Manitowoc County WI Archives History - Schools .....Rockland 6 - Maple Rock ************************************************ 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 December 30, 2007, 6:57 pm ROCKLAND 6 —MAPLE ROCK Suspended Rockland school district No. 6 was given the name Maple Rock because of the many maple trees growing on a rocky ledge a short distance north of the school. District and community residents refer to it as the Reinke school because it is located across the road from the Reinke farm. County records show that Rockland No. 6 was organized before 1856. It then consisted of what is today Rockland districts No. 6 and No. 10. When Rockland 10 was organized in 1895, the western half of this district was detached. Many other changes to the original boundaries have occurred since its organization. The first log schoolhouse was built across the road from site of the school sold in 1947. Not much is known about the size of the building nor how or by whom erected. The equipment consisted of hand-made desks and seats large enough to accommodate six or more pupils. A boxstove heated the room: There is no record of what disposal was made of this building after its abandonment. The second schoolhouse, the one sold in the summer of 1947, was erected in 1873 at a cost of about $500. It was a frame building about 24 x 28 with a small cloak-room at the entrance. The building had windows on the long sides. The seats and desks were like those in the old log school. In 1895, new double desks were purchased from the American Seating Co., Manitowoc, for $58. It was not until 1905, that the sum of about $30 was paid to build the bell tower. Single, adjustable desks, of the latest type were purchased for $445 in 1931. In 1930, an enclosed porch was added to the front of the building. The site of one-fourth acre was purchased from D. Krueger on July 10, 1889 for $55. The same year Rob. Bubolz was paid $53 to put a fence around the schoolyard. On July 22, 1895, this district paid to the newly created Rockland district No. 10, the sum of $368 for their share of the building and equipment in Rockland No. 6. The school yard also had a large fuel shed located a few feet southwest of the school. A fine merry-go-round purchased in 1930 for $180 stood at the southeast corner of the schoolgrounds. The two toilet buildings were situated at the rear of the school. This district school had a school census comparable with those of the larger districts of the county until the district was split up in 1895. As early as 1870, there were about 100 children of school age with 32 of that number attending school. After the formation of Rockland No. 10, the school census dropped from about 150 to 75. Since 1900, the number of children of school age dropped steadily so that by 1947 there were only 21 children of school age. Some of the grade children now attend the parochial schools at Reedsville, but out of the 21 children of grade school age, 8 grade children were being educated in the public schools in the Reedsville, Long Lake, and Poplar Grove districts. The steady decline of district children attending the public school caused the voters to vote the suspension of the district school in July, 1940. Transportation is now furnished and tuition paid to nearby public schools. Edward Schroeder was the last teacher to teach the Maple Rock school when 8 pupils were enrolled. The building has stood idle ever since. In the summer of 1947, a special meeting was called, after sentiment was expressed at the July annual meeting to sell the building and the site, to vote on the question of selling the property. The vote was in favor of disposal. Accordingly, the following auction notice was placed in the Manitowoc Herald-Times: AUCTION SALE School House and Equipment 1 mile south of Reedsville, 1 mile west of Kubale's Tavern, then 1/4 mile south or 4 miles north of Collins. Maple Rock School, Dist. No. 6, Town of Rockland. SATURDAY, AUGUST 9th 2:00 P. M. Sharp Real Estate consists of building, size 22 x 42, good woodshed 14 x 20 and drilled well. Land consists 9-20 acre. Land and buildings will be offered separately and also as one unit and will be sold to the highest bidder. "Complete school equipment consisting of Empire furnace, 9 large single desks with chair attached, 14 small desks with, chairs, 12 small chairs, file, book case, clock, teacher's desk and chair, blackboards, cabinet, all books, pictures, water cooler, 9 planks 10 x 12 and other planks, school bell, merry-go-round in good condition and other small articles. Milford H. Schulz, Clerk Richard Reinke, School Director Maurice Mullins, Auctioneer On Saturday, August 9, 1947, the auctioneer first took bids separately on the building, on the site, and on the equipment. These totaled only $950, so a single bid for the school and site was called. The price then went up to $1,630 and the school and site were sold to Richard Reinke, a school board member. The equipment was sold piecemeal with the bell bringing $9.75 and a good furnace only $8. Books were sold in piles for five cents to $1.50. Mr. Reinke plans to turn the building into living quarters for farm workers. The early residents of this community came from Germany. Community leaders served on the school board in various capacities. School officers in the 1870's were C. F. Krueger, Jos. Cabbot, Fred and David Krueger. Those serving from 1880 to 1906 were Clarence and Henry Zulager, Herman Rusch, Herman Bessert, Wm. Krueger, Albert Moede, Carl Tetting, A. Fischer, August Schmidt, August Zahn, Dan Bubolz, Wm. Stueck, and Henry Fischer. The list of teachers who have taught this school before 1906 is quite complete because of the fact that the old treasurer's book is still available. Summer and winter terms were held in the 1870's and 1880's. The records show that as late as 1905 the sum of $15 was paid to conduct a German school in the spring or summer months. Teachers in the 1870's were Henry Kleist, Bridget Nolan, Harold Whitemore, Josie Helfrish, Annie Lawrence, E. G. Fuller, and John Dunbar. In the 1880's, the teachers were Lizzie Gill, Maggie Morrissey, Nellie Doyle, Katie Finnegan, Clara Noble, Jos. Morrissey, and Wm. Koch. The teachers in the 1890's to 1906 were Winifred Meany Wm. Christiansen, W. A. Maertz, Ida Schwartz, Johanna Schwartz, Ida Kiesow, Alma Gustaveson, Camille Shimek, and Leila Seiler. Irish teachers seemed to be preferred in the German community. The hundreds of former pupils who have attended this school became community leaders in this and other areas. Charles Wenzel now represents the village of Reedsville on the county board. Arline and Phyllis Schmidt became county teachers in the 1930's-1940's. The listing of all who have become well-known in the county since the district was organized would be impossible in this school history. The sale of the school building and grounds in the summer of 1947 indicates that the original intent of the organization of the district for school purposes has ceased. It is now a matter of time before Rockland No. 6 will be absorbed by nearby districts or become part of a larger, re-organized school district meeting the present and future needs of educating rural boys and girls. 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/rockland229gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 7.9 Kb