Per "Jessamine County, 1798 - 1993", submitted by June Poor Lowry PEKIN COMMUNITY Teacher of the Pekin County School for many years was Ruth Reynolds Switzer (1892 - 1967). She walked from her home on the Shanty Hill Lane to school about 5 miles each way every day. The one-room school with two cloak rooms was heated by a wood and coal burning stove. Some of the students helped her build a fire each morning. They carried water to drink from the cave on the R.M. Poor property or a spring from the Asa Jewell farm. The large stage was decorated at Christmas time with beautiful ornaments on two tall cedar trees. The Christmas Program was an exciting community event, with gifts and treats for all. All eight grades were taught there and the older children tutored the smaller ones in the cloak rooms. Outdoor games were enjoyed at recess. Mrs. Dixie Bryan was the truant office who faithfully visited all county schools to try to keep students in attendance. Schools were dismissed a half-day for county teachers' meetings and all teachers attended, dressed in their best, ladies with hats and gloves. A tollgate house was located on Highway 33 across from the school. Stagecoach travelers used to rest here, pay toll, and horses were exchanged. Surrounding farms were owned by Asa, John and Robert Jewell and Robert and Margaret Jewell and daughter, Frances McVey Jewell. Robert Milton and Virginia Poor also owned land with heirs: Hansle and Grace (Reynolds), Clayton and Mabel (Hahn), Flora Belle and Ben (Hahn), and Beulah and Frank (Braden). Families on Reynolds Lane and Pekin Road were : Mr. and Mrs. General Upton, Bud, Raymond, Hubert (Judy Reynolds), Major (Stella Tipton), and Patty (Bill Turner); Mr. and Mrs. Dave Tipton, Asa, Katie (Ashcraft), Bernie (Edmond Houp), Clark (Vesta Roark), Arthur (Josie McGohon), Nora, and Goldie (Bill Reynolds); Clara and Frank Corman, Nellie (Joe Long), Henry (Blanch Rhorer), Ella (Ben Scott), and Gene Corman; Mayme and Guy Houp, Myrtle (Hampton), Edmond (Bernie), Ben (Virginia), Dick (Eva), and J. T. (Edna West); Richard Price Reynolds (Lucy), Henry (Agnes Houp), John (Katie Long), and Talbot (Fordie Long); Pearl (Thomas) Halderman and Albert (Janie); Sam and Sally Drury and family, Arthur (Dutch) and Etta McGohon Drury and family; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Corbin and family; Lula and Chester Shackelford and Willie Jones; Mr. and Mrs. Robert McGohon and family, J. W. and Mary Edna Haggin and family.