The one room rural schools have slowly faded from the American
  scene.
     My father, Hugh Wible, an uncle, Nobe, and an aunt, Ida Reynolds,
  were among the first pupils attending 'Mable Grove', located 4 miles
  northeast of Hazelton. It was opened December 12, 1886, and officially
  closed March 1, 1946; however there was no school after 1939. The
  first teacher was W.H. Hendircks with thirty-one pupils; the second
  year - two teachers, M.L. Short and Charley Ware. The first two years
  board members were L.M. Presnal, B.J. Gard, Chas. George, J.A. Lester,
  H.P. Watts, and S.A. Stout.
     They told us many times of the original school - it was a dugout
  in the hillside with a cowhide hanging at the entrance for a door. The
  benches wre split from logs, hence - the furniture - no desks - smaller
  children sat on the floor unnoticed, but they learned from the older
  children as they recited. It was a sad day when Mr. Short resigned. Two
  older pupils came to school attired in cowboy boots, hats, spurs, and
  chaps carrying a six-shooter. They forced Mr. Short to place his hat
  on his head as a target and shot around his feet making him dance a 
  'jig.' He returned to the farm where he was helping Walter Maddox; how-
  ever, he proved to be a dedicated teacher as he returned to teach when
  he learned the two cowboys, Chas. Blanton and Edd Godfrey, took a job
  dribing cattle to Texas. He walked 6 miles dailing after doing chores.
  The need and desire replaced the dugout with a wood frame building - 
  but Ben Stout told us that a fire of unknown source destroyed it in
  1890. Soon another building was built. It was used for Sunday School
  and Church, called the United Church. Stables and toilets were built -
  this giving the teacher extra work, as it was her duty to clean them,
  scatter stove ashes in their paths, and nail Sears or Wards on the
  toilet wall. Later the building was stuccoed - a cloakroom added for
  coats, lunch pails, water bucket, and dipper. History relates that 
  the last ten years were taught by Gladys Pfaff, Lulu (Stewart) McWilliams,
  Margaret (Spicer) Kollins, and Verda (Spicer) Diel.
     When the school closed, the building was moved into Hazelton, and
  is now the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Holmes. The land was returned to
  the Garner estate.
     To sum this 'bit of Barber County history' - Rural schools such as
  'Maple Grove' live in the hearts of many - especially Pearl (Cox)
  Hardesty Broughton, who is responsible for annual reunions in Hazelton,
  the first Sunday in May. Each year (Punk) Arthur Hardest, Chairman, says
  "The Lord Willin" - we'll be together next year, same time, same place.
  
  Source: The Chosen Land, Barber County, Kansas, pg. 23
  Submitted by: France (Wible) Horton
                   
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas,  pg. 23  
     Submitted by: