The Naming of Sylvia Enarson Elementary School

Who was this Sylvia Enarson that had an elementary school named after her?

Don Patton, a staff writter for the Nonpareil and a VHS alumnus, wrote the following in the Council Bluffs NonPareil in December 1960. "When a name was being sought for the new [elementary school] building, Miss Enarson suggested George Washington School since the town already had an Abraham Lincoln School.
"But her pupils - present as well as past - took up the suggestion of little Kris Gidley that it be named after her teacher."
Patton also wrote, "She could bawl you out with a stern look; humor you into getting your work done even though you disliked it and was as gentle and understanding as any mother."

Sylvia was a teacher and school administrator. A VHS 1916 graduate, she started her teaching career in a rural school near Stanton. She taught in the Villisca grade school and junior high school from 1921 to 1940. For six years, she was in the grocery business with her brother Don. She was drafted back to the classroom in 1946 and remained there until retirement. In addition to teaching she served as both an assistant principal and a principal. She taught her pupils the difference between the words "principal" and "principle" by pointing out to them that the principal was their "pal".

An unnamed former student was quoted as summing up the community's feeling toward Sylvia this way:
"Her teaching standards are and always have been high. She encourages her pupils to work to the best of their ability and the children respect her for making them work hard.
They love her because she shows them love in return. She is one teacher wholl will never be forgotten."

Sylvia Enarson set a standard of what a teacher can be and represents the excellence in education that the Villisca School District still strives for.

click here to read what Kris Gourley, class of 1968 wrote about Miss Enarson in May of 1992.

"We can't innovate, we can't grow, we can't be competitive, we can't increase our living standards and provide a prosperous and sustainable future for our children and grandchildren unless we preserve, protect and use our history."

-- Richard Florida speaking to the National Trust on Historic Preservation

Tyler Brothers, now Atlantic Bottling Company, has been a big part in the history and heritage of Villisca. In 1909, brothers Harry and Henry Tyler became partners in an ice-cream and dairy business in Villisca. Three years later, they bought a creamery in nearby Clarinda, and while sorting through papers found in the creamery's warehouse safe, a document granting a Coca-Cola franchise to the business.

The brother's concocted some of the bubbly beverage and bottled it to sell alongside their flavored soda waters. By 1930, they were producing soft drinks full-time, with plants in several towns.

Harry and Henry raised their families in Villisca and their children were graduates of Villisca High School. Harry and his wife Lois' children were Joyce and Jim. Henry and his wife Ethelda's children were Geraldine, Donald, Robert, Kenneth, Carolyn and Marilyn.

In 1949 Harry and Henry divided the business for estate purposes. Harry kept the Atlantic and Creston bottling plants and Henry acquired Shenandoah, Clarinda and Grand Island plants. Harry's son, Jim, joined the business as a bottle washer and eventually became president of the company that on April 1, 1975 also took over the huge Des Moines Coca-Cola franchise.

Today, the Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company is one of 100 entities authorized to sell Coca-Cola products in the United States. Producing nearly 24,000 cases of canned and bottled soft drinks each day, the company lists Coca-Cola Classic as its top seller.

Jim Tyler is chairman of the board and Kirk Tyler, his son, became president of the company in 1991.

photo is of the Atlantic Coca-Cola Bottling Company truck in the 2005 Heritage Days Parade.

The following was written by Kris Gourley, VHS Class of 1968, who submitted the suggestion that the new elementary school building be named for Sylvia Enarson. Gourley wrote it in response to being as to submit a story about a teacher who made a difference in her life.

