website watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
High Schools
PREVIOIUS HIGH SCHOOL LOCATIONS:
1863-1882 Ducasse
building
1883-1896 Western Avenue
1897-1917 Union School No.1 (later Armory)
1918 South Eight Street
There
were many different colors used as class colors in the early days. Purple and gold, for example. Possibly at one time each class had their own
colors. It was until the 1930s that blue
and white became the "official" school colors.
The Ducasse building was the very
first school in which high school subjects were taught.
High School was next in the rear part of the former Armory
building
Then it was moved to the then new Western Avenue School (later
called Webster) with grade 6, 7, 8 on the first floor.
In 1898 the Armory was enlarged and High School moved there with
two eighth grades on the first floor front.
There were the only eighth grades in Watertown until 1902. Bertha Marquardt and then Mary Crangle were
the teachers. They had departmental
work.
< Ducasse building, c1863, became high school 
The
above picture [1] shows Watertown’s FIRST
HIGH SCHOOL building.
The
school was located in a small frame building at North Fifth and Jones streets
[417 Jones].
It
was built by Justice Ducasse, who for many years was
a police justice in early Watertown. The
first principal of the High School during the Civil War period was Professor
Theodore Bernhard.
It
was in this school that the first text books in Wisconsin were issued.
It
was also during this period that a commercial course was offered to a high
school class for the first time in the history of the state. The building, later used
as a restaurant and then as the residence of the late Herman Heinz, was
subsequently razed.
1858
09 09 Rollin L. Reed, Principal; Miss
L. A. Rockwell, Assistant WD
12 23 High School is a miserable structure .
. . No effort towards the erection of a better, more commodious building WD
1860
10 12 Miss Susan Perry
opened private school WR
1861
05 02 Second Ward High School
Prof.
Theodore Bernhard, the principal of this school, held a public examination last
Monday at the Musical Association rooms, in Dennis’s Block, last Monday. The exercises were conducted by the principal
and his assistants. About two hundred
scholars, who have attended this school during the last six months, were
present. All, without exception, gave
satisfactory evidence of the thorough drilling of which they have been
subjected and exhibited a degree of proficiency in their several studies that
reflected credit on themselves and on their teachers. There were 30 or 40 boys, from 12 to 16 years
old, who have been under the immediate instruction of Mr. Bernhard, of whom
their teacher, as well as parents, may justly feel proud. Many of them have not their superiors in this
city for scholastic attainments.
Spectators must have been impressed with the success of Mr. Bernhard’s
method of instruction, from the prompt and accurate manner in which his pupils
answered the questions put to them during the exercises. The German portion of our citizens may well
feel a deep interest in sustaining this school. WD
Early School Days Told by Old Resident
Pranks and Intellectual Feats Are Revealed
1936 article
The
old-fashioned building at the corner of North Fifth and Jones streets was the
first high school building in the city.
The
first principal of the school was Professor Theodore Bernhard, William Rohr was
assistant. Other teachers were Mrs.
William Norris and Miss Cooley. Among
the pupils of the Civil war period or late in the 50's were Honorable W. F.
Voss, C. H. Jacobi, Edward Racek, Louis Merkel, Henry
Bertram, Charles Fuermann, Max Gaebler,
John Mallaney, Mrs. A. J. Earling
nee Peebles, Oscar Cole and Henry Peebles.
The
following sketch was written by a former student [date of writing
uncertain]:
"The quaint old Ducasse
building, about 50 years ago, housed the beginning of our public high
school. The faculty consisted of Theodore
Bernhard, William H. Rohr, Misses Vestey, Cooley and Merriam. The studies were not as numerous as they are
today, but the upper class did trigonometry and surveying and the pupils could
recite history by the page, though they had never looked into a history
book. In those days people were too poor
to buy many text books and the teachers were obliged to do real teaching.
"Professor Bernhard was a remarkably successful
teacher. When a pupil showed precocity
in a certain direction, he would coach him on that line and develop an
exhibition stunt for the public examination at the end of the year. A merchant named Arnim
offered prizes to the pupils at this examination and William Voss, fourteen
years old, took the first prize with a remarkable geographical recitation, and
Max Gaebler, twelve years old, did the Pythagoras
theorem. Professor Bernhard, to the end
of his career, frequently would refer with much pride to these feats of his
pupils.
"Schoolroom discipline was a little wild and
woolly, and the rod was freely used.
Billy Beurhaus, a chunky lad, sat next to
Oscar Cole, who was tall, and thin as a sliver.
Whenever there was mischief in their neighborhood, Billy would get a
licking without much investigation, and was told to pass the surplus over to
Oscar. When the professor wrote on the
blackboard, his back turned to the class, the boy who remained on his seat was
considered not much of a "feller."
The alacrity with which they regained their seats was simply
amazing. Hugo Jacobi was the tallest boy
in school and could run like a doe. The
game at recess usually was "pullaway," with
Jacobi pitted against the whole crowd.
When stormy weather kept the boys indoors, it was not unusual to
overturn the stove. In fact, Jim Larkin
acquired some reputation on that score and there seemed to be general
disappointment when, sometimes, he did not rise to the occasion.
"Notwithstanding these ebullient excesses,
considerate decorum was observed toward the girl pupils. Some of these were very bright.
