This is the first entry. I am trying to track down history, stories, memorabilia, photos, documents, etc. regarding the farming community that lived Northwest of Elgin, Illinois around the Randall Road and Big Timber Road intersection. The physcial evidence of these farms is almost all gone.
I especially am interested in the Teeple School (aka, Sherman, aka Thompson school), and Almora station, as there is very little information on them. The school was located in District 35, before district were consolidated. It was, at one time, referred to as the Almora District.
While the school was in Dundee Township, records at the Dundee Historical Society indicate that people living and going to the school were considered residents of Elgin.
Scarlet Fever
In the fall and winter 1925, one year prior to the picture below, there was a Scarlet Fever epidemic in Elgin. The epidemic effected the Teeple school. For 6 weeks it had to be quarentined, with all of the students for 6 weeks in the one room. Apparently this included my Uncle Jim (Gordon), Aunt Roberta (Ree), and Aunt Adele.
Students and teacher in the 1926 Teeple School Picture posting are as follows (identified by Stewart Whittington):
- Back Row (L to R): Roberta Whittington, Don Mason, Genevieve Farrell, Mildred Whitney, Adele Whittington, Doris Kenyon, Judson Mason, Josephine Mason (Teacher).
- Front Row (L to R): Gordon Teeple, Bill Farrell, Gertrude Fink, Bob Farrell, Gordon "Jim" Whittington, Elanor Kenyon, Joe Fink, Stewart Whittington, Lorraine Mason
More coming,
Ted
