Peters School Peters School
The Peters' School, Named for the Julius Peters family, on whose farm it was located, the District #80 school was moved to the museum in 1978. The school was built in 1903 , south of Grand Island on the Platte River's "Indian Island," the location of the Peters farm.
Early, rural and town schools in Hall County were "select" or "subscription" schools run by a man or woman who collected a very reasonable tuition charge for each child. A farmer conducted an early school in Hall County and the fathers of his students worked his land while he taught the children.
Schools were also supported by fines and license fees. In North Platte, Nebr., the police judge based his fines on the financial needs of the school systems. Saloon license fees helped to support public education. The major problem facing most schools was money.
Located between the Lesher house and the Railroad Town Bank is the former District #80 school. This small building served a neighborhood on the islands south of Grand Island for several decades. This year marks the centennial of the district's founding.
District #80 had its origins with area residents who petitioned the Hall County superintendent of schools to change the size of District #28. The land "situated between the south channel and the north bank of the middle channel of the Platte River" was the description for the new district in September 1901 petitions. The shorter of the two 
petitions carried only three signatures-the heads of the three families that originally formed the new district--Julius Peters, Fred Stolley, and John Schimmer.
On October 14, 1901 the county superintendent informed Mr. Schimmer of the petition's success and that the election of a school board was the next step for the families concerned. The first board elected was Fred Stolley (director), Julius Peters (treasurer), and John Schimmer (moderator). [Note the same small group who had been the original petitioners.]
The district was four miles to the south and southeast of Grand Island. Classes were first held November 3, 1902. Before a school building was constructed a small timber claim cabin on the nearby Fred Stolley farm served as a temporary school [it is also now at the museum as part of the Stolley house]. [source "Stolley Home Goes to Museum" Grand Island Daily Independent December 18, 1965] Built in time for the 1905-1906 school year, the permanent school was at the southwest corner of the Julius Peters farm in section 11 of Doniphan Township. Mr. Peters had purchased the farm from the Union Pacific in 1893.
The annual report of the director of the district dated July 1903 is the first on file. The district had received $130 in funds through the county and another $60 from the parents of students. The district expenses from 1902-1903 used $180 of the $190 for pay to the teacher alone. This parental donation continued as late as 1906. The small parcel of land for the school remained part of the Peters farm and was not deeded to the district.
The occasional mention of activities at the school provide insights into the early years of District #80:
The last day of school in district No. 80, known as the Fred Stolley school, five miles south of town, was observed Friday evening with a basket supper. There was a good attendance, and all enjoyed the program of songs, dialogues and drills given by the pupils, there being only six in number, and all credit is due Miss Anna Donner for the manner in which the program was given. Following the program, the baskets were auctioned off, and $20.25 was the sum realized. This will be used for various things about the school. [Daily Independent May 8, 1916]
A score card submitted on the district in 1923 gave the district a score of 64 out of 100. The district's property was tallied as well-books [34 total], playground equipment [none], and desks [two sizes].
Between 1903 and 1926 enrollment ranged from 19 students to as low as 3. The district struggled for many years to maintain its student body but eventually the decline in attendance brought about the end. Last used as a school about 1950, District #80 was absorbed by Districts #4, 19, 28, 40, and 77 on July 12, 1954.
The building remained on the Peters farm for more than two decades before its removal to the museum grounds. The establishment of the city well field south of Grand Island prompted museum officials to have the city donate the former school. In 1978 the school was placed in Railroad Town. Used for a over a decade to demonstrate crafts, the building was furnished as a school in 1992. Fortunately many of the school's records are now held by the Research Department.