Arbon Valley has seen many changes over the years, and what a history it could tell if only it could talk. Families living in the valley today find it difficult to imagine a family on every 160 or 320 acres of land. What is now called Arbon consisted of 5 communities in the early years. They were the Buist, Summit, Arbon, Pauline and Crystal. Each of these communities had their school, post office and churches. Mountain View, Highland, Valley View, Greentop were some of the schools in the valley. As the years passed and hard times came, many families began to sell and move out.
Arbon LDS Branch Building. Date: 2007.
Be sure to check out Arbon’s web page at arbonvalley.com .
Arbon Valley currently has a Post Office, the Arbon School, which serves students from Kindergarten to 6th grade, and two churches. They are the Arbon Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and the Bible Church.
Only two cemeteries remain in the valley, the Arbon and Pauline Cemeteries. The Pauline one consist of the original homesteaders and the Arbon one has the homesteaders and it still being used today.
Although years pass and the old homestead building are almost gone, the valley still holds the same traits that the early settlers brought to the valley. The valley still has some of the descendants from the original homesteaders as well as some new families that now call the valley home. Some of the names that were on the Homesteaders list that still live in the Valley are: Arbon Area: Andersen, Evans, Turner, and Ward. Pauline Area: Estep, Evans, Lusk, and Swim. Summit Area: Larsen, Sorensen, Jenson. Buist Area: is Bird, Marble, Willie. Crystal Area: Bradley, Hayden, Stewart, Wright.
One strong quality of the people who lived in Arbon Valley is their friendships, the sharing of sorrows along with the joyous times and the will to help others when needed. This is still strong today and will never die.
Arbon Schools
An Historic Description of Early Arbon Schools
In 1902, a all purpose log building was completed. Everyone helped to build it and the land was donated by Lorenzo Bailey. It was 20 x 36 feet and was built in Section 12 of Township 11 South, Range 33, East Boise Meridian. This building was used for the school, church and public gatherings. The school was given the District Number 46. The first day of school in this building was on October 13, 1902 with Maude Evans as teacher. In 1904, this log building was covered with rustic lumber.
The Valley View School was build about 1911, just south of Chancy Payne’s home. It was a large frame room. The 1st teacher in this school was Mrs. Mary Barker. In the summer of 1929, the school house was moved from its former location to a plot across from the church house. Inside toilets were installed which the children appreciated. The Valley View School was discontinued in 1947 and later moved down to where it is now located. The County bought it and it is used for the County workers to live in. It was known as District Number 11. Some of the teachers who taught at the Valley View School were: Edna Arbon, Mrs. Williams, Bob Hartley, Lucille Evans, Lavon Henderson, Waldorf Morris, Hazel Wrensted, Smullin, Clara Andersen, Mrs. Ida Tackley, Miss Mary Barkley, Miss Florence March, Arnold Gardner and Arnold Shrank. Some of the students in 1936 were Bud Phelps , Elmer V. Ward, Junior Pett, Norman Andersen, Ross Payne, Charles Turner, Delmar Turner, Deo Bailey, Nelda Ward, Thrya Phelps, Mildred Bailey, Eileen Ward, Evelyn Hess, Dorothy Bailey, Betty Pett, Maybelle Hatfield and Elaine Phelps.
Edna Bailey Arbon was asked about teaching and the following is what she sent in:
“The first year I taught was out to Highland School in Oneida County. I stayed with the Van Horn’s and in the winter I would ride home with Mr. Snyder who was carrying the mail. He had a card body mounted on sleigh runners and pulled by two horses Inside he had a stove to keep warm, so it was comfortable way to ride. Sometimes on Monday, I would get up early and ride a horse 6 miles to the school house, then when I could get my father to drive me in the car, I appreciated that.
The next 7 terms were taught at the Valley View School about a fourth of a mile from Chauncy Payne’s home. I stayed with them in the winter, but drove the car t he rest of the time from my home. There didn’t seem to be any things of much interest happen, just school lessons and things pertaining to getting an education. The students were very cooperative and I never had any trouble with any of them even tho some were almost as old as I.
There was one bad accident at the Valley View School when Mr. Morris taught. Some boys of the school found some old dynamite caps in the attic of an old shack at a local mine site Of course, they took them to school. A few were thrown into the stove, which resulted in a loud noise and tearing some of the stove loose. A Schritter girl, who was attending school there got one of the caps and began to pike around in it. It exploded and blew her thumb and two fingers completely off. Several other suffered cuts by the bits of flying debris. It was a day to remember.”
The Green Top School was located by the Lee Newport home and was District Number 12. Some of the teachers who taught there were: Alfred Ray, Mrs. Goodenough, Lila Wade, Virginia Hawkes, Elmer Somners, Agnes Petersen, Beth McCalister, Effie Evans, Claudia Cox, Harold Leavitt, Perry Howell, Aurora Wall, Joseph Rytting, and Frances Owings.
Highland School
The Highland school was built in 1915, in the northeast corner of Section 22 township 12 South, Range 33 East Boise Meridian, and was Common District No. 12 of Arbon. It served the children living in the Summit Area. It was built by Guy Benson and a carpenter Mr. MacIntire, with the help from many of the people in the community. The timber for this building was logged out by James A. Nunnelley and a hired man. A few of the teachers at Highland were: Nancy Nunnelley, Vance Walker, Guy Benson, Rachel Fryer, Margaret Overholtzer, Lillian Larsen, Clara Andersen, Devola Sorensen, LaVon Henderson, Anna J. Jones, William R. Page, Bob Lambert, Susie A Cox. H. Perry Howell, Edna Bailey, Hazel Gosney and Mrs. Katherine Cowlley, Mrs. Cowley was the last teacher who taught at Highland, it was discontinued in 1941.
*In the fall of 1917, Rachel Fryer was teaching: Dollie Smith, Edith Benson, Alberta Lickingteller, Gladys Benson, Ida Jenson, Lucile Burks, Virgie Orison, Jean Orison, Herman Hughes, Owen Hughes, Vaughn Jenson, Dorothy McCaulay, Cleone Izatt, Ruth Gerking, Leigh Bingelli, Max Izatt, Preston Hughes, and Joseph Decker. (Information provided by Betty Fredrich Tubbs.)
