This photograph was believed to be taken in 1898 of the Geise School in Lykens Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
The school was also known as the Gise School and was in existence for 100 years from about 1854 to 1954 when it closed and students from this part of the township began attending school in Gratz Borough.
Some of the students are holding slates with their names, or initials, and some others are holding books. The teacher, upper left corner, is Charles M. Dockey, who, according to school records, began the term in 1897. Edward Riegle, my great-grand uncle, became the teacher in 1898 and taught for one year, having also previously taught in 1895. He is definitely not in this photograph, but his younger brother Norman Riegle does appear. A numbering scheme is presented below so that readers can help or verify the students in the picture.
As previously mentioned, the teacher, #32, is Charles M. Dockey.
#25 is Norman Lester Riegle (1886-1942), my great-grand uncle.
#39 is holding a slate which has the initials “M. B. –.”
#19 is holding a slate which possibly says “J. C. Hoke.”
#20 is holding a slate which says “Daniel Snyder.”
#12 is “broken off” the photograph. If a reader has a more complete copy of this school picture, it would be greatly appreciated!
Please add identifications, both possible and definite, as comments to this post, using the number key in the second photo.