HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN PASCO COUNTY

Lacoochee Elementary School

Photo at left: The former Lacoochee first grade building, now located at the Pioneer Florida Museum.

School board minutes of July 3, 1893, indicate that the Lacoochee School (no. 39) was discontinued.

A Tampa Tribune article has: "The first school classes in Lacoochee were held in 1910 in two wooden stores on the west side of what is now U. S. 301, across from Cummer Road. The old classrooms burned and were replaced with a brick schoolhouse that also burned. The one-room Lacoochee School that now stands at the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village grounds was located in the vicinity of the Cummer mill. The museum saved the structure in 1975, just days before it was scheduled to be torn down, and moved it to the museum grounds. Although it was built in 1927, it is typical of one-room schoolhouses of much earlier times."

The Dade City Banner of Mar. 17, 1922, refers to the “combined Trilby-Lacoochee school.”

School board minutes of April 6, 1925, indicate that a delegation from Lacoochee came before the Board and asked that the six lower grades be provided for at Lacoochee.

School board minutes of June 15, 1931, show these teachers appointed: Annie Fogg, Principal; Mrs. C. F. Andrew; Mrs. Susie Clark; Mrs. Bethel Revels.

School board minutes of May 6, 1935, show these teachers appointed: Mark St. Clair (Principal), Mrs. Frances Ferrell, Mrs. Dorothy Browning, Miss Hazel Moreland, Mrs. C. F. Andrews, Miss Frances Gladden, Mrs. Susie Clark, Mrs. Alice St. Clair.

School board minutes of June 4, 1936, show the board confirmed teachers recommended by the Trustees of Lacoochee School: Mr. Mark St. Clair, Principal and teacher of ninth grade; Mrs. Alice St. Clair, Primary teacher; Mrs. Susie Clark, teacher of second grade; Miss Frances Gladden, teacher of third grade; Fourth and Sixth grades not filled; Mrs. C. F. Andrews, teacher of fifth grade; Miss Lois Hancock, teacher of seventh grade; Mrs. Frances Ferret 1, teacher of eighth grade.

On May 20, 1938, the Dade City Banner reported, "On Friday night, May 20, a class of eleven graduates will receive diplomas from Lacoochee Junior High school. Class honors to go Miss Iris Thompson, valedictorian, and to Miss Irene Milton, salutatorian."

According to the web site of the Pioneer Florida Museum, the old Lacoochee School "was acquired in 1976, only a few weeks before it was scheduled to be torn down. Although built in the 1930's as a part of a complex of frame school buildings and used as a first grade building, the structure is architecturally typical of the one room school houses of an earlier period. The school has been restored and furnished in the style of the one room schools prevalent in Pioneer Florida."

McCormick has "1934 Lacoochee School built."

On April 4, 1949, Mrs. Agatha Andrews was appointed principal.

Randall Belcher, who would later become Principal of Lacoochee Elementary and Woodland Elementary School, began working as a teacher at Lacoochee Elementary School on Jan. 10, 1967. He became Principal at Lacoochee in 1969 according to a 2006 St. Petersburg Times article. He worked for the school district until he retired in 2006.

A new Lacoochee Elementary School opened in the fall of 1971 with an enrollment of 355.

Here is a series of columns about the Lacoochee School by Lorise Abraham which appeared in the Dade City Banner in 1971 under the title "Lorise's Corner."

April 15, 1971

On October 29th, when the Dade City News Courier was Dade City's second newspaper (before they bought the Banner) I wrote an article about the place Lacoochee once was; not insinuating that Lacoochee isn't a place of business now, because it most definitely is, and several stores are open and doing fine. What I had reference to at that time was how Lacoochee once really was a thriving town and enjoying the largest payroll in Pasco County.

Much to my joy, I have had numerous folks ask me to repeat that article because they did not see the Courier then missed it. Of course, I am only too happy to do that and so here goes . . .

It may come as a surprise to you that Lacoochee at one time had a two story - 30 room hotel, two bakeries, two movies, two drug stores, three garages, two filling stations, two department stores, six grocery stores, three barber shops, one dry cleaner, several restaurants, a Cummer commissary, two doctors, four churches, two Railroads, one constable and over 1,000 registered voters. There were almost 1,100 employees of Cummer Sons Cypress Company, working either at the mill or in the logging woods, and Lacoochee had the largest payroll in the county!

The Cummer Company was started in 1922. They built the sawmill, planing mill, crate mill, veneer mill, machine shop, power plant, and company houses for their employees. Those houses rented for 50 cents a room per week and that included water and garbage service. Electricity cost 5 cents a room each week.

Not only did The Cummer Company mill cut cypress, of which there was an abundance all round here, but they cut pine and gum from which they made shipping containers. At the height of the fruit season, the mill would ship as many as 25 box car loads a day, each car containing three to four thousand knocked down boxes.

You all know the value and the beauty of "Pecky" Cypress, which is heart cypress in which worms have eaten irregular shaped holes. Well, this lumber was considered worthless and hundreds of car loads were burned! The lumber would sell now for perhaps $200.00 or more per 1,000 board feet. There are quite a few buildings and homes in Pasco County today that were finished with this pecky cypress, among which are the Sunday School rooms at the First Presbyterian Church.

I must not forget that we also had a thriving baseball park. Every Sunday afternoon, during the season, that park was packed with loyal fans who came to boost their team to victory. At one time there was quite a competitive spirit between the Lacoochee and the Dade City teams and many games were spent settling some argument that had arisen between them.

After printing that article, my Mom remembered too that Lacoochee had a 10 cent store and a Dairy that I had failed to mention, so I add them now.

Some day I would love to do an article on the children who were raised in Lacoochee then and what they are doing now. All us Lacoocheeites are mighty proud that many of them have gone on to really make a place for themselves in this world. In order to do that article, I'm going to need some assistance from some Lacoochee people, telling me about the people they know, where they are and what they are now doing. How about calling me today!"

April 22, 1971

In last week's column, I asked for news of former Lacoochee people so this week I am going to begin bringing you who are interested, up to date on as many as I can. I repeat the request to let me know about any news you may have!

