Manitowoc County WI Archives History - Schools .....Schleswig 3 - Woodland Park 
************************************************
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, 7:37 pm

SCHLESWIG 3 —WOODLAND PARK
Blanche Shimon

    "No children from another district shall be allowed to attend Schleswig
district No. 3", stated an old settler at the annual school meeting on September
28, 1868. Other old settlers attending murmured their assent, and thus was
voiced the wish that the Schleswig 3 school was for the growing school
population of this district.

    Schleswig No. 3 was at first known by just that name. After the growth of
the crossroad hamlet of Meggers two miles to the northwest, this school became
known as the Meggers school. In 1918, the name of Woodland Park was chosen
because the present site of the school was at one time a wooded one-half acre
which was a part of the uncleared areas nearby. The park was considered
complete, for there was even a natural pond located on it. To-day, the woodland
park is oniy a memory since only three of the Old gnarled trees remain.

    Schleswig school district No. 3 was formally organized about 1857 and
consisted of sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17, 18 in the town of Schleswig. Except for
minor boundary changes along the eastern and southern edges, the areal extent is
the same today. March 25, 1858, dates the official beginning of this district
for it was then that the district purchased from Fredfich R. Guthiel a half acre
of land for a school site. The description of this piece of land was:
"Commencing at 80 rods south of the N. E. corner of Sec. 7, thence 8 rods south,
thence 10 rods west, thence 8 rods north, thence 8 rods east to the place of
beginning."

    This district was always noted for its fine, well-equipped schools. As far
back as 1868, the progressive pioneers of this district had a frame building
valued at about $500, accommodating about 70 pupils, and housing a library worth
about $50. In 1869, the school was repaired and enlarged. The remodeled school
must have seemed modern indeed to the children of that period. The freshly
white-washed walls brightened the room, lighted by the usual small-paned windows
from the sides and rear of the school. Rows of crude desks faced the raised
platform in the front of the room where the master's desk was placed. The usual
boxstove and a bucket and dipper completed the room equipment.

    In December 1884 a district meeting was called to vote on the question of a
new school. The vote was favorable so a building committee was chosen and each
paid $2 for his services. The new frame building was of one story, 26 x 48 feet.
It had ten windows on the long and entrance sides. A door led directly into a
common hall in which the pupils stored their wraps and lunch pails. Two doors
led into a school-room furnished with double desks, a stove, and library
cupboards. The old fashioned pail and dipper still served to dispense the
drinking water. The entrance was without a porch except for a small platform.
The building itself was constructed of the best building materials available.

    Now that a suitable building had been provided, the district in 1895, voted
$100 for the purpose of improving the schoolyard. The stumps and stones were
removed and the low spots filled in. The following year, the well was drilled.
Up to that year, drinking water was carried to the school from the Wm. Reinholdt
farm across the road. Mr. Reinholdt received $2.50 yearly for his troubles. A 30
foot flag pole was erected in 1905, but that has been removed since then. The
schoolyard was enlarged by a half acre in 1898, purchased from Wm. Reinholdt for
$75. Some of the residents thought that that price was rather high for worthless
swamp land. To ensure his rights for the future, the district had to agree to
maintain a good new fence beween his land and the schoolyard, said fence to be
kept in repair so "that no pigs can get through".

    After a few repairs, such as replastering, interior painting instead of
whitewashing, lightning rods installed, and re-shingled with "the best shingles
that money can buy", the progressive citizens in 1935 decided to modernize the
old frame school. A basement was dug, a basement built, and the school moved on it.

    The building itself was remodeled by putting all of the seven schoolroom
windows in the south wall. The entrance was rebuilt so that one stairway leads
to the schoolroom while the other steps lead to the basement On each side of
this stairway entrance there is a cloakroom and an indoor lavatory—one for each
sex. The school-room has built-in library shelving and the most modern of
equipment to care, for the intellectual and physical growth of the pupils. The
basement has a large playroom, fuel storage space, and an approved
heating-ventilating system. Today, Schleswig No. 3 maintains one of the approved
modern schools of Manitowoc county.

    School enrollment for this district has followed the trend of most other
rural schools in our county. In 1869 there were 95 children of school age
residing in the district, but only 58 of them attended school. From 1869 to 1902
the attendance averaged between 60 and 80 pupils yearly. From 1900 on, there has
been a yearly decrease until today only about a dozen children are enrolled out
of a total school population of about 30.

    A few of the pioneer family names are still prevalent in the district. The
early settlers of this area as recorded in the county assessment records were
Tim O'Conner, Hans Greve, Henry Ruh, Franz Kriemann, August Lindemann, John
Wriedt, Hans Reimers, Jos. Quinn, Philip Schilling, and H. Wagenknecht. The many
graduates of this school are well-known throughout this and surrounding
communities.

    This district has made it a practice to keep its teachers for many terms.
The records on file in the county office show that male teachers were preferred
and that above the average wages were always paid. The following incomplete list
of teachers is given for this district: Mich. Quinn 1872-75; J. D. Brockert
1876-1880; Geo. Sievers 1894-5; Fred M. Gensch 1896-98; Fred Luebke 1904; and
Jennie Schwartz 1905. Others who taught here prior to 1906 were: Otto Guidinger,
E. S. Crowe, and Charles Meeday. Jennie Schwartz was the first female teacher
for Schleswig No. 3.

    School terms of 8 and 9 months were common as early as 1872. These terms
were divided into 6 months whiter and 2 month summer sessions. German was taught
for the district record books show that one-third of the money spent for books
should be spent for German texts. To help the teacher enforce attendance, the
district in 1903 chose Charles Timm as truant officer. To further enforce
attendance, the 1904 records state that the voters "further agreed that the
teacher shall not speak to the pupils in school when they don't attend regular".

    The voters of Schleswig No. 3 were careful in selecting their school
officers for such officers were returned to their positions for many terms.
August Elmgreen served as clerk from 1870 to 1880 while Wm. Reinholdt held the
same position in the 1890's and early 1900's. Others on the board were: Chas.
Ninmer, Ed. Kriemann, F. Ree, M. Quinn, and I. Thade.

    For the last thirty or forty years, the Woodland Park school has been a
leader in school activities. During the era of school fairs, town and county
contests, and spelling bees this school was an outstanding leader in these
affairs. The progressive farmers of this community have for years lead in the
program of providing the school children with hot noon lunches. This was done by
having the district mothers take weekly turns in bringing in an appetizing hot
dish of food at 12 noon, each school day during the early fall and winter
months. The small enrollment prevalent during the past few years has not
deterred the parents and board from maintaining a modern rural school.


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/schleswi234gms.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/

File size: 8.5 Kb