Newspaper Article (1963) - Copemish School Closing

Thank you to Myrna Mallison for donating this newspaper article about the Copemish School. The article was written around the same time the school closed and consolidated with the Benzie County schools. It contains a wealth of information about the school, from its early years up until its closure. We've posted scans of the article below, as well as a full transcription. 

Copemish School Passes Out Of Existence As School Year Closes This Week

When the pupils of Copemish Consolidated High School assemble on the morning of May 23rd it will be for the last time as members of the 74 year old school district which has, in obedience to the necessities of the times, merged with its larger neighbor in Benzie County. When the electors voted last November 6 to annex to the Benzie Central Schools it became a part of that district. Next fall its students will attend the fine new school now under construction east of Benzonia, and the elementary pupils will join those of Thompsonville (also merged with Benzie) in a new building located between Copemish and Thompsonville. 

Log Schoolhouse

Cleon township and Copemish residents' first school was organized in 1889. To see requirements for state recognition the district had to round up all the children old enough to toddle and enroll then in the school. The first school house was not built in the village, but was a short distance east of town. It was, like most buildings of that era, of log construction. A.B. Tanner was the teacher, and received the princely stipend of $18.00 per month. Just a few years later a two story frame school building was erected on the site of the present school in Copemish; old records show that by 1907 the subjects taught were the three Rs, "Readin', Writin', 'Rithmetic" and in addition penmanship, history, geography, grammar, physiology, civil government, botany, algebra, and geometry. Mr. Tanner became the first principal of the school. He was succeeded by a Mr. Abbott about 1899. Mr. Abbott did not finish out the year being replaced by Melbourne Anderson. Gordon Alway followed 1905-1907 and Glen Alway 1907-1909. Miss Bins Rogers and Miss Mary Henderson were the assistants in those early years.

Present Building Follows School Fire

In 1909 a great misfortune befell Copemish, for the school house burned to the ground. But good often comes from seeming evil. Undaunted, the citizens were soon planning to build a better school for their children. There was considerable controversy as to the size and type of building to be constructed, but the more liberal faction prevailed and the present two story building (without the gym) was built, and was ready for the opening day of school in 1910. It was not until consolidation took place in 1922 that there was use for the upper story, and what had to many seemed a foolish waste of taxpayer money at the time might have been construed in the light of later events to have been foresightedness.

High School Established

During the early years educational standards had been constantly rising. The 8th grade graduates of the one room country schools had no opportunity for further education unless they were able to go as tuition students to nearby towns maintaining high schools, and few were able to accomplish this. So the movement, led by educators and progressive citizens, to join the small one room school districts to those already maintaining high schools began. Copemish was among the first to see the advantages to themselves as well as the smaller districts, and to offer the facilities of its only partially used school plant. In 1922 a consolidation was effected of the Copemish school with the Evens, the Doneth, and also the Croakey Lake, Henry, and Pleasantview districts of Springdale which adjoined. Somewhat later the Reed and Lyke districts and Carpenter came in, but it was not until 1947 that Riverside school in Springdale consolidated and Pomona was a holdout until 1948.

Guiding the organization of newly consolidated districts was the board consisting of Ebbie E. Ackerman president, C.W. Wood secretary, and Peter Doneth treasurer. Mr. Doneth was to remain on the board for 22 years, and helped not only to pilot the district through its early days but also through the difficult years of the depression.

Superintendents

James Thompson was the first superintendent of the consolidated school, serving until 1926 when we was succeeded by Mr. Gofton. Wayne Crampton was the superintendent 1927-1928, James Moulton 1928-1929. G.C. White in 1930 and it was during his tenure that the gym was completed in 1933, mostly by W.P.A. labor. In 1939 Mr. White was succeeded by Walter Thurow who served through 1941. Supt. Floyd Shumway came in 1942, staying until 1947 when he was replaced by Earl Jewett. Supt. Jewett resigned in 1962, and Joseph Shimek then stepped up from position of principal to that of the superintendency. 