Louise Fowler Champion called to give me some news on Ouida and Troy Slater. Ouida, you know, was Ouida Mock of Lacoochee and Troy is a Dade City boy. Troy has just completed his 23rd year in the Navy and has the rating of Master Chief Store Keeper. He and Ouida re currently living in Santee, California. They have three children: son. Jerry, who is now in the NROTC unit at the University of Texas in Austin. Daughters, Brenda, 15, and Amanda, 13, are, of course, still at home.

I happen to personally know about Claude and Gate Andrews sons, so I can give forth with that right now. Bill is an Attorney in Gainesville and also is State Representative in Tallahassee for Alachua and Marion Counties. He is married to the former Dodie Platt of Dade City and they have three children, Claudia, 12, Will, 9, and Suzanne, 5. Bill earned his Law Degree at the University of Florida Law School and he and Dodie have been living there ever since.

Bob Andrews is a Chemical Engineer with the Shell Oil Company currently in New Orleans, La. He is married to the former Sally Wilson of Orlando and they have two sons, Bobby, 9, and Jodie, 5. Last year, Bob was sent to The Hague for one year. Sally and the boys were with him and while there, they were able to tour quite a bit of Europe.

I was very pleased to have a letter from Mary Shoard Brooks, recalling some happy days in Lacoochee. Mary's Dad, Happy Shoard, was the operator of one of Lacoochee's Bakeries and later his brother had one for awhile in the other part of town. Mary reminded me of the days when the grade school kids were transported to Trilby school and the high school kids to Dade City school.

She had some happy reminisces of Mr. Jeff Mobley playing his fiddle in her Dad's Bakery on Saturday afternoon. Mary also said that Mr. Mobley taught Austin to play the fiddle but I've known Splash for over 20 years and I haven't heard any music from him as yet! She remembered Carl May "scaring" the kids with some hair raising Ghost Stories and Clark May entertaining them with his Yodeling and Mouth Harp playing. I remember Clark May coming home in his Marine Dress Blues and all us girls following him all over town, swooning! Clark had the patience of Job to put up with us.

Next week -- some more news about other Lacoochee people, where they are and what they are doing now.

June 10, 1971

Don't know if anyone missed me or not (I know Virginia Reed and Louise Champion did because they called and I thank them for that') but I've been away on a short vacation. Now, I'm back and ready to resume this "Corner" again. Sure hope you are ready to read it.

Before I took off Ollie Newsome [real name: Olis Newsome--jm] called to tell me he had a story about Lacoochee that involved my Dad's store too. Of course, I was interested so I got Ollie's story and want to share it with you today. Sure hope you won't think this column is strictly to write something about the "Abe's" because it isn't. Guess when anyone writes me or tells me something, they just naturally are going to remember things that involved my folks.

Ollie's father J. A. "Jake" Newsome, moved his family from Chipley, Florida to Lacoochee on July 15, 1923. Ollie was 10 years old at the time that his Dad went to work for Cummer at the Saw Mill. Ollie began working at the Veneer Mill, for Charlie Ferrell, in 1927. After awhile though Ollie went to work at Compresco for N.E. Ba Andrews Later, G. F. Robinson took over the logging operation from Ba and , when Mr. Robinson retired, he was replaced by W. R. Hyatt. By that time, Ollie had worked up to assistant superintendent of logging woods.

Cummer bought out Wilson Cypress Co., in Deland, so the dismantling of Compresco began, as logging operations were moved to Crows Bluff. Ollie was in charge of dismantling the over head skidders, caterpillar tractors, and locomotive engines which were all loaded on flat cars and shipped by rail to Crows Bluff. He also reassembled all that equipment so that logging could begin in Crows Bluff When the mill burned down, Ollie left Cummer and went to work at Pasco Packing Co. In 1956, he opened Newsome Welding and Repair and he's been at that ever since.

Ollie especially wanted to tell me the story about a Mesh bag he bought for Edna Stevens, now Mrs. Newsome, from Dad's store in 1930. He was courting Edna then and Dad had two Mesh bags on display inside the round glass topped tables in the drug store. Ollie and Joe Quick were good friends but an argument almost developed between them when both wanted to buy the same Mesh bag for his girl. In order to preserve peace between them, Abe made a deal with them. He said that the first man in the store on pay day Saturday would get the Mesh bag. Ollie and Joe agreed to that arrangement. Come Saturday afternoon, when the whistle blew, Ollie and Joe both beat a track to the pay office Ollie out ran Joe and was two people ahead of him in the line Then they ran from the office to the store, about 6 city blocks with Ollie ahead all the way. As he went into the store, he looked back and saw Joe was just crossing the Seaboard Railroad tracks but too late. Abe had the money and Ollie had the bag. That was 41 years ago and Mrs. Newsome still has that bag in perfect condition. She is saving it now for her 15 year old granddaughter, Fran Newsome.

On April 30th, Ollie and Edna celebrated their 39th Wedding Anniversary and, although this is a little late, I'd like to congratulate them now and wish them many more. I tried to buy that Mesh bag from them but they wouldn't even discuss it!

Before leaving for my vacation, I was very pleased to have a letter from Ouida Mock Slater which I would like to print in full as I thought it was very interesting.

"Ouida Mock Slater, born in Lacoochee on March 30, 1927. Delivered by Dr. Cannon and kept alive and healthy by Dr. Walters. Lived in one house, near the lumber yard and school for 18 years. Reared and educated in Pasco County by the greatest teachers. Now, as a Navy wife of 23 years and still traveling, having had 18 homes due to following Troy with Navy assignments. Lacoochee, I love, the homey, small town, friendly atmosphere. Always remember those ice cream cones from Abe's. The little Cummer locomotive, the "Goat," Atlantic Coast Line Train that ran between Sanford and Trilby.

Friday afternoon pay days at Cummer's office. Ed Madill's furniture truck there to collect bills. Mr. Gideon with fresh mullet from the Bay. The Commissary full of groceries. Someone always selling peanuts ... 5 cents a bag. Remember Mrs. Fisher, my favorite Sunday School teacher, now lives in Jacksonville, Florida, a widow. Mrs. Starr M. Cox, former Lacoochee school teacher, lives in Decatur, Georgia. Juanita Rhoden Croft now lives in Virginia.

Remember the medicine shows that would come to town and that chewy candy they sold. I remember my school mates in Lacoochee. I liked them all. Dorothy Boyette lives in Jacksonville, Florida. W. J. Gideons is a Baptist Minister, Jack Carlton, a Radiology technician at Orange General Hospital in Orlando and Joe Westberry lives in Orlando too.

