Story about Seelinger school

The Seelinger School was organized in 1890. This was when there was enough children school age in the community. However, the surrounding schools Papinville, Mission Branch,Parairie City and Ciphers each gave up a part of their school children to make Seelinger School. The school was named after the man that gave the district a piece of his land to build a school. This man was Adam Seelinger whose property set about three miles northeast of Papinville. There were about 30 students that attended school starting classes in November 1890. They started school late because the school building was not finished.

They didn't have any desk so they had to use blocks of wood with long planks on them to serve as desks. The Merchant family lived east and south of the Stevener place and they had two boy' s that made their own desk and cared it to school.

In 1903 a coal shed was built and also a shed was built for the teacher and student's horses. In 1950 that was the last year that Seelinger had school. The students went to Mission Branch and the school was moved to Parairie City to make the school bigger. The land was reverted back to the original owner. The little piece of land is now farm land. All that remains is precious memories in the hearts of former students.

In the school history book Marjorie (Bradley) McGennis wrote a story about Seelinger School and a tribute about Pearle Kemper. Miss Pearle taught at Seelinger for 10 years. She also taught at Mission Branch lyear and Prairie City 10 years. There is only one teacher still living that taught in district 7 and that is Gilbert Lee. He taught at Sellinger for 1 year in 1948-1949 school year. Mary Genisio was another teacher that taught a long time in district 7. She taught at Papinville for 8 years from 1942-1951.

Next weeks story will be about Mission Branch school. We have come up with a schedule for the picnic. Music will start at 1:30 followed by the following: cake walk, silent auction, children's games (with prizes), 50-50 drawing , wagon rides, students from Mission Branch, Sellinger, Papinville and Prairie City sign in at information booth at 3:00 , recognition of students at 3:30, silent auction ends at 4:00, drawing for the quilt at 4:00, pie auction 4:00, picture of the school to be auctioned after pie auction, 50-50 drawing 5:00 and finally dinner will be served at 5:30. Dinner is a freewill donation. Menu is fried fish, pulled pork with 6 different side dishes, desserts and drinks. If you would like to enter the pie auction you should have your pie here by 2:00 to be judged. Categories are cream, fruit and other. The children from 5 years of age to 15 have the same categories. Prizes will be given. If you bring a dessert for the cake walk or serving table put the dessert in a through away container. Also don't forget to bring a lawn chair. No pets or alcohol on school property.

This celebration of schools is just not for past students but for families that had relatives that went to these 4 schools. It is like a reunion. Let's hope the weather will be good. If you have any question's call these numbers.417-395- 2594 or 816-769-4832. Come out and have a fun day. All past students will receive a gift for coming. Until next week for the rest of the story.

Directions: From Rich Hill go East on B to N that goes South to Papinville and follow signs. Submitted by Phyllis Stewart, Activity Director