Dobbins to Gas

Transportation was in the early days much more of a problem than now. The first buses were horse drawn, and were of homemade design, unheated. There was no adequate snow removal program and getting the children to school was slow and beset with difficulties. Each driver furnished his own “rig”. Many are the tale, humorous or harrowing, of the daily adventure of getting to and from school. Among the first drivers were Walter May, Henry Dzuibanek, Ben Schnipke, Roy Evens and Mrs. Glada Williams, first woman bus driver. Mrs. Williams drove bus for seven years, and Mr. May until the district bought motor buses in the late 30s.

Basketball Record Shines

No history of the Copemish Consolidated School would be complete without mention of its athletic prowess, mainly in basketball where it has an enviable record among Class D schools.

The county basketball league was started in 1923-1924. Copemish and Onekama tied for the county championship that year, but Onekama one in the play-off. Copemish took the league title in 1925, and again in 1928 and 1929 which gave them permanent possession of the first cup offered in the league. They kept in the running for several years thereafter although there was a period of two or three years when their fortunes were low and they won not a single game. In 1951 they again were the county champions and went to the state quarter finals, and in 1952 to the state finals after defeating Mass in the quarter finals and Spring Arbor in the semi-finals. Their hopes were dashed when they bowed to Fowler in the finals. Theirs was only the third team in all league history to go to the finals. This was their year of greatest glory, although they were county champions in 1954, 1955, and 1956, and tied with Onekama in 1957.

School Mergers Studied

Like most of the rural schools, as educational standards had been improved the Copemish school had found it increasingly difficult in recent years to finance its school operations. Costs had increased greatly all along the line. Over the past dozen years or more many different plans for consolidating rural county high schools had been considered to achieve a broader tax base and greater economy of operation. None had come to anything. But in 1962 the Benzie Central District had offered a plan to annex the Copemish, Thompsonville and Homestead districts. If consolidation were effected a new high school would be built near Benzonia to accommodate the high school students, and a new elementary school midway between Copemish and Thompsonville to house the elementary students of Copemish and of Thompsonville.

A public meeting was held at Copemish to discuss annexation, and although there was opposition interest ran high. The school board had already consulted the Benzie Central board on terms of annexation. They were acceptable, and the Copemish people asked the Benzie board to apply to the State Dept. of Public Instruction for permission for an election to be held. The Thompsonville people had done likewise and state department approval had been given.

Vote Emphatic "Yes"

President Romsek’s report was well well received and a citizen’s committee of 25 was appointed to visit every home and give information as to the proposed union with the Benzie district. An election was called for Nov. 6 in all the districts concerned, and on that date the annexation of the three districts to Benzie Central was overwhelmingly approved by the voters of the respective districts. Accompanying propositions to assume pro rata shares of the present bonded indebtedness of the Benzie Central District and to provide millage for the limited portion of the total debt was assumed in all three districts by the same margins.

Annexation of the districts, effective on the day of the election, brought the total student enrollment to about 1400 and raises the valuation to about $12,800,00. Plans were immediately set in motion for a building program in the newly enlarged district. Preliminary plans were drawn and discussed at a public meeting in Honor. The announced total of the program was set at $1,500,000. A 23 acre parcel of land situated close to the intersection of M-115 and county-road 669 was selected as the site for the new elementary school. It is about midway between Copemish and Thompsonville.

Building Program Starts

The new high school will be situated on land in Homestead east of Benzonia. It is designed to furnish adequate space for 750 students. It will cost about $1,000,000. The elementary school will house 200 pupils and will cost about $250,000.

Guiding the schools’ policies through this period of drastic change has been the school board, president John Romsek, secretary Raymond Brown, treasurer Russell Clements, trustees Milton Drobena, Harold Hysell, Basil Wallace. Many others have over the years given freely of their time and talent to provide the best possible school for their children.

