History of Old School Given, Building To Be Razed
By Mrs. Wm. Garvin
Elroy Leader-Tribune, Friday, 31 Oct 1952
On Thursday evening at a special meeting of the Elroy school district it was voted 41-5 to raze the four room structure known as the "little building," located on the north end of the present school grounds. Erected in 1896, "by a special meeting called to order by H. W. Field it was voted to build a new school house 40 x 50 on the site where the old building formerly stood and to furnish the lower part for school purposes. Motion carried that the band be limited to the amount of $3,000 for the expenditure." The old building, formerly a seminary, had been destroyed that year by fire.
H. W. Smith was clerk and the teachers at that time were W. E. Utendorfer, Jennie Smith, Mattie McMillan, William Milne, Lillis Dodge, Jessie Wilkey, and Mayme Conway. Other citizens who played a prominent part at this time were J. M. Dix, W. Hart, Dr. C. Smith, A. F. Gregory, P. A. Cleary, H. E. Neuman, L. Moe and Wm. Flood.
It was nearly 100 years ago that the first school in the area was begun. It was located east of the Fowler cemetery and was taught by Emily Fowler Grant in the summer of 1854. IN 1855 the little board shack was replaced by a log school until 1858 when Lydia Brintnall taught the first school in Elroy in a log house on the site known as the Kelley property. The next spring school was held in a store building located on the south end of Main street. That summer 1859, Jt. District No. 6, Towns of Wonewoc and Plymouth built the new school where the late Dell Brintnall lived.
The first district meeting on record took place, Sept. 30, 1867. John Hutchinson was elected director, J. B. Brintnall, clerk and Anton Miller, treasurer. Teachers salaries for the year were $150 with a total budget of $233.
In 1868 Edmund Hart was elected school treasurer and "it was decided to have three months winter term kept by a male teacher and three months summer term kept by a female teacher who was to received $20 per month and her board. It was also resolved to put a warehouse lock on the school house."
In 1870 eight months school was voted with $200 to be raised for school purposes; Plymouth's share to be $129.46 and the Town of Wonewoc $70.54. It was also resolved "to give Charles Sampson the job of getting five cords of good sound green wood two and a half feet long at 92 and a half cents per cord." It was this year that the railroad came through Elroy and the town began to grow. Even in those days the school found it difficult to keep up with its growing population and so in 1874 it was voted to buy four lots for $150, west of St. Patrick's church about where the Fred Cheney hone now stands. The school was built that summer. At this time a United Brethren seminary was erected on top of the hill where the "little building" now stands.
In 1880, again confronted by more pupils than could be accommodated, a committee of C. M. Beard, John Grimshaw, James Wightman, E .Hart, and C. S. Huntley, was appointed to study the situation. H. W. Wightman began his long career as director in 1881 and ending in 1912. In 1883 the seminary was purchased for $968.23 and the schoolhouse from the Cheney location was moved to the seminary grounds and both buildings used. The first graduation class was held that year with two graduates, John Brintnall and Barton Grant, both of whom had begun their course in the seminary.
In 1890 John Hart was the first to complete the full three year course. In 1890 a four year course was offered with $2000 to be raised for school expenses.
In 1892, the old school house was torn down and part of what is known now as the "big building" was built for $8,700. After fire destroyed the seminary the little building was erected in 1896. The kindergarten was begun in 1900 and after many years of defeat, free text books were finally installed in 1902. In 1904 a two story addition was added to the north end of the larger building.
The first commercial course was introduced in 1922 followed by band in 1924. In 1936 the gymnasium and two classrooms were built through a PWA grant. Courses in agriculture, home economics, shop, gymnasium and a hot lunch program now fulfill the requirements.
Now in 1952 a five room structure has been built at an approximate cost of $80,000. Its colored boards, the natural woodwork and color schemes of pale pastels would be beyond the imaginations of the pioneers of 1867.
According to Principal H. W. Laatsch, enrollment is at its peak with 553 registering this year of which 150 are transported. The new building is of the type recommended by the state for additional rooms to be added on to at a minimum of cost.
Our principals since the turn of the century have been Walter Hake, George R. Ray, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Coleman, Howard Maule, Mr. Walters, L. C. Banker, W. C. Clare and Principal Laatsch. What is ahead for our youth, not only of Elroy but our whole country, depends on how much w as parents cherish what we have, how well we guard our rights, and how well we perform our solemn obligation as citizens.