Manitowoc County WI Archives History - Schools .....Eaton No. 2 - Elder Grove ************************************************ 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 30, 2007, 9:38 pm EATON NO. 2 —ELDER GROVE Norma L. Koene Eaton school district No. 2 was officially designated the Elder Grove school because of the many box elders growing on the schoolyard. It is often referred to as the Steinthal school because the school is located a mile northwest of that village. It is also known as the Hog Island school because it is located near the so-called Hog Island area of land to the north of the school. The Eaton assessment rolls do not list Eaton school district No. 2 until 1864. Before that date it was largely an unsettled area with the farmers around the outer border sending their pupils to neighboring schools. There are no written records prior to 1871, but with the help of older district residents a few of the early school facts were gathered. It is reported that the first school in this community was a German parochial school located at Steinthal. It was built by early settlers for the children who were supposed to attend the parochial school at St. Nazianz. The children of the Protestant families were allowed to attend. There were no schoolboard members since it was not a public school. The teacher's salary was said to have been 75 cents per pupil per month. Anyone with a good German education was qualified to teach. Math Ruplinger was said to have been one of the early teachers. About 1864, the settlers living in the Hog Island area decided to build a public school. The site selected was about 800 feet north of the present schoolyard. The log structure was erected by community cooperation. The equipment was meager and crude, with benches long enough to seat six pupils. Writing and arithmetic problems were done on slates. About 25 pupils were enrolled during the first years of the district school. After about 20 years of service the old log building was sold to Johann Brocker for $13. He used it for a dwelling for many years. At the annual meeting on August 29, 1881, the voters authorized a new school-house but no definite plans were made. At a special meeting on January 14, 1882, it was decided to build a brick structure 32 x 24 x 11 feet, to be completed in 1883. The voters agreed that every man in the district was to deliver 1000 bricks to the school site for $2.25. Henrich Schnell, Frank Stauber, and Jacob Hansen were chosen to act as the building committee. At the annual meeting in 1882, the people voted to build the new school 15 to 20 rods south of the old school site. At another special meeting on September 30, 1882, it was voted to purchase one-half acre from August Anhalt in section 31 for $38. The contract for labor and lumber for the school was let to H. T. Tomsen and Eisentraut for $685. The completed building cost $876.46. The well was drilled by Ernest Bock for $27.75. The brick school built in 1883 is still in use today. A small attached entry is used as a cloakroom and fuel storage space. A single door leads into a classroom lit-by three windows on each long side. Single adjustable desks have replaced the double desks purchased after the new school was erected. The walls are wainscoted up to the windows. A floor furnace in the northeast corner of the schoolroom heats and ventilates the room. Records show that a Wernecke heating system was installed in 1907.after a special meeting was called to authorize this expenditure. The old box stove was sold to Anton Schnell for fifty cents. A library cupboard was built in the southeast corner of the room in 1915. Blackboard space is provided across the front of the room. Between the windows the old-fashioned "black" boards are used. Cupboards along the side walls are used to store the dinner pails and teaching equipment. Electric lights were installed in the spring of 1948. A ladder which leads to the attic is lowered to the floor when it is to be used. About 1930, the walls and ceiling were covered with beaver board. The small schoolyard was fenced on the north and west sides in 1909. Posts were set every one-half rod and fenced with six barbless wires. Posts and gas pipe were placed on the side toward the road for hitching racks. The fence along the road was removed in 1912. Today the yard is fenced with a 3 board fence. The yard contains a woodshed at the northeast corner, toilets at each of the rear corners, and a merry-go-round at the southeast corner. During the 1800's, the school year was divided into summer and winter terms. The summer term began about June 1st, while the winter term began between October 15 and November 1st. One hour of German was taught daily. In 1880, for instance, the voters decided to have 8 months of English school and one month of German school. Eight month terms were common during the 1890's. For some reason the voters usually specified that a male teacher be employed. The enrollment in this school never was as large as in other county schools because the number of farmers was limited due to the large swamp areas. The largest number enrolled was about 60, while the present enrollment averages about 15 yearly out of a school census of about 35. Early assessment rolls for Eaton show that J. Brochert, M. Lau, John Schmidt, B. Borman, C Theisen, F. Westphalen, and Henry Schnell were pioneer settlers or landowners in this district. Henry and Adam Schnell are listed as school clerks in the 1870's and 1880's. Other residents who served on the schoolboard before 1906 were H. J. Hansen, L. Bosma, Henry Fabes, and John Schnell. The list of teachers who taught this school prior to 1906 is incomplete. Men teachers seemed to have been employed whenever they were available. Teachers, whose names are recorded as having taught in Eaton No. 2, are Aug. Elmgreen 1872 and 1875, Mich. Harlow 1873, Addie Niles 1874, T. H. Ward 1876, Katie Fardy 1877, James Grogan 1878-9, Wm. Dunbar 1880, Theo. Oseau, and Simon Wehrwein 188-, Hermani Wessel 1894, Rose Wintermeyer 1895, Wm. Birkle 1896, Albert Wagenknecht 1897-1904, Torval Tollefson 1905, and Rudolph Paulson 1906. During the first 40 years of this school's existence, the voters at the annual meetings determined who was to furnish the fuel. In 1880, for instance, 8, cords of wood had to be delivered by August Anhalt for the sum of $4 at a specified time, in specified lengths, and be neatly piled in the woodshed! The matter of cleaning the school was let also at each meeting. In 1897, Mr. Westphalen agreed to scrub the school two times for fifty cents each time! A place of historical interest is Hog Island, an area of land of about 700 acres completely surrounded by swamps. John Nagle in his book "Nagle's Philosophy" had this to say about Hog Island: "Hog Island is a name applied to a rock-ribbed hill enclosed by a cedar swamp in the western part of Eaton, Wisconsin. It is noted principally for hogs, dogs, rocks, thatched roofs, and a class of people . . . The Island was formerly the abode of Yankees ..." Hog Island got its name from an early settler named Haak who owned a considerable portion of this island when it was first settled. Today Hog Island is still surrounded by swamps but it is no longer noted for what Mr. Nagle stated it was. Since Eaton No. 2 is isolated from the rest of the township, it may be forced to look to other nearby school districts for the solution of its future school problems. 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/eatonno2118gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 8.1 Kb