I remember when Miss Coulter had a handicraft class at her home on the Withlacoochee River, and Lewis Abe made the wooden doll house and you kept it in your front yard in Lacoochee. And when the flood waters came all the way up to the Methodist Church.

And, during World War II, we had German prisoners working at the mill. And had an Observation tower (Civil Defense) near the water tank, kept record of planes: And how on Friday mornings Mr. Hyatt and Mr. Claude Andrews and Mr. B. D. Thomas would meet the train at the Coastline Depot to get the Pay Roll Pouch for all Cummer employees. On the memories, I love them. Growing up there taught me: Respect of persons. Respect of property, and Respect of privileges.

At one time Lacoochee was a hustling, busy, booming town. Today, it is my home town and important to me.

Hello to: Mrs. Jarvis, Mrs. Sykes, Mrs. Agatha Andrews, Mrs. C. D. May, Mrs. Bernice Parham, The Trowell family, the Pinkstons, The Nobles, Mrs. Baxley, Mrs. Pitts, Eunice Pennington, The Bauknights, Dan Johnson, Mrs. Rosa Pope, Mrs. Turnage, Mrs. Wise, The Burnseds, The Holts and all the people I've known and each one held and holds a special place in my life. I learned from these people because I listened."

In the past 23 years, Ouida has lived almost everywhere and I thought it especially good that she still carries all those good memories of Lacoochee. She and Troy and their family spent 3 years in Argentina on a Diplomatic tour of duty. All their children are bi-lingual in Spanish and English.

She and Troy have an 18 year old son. Jerry, at NROTC, University of Texas in Austin; a 16 year old daughter, Brenda, a senior at Santana High in Santee, California; a 13 year old daughter, Amanda, in the 8th grade at Cajon Park School in Santee.

Many thanks to Ouida for writing. Looking forward to beaming from you again soon!

July 29, 1971

It's "Down Memory Lane" time for this "Corner" with some very good reminiscing from former Lacoochee students. The first one to reply to my request was Wayne Groover, son of Josh and Alice Groover of Dade City. Wayne is making a very fine teacher himself over in Orlando. His letter was so good that I haven't touched a word of it. Am going to share it with you just as Wayne wrote it. And, Wayne, thanks a lot for bringing back some mighty wonderful memories. I'm willing to bet that I'm not the only one who reads it and weeps! Here goes:

It will be easy to list fond memories of the Lacoochee school. The difficulty will be in limiting them.

The best approach for my reflection is one of a personal nature. If you wish to use any of my thoughts, you may, if not, you will at least realize that others share a love of the school with you.

My first grade teacher was marvelous. She made education come alive. The methods educators praise today, my teacher, Miss Jean Edscorn, was practicing twenty two year ago. She made each child feel important, and each of us successfully completed some school work each day.

Mrs. Brinson was my second grade teacher. Every morning I looked forward to her pleasant voice and her understanding manner. I remember her singing "The little Red Caboose." The arrival and departure of the Caboose were controlled by her voice.

It was during this year that the Lacoochee Fire Dept. was called to the school to stop the black smoke that poured from the third grade classroom. The fire started before school and we watched from the playground and shivered partly from cold and fear. The damage was not extensive. Mrs. Brinson talked to us about safety and we discussed all types of fire hazards.

Year number three was spent with the wonderful, Mrs. Hancock. She had a twinkle in her eyes and could read stories better than anyone. I think of her often, and her smiling face, and I almost hear those stories.

Mrs. Rose Reid was teacher number four. She read the Bible every day, and she could quote more scripture than any other two people I knew. She listened to any verse we committed to memory and encouraged all of us to memorize Bible verses and poems.

My fifth grade teacher was Mrs. Hancock. She was the same find lady as before during the third grade. Each year as I read Huckleberry Finn to my sixth grade students I think about Mrs. Hancock. She made each of us feel as if she were reading directly to us. That was one of Mrs. Hancock's special talents.

Grade six was only half a year because we moved to Dade City. My teacher in Lacoochee was Mrs. Rodney Cox. She was firm, but fair. She was pretty (still is) and we learned many interesting things. The day we moved she graciously consented to have her picture made. (I just checked my picture file and I have that Picture. It was in an envelope labeled friends). During my elementary years my principal was Mrs. C. F. Andrews. This great lady had the gift of making any task seem important. Once, in her special way, she asked me to ring the bell for dismissal. I felt as if I had been asked to ring the chimes of Notre Dame in Paris.

These are merely a few of the reasons why I remember the years at Lacoochee School with admiration and nostalgia.

Wayne L. Groover.

And, Wayne, I remember too but many many years before your day. Mrs. C. F. Andrews was there then, having her students learn as nobody else could. I shall always remember her saying, "Can't never could do anything" every time I protested that I could not do Algebra. She refused to accept that statement and I am grateful for that because she taught me Algebra in spite of myself! Mrs. Andrews has had so many students that I think it would be impossible for her to remember us all and the details that we can recall so easily. I do remember that she made me feel special too and that she had more faith in my ability to learn than I did! The best thing that can happen to a student is for his or her teacher to have faith in them. Mrs. Andrews did. I would sooner have died than to disappoint her so by golly, I learned!

Prof. St. Clair was principal in my day and everybody, just everybody loved that man, even when he had to reprimand us. Now, it really takes a special talent to have students love you even when you've been forced to give them a licking or a lecture!. Prof made learning so much fun and he always brought humor into the classroom with him.

Just thought I'd throw in a few of my memories at this time too. All of them are good though and I know you will never meet a Lacoochee person who didn't love going to school there! There's more coming up so keep reading and if you haven't added your thoughts, then please do. If you don't like to write, then call me at 567-3939 at night and I'll put them in writing myself. Later, too, a list of each teacher who every taught there and the years they taught.

