On the Same Page: Upcoming programs and more at Reedsburg Public Library

Next week’s Youth Services programming lineup features seasonal themes for elementary age students and a farming motif for the preschool set. At the end of next week, RPL staff will host Susan Apps-Bodilly to present a program about one-room schools.

Participants in Middle School Mondays (Grades 6-8) on Oct. 19 at 6 p.m. will participate in a trivia night covering odd facts on various topics, including Halloween. On Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 4 p.m., Story Seekers (Grades K-2) will listen to the stories, “Room on the Broom,” and “The Little Old Lady Who wasn’t Afraid of Anything,” and make a related craft. On Oct. 21 through 23 at 10 a.m., Miss Stephanie will present farm stories and activities for Baby and Me on Wednesday and preschool Storytimes on Thursday and Friday.

Looking ahead to the end of next week, Susan Apps-Bodilly will present a program on one-room schools on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 1 p.m. Apps-Bodilly is the daughter of the late Wisconsin writer and historian Jerry Apps. She has authored the book, “One Room Schools: Stories from the Days of 1 Room, 1 Teacher, 8 grades.” The book, adapted for children, draws heavily on the research done by Jerry Apps for the book, “One Room Country Schools: History and Recollections.” Topics addressed include the duties of children and teachers in the school, the curriculum for the eight grades, the schools’ role in the community, recess games, and factors that led to the closing of the schools. 

In addition to the above-mentioned books about one room schools, Reedsburg Public Library has both reference and circulating copies of, “Good Old Golden Rule Days: A History of Sauk County Wisconsin Country Schools.” Written by the Rural Schools Committee and published in 1994 by the Sauk County Historical Society, the book profiles over 150 one room schools, many with photographs. The book is the result of the Committee’s four years of research and interviews with past students and teachers.

RPL’s Local History Room also houses many brief histories of area one room schools written by former students. RPL’s Archives Room, located in the old Carnegie Library, houses materials including annual reports of the Sauk County Schools from 1905 to 1954, and school board minutes of various local schools from the 19th century. Researchers may examine individual books by appointment or advance request.

This article’s accompanying photograph comes from the Mabel Seep Photograph Collection. The photo shows students in the Sand Hill School in 1935, and can be viewed on the RecollectionWisconsin website (www.recollectionwisconsin.org).

There is no registration or fee required for any of the above mentioned programs. For questions about any Library program or service, call the Library at 608-768-READ (7323).