Kennilworth School District #38

Submitted by Jerry P. Metz (a former pupil)

Kennilworth School District #38, Stafford County, Kansas was organized December 9, 1879 covering 9 sections in the northern part of St. John Township (T-23S R-13W) in Stafford County, Kansas. John Shotton, J. W. Norris and Milton Frantz served as the officers. The name of the first teacher is unknown, but two of the first pupils were Charley Shotton and Katie Harris. The schoolhouse was destroyed by a tornado on June 22, 1907 but it was rebuilt. The school was named for a castle in England where Queen Elizabeth I held court. The school operated through 1944 when the school board elected to send the remaining two pupils for the 1945 school year to the St. John Grade School in St. John, Kansas.

The names of the pupils attending the last year of school were Alma Moody (great-granddaughter of John Shotton), Velma Metz, Bonnie Metz and Jerry Metz. The school district was disbanded on February 10, 1950 when the District was consolidated with St. John District # 45. The school building was located in the very southeast corner of Section 4-T23S-R13W. The grounds consisted of the Schoolhouse, a barn for students to house their horses, two outhouses, a swing set, and two merry-go-rounds. The buildings and equipment were sold at auction when the District was disbanded. The land was either deeded back or purchased back by the surrounding owners, the Hingey family. The school was a great assett to the community and served it well.

Much of this information is from the 1990 edition of "Stafford County History 1870-1990".