The Journal is in receipt of the following interesting letter from Miss Florence Allyn, a former Lopez island school teacher. The letter is self-explanatory:
Fifty years ago, April 1, 1897, I began my work as a teacher at Lake Balantine, Minnesota. I remember well, the first day of school. I had sardines with my lunch. One little fellow promptly announced (Jay Mullen) that “teacher was eating dead minnow,” and so through the years I have shared the joys and sorrows of the 1,500 children in the communities in which I taught. I heard about the quarrels in the houses, the new babies, the pets that were killed, even one little fellow announced that he was sick and in trying to find out what was the trouble, he was sure he was going to have kittens as he had a stomach ache.
The mothers, many brought their domestic problems, sweethearts confided their secrets, visiting in the homes, found many an answer to why children did not get along in their work, sleeping in the cold, clammy spare rooms, but did rebel when a boiled egg was served after the mother hen had set on it for about two weeks. Working in the church and Sunday Schools, trying in every way possible to make good citizens of my charges. Yes, in retrospect these are happy memories.
Now as I look back, I feel that I would be made very happy if I could hear from all that can be reached, telling me of their lives and of their schoolmates as the first week of April rolls around.
I taught on Lopez from 1901 to 1905 and am out of contact with all Lopez, but would be delighted to hear from any of my former pupils.
Following is a list of my Lopez island pupils:
LOPEZ 1901-1904 Pearl Butler Earl Butler Eva Rhodes Nettie Litchenberg Regina Davies Roland Davies Ada Kent Charity Kent Tot Biggs Alma Biggs Nellie Blake Roy Blake Lillie Blake Eva Snyder Roy Snyder Bert Snyder Ruth Snyder Sylvia Muscott Sarah McNallie Dutton McNallie Willie McNallie Elinor McNallie Harold McNallie Lloyd McNallie Earl Shirley Bessie Larabee Hallie Larabee Chas. Graham Lillian Andrews John Coffin Stella Groll Wallace Craig Luella Craig Eva Thornton Marion Johnson Cyrus Johnson Edna Snow Ethel Bruns Edgar Orcutt Leslie Orcutt Stephen Orcutt Minerva Orcutt Pearl Orcutt Elmer Long Erma Long Ina Long Neva Long Doris King RICHARDSON 1904-1905 Mary Graham Freda Graham Elmer Graham Mary Oliver Leora Oliver Wallace Burt Rita Hodgson Gertrude Hodgson Frank Hodgson Hazel Wilson Grace Wilson Sebastan Downie Margaret Downie Victor Downie Gene Butts Howard Keeley Addie Dwight May Higgins Corine Buchanan Cora Buchanan Gertrude Towell John King Aubry King Walter Gallanger George Gallanger Sadie Gallanger Bessie Gallanger Otho Stevens
Although I am not in active teaching now, I am interested in all. My home address is Florence Allyn, Monroe, Washington.