There used to be a school house at Altonah. As a matter of fact there was at one time a fair sized town. There was at least two stores, a gas station, church house, a school, a cheese factory, a Post Office, etc.
Probably all or at least most of the Murray children went to school there. This town of Altonah was located about two miles or so south east of where we used to live. The most I remember was when I used to go for the mail when living with Grandmother and Grandfather Murray during the summer months. At any rate the story as I remember it as told by LaVora.
To get to school, in the summer, LaVora and Clyde used to ride a horse named Twin. Uncle Boyd was the proud owner of this horse but it seems that one time or another all of us have ridden him. LaVora said that Grandfather Murray used to see that she and Clyde were on Twin, then he would take the rope that was tied around Twin’s neck, make a half hitch knot and slip it around Twins nose and hand the rope to the children. This rope with the loop on Twin’s nose was their means of guiding the horse. We used to use this concept quite a bit in place of a bridal and bit. I’m sure the reason why Grandfather used it was so that the horse would not have to stand all day at school with a bit in his mouth. For when the children would get to school they had a little enclosure, a corral, they would put Twin in, close the gate and go to school.
LaVora said she used to worry about Twin standing in the corral all day without food or water. But when they got out of school Twin would still be there waiting for them. LaVora said she and Clyde would push and lead Twin up to the pole fence then climb up on the pole fence and then climb over on to Twin’s back. I can just see them going through this procedure. I would guess they at that age was just about as tall as the under side of Twin’s stomach. So not being tall enough to reach Twin’s nose, they would not be able to put the loop on his nose and once on the horse they could not reach the rope that was still on the ground. No need to worry, however, Twin knew the way home and where there was no way for them to control him there was only one place he wanted to go, Home! So they, having no control would just sit back and go along for the ride.
The ride usually went like this. First there was the stop at the canal where Twin took care of his thirst and then he would head straight for home with the rope dragging along behind. They must have been all of 6 years old. This is the way it was done in the good old days on the farm in Altonah.
Up date - August 21, 2000
While riding with LaVora and John after visiting Perry and Raya on the 6 August 2000. LaVora was telling of her school days in Altonah. Following the time that Grandfather and Grandmother Murray’s home burned they rented a house in the town of Altonah. While going to school during the week LaVora would stay in town with her Grandparents. On Friday after school let out she would walk the two miles home and spent the week end with her family. Can you visualize a six year old, now days, being allowed to walk two miles alone with out anyone knowing about it?
Boyd and Twin
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