Being a rural school teacher in the thirties wasn't easy; but since we
     did not know the conveniences that schools have now, we were happy to do
     our duty as best we knew.
       For instance, imagine the feeling of walking into a cold, drafty school-
     room on a Monday morning with the temperature around 10 degrees below
     outside and the floor cracking as you walked. Sometimes the fire wouldn't
     start easily, even with lots of kerosene (coal oil) on the kindling. The
     coal put out a black smoke in the room every time the stove door was opened,
     even with the damper adjusted. By noon the room was warm enough to eat our
     dinners while sitting at the desks. Sometimes the lunches were frozen and
     had to be thawed before eating.
       Once a week, I always had one hot lunch cooked in the schoolroom. I can
     remember only one schoolroom that had a two-burner kerosene stove on which
     to prepare meals; otherwise it was prepared in a large kettle on top of the
     huge heater. I always had to stand on a stool to stir the vegetable soup,
     which consisted of vegetables the pupils brough and meat or a soup bone I
     bought at the local butcher shop. It was always delicious and wholesome.
       My most memorable meal was while teaching my third term at Blackmore
     School, District 66, about three and one half miles north of Sharon. Martin
     Landwehr, Otis Garrett, and Mrs. Max Rowe were the school board members. In
     order to get my monthly pay check, two members signed a coucher, which the
     teacher presented to the board treasurer, who in turn issued the check,
     which ranged from sixty to eighty dollars a month.
       After finishing my janitor work one winter eveneing at the end of the
     month, I proceeded to make the calls to obtain my check. By the time I had
     called on the first two board members, it was getting dark. When I chugged
     into Martin Landwehr's (the third board member and treasurer) in my Model
     T Ford, it was supper-time. Four of his children, Francis, Raymond, Martin
     Jr., and Mildred were my pupils. The family and hired man (Clint Hall) were
     seated around a long dining table covered with a pretty oilcloth cover and
     loaded with all sorts of country food. They insisted I eat supper with them.
     Since I hadn't eaten a drop of food since my cold lunch at noon, you can
     imagine how hungry I was. It was a Friday evening meal, so this Catholic
     family didn't have meat, but there was a huge bowl of boiled eggs, homemade
     bread, fresh churned butter, james, jellies, two or three homegrown vegetables,
     potatoes, cookies, and pie. As they passed the food to me, I became confused
     that I am sure they thought I had a bird-like appetite. Everything was delicious.
     You may be sure it was really dark when I started home. I can't remember what
     my mother said when I told her I had already eaten my supper. It was truly a
     memorable meal to me, but probably an ordinary evening meal to that hospitable
     family.
       Besides the Blackmore School, I taught in the Unity, North Star, and Hillside
     districts.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 402 
     Submitted by: Mary (Huffaker) Schiff