Johnnycake-Hopkins School District, Fabius Township
Fabius Township Schools, history
According to Cutler’s history, “The first school house in the township was built of logs in 1833, and stood at the edge of the woods on the south line of section 35.” As late as the 1950’s seven one-room schools under county supervision provided elementary education in the township. They were consolidated into three schools in 1953 – Lake Section, Johnny Cake, and Hopkins. The new Lake District, building, now Norton School on A.L. Jones Road, was opened in 1956. The last classes of the one-room schools graduated in May of 1956. The three consolidated elementary schools became part of the Three Rivers Community Schools in 1966. http://www.fabiustownship.org/?page_id=118
The last Johnnycake school (two rooms) was at 15464 Millard Road, Three Rivers, MI. It was opened in approximately 1953 to replace the red brick one room Johnnycake school that had to be removed for the expansion of US-131 from two to four lanes. That red brick school was located approximately where the Advance Auto Parts is at 320 US-131, Three Rivers, MI. On the east and north sides of last (two room) Johnnycake school were US Department of Agriculture grain storage buildings. The Johnnycake school building was removed in approximately 2010 for better access to the new Wal-Mart store.
Hopkins School was school district 9 of Fabius Township and on Gleason Road, Three Rivers, MI. It merged with Johnnycake school (district 1 Fabius Township) in 1959 and the resulting Johnnycake-Hopkins merged with Three Rivers schools in 1966.
Prepared by R. Peter Rice, 11 November 2015 with assistance of Bob Sills, Anita (Sills) Hagenbuch, Marshall Prange, and Rosemary (Rice) Rudd. Please provide updates to Email RiceRPFP@msn.com
Johnnycake-Hopkins Elementary School, upper grades – 1959-60
From top to bottom, left to right, with grade noted: Bob Mayer 7th, John Gleason 7th, Lynda Cunkle 7th, Mike Ely 7th, R. Peter Rice 7th, Mike Anthony 7th, Hazel Hagerman 7th, Marshall Prange 6th, Claudia (Kitty) Burpee 7th, John Manning 6th, Pam Stevens 6th, Dan Sattlemeier 5th, Connie Beal 5th, Rosemary Rice 5th, Miss Mallo, Ken Karsen 5th, Dan Manning, Jim Peirce 6th, David Hagerman 4th, Stanley Burkett 4th Note: Johnnycake and Hopkinsschool districts merged in 1959
Recorded in the September 1958 Hopkins school records and not LISTED in the photograph above: Penny Dennis 9, Vickie Hagenbuch 6, Sandra Kent 12, Denise Kent 6, Michael Kettles 10, Kathy Kettles 5, Charles Kettles 7, William Laukes 12, Allan Liby 12, Barbara Liby 7, Penny Lovejoy 6, Robert Lovejoy 9, John O’Dell 6, Lee O’Dell 9, James Perry 7, Timothy Perry 8, Jerry Raymond 10, Julies Roberts 5, Douglas Roberts 7, Donald Rumsey 6, Judy Rumsey 10, Charlene Steininger 4, and Dick Stuckey 8.
Johnnycake Elementary School, upper grades – 1958-59
From top to bottom, left to right: Rosemary Rice, Mike Dunn, Connie Beal, Bob Sills, Mike Anthony, Doug Beckle, Kathy Kroll, Audrey (Bunny) Burpee, Vickie Bethrum, Hazel Hagerman, Claudia (Kitty) Burpee, Bob Lovejoy, R. Peter Rice, Lynda Cunkle, Gary Kozik, Pam Stevens, Johnny Irwin, Jon Curtis, Jim Pierce, Marshall Prange; Teachers: Mrs. Hilma Houts and Mrs. Anna Johansen
Johnnycake Elementary School, upper grades – October 17, 1957
From top to bottom, left to right: Back Row: Doug Beckle, Mike Anthony, Tom Beal, Jim Bishop, Johnny Irwin, Jim Burkett, Gary Kozik, Paul Burkett, Mrs. Houts. Front Row: Hazel Hagerman, Jim Pierce, R. Peter Rice, Pam Stevens, Jon Curtis, Robert Lovejoy, Marshall Prange, Bob Sills
4th Grade: Jim Pierce, Pam Stevens, Marshall Prange
5th Grade: Hazel Hagerman, R. Peter Rice, Jon Curtis, Mike Anthony, Jim Bishop, Lynda Cunkle
6th Grade: Bob Sills, Gary Kozik, Paul Burkett, Doug Beckle
7th Grade: Johnny Irwin, Jim Burkett, Tom Beal
Recorded in the September-October 1957 Johnnycake school records and not LISTED in the photograph above: Linda Cunkle (age 10), Kathleen Kroll (age 10), Lawrence Kroll (age 12), and Jon Lee Snyder (age 9). Records in the April 1958 Johnnycake school records and not listed in the photograph above: Vicki Bethuram (age13), Michelle Bethuram (age 14), Laurence Kroll (age13), Kathleen Kroll (age 11), and Kay Marie Wall (age 9).
