Elgin resident was last surviving teacher of historic school

The oldest surviving teacher of the historic Hoosier Grove School in Streamwood has died.

Ruth Regenburg Andersen taught in the one-room schoolhouse from 1933 to 1936, when it served farm children from rural Hanover Township. Then she returned to her native Palatine to teach in another one-room schoolhouse there.

Mrs. Andersen passed away Dec. 4. The former Elgin resident was 97.

In all, Mrs. Andersen taught for 43 years, finishing her career at Wing School in Elgin. Her legacy is preserved in photos and testimonials at the Hoosier Grove School Museum, where she began her long teaching career.

Hoosier Grove School was the last country school operated in Hanover Township and originally was located at the Southwest corner of Barrington and Church roads in Streamwood.

It was moved to Hoosier Grove Park in 1991, after a grass-roots movement that began during the bicentennial year to preserve the iconic structure as a community museum.

Ken Heine, 80, of Plato Center was one of two first graders in Andersen's classroom in 1934. He grew up on the farm across the street from the schoolhouse where students came to pump water.

"My dad was on the school board and signed her contract (in 1933), so she stayed at our house," Heine recalls. "Her brother would bring her from Palatine on Mondays and she would stay with us for the week while she taught, and then go home on Fridays."

Heine recalls Mrs. Andersen as being a small, slightly built woman, who was hard working and capable. She assigned some students to load coal into the stove, which heated the school, and other students to sweep out the ashes.

Mrs. Andersen returned often for gatherings at the school, including in 2000 for a rededication ceremony. The museum's officials obtained a grant from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources to replace its roof, cupola and school bell. The museum is now operated by the Streamwood Park District.

At the ceremony, Mrs. Andersen was the first to ring the bell, which was a replica of the original one that drew children to its doors.

"I had 22 students in the one room, from 5 years old to 14 - I don't remember any of them getting sick; they were all healthy farm children," Mrs. Andersen said at the time. "We were busy, very busy, but we were never stressed."

Services have been held.