Niergarth School in Rust, Montmorency, Michigan

I referenced a photo I found of the Niergarth schoolhouse, in a previous blog post called Road Trip Through Our Family History. Today's blog post will provide a little more information about how this country schoolhouse played a part in the life of my Great Grandmother, Lavina Hawley.
Lavina May Hawley was born in Rust, Montmorency, Michigan on August 2, 1889, to William Hawley and Sarah Anne (Healy) Hawley.
We find William Hawley, Lavina's father, on the 1903 Plat Map, living in Rust, Montmorency, Michigan on 80 acres of land. The family is living very close to a man by the name of Conrad Neirgarth.
William Hawley living in Section 1 of Township 30 North, Range 4 East of the Michigan Meridian. Niergarth School located nearby on the property of Conrad Niergarth.

As shown on the Plat Map above, upon the property of Conrad (Con.) Neirgarth is the Neirgarth School.

Nigrath Schoolhouse in Hillman, Montmorency, Michigan

The walk from the Hawley Farm to the schoolhouse would have been about 7/10 of a mile and took around 15 minutes.

Possible route taken by Lavina Hawley from the Hawley homestead to the Niergarth School.
On the back of the photo of the school is written

"Nigrarth School of Hillman where Grandma Burt went to school. They tied rags around there feet in the winter time because they didn't have shoes"

Lavina would probably have attended the Niergarth schoolhouse from about the age of 5 or 6 until 4th grade (Probably around 9 or 10 years old). Based on the 1940 census, 4th grade was her highest level of education.

Lesson Learned: We have all been told, that are parent/grandparents/ great grandparents had to walk ## miles (you fill in the blank), "uphill both ways" to get to school. If you were like me, you may have often laughed this story off, because we have all heard it so many times. Investigating this story has made me realize how lucky I was as a child. I can't even imagine wrapping my feet in rags just to walk almost a mile to school in the winter, especially a northern Michigan winter. Additionally, we or our children, often complain about having to go to school. Our ancestors were lucky if they were able to attend school at all, and if they did, they often had to leave at a very young age to help out, working on the family farm or outside of the home. Lavina lived her whole life on a 4th-grade education. The other lesson I learned, is that even one photo can spark a great story!

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3 Comments

  1. Just purchase a postcard picture of children/teachers of Niergarth School

  2. Do you happen to know what year it is from? would you be willing to share a picture of the postcard?
    Thank you in advance,
    Rebecca

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