The next letter came from good friend Hazel Brannen in Lacoochee. When I read it to Mom and Dad, they too had a few tears to wipe away. See if it doesn't have the same reaction on you. and I quote:

I started school in Lacoochee in 1929. Mrs. Fred Revels was my teacher, it was first grade. The bell rang and we lined up by the front steps and marched in. I didn't notice the room was small, to me it was grand. The alphabet was printed on the blackboard, capital and small letters. Mrs. Revels stood with a yard stick and pointed each one out and we learned their names and sound. Soon we were given a reading book, "The Baby Ray Book". It wasn't long before I could read it while looking or with it closed (you see, I had memorized it). This was the time I had my first problem in school. For some unknown reason I was afraid of the teacher and every day we had to take our book up to her desk and read aloud to her. I discovered one day that the next day's page in my book was torn. I was so scared, I just knew the teacher would paddle me for tearing the book. So, I told my Mama that I didn't feel like going to school that day, I had a stomach ache Now my Mama was a firm believer in castor oil that she purchased at Abe's drug store. In her book it would cure almost anything so I got a dose of castor oil for a stomach ache I really didn't have! The next morning I went to school confident that my crisis was over but it seemed the day I stayed home, Mrs. Revels read a story to the class and I still had to go up and read from the book with the torn page. Mrs. Revels was sweet and let me read from her book "Baby Ray has three ducks. The ducks are yellow. Baby Ray loves the little ducks. The little ducks love Baby Ray." The next year I went to second grade. Mrs. Susie Clark was the teacher. She was a kind woman with a sweet disposition and a kind voice. I also got a reading book in her class so it seems I was bound for trouble again. One day the class was real noisy and Mrs. Clark said, "The first one out of their seats before school lets out will get a paddling" (teachers used a paddle then). We were told to study our reading book. I began to study but soon there was a word I didn't know so I started for teacher's desk. All at once I knew I was in real trouble so I thought real fast. I walked boldly up to teacher and said, "Mrs. Clark, I think I see my Mother outside waiting to pick me up." (We didn't have a car at that time and, if we had my Mother would never have driven it because she is now 87 years old and has yet to drive a car.) Mrs. Clark, bless her, said, "Go and see if it is your mother. If it is, you may get your book and go." Well, you better believe I looked quick, got my book and walked slowly home. I was six years old at the time.

Next was third grade and Mrs. Agatha Andrews was teacher. She was nice and I learned my lessons well in her class in more ways than one. She was the first and only teacher that almost paddled me. I can tell you, she made me a believer! It was this way. One of my classmates, Leslie, passed me a note and I passed one back. Teacher caught us. First she read the notes aloud and then asked us to stay in at recess. We stayed but Mrs. Andrews didn't come in. After recess she apologized for forgetting us. (I know now this was part of our punishment). Then she asked us to remain a few minutes at lunch time. I was scared, all this waiting was killing me. But I was destined to wait a little longer. We were forgotten at lunch time too! Right after lunch when we marched in, she called us up front and said she would just go ahead and punish us. I was sweating and my hands were clammy and I am sure I was pale. Teacher asked Leslie how many spanks with the paddle it would take to make him remember not to write anymore notes. Leslie said, "None" but he got a paddling anyway. Then she asked me and I sure knew I better give a better answer than he had so I said, "Four licks." She looked at me and said she thought I'd been punished enough and sent me to my seat. I was real glad to go and, as I said before, from then on all the way through school, I was a believer and tried to stay out of trouble.

My next teacher was Mrs. Annie Fogg, this was fourth and fifth grades. Mrs. Annie was a smart teacher, really I think she must have written the first book on psychology. Mrs. Annie used it on all her pupils. A wonderful teacher, no favorites, every child was special to her. [More on Mrs. Fogg is here.] I made a very good friend also in 5th grade, I haven't seen her since but lots of times I think of her and wonder where she is. Her name was Mary Beagle. We shared our lunch sometime and she always had some home cured ham or bacon, a baked sweet potato with butter, to share with my peanut butter and jelly and perhaps boiled eggs. Good days all of them.

[Charles Blankenship provides this information: Mary Beagles (1924-2004), daughter of Sophronia O'Berry and Thomas C. Beagles, was a niece of Mrs. Annie Fogg. Her siblings were Thomas Ules O'Berry and Kenneth O'Berry. Mary married Henry Lee. According to Laura Beagles, Mary Beagles Lee taught at a Brooksville school and at Richey Elementary School.]

Then came 6th grade and the new building and now we would have classes one through nine in Lacoochee instead of one through five. I looked on the new building with mixed emotions: joy, sadness, and pride. Joyful because I would still go to school in Lacoochee. Sad because I had hoped to go out of Lacoochee for school. Proud because we had this nice new building in Lacoochee.

Mrs. Jacobs was my 6th grade teacher. I remember her as being very pretty. Next came 7th grade and Mrs. Browning teacher. To me she was all a teacher could be. Next, the 8th grade, Mrs. Julius Ferrell was home room teacher and Mr. Mark St. Clair was science teacher. Ninth grade was Mr. St. Clair for home room teacher and Mrs. Ferrell taught Algebra. Never has there been 2 better teachers. Mrs. Ferrell knew math backwards and forwards, if I didn't learn much, it surely was not her fault. Mr. St. Clair made science and literature come alive. Wonderful years in my life. During these years, especially the first 5 years, Mrs. Hughey O'Quinn was a substitute teacher and we all loved her. She was a good teacher, pleasant, kind, and always smiling. Just being her own sweet self and, you know something, she is still the same. Want a pleasant good morning and a smile? Visit Mrs. O'Quinn in the grocery store right here in Lacoochee.

After we got the new building with classes one through nine, we had a music teacher. Mrs. O. L. Dayton, Sr. With a lot of patience she taught us to sing. "The Blue Danube, Seeing Nellie Home and many more." Next, we had Miss Agnes Williams. Miss Williams promoted many plays and operettas that we all enjoyed very much.

All of this brings memories to life that I thought were forgotten but there is one I'm sure I won't forget. The year I was in 6th grade, sometimes high school kids, going to Dade City school, would visit our school. Seems if you maintained a good daily average you were exempt from monthly tests so, if they skipped tests, they visited our school. Well, there was a certain young man that had a girl in the 9th grade. I knew him so every time he came to visit, I would run by and pick at him. You know, slap him on the arm and run. He'd grab my arm and smile and say, "Quit that, youngun!" And, of course, I'd do it again. I really had a crush on him (I must have been eleven). But a few years later, I suddenly grew up and, you know something, he got a crush on me! We have been married 31 years this September and he still calls me "Youngun" sometimes and I like it.