Johnnycake Elementary School, all students – May 1955
Top Row: Mike Dunlap, Teacher Mrs. Miller, Pat Dunn, Marilyn M. Reed, Johnny Irwin, Sharon Eastwood, Jo Ann Keith, Shannon Lee Reed, Gail Beckle, Teacher Mrs. Hayes; Middle Row (a bit difficult to follow): Jeff Houldsworth, Doug Beckle, Tom Beal, Richard Anthony, Ruth Hoshel, Mona Miller, Bradley Meyers, Gary Kozik, Nancy Pierce, Pam Stevens, Myrna Sills, Mike Anthony, Jimmy Bishop; Front Row: Linda Russell, Connie Beal, Susan Parker, girl unknown, Rosemary Rice, Cameron Miller, Jim Pierce, Bob Sills, Kenny Karsen, John Weatherwax, Mike Dunn, R. Peter Rice
Recorded in the September 1954 Johnnycake school records and not LISTED in the photograph above: Mary Lancastor (age 5), Teresa Lancastor (age 5), Shirley Wysong (age 11), Violet Wysong (age 9) and Bonnie Wysong age 8. Recorded in May 1955 school records and not LISTED in the photograph above: Becky Parker (age 5), Susan Parker (age 5), and Linda Russell (age 5). One of the five girls listed immediately above of age 5 is most likely the girl unknown in the front row.
At Hopkins School 1959-60
Connie Blum on Krull Rd
Christine Bullock
Garth Bullock on Drummond Rd
Sandi Cochran
Stuart Cochran
Jimmy Cocharn
Penny Dennis
Vickie Hagenbuch
Denise Kent
Sandra Kent
Charles Kettles
Kathy Kettles
Michael Kettles
William Laukes
Allan Liby
Barbara Liby
Penny Lovejoy
Robert Lovejoy
John O’Dell
Lee O’Dell
Joy Meyer on Roberts Rd
James Perry
Timothy Perry
Jerry Raymond
Douglas Roberts
Julie Roberts
Donald Rumsey
Judy Rumsey
Charlene Steininger
Dick Stuckey
At Johnnycake 1952 to 60
Mike Anthony
Richard Anthony
Connie Beal
Tom Beal
Doug Beckle
Gail Beckle
Michelle Bethuram
Vicki Bethuram
Vaughn Bethuram
Jimmy Bishop
Jim Burkett
Paul Burkett
Stanley Burkett
Audrey (Bunny) Burpee
Claudia (Kitty) Burpee
Linda Carlson
Gayle Cunkle
Lynda Cunkle
Jon Curtis
Mike Dunlap
Mike Dunn
Pat Dunn
Sharon Eastwood
Mike Ely
John Gleason
David Hagerman
Hazel Hagerman
Ruth Hoshel
Dennis Hotrum
Jeff Houldsworth
Johnny Irwin
Jim Johnson
Gordon (Bo) Karsen
Kenny Karsen
Jo Ann Keith
Gary Kozik
Lindsey Kozik
Kathleen Kroll
Lawrence Kroll
Robert Lovejoy
Dan Manning
John Manning
Bob Mayer
Bradley Meyers
Cameron Miller
Mona Miller
Susan Parker
Jim Pierce
Nancy Pierce
Marshall Prange
Carla Prange
Marilyn M. Reed
Shannon Lee Reed
Robert Peter Rice
Rosemary Rice
Linda Russell
Dan Sattlemeier
Bob Sills
Marlene Sills
Myrna Sills
Terry Smith
Timm Smith
Jon Lee Snyder
Gary Stephenson on Millard Rd.
Pam Stevens
Kay Marie Wall
John Weatherwax
Peter Wolgamood