Manitowoc County WI Archives History - Schools .....Two Creeks No. 1 - Lake View ************************************************ 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, 10:02 pm TWO CREEKS NO. 1 — LAKE VIEW Sara Kane Two Creeks School district Number 1 was officially designated the "Lake View" school in 1918. The reason for the selection of this name was that a fine view of Lake Michigan is possible from the school premises. The school building is located a quarter mile north of the present village of Two Creeks on Highway 141. It is located in Section 11 of the township of Two Creeks. The district is now composed of Sections 2-3-10-11-14-15 and a part of 13. Prior to 1918 the school was known as the Nero School and much later as the Two Creeks School. It is still known by the latter name by the residents of the nearby communities. The name "Nero School" was given to the first school because it was situated in the then thriving village of Nero located about one mile east of the present village of Two Creeks. The village of Nero has disappeared and only a few evidences of its existence now remain. School records show that the district was organized about 1860. The first school building was built at Nero in the summer of 1861 at a cost of $275. It was built on contract by H. Luebke on a half acre of land offered to the district by Mr. Luebke. The building had an exterior of brick, over a wooden frame structure. It was forty feet long, twenty feet wide, double-boarded with eight windows having 10 x 14 inch lights. Wooden benches were used for seats. The equipment consisted of a box stove, two blackboards, record books for the school officers, a flag, tables, pictures, maps, and chairs. The sum of 15 dollars was raised to pay for these furnishings. The second school building was erected in the summer of 1880 at a cost of about $1,000. It was located on the southwest side of the present school grounds. The building again was a frame one with brick on the outside. The old building at Nero was sold to a Herman Thiem for $18. Records tell that the building was so cold on winter days that the children's lunches were frozen. To eat these lunches the pupils had to thaw them out by putting the lunches on the stove where the bread would toast. It seems that much of the equipment used in the first school was transferred to the second building. Nero was still the post office address in 1898. The third school building, the present one without the remodeling which was done since its erection, was built in 1915 at a cost of $5,747.50. It is a frame building which was built by carpenter Ed. Schwab and mason Emil Gustek. The school is now modern in every respect with a steam heating system, drilled well, a pressure water system, indoor flush toilets, adjustable desks and seats, electric lights and plate, and all the latest and best teaching equipment. The old woodshed and an outhouse were sold at public auction for $7. The schools in this district were one room affairs until 1916 when two teachers were employed. The enrollment at that time was 66. A state law passed in 1905 forced districts with an enrollment over 65 to employ two teachers. Prior to 1905 no limit of the number of students per teacher was set. In 1932 the enrollment had gone down to below twenty-five, so the district voted to become a one-room school again. School enrollment in this district fluctuated from decade to decade. During the time that Nero was a thriving Lake Michigan port, the enrollment varied from 50 to 100 pupils per year. In 1870 there were 100 pupils enrolled; in 1883 sixty were present; and at present the enrollment averages about 25. The first families settling in Nero had many children while today the number of children per family averages about three or four. School records indicate that the Wojtas, Lasts, Blahas, Lehrmans, Krachts and Bartas were prominent residents of this community in the past years. The Wojta family members have made names for themselves in agriculture, education, and business. Other families in this district have also had leaders in the fields of farming, teaching, and business. The first school officers, of which there is a record were: Clerk John Eggert, Treasurer John Johnston and Director John Grengs. Officers who served for years were the Ignatz Wojtas, John Last and the Bartas. Their duties were changed from time to time by the state, but at all times these citizens tried in every way to maintain the best educational system for their community. Two Creeks No. 1 has a long list of teachers who made county, state and national reputations. In 1872 John Nagle, who became County Superintendent of Schools and County Philosopher, taught in this school. Thomas Walsh, who became U. S. Senator from Montana in later years, taught in Two Creeks No. 1 in 1878. John Clark, the first principal of the two room school in 1916, became an outstanding principal of a large school in Milwaukee. Other teachers prior to 1900 were. John O'Hara, J. C. Nazer, Wenzel Tomek and Miss H. Eberhardt. Teachers after 1900 who became people of importance were: Louis Trossen, Mary Short, E. S. Mueller, Leslie Guetschow, Robert Guse, Clarence Silbersack, and Clarence Stangel. E. S. Mueller became County Superintendent of Manitowoc County schools, while Robert Guse became county supervising teacher. During the first years in which school was maintained at Nero the district votedto have winter and summer terms. Often two different teachers were hired to conduct the two terms. There is no evidence of the teaching of a forign language in this community, due no doubt to the fact that the families settling at Nero were immigrants of varying nationaliies [sic] and religions. The first subjects taught were reading, arithmetic, spelling, writing, and geography. As in all schools at that early period, there was a Primary Form, an Intermediate Form, and an Upper Form instead of the grades as we have them at present. The three school buildings were-often used as community centers, for spelling matches, and for school fairs. School programs were held yearly. During recent years the school has been used for evening card parties, for Farm Bureau meetings, and for 4-H Club meetings. The district has the ruins of the village of Nero as a place of historical interest. Nero was at one time one of the most important lake ports on Lake Michigan. Lake boats made regular visits to this port to take on cargoes of tan bark, lumber and hay for the port of Milwaukee. Ruins of the early settlement are still in evidence. There are remains of sidewalks, the pier, the sawdust from the logging industry, basements of early buildings, and rails and cement blocks at the pier. Some of the early business places were a blacksmith shop, a tavern, a store, the post office, and warehouses. The district also has a small area of petrified forests at the lakeshore. A more complete history of the community by Professor Jos. Wojta, of the University of Wisconsin, a former resident of this district has been published. 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/twocreek240gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 7.7 Kb