Copemish school’s average yearly attendance in past years has been about 221. Following is the complete list of the 357 twelfth grade graduates since Copemish became a 12th grade school:

Alumni List

1924 - Archies Snyder, Ernest Nichols, Gorden Dortleff, Vernor Donath, Charles Bigelow, Alvina Milarch.
1925- George Shelp, Lavern L. Olney, Archie Nichols, Dale Armstrong

1926 - Grace Watson, Myles Byer, John Frees, Rose Overmyer, Capelle Wood, Ella Somers, Edith Milarch, Helen Hyde, Grace Hunter, Edward Shumaker.

1927 - Juanita Smith, Marshall Stevens, Ruth Howes, Elmer Milliron, Dorothy Olney, Mildred Milarch, Evelyn Crow, Demarius Cornell, Marvel Bigelow.

1928 - Anna Drizils, Carlos Shideler, Izel Cornell, Agnus Selander, Lottie Benton, Quinton Drotleff, Glen Drotleff.

1929 - George Smith, Goldie Casselman, Chester Casselman, Vera Grossnickle, Mildred Steininger, Helen Ashcraft, Rayden Peck, LaVon Wells, Richard Shumaker, Carl Milarch, John Donneth, Harry Collins.

1930 - Margariete Irwin, Caryl Thompson, Virginia Dean, Lambert Pence, Harold Lauman, Winston Crow, Harold Hysell, Irene Carr, Lena Donneth, Leota Murray, Myrtle Ulch.

1931- Juanita Danville, Genevieve Irwin, Doris Smith, Natalie Headley, Karl Evans, Marie Danville, Wilma Cornell, Thelma Wells, Lester Ulch, Fredrick Shumaker, Anna Romsek, Marjorie Peck, Edward Milarch, Jerold Lauman, Ellis Griner, Burton Griner, Bernard Griner.

1932 - Leland Ebey, Virginia Dimmers, Grace B. Faylor, Beth White, Gene Howes, Ruth Gleason, Raymond Wells, Lewis Szendre, Josephine Richards, Lillian Hysell, Robert Dziubanek, Eric Boysen, Anna Clapper, Audrey Cribbs, Carmin Danville, Wilford Doneth.

1933 - Clayton Wyse, LaVern Larsen, Rudolph Kransi, Charles Flynn, Dale White, Harold Schermerhorn, Mary Romsek, Ellen Morris, Lois Milarch, Lynn Marks, Jennie Mackey, Gordon Hatch, Hubert Evens, Margaret Doneth, Curtis Benton.

1934 - James Milliron, Leonard Phillips, Mary Szendre, Julia Sanders, Gordon Doneth, Mary Carr, Mary Kolandra.

1935 - Hilke Litzen, LaVern Williams, John Thompson, John Shumaker, John Romsek, Marguerite Reed, Marion Porter, Phyllis Milliron, Mildred Milliron, Bessie Dorbena, Earl Dinger, Elois Cribs, Clarence Conrad, Gordon Wells, Max Bargerstock, Leonard Milarch.

1936 - Sylvan McCarthy, Gladys Munger, George Hill, Lois Wells, Ludy Suchy, Irma Stone, Virginia Shumaker, Howard Quillin, Wells McCurdy, Lois Evens, Harold Doneth, Eva M. Doneth, Mille Blaho, Audrey Barryhill, Gladys Ashcraft, Gertrude Adams.

1937 - Wilma Szendre, Alvin Selander, Rose Romsek, Edna Peck, Lillian Palmer, Wilda Doneth, Laverne Doneth, Larry Barrymill.

1938 - Ellen Selander, Hazel Sandell, Joseph Renman, Rudolph Novotney, Geraldine Milarch, Edward Rebman, Dorothy Milliron, Mary Cjeryba, Beverly Carpenter.

1939 - Lucille Smith, Glen Schermerhorn, Edwin Sandell, Agnes Romsek, Donald Humphrey, Donald Graves, Dorothy Dinger.