Both of my children, William and Fred, Jr., went to school in Lacoochee and this year my first grandchild, Regina Lynn Brannen, went to school there too. Precious memories in this time of life also.

The old school will soon be no more but I still have my memories. Hearing the old bell ring, the teacher saying, "Turn, Rise, Pass" and we marched out to form a straight line near the steps and teacher said, "Dismissed." Pictures we'd made of Santa Claus and Bunny Rabbits displayed on the window panes and black boards. Being chosen to dust erasers, wash the blackboard or maybe asked to ring the bell, was sheer heaven, no one could ask for more.

Great class mates and devoted teachers and I loved them all. Yes, soon the buildings will fall but now I need a hankie because all this makes something else fall ..... TEARS!

All I have to add to what Hazel has written is "Amen!"

"Souvenirs embitter our lives, only fools keep them." I can't remember where I heard that, but in a way it's true. I used to keep souvenirs but I don't anymore, still there's a few left, like the invitation that says, "Let's go see Lum and Abner Friday night" signed Prof. That was Prof. St. Clair's graduation gift to the ninth grade. We all went and had a grand time. Now memories are something else - you can't throw them out. I have a lot of them, some good, some bad, but all of them a part of growing up. I remember all of my Lacoochee teachers. Mrs. Revels was my first grade teacher and we read Baby Ray books Mrs. Clark was my second and third. I believe it was a combined grade. Miss Gladden was fourth. Mrs. Andrews fifth and then my favorite of all teachers, Mrs. Cox, sixth and seventh. Mrs. Reinke eighth and Prof. ninth.

When I first started school in Lacoochee there was only one building and only five grades. One of my earliest memories and biggest thrills was being asked to ring the bell. This was done by pulling a rope that hung down in the center of the hall. At first I needed a little help, since the bell weighed almost as much as I did and about all I accomplished was a swing on the rope, but as I grew the bell became smaller and I never ceased to be thrilled when the teacher would ask me if I would please ring the bell.

I remember just about all the kids I went to school with and all the boys I was in love with at one time or other.

When I first started school there, instead of a gate, we had a stile (steps that went up over the fence) this was great for all kinds of games and a good place to eat your lunch.

We didn't get to school by bus, we walked. We also walked home for lunch, unless we carried it with us. I remember in the ninth grade our first class after lunch was Algebra. I hated it ... so about three of us girls decided to be late every day and miss about half the class This worked fine for almost a week and then instead of waiting for us to get there. Prof. met us. I can't remember if one single word was said but when we were ushered into class that day, we knew we'd better quicken our steps in the future. I don't believe we were ever late again.

I also remember the time in Science class when Thurmon Harper was telling about some experiment he was about to embark upon and Prof asked if he'd like to shake hands with everybody before he left; and he said "Only with the boys, the girls can kiss me goodbye." When Prof stepped out of the room, about six of us decided we'd do just that We covered his face with lipstick. Prof. came back in, took one look at Thurmon and gave us a week's detention. Thurmon pleaded our case gallantly, but we still had a week's detention... but he got off scott free cause he was just a victim of circumstances.

Mrs. Starr M. Cox, a wonderful lady that I still think of very often Of all my teachers, she was special. Maybe it was because she gave more of herself than was absolutely necessary. Maybe it was because she made me feel a little special myself, but whatever it was, it has remained with me over the years. She tried hard to make little ladies and gentlemen of us. She believed in good manners, always practiced them herself, and expected the same from us. She was also a great one for correct grammar. In her room, we had what was referred to as a "Mistake Box." When any of us made a mistake in our speech, it was written down and put in the box , then each Friday, the box was opened the mistake read in front of the class and we were asked to correct it, which we usually did, but let me tell you, some real doozies came out of that old box!

I think of the kids I knew and how close we were. I've lost track of most of them, but I still remember Charlotte Curry, Mary and Jimmy Mahaffey, Carl Crumpler, Phyllis Spradley, Jack Carlton Nell Berkstresser, Gene Ferrell, Tommy and Jeanette Abraham, Harold Little, Billy Hayes Dorothy McClamma, Rudolph Crawford, Jeanette and Edith McElveen, Edith Jenkins, Aldora Hyatt, George Kilpatrick, Lonse Abraham, Lawrence Cox, and so many, many more. I now have a fourteen year old daughter of my own and the very best that I could wish for her would be the fun, the happiness, the closeness of the teachers and pupils and the good times and bad that we shared in that old school in Lacoochee."

Signed Anonymous

So many people have mentioned ringing that bell. It made a mark on all our lives so I think it only fitting to tell in this column what will happen to that bell when the school closes. Mr. William David Mobley (who has taught school over there so many years and is busy now transferring to the new building) tells me that the bell will be mounted on a special dolly and enjoy a place of distinction and prominence in the new facility. So the old bell will still be around for kids to look at and remember with love, for many years to come.

It's tribute time. I'm going to attempt to list every teacher who taught in Lacoochee. I am able to do this because of the kind help given me by Mr. Wynn O'Berry, William David Mobley and a fine young man named Anthony Hayes (Anthony is from Lacoochee and a graduate of Pasco High School and he took his own time out to help me run down some of these teachers' names and I really do appreciate it). Many thanks to Wynn, David and Anthony!!!

1926: Mrs. F. O. Revels, Miss Emma Lee Smith, Mrs. Frances Ferrell, Miss Laura Croft.

1927: Mrs. Annie Fogg (Principal), Mrs. Lizzie Mickler, Mrs. Frances Ferrell, Mrs. Ivah Mulvaney.

1928-29: Mrs. Annie Fogg, Frances Ferrell, Bethel Revels, Lizzie Mickler, Ivah Mulvaney, Cora Mickler.

1929-30: Mrs. Annie Fogg, Mrs. C. F. Andrews, Mrs. Lena Crum, Mrs. F. O. Revels.

1930-31: Mrs. Annie Fogg, Mrs. Agatha Andrews, Mrs. T. R. Clark, Mrs. Bethel Revels.

1932: Mrs. Annie Fogg, Mrs. C. F. Andrews, Mrs. Susie Clark, Mrs. Bethel Revels

1933: Mrs. Annie Fogg, Pauline Eiland, Mrs. Susie dark, Mrs. Bethel Revels.

