Teachers of Centerville 1913The history of Centerville School District No. 1 begins in 1852. It got its name, Point River, because the Point River flows near the school building. In the area at the time were the families: BAKER, BOETTCHER, BOGENSCHULTZE, DOERSCH, GROTEGUTS, HOCKMAYER, JANINGS, KIELSMEIER, LIETERITZE, OBERGOCKER, ORTHS, SALMS, SCHUETTE, STOLTENBERG, WAGNER, and WIMMLER. Enrollment was from the sections 1,2,3 part of 4,9,10, and 11. Classes were first held in an old Lutheran parochial school located in Section 3, Town of Centerville. About 1/8 mile west, and 1/4 mile south of the present building. The first school building of frame construction was built in 1871 by community members at a cost of $560.00. It was abandoned in 1908 and sold to the GROTEGUTS. They later sold it to the KIELSMEIER family for $152.00. KIELSMEIER's used the lumber to construct a farm building. The second building which still stood in 1976, was constructed at a cost of $3003.00 in 1909-1909. It was built as a two room building with a large attic and full basement. Kerosene lamps were used until 1939 when electric service was added. Outdoor toilets were used until about 1948. It was used as a graded school from 1909-1912. In 1912, the southern half of the district organized a new school district. It was then used as a one room school because enrollment was cut in half from 77 students. The second room was used as a playroom and cafeteria. Children bought their own books up until about 1940, after that year, books were provided free. By 1945-1946, enrollment had declined to 12 students. School board members in the early years were: Adolph DOERSCH, ROSSBERG, RETTELE, JAEHNIG, ARENDS, MILL, JACOBI, KLESSIG, SCHUETTE, and LORNFELD. Records since 1946 list GROTEGUT, GERSCHMEL, DOERSCH, BRUCKSCHEN, JANING, LUTZE, DEHNE, ERDMAN, MROTEK, KRACHT. Winter and summer terms were not held in the early years. Only winter term teachers were listed. Men teachers were preferred. The school year gradually increased from a three month term to a nine month term. In 1959, Centerville #2-LaFollette School consolidated with #1-Point River. Students from LaFollette attended Point River. Redistricting came about in 1962, the area for school purposes was attached to Manitowoc. Point River School closed and the children were bused to the city. The building was sold and as of 1976, it was used as a family dwelling.
Centerville District #2 was comprised of sections 5,6,7,8 and parts of 4,9,17,18. It was organized in 1856. It was established by mostly German immigrants. Surnames in the area at the time are: LEITERITZE,TREICK, KORF,BARTHEL,WAGNER,RAPSBERG,HENSCHEL,GROTEGUT,KUECKER. Later the families of: LUTZE, KLESSIG and JACOBI were found in the area. The first school building was a log building built a short distance west of the present site. In 1973, a new one room frame building was built and the log structure was torn down. It had 4 windows on each site to provide lighting. It was approximately 24X30 feet and had no basement. Cost to build the building was $520.00. There were blackboards at the front of the room, and a small cloak area at the entrance. In 1887, a belfry was added and the building was re-clapboarded. Wainscoting and new blackboards were added at the same time. In 1906, an additional 1/4 acre was purchased to enlarge the school grounds. In 1937, electric lights were added and a well was drilled to eliminate the need to carry water from the nearby cheese factory. The school was named in honor of Robert W. LAFOLLETTE in 1918. Before that it was referred to as the JACOBI school because of its connection to the JACOBI family. In 1948, the school was heated with a floor furnace instead of the old box stove. A large library cabinet provided storage for books. The room also contained a radio, piano, steel file cabinet, chairs, work tables, and other modern school equipment. In 1870, enrollment was 48. The highest enrollment was in 1875 when 61 pupils attended. On 1 December 1959, District #2 was consolidated with District #1. LaFollette school was closed. As of 1976, the building was still standing.
