Manitowoc County WI Archives History - Schools .....Newton No. 8 - Lincoln 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 November 22, 2007, 7:50 pm NEWTON NO. 8 —LINCOLN SCHOOL Norma H. Metzger Newton District No. 8 is now known as the Lincoln School. On July 7, 1919, the voters officially decided to give it the above name in honor of former President Lincoln. Prior to that time, it was often referred to as the Waack, or the Fehrman, or the Clover school. The last name was more common because it is located one mile north of the village of Clover. School records kept by the clerks from 1863 to about 1900 were usually written in the German language. This indicates that the community was settled by German immigrants. German was taught as long and in as many classes as the law would allow before 1900. After foreign languages were ruled out of the public school curriculum, the children attended German school at nearby parochial schools on Saturdays. Much additional history of the district was obtained from Charles Fehrman who is one of the oldest residents and is now living with his son, Orville Fehrman, the director of the school. The assessment rolls for Newton show that the present Newton District No. 8 was a part of Newton District No. 7 until about 1865. The original District No. 7 up to 1865 contained sections 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and the E 1/2 of section 22. In 1865 when District No. 8 was organized the new district included section 2, 11, 13, the N 1/2 of-section 10, and the W 1/2 of section 12. In 1869 a part of section 3 was attached to the district and a part of section 10 was given to District No. 1. Other changes in the district boundaries have occurred as time elapsed. Records of the district officers indicate that the community began agitating for a school of their own in 1863. The first schoolhouse which served the original Newton District No. 7, was situated about halfway between the present village of Clover and the present school site. No information as to the type of building nor the cost is available, except that it had crude benches and desks. The windows had blinds common to early schools. The site of the first school was sold to Henry Esser in 1895. In October, 1893, just before the fall term was to open, fire destroyed the school-house. While the question of a new schoolhouse and a new site was being decided, classes were held in the Newton Singing Hall, which was located a short distance west of the present school site. During the winter of 1893-94, the voters decided upon a site for the new school. Many special meetings were held before a decision could be reached. Some of the residents favored a location on the present Highway 141 in section 12, some distance north of the old school site. Others favored the present location. Finally, it was decided to locate in section 12 on Highway 141. The site was surveyed and everything was put in readiness for building operations. In January 1894, the voters had another special meeting because there seemed to be a great deal of opposition to the chosen site. County Superintendent of Schools C. E. Patzer was invited to give his suggestions regarding a suitable location for the new building. The voters finally agreed on the present site in the S. E. corner of SW 1/4 of the SE 1/4 of section 2. The new frame school was built in 1895 and .still in use, cost about $300. The building has an entry, two good-sized cloakrooms, and 24 x 36 foot classroom. A wood and coal stove provided heating and ventilation until 1947 when an oil burner was installed. Three large windows are placed along each of the long sides, with two windows towards the entrance side. There is no basement nor playroom. Electric lights were installed in the late 1930's. Closed cupboards are used to store the library and textbooks. Other schoolyard buildings include toilets, a pump house, and a woodshed. No enrollment figures for the first five years of the school's existence are available. The attendance in 1870 was forty-four. The highest enrollment, in this school was in 1895 when 64 pupils attended. The average during the latter 1800's was about 45 pupils per year. Since 1900 the enrollment has averaged about 25 students, with the present attendance averaging about that number. The smallest enrollment for the school was recorded in 1941 when only thirteen pupils attended. The drop in attendance was due to nearby parochial schools at Newtonburg, Silver Lake, and Manitowoc, and due to other rural conditions. Early settlers in this community were predominantly German. Among the early settlers, according to the Newton assessment roll of 1860, were T. Ackermann, R. Wolf, P. Lohmann, A. Wellner, M. Meier, P. Clausen, A. Bauer, Fr. Wellner, L. Frosch, Fr. Sachse, W. Bremer, T. Vetting, P. Stephany, G. Degenhardt, C. Wernecke, A. Groelle, H. Bruckschen, E. Carsten, and J. Hochkammer. Herman Carsten, a former resident of the district, served the town as chairman, for many years and also was the sheriff of Manitowoc county for several terms. Many of the district settlers served the district as school board officers. The names of some of them on record are as follows: John Schulz, Chris Grapentin, Aug. Wintermeyer, Hy. Ruchhoeft, Math. Roberts, H. L. Schulz, and Aug. Haupt 1896-99; Chas. Fehrmah and Chas. Duvenick 1904-05. From 1870 on, the district has had at least six months of school. In 1874, seven month terms began, while by 1895 eight months of school were held. This district now maintains nine months of school as required by law. The district has always shown a preference for men teachers and paid salaries above those of surrounding districts. Many of the teachers have become prominent in their chosen fields. The first teachers of whom there is a record were John. E. Barnstein 1872 and Wm. Ross 1873. Some other teachers before 1906 were Ferd. Lonsdorf, Wm. Elfers, F. A. Strupp, C. A. Gielow, Robert Rudolph, Chas. Hoeffner, Ferd. Fisch, Louis Trossen, Carl Wernecke, and Stanley Gretz. The texts used in the school after 1870 were the Sanders spellers and readers, Ray's arithmetics, Cornel's geography, Wells grammar, Mitchell's geography, Guffey grammar books', Swinton's spellers, Appleton Readers, and Harper's geographies. Mail for the school was gotten from Newtonburg, Nordheim, Timothy, and Manitowoc during the 1800's. The district includes the present hamlet of Clover. Silver Creek meanders through the northeastern section of this community, while Calvin Creek winds its way through the southern boundary. During the summer these creeks are of little recreational importance to the nearby residents. 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/newtonno216gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 7.3 Kb