Members of the Fairfield eighth grade class are pictured in 1949. They include Paul Garretson, Ruby Hadeen, Harold Sparhawk, JoDell Roos and Robert Stansbury. In the 1880s, the first Fairfield school was in a granary on Edward Anderson’s farm. His teenage daughter was the teacher at the school. A sod schoolhouse was built in 1888, and later another schoolhouse was built northeast of the first school. In 1900, a 20-by-30-foot frame building was constructed and used for 16 years, when it was voted to make a joint district with Phillips and Sedgwick counties and to build a two-room schoolhouse. Another addition was built in 1925 that included three elementary classrooms upstairs, a two-year high school, an auditorium and a teachers’ apartment in the basement. Restrooms were installed in 1952, and a new gym was built east of the schoolhouse in 1954. The district voted to close the school in 1959 and transport students in first through fifth grade to Haxtun, where students in sixth through 12th grade were already attending school. — Source: Phillips County Museum
Peekin' into the Past
Five Years Ago
Oct. 6, 2016
After the success of Melissa Memorial Hospital’s first in-house hip replacement during the month of September, the East Phillips County Hospital District Board approved the purchase of $72,000 worth of surgical orthopedic power tools at its meeting Sept. 27.
Jeff and Olga Sullivan announced that Sully Team Realty LLC will be in its new home at 116 W. Denver St. The business is moving one block west from 130 E. Denver St. The Sullivans purchased the building from Paul and Teresa Mailander. It previously housed the Buzzz Stop and later Heidi’s Coffee & Bake Shop.
For the first time in more than 30 years, Holyoke Gun Club is taking advantage of the opportunity to harvest the lead that they’ve used from rounds of shooting at clay pigeons. Western Soils Inc. has offered to strip the lead from the land to ultimately reuse it for more shells.
Ten Years Ago
Oct. 6, 2011
Following an executive session at the end of the meeting Sept. 27, East Phillips County Hospital Board members voted to discontinue elective obstetrical services at Melissa Memorial Hospital and not accept new elective OB patients moving forward. MMH will continue to provide prenatal care through the clinic, and emergency deliveries will be provided for within the hospital.
Holyoke junior high students will be able to become involved with Future Business Leaders of America for the first time this year. HHS FBLA members Teanna Clark and Brittney Prottsman are launching this middle division as part of their Partnership with Business project.
Twenty-Five Years Ago
Oct. 10, 1996
Dan Syata and Connie Kremser, recent graduates from mortuary science school in Ohio, arrived Monday night, Sept. 30, to become the new managers for Tennant-Thompson Funeral Home in Holyoke and Haxtun.
Construction closed the intersection of highways 385 and 6 on Monday. For approximately two weeks, the east side of North Interocean Avenue will be closed, with two-way traffic and no parking on the west side.
Fifty years ago, the Reuter pipe organ at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Amherst was dedicated to honor church members who served in World War II. The church will rededicate the organ during its church service Oct. 13.
Fifty Years Ago
Oct. 7, 1971
Approval was given at the Re-1J district school board’s Oct. 5 meeting to have an architect begin work on a small addition at the grade school. The addition will be built by the vocational carpentry class and will provide space for two classrooms.
Girls Athletic Association, a national organization, started a new chapter recently at Holyoke High School, with a membership of 40. Participation in sports is the purpose of GAA.
Seventy-Five Years Ago
Oct. 10, 1946
When Mr. Gleason arrived at work Friday morning, he found his garage had been struck by lightning; the incident occurred during the electrical and wind storm Thursday night.
How better medical care can be secured at less cost by means of the Northeast Colorado Memorial Hospital Association will be explained and discussed at community meetings, to which the public is invited, in Amherst, Holyoke, Paoli, Dailey and Fleming the week of Oct. 14-19.
The Girls Athletic Association met Oct. 3 for their first business meeting. The GAA girls have been playing softball and tennis up to this time. Letters will be issued to those who attend regularly or make up absences.