1934: Mark St. Clair, Principal, Frances Ferrell, Dorothy Browning, Mrs. C. F. Andrews, Mildred Stevens, Susie Clark, Bethel Revels.

1935: Mark St. Clair, Mrs. Frances Ferrell, Mrs. Dorothy Browning, Miss Lots Hancock, Mrs. C. F. Andrews, Miss Frances Gladden, Mrs. Susie Clark, Mrs. Alice St. Clair.

1936: Mark St. Clair, Principal and teacher of 9th grade, Mrs. Alice St. Clair, primary teacher, Mrs. Susie Clark, 2nd grade. Miss Frances Gladden, 3rd grade, Mrs. C. F. Andrews, 5th grade. Miss Lois Hancock, 7th grade, Mrs. Frances Ferrell, 8th grade

1937: Mark St. Clair, Mrs. Frances Ferrell, Miss Lois Hancock, Mrs. Starr M. Cox, Mrs. Agatha Andrews, Mrs. Susie Clark, Mrs. Leona Sable, Miss Margaret Mickler.

1938: Mark St. Clair, Mrs. Frances Ferrell, Miss Lois Hancock, Mrs. Starr M. Cox, Mrs. Agatha Andrews, Miss Margaret Mickler, Miss Mary Spearman. Mrs. Leona Sable, Mrs. Alice St. Clair, Miss Agnes Williams, Music.

1939: Mark St. Clair, Mrs. Agatha Andrews, Mrs. Starr M. Cox, Mary Spearman, Sue Marie Hyatt, Margaret Mickler, Alice Lee, Leona Sable, Alice St. Clair, Agnes Williams.

1940 Mark St. Clair, Mrs. Starr M. Cox, Mrs. Agatha Andrews, Miss Josephine Coleman, Miss Sue Marie Hyatt, Mrs. Leona Sable, Mrs. Alice St. Clair, Miss Margaret Mickler.

1941: Mark St. Clair, Mrs. Agatha Andrews, Mrs. Starr M. Cox, Miss Margaret Mickler, Miss Helen Hancock, Mrs. Esther Reinke, Miss Sue Marie Hyatt, Mrs. Leona Sable, Miss Pauline Morrow.

1942-43 Mrs. Agatha Andrews, Mrs. Starr Cox, Miss Helen Hancock Miss Sue Marie Hyatt, Miss Margaret Mickler, Miss Pauline Morrow Mrs. Leona Sable, Mrs. Alice St. Clair, Mrs. Esther Rinke.

1943-44: Mr. Mark St. Clair, Mrs. Alice St. Clair Lula Belle Eaddy Bucklin, Zerue Hancock, Myra O'Berry, Esther Reinke, Leona Sable Agatha Andrews, Ruth Giddens.

1944-45: Mrs. Agatha Andrews, Lula B. Bucklin, Ruth Gidden, Zerue Hancock, Myra O'Berry, Leona Sable. Alice St. Clair, Esther

1945-46: Mark St. Clair, Alice St. Clair, Agatha Andrews, Leona Sable, Zerue Hancock, Myra O'Berry, Esther Reinke, Marion Sedwick, Mrs. H. B. Wilks.

1946-47: Mr. Mark St. Clair, Alice St. Clair, Agatha Andrews, Leona Sable, Frances Rogers, Esther Reinke, Zerue Hancock, Myra O'Berry, Helen Wise, Marion Sedwick.

1947-48: Mark St. Clair, Alice St. Clair, Esther Reinke, Helen Wise Myra O'Berry, Mary Brinson, Agatha Andrews, Marion Sedwick, Dorothy Richardson, Zerue Hancock, Frances Rogers.

1948-49: Mrs. Agatha Andrews, Esther Reinke, Alice St. Clair, Helen Wise, Zerue Hancock, Myra O'Berry, Dorothy S. Richardson.

1949-50: Mrs. Agatha Andrews, Principal, Joseph S. Bird, Aden W Bird Mary Brinson, Jean Edscorn, Zerue Hancock, Nina Leonard, Edna O'Berry, Esther Reinke, Elizabeth Scoville, Marion Sedwick.

Next week will take us on up to the last year that particular school was in operation. Looking over the years, it looks to me as though Mrs. Agatha Andrews taught there longer than anyone else on record and was principal longer too. To me, that record deserves a "Hats Off" salute to Mrs. Andrews!!!

After having written twice that he was coming here, friend Tommy Wang finally drove in the other day in a brand new Jeepster with all the trimmings. He had taken his time driving down from Mary and so was a few days late getting here. Tommy has been visiting old friends in this area so I hope the ones who came by here to see him will get to before he takes off again. Tommy especially enjoyed a visit, in Lakeland, with Miss Nina Percival. Now, there is a teacher for you! So many of her former pupils have asked me to do a column on her and I would just love to. Anyone got something special to commemorate her many good years of teaching let me hear it from you!!!

August 12, 1971

A little more about the bell at the Lacoochee school. Had a call from Margaret Mickler Hawk this week and she told me that bell was given to the school by her Grandmother, Mrs. Lizzie Mickler in 1927. Among those who helped install it was Silas Hagood. Margaret was pleased to learn the bell was being moved to the new school, as was everyone else.

Also had a call from Mary Strickland Philpot in Lacoochee. Mary wanted to know why I failed to mention the old wood heaters and the lunch room over there. Just an oversight, Mary, that's all. I remember when the lunch room opened everyone thought that was really "up town" to be able to eat at school and to be asked to work in the lunch room was the epitome of honors!

Mary also reminded me that Kate Mullins was the one who started 4-H club activities for girls in Lacoochee. Kate stayed with that long after her own girls were out of school and there couldn't have been a better person in charge either. I guess another record of public service was held by my own Mom. She was treasurer for the PTA over there for many, many years. Even Mom has forgotten how many. The reason for that was because if Prof. needed the Treasurer, he could always find Mom in the store, therefore bills were paid promptly without too much hassle locating the treasurer.

Now to finish listing the teachers:

1950-51: Mark St. Clair, Principal; Mrs. Zerue Hancock, 4; Helen Jackson, 3 & 4; Willard H. Brown, 1; Jean Edscorn, 1; Esther Reinke, 6; Adell W. Bird, 5; Carolyn Douglas, 3; Henry C. Strait, 7 & Music; Eddie Szaro 7 & PE; Mary Brinson, 2.

