Manitowoc County WI Archives History - Schools .....Cato No. 12 - Madsen School ************************************************ 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 27, 2007, 1:38 am CATO NO. 12 — MADSEN SCHOOL Lucille Mullins Cato District No. 12 is known as the Madsen School. It was always designated by that name because of the number of Madsens who lived in this district and who had such leading parts in the school's early history. Early in the 19th century this area was settled by a number of families emigrating from Oslo, Norway. Among them were the Larsons, Aslacksons, Olsons, Gulicksons, Johnsons, Andersons, Pedersons, Michaelsons, Halversons, Jacobsons, and Solbergs. They settled in the northern part of this district and called the settlement "Oslo". On November 10, 1855, D. B. Knapp, town superintendent of schools of Maple Grove of which this township then was a part, addressed a communication to Hans Madson which stated that School District No. 12, Township of Maple Grove was formed. It included Sections 25-26-35-36 and the NE 1/4 of Section 34. The notice directed Hans Madson to call a meeting of all legal voters to meet at his home at 2 o'clock P. M. on November 17, 1855 for the purpose of organizing the district. The voters present were Peder Solberg, Kittel Larson, Ole Larson, Sorren Larson, Ander Olson, Tove Aslackson, Hiram Ray, P. Anderson, C. Anderson, Nels Gulickson, Ole Gunder, Jacob, Peder, and Hans Madson. Hiram Ray was appointed chairman and Hans Madson acted as clerk. The first board elected was Clerk Hiram Ray, Treasurer George Weaver, and. Director C. Anderson. The assembled voters levied a tax of $80 towards a building fund and authorized the Board to secure "a site as near the center of the district as practicable". The lease was made by Isaac Hanson for the sum of one dollar. The site contained 42 square rods in the S.W. corner of Section 25 which is now the site of the Emil Glaeser residence. The lease was for 99 years or as long as the school would occupy it. The first log school was built in the summer of 1856, but it couldn't have been completed in time for the annual meeting which was held at the Isaac Hanson home. An additional $80 was raised to complete the school and to pay the teacher's wages. During 1856 and 1857 the school was known as District No. 12, Franklin. School opened in 1857 with Gunder Aigensen as teacher at a salary of $34.60. The second teacher was served from 1858 to 1862 was Laura Jackson. The school term was four months, divided into a winter term during January and February, and a spring term during May and June. In 1861, for some unknown reason, the district voted to hire a female teacher who was not Norwegian, German, or Irish. The next two terms were taught by Miss L. Tucker and Miss M. Pierce who were doubtless "Yankees". Evidently difficulty was encountered in securing English female teachers for in 1863 the resolution was voted "null and void". In 1870 plans were made to erect the present school building. A new site was secured one-fourth mile north of the old location. Two-thirds of the needed land was secured from Chas. Larson and one-third from Thos. Aslackson for a total of $40. The lease was for "as long as the school occupied the site". The site was purchased in 1916 from John Larson and Hans Aslackson. The school was built according to Plan No. 1 of the School Code of 1870. The building was 27x34x12 feet. It has three windows on each side plus two-windows and a door at the front. The school was built by Chas. Butler for $798. A rail fence enclosed the site. The school was insured for $600 by.Gjermund Gjermundsen for $19.50 in 1876. The first building was disposed at a public auction to K. Johnsrud for $18. He moved it to his farm on the southwest point of the crossroad near the Gjerpen Church. Mr. Johnsrud had the post office in his home for a time. The mail was brought in from the Clarks Mills office. By 1880 the school site was enclosed with a well-made white fence. Twenty-two cottonwood trees were furnished by M. G. and Cornelius Madson for $3.76 and were planted. A bell tower and a bell were added to the building in 1895. The Oslo Literary Club donated a flag pole and a flag in 1896 as thanks for the use of the school as a meeting place. In 1890 a platform for the teacher's desk was built, only to be removed later. The roof was reshingled in 1905 with the "best quality shingles and cut nails" at a cost of $66.48. In 1908 the old wood burning stove was replaced by a heating and ventilating system. By 1936 a basement was put under the building and a furnace installed therein. A stoker was added in 1937. Single adjustable seats were purchased in 1928 and electric service was added in 1935. The building has changed little during its seventy-five years except for the addition of a shelter over the front porch and a woodshed on the back of the school. The enrollment in this school during its early history is unreported. The school census in 1890 listed eighty-six children of school age—-4 to 20 years. In 1945 the census listed sixty-four children. The highest enrollment recorded was in 1896 when sixty-four pupils attended. Hugo Mueller was the teacher then. The daily program of the 80's began the day's work at 9:00 o'clock with opening exercises which included rapid adding, orthoepy, or nature. Instead of grades there were lower, middle, and upper forms with as many as three classes in each form. There was a detailed study program with much "slate work". Free text books were provided after 1920. About that same time school fairs were in vogue during the fall season. The school district furnished the cash prizes for the best farm produce, sewing, baking, and handicrafts. During its long existence the district has had many of its citizens serve on the school board. Some of them on record are: Christian Larson, Ole Nelson, Andrew Larson, M. G. Madson, Ole Stephenson, Ole Hanson, Nels Anderson, and K. O. Knutson. They have preserved a wealth of records which are being carefully kept by each succeeding clerk. These records give a much more minute history of the district than this brief article can cover. Some of the early teachers were Mary McCourt, Mathilde Terkleson, Anna Gustaveson, Arvilla Osulson, J. W. Flagg, Anneta Amunds, John Dunbar, Martha Stephenson, Lizzie Hammond, W. A. Christiansen, Bele Chisholm, Katie Mullins, Jos. Pospisiel, Sarah Thompson, Julia Ross, G. A. Aubol, Tina Arends, Geo. Mittnacht, and Orbina Madsen. The district is the home of the Madsons who organized the Manitowoc Seed Company. Among the families which produced teachers are the Knutsons, Larsons, Christiansens, Griffins, Pedersons, and Nelsons. The Stephensons were owners of several mills built at the Oslo Dam. An electric power plant supplying electricity to the surrounding area was built in 1905. N. T. Nelson was one of the first to "hitch on" to the power line. A cooperative cheese factory was built in 1890 by M. G. Madson and Halver Pederson. An Equity building was erected but has now been remodeled into a residence. Two scenic spots are located within the district boundaries. Lower Falls on the Manitowoc River and the Oslo Dam are attractive spots for fishermen and nature lovers. 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/catono1270gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 7.9 Kb