"She used to call me her "little Norwegian." Of course she had taught my parents and she knew my grandparents, so I knew I had to behave in her classroom.
"Her name was Sylvia Enarson, but to all of her students she was lovingly referred to as "Miss Enarson." She dedicated her life to the profession of teaching. She not only taught us the three "R's," but she also taught us a great deal about life.
"Miss Enarson was a no-nonsense, old-fashioned teacher who taught school in rural Iowa most of her adult life. She took this role in life very seriously because teaching was her life. She never accepted the fact that some children might not succeed in school. She gave private instruction after school to anyone who might need additional help. She mad learning fun. She loved spelling bees and games that made history more fun to elementary students.
Miss Enarson probably taught every grade level that there ever was. She was originally a country school teacher. She taught fourth grade when I first met her. She was an elementary and junior high principal. She truly cared about children. She was a great role model for many young people. In those days teachers like Miss Enarson had to be the counselor, the lunch room monitor, the school nurse and the remedial teacher. The days were long and I doubt that the pay was great.
We started each school day with a flag salute and a prayer. We were taught to respect other people, to take care of our desk, our classroom and "our space," whether it was at school or the planet we inhabited. These values made a lasting impression.
Sylvia Enarson valued the basic skills of life, whether it was reading, spelling, arithmatic, penmanship, history or science. She made the time to see that each student succeeded. It was almost a religion with her, a matter of faith. She deomonstrated daily her belief that each child had worth and could succeed at their own level.
When I was in fifth grade I had the opportunity to enter a contest to name a new elementary school in Villisca, Iowa. I submitted my suggestion and had to write why I chose this name. I suggested "Enarson Elementary" and I won. It was a thrill for me and many of her students to honor a teacher who had dedicated more than 40 years of her life to service in education, but even more than that, she was there to enjoy the honor. ....
Miss Enarson would not have understood the need for word processors, calculators, computers or fax machines. What she did understand was the serious need for a good education. She would have noticed a well-written letter, someone speaking clearly, concisely and loud enough to be heard at the back of the room. She would have noticed if you were dressed appropriately, if your hair were combed, how you treated others.
We've come a long way in education since those days, and I am glad for the progress, but I still believe that some of the old-fashioned basics and values of that simpler life can be appreciated and taught today.
Like many teachers she probably never knew the profound effect that she had on many of us. She made a lasting impression on my life and on the lives of many young people in a small southwest Iowa farm town.

Kris (Gidley) Gourley now lives in Derby, Kansas. Kris is the daughter of Ed and Lea Danielson Gidley and the granddaughter of Ernest and Pearl (Johnson) Danielson.

Villisca Historical Society
Preserving the Past, Enlightening the Present, Giving Vision to the Future

Honoring Dr. Ed Epperly

December 13, 2005

In the summer of 1955, 50 years ago, a young college student arrived in Villisca with a burning interest in learning more about the infamous "Villisca Axe Murders". This interest was met with distrust and wariness, as local people did not want to see the story sensationalized and the victims exploited.

Through quiet but persistent inquiry, this young man slowly pieced together the facts and discarded the rumors that had grown up around the story. His original purpose was simply to write an Iowa history paper for his college class that was a little different from everyone else's.

Dr. Epperly in Cedar Falls in front of the Blackhawk Hotel near 1955. He stayed there as a UNI student. UNI was a state teacher's college in those days.

In the years that followed, he continued his dedicated research and study and later, in the 1980's, he was asked by Iowa Public Broadcasting to come to Villisca to narrate and give information on a story they were doing about the murders. There was still a feeling that "This is not his story, why is he the expert?"

But it became evident that he did know the whole story, better than any of the local people and he had a very good way of telling it. He did not take sides, he did not offend anyone, he could make a joke and lighten the situation very easily. All in all, he was very respectful of the event and of the feelings of the town. He was unselfish with his time and came to speak at local events whenever asked.

At this time, we would like to commend that student who has dedicated so many years, Dr. Ed Epperly, for his careful, considerate handling of the story of our town. His meticulous research and conscientious handling of the facts has helped local people to better understand the story and he has helped to make the movie "Villisca" an accurate depiction of the times and the feelings of the community.

Representing the people of Villisca, we the Villisca City Council and The Villisca Historical Society, thank you Dr. Epperly, for 50 years of caring and interest in our community.

City of Villisca
Larry Figgins, Mayor
Villisca Historical Society
Mary Hansen, Elinor Brown, Susie Enarson

4.22.05 By DOUGLAS BURNS
Times Herald Staff Writer
(3-1/2 Stars)

Several major U.S. newspapers, perhaps succumbing to the hyperbole of the times but staying within the bounds of reason, labeled the 1912 Villisca ax murder-massacre one of the more notorious crimes in American history.

