The program, for children ages kindergarten through fifth grades, gives kids the experience of a day in the life of a pioneer child. The second one-room schoolhouse program will be held this Thursday.

“We sold out both days,” said Sarah Seveine, Brown County Historical Society Program Coordinator.

Participants were encouraged to wear 1800s attire if they had the clothing, but they were also welcome to come in modern street clothes, too. The three teachers for the day–Christina Koester, Jessie Sobania, and Ann Koch–kept students on task with a typical 1800s school day created by Koester. The day began with a check-in and reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, and then they went over some chores at school.  

“Back in the 1800s in this area, many of the boys in the family would have been farming at this time of the year, but in the cold, cold winters they would have come to school,” Koester said. “We talked about how students would keep the building warm with the stove heater.”

Teachers Jessie Sobania and Christina Koester help children make butter for the “One Room School House Experience” by the Brown County Historical Society.

Christina Koester is married, but this week she’s going by Miss Koester because back in the 1800s all female teachers were unmarried.

“Once you got married you had to stop teaching and be with your family,” said Koester.

The day continued on with an abacus craft, reading, recess, an 1863 history lesson, making butter, lunch, another recess, math with the abacus, a spelling lesson, a spelling bee, quill pens, poetry, a game, and finally pick up.

What inspired modern-day children to take part in an old-fashioned school during summer vacation?

Some were inspired by their parents to attend.

Miss Christina Koester helps Maria Downing with freshly made butter bread at the one room schoolhouse experience this Tuesday afternoon.

“My mom loves old stuff,” said Genevive Jumper, “she wanted me to experience this.”

Others, like Abigale Schneider, are fans of the period. Schneider said she liked reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder books and her friends were attending the class. She was also a fan of the clothing.

“I liked wearing this dress,” she said. “I never get to wear it. My grandmother made it.”

Koester agreed with Schneider, which is why she wanted to teach the class.

“Next year, I’d like to do Hoop Rolling, if we could find a hoop,” Koester said. “It’s fun to play these prairie games.”

Christina Koester stands in front of the chalkboard in her 1800s period attire for the One Room Schoolhouse Experience presented by the Brown County Historical Society.

The Brown County Historical Society’s next history event is a spinning demonstration with JoAnn Huss, from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 28 at the Kiesling House.

Sarah Sveine, Brown County Historical Society’s Program Coordinator, and teachers, Miss Jessie Sobania and Miss Christina Koester, are pictured with their one room schoolhouse class Tuesday afternoon at the Brown County Fairgrounds.

From left to right: Abigale Schneider, Genevive Jumper, Lucille Jumper, Katherine Hoffrogge, and Sawyer Lieser enjoy lunch together at the “One Room Schoolhouse Experience” by the Brown County Historical Society.