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Teachers of Lovells

For the first 30 years of schooling in Lovells teachers were exclusively single women. Lovells had many excellent teachers over the years, some that went on to extraordinary accomplishments.

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Some of the Teachers in the Lovells Schools

(Research provied by Carol Britton)

 

In 1906 teachers were required to be single, to not be seen with any men other than family members and to be inside their home by 8pm unless attending a school function. They were to upkeep the school including daily sweeping, dusting, and weekly washing of the floors as well as tending a fire to keep students warm. She was to keep her character and morals above reproach, was not allowed to wear bright or “gaudy” clothing with skirts no shorter than two inches above her ankles and collars with a high neckline. She was paid a salary of $20-$30 per month and usually roomed with the family of a student. Teachers taught all grades.

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The first teacher at the Lovells School was Louise B. Niles. Her first year she taught until October when Margaret Husted took over. After a teacher taught school for three months, they were required to write for their teacher’s certificate. Once received she could teach for another six months. It’s unknown if Miss Niles applied for her certificate or if she moved away.

The first teacher at the Lone Pine School was Miss Margaret Husted, the niece of Margaret Douglas. She taught at both the Lone Pine school and Lovells School District #1 (The Lovells School). She moved to Ogemaw and taught there for 40 years, later returning to Lovells to live with her niece. She lived in Lovells until the time of her death in 1972 at the age of 99.

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Mary Morrison and Augusta McGonigal taught at both schools. In 1909, Miss Ethel O. Love became the school mistress at Lone Pine. She had seven pupils. The 1910 census has her listed as residing with the Gustave Ernst family. She eventually married and moved to Roscommon.

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Miss Augusta Krause, born in Grayling, taught in 1910 at the age of 16, prior to her graduation from Grayling High School in 1912. After graduation she moved to Detroit and became an accountant.

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Our most notable teacher was Matilda (Tillie) Foley Bishop. Tillie was born Jan 24, 1896 in Grayling in a one room log cabin on the Main Branch AuSable River in a place that is now called Foley’s Landing. She graduated from Grayling High School with honors in 1914 and passed the Michigan State Teachers examination, making her one of Michigan’s youngest teachers.

 

Her first teaching job was in the Lovellls School earning a salary of $40 a month. She later taught in Mio, Ypsilanti, Pontiac, and Ohio. She continued her own education while teaching others, graduating with honors at each U of M, Harvard, Western Reserve University, Columbia, University of Florence-Italy, and England). She earned Master degrees in Education, History, Economics, English and School Administration. After WWII at the request of the State Department she served two years on the staff of Gen Douglas MacArthur with a rank of Lt. Col as the director of National Education. She retired in 1965 and returned to her Grayling home at 604 Chestnut St. while still serving her community for several years on the Crawford AuSable School board. Tillie died Oct 4, 1985 and is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Grayling.

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