That slaughter of eight people, including six children under 12, on a June night generations ago remains an unsolved crime. To be sure, it is one of the creepiest, compelling episodes in the history of the state, and the fact that more Iowans, particularly in the western part of the state, don’t know about this case is evidence of a breakdown in the teaching of Iowa history.

Then again, that oversight might preserve good nights of sleep, because delving into the history of this monstrous case of seemingly inhuman evil is not for the faint of heart.

“It’s just as shivering now as it was then,” says one elderly Villisca woman interviewed in the critically acclaimed documentary movie, “Villisca: Living With a Mystery,” which opens today at the Carroll 5 Theatres.

There is a Carroll connection to the massacre. The only man ever tried for the crime, the Rev. Lyn George J. Kelly, preached at the Carroll Presbyterian Church for about a year after the massacre and several people from this city testified in the sensational cases. He left the courtroom a free man both times, but to this day, theories persist about the minister.

U.S. News & World Report this week published a cover story on the “C.S.I. effect” on juries, the influence of the popular “Crime Scene Investigation” trio of television programs on the American judicial system.
For devotees of those highly rated programs, “Villisca” will not disappoint. If the murders had happened in New York City or Chicago or even New Orleans, instead of rural Iowa, the case would rank among the most infamous, most frequently referenced in film and popular culture.

First and foremost, it’s unsolved. The characters range from a powerful state senator to his nemesis, a Texas detective full of tricks, clever and dastardly, and with an outsized personality an Oscar-toting screenwriter could never create.

In addition, this movie — which the Daily Times Herald gives 3-1/2 out of 4 stars — is an intriguing one because it so deeply examines the culture and history of western Iowa, not only at the turn of the century, but today. Generally, our cinematic experiences involve watching people with coastal sensibilities, people from New York or California or other urban areas. Seldom do we see our own rural way of life on the big screen. While it is true that “Villisca” is ostensibly about murder, it is also about Iowa, ordinary Iowans.

“In the course of investigating the crime, dozens of otherwise obscure lives stood out in high relief, anonymous lives that, if it had not been for the relationship to this sensational event, would have remained obscure,” says Ed Epperly, a retired Luther College professor who has studied this case for 50 years and is the chief historical consultant for the movie.
Epperly is right, and this is what helps make the movie.
Kelly Rundle, the producer-writer of the movie, told me in an interview that several Iowans have said the movie wonderfully captures both the historic and cultural aspects of western Iowa. I agree wholeheartedly with that assessment.

Years in the making, “Villisca” is full of old photos, fascinating interviews, re-enactments and even a “C.S.I”-like computer-generated model of the crime scene, the latter of which is used to offer a new theory in the long-running debates about the identity of the culprit.
There is also a lesson in the movie — beyond looking in your closets or under the bed for an ax-wielding killer, an effect this film reportedly has on some people.
The unsolved crime, the source of rumors and innuendo and outright finger-pointing between families and factions, ripped Villisca apart.

The movie exposes so much of what is wrong about small-town Iowa life — the pettiness, the clannishness, the jealousies and a barely concealed and always brewing animosity between the prosperous and educated and the working classes, all of which are elements festering in communities like our own today.

At the Daily Times Herald we would never fall into the cliched trap of calling any movie a “must-see,” but “Villisca” comes as close to meeting that billing for Carroll residents as any film Fridley has shown here in years.

The homecoming was joyous - an exuberant hug frozen forever by a camera's flash.

A homecoming, though, is more than a happy ending. A war hero and his loved ones receive no exemption from life's heartaches - cancer, strokes, bankruptcy, alcoholism, loneliness, the sudden death of a daughter whose embrace was so warm. ...

At depots across America, the scene was repeated countless times as fathers and sons and husbands returned from battle. Implicit in the joy of each homecoming was the understanding that more than a quarter of a million families grieved for soldiers who would not come home. click here to read the story

"No one was ever convicted of these crimes; this certainly altered the lives of all those who were close to the incident. Even now, 88 years later, there is speculation.

