The Geise School, or Gise School as it was also known, was in existence in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, from about 1854 to 1954, but not necessarily housed in the brick building that was its final home. After the township closed all its one room school houses, the pupils attended school in Gratz Borough in the new elementary school that was built there.
The photograph shown above was taken about 1958, a few years after the school closed, but before the building was converted into a private residence, which it still is today (image below from Google Maps, street view, 2013).
A list of teachers of the Geise School has been found, but there are many gaps.
1854-1856. The first teacher was possibly Joseph D. Gise (1834-1908). After teaching here, he served for at least 14 more years in the Lykens Township schools. He was a Civil War veteran and is buried at the Gratz Union (Simeon’s) Cemetery.
1857-1883. Not known.
1884. Milton Ely Buffington.
1885. Charles Lubold.
1886. Frank P. Ferree. Also taught in 1889.
1887-1888. Not known.
1889. Frank P. Ferree.
1890. M. L. Williard.
1891. E. L. Dockey.
1892-1894. Not known.
1895. Edward Riegle, my great-grand uncle. He may have been the first Normal School graduate to teach at the Geise School. It is believed that he also taught for several other years during the time when it is stated that the teacher is “not known.”
1896. Henry Williard (also found in some records as Henry Willier).
1897. Charles Dockey.
1898. Edward Riegle (see above, 1895)
1899. Jonas Kissinger. Possibly his name was Joseph A. Kissinger.
1900. Perry F. Brosius. Later became a clergyman.
1901. John Keener Jr.
1902-1905. Joseph A. Ferree.
1906. Rebecca H. Thompson. Possibly the first woman to teach at this school.
1907. Anna A. Schoffstall. In addition, she taught at this school for several more years (see below, including as late as 1950).
1908. Milton Schoffstall.
1909. Not known.
1910. Anna A. Schoffstall.
1911. Warren Matter. Also taught in two more years (see below)
1912. Daniel Koppenhaver.
1913-1915. Anna A. Schoffstall.
1916-1917. Warren Matter.
1918-1929. Henry E. Wenrich (1888-1962). He is credited with the longest term of service at the Geise School. After 1929, he taught elsewhere, but returned to the Geise School for the 1937-1938 years (see below). He was the only teacher of Kathryn [Dietrich] Gasbarro, who attended the Geise School from about 1920 to 1928. When she graduated, his recommendation was that she apply for admission to the four-year high school at Lykens. She took the required test, passed, and was accepted, and became the first female graduate of the Geise School to be accepted at a four-year high school. She graduated from Lykens High School in 1932 at the age of 17.
1930-1931. Clayton Willier (found in some records as Clayton Williard). Returned to teach in 1934 (see below).
1932-1933. Not known.
1934. Clayton Willier.
1935. Harry Unger.
1936. Arlene Klinger.
1937-1938. Henry E. Wenrich (see notes above, 1918-1929).
1939-1947. Not known.
1948-1949. John H. Lenker (see below, returned in 1952).
1950. Anna A. Schoffstall.
1951. Not known.
1952. John H. Lenker.
1953. Not known.
1954. Mrs. Heisler.
Help is requested from readers to fill in the missing years and make corrections and annotations. Please add information as comments to this blog post.
Also, Geise School pictures are sought for those years where they have not been posted here.. Scans should be sent as e-mail attachments with permission to post on this site. If possible, please identify the year of the picture and any known persons.