1940 - Katherine Doneth, Isabell Cribbs, Keith Baughman, Kent Wilson, Orval Adams, Helen Wells, James Scarbrough, Paul Rebman, Lois Peck, Ruth Milliron, Nina Isaacson, Wallace Humphrey, Harold Flynn, Dorothy Evens, William Doneth.

1941 - Agnes Zalud, Raymond Rudman, Betty Teagle, Sam Szendre, Roland Selander, Loren Read Jr., Juanita May, Joseph Flynn, Glee Hope Ashcraft, Dorothy Adams, Clinton Adams.

1942 - Douglas Scarbrough, Helen Romsek, George Osborne, Tillie Leatherman, Charles King, Walter Scott.

1943 - Gordon Stanton, Bill Wells, Dona Teagle, Charles Selander, Gwendolyn Scarbrough, William Romsek, Donald Rebman, Joanne Reed, Paul Plagany, Russell Osborne, Richard Merskin.

1944 - George Szendre, Dale Stanton, Rosemary Stanton, Thelma Sandell, Viola Margetson, Pauline Long, Marian Humphrey, Edith Brown, V. C. Ashcraft, Geraldine Adams, June Hale.

1945 - Emil Boyd, Frances Adams, Joan Carpenter, Edna Currie, Lila Isaacson, Edwin Selander.

1946 - Norma Thompson, Frank Szendre, Keith Stanton, Bob Rudman, Mary Rebman, Catherine Morris, Doris Dale, Velma Jones, LaNeah Mallison.

1947 - Russell I. Smith, John M. Blaho, Betty A. Doneth, Robert I. Romsek, Anna May Vondra, Paul R. Drobena, Margo Rebman.

1948 - John Scarbrough, Carla Mallison, Alice Laffleur, Richard Kropacek, Howard F. Smith, Dorothy Lessner, Marie B. Follar.

1949 - Jack Peacock, Nancy Hale, Leonard Nordbeck, Guy Smith, Burton Kadlec, Richard Olson, Ellis Humphrey, George Totten, Arlene Leatherman, Martha Reavis, Thomas Rudman, Fred Meszaros.

1950 - Shirley Spaulding, Vera Meachum, Alice Hale, Barbara Parker, Dorothy Stanton, Mariann Rudman, Milton Nosko, Clarence Merskin, Betty Griffiths, Charlotte Currie, Lucille Celmon, Jessie Blanchard, Robert Axline, Lucille Clevers, Laverne Maginity.

1951 - Wayne Nordbeck, Alice Egan, Donald Rudman, Henrietta Rossell, Ethel Scott, George Suchy, Fred Scarbrough, Charles Rooney, Kathleen Olson, Glen Meachum, James Mallison, Helen Lehto, Rudy Lehto, Dale Hysell, Joan Griffiths, Marie Cebula, Sydney Blocker.

1952 - Merle D. Smith, L. D. Scarbrough, Gordon Nordbeck, Joan Rodgers, Sandra Reed, Jo Ellen Dinger, Richard Drobena, Marguerite Nosko, Muriel Peacock, Lilah Stanton.

1953 - Alice L. Usher, Evelyn Stiver, Robert Reavis, John Rodgers, Dale Pringle, Loretta Malkowksi, Rochell Lopez, Mickey Finan, Patrick Egan, Charles Bigelow.

1954 - Wanda Wells, Edward Suchy, Julia Salton, Carolyn Nordbeck, Edgar Morris, Larry Maginity, Ray Leckrone, Jerome Jakubik, Robert Hale, Eva Jane Hale, Patricia Griner, Ben Blaho, Denise Bigelow, Terrence Frees, Shirley Griffiths, Anna Egan, James Cerka, Richard Cebula.

1955 - Dennis Scarbrough, Victor Lonn, Christine Dillehay, Ruth Ann Humphrey, Gloria Reed, Sharon Blocker, Roberta Anderson, Herbert Milks, Shirley Gokey, Marie Leckrone, LaVonne Milliron, Norman Rogers.