"While it is not pleasant for Villisca to be remembered as the site of these murders, it is foolish to ignore what happened. History, no matter how painful, should never be rewritten. Furthermore, it is to the community's credit that no one was 'railroaded' just to bring an end to the incident."

Carolyn Cole Gage, Publisher
Villisca Review
copyright 2000

"When I heard a lecture by Dr. Edgar Epperly about the murders I was fascinated just with the changes in forensics from that time to now. It is a unique opportunity for a parallel study of solving crime in the 20th century."

Roxanna Sieber

Jim Hyink is a retired Lt. C
MEMORIAL DAY ADDRESS
VILLISCA, IOWA 2003

Delivered by Jim Hyink
Comrade Legionnaires, fellow citizens, it is a privilege to address you on this Memorial Day, a day set aside to honor the hallowed men and women who gave their lives for this nation and the preservations of American freedoms. In preparing for this occasion I asked Delbert about appropriate dress. He replied that Jerry Greenfield said, "Tell him to wear his uniform, if it still fits." Well, Jerry, I want you to know that some still fits - my beret and socks."

While the central theme of Memorial Day is remembrance of those who lost their life in the service of their nation - Villisca has a number of these - we must go beyond this and remember those who came home and those who remained home in support of our military. They, too, paid a price. read more

Production began in January of 1994 and continued periodically through 2001 in 11 states from Hawaii to Massachusetts. Unlike other sensational historical crimes, there was no central repository for photographs or documents related to the axe murders. There were no existing nonfiction books or films to review. The Rundles interviewed over 50 people, collected thousands of copies of historical documents, and gathered and copied hundreds of photographs in an effort to conduct research and to tell the story visually.

In June 2002, with assistance from local residents, the Rundles planned a 90th anniversary commemorative weekend in Villisca. A lengthy fine-cut version of the documentary was screened for the first time before an audience. A Nebraska Humanities program followed in Omaha that included portions of the film along with commentary provided by several historians.

From July-November, nearly 700 viewers in 8 different states--from California to North Carolina--participated in a series of 12 screenings of a 2-hour and 20-minute fine-cut version of the film. Over 95% responded positively and said they would recommend the film to others. Many offered insightful feedback that assisted the Rundles as they continued the editing process: "The film has considerable soul and held my interest throughout. Worth the wait. A work to be proud of," said a video production executive from Kansas City. "I liked it very much. It was extremely fascinating and, as a non-American, very informative. I would recommend this film for distribution on television and abroad," said an Arizona psychology student. "I got a feel for the people and town in 1912 and felt transported to that era. A fantastic true story that never fails to fascinate," said a Los Angeles screenwriter. "I felt it unfolded in a clear and intriguing manner. I was drawn in and curious to know more. I would use it in my cultural or intellectual history classes," said a California University professor. "The research is outstanding. Thank goodness you were able to interview so many with such close connections to the event. What an exceptional concept for a film," said a Nebraska library director.

"The story is well told, well paced, good commentary and good music. Very well done. I look forward to seeing the finished film," an Academy Award® winning documentary filmmaker wrote.

"The feedback screenings were a great success. They helped us make important creative changes to the film and they have proven what we already knew: that Villisca's story holds interest beyond the Midwest," said director Kelly Rundle. Late in 2002 the Rundles were approached by a Los Angeles-based director/writer team and they are now consulting on the development of the Villisca story as a big-budget dramatic historical feature film. In addition to making final changes on their documentary, the Rundles are creating second editions of their historical document reprints related to the murders. They are also busy re-mastering two previous Villisca-themed videos for release on DVD and VHS, and co-writing a non-fiction book on the murders with Dr. Edgar Epperly. Epperly has spent nearly 50 years researching the infamous crime and has consulted extensively on the "Villisca" documentary film project. Their book will be submitted to publishers in the fall.

Kelly and Tammy Rundle are former Iowa residents now living in Los Angeles, California. Fourth Wall Films is a film and video production and publishing company. For more information visit the "Villisca: Living with a Mystery" website at http:// www.villiscamovie.com.

