Samsula School – Samsula Historical Archive

Samsula, then Briggsville, had an elementary school dating back to 1893. In 1912, the school (at that point in time a one-room schoolhouse) was moved to the current location on Samsula Drive. As described in The Odyssey of an American School System,

“In 1912, a second Briggsville School, located on eight acres on what is now 248 Samsula Drive, opened its doors. The school was a one-room wood structures, 35 feet by 25 feet. One teacher, possibly Lillian Geiger, served grades one through eight. Two or three rooms were later added to the original structure. . . Students who didn’t walk to school were transported by horse and wagon.”
(Langlotz, Patricia Callan. The Odyssey of an American School System: Volusia County Schools—1854 to 2000. DeLand: Pride Enterprises, 2000. Print.)

1916
Though Briggsville didn’t win this contest for a Graded Library, I include this to highlight the teacher, Lydia Geiger, who later married and became Lydia Samsula. She taught at Briggsville, later Samsula, School for many years.

“Prizes Awarded to County Schools,” DeLand News, pg. 2, May 10, 1916. Retrieved from University of Florida Digital Collections, Feb. 3, 2026. Permanent link: https://ufdc.ufl.edu/uf00075896/00146

1917
Before school buses, residents had to arrange for transporting students. There are some familiar names in this article.

“County School Board Will Transport Many Pupils,” DeLand News, pg. 1, Aug. 15, 1917. Retrieved from University of Florida Digital Collections, Feb. 3, 2026. Permanent link: https://ufdc.ufl.edu/uf00075896/00279

Public schools were at the forefront of identifying and treating infectious or contagious diseases in students. This article references what were probably outbreaks of conjunctivitis.

“DeLand’s New School Cost $56,401.02 Complete Report Filed,” DeLand News, pg. 1, Nov. 14, 1917. Retrieved from University of Florida Digital Collections, Feb. 3, 2026. Permanent link: https://ufdc.ufl.edu/uf00075896/00308

1920
This newspaper clipping shows how the teacher for Samsula School was funded. Schools often shared a teacher in these early days.

“County School Board Meets,” DeLand Daily News, pg.1, Oct. 11, 1920. Retrieved from University of Florida Digital Collections, Jan. 29, 2026. Permanent link: https://ufdc.ufl.edu/aa00020301/00611

In 1928, a larger building was constructed, portions of which are still in use today. The following is a transcript of an article in the New Smyrna Daily News, Friday, March 25, 1927:

LOCATION FOR SAMSULA SCHOOL IS NOW DECIDED

Modern Building Is to Occupy Same Site as Old Structure.
With the announcement that the Volusia county school board has decided definitely the location of the new school building for Samsula, which will be on the present site, at their meeting Wednesday, word was received that the people of that section, led by the Parent-Teacher association, are planning a big celebration and social meeting to celebrate the final decision of the board after the controversy over the location of the building, which has lasted for some time.
Plans for the new schoolhouse, which will be a one story building, costing $30,000 complete, and containing six classrooms and an auditorium, already have been accepted by the county board, and it is expected that work will start on it within two weeks, unless there is some delay in the contracting arrangements.
The present building will be moved some distance to the rear of its present location, and will be used for a community gathering place, and as a meeting house for the Parent-Teacher association and other civic bodies.
The proposed school house will occupy the center of the lot, near the highway, so as to afford plenty of room for a playground at the rear of the building.
The controversy about the location of the school headquarters has been a hard fought one in this section, some wishing for the site to be on the DeLand road and others asking that it be placed where the present building now stands. The matter finally was left up to the school board, and they rendered their decision Wednesday.

Source: Archive collection, New Smyrna Historical Society.

A metal schoolbell with a wooden handle from the early Samsula School. Ray Wright’s aunt, Gertrude Wright Luznar, was a teacher at the school, and that is how the bell came to the family’s possession.

This mention in the Fort Myers Press shows how far news traveled in times past. Populations were still small, and news of neighboring communities, though physically distant, was still interesting.

“To Select School Site,” The Fort Myers Press, pg. 2, April 1, 1927. Retrieved from University of Florida Digital Collections, Jan. 29, 2026. Permanent link: https://ufdc.ufl.edu/uf00079929/02347

Samsula School Photos

I am putting out a call for any Samsula School photos you would like to share for inclusion on this website. Please email your pics to marcy.galbreath5@gmail.com, along with any identifying information (year, names, etc.). Thanks!