Centerville Jt. #3 - Pleasant Hill Pleasant Hill School was a joint school with the town of Meeme. The name was derived in 1918 by the school society members because of its location on a hill pleasantly overlooking farms and woodland. It was formerly known as Saxon School because it was built next to the Saxon Church. It was also referred to as the Klessig or the Wiegand school because of its connection to families with that surname. This district was originally named as District # 2 in 1852, and included almost all of the western half of the Centerville township. In 1856, part of the district was attached to Centerville #4. Shortly thereafter the school districts were renumbered and the old Centerville #2 became Joint Centerville District #3 with Meeme. Little is known about the original school building. When first erected it was also used as a church until the present St. John and St. Peter's Lutheran Church was erected. The old building was torn down and the second school building was built in 1873. It was a frame structure with blackboards, double desks and seats and a stove. It was built by Carl REICK at a cost of $525.00. About 1915 this school house was abandoned and purchased by the Cleveland Hardware Company. It was moved to Cleveland and used as a tin shop. The third building was erected in 1917 and as of 1976 was still standing. It was a modern brick building, with a full basement, main floor and large attic. It had a large entry. The classroom had a built in library of shelves and drawers. In 1945, a furnace was installed. Pleasant Hill had no summer sessions after 1872. The highest enrollment in the district was in 1880 when more than seventy pupils attended. Early settlers in the area were E. JAEHNIG, A. KATEMANN, G. PAUL, G. GABSCH, G.FRANKE, C. HAMMANN, A. KLESSIG, G. TOENISCH, F. KLESSIG, C. LORENZ, C. AUGUSTIN, C. TRAUTMANN, W. ROSSBERG, C. FRITSCHE, F. KOLB, G. LUTZE, and H. HUHN. Most of the settlers were farmers, but a few were carpenters, masons, harness and shoe makers. School records have been kept 1851. These records show that Christian JAEHNIG was the first school board director, C. KATEMAN, treasurer; and Carl WEIGAND, Clerk. They served without salary. The first teachers was, Ida LOSNER. In 1852, she taught a 4 month term for a total salary of $50.00. The next teacher Dominic Schneider taught for $20.00 per month. He also served as town clerk and town superintendent of schools. In the early days, a shoemaker had his shop directly south of the school. As of 1976, Pleasant Hill still stands. The building was sold and has been used for storage.
Centerville #4 - Center School
The original name for Center School was Nennig School because of the NENNIG family who at the time lived across the road from the school. In 1918 the school was given the name Center School because it was on Hwy 141 about halfway between Manitowoc and Sheboygan. The district included the E 1/2 of Section 17; most of Section 16; all of section 21; the E 1/2 of section 20; all of sections 29 and 30; the E 1/2 of section 32, and most of section 33. The district was a total of four and a half miles long. The first school meeting was held at the home of F. MILLER on 23 May 1856. In September 1856, a quarter acre of land was purchased from Joseph LEONHARD for the purpose of building a school building. IN 1901, another one-half acre was purchased from George LEONHARD. A log building 20X25 feet was constructed. People of the district furnished logs and helped with building the school. School records show that most of the residents of this district were of German descent. The records also state the teacher that was hired must speak German. On 12 Mar. 1887, it was decided a new brick school building should be constructed. The new building was 36X24X12 feet. The building committee was comprised of: John DOERSCH, Carl TOEPEL, and Christ WETZEL. In 1901, the building was lengthened by adding sixteen feet to the west. In 1908, a ventilating system was added. Playground equipment was also purchased. In 1946 a kitchen was added so that hot lunch could be served at the school. in 1856-1865 enrollment was about 25 pupils. The largest enrollment was in 1917 with 63 pupils. There were plans to add a second room to the facility but that got voted down. Instead they decided to not enroll any student younger than 6 years old. This brought attendance to below 60. By 1948, many children attended St. Wendel parochial school bringing attendance at Center school down to 24. The following families owned land within the district in 1856: F. BENKARD, John SCHNEIDER, Charles BOGENSCHUTZ, T. AHRENS, and Joe SCHNEIDER. School officers over the years were as follows:
Centerville #5 - Red Arrow School Centerville District #5 was located in the old village of Centerville. Centerville was later named to Hika, and now the Village of Cleveland. It was named Red Arrow School in honor of the Red Arrow, 32nd division to which many of the local men belonged to during World War I. The district was established on 19 Jan. 1852 and was originally District #1. In 1856, the districts were renumbered. Old Centerville #1 became district #5. The original district was comprised of Sections 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 27, 28 and the E 1/2 of 32, 33, and 34. A school building was built on Lot 6, Block 9 in the village of Centerville. Susan GRETZ was the first school teacher. In November 1852 the E 1/2 of sections 29 and 32 were attached to district #2 and in may 1856, more areas were attached to districts #3 & #4. The first schoolhouse was built during the summer of 1852. The school board leased the house to George LEISMER for $1.00 per month with the stipulation that one room be set aside for classes. In 1858, the school and site were sold. Land was gifted to the district in 1858, the SE 1/4 of Lot 11, block 12. No record is shows that the land was ever used or accepted. Later in the year, the district purchased the S 1/2 of Block 1, Lot 9 from John SACHSE for school use. A building was constructed and ready for occupancy in 1 Oct. 1859. A stone foundation was put under the building in 1866. In 1871, the building became inadequate for the district needs and it was voted to build a brick building. In 1911, playground equipment was built. The swing and whirligig were homemade. The school had an artesian well which had an outdoor bubbler. R. H. HINZ, school clerk at the time was instrumental in achieving the equipment. The community was primarily settled by Germans. The district didn't begin to teach German in the schools until 1865 but only teach it half time. By 1875, it was decided to teach it only one half hour per day. In 1893, only one-half hour per week. German teaching was discontinued permanently by 1903. Thirty-three pupils attended the district school in 1858. In 1874, there were 106 students which decreased to an average of 30 students in the 1940's. Families in the original school district were: WAGNER, SCHNEIDER, EICKHOFF, SCHULTE, HUHN, SACHSE, WERNER, and MILL. The OTTO and EVER families owned much of the land in the village and surrounding area at that time. Most of the settlers were farmers, but many families lived in the village where the pioneers worked in the local industries. In 1859, the school building was declared unfit for school use. It was decided to replace the building rather than remodel. A bungalow style house was constructed with a basement. It was built in this fashion in the event the district would sell the building and it would become a residence. The old Red Arrow building was sold to William RUTHERFORD. He used it for storing and repairing furniture and equipment for his Surf Motel Business. Mr. RUTHERFORD later sold it in the early 1970's to a Milwaukee resident, who in turn resold it to a Wauwatosa, Wisconsin Attorney. The interior was converted into a beautiful summer home. The new Red Arrow School closed in 1963. The following year the Cleveland students attended the school at the Mosel Lakeview School in Haven. Later the Cleveland area children were bused to Washington School in Sheboygan until the new Cleveland Elementary School could be built. From the 1913-1914 Manitowoc County Annual The first second picture below shows the Playground apparatus, and the first one shows an artesian well with a bubbler. This was the first rural school apparatus erected in the state. The idea was first put before the people of the district by Mr. R. HINZ, the clerk, who appears on the picture near the white cross on tree. In July 1911 twenty dollars was voted for apparatus. The whirlgig was made out of the top of an old wind mill donated by a member of the district. The complete cost was $18.00 The swings and the teeter-totter were put up during the summer of 1911, at a cost of $38.37, and the whirlgig was put up in 1912. The playground idea, with its simple and mostly home made apparatus for a country school, was brought about through Mr. HINZ and his co-workers in the district who showed their approval of it by appropriating the funds. The value of the apparatus has already been demonstrated. The children have the enjoyment, they are kept off the street, they are kept healthy by this exercise which they would not otherwise take. No sickness was reported to this school the past two years. The other picture shows a child drinking from the natural bubbler. There is no dipper nor individual drinking cup in this school. This is what might be called "Natural Sanitation." People passing by use the fountain as well as the school children. The pictures are larger in hopes of anyone identifying the children.
Centerville #6 - Maple Leaf School
The district was organized on 3 August 1907. It was originally part of Centerville District #1. The first district school meeting was at the home of Fred SCHUETTE. The voters decided at that meeting to purchase the school site from Mr. SCHUETTE. The school building was not built until 1912. Until then the students of the district had school sessions at the German Lutheran Summer School building located one-half mile west of the school site. Mabel SELL was the first teacher hired. In 1912, Wm. TOEPSEL, mason; Art RIECK, carpenter; and Henry BORN, painter were hired to construct the new frame building. A large entry-closet room was built for storage. The building also had a basement which housed the furnace and a playroom. Facilities for washing hands and drinking water were also present. In 1909, the average attendance was 23 pupils. Average enrollment was 15, until 1945 when the enrollment was only 9. In 1947 the school was closed and the students were bused to Centerville #1. The first board members of the district were: Fred SCHUETTE, clerk; Frank RETTELE, director; and Wm. JAEGER, director. Throughout the 40 years of the school existance, it was common to find the surnames of: SCHUETTE, RETTELE, SIZEL, BRUCKSCHEN, LORNFELD, JACOBI, KIELSMEYER, ZIMMERMANN, SIGGELKOW, and JAEGER among the members of the school board. The photo above is of the school in 1913-1914 |
The Maple Leaf School got it's name from the Maple Leaf Cheese Factory across road from the school. The school was located on the NE corner of the NE 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 15. It was also known as the Jacobi school because it was located on the JACOBI homestead.