Good Hart School

A government school was established about 1 mile north of Middle Village in Good Hart in 1860.

Mrs. Albert Ball was the last teacher there as it was closed in 1883. Teaching school meant learning the Native language. Mrs. Ball referenced that she felt her husband was more competent than she, as so much of the language required gesture to specify and enhance the meaning.

Keeping attendance and therefore routine advancement in studies was frustratingly difficult as children hated the captivity and parents did not enforce their presence.

Mrs. Ball found that "smoke sessions" (putting a pipe full of tobacco and pencil and paper at each desk) brougth in the older boys more regularly.

The abandoned government school building later served as a general store when Lowell Lamkin moved his business there after his location burned.

[Above information provided by Jane Cardinal.]

In 1877 Good Hart's population was 100 with 3/4 being Native Americans. This little village had a school for Native American children, two stores, a Catholic church, blacksmith, doctor and post office.

The 1880 Federal Census of Redmond Township, Emmet county gives "at school" as the occupation of the following Native children:

Marion Skippergosh, 9 - daughter of Benedict and Mary Skippergosh
Francis Skippergosh, 6 - son of Benedict and Mary Skippergosh
Mary Kosequot, 12 - daughter of Joseph and Mariah Kosequot
Jane Kosequot, 8 - daughter of Joseph and Mariah Kosequot
Joanne Assinnieway, 13 - daughter of Simon and Sophia Assinnieway
Jane Assinnieway, 8 - daughter of Simon and Sophia Assinnieway
Joseph Markategin, 13 - son of Paul Markategin
Thomas Otagemake, 7 - son of Joseph and Lucy Otagemake

Nine white children also have the "at school" occupation.