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Pinedale Online > News > June 2008 > Dedication of the Price/Sommers Schoolhouse

Price-Sommers Schoolhouse. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Price-Sommers Schoolhouse
Members of the Price, Sommers and Ball families pose in front of the Price/Sommers Schoolhouse after the dedication ceremony on June 5th.

1923 Schoolhouse. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
1923 Schoolhouse
Photo of a picture on display inside the schoolhouse. Picture of the schoolhouse, teacher and students. Caption reads "Sommers-Price school on Green River. Irma Hill, teacher, 1923."

Teacher's Desk. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Teacher's Desk

Green River Valley Museum. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Green River Valley Museum
The Museum is located on US 189 (Front Street) in Big Piney.

The Museum is open June through October 15th. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 12:00 Noon until 4:00 PM. Admission is by donation.
Dedication of the Price/Sommers Schoolhouse
At the Green River Valley Museum in Big Piney
by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online!
June 7, 2008

On Thursday, June 5th, the Green River Valley Museum in Big Piney held a dedication for the Price/Sommers Schoolhouse. In addition to the dedication, they had a presentation by Mary Humstone, on "Beyond Classrooms: Historic Schools as Symbols of Community."

In the early 1900s, many areas of rural Wyoming had one or two-room buildings which served as schoolhouses for the families with children. It was difficult finding teachers, so they were recruited and brought in from other areas around the country to teach in the rural schoolhouses. When the children grew up, the schoolhouse buildings were often relocated to new areas to serve the needs of other families with young children lived.

The original building, the Ball/Dunham schoolhouse, was torn down, rebuilt by Eddie Edwards, and renamed the Price/Sommers Schoolhouse. The Price/Sommers schoolhouse was located on the north end of the Price land, next to the Sommers’ ranch land in the Upper Green River Valley. It served as a school during the 1920s. It was one of 30 schoolhouses that served the rural areas in Sublette County in the early 1900s. Once school busses started to be used, schools were consolidated, and the small rural schoolhouses were no longer needed, with the last rural schools, with the exception of Bondurant, being all consolidated by 1965 and 1966.

The Price/Sommers schoolhouse was donated by Charles and DeAnne Price in memory of Mary and Alex Price. The Price family contributed much of their family history which revolved around the schoolhouse to the Green River Valley Museum. The Sommers family also donated many items for the exhibit. Jonita Sommers shared many historic school photos she has collected through the years, which are framed and on display in the schoolhouse. Memorials were made to the Museum in the name of Verla Sommers in memory of her love of history and pioneer heritage. Members of the Sommers, Price and Ball families were present for the dedication at the Museum.

Last year, Cara Olson and Kim Tanner’s sixth graders contributed their earnings from the wax museum program to purchase an old-fashioned globe and old maps of Wyoming which are framed and are hanging in the schoolhouse. This year the sixth graders again donated their profits from the Wax Museum, giving more than $300 to be used for a flagpole to be erected next to the schoolhouse.

“The schoolhouse will always be a work in progress,” said Museum Director Carrie Anderson. “Community support and support from everyone has been very generous,” Anderson said.

The Green River Valley Museum was formed to perpetuate and preserve the history and culture of the Green River Valley. Its goal is to honor the many hard working families who have built a unique community. The Museum is located at 206 N Front Street in Big Piney.

Museum Hours:
The Green River Valley Museum is located at 206 N Front Street (US 189) in Big Piney. They are open during the summer from June through October 15th. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 12:00 Noon until 4:00 PM. Admission is by donation.

For more information, contact Director Carrie Anderson at 307-276-5343, PO Box 12, Big Piney, WY 83113, www.grvm.com.
_______________________________

Editor's Note: The Green River Valley Museum is a nonprofit corporation. Although it receives some support from county funds, it is largely dependent on donations from private sources and on the annual fundraiser, an auction which is held each March. All contributions, large and small, are welcome.



Mary Humstone. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Mary Humstone
Mary Humstone gave a presentation entitled, "Beyond Classrooms: Historic Schools as Symbols of Community."

Beyond Classrooms. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Beyond Classrooms
Sublette County had thirty one-to-two-room log schoolhouses that served the rural communities.

Price Sommers Ball Families. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Price Sommers Ball Families
The inside of the schoolhouse has been lovingly restored. Members of the Price, Sommers and Ball families donated many items that are used in the display.

Elaine Larkin 1924. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Elaine Larkin 1924
Elaine Larkin served as the teacher from 1923 to 1924. Photo courtesy Green River Valley Museum.

Teacher's Desk. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Teacher's Desk

View from Teacher's Desk. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
View from Teacher's Desk

Schoolhouse Information. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Schoolhouse Information

Woodstove. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Woodstove
A woodstove in the back corner provided heat to the schoolhouse.

Dedication Plaque. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Dedication Plaque
Dedication plaque above the entry door to the schoolhouse.

Mary and Alex Price. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Mary and Alex Price
The schoolhouse was donated in the memory of Mary and Alex Price.

Verla Sommers sign. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Verla Sommers sign
Memorials for the schoolhouse were made in the memory of Verla Sommers and her love for history and pioneer heritage.

Looking at Yearbooks. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Looking at Yearbooks
Laurie Hartwig, Director of the Museum of the Mountain Man, looks through old yearbooks oon display in the schoolhouse for Big Piney high school.

Maicille Carr-Clark. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Maicille Carr-Clark
A sign in front of the schoolhouse reads, "In Loving Memory of Maicille Carr-Clark, Educator, Civil Servant and Friend."

Workbook. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Workbook
Page from an old workbook that was used to teach children reading, writing, math and music.

Math Problems. Photo by Dawn Ballou, Pinedale Online.
Math Problems
Close up of math problems in a workbook on display in the schoolhouse.
Pinedale Online > News > June 2008 > Dedication of the Price/Sommers Schoolhouse

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