Ernie Hammer is a long time Kiowa County Press contributor. This story is written by Ernie’s Aunt Liz, Elizabeth Katherine (Hammer) Smith Benatti, based on her memories and family research. The story begins in Germany with Oswald Hammer and Margarethe Marie von Barsewisch, Liz’s parents. Liz passed away at the age of 104. She was living at the Kohart Home in Kit Carson at the time of her death. Part 11 can be read here.

Prairie Schools

During the summer the new ‘nester’ Hammer family was too busy, and more interested in their new home than school – and the boys hoped mother would forget about school.  However, as she had asked various neighbors about school, she found out that although the homestead was in the District 3 government confines, there was no established grade school.  She contacted others whose homesteads were farther east.  Their children were enrolled at Drennan school – the first year their high school was established.  As the Hammer’s homestead house was within the District 3, the Hammer children must go to Drennan or Widefield.  But Mrs. Hammer didn’t rest with that negative answer.  Drennan was more miles than children could walk.  While Widefield was closer, it was too far to walk.  She contacted a Mrs. Hall, who held office five days a week at the El Paso County Courthouse.  She took part of her grocery shopping day off to speak with the county office.  Here she met Mr. Zanger.  Mrs. Hall was a physically strong English woman wearing sensible shoes and her demeanor was noted by Margarethe Hammer.  Mr. Zanger called a meeting of the District 3 Board and the decided what might be done to get the children to school.  A school was constructed and the O’Conner school was born.  Martin was in the eighth grade with Willis O’Conner.  His brother Lee, was in the seventh grade with Paul, Gerhardt and Fritz.  

So when school started in September the day after Labor Day, Mrs. Hammer packed lunches and with even the smallest, she dressed in her good black linsey-woolsey skirt that swept up behind her.  She wore black and deep green blouse with the gathered sleeves at the shoulders and the long white cuffs and the pearl buttons.  She checked Elizabeth’s short pigtails on either side of her head; Rudolph had to go back to the wash bowl and clean out his ears.  The rest were very much ok.  The older boys didn’t like wearing their short pants as even some town kids had long pants.  But for the first day of school she had insisted they wear their Sunday best.

She gave the teacher a firm hand and a smile, “I hope you are a healthy strong girl.  Ask my boys to help with the outdoors chores and anything you need help with.  I’ll hear how everything comes out and don’t hesitate to call for my help as a parent.” 

With this, she turned and left with the two little ones, saying goodbye to Martin, Paul, Ted, Gerhardt and Fritz.  Fritz was the only one to go a short distance with his mother, then saying goodbye.  He hurried by to Gerhardt.  “Gee, I thought you were going to cry,” Gerhardt said.

Mother Hammer had a time with Elizabeth and Oscar. They were tired. But she carried one while the other had to count to one hundred and then he got to be carried piggy back.  So the distance wasn’t so bad after all.

The next day it was announced the teacher had students.  There were six Titus kids, one Shonts, four Harris, and five Hammers, so she didn’t get another teacher to help her this year.  There were not enough students to call for an extra salary of $75 for nine months.  However, there still were three more families to show up later to give her over twenty children in 11 grades with Phoebe finishing eighth grade and taking some first year high school subjects.  It seemed that the County Superintendent had planned a nice school learning place for the area children.

Next week – Prairie Schools (continued)

Summarized by Janet Frederick

The Kiowa County Press invites those who live in or have ties to Colorado - especially the southeast, however all contributions are welcome - to share their story with our readers. Family history, current life, unique sites and adventures, and other aspects of living in Colorado are welcome. Contact us at editor@KiowaCountyPress.net.