Knowledge Hill held four-room Wilson Creek School

Before the well was drilled, water was hauled up Knowledge Hill to the Wilson Creek School, coal and wood also. Read on.

Grant County history

The Grant County Historical Society has compiled several volumes of Grant County history. The books are available for purchase at the Historical Society Museum gift shop in Ephrata.

I bought the series in 2009 and secured permission to relay some of the history through this column. Memories of Grant County, compiled from taped interviews by the Grant County Historical Society.

Today we backtrack a bit and then continue the story of Wilson Creek by Cris Mordhorst, recorded Feb. 10, 1976:

At the ice house you had to work with ice tongs and rope. So it was quite a deal making the ice those days. I hauled ice off of Stratford Lake and Section 9 between Wilson Creek and Stratford. They had sticks to measure just so far from the wall and it was all tamped full of sawdust. If some cakes would get broken they were all taken in and then broken to pieces and then filled in the cracks with ice. It was quite solid when it was in the house, of course. When it was taken out the blocks seemed to find the seams and then they'd pry it apart, but it would all freeze together.

Wilson Creek had a four-room brick schoolhouse. Water was hauled up this Knowledge Hill in barrels until a well was drilled just north of the school building.

There was quite a long shed just north of the schoolhouse which had a boys' rest room in the west end, then a large wood and coal room, and then the girl's restroom.

I remember we had to carry coal in from the coal shed and split wood and bring it in and we seemed to think it was a favor if the teacher excused us from school long enough to go out and get the coal. I don't know if they gave her too much trouble in the room because she picked me, but I usually picked some boy to go and help me and a lot of times I could get an apple or some? thing if I picked a certain boy to help me go get coal in the afternoon.

There were always some schemes going, I guess. School ran up through the tenth grade. Mr. Martley was superintendent and Mr. Emert was principal. A little later, Mr. Scott was superintendent and pushed to have it go through the twelfth grade and also got the Wilson Creek High School to be an accredited high school.

When I was in the eighth grade we still had to take the county examinations to be able to continue into high school. Way back when Wilson Creek was getting started there was Zach Finney and I am sure a lot of you have heard the name Finney. He started the Wilson Creek School District and his land is right next to where we live.

When he started the Wilson Creek School District the first teacher taught right in his home and stayed there.

Wilson Creek area history

The Rev. David H. Crawford compiled and published a history of families in and surrounding Wilson Creek titled, "Family Memories of Wilson Creek Area." The book was printed in 1978, which was the 75th anniversary of the town. David's son, John Crawford, has given permission for those memories to be a part of this column.

Today we conclude the story of the Loewen Family:

In the spring of 1965 Abe was struck by a passing car and was hospitalized for the better part of two years. During this time he bought a horne in Lakeview, near Soap Lake, and retired there after getting out of the hospital.

During retirement he enjoyed his family, grandchildren and friends. He enjoyed the big family get togethers on holidays. There were big dinners and many games of pinochle. He also enjoyed going out to Wilson Creek on Memorial Day and visiting with all his friends. He also did a bit of fishing now and then and had a huge garden each year that he shared with everyone.

Abe passed away May 24, 1971 at the Ephrata Hospital and was laid to rest in the Wi1son Creek cemetery alongside his wife Stella and his daughter, Jean.

The rest of the family now reside at: Betty and Derald Kellgore, married 1962, three children, Nancy, Derry and Michael living in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Ray and Phyllis Loewen, married 1957, four children, Dan, Lorie, Ron and Robin (twins) living in East Wenatchee; Agnes and Chet Lutz married 1959, three children, Mark, Randy and Linda living in Ephrata; Robert and Barbara Loewen, married 1967, three children, Jackie, Belinda and David living in Eugene; Dorothy and Bob Coriell married 1962, three children, Robert, Dana and Tracy living in Moses Lake.

Also today we begin the story of the MacCheyne family:

John C. (Jack) MacCheyne, a resident of Wilson Creek from about 1939 until his death in 1954, was night marshal from shortly before World War II until after the war.

Among other duties, each night at 9 p.m. he rang the curfew. This custom started long before his time as mashal and continued long after. In all probability many interesting and humorous incidents occurred, but one of the most amusing involved a confiscated bottle. of whiskey. He had taken it away, in the line of duty, from some underage youngster at a Saturday night dance. Being a thrifty Scot, he had no intention of wasting it by pouring it down the drain, so put it away for future reference.

One day after his son and son-in-law had spent a hot afternoon digging on his sewer system, Jack decided to surprise them with a treat. He brought out the confiscated bottle, told its story, then passed it to Bob who took a swallow and handed it to Loren. Loren tood a drink and handed it back to Jack, who then took his first nip.

Sputtering and coughing in disgust, he spat it all back out noisily. It was only colored water. What a laugh they had, but the best laugh had to have been enjoyed by the unknown youngster who must have thought he put a good one over on the marshal.