Jerome, MI

In 1869 the planned Detroit, Hillsdale and Indiana Railway right-of-way passed over two pieces of vacant land on the western edge of Somerset Township. One piece belonged to Jerome Smith and the other to Mary Begel. Filled with ambition as a result of the importance of railroads at that time, the two planned the village of Jerome so that it straddled their properties and the right-of-way. Then the railroad established its Jerome station before the plat for the village was even filed.

The Carpenter  Hotel in Jerome.

From the left are Lester, Catherine, Mildred and Geraldine Carpenter and Hilda Haltom. The man at the far right is Ira Wertenberger, who lived at the hotel for three years while he was the teaching Superintendent of the Jerome Public Schools.

Larry Groom attended the Jerome Schools from grades 1 to 5, 1952 to 1957. He went to kindergarten at North Adams and finished grades 6-12 at North Adams. He has vivid memories of his time at this building. He was in Mrs. Barnes class for first grade, Mrs. Moorehead’s for second grade, Mrs. Duncan’s for third grade and with Mr. Porter for combined fourth and fifth grade. Larry remembers the use of old boards to slide down the snow-covered slope in back of what used to be the baseball field. In the summer it once again became the baseball field for the boys. The playground, which was just outside the lunchroom, where a hot lunch program existed. Growing boys often felt the need to supplement what was provided for them. During the fall and spring months Donald Lindsey, Ronnie Miller, Jim Stevenson, Bill Vincent and Larry would use part of their hour lunch period to walk through the vacant land behind the school to Waldron’s Grocery Store. There they could buy big pretzel sticks for one penny each. Sodas were around 10 or 15 cents and Hostess Cupcakes or Twinkies were an occasional treat.

Most of the students came from farming families, so the odor of cow manure on shoes was pervasive. Despite vigorous (and sometimes desperate) pleas from the teachers that the students clean their shoes before entering the school, the perfume of manure became part of school life.

The lunch room was the safest place for the students if a tornado hit. The drills were orderly, with the students quietly and quickly taking the stairs to it under teacher guidance. Fortunately, the devastating tornados in 1965 occurred when school wasn’t in session. (CLICK HERE to read about that awful day.)

In third grade there were only about 15 students, and in the combined fourth and fifth grade there were about 30 students. Larry and his buddies took advantage of their fifth grade teacher, Mr. Porter, who occasionally dozed off after making a work assignment to the class. The heat probably contributed to his sleepiness, but it also affected the kids. Mr. Porter’s nap opened the possibility of a group of both boys and girls escaping through the large window to the cooler outside. They boldly returned through the front door. Suzanne Alley and Bonnie Mercer may have been among the girls in this intrepid gang.

The role of the teacher and of behavior expectations were more assertive when Larry Groom attended school in the 1950s and 1960s. Larry remembers Mrs. Duncan, who was NOT one of his favorites because of the volume of homework she assigned. In retrospect, Larry appreciates her approach. She presented excellent explanations before assigning work and was strict in her discipline. Teachers generally didn’t accept bad behavior. Larry never saw a teacher strike a student, which, at that time, happened. He did observe a teacher gently pinch the ear of a misbehaving student in her class to emphasize her correction. Teachers were quick to put a stop to any bullying by a student. Parents were contacted and the threat of expulsion.

Thanks to Larry Groom for these memories.

JoAnne P. Miller

The Jerome Post Office and Rural Free Delivery mail wagons, c. 1913 (left). The rest of the building housed the H.S. Walworth store, which offered furniture, carpet, rugs and crockery.

The Jerome Creamery Company (right) started business in 1899 and was able to pay a 10% dividend by the end of their second year. Distribution of their product by train was important to their success. The East Michigan Asylum in Pontiac was a regular customer in 1900.

Carol A. Lackey