Manitowoc County WI Archives History - Schools .....Cato 1 - Cato Heights ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com October 26, 2007, 11:40 pm CATO 1 - CATO HEIGHTS By Audrey O'Neil The Cato Heights school in the township of Cato, district No. 1, is located on the heights of Cato hill. In the past this hill was popularly known as "Nettle Hill", possibly due to the fact that many nettle plants grew on it. Accordingly, the school was sometimes called the Nettle Hill school, but it is now commonly referred to as the Cato school. Cato district No. 1 was organized early in the 1850's according to the township assessment rolls on file in the county treasurer's office. In 1855, Cato township was a part of Franklin township so this district was then designated as Franklin school district No. 1 and consisted of sections 3, 4, 9; 10, 15, and 16 in the present Cato township. In 1857, Cato township was separated from Franklin and this district then became Cato No. 1. Since its organization, many changes have been made in the boundaries of the original district. The written records of Cato 1 date back to 1876, so there is little information about the first school. There seems to be some evidence that the first schoolhouse was erected about 1850. Very likely, too, the site was the same as the present one and that the building was constructed of logs. Old-timers of the community do not remember any facts about the first school and old records are lost. On September 12, 1870, the school district purchased the school site from Nelson and Louise Harris. The land originally was the property of James Burns. An interesting fact is that N. A. Harris was the town superintendent of schools for Franklin township in 1856-7, when Cato township was a part of Franklin. The school treasurer's record book shows that repair bills for the school were incurred as early as 1876. That fact seems to indicate that the present school building was some years old by that date. It is estimated that the present school building is over 90 years old - one of the oldest schoolhouses in Manitowoc county. During the first year of the present school, the furniture consisted of crude benches for it was not until 1886 that $106.85 was paid to the Union School Furniture Co. for double desks and seats and John Reddin was paid $10 to set up these seats. In 1882, D. F. Robinson was paid $105 for laying a foundation wall under the building. The old scarred teacher's desk was retained until 1911 when a new one was purchased. The treasurer's record book indicates that the Killens, the local merchants, had yearly bills for school supplies up until 1922 when A. H. Huinker purchased the store. Payments were made every few years for whitewashing or kalsomining the school walls and ceiling. In 1900, a new floor was laid, while re-shingling costs were listed for 1888 and in 1904. The school has always been heated by stoves set up in the middle of the room. Cost records indicate that after 1909 a great deal of heating trouble occurred for in 1909 a new stove was purchased from Wernecke and Schmitz Hardware for $97.75 and a new chimney built the same year. In 1916 another new stove was purchased from the same firm, but yearly bills were paid for stove repairs until 1922. The walls and ceiling of the schoolroom were covered with tin in 1928 by John Hale of Reedsville for $253, and a tin roof was put on the school in 1933. At present, the frame school, about 24 x 38 feet, has a large classroom with cross-lighting, a storage room, and a combined entry-cloakroom. The classroom has the old fashioned teacher's platform in the front of the room. The building does not have a basement, so the usual fuel shed and outdoor toilets are the other buildings on the grounds. Single seats and desks replaced the double desks in 1930. Electric lights and services were installed in 1934. The school lacked most of the modern teaching equipment and physical conditions. The school up to the time of suspension was still heated by a stove without provisions for schoolroom ventilation. The first set of reference books, The Standard Reference, was purchased in 1922, while the World Books were first adopted in 1927, and the Comptons in 1938. There is no well on the grounds so every year some child was paid about $5 yearly to carry water from a neighboring well. There are no enrollment figures for this school before 1870, but by that year 67 pupils were