Graphics used with the permission of FourthWall Films.
©Copyright 2003, FWF. All Rights Reserved

The Villisca Swimming Pool continues to be a favorite gathering place in the summer months. For those who have fond memories of time at the pool and would like to help preserve this for future young Villiscans, tax-deductible contributions may be made to the pool fund by sending them to Villisca City Hall, 315 South 3rd Avenue, Villisca, IA. Approximately $28,000 has been raised to make necessary changes to the pool. $135,000 is needed to put in stainless steel guttering and plumbing. Additional funds would be needed to provide some of the items for the kids, such as a new slide, diving board, lifeguard chairs, concrete work.

Here kids from the 7th grade Ag class help unload the first shipment of equipment for the new play area in the park on the square in Villisca. The money for the equipment is being been raised by V-Town Park Boosters - Villiscans who look forward to continuing to enhance Villisca's quality of living for young families. Funds are still needed to complete the project. The total cost is $31,000 and about $18,500 has been raised. Tax-deductible contributions may be mailed to Villisca City Hall, 318 S. Third Avenue, Villisca, IA 50864

Automatic Defibrillators for the Villisca School District
Villisca High School Student Council has taken on the responsibility of raising money to purchase an automatic defibrillator for each of the school buildings. As of October 2005, $1,105.49 had been raised. The goal is $4,000. Contributions can be made directly to the Student Council at 406 East Third Street, Villisca, IA or can be made through the Villisca Education Foundation, c/o Carol Greenfield, 120 North 5th Avenue, Villisca.

Bring back the Victory Bell and move forward with a new Courtyard
... and have your name engraved in history. This fundraiser, initiated by Dale Spencer, is to raise funds for a new courtyard at the Villisca Junior-Senior High School. The courtyard would be between the doors you enter to get to the gym and the west entrance to the school. Included in the courtyard would be the Victory Bell for which the Class of 1953 picked up the cost of restoration; the cornerstones from the Enarson Building; the 1913 and the 1926 buildings; and the 1949 FFA Flag pole. "Name bricks" would be used for the walkway. The name bricks are being sold to fund the project which it is estimated will cost between $25,000 and $30,000. The bricks will sell for $50. each and will include three lines of no more than 16 letters. Also being sold to acknowledge donations from classes, businesses and individuals will be brick tiles that will be on the walls. One star $100-$250; two stars $251-$500; three stars $501-$1,000; four star $1,001-$2,000; and five stars for over $2,000. For more information contact Dale Spencer, 1680 US Hwy 71, Villisca, IA 50864 - 712-826-3602 - dspencer@netins.net. Purchase of bricks can go to Dale or sent directly to the Villisca Education Foundation, c/o Roberta Dickey, 109 North 3rd Avenue, Villisca, IA 50864. Check should be made payable to Villisca Education Foundation.

Villisca Swimming Pool Fund - This fundraiser is to raise funds for renovation of the Villisca Swimming Pool, a mainstay for summer recreation for Villisca residents. The pool was built in __________. For those who have fond memories of time at the pool and would like to help preserve this for future young Villiscans, tax-deductible contributions may be made to the pool fund by sending them to Villisca City Hall, 315 South 3rd Avenue, Villisca, IA. $135,000 is needed to put in stainless steel guttering and plumbing. Additional funds would be needed to provide some of the items for the kids, such as a new slide, diving board, lifeguard chairs, concrete work.

Villisca City Park Playground Equipment - The money for the equipment is being been raised by V-Town Park Boosters - Villiscans who look forward to continuing to enhance Villisca's quality of living for young families. Funds are still needed to complete the project. The total cost is $31,000. Tax-deductible contributions may be mailed to Villisca City Hall, 318 S. Third Avenue, Villisca, IA 50864.

Christmas Decorations
Villisca has enjoyed beautiful lighted Christmas decorations in the downtown area and at the north entrance to Villisca. These decorations were purchased with donated funds. They have grown tired and in need of replacement. Funds have been raised for replacements for the decorations on the square. A second-round of fundraising is now ongoing to raise funds to replace the remaining decorations. Contributions can be sent to Villisca City Hall, designated for Christmas Decorations.

