Manitowoc County WI Archives History - Schools .....Centerville No. 1 - Point River ************************************************ 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, 11:32 am CENTERVILLE NO. 1—POINT RIVER Marion Hickmann The history of Centerville District No. 1 dates back to about 1852. The Centerville assessment roll of 1856 on file in the county treasurer's office shows that that district was set up for taxation purposes before that date. The district then included sections 1-2-3-10-11-15-16, E 1/2 of 4, N 1/2 of NE 1/4, and SE 1/4 of NE 1/4, and NE 1/4 of SE 1/4 of Section 16. Those living or owning land at that time in the district were the Bakers, Stoltenbergs, Hockmayers, Obergockers, Janings, Kielsmeiers, Doerschs, Bierdmanns, Leiteritzes, Wagners, Stockmeyers, Hildebrands, Schuettes, Bogenschultzes, Moldenhauers, Boettchers, Wimmlers, Orths, Groteguts, and Salms. Education for the district children was first provided in an old Lutheran parochial school which was located one-eighth mile west, one mile south, and one mile west of the present Point River school. Some of the older settlers in the community today can still recall going to the Lutheran school for their catechism and three R's. The first school of frame construction was built in 1871 by community members for $560. It was called the Point River school after 1918 because the Point River flowed near the school building. It was located in section 3, town of Centerville, one-eighth mile west, and one-fourth mile south of the present site. The school was built the same year that the Lake Shore railroad was laid. In later years Albert Mill, one of the early teachers, made the grounds more attractive by planting a row of cedars. The first building had double seats and other equipment common to schools of the 1870's. The old school was abandoned in 1908. The Groteguts bought the building and sold it to Rudolph Kielsmeier for $152 in 1912. He used the old lumber in it for constructing a farm building. The second and present school was constructed in 1908-1909 for $3,003. It is located near the SW corner of the SE 1/4 of section 3. The acre and a half site was purchased from Wm. Kono in 1908 for $275. The school was built as a two room building with a large attic and full basement. A basement furnace has always been provided. Kerosene lamps were used until 1939 when electric service was provided. Outdoor toilets are still in use. The building has a water system made possible by an artesian well with high iron content. The structure built in 1908-09 was used as a graded school from 1909 to 1912. The enrollment in the first school always was very great, but by 1908 it became so large that the state advocated two rooms. During the first years in the new building the enrollment reached a total of seventy-seven. In 1912 the southern half of the district organized a new school district with the result that the enrollment was cut almost in half. Centerville District No. 1 now contains sections 1, 2, 3, part of 4, 9, 10, and 11. In 1945-46 the enrollment had declined to a total of twelve. The second school used the double desks from the old school for several years. They were replaced by single adjustable seats. After the school became a one-room school again in 1912, one of the rooms became a playroom and a room in which to prepare noon lunches. Up to 1940 it was the custom for the children to buy their own books, but after that year free textbooks were provided. Adolph Doersch served on the school board for many years. Other school board members before 1906 were Moritz Rossberg 1872-73; Andrew Rettele 1874-76; Conrad Ortmayer 1877-79; Ernest Jaehnig, Fred Arends, G. Mill, Fred Jacobi, Adolph Klessig; Fred Schuette, and J. Lorfeld. The record of teachers found in the county superintendent's office shows that winter and summer terms were not held in this district. The record lists only winter term teachers. Those listed for the school are as follows: Wm. G. Stewart 1872, Herman F. Pohland 1873 to 1876, Wm. Mulholland 1877, F. A. Strupp 1878-79. Those from 1895 up to 1906 were Albert Mill, Fred Gensch, Thos. O'Connor, Otto Zander, W. G. Wehrwein, John Goldie, Mathew Fitzgerald, Albert Kielsmeier, Wm. Birkle, Simon Wehrwein, Henry Dunkart, Erwin Cary, and Wm. Engel. Men teachers were nearly always employed and were preferred as a general rule. The school year gradually increased from a three to a nine month term. The Doersch home was the teacher's usual boarding place, if one was necessary. Spelling contests were common in the early days. They were community affairs held in the school. Prizes were awarded from the district treasury. Later occasional box socials were held: Annual Christmas programs were the biggest and longest awaited affairs. In the 1920's contests were held at Wimmler's Hall at Cleveland by all the schools in the township. The contests were conducted by some member of the county superintendent's office, and teachers, pupils, and parents packed the hall. Public card parties were also common in some years. The scenic and recreational spot in the district is Point Creek Park which is used for picnic grounds, fishing, and duck hunting. It is located at the mouth of one of the many creeks emptying into Lake Michigan. The shores of Lake Michigan, which is the eastern boundary of the district, also affords scenic as well as recreational attractions. Throughout the district, there are other small creeks forking their way deeper and deeper into the soil. These provide the district with some fishing areas especially during the spring freshets. 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/centervi72gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb