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Glen Carbon in Madison County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
 

Schools

 
 
Schools Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 22, 2021
1. Schools Marker
Inscription.
First Peter's Station School, built about 1814 (later known as the Smola School.) When this photograph was taken the building was being razed and the chimney had already been torn down. Thomas Shashek's mother and father both attended this school.

William Smola erected a brick schoolhouse at Peters in 1913. Today this building serves as a residence on Route 157 near Peters. There is a cornerstone on this building which reads "Erected 1913," Directors: J.F. Dickman, L. Gerbig, William Maack. First lady voters in Districk No. 82: Laura Cook, Anna Dickman, Rosie Yungert, Lizzie Schlueter, Anna Straub.

Old Smola School Parade 1906
Photographed in Edwardsville, IL., across from Bohemian Hall, Sokel Lodge.

In the wagon, back row: Fred Kruse, Jess Cook, Louis Gerbig, Theo Goneman

Second row: Gladys Steigemeier, George Steigemeier, Rose Smola, Eugene Lee, Emma Kruse, Mary Smola, Dora Kruse, John Lee, Arthur Gerbig

Third Row: Teacher Florence Hobson, Lorn Force, Bill Dickman, May Schuleter, Alice Dickman, Florence Cook, Minnie Gronemeyer, Carrie Cook, Mary Kline, Hulda Gerbig Schon, Doyl Cook, Edward Lee, Olie Schleuter

Front row: Iona Amen, Russell Lee, Verna Henry, Carl Schlueter, Charles Klein, Lena Kruse, Della Henry, Ethelyn Straub, Irene Kline, Lena Kruse, Della Henry, Ethelyn Straub, Irene Kline, Louise Gerbig, Stella Dickman, John Dickman

Horses: Poney and Bet

William Smola erected a brick schoolhouse at Peters in 1913. Today this building serves as a residence on Route 157 near Peters. There is a cornerstone on this building which reads "Erected 1913. Directors J.F. Dickman, L. Gerbig, William Maack. First lady voters in District No. 82: Laura Cook, Anna Dickman, Rosie Yungert, Lizzie Schlueter, Anna Straub."

Smola School (Peter Station
Records reveal that as of January 1, 1892, the teacher was Mr. Miller, and he had 76 pupils. Records reveal that G.W. Mead taught school there in 1892 and Allen Oberlin was school master in 1894.

First Row: (Boys kneeling) 2nd from right, Herman Munzert, (Father of Lester Munzert); 7th from right Charles Shashek (Thomas's brother)

Second Row: (Girls sitting) left to right: #1 Barbara Berdick, #2 her cousin, #3 Angela Shashek, #4 Pauline Shashek (note these sisters are wearing handsome dresses from the same bolt of cloth and two other little girls pictured with the same dress must also be sisters) #5 Jennie Kratz Purtle (Dale Purtle's Mother)

Back Row: #7 from right, Grandma Durham (Rolla's mother), #6 from right is Grandma Durlan's cousin (Sally or Mamie ? Klein) who marked Charles Birger and both later divorced and remarried. #4 from right "The Nekola girl who married Munzert."

The above information was provided verbally by Thomas Shashek, brother of two of the girls pictured, to the best of his recollection.
 
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This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Civil RightsEducationWomen. A significant historical date for this entry is January 1, 1892.
 
Location. 38° 44.923′ N, 89° 58.985′ W. Marker is in Glen Carbon, Illinois, in Madison County. It is at the intersection of Collinsville Street and South Main Street, on the right when traveling north on Collinsville Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 192 S Main St, Glen Carbon IL 62034, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater St. Louis. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: People (here, next to this marker); Coal Mining in Glen (here, next to this marker); Industry (here, next to this marker); a different marker
Historic Glen Carbon Photo Displays image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 22, 2021
2. Historic Glen Carbon Photo Displays
also named People (here, next to this marker); Glen Carbon Volunteer Fire Department (here, next to this marker); Industry and Notable Buildings (here, next to this marker); Baseball (here, next to this marker); Village Government 1912 (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Glen Carbon.
 
Additional nearby plaque image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), March 22, 2021
3. Additional nearby plaque
This plaque shares photos, years and names of some graduating classes.
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on March 28, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 409 times since then and 23 times this year. Photos:   1. submitted on March 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.   2. submitted on March 27, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.   3. submitted on March 28, 2021, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
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Jul. 10, 2026