Our thanks to our "Country Schoolmates" for sending us school photos of the "Rural Schools" they attended before coming to Holdrege to attend the "City Schools". These rural school provided class for Kindergarten thru 8th grade. Classes usually contained 10 students or less per teacher. If you have any photos you would like to have posted regarding your days attending the Rural Schools, please let us know. 

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The picture below is of the 1956-57 R5 Country School. School pictures included kids from different ages and grades. This was different from the City Schools where kids attended class according to grade levels. From this photo; Art Soderholm became a Class of 66 graduate. Dan Getty, Richard Moline, Paula Franzen,  and Nancy Geiselman became part of the Class of 67. Gerald Soderholm became part of the Class of 68.

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The picture below contains the four students of one rural school class. Not sure which rural school this was from, but we do recognize a few faces! After graduating from a rural school, the student had the choice of where they wanted to attend higher level classes. Some chose Holdrege, others chose Bertrand, Axtell or Loomis. 

Edward Nelson, Rod Johnson, Karen Seeman, Doug Davidson

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History of the Rural Schools in Phelps County. Any input you have would be appreciated.

Ragan - The Ragan Consolidated School, located 13 miles SouthEast of Holdrege, was built in 1918 with a new gymnasium built in 1953. Memories are of Picnic Days, baseball games, giant strides, and Red Rover on the playground. The last graduating class was 1962-63 with a total student enrollment of 91 students. Ragan School then  consolidated with Wilcox School, and school was torn down in 1984. Five students came to Holdrege in our class of '66: Bill Beiriger, Joyce Bryan, Bonnie McArthur, Rick Sall,  Richard Sundquist.

Ragan - 2nd Grade

Ragan - 3rd Grade

Ragan - 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade

R5 - 

R-6: Located four miles North of Holdrege on Hwy 183. Built in 1957. Picture below is of the current school. Playground equipment:: 3 swingsets, 2 merry-go-rounds, 4 teeter Totters and 2 monkey bars and a flagpole. Also has a stage, gym and kitchen. It contained 4 classrooms, building size is 72 x 126

R-7: Located one mile south of Holdrege. Built in 1956 and used until 1980 until attendance out grew the capacity. It contained 5 classrooms and the building as 64 x 121. Playground equipment; 1 see-saw, 1 monkey bar sets, 3 merrry-go-rounds, 2 swing sets and 1 flagpole. Picture below is of the building that replaced the origional school.