The fluctuation in enrollment is well illustrated by the changes from
a one to two
teacher school and back to one room again. The, rise and decline of the quarrying
industry is brought out in these changes in school population. In 1865, it
is said that
over 100 pupils attended this school in the two terms of school held yearly.
Enroll-
ment figures available in the Superintendent's office indicate that from
55 to 70 pupils
attended yearly after the one term school year was adopted. Today the enrollment
averages about 20, but this has been increased since the suspension of Cato
No. 1 in
1946. A school census now of nearly 100 pupils of school age indicates that
the paro-
chial schools at Maple Grove and Reedsville have a definite influence on
the school
enrollment at Grimms.
    Most of the early settlers were farmers. Early residents, were Jacob
Grimm,
James Cahill, William Garey, Michael Fitzgerald, M. and F. Halloran, Maurice
Noo-
nan, Mike Carney, P. R. Clasen, Tom Bennett, John Watt, Mich. Cummings, the
Shana-
hans, Murphys, Horns, and Egans. The first blacksmith shop was owned by Mr.
Clasen,
the first elevator by Mr. Conway, and the first postoffice in the present
Ed. Welch
home with Mike Driscoll the first postmaster. Teacher families in the district
were
the Cummings, Welches, Haydens, O'Connells, Cahills, and Logans.
    During the first years of this school, the voters voted three or four
month winter
and summer terms. In 1855, on motion of an elector, the clerk was voted the
sum of
$5 yearly for his services. By 1864, he received $10, while the other two
members re-
ceived $2 yearly. Some prominent board members prior to 1906 were Mich. Fitzgerald,
Jacob Grimm, John O'Halloran, P. J. Hauch, Wmi. Cahill, Hugh Halloran, Louis
Grimm, Edmund Welch, Patrick Cahill.
    The district at first had male teachers for the winter months and female
teachers
in summer. The first teacher was Emma Watts for the winter of 1854 and Harriet
Soper for the summer term of 1855. Their salaries were $12 and $8 per month
re-
spectively. The teachers boarded around in the district. Other teachers before
1872
were Alex Harris, Mary Hebert, Mary Bennett, Mary A. Murphy, and John Nagle
who later became county superintendent. Mr. Nagle. taught at Grimms in 1867
for
$129 for a three month 'term. Teachers names on record from 1872 to 1906
are T. L.
Cleary, John Lyons, Wm. Nelson, Agnes Classon, Walter Fitzmaurice, James
Cahill,
Winifred Meany, Maggie Mullins, Lizzie Meany, and Lizzie Halloran.
    iThe school has always served as a community center. Spelling matches,
declama-
tory contests, debates, programs, and parties were held. In more recent years
the
extra room has been used to hold card parties, Homemakers' meetings, and
First Aid
classes. The district has the unique distinction of having a record of every
annual
meeting held since 1854, a period of 94 years. The clerk's record book was
used con-
tinuously for 76 years.
    The village of Grimms was named in honor of Jacob Grimm, one of the early
settlers. The railroad was built through the village in the later 1800's.
Soon after


27


rude log school served the district until 1863 when it was destroyed by fire.
For
next two years the district children attended neighboring schools. The district
ng this time raised $100 yearly for tuition.
Agitation for a new school resulted in the erection of a building in 1866
for school
oses. The present site was chosen. The second school was of frame construction
was used for only two years because it lacked sufficient rooms to house the
in-
sing enrollment. A part of that building is still used today as a woodshed
on the
ol property.
In 1869, a new frame structure was built by contractor Michael Murphy. He
was
hired to plaster the school and to repair the old seats. The lumber was purchased
n Joseph Fitzgerald for $13 per M. The board members at that time were clerk
e Fitzgerald, treasurer Pat Meaney, and director Wm. Amsten. The school,
cost-
about $500, is still in use today although it has been remodeled and repaired
as
years passed. At first it was a long building with windows on three sides.
The
iture and equipment were at first crude and limited. Double desks and seats
re-
ed the homemade ones used at first. These were later replaced with the present
le, adjustable seats and desks. Today the school is fairly well equipped,
has elec-
lights, but lacks the modern conveniences of basement furnace, a basement,
in-
* lavatories, and running water.
Due to the increased enrollment caused by the expansion of the lime industry
at
nms, this school became graded in 1908. The old school was then partitioned
into
rooms and a new entrance was constructed on the east side of the building
so
the pupils could enter either the primary or the upper grade room. In 1919,
the
ol reverted to a one room type, but in 1923, it again became a two department
rol until 1925. Again in 1930, the enrollment rose to such a figure that
the opera-
of two rooms was necessary for one year. Since that time, it has remained
a one
artment school.