attending. The number increased yearly until 1890 when 84 children were enrolled. Thereafter the enrollment dropped steadily until by the school year 1945-46 the attendance was only 6, although the number of children of school age was above 80 for the district. The establishment of parochial schools at Clarks Mills and at Whitelaw as well as other rural factors affected this school. Early settlers of this district acocrding to early assessment rolls were W. T. Dunham, Wm. Hempton, D. Walsworth, Michael Murphy, John Halloran, Andrew Brennan, James Brannigan, E. D. Davis, James Finch, D. Tolefson, James Burns, and the Harris's. Later settlers after 1870 were W. J. Killen, the McCloister brothers, Herman Schultz, August Schmelter, P. J. Scanlan, Dan Robinson, King Wieman, Mich. Pankratz, Bernard Brennan, Jos. Lemberger, John Reddin, and Theo. Miller. The Harris brothers had a sawmill, W. J. Killen a store and cheese box factory, McCloisters a livery stable, Herman Schultz a cheese factory, Aug. Schmelter a blacksmith shop, and P. J. Scanlon a butcher shop. School officers after 1872 were kept in office for long terms. Seymour Robinson was clerk of the district from 1872 to 1874. Other school officers and their term of office were: Clerks Chas. Vanderlip 1874-77; Wm. Hempton 1877-1881 and 1887-96; John Murphy 1881-87; and J. W. Reddin 1896-1906. The treasurers were D. F. Robinson 1878-83; Bernard Brennan 1883-97; and Theo. Miller 1897-1906. The directors listed were M. Pankratz 1889-95; Peter Murphy 1895-1904; and John Kirch 1904-. By 1876 the salary of the clerk was $10 yearly, but the treasurer was paid a fee on the money collected until 1886 when his salary was set at $10. It was not until 1889 that the director received a salary of $10 yearly. The first record of a board member receiving pay for attending a board convention was recorded for 1906. Only the treasurer attended then, but by 1911, all three members received payment for attending the school board convention. No record of the first teachers is available, but because of the fine treasurer's record book it is possible to list all of the teachers from 1872 up to 1906. During the early 1870's, summer and winter sessions were common. Men teachers were seemingly preferred according to the following: Evelyn A. Flagg and Hiram White 1872; Melora Shove and W. H. Hutchinson 1873; W. H. Hutchinson and Evelyn A. Flagg 1874-75; P. E. Nagle 1876; Wm. Leith 1877; Etta Solberg 1878; C. J. Hutchinson 1879-80; Della Shove 1881-2; James Burke 1883; James Carrigan 1885-6; Jos. Seidl 1887; Felix Walsh 1888; Mary Brennan 1889-92; Lizzie Meany 1893-4; Mary Pelishek 1895; Hannah Brennan 1896-8; Winifred Meany 1899; P. H. Guhin 1900-2; Louis Trossen 1903-4; Stella Stranda 1905; and Marg. Doolan 1906. Those after 1906 are listed in the School Annuals. School records show that plans were made as early as 1921 for a new school building. Beginning that year $300 yearly was raised to be set aside for a building fund. That sum was later increased to $500 yearly, so that by 1933 the sum of $5,371 was in the fund. This sum was never used for a new school. Of historical interest to the community is the little white Presbyterian Church on the lot adjoining the school site. The lot was donated by Nelson Harris for a church which was built in the early 1860's. The church records have been lost so much of its history is unknown, but it is known that the Hemptons, Palmers, Davis's, Morgans, Harris's and Coopers were early members. The cemetery adjoining the church is the final resting place of early settlers. Today the church and cemetery stand neglected and unused. Cato district No. 1 is today a prosperous farming community which includes the village of Cato. The old industries of this hamlet are gone, but new business places have been established. The district school closed its doors and transported the pupils to Cato Jt. 7 after 1946 because of the small enrollment. With the closing of the schools and church in the village, the district has lost two important needs of a growing community. Additional Comments: Extracted from: 1848 - 1948 CENTENNIAL HISTORY of the Manitowoc County School Districts and Public School System EDITED BY JOS. J. RAPPEL, COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 1948 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wi/manitowoc/history/schools/cato1cat61gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 9.2 Kb