The first school in Salem Township was held in the home of Mathew Harbord one mile west of Coffey, MO, and was taught by Dr. Watts, a Maine Yankee. The first public school in Coffey was located in a wooden building on the lot which is now (1956) used as a city park. Dr. Watts was the first teacher. William G. Welden was also one of the early teachers in this school. Later, this school building was used as a blacksmith shop.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
Find out how to advertise here - Email us! [email protected]
The next school building in Coffey was a 2-story frame structure built in 1882 on the present school site. This building was later purchased by Jim Everly, was moved across the street to be reused for grainary.
The first brick school building was constructed in 1900. It contained four rooms. In 1915, a 2-room addition was built onto the south.
The first school housed only the grade school, as a high school was not added until 1894, this consisting of only a 2-year course of studies. The first graduating class was in 1896, comprised by Guy Welden, Robert Long, Claude Cline, and John Adams. There were only two teachers in the whole school at that time, Isac Vogelgesang being in high school and Mrs. Ollie Hamaker Siple in the grades. In 1916 the Coffey School became a first-class school, hiring three teachers in high school to offer a 4-year course of studies. Mr. R.D. Shouse was superintendent. Mr. Goodbar and Miss May Pilkington were teachers.
In 1932 indoor toilets were added to the brick structure. This addition called for the drilling of a deep well which was completed in 1936.
In 1937 a bond issue was voted for the construction of a gymnasium, library, and commerce room. The building was completed in 1938 as Public Works Administration (WPQ) project.
In April, 1951, the Coffey School District and seven rural schools voted to reorganize into the Coffey R-1 School District.
In 1954 an industrial arts shop, two classrooms, a heating plant, and an office were added. It was not necessary to vote a bond for the construction of this addition. A grant of $25,000 was received from the state.
Many high school organizations, athletic teams, bands, and vocal groups brought honor and distinction to the Coffey School and town.
In 1924, the Coffey boys’ and girls’ basketball teams won the Daviess County Tournament. The girls’ track team took first that same year. In 1941, 1942, and 1943 the Coffey boys won the county basketball conference. In 1948, 1949 and 1950 the boys’ basketball team was again successful in winning the conference. In 1924 and again in 1954, both boys’ and girls’ basketball teams won the conference tournament. The team achieving greatest fame was the 1950 undefeated boys’ basketball team (32-0) which lost only to Ozark, the eventual winner of the state tournament championship.
Superintendents of the Coffey School through the years include the following: I.J. Vogelgesang 1894-97; J.W. Dougherty 1897-99; A.R Maffit 1899-1901; W.E. Land 1901-03; Frank Nance 1903-05; I.M. Horn 1905-07; Tom Pugh, 19-7-09; Miss Ola Geno 1909-11; Raymond Watson 1911-12; J. Padgett 1912-13; J.H. Francisco 1913-15; R.D. Shouse 1915-17; J.E. Marsh 1917-18; Miss May Pilkington 1918-19; J.L. Gallatin 1919-20; W.B. Sprout 1920-21; J.B. Tate 1921-23; Harvey McKemey 1923-27; Fred Boyd 1927-28; Vesper Gaines 1928-29; O.C. Tower 1929-33; J. Don Miller 1933-36; and Wayne Howard 1936-present (1956).
Source: Coffey Centennial 1956-1956 book, page 23; Walsworth Publishing Company
This rendering describes the Coffey School in 1882.
This is the Coffey (MO) school in 1900.
This is the Coffey (MO) school in 1915.
This is the Coffey (MO) school in 1938.
This is the Coffey (MO) school in 1954.
Wayne Howard served as superintendent of Coffey School beginning in 1936 and was in office at Coffey celebrated its Centennial in 1956.
Seniors attending Coffey High School in 1956: front row — Doris Pugh, Carol O’Dell, Gerald Holcomb, Zoe Stitt, Darwin Kampman, Georgia Butcher, LaDonna Lierly; back row — Stephen Knott, Gary Holcomb, Buddy Hyde, Norman O’Hare, Superintendent Wayne Howard, Kent Holcomb. Not shown is Gerald Bennum.
The 1949-50 Coffey High School championship basketball team members are, back row from left — Charles Shaw, John Baumgardner, Coach Wayne Howard, Byron Foster and Ronnie Youngs; front row — Dale White, Donald Butcher and Jim Stitt. The trophy is from the Savannah Tournament.
This photo of Freeport School was taken in 1888. Front row — McWilliams, John Ellis, John Gotschall, Omer Conaway, Emma Welsh, Belle Benham Rice, McWilliams, Owen Gotschall, Tabor Gotschall, Jacky Bowman, Scott Welsh, Belle Summers Butler, and Laura Benham Vandivert; second row — John Davis, Charley Yost, Harvey Benham, Earl Brodbeck, Tom Summers, Will Conaway, Elmer Read, Nova Ellis, the teacher Mr. McWilliams, Omer Read, Joe Summers, Lona Benham Miller, Cora Brodbeck Pugh, Iva Brodbeck, Cora Tague, May Brodbeck, Margie Bennum, Essie Dutro Auldridge, and Elsie Dutro Turner.
This photo of Feurt School in Daviess County, MO, was taken in 1914 during a school picnic. Front row — Gabe Glaze (holding Edra Keplar and Garland Glaze), Glenn Glaze, George Glaze, Virgil Elmore, Lowell Waters, Kermit Feurt; second row — George Keplar, Beatrice McNeely, Katherine Keplar (seated), Mrs. Jane Blair, Virgil O’Hare, Meadows Feurt, Lawrence Waters, Robert Waters, unknown; third row — Retha Ward, Alice Keplar, Marie Mason, Wlter O’Hare, Ellen McNeely, Eliza Davis, Elizabeth Waters, Guy McNeely; fourth row — John N. Waters, Alice Salmon, Ercel Waters, Mrs. Davi Waters, Mrs. Ed Keplar, Mrs. James Dickerson, Erma Herald, Audrey Kroschen, Roy Miles, Caleb Johnson; back row — Elwood O’Hare, Davis Waters, Joseph Vogel, Mrs. Rochel Egbert, Mrs. Joseph Vogel, Mrs. Hugh O’Hare, Henry Feurt, George McNeely, Ed Keplar, Mrs. Elwood O’Hare, Mrs. Gabe Glaze, Charles Whetstone, Mrs. Henry Feurt, Ruth Watson, Mrs. Charles Whetstone.
