Glenwood School was a one room school house on land donated by Gabriel and Jeanette Zimmerman. The first day of school was on July 5th, 1890. Most of the equipment was brought from home or supplied by the teacher. There were 57 children enrolled at the school, but only 16 attended on an average day. The girls were dressed in simple dresses or skirts wore below the knee. They would wear their hair tightly braided. Boys wore white cotton collared shirts with dungarees.
In 1914 it was decided a second room was needed so one was built. All of the community came together to help. Only the basic equipment was available in the classroom, which was a blackboard, a dictionary and desks with benches that were nailed to the floor. The boys still wore basic dungarees or overalls with a cotton shirt. Girls dressed in simple dresses with a puffed cap sleeve. Hemlines were to the knee. The teachers were strict when it came to classroom behavior. Students treated all adults and each other with respect and kindness.
The school was still heated by a wood stove. One was located in each classroom. The teachers were responsible for starting the fires each morning and keeping it going throughout the day. Each teacher had one of the big boys who she paid to bring in wood for her. The teacher was also responsible for keeping the school clean by being their own janitor. There still was no plumbing inside the school except for the large cold water sink located on the front porch. Later there was a small building built to house the lavatories. In 1932 the Glenwood teacher was paid $85.00 per month for a nine month school year.
The west wing of the new Glenwood School was built in 1956. The younger grades were held in the new building, the 7th and 8th grade were still at the old two room building. The rooms at the new site were 864 sq. ft. there was also an office area. In the 1960's an east wing was built along with a gym and kitchen area. Girls still wore dresses and boys wore jeans and crew neck t-shirts.
Glenwood got carpet, sidewalks, and a library. The boys still wore T-shirts, sweaters, and jeans. Girls wore jumpers, skirts, dresses, and sweaters. Present What's it like to be at Glenwood? The teachers are not that strict. There is a gym, music room, lunch room, lots of classrooms. Glenwood has whiteboards instead of blackboards, lots of books, bathrooms, playground, plastic desks and chairs. Girls wear everything from shorts and T-shirts to very nice dresses. Boys wear shorts or jeans with T-shirts, flannel shirts, and sweatshirts. We are very lucky because teachers are very nice and are really imaginative when it comes to different ways to teach us.