Hanging Baskets and Harris Harmony Trail
For several summers Villisca's downtown area has been wonderfully decorated with hanging baskets where the Christmas lights are hung at Christmas. These take a great deal of loving care in the planting in the spring and then watering all summer long. The costs of maintenance is raised by the Villisca Garden Club. Harris Harmony Trail is developed and maintained by volunteers and the costs of maintenance are covered by contributions which can be sent to Villisca City Hall designated for Villisca Garden Club. Pictured is one of the sculptures on the Harris Harmony Trail.

4th of July Fireworks Display
The last couple years the Villisca Chamber of Commerce have hired a firm to do the fireworks display. It has been a wonderful addition to the summer celebration. The Chamber has a couple fundraisers to raise money to cover the costs. Contributions can be sent to the Villisca Chamber of Commerce, Gayle Heard, Treasurer, 601 S. 3rd Avenue, Villisca, IA 50864

Villisca Historical Society
The need to have an organization to accept historical contributions and to have a place to house them has become increasingly apparent. Early in 2005, a group headed by Mary Hansen began putting together the structure for the Villisca Historical Society. They have completed the incorporation process as a non-profit and have applied for a 501c3 tax status. The society must raise funds for a building to house historical documents and memorabilia and then funds for ongoing expenses of maintaining the building and the displays. Contributions can be sent to Mary Hansen at 113 West 5th Street, Villisca, Iowa 50864. She can be contacted at info@villiscahistory.org.

Library
The Villisca Public Library has an Adopt-An-Author Program. It is quite simple. You go to the library and pick your favorite author to sponsor. When that author writes a new book, the library will purchase that book. You pay for the book (write a check to the vendor). The good thing about that is that you can be the first one to read the book. The library's address is 204 S. 3rd Ave., Villisca, IA 50864 - telephone #826-2452 - e-mail address villisca-lib@villisca.k12.ia.us

Churches
Churches exist by contributions - and the Villisca churches are no different. The aging population of Villisca with many parishioners now on fixed-incomes Villisca churches are facing financial challenges. Contributions should be sent to the churches directly and in most cases are tax deductible.

Interchurch Council
The Interchurch Council has been an unusual coalition of the Villisca churches - unusual because in most communities it is difficult to bring together churches for cooperation in single events much less an ongoing relationship where congregations worship together and work together without jealously to meet spiritual and physical needs of residents. Some activities of the Council do not have costs tied to them such as the 4th of July Worship in the Park, the Thanksgiving Service, World Day of Prayer, Easter Sunrise Service. Others do - Villisca Food Pantry and Crisis Fund, We Care, Interchurch Scholarship Fund. The Interchurch Council welcomes contributions to these funds. They can be sent to Helen Lowe, Interchurch Treasurer, 407 East First Street, Villisca, IA 50864

Volunteer Firefighters and EMTs
Villisca, like most rural communities, depend on volunteer organizations for fire and EMT protection. These organizations are dependent on donations to maintain and upgrade their equipment, including their vehicles. Contributions can be sent to Villisca City Hall - make sure to designate what the money is for.

Sunday Dinner Fundraisers
If you live in SW Iowa, we encourage you to dine in Villisca Sunday's at noon. Many Sunday's one or another group serve dinner as a fundraiser. The food is always good and it is a great chance to visit with old friends. The Sunday fundraising dinners are announced on the Front Page and the SW Iowa Events page of villiscareview.com

Some fundraisers don't call for cash contributions.
Non-cash Fundraisers
Enarson Elementary continues to collect General Mills "boxtops" to raise funds through Boxtops 4 Education. General Mills is committed to contributing up to $20,000 to a school district. At 10 cents a "boxtop" - it would take a lot of them to raise $20,000 - 200,000 to be exact but with 6 decades plus of alumni - it would be just about 3077 boxtops per class - about 15 from each alumnus.

If you shop online, if you start your shopping at Boxtops4Education.com or iGive.com, the participating retailers will donate a percentage of your purchase to the charity of your choice. There are over 200 stores in the Boxtops Marketplace and over 600 at iGive.com including stores many people shop at everyday. The only thing you have to do to get the donations to your charity is to start your shopping trip at the Boxtops or iGive Websites.