From the time when kids had to walk up hill both ways to school in a blizzard, the Yuma County Historical society has set out to locate and mark as many country schools as possible.
Happyville was started between the years 1908 and 1909 by R. J. Gilmore. Gilmore started a mail route, and carried the mail himself for 3 months, before an office was established in his barn. The National Achieves of Washington, D. C. establish the date officially as July 26, 1910: The town included a general store, garage, filling station, barber shop, cream station and post office. The second floor of the store was the place for community activities, such as programs, dances and box suppers. Saturday afternoon there might be a ball game, horse races horseshoe pitching and foot races. Of course, politics, religion, and farming were lively conversation topics. The Happyville School was 1 ½ mile north of the town. It was built in 19ll by the homesteaders on their own time and money. In about 1920, a controversy with the Co-op Store developed and the large 2-story building was moved to the site of Heartstrong where it continued being used as a store, as well as a filling station and creamery. It was moved by horses under the supervision of "Hook" Spooner of Yuma. There aren't many left who know that Happyville ever existed. There were 3 children who went through 8 grades of school together, and later graduated from Eckley High School together. These were Leo Henderson and Clare and Nancy Davis. Some of the early teachers were Sadie Johnson, Francis Wherry, Edna Divine, Jewett Branuam, Miss McClair, Rena Hicks, Wila Johnston and Glen Wildman. By Nancy Davis Sheldon.
® West Yuma Centennial 1886 -1996, pg. 43.
Happyville Dist 52
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