dietmeyer, C.T. Heydecker, Andrew Harbarker; Second row: Mary Ann Tucker, MacNamara, Mary Ann Dietmeyer Boller, Andrew Tucker, Clark Gillet; Third row: Marceline Arno Powell, Kate Harbarker, Mary Harbarker Lux, Mary Eve Dietmeyer Stouder, Cecila Dietmeyer Shea, Fedelia Dietmeyer (Fed the Barber), Thomas Strang; Fourth row: John Arno, Jane Arno Nemry, Mary Strock Hansis, Sophia Strock Wells, Sarah Strock Wells, Patrick Tucker, James Tucker; Front row: John Strock, Joseph Dietmeyer, Philip Dietmeyer.
The first school in this district was a log building constructed prior to 1850. The exact location and name of this predecessor to the Browe School is unknown.
From 1850 to 1858, parents paid 2 cents for each day their child attended school, and supplied one-fourth of a cord of wood for each of their children. Teachers who taught in the "cabin school" included Mrs. Richardson and Hamilton E. Ames (1828 - ca 1868). Ames arrived in Lake County from Pennsylvania with his parents and siblings prior to 1850.
In 1817, William Browe, Jr.'s family fled from England to the U.S.. Browe's father was a minister in the Methodist Unitarian Movement and upon the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act in June 1817, Browe fled to America in order to escape arrest. William Jr. came to Lake County in 1858, and leased the use of his land for school purposes on January 26, 1859. It was common for farmers to donate or lease a parcel for schools, often stating that if the land ceased to be used for school purposes it reverted back to the family.
Pictured in the photograph (above), back row standing, left to right: Joseph Harbarker, C.W. Heydecker, Fidelia Dietmeyer, C.T. Heydecker, Andrew Harbarker; Second row: Mary Ann Tucker, MacNamara, Mary Ann Dietmeyer Boller, Andrew Tucker, Clark Gillet; Third row: Marceline Arno Powell, Kate Harbarker, Mary Harbarker Lux, Mary Eve Dietmeyer Stouder, Cecila Dietmeyer Shea, Fedelia Dietmeyer (Fed the Barber), Thomas Strang; Fourth row: John Arno, Jane Arno Nemry, Mary Strock Hansis, Sophia Strock Wells, Sarah Strock Wells, Patrick Tucker, James Tucker; Front row: John Strock, Joseph Dietmeyer, Philip Dietmeyer.
The first school in this district was a log building constructed prior to 1850. The exact location and name of this predecessor to the Browe School is unknown.
From 1850 to 1858, parents paid 2 cents for each day their child attended school, and supplied one-fourth of a cord of wood for each of their children. Teachers who taught in the "cabin school" included Mrs. Richardson and Hamilton E. Ames (1828 - ca 1868). Ames arrived in Lake County from Pennsylvania with his parents and siblings prior to 1850.
Photo of "large flat rock" from the site of the first school, a log structure. After the first school burned one night, the cause was never determined, the rock was used as a stepping stone for the next school. Students in 1918 noted, "We step on it just as those old people of the 'early times' did." Dunn Museum, Browe School History, 2003.0.36.
The second school in the district (above) and the first to be named Browe School, photographed circa 1918.
Dunn Museum, Browe School History, 2003.0.36. This wood frame structure was constructed by Mr. Gaude on a portion of the William Browe Jr. farm in 1859.
In 1817, William Browe, Jr.'s family fled from England to the U.S.. Browe's father was a minister in the Methodist Unitarian Movement and upon the suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act in June 1817, Browe fled to America in order to escape arrest. William Jr. came to Lake County in 1858, and leased the use of his land for school purposes on January 26, 1859. It was common for farmers to donate or lease a parcel for schools, often stating that if the land ceased to be used for school purposes it reverted back to the family.
Newport Township map showing location of the Browe School on William Browe's land in 1861.
St. Louis: L. Gast Bro. & Co. Lith., 1861.
The first teacher in this new building was Roderick D. Ames (1832 - 1914). He married Barbara Sessler in 1859.
In October 1863, William Browe's younger brother, Alfred (1821-1896), arrived in Lake County and bought William's farm. The property was also the location of the school.
As early as 1864-65, while Miss Laura A. Heath (1844-1925, later Mrs. Alfred L. Browe) taught at the school, there were five blackboards, and a map and globe of the world. However, the boys preferred to use the globe for their football games rather than for studying geography.
As early as 1864-65, while Miss Laura A. Heath (1844-1925, later Mrs. Alfred L. Browe) taught at the school, there were five blackboards, and a map and globe of the world. However, the boys preferred to use the globe for their football games rather than for studying geography.
Tintype photograph of Mary N. Browe, circa 1880. Dunn Museum, Browe School History, 2003.0.36.
Miss Mary N. Browe (1860 - 1952) (above) was a student and then a teacher at the Browe School. In 1863, Mary came to Lake County with her parents, Alfred Browe & Harriet Whittaker, from Newark, New Jersey. Her father bought the property where the school was located. Mary taught over a period of 18 years and was "said to be the best and best liked teacher Browe School ever had."
Photo of flag raising ceremony at Browe School, 1893. Dunn Museum, Browe School History, 2003.0.36.
In 1893, a flagpole and flag raising was held at the school. The money for the flag and flagpole was raised by the school's Young People's Literary and Debating Society.
2017 aerial showing approximate location of the former Browe School, noted by red star.
Lake County GIS and Mapping: maps.lakecountyil.gov/historicalaerials.
Beginning about 1918, schools throughout the county were remodeled or rebuilt with brick. This was part of the modernization of rural schools to provide good lighting and heating systems required by law. A brick school was built for the Browe School around 1920. This school was in use until circa 1960. Two years later it was sold for a private residence.
Information for this post came from census records, and the Browe School History completed by students, Maudess Ames and Irene Leable. The history was completed as part of a statewide celebration of Illinois' centennial in 1918.
The Browe School History is part of the School History Collection in the museum's Lake County History Archives. The museum has digitized 52 one-room school histories in order to make them accessible online at the Illinois Digital Archives. The school histories and other collections are digitized as grant funding becomes available. Click here for links to all of the Dunn Museum's school histories online.
4 comments:
Very interesting presentation. At the Newport Township Historical Society we are in the process of scanning the hand written book from 1918 on the history of Wadsworth Town and school that was presented to the school superintendant. We also have numerous photos and newspaper articles from Browe school and the many reunions that were held, and also an audio interview of the lady that converted Browe school into a house.
“…between Dilleys and Mill Creek Roads.”
I can’t picture where that could be. They really don’t run parallel, at least not since the tollway was built.
I read Wadsworth familiar family names Ames, Dietmeyer, Leable, Strang,
Hello David,
Thank you for reading and commenting. I've added an aerial map from 2017 showing the former location of the Browe School. I hope this helps.
Diana
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