1951-52: Agatha Andrews, Principal; Adell Bird, 5 & Music; Mary Brinson, 2; Carolyn Douglas, 4 & 5; Miss Helen Jackson, 4; Zerue Hancock, 3; Mary M. Fullwood, 1; Esther Reinke, 6; Marion Sedwick, 1 & 2.

1952-53: Agatha Andrews, Principal; Mary Brinson, 1 & 2; Zerue Hancock, 5; Janet H. Hilbert, 2 & 3; Pat Laurie, 3; Johnnie R. Reid, 4; Esther Reinke, 6; Marion Sedwick, 1; Helen J. Clawson, 6; Eddie Szaro, 7 & PE.; George Wells, 2.

1953-54: Agatha Andrews, Principal: Marian Sedwick, 1; Georgia M. Wells, 2; Carolyn Douglas, 6; Zerue Hancock, 5; Patricia Laurie, 3; J. Rose Reid, 4; Omaleah Graves, 3 & 4; Mary Brinson, 1 & 2.

1954-55: Agatha Andrews, Principal; Mary Brinson, 2; Patricia Nadine Chafous, 3 & 4; Betty Webb Cox, 6; Zerue Hancock, 5; Johnnie Rose Reid, 4; Marian Sedwick, 1; Henry C. Strait, 7 & Music; Eddie Szaro, 7 & PE.; Iris Talbert, 2 & 1; Georgia Wells, 3.

1955-56: Agatha Andrews, Principal; Dorothy J. Brown, 4 & 5; Georgia Wells, 3: Zerue Hancock, 5; Eddie Szaro 7 & PE.; A. E. Ross, 6; Iris Talbert, 1 & 2; Mary Brinson, 2 & 3; Annette Bucholtz, 3 & 4; Ethel Lease, 4 & Art; Bernice Fehelberg, 4: Marvin Stocks, 6;

1957-58: Agatha Andrews, Principal; R. E. Bell, 2; Katherine Hayes Goodson, 2; Marion Sedwick. 1; Mary E. Binson, 2 & 3; Georgia Wells 3; Ethel Lease, 4 & 5; Bernice Fehelberg, 4 & 5 ; Zerue Hancock, 5; Eldon J. Smith, 6; Eddie Szaro 7 & PE; Marguerite Goetz, 3 & 4.

1958-59; Agatha Andrews, Principal; Margaret Evans, 4 & 5; Eddie Szaro, 7 & PE; Katherine Goodson, 6: Marion Sedwick, 1; Georgia M. Wells, 3; Zerue Hancock, 5; Mary E. Brinson, 2. In the lunch room that year were Harriet Carrington and Ellen Wiggins.

1959-60: Agatha Andrews, Principal; William David Mobley, 6; Eddie Szaro, 7; Zerue Hancock, 5; Marguerite Goetz, 2; Mary Brinson, 3; Georgia Wells, 4; Anna Campbell, 4 & 5; Ann Harris, 1.

1960-61: Agatha Andrews, Principal; Eddie Szaro, 7 & PE; David Mobley, 7, Music & Art; Jerry Keisling, 6; Betty Ruth Dean, 5; Anna B. Campbell, 4; George L. Sarver, Jr., 3 & 4; Mary Brinson, 2 & 3; Marguerite Goetz, 2; Georgia Wells, 1.

1961-62: Agatha Andrews, Principal; Robert Neighbour, 5: Mary E. Brinson, 2 & 3; Eddie Szaro, 7 & PE; Marguerite Goetz, 2; Jerry Keisling 6; Gertrude Neighbour, 2; Anna D. Campbell, 4; Georgia Wells, 1; David Mobley, 7, Music & Art.

1962-63: Agatha Andrews, Principal; David Mobley, 7. Art & Music; Marguerite Goetz, 2; Georgia Wells, 1; Jerry Keisling, 6; Anna D. Campbell, 4; Mary E. Brinson, 3; Eddie Szaro, 7 & PE; Merle Coumbs, 5.

1963-64 Agatha Andrews, Principal; Imogene Crosby, 1; Jerry Keisling, 6 Eddie Szaro, 7 & PE; David Mobley, 5 & Art; Anna D. Campbell, 4 Mary Brinson, 2; Elizabeth McClure, 4; Freda Holt, 4.

1964-65 Agatha Andrews, Principal; Imogene Crosby, 1; Mary E. Brinson, 2; Anna D. Campbell, 3; Mary Averitt, 4; David Mobley, 5 & Art; Joan Barrentine, 6; Eddie Szaro, 7 & PE.

1965-66: Agatha Andrews, Principal: David Mobley, Art; Imogene Crosby, 1; Mary E. Brinson, 2; Anna D. Campbell, 3; Cynthia Edna Roberts, 3; Leonard Cimador, 5; Rebecca F. Mucci, 4 & Music; A.C. Tompkins, 6: Eddie Szaro, 7 & PE.

1966-67: Agatha Andrews, Principal; David Mobley, 7, Music & Art; Imogene Crosby, 1; Mary E. Brinson, 2; Elizabeth McClure, 4; James Collins, 3; Helen Richardson, 4; A.C. Thompkins, 5; Randall Belcher, 6; Effie Davis, 6; Eddie Szaro, 7 & PE.

1967-68: Agatha Andrews, Principal; David Mobley, 7, Music & Art; Imogene Crosby, 1; Mary E. Brinson, 2; Elizabeth McClure, 4; Katherine Goodson, 3; A. C. Tompkins, 5; Randall Belcher, 6; Eddie Szaro, 7 & PE.

1968-69: Agatha Andrews, Principal; Randall Belcher, 6; Kenneth M. Brown, 4; Elizabeth McClure, 2; Imogene Crosby, 1; Peggy Johnston, 3; Autrey Tompkins, 5; Eddie Szaro, 7 & PE; David Mobley, 7, Art & Music.

1969-70: Agatha Andrews, Principal; David Mobley, Music & Art; Imogene Crosby, 1; Elizabeth McClure, 2; Peggy Johnston, 3; A. C. Tompkins, 4; Randall Belcher, 5; Eddie Szaro, 6, 7 & PE.

