Dover School Wall Clock
Dover School District was organized as part of the Sandpoint Independent School District #1. The first teacher record for the Dover school is for the year 1914 when Henry Lunn and Lucile McAndrew were hired as teachers. The first schoolhouse was located south of the Highway 2 and west of Rocky Point.
The second schoolhouse was moved from Laclede in 1922 , along with A.C. White mill houses when the mill burned in August 1922. This building had been the first Laclede School built in 1901. When the new Laclede School was constructed in 1912, the old school building was made into an apartment house. After arriving at Dover, however, it was soon returned to school use. Its location was on a site north of the highway and a half mile farther west. Old Bonner County school records report in December 1922 that a bell and a stove were ordered for the Dover School.
In 1927 the schoolhouse received an addition, according to a report on the contract which was given to Travis and Button for $644.50. "The building will be a two-room addition, 26" x 50" to be erected on the south side of the present 3-room building. The enlarged building will hold 150 children."
When Highway 2 was rebuilt in 1934, the 2nd Dover schoolhouse was directly in the path of the proposed highway. Although the building was larger than most schoolhouses, it needed to be moved only a short distance. And so it was moved to a location on the south side of the new highway.
In September 1945, the large frame school burned to the ground in minutes. Vern Eskridge remembers that the fire began when the children were at home for lunch hour. He remembers that on his return to the school grounds after lunch with the Harvey kids, he saw flames going up the west roof about 1/2 way between the eaves and peak. Teachers and neighbors ran to the little fire house about 200 feet away, dragged out the 2 inch cotton fire hose, and turned on the hydrant. There was little pressure and there were many holes in the old fire hose. No water was available to put out the fire.
Seeing that the building could not be saved, everyone began entering the building and taking out desks and books. Most of the school's furnishings were saved even though the gray frame building burned very quickly. The pupils were dispersed to Washington and Farmin elementary schools. High school pupils were already being bused to Sandpoint, so the 3rd through the 6th grade pupils rode the bus to their elementary schools. Vern remembers that there were about 30 pupils who made the transition. He believes that the 1st and 2nd grade pupils remained in Dover, attending school in the Community Hall. Bonner County teacher records show that Margaret Tribe was hired to teach at Dover for both the years 1945-1947.
"The community of Dover was never the same," remembers Vern. "There were no more last-day-of-school picnics! The community had lost its social center."
From Bonner County school records, an interview with Vern Eskridge, May 2000, and the Sandpoint News Bulletin of June 29, 1950.
Donor: Unknown
Adopted by:
Dover School District was organized as part of the Sandpoint Independent School District #1. The first teacher record for the Dover school is for the year 1914 when Henry Lunn and Lucile McAndrew were hired as teachers. The first schoolhouse was located south of the Highway 2 and west of Rocky Point.
The second schoolhouse was moved from Laclede in 1922 , along with A.C. White mill houses when the mill burned in August 1922. This building had been the first Laclede School built in 1901. When the new Laclede School was constructed in 1912, the old school building was made into an apartment house. After arriving at Dover, however, it was soon returned to school use. Its location was on a site north of the highway and a half mile farther west. Old Bonner County school records report in December 1922 that a bell and a stove were ordered for the Dover School.
In 1927 the schoolhouse received an addition, according to a report on the contract which was given to Travis and Button for $644.50. "The building will be a two-room addition, 26" x 50" to be erected on the south side of the present 3-room building. The enlarged building will hold 150 children."
When Highway 2 was rebuilt in 1934, the 2nd Dover schoolhouse was directly in the path of the proposed highway. Although the building was larger than most schoolhouses, it needed to be moved only a short distance. And so it was moved to a location on the south side of the new highway.
In September 1945, the large frame school burned to the ground in minutes. Vern Eskridge remembers that the fire began when the children were at home for lunch hour. He remembers that on his return to the school grounds after lunch with the Harvey kids, he saw flames going up the west roof about 1/2 way between the eaves and peak. Teachers and neighbors ran to the little fire house about 200 feet away, dragged out the 2 inch cotton fire hose, and turned on the hydrant. There was little pressure and there were many holes in the old fire hose. No water was available to put out the fire.
Seeing that the building could not be saved, everyone began entering the building and taking out desks and books. Most of the school's furnishings were saved even though the gray frame building burned very quickly. The pupils were dispersed to Washington and Farmin elementary schools. High school pupils were already being bused to Sandpoint, so the 3rd through the 6th grade pupils rode the bus to their elementary schools. Vern remembers that there were about 30 pupils who made the transition. He believes that the 1st and 2nd grade pupils remained in Dover, attending school in the Community Hall. Bonner County teacher records show that Margaret Tribe was hired to teach at Dover for both the years 1945-1947.
"The community of Dover was never the same," remembers Vern. "There were no more last-day-of-school picnics! The community had lost its social center."
From Bonner County school records, an interview with Vern Eskridge, May 2000, and the Sandpoint News Bulletin of June 29, 1950.
Donor: Unknown
Adopted by: