Manitowoc County WI Archives History - Schools .....Two Rivers 7 - Oakland ************************************************ 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 January 15, 2008, 2:58 pm TWO RIVERS 7 — OAKLAND Mrs. Lily M. Arneman At the time that schools were officially named certain automobiles were very popular in some districts. The Oakland car was popular in the Two Rivers No. 7 school district. When the. question of naming the school in 1918 was being considered, one of the district mothers at the annual school picnic casually suggested the name Oakland school since most of the residents had Oakland cars. That name proved to be acceptable and was chosen. Formerly, and even today, the school is often referred to as the Funk school as it is located across from the Funk home and because the present site was purchased from Henry Funk, Sr. Two Rivers Ho. 7 was organized on Oct. 1, 1856 and included then parts of the present Two Rivers 6 and Two Creeks 2 districts. According to the 1856 assessment rolls the district was made up of sections 1, 2, 11, 12, in T. 20 N. and R. 24 E., sections 6 and 7, R. 25 E., and sections 34 T. 21 N. and R. 24 E. When the present Two Rivers district No. 6 was organized in 1862, this district was restricted to all of sections 2, 11, 14 and the west one-half of sections 1, 12, 13 all in T. 20 N., R. 24 E. The first log school was located on a half acre plot purchased from Henry Molle on June 8, 1857 for $2.50. The site was cleared of trees and stumps that same summer for $12. The first school was located one-fourth mile south and one-fourth mile west of the present schoolyard on what was then known as the old corduroy road between Two Rivers and Two Creeks. The log structure was built by Charles L Sinkel for $53 for labor. About 3,000 feet of lumber were used for the floor, roof, and frame work at a cost of $30. The district raised about $200 to construct this building. The building was of logs with a shingle roof, a double floor, five double windows, and a framed door. Mr. Sinkel was also engaged to construct 13 seats and desks about six feet long for the scholars, a table 3 x 4 feet for the teacher, one "black" board 3x5 feet, one large arm chair, and two settles (a form of chair or bench). In September 1858, the school was plastered by Henry Manger for $9. No record is given as to the disposal of this building. On August 25, 1879, the voters upon motion made and carried authorized the construction of a new school and voted to change the site since the old school was not centrally located. The vote was to purchase an acre of land from Henry Funk, Sr. for $25. It was decided to build a brick structure 24 x 36 feet with three windows on each long side at an approximate cost of $600. The stone foundation was to be put 3 feet into the ground. John Samz, Henry Kasch, and Frederick Mandel were appointed on the building committee. Every district voter had to furnish his share of labor or hauling or to pay his share in money. The money to pay for the building was borrowed at 10% interest. The brick school erected in 1879 is the one in use today. The front of the building faces west and has a small storm shed. The entrance door opens into a small hall about 4x4 feet. Two doors, one to the left and one to the right open into cloakrooms which are a part of the regular classroom. A jacketed stove near the north- west corner heated the small schoolroom until an oil burner was installed during the fall of 1947. Library shelving and cupboards along the north wall store and display the text and library books. Blackboards line the east wall which the pupils face from single, adjustable, pedestal type desks and seats which replaced the old double desks purchased in the 1880s' or 1890's. Electric lights were installed in the summer of 1946. The rest of the schoolroom equipment consists of a sandtable, teacher's desk, tables, chairs, maps, globe, and reference books. To the rear of the schoolyard are the outdoor toilets and a large woodshed. The playground equipment consists of a merry-go-round. The enrollment has fluctuated with the times. This has never been a large school although the county records show that about 60 pupils attended in 1885. The number of children of school age has never been up to 100 since its organization. In 1870 only 31 children attended and only 54 children of school age lived in the district. With each passing decade the enrollment decreased. By 1941, the yearly attendance was only 5 pupils so the voters decided to suspend their school and to transport the children to the Twin Elder graded school. In 1946, there were again 11 children attending public school so Two Rivers No. 7 re-opened after suggested building improvements were made. The Funk and Eis families were among the earliest families and their descendants still reside in the district. Henry Volche was the first school clerk, Frederick Brandes director, and David Mandel treasurer in 1857. Other district residents serving on the board up to 1906 after which the County School Annuals were issued were Clerks John Sechrist, Henry Reisland, Fred Lohmary, Ed. Stolberg, Adam Sechrist, Fred Schwartz, and Fred Mandel. The treasurers were Ed. Stolberg, John Sechrist, David Mandel, Henry Reisland, Fred Mandel, John Bugler, John Schmidt, Fred Schwartz, Michael Silbersack and Julius Eis. The directors before 1906 were Fred Brandes, Nicolaus Gier, Ed. Stolberg, August Bruhn, Frederick Raech, Henry Funk, Sr., Frederick Bruhn, and Chas. G. Schmidt. The district record, books are well kept from the time of its organization. Interesting bits of district history are found in these records. Caroline Volch, the first teacher, taught a six month term for $16 per month. She taught this school in 1859 and 1860. Other teachers who taught this school before 1906 were as follows: 1860's: Adam and Bertha Sechrist, Alvira Birdsall, Caroline Volk, and Susanna Magee. In the 1870's: Etta Pilon, Mary Ann Wright, Mary Ross, Mary and Katie Walsh, and Aggie Scott. In the 1880's: Fred W. Broer, Mary E Burke, Hattie Mcintosh, Rose Burke, J. F. Magee, and Mattie Sechrist. In the 1890's: lizzie and Katie Sechrist, Henry Behlow, Ernest Fehrman, Reinhold Eis, and Julius Schwantes. From 1900 to 1906: John Wrieth, Edgar Jonas, Dora Knutson, Ora McMillan, and Mary Wallau. Two Rivers school district No. 7 has had its share of prominent graduates and former students. These people did not become state or national leaders, but every one of the descendants of the pioneer families has become successful in his chosen field. Many have become master farmers and reside in this and other communities. Among the graduates becoming teachers we find the names of Esther and Helene Naser, Marcella Grimm, Naomi Bruhn, Reinhold Eis, the Sechrists, and others. John Bruhn was a pioneer county co-op movement leader. Erwin and Roy Schmidt are prominent in farm organizations. The road which passes the present school site was once known as the shingle mill road. A shingle and saw mill was once owned and operated by Gustave Volk on the present Jos. Franz farm. A part of this mill building is still standing. Today the district is a community of prosperous farmers who are giving this matter of public school education serious and careful consideration. They realize that a school census of about 25 children of school age will not make possible an ideal rural school setup for their district. 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/tworiver249gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 8.1 Kb