The first school bus safety crossing mirror in the world was installed on a Bedford Rural Agricultural School bus in 1950 at Lambertville, Michigan. Inventor Reid Stout was principal, teacher, and bus driver. The mirror was designed to save children’s lives after the tragic fatality of six year-old Marsha Caswell at Centerline, Michigan, and a near fatal accident at Bedford involving Suzanne Hetzel. After World War II, 1941-1945, technology and population increased rapidly, schools consolidated, one room schools ended, children no longer walked to school, and buses became the norm. Pioneer schools included Little Lake, Lambertville, Temperance, Samaria, Banner Oak, Stone, Rawson, Liberty Corners, Wayside, and Bullock. Fractional schools included Moyer 3F Ida, Harwick 5F Ida, Dean 4F, Forman 7G Erie, and DeLand 1f Whiteford. Iott students were also included. Mirror mounting brackets were designed and manufactured by Michigan Tube SWG.
