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The Teacherage

Some rural school districts provided living accommodations for their teachers. These little homes were usually one or two rooms and some teacherages had a little porch. There was no insulation and sometimes not much of a foundation.
The furniture consisted of a bed, maybe a dresser, stove, table and two chairs. The cupboard in the kitchen might just be open shelves. One teacher reports she could sit at the table and from there could reach the stove or the cupboard without moving from her chair. Quite a handy little room.
. It took a special kind of teacher to be able to put up with the loneliness and weather conditions. These teachers hauled their own water and fire wood. If they had a horse they cared for him as well. The teacherage that was so lonely and silent during the day became alive with activity at night. There were always those furry little mice who liked to explore the living quarters and sometimes the bed. They scurried under the floor, above the ceiling, across the table and cupboards and everything else in this little home. Their snoopiness was always accompanied by scratching and some squeaking. Some teachers would hear a noise after dark and would be frightened to death only to discover it was the hoot of an owl, a coyote howling or the neighbors livestock nosing around the outside of the teacherage. After a few nights the teacher became accustomed to these inside and outside noises and they no longer concerned her. Some teachers were required to do the janitor work or pay for staying in the teacherage. Coping with coal and wood stoves, transportation, getting your mail and groceries were all part of the game.
The neighbors were usually very concerned about their teacher and her living alone. They would see she got to town or else get what she needed in town and deliver her needs. Teachers received many invitations to spend weekends with a family, or attend a house party or dance. Parents never left their teacher out of any community events or gatherings. She was made to feel at home in the new community.
The teacherage became a sick room when someone got hurt or when a sick student had to wait for a ride home. When a social function was held at the school, the teacher became both a guest and a hostess. While the parents enjoyed the social function, children were put to sleep in the teacher’s bed. There seemed to be an understanding between the school board and the teacher that when these social functions occurred, the teacherage was to be used for making the lunch. A boiler of coffee was set on the stove as well. I’m sure, such a practice must have created some inconvenience for the teacher, but none probably ever complained.
Although teacherage living might have been a bit lonely it provided some privacy for these young teachers. However, they took this type of housing in their stride and considered it part of their day’s work.