In 1909 the Hessel community built its first school. It was here that the community began to center around the family. The first school teacher was Miss Hessel, daughter of the pioneer family for which the community was named. Miss Hessel was a Christian who had just graduated from teaching college. When she found out that the boys and girls did not have a Sunday School to attend, she started one in the "new" schoolhouse. That core group grew to about 30 and stayed there for many years.