Old Missoula

Growing Pains Afflict School System in 1883

Missoula’s school system by 1883 had begun to experience the growing pains which afflicted educational systems all over the country. Olive Pickering was teaching 63 pupils.* Space was inadequate and there was a need for more teachers.

In 1888 a brick building was constructed on the present site of the Central School, north across East Main street from where the first schoolhouse in Missoula was constructed. S. G. Murray was principal and there were 140 pupils in the public school.

Two in 1891

The South Side (Willard) and North Side (Whittier) schools were erected in 1891 and the East Side (Prescott) building in 1893. New Willard and Whittier buildings were constructed in the early 1920s and a new Prescott building in 1949.

The Central building was the first major school construction project. During the early years it served as a high school and a grade school. In 1890-91 there were 15 pupils in the three grades of high school and more than 300 in grades one through eight.

Supt. J. M. Hamilton’s report for November 1891 showed there were 61 students in high school in the Central building and 303 pupils in the lower grades. There were 101 in grade school in the North Side building, and 54 enrolled in the South Side, showing a tremendous increase over the preceding school year when only one building was used.

Teachers for the 1891-92 year included Betty Reilly, Annetta Blackburn, Bee Thornton, Minnie Foote, Mae E. Tribby, Sue G. Anderson, Mattie Weyman, Fanny Woodward, Ellen Wood, and Susie Bickford.

Decide to Build

At a special meeting of school trustees on May 14, 1892 it was decided to build a two-room schoolhouse on the east of the Rattlesnake Valley in such a way that two more rooms could be added when needed. The cost of the project was estimated at about $4,000.

Staffs of the three school buildings, Central, North Side and South Side, were named for the following year at this session, including Edward Westby, who was appointed to look after the grounds and shrubbery of the school buildings.

The first public graduation exercises for grade schools in Missoula were conducted May 19, 1893 in the Christian Church. Certificates were presented by Supt. Hamilton. In 1893 there were four schools, 14 teachers and 500 students.

By 1894 Missoula had a first class district with a board of seven members. By 1889** the staff of the city schools had increased to 18. Also that year a law reclassifying school districts put Missoula in the second class with a board of five members. It remained second class until 1910.

Although a truant officer was authorized in 1895, the first person mentioned in that capacity after that date was H. F. Howell in 1905.

*[Olive was the mother of Janette Rankin]

** [This may have been a misprint or mistake. Possibly 1894.]