Whew!! Quite a list, isn't it? Looking back, I see the names of Mrs. Zerue Hancock, Georgia Wells, Mrs. Mary E. Brinson, Eddie Szaro, David Mobley and, of course, Mrs. Agatha Andrews, cropping up so many times. They all put in many years at the school and left some good memories for their pupils too. The principal at the new school will be Randall Belcher. I met Mr. Belcher for the first time when I began this series on the school and he impressed me as being a fine man with lots of interest and energy to devote to education. He will be assisted by a fine staff and I wish them all many good years in the new school.

August 19, 1971

Next Monday, August 23rd, elementary school teachers of Lacoochee will report for another nine months of instructing, and on September 7th, children, from kindergarten age through the 6th grade, will get the first orientation of their new school building.

Pasco School Superintendent, Chester W. Taylor and School Board members. Jay B. Starkey and Leon E. Milton have inspected the new block structure which will accommodate approximately 520 students during the 1971-72 term.

Principal Randall Belcher announced that the school will be a vast improvement over the rambling and decaying building formerly used for so many years.

Construction Superintendent for Thompson Brothers Construction Company of Leesburg is putting in the final installations of the project that costs $420,000.00.

The Lacoochee School is almost a duplicate in service and design of the Northside Elementary School of Brooksville, offering facilities for about 50 kindergarten students, and plans are to provide self-contained outside units for an additional 40 migrant-family kindergarten groups, while those in advance classes will enjoy the modern open-classroom concept.

Cummer Co. Donates Land for Lacoochee Elementary

Chester Taylor at the November 4, School Board meeting informed the members of a letter received of J. T. McKinstry, Vice-President of the Cummer Company, stating that the Cummer Company has granted the request of the Board to donate approximately 20 acres to the Pasco County School Board for the proposed new School Site near Lacoochee.

In a letter to the company written by Taylor, it was explained to the company that because of the School Board's tight budget any donation of land would be a great savings. The land, which was originally priced at some $400.00 per acre, is located approximately one-half mile from Hwy. 301 on Cummer Road.

Mr. McKinstry stated in the letter that the board must decide within three months whether the site would be used. He also said that if in the event there was no school constructed on the property within three years, a reverter clause in the deed would return the property to the company.

Taylor also mentioned that the Company would possibly clear and prepare the land for construction.

Her School, Their Oasis

This article appeared in the St. Petersburg Times on Sept. 17, 2006.

LACOOCHEE - The first change Karen Marler made when she came to Lacoochee Elementary as principal was to tear down the barbed wire on the school's front fence.

"This is not a prison, it's a school," said Marler, of the building that was once painted the same dingy yellow and brown as Zephyrhills Correctional Institution. "I was so disheartened and disappointed by what I saw."

Marler, who came to Lacoochee Elementary in 2004, set out to make major changes at the school.

Get rid of the hurricane windows with broken seals that were opaque with mold. Fix the leaky roof. Clean up the mildew that made the halls smell. Fix the lights in the library so it was bright enough for children to read.

In the past two years, parents and teachers say, the school building has experienced a major turnaround and is becoming an oasis in Lacoochee.

The children in the community need a school that's beautiful, she said. The area is poor - almost 86 percent of students there receive free or reduced price lunch, and the Pasco County Sheriff's Office stepped up patrols this summer to deal with a rise in drug- related crime.

"I'm not the type of person to sit still and not let our children here not have the same opportunities as other children in the county," she said.

Marler, 56, knows what it's like to grow up poor in Lacoochee. As a girl, she moved around a lot. Her dad worked in construction and moved to where the work was. She started to work in the fields when she was 10.

At the end of the sixth grade, she came to live with her grandmother and went to Lacoochee Elementary full time. They didn't have much. They used a wood-burning stove for cooking and for heat, and there was an outhouse out back .

Still, Marler says her childhood was full of joy. Swimming in the river, walking through the woods to get to the rodeo, rolling in fields of flowers - those are memories that she cherishes.

"We were never afraid," she said. "We knew our neighbors."

She wishes it were the same for her students now. When she was a girl, there was substance abuse in the community, but it was alcohol, not methamphetamines.

"You see the children, some of the pain they bring in from the issues," she said.

It's not unheard of to see drug deals occur in the intersections around the school, said sheriff's spokesman Doug Tobin.

"There has been a concentrated effort to take the drugs off the streets in and around that school in Lacoochee," Tobin said of the increased patrols that started this summer. "If you are dealing drugs in and around that school area, you should look in your rear view mirror, because you are going to go to jail."

This summer, violent crime from the area has made the news. In late July, Chanel Cato, 31, and her father Ponce Cato, 54, were shot at their home, but survived. Eighteen-year-old Jonaey Peyton was arrested for the crime. Also in July, two teens from Wesley Chapel, Derek Pieper, 17, and Raymond Veluz, 18, were slain on a remote Trilby road, a few miles away from Lacoochee. The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney's Office said the investigation of their deaths is still ongoing. And earlier this month, Luis Angel Rivera, 23, was arrested for the death of William Medley, 72, at his home on Franklin Drive in Lacoochee.

The community's reputation has made it tough to recruit teachers, Marler said, even though there has never been an incident at the school.

To change the community, Marler has spearheaded a community action task force. Community leaders meet regularly to brainstorm how to improve the area. And to change the school, Marler pushed for $1.3- million from the school district to make improvements. The bulk of the renovations started about a year ago, and continue today. Much of the funding came from Penny for Pasco, a 1-cent on the dollar sales tax increase to build and expand schools, improve roads, buy conservation land and pay for city projects.

"It was a mess," said Ray Gadd, the assistant superintendent for support services. "It's important to make sure your community school is not in disrepair, to get the building back up to speed as the community deserves."

Janice Wells, an instructional assistant who has worked at the school since 1994, said every change in the school - from the mold removal to the new carpets - is noticed by the students and staff.

"We are proud of our dwelling," Wells said.

Andria Hernandez, the parent involvement coordinator at Lacoochee Elementary, said that the school is the place to start to improve the entire community.

"If you make a difference in the child's life, then that will reach the family," she said.

Marler wants to keep working to make Lacoochee Elementary a place where kids feel safe and secure - to feel like an extended family.

"They have so much support here, they don't know what to do with it," she said.