As the stories attest, school children used to walk to outings. Today, school buses are the mode of transportation. Unfortunately, the early bus seen here appears to have been in an accident. (Photo Provided)

Free School Pic-nic Yesterday.

Hundreds of persons lined Pike and Market streets to witness the march of the Schools. Everybody was anxious to witness this new scene in Parkersburg, and a universal burst of admiration greeted the pupils. The Maids of Honor and Floras – 56 in number – all beautifully dressed in pure white trimmed with myrtle and flowers, followed by about 500 other pupils dressed in tasteful holiday attire, with joy beaming from each bright and beautiful countenance, marching to the music of the band on this lovely May morning, was a sight such as had never before been seen in our city, and will not soon be forgotten.

The grounds were reached about 10 o’clock. They consisted of a large, secluded grove, half a mile from Market Street Bridge, on the other side of Little Kanawha River. Access to it was not so easy as it might have been, and at first sight, it seemed almost too wild and rustic, as the dampness had not yet dried off, and fallen trees were strewed among those which interlocked their lofty boughs and shut out most of the sun’s bright rays. The crossing of a creek was an objection to some but this was done in safety and the days’ experience proved that no better spot could have been selected. The moisture dried off before an hour had passed, the fallen trees were improvised into rustic sofas and divans. – The creek which formed the grove into a Peninsula was so flooded with back-water that during the entire day, the sport of young and old was skiff riding up and down this shallow stream for the distance of more than half a mile under the beechen shade. No more beautiful, wild, romantic and secluded place could have been selected in this vicinity.

By the programme of exercises, the ceremonies of coronation were to have taken place immediately upon entering the grove, but some of the friends being too slow in coming, the Queen of the day was left without her crown until after dinner.

The Parkersburg Daily Times,

June 8, 1867

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Board of Education Meets

The Board of Education of Parkersburg Township had a protracted session yesterday. They redistricted the Township, making of the Corporation of Parkersburg, one hereafter to be called the first School District, which will be under the direct control of the Board of Education.

The Sand Road School House District will hereafter be called the 2d; the River Road School House the 3rd; the McPherson School House the 4th and the Woodyard School House the 5th.

The enumeration of the children was ordered to be made, and Mr. D.C. Heaton appointed to do it, and to have it completed by the 20th of July next. The offer of Mr. E. Rice, Principal of the Pike street schools, to have his philosophical apparatus shipped to our city and placed in the school house above named, for the use of his pupils, was accepted, and the freight charges ordered to be paid from the building fund.

On Friday next the Board concluded to visit all the schools in our city and be present at the examination before the close of the school session.

The Parkersburg Daily Times,

June 26, 1867

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Would any readers of Look Back know what a “philosophical apparatus” might be?

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Bob Enoch is president of the Wood County Historical and Preservation Society. If you have comments or questions about Look Back items, please contact him at: roberteenoch@gmail.com, or by mail at WCHPS, PO Box 565, Parkersburg, WV 26102.