July 5, 2000
POLO HIGH SCHOOL
TRANSFORMED FROM CLASSROOMS TO COOK'S ROOMS
JoAnn Schaefers
When the buzzer
rings at the first Polo High School it will not be calling students back to class, it will
be summoning the cook to the kitchen. A kitchen that holds many memories for former Polo
students who attended classes in the building from 1928-1988.
Yes, the old high
school building in Polo is no longer locked and unused. At the turn of the century the
former Home Ec and Science room has been transformed into Cheryl's kitchen. The school's
spacious rooms allow ample space for "Cheryl's Catering Service" to produce
and/or experiment with recipes to feed crowds large and small. The transformation is
gradually taking place to give an exciting new lease on life to the 80 year old building,
purchased by Fred and Cheryl Schaefers in April 2000, from the Polo School District.
ORIGIN OF POLO HIGH
SCHOOL
In the 1920s the
large families in the area and boarder students who were attending the St. Liborius
parochial elementary school, would have to go elsewhere for their secondary education.
Father Pothman, OMI, resident priest at the time and the parishioners decided it was
important to be able to educate these children in Polo.
A one-room rural
schoolhouse was moved in 1928 from 3 miles south and 1/2 mile east of Polo to its present
location east of the parish complex. The first year the 9th grade students were taught.
The second year a small typing room was built on the northwest corner and another
classroom added enabling the 10th grade students to attend classes. The third year
students enrolled in 1930 and the fourth year in 1931. Because the school was not
accredited from 1931-37, students finished high school in Miller or some went to
seminaries run by the Oblate Priests who served Polo from 1918-1979.
A brief 1940 outline
by Father Pothman states, "Fairview High School dormitory is located nine and one
half miles southwest of Orient and 24 miles northwest of Miller. The building (enlarged
St. Liborius church/convent/grade school/boarding facilities) was constructed in 1923 at
the cost of $30,000. The name of the community served by the dormitory is Polo. Pupils
from the vicinity of six to fifteen miles around avail themselves of the facilities
offered by the dormitory. The pupils have comfortable living quarters, nourishing meals
and suitable places for study outside of the regular school hours, as well as access to
the high school library."
There was a slight
dispute when the Benedictine Sisters took complete charge of the high school in 1933. The
following ruling was from Attorney General J.F. Hines, dated August 13, 1936.
"It is my
opinion that the employment of Catholic Sisters as teachers in a public school under the
circumstances set forth in the inquiry submitted by you does not violate the constitution
or statutory provisions of this state, and such a township high school is entitled to the
same accreditment and apportionment as other public township high schools."
Correspondence
records an agreement with the Benedictine Community in Yankton for the teachers (Sisters)
in high school to donate half of their salaries to the parish to pay for elementary
teaching Sisters salaries and other expenses. The agreement was modified in 1942 when
economic conditions of the parishioners improved.
Because Polo is
located in Fairview Township the school was "Fairview High School" from 1928
until 1973 when the new high school was built (necessitated by the 133 students in grade
school and 72 in high school in 1973). The first lay superintendent, Mr. August Wermers,
came to Polo in 1959 and remained until 1973. Lay teachers staffed the school after 1959
except for chorus music taught by the Sisters. Last boarder students 1959.
RECORDED FIRSTS AND
FACTS OF POLO SCHOOL HISTORY
The first high
school students in 1928 were: Minnie Sprenger, Lucille Coss, Margaret Coss, Clara Donlin,
Alta Daw, Helen Muehl, Monica Parkers, Joe Kramps, Ray Ortmeier, Carl Schaefer, Hilarius
Schaefers, Lawrence Brueggeman and Alphone Hardes.
The first Seniors
from the four-year accredited school were Mary Ortmeier, Leonard Schaefer, Marguerite
Schaefer and Dorine Schaefers. The first school board officials were George Lechtenberg,
F.X. Schaefer and A.G. Schaefers.
The addition of the
high school brought other events to the community. The Fairview Sunbeams 4-H club was
organized, the first Junior-Senior Banquet was held and the 1939 Seniors purchased caps
and gowns. Last PHS seniors 1990.
