Ghosts of South Dakota Part 2
The surrounding grounds were prairie grasses and brush. Trees were
scattered along the west boundary while the eastern area was furnished with a
heavier growth of various kinds of trees. Willows and buffalo berry bushes lined
the bank. If you were so inclined this would make a perfect spot for a picnic.
This was beyond the school grounds, grasses were tall here.
I mentioned the fire escape. Boy, how we loved these appendages.
They were situated on each end of the school. Access was from windows four
feet off the floor in the bedrooms. We would pull a large wicker lounge chair up
to the window and scramble over the chair using the high back as our final step
as we boost ourselves head first through the window. There usually was a
screen but it was never hooked.
My aunt, uncle and their three children were the only residents of this
school for nine years. I can't remember for sure , but the first five or six years they
did not have electricity. Water, but no electricity. The last two or three years they
had a generator. I just loved it. I remember how proud I was when I had gotten
old enough to carry the kerosene lamp myself.
The lower portion of the school had a ten foot wide hall extending the
entire length of the school with double wide doors at both ends. On the east of
the school it was four steps up, in the front door, a four foot long area then up two
steps up to the main hall. On the right were two large class rooms. On the left
was the kitchen, a bathroom with showers, utility closet then the stairway up to
the apartments and another bathroom, with showers. An entry way leading to the
outside where the front yard was. The commissary, a sewing room and a
garage large enough to house a school bus. The west end of the hall ended
with four steps leading to the outside doors.
West of the school was the building called the CANNERY, it also was
the meeting place for the tribal members and contained three or four weaving
looms. A double garage with a gas pump and two large tanks for gas lay off to
the north of the cannery. A dense growth of trees separated the school from the
barn. It was a well kept large barn. Well used I should add also. At least by us
kids. Other out buildings were two quonset hut buildings and pens, a chicken
house and a couple of sheds for the hog pen, Which I must add was another of
our favorite sports, riding the hogs. All of the buildings were painted white. It
really was a sight to see.
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