The Three R's in One Room

The Three R's in One Room. Ozark National Scenic Riverways. , Storys Creek School was built in 1896 approximately four miles northwest of Eminence. In the early 20th century about 25 students were schooled at Storys Creek. Sitting in double desks, students from first through eighth grades learned alongside one another. The school was consolidated with Eminence in 1957., There were approximately 88 one-room schools in Shannon County at one time. One of the first was right here in the community of Alley. It was a log structure believed to have been built in the 1880s. The second school at Alley was a clapboard building similar to Storys Creek School. The third Alley school stood down the road from the present-day General Store Visitor Center. It was a two-room stone building that served hot lunches and provided two years of high school., The main subjects in these one-room schoolhouses were the three R's Reading, 'Riting and 'Rithmetic. Schools were often the center of social activity in the community. Spelling bees, ciphering matches, ball games, and pie suppers were activities eagerly anticipated by the entire community. Schools were commonly used for church services, campaign speeches, and polling places as well., Storys Creek School was donated to Ozark National Scenic Riverways by Mrs. Edria (Smith) Staples and moved to this location in 1971. Visitor fees are used for preserving historic and cultural resources such as Storys Creek School and Alley Mill.