There were two
intramural basketball teams started in 1939-40 with coach Semmers, called the "Teddy
Bears and Polo Bears". The same year a volleyball court was set up. Dominic Wieseler
remembers details of Polo's first baseball teams that began a lifetime of avid baseball
players and fans from Polo. A pool table was purchased from J.B. Miller, who owned and
operated the Polo Store and put in the basement of the high school.
Extra curricular
activities for Fairview school included: four editions of the first school paper in 1940,
the "Polo Chimes," and 48 copies of the first school annual in 1940 cost $1.00
each. A school carnival was first held November 1941.
The 1940s Polo High
School orchestra consisted of Eileen Miller, Madlyn Schaefer, Verlin Kolda, Genevieve
Schaefers, Bernard Haneke, Kathleen Schaefers, Lucy Haneke, Rita Oligmueller, Richard
Ortmeier and Donald Schaefers.
Tributes to teachers
and good study ethics are interspersed with the normal antics of youth when former
students talk about their alma mater. Memories of the days when driving to school meant
picking up as many families along the way as possible to squeeze into an old model A or
model T or into the newer cars from each decade of the 90s.
Polo families have
always provided their own transportation to school enabling them to save on school
district expenses. That in itself brings out lots of remember whens as former students get
together and it raises the eyebrows of their parents hearing the tales years later.
Kindergarten was
taught in the old school in the 1970s as well as the Title Programs. The 7th and 8th grade
students moved to the old high school when they became part of the public school district.
GIVING THE OLD
SCHOOL A NEW FUTURE
Fred and Cheryl
Schaefers decision to purchase the old school house was a dream come true. Necessity yes,
but also "I had always felt there should be some way the buildings in Polo could be
utilized," Cheryl said. The old school was the answer because she needed a kitchen to
use for her increased catering demands. She operates the sale barn restaurants in Miller
and Ft. Pierre and caters for weddings, special events, school reunions and etc.
The most enjoyable
part of the transition has been hearing the memories of all who came to pick out books,
desks, uniforms and etc., that were being stored in the unused building the past 12 years.
"It's so much fun to see the expressions of students and parents finding their names
in books they had, or their numbers on sports uniforms and cheerleading outfits.
Fred and Cheryl were
amazed at the good condition of the building and how remodeling can make it so convenient
and accommodating. The old classrooms, bathrooms, superintendent's office and hallway are
bright and alive with colorful decor in keeping with the rural schoolhouse theme. After
installing a shower and room dividers there will even be a place for private meals apart
from the catering rooms. Each week's progress is exciting, thanks to the helping hands
from her mother, Helen Peterson, sister Janet Martinmaas and their children.
The project is a
continuation of several traditions. Fred's mother, Helen Schaefers attended classes in the
building as did his brothers and sisters and his children are in school in Polo now. Also
Helen helped start the school lunch in Polo and now her daughter-in-law is cooking from
Polo.
Things just fell in
place for the Schaefers as they were able to acquire cupboards and butcher block flooring
that works great for counters and tables. She had several of the big appliance items,
utensils and dishes from operating the Orient Cafe from 1993-2000 and her previous
catering from there. The east side of the science room windows were enclosed and east
entrance steps and landing enlarged. The paint is purchased for the outside but first the
rollers and brushes had to be applied to the interior.
Instead of producing
citizens nourished with knowledge and education to go into the world, Cheryl's Catering
will be producing nourishment for the citizens who have advanced from their school years
of books and assignments, to the world of jobs and commitments.
They say old
soldiers never die — sometimes old buildings can be kept from fading away and bring
renewed joy to the community. In the meantime nostalgia reigns as former students look
forward to seeing their Polo High classrooms from the 1940-80s.
Certification is in
place and arrangements can be made with "Cheryl's Catering" for a variety of
accommodations, by calling 605-392-2399 . You won't get the school secretary or a teacher
but someone will have a cheery hello from the kitchen at "Cheryl's" in the
original Polo High School. | 
