This story is submitted by Chauncey "Smitty" Smith, Ardis' brother.  Their parents, Leon and Berdenia Healey Smith, owned 1,000 acres in Cottonwood Valley for 60 years.  The name was changed to Barrett Junction is now owned by Leon and Chris Herzog.
  In 1908 the first Cottonwood School opened in a tent under the large Oak trees.  There was no closing front or back. Mr. Bryant was our first teacher.  One day a dog came to school and the teacher tried to drive it out, but Houndy (or Buster as he was sometimes called) didn't want to leave.  When the teacher would come in at one end, Houndy would go out the other end.  So, they had a kind of rustic merry-go-round.  Mr. Bryant became so tired that he gave up and the dog went out under the tree to sleep.
  Miss. Meskimmons was the next teacher.  She had two children, a boy and a girl.  She was an excellent teacher.  If a child came to school with dirty hands, he or she had to walk clear home to wash them.  One morning when we had got a little less than half way to school she found out that her little four year old boy had dirty hands, so she made him go home all alone to wash them.
  One of the children set the alarm clock so as it would go off when we little children were up reading.  We had entertainment on Lincoln's birthday -- it was the first entertainment our school had ever given.  During this year we moved into the present building into a little room of about six or seven feet wide and about 18 feet long.  She gave us children potted plants for our schoolroom and at the end of the school year we were allowed to take them home.
  Mrs. Skaggs was our third teacher.  She had three children and only one was old enough to come to school.  I think that not one of us will forget the many good times Mrs. Skaggs gave us.  At the time I don't think we half appreciated her as we should have.  I still look back with pleasant memories of the "candy pulls" and parties we had.  During this year our room was enlarged to its present size.
  Mr. Jones was our next teacher and was very stern and strictly believed in pin order.  That year we had two graduates, Fred Lauterbach and Kirk Potter.
  Mr. Creach, our fifth teacher,  was fond of hunting and at noon and some recess he would teach us how to handle a gun properly.  He taught them how to make willow whistles, popguns, water pistols and crossbows.  He said he was getting us ready for the next teacher.  He used to take us out on excursions.  Once he took us up

(Continued on page 4)

  The Lakeside Historical Society's entry in the Western Days Parade, April 28, 2001, was a 1929 Lincoln touring car.  In the car is driver and owner Gill Buxton, Roberta Calloway, Ralph Anderson and Alma Dunn.  In the back seat are Olga Puhn, plus Valentina and Richard White.

Photos by B. McMillen

  Would you like to see you family name, business name, special date or memorial for a loved one on our "WALK OF FAME"?  We are planning to do some landscaping at the Olde Community Church with these bricks.  Place your order soon so you can see your brick in a special setting. 
  There are two styles of lettering.  You can have up to

three lines per brick, 15 spaces per line.  Each brick costs $50.00.
  Cindy Sullivan is the chairman of this project.  Please send your order to her at 9906 Maine Avenue.