Fifth-grade class in Bellefontaine, Ohio (1906)

Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.
—George Washington

On February 21, 1906, an unknown photographer created this time capsule of the inside of a fifth-grade classroom.  The photo is mounted on a card, on the back of which is a note: “Leighton’s First School, Bellefontaine, O.”  The writer first wrote “Fountain City, Ind.,” but crossed it out.

 

At upper left on the chalk board on the left side of the room is the following: “Fifth Grade, East Building, Feb. 21, 1906.”  Below and to the right, on the same board, are three math problems with names of students in neat script next to them: Harold Huston, Cornelia Fulton, and Zolabelle.

On the right side of the room is another chalk board with the following:

       Great Men of February
George Washington Feb. 22, 1732.
Abraham Lincoln Feb. 12, 1809.
Henry W. Longfellow Feb. 27, 1807.
James Russell Lowell Feb. 22, 1819.

Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.
George Washington

With malice toward none with charity for all.
Abraham Lincoln

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime.
H. W. Longfellow

The Holy Supper is kept indeed
In whatso we share with another’s need.
James R. Lowell

I’ve added high-resolution scans at the end of the post, but here are some detail images of the kids and their teachers:

Was the little girl in the sailor’s outfit trying to tell us something by pointing to her forehead?

Feel free to click on either half of the photo below to see it in greater detail:

 

 

OK everyone, time for recess!  Hope you’ve enjoyed this quick trip to Ohio.  Come back and visit anytime.