1956 - Sharon G. Lopez, Irving Scott, Alvera M. Milliron, Burton J. Griner, LaVerne Mallison, Mildred M. Vondra, Larry D. Mallison, Leona B. Meszaros, Carol J. Krause, Wm. G. Margetson, Roger L. Griner, Ronald E. Margetson, Ron G. Wells, Bud B. Bower, Thomas J. Bigelow, Joyce M. Camp, Deana M. Brown, Lila L. Lehto, George R. Smith, John R. Lonn.

1957 - David E. Milks, LeRoy J. Kreigh, Calvin A. Scott, Freda B. Dillehay, David G. Gilbert, Marilyn L. Egan, Lloyd L. Gokey, Dale K. Anderson, Leon D. Long, Robert L. Leckrone, Wm. L. Scarbrough, Carl M. Lehto, Myrna R. Crosby, Richard L. Peacock.

1958 - Wilma M. Cerka, Wayne L. Wells, Vivian L. Adams, Wayne Blanchard, Kenneth L. Gokey, Helen R. Jakubik, Robert L. Milliron, Rita A. Morris, Kathleen L. Hubbert, Dewey L. Ackerman, Neil F. Bower, John H. Humphrey, Reva P. Baxter, Loretta T. Hinkle, Janet M. Camp, Louise Doberstein, Alice L. Leckrone, Yvonne Currie, Raymond Dinger, Roger H. Stiver.

1959 - Barbara A. Stanton, Leonard Overmyer, Donna Egan Ockert, Arlene J. Meachum, Terry R. Hysell, Therese A. Romsek, Betty J. Morris, Gerald A. Overmyer, Kathryn L. Leckrone, Virginia J, Kubis, Robert L. Blackmore, Robert L. Milks, Larry A. Taylor.

1960 - Nanette J. Hilley, Eldred H. Gilbert, Linda M. Usher, Leonard J. Maki, Nelson B. Cudney, Roger J. Malkowski, Elizabeth M. Adams, Kenneth J. Margetson, Lulubelle Hogarth, Harvey E. Moore, Doris L. Stanton, George J. Urban, Joseph R. Schaffer, Ellsworth Morris, Denny Collins, Shari Spoor, William Long, Faith Drotleff, Louise Smith.

1961 - Nellie A. Dillehay, Michael W. Frees, Mary E. Dillehay, John W. Cudney, Betty L. Dinger, Arlene L. Leckrone, Marvin C. Prepejchal, Margie A. Bower, Loretta M. Milliron, Eugene Ashcraft, Dennis Brown, William R. Klingbeil, Roger C. Margetson.

1962 - Judy A. Cudney, James R. Frees, Wayne A. Meachum, George A. Porter, Melvin J. Lopez, Roger E. Gannon, Mary E. Taylor, Yvonne M. Russell, Dale M. Long, Kenneth L. Moore, Charles W. Vondra.

The 1963 senior class was the last to graduate from Copemish High School

What Teachers Will Be Doing

The Copemish high school faculty have announced their plans for the coming year. Joseph Shimek will be the guidance counselor at Benzie Central and will teach two commercial classes, and Marjorie Gehring will teach biology and general science there. Mrs. Frances Churchill will retire, Bruce Heilbronn will go to Coleman, Jane Small to North Branch, James Taylor to Onekama Consolidated School. The elementary teachers who will go to the news school are GertiBelle Cutler principal and kindergarten, Margaret Gilson 3rd, Eva Asiala 4th and 5th, Frances Case 5th and 6th. Teaching the 1st grade will be Mrs. Moser, and Nancy McClelland the 2nd grade.

We're Grateful

The Pioneer Press thanks the many who have helped to assemble the information in our Copemish story — Mr. and Mrs. Peter Doneth, Mrs. Almira Digby, Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Williams, C. W. Wood, Ed Vondra, William Humphrey, and Joseph Shimek.