Manitowoc County WI Archives History - Schools .....Meeme No. 4 - Mineral Springs ************************************************ 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 November 4, 2007, 7:48 pm MEEME NO. 4 —MINERAL SPRINGS Olga Voss Meeme District No.- 4. was given the name "Mineral Springs School" in 1918 because of the many springs with high iron content found in that vicinity. To many of the older residents of the county and of the community, this school was often called the "Liberty-Pole School" because it is situated near the Liberty Pole. To the real "old-timers" it was known as the Danforth School because of the many connections that the Danforth family had with the early history of the school, and as the Welsh school because the district was settled largely by Welsh immigrants. On September 24, 1853, at one o'clock P. M. the voters of this district met in the schoolhouse of District No. 2 (Spring Valley) and voted to build a schoolhouse in their own district. Evidently the pupils of this vicinity had attended the Spring Valley School. T. G. Jenkins was chosen as the first clerk, W. Danforth director, and J. Danforth treasurer. It was decided to lay a tax of one dollar on each eighty acres to finance the new building and to pay other expenses. It was also decided that a three month school term beginning about the first of December be .maintained and that a female teacher be employed. Miss Lucetta Danforth was the first teacher employed. On October 7, 1858, the voters met again at the home of Jonathan Danforth to select a site for the schoolhouse. The voters decided to lease one-fourth acre of land of the old Thos. Jenkins farm, said lease was to continue as long as the land was used for school purposes. The site selected was the present one in Section 21 on the present highway 149. At that meeting it was decided to raise an additional tax of $1.50 on each eighty acres to be paid in the form of labor, helping to build the school-house. The voters evidently were dissatisfied with the proposed three month winter term for they voted an additional four month summer term — very exceptional for those early days. Miss Eliza Weed was the summer term teacher. During the winter of 1853 a log schoolhouse was built at a cost of $98.99. Forty cents was spent for a pail and a broom! Although the equipment was meager, the spirit was willing. The first two teachers were hired at salaries of $11.00 and $12.00 per month respectively. Twenty-five children were enrolled in the first year and they were given instruction in spelling, reading, geography, and arithmetic. In 1854 the school term was increased to nine months, divided into a winter and a summer term. The same year the voters requested that, a male teacher for the winter term be hired. There, very likely, was a definite reason for that request! The summer term usually commenced about June, while the winter term began in December. Probably both terms were so arranged because the 14 to 20 year old boys and girls were needed on the farm during the summer and fall. In 1859 the voters decided to "modernize" the school house. The windows were fixed so that they could be lowered and raised for better ventilation purposes. By 1860, forty-six pupils were enrolled. The subject of grammar was added at that time to the course of study. The district added a blackboard to its school equipment about 1860. At each annual meeting the voters decided who was to furnish the fuel for the year. Wood was purchased for 49 cents a cord in 1859. In 1869 the task of furnishing the school with wood was "struck off" to J. L. Williams for $1.18 per cord. The wood had to be in two-foot lengths, delivered by a certain date, be neatly piled, and of hardwood. School district meetings were well attended in those days. In 1870, for instance, there were twenty-six voters present. In 1871, the thirty-six voters present at the annual meeting voted for a new school building. The contract for the new schoolhouse was let to Charles Friberg for the sum of $675.00. It was completed by September 1872. To this new building were added a stove, table, and two chairs. The seats and desks were made of pine-lumber and not adjustable. This resulted in physical discomforts and difficulty in keeping the room well swept. The desks and seats were made by the contractor who built the school. In 1875 a dictionary and another blackboard were added. The same year it was voted to whitewash the schoolroom. In 1887 provisions were made to provide the school with a well. Since this is a region of natural springs, it was voted to bore a fountain on the school lot. The contract was let to Wm. Jenkins for $25 with the provision of "no water, no pay". In 1887, the district voted to buy "patented" seats. Some voters also expressed a wish at that early date for free textbooks but without result. J. S. Danforth, now living in Sheboygan, remembers hearing his father say that there was always considerable confusion every time a new teacher was hired because the new teacher wanted to use her favorite texts. To avoid this, the district finally adopted the texts to use. They were furnished at cost to the pupils by J. S. Edwards who lived across the road from the school. During 1914 a steeple and a bell were added and a bubbler was attached to the fountain which they had struck in 1891. In 1915 the voters voted to remodel the building by putting a foundation under the building. A hot air furnace was also installed. All members of the district were asked to help in the remodeling. They were to receive 20 cents an hour and if they used a team, 35 cents an hour was to be paid. From 1916 to 1935, the Board was given the authority to install indoor toilets, to equip the schoolhouse with lightning rods, to erect a flag pole, to purchase a teeter-totter, and to install electric lights. From time to time the boundaries of the school district were changed. The original plot of land on which the schoolhouse was built was leased until 1872 when the land was purchased, plus one-fourth acre from F. G. Jenkins. In 1863 a portion of the district was attached to District 6. In 1871 the district and District 1 made an exchange of certain pieces of land. In 1872 a part of section 18 was made a part of District 7, Schleswig, and in 1925 a part of section 29 was taken from District 1 Meeme and attached to this district. The highest enrollment for this school occurred in 1872 when about 70 children attended. The present enrollment averages between 15 and 20 yearly. Records show that district residents served many three-year terms on the schoolboard. Ed. Siemers served as clerk for 21 years; Chas. Heckman was treasurer for 27 years; Ed. Heckman, his son, succeeded his father and served 18 years. Teachers reported for this school were Lucetta Danforth, James Benson, Mary Maloney, James Connell, Sally Abrams, Peter Burns, Mary Hayes, Ed. S. Crowe, Nellie Carey, Paula Nielson, Minnie Morris, Kate Mullins, Will Heckman, Otto Krieman, P. J. Taugher, Betsy Danforth, Susie Danforth, Elizabeth Pritchard, Chas. Brady, Mary Conway, and Anna Pritchard. Many of the former teachers became well known in education, medicine, law, and business. J. S. Danforth, a former pupil of this school, reported that many pupils of the Meeme No. 4 school district became prominent in the state and through the mid-west. Dr. Louis Jermain became dean of the Marquette Medical school; Dr. Hubert Jermain, a physician of Milwaukee; Dr. Quincy Danforth of Oshkosh; Will Heckman became a teacher and was head of the manual arts department at the Ellenton, N. Dakota Teachers College; Will Siemers was ordained a minister; Peter Jermain invented the first of the present hospital bed; Geo. and Will Danforth became lawyers in the Dakotas; Cora Bean was elected superintendent of schools in the state of Washington; Anna Jenkins, Mary Davis, Anna, Emma, Gertrude, and Lucetta Danforth became county teachers. James Danforth is practicing dentistry in Sheboygan. A pioneer resident, David Davis, donated a site for the Baptist church which was directly across the road from the school site. The church building is now removed but the cemetery, the final resting place of the Welsh pioneers, remains a short distance north of this school. District children attended German parochial schools on Saturdays since no German was taught in this Welsh school. J. S. Danforth of Sheboygan has in his possession two teaching certificates issued to members of the Danforth family. One was issued to R. Danforth by Michael Galloghy, a town school superintendent, in 1859. The other certificate was issued by Co. Supt. Jere Crowley in 1865 to Quincy Danforth for a one-year term. The subjects in which he was examined were Orthography, Reading, Mental Arithmatic, Written Arithmetic, Primary Grammar, and Geography. The examination was marked on a scale of 10. The certificate was good only in Meeme and was a third grade teaching permit. District No. 4 Meeme has one place of historical interest — the Liberty Pole. The original pole was a wooden one, but has since been replaced by one of steel. There is an eagle, the symbol of liberty, perched atop of it. Both poles were purchased from funds voluntarily contributed by the people of the community. On legal holidays the flag is raised on the pole. Louis Prueter has done this faithfully for some years now. 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/meemeno4192gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 10.0 Kb