HISTORY OF DISTRICT #7, KEITH COUNTY, NEBRASKA
By: Emil Elmshaeuser
School District number 7 is located five miles south of Roscoe, Nebraska. A country school that had its beginning in a sody in the early 1880�s. The sod school house was not only used for school, but other gatherings in the community. St. John�s Lutheran church held some of their services in this sody. In fact it was the only meeting place in the community for many years.
This community consisted of the following families; Rinehart and August Geisert, John Reidel, Fred Hansmeier, Barton Allen, John Stander, Will Most, Conrad and Theodore Elmshaeuser.
In 1902, a new school house was built, as the old sody school was damaged by cattle who gored holes in the walls, so that snakes got into the room and also it was not weather proof.
Many programs were had in the new building, box socials, and patriotic plays
and elections, especially during the First World War, which were the highlights
of my school years in District
#7.
Many changes have taken place since then. This frame school house was replaced by a larger building which was the Menonite church, about six miles south east of district #7. This move was the result of an increase in students, and other community improvements. Also two teachers were employed to take care of the overflow of students. This move came about in 1966. That same year the old frame school house was put up for auction and sold to Emil Elmshaeuser, who bought it for historical keep sake and records. A year later it was bought by the Keith County Historical Society and placed next to the Mansion on the Hill. The funding was provided by Mrs. Clarice Goodall.
Mrs. Clarice Goodall was interested in preserving a country school and
wondered about getting hold of the oldest country school house and it was known
that the District #7 school was the oldest on record in Keith County. Most of
the original 
furnishings and school accessories, are still in the school. The
teachers desk and chair were salvaged by Leonard Elmshaeuser and found their way
back to the school. The right hand drawer of the teachers desk, has all of the
teachers names, and years taught, from 1901 to 1966.
The school house has been completely renovated, and is now open for public viewing