"For the purpose of German dictation, the German
pupils were always separated from the "English.” A newcomer, John Mallaney,
did not obey this order and kept his seat.
When the question was tartly asked whether he was German or English, he
told the professor with much emphasis that he was an Irishman.
"The old building now looks very small. But in those days, it seemed so very, very
large."
1863
10 15 Second Ward High School
This
new school building – the largest and most commodious in our city – is so far
finished that it is occupied for the purpose for which it was built today. It is well furnished, divided into apartments
of convenient size and well adapted for the accommodation of the classes that
will attend there. It is a decided
credit to our city and supplies a want in our educational facilities that has
long been felt. WD
1864
08 11 Watertown Seminary WD
1872-1876
UPPER FLOOR HIGH SCHOOL FROM 1872-1876. TWO GRADES
Watertown
High School Orbit, 1920
From
1871 to 1873, two rooms on the upper floor of Union School, No. 1, later
remodeled to make the High School on Main Street, accommodated a High School of
two grades with one teacher for each grade, and an average attendance of
seventy-five -twenty-nine boys and forty-six girls.
The
First, or highest grade, taught by Bernhard, occupied the room which was the
west half of the second floor. The heating system for the room consisted of a
huge, drum topped box stove, behind which was a big pile of wood, and on the
other side zinc-lined shuttered screens, regulated by those sitting nearest.
Needless to say real comfort was somewhere midway between the stove and the
outside walls. Along the west wall, tall wooden cupboards concealed such
illustrative and experimental materials, such as mineralogical and geological
specimens, cases of mounted insects, a planetarium, a tellurian, a centrifugal
machine, a gyroscope, and electric friction machine, a Grove's battery, and an
air pump. At the blackboards, which covered three sides of the room, frequently
every bit of available space was occupied by eager pupils doing some assignment
of Mr. Bernhards. Over these blackboards hung
numerous maps and charts: in many
studies these had to do the work of the free text books, which were not
introduced until 1877.
Every
operation at the blackboard was closely watched by Mr. Bernhard, who demanded
thoroughness and exactness in everything.
In fact, no study was ever looked upon as finished, but could be brought
up again when the least expected. All the branches were co-related;
and-whenever a weak spot was discovered, the lesson under discussion was
dropped until by means of drilling and numerous other examples in subjects that
gave additional light, all had been made perfectly clear. And always the
principles were the important things, rules and theorems, easily derived from
them were secondary.
Thus,
since it was general practice to have every branch well correlated and
thoroughly revived, the program was, of necessity a very flexible one, and if
at any, time during the day, interest seemed to flag, the lesson plan was never
too rigid to permit a few songs, with Mr. Bernhard at the organ.
Taken
as a whole, the course of study, as well as, the methods of teaching, aimed not
to fit the pupils for some higher institution of learning, but to give them a
"lucid perception of the general, natural and therefore necessary
connection of all branches of knowledge, and of all those scientific facts and
truths, which have a practical bearing upon moral, social, and civil
life" The knowledge imparted was to
be "popular, but not superficial, selective, but not
fragmentary."
Besides
the regular curse of study, the high school also contained an incipient normal
department, which was taken advantage of by a considerable number of
non-residents, as well as those living in Watertown. This course included the
studies required by the law of the state for obtaining first, second and third
grade teachers' certificates.
The
first graduates, twelve in number, passed their examinations in 1873 and
received their diplomas a year or two later. But on this occasion there were no
graduation gowns; in those days linsey-woolsey was the popular material for
winter, and good strong calico for summer. There were no class colors, no class
yell; there were really no graduation exercises. To the twelve graduates,
standing near their benches, Mr. Bernhard made a few appropriate remarks, then
he handed each his diploma. That was all.
The
graduates were as follows:
Emma
Griffith, (Mrs. Frank Powers), Chicago, Illinois.
Emma Charboneau, (Mrs. J. B.
Murphy), Watertown, Wisconsin.
Jennie
Ross, Cleveland, Ohio.
Albert
Bellack, Columbus, Wisconsin.
Rosa
Bernhard, died in 1886.
Anna Shillcox, (Mrs. Thomas L. Smith), Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Josephine Ruebhausen,
(Mrs. C. F. Viebahn), Watertown, Wisconsin.
Ida C.
Wilder, died in 1887.
Minnie
Voss, ( Mrs. George France), died in 1898.
Addie
Randall, (Mrs. James D. Baker), Eugene, Oregon.
Josie
Kern, (Mrs. Paul Fontaine), Minneapolis, Minnesota.
[ 11 are listed in Orbit article ]
Hope,
enthusiasm, joy, and good will dominated the spirit of the class of 1873. Going
to school was so great a delight that no weather was too inclement, no
snowdrift too deep. Such was the enthusiasm for learning that many continued to
go to school from one to three years after passing their final examinations, in
order to take advantage of the ever broadening curriculum. Their inspirer,
guide and friend, in praise of whom too much can hardly be said, was Theodore
Bernhard, teacher and scholar, who for many years so ably and faithfully
directed all educational matters in Watertown. His memory is held in the
highest regard by all who had the good fortune to come under his personal
instruction.
JOSEPHINE
A. VIEBAHN.
1879
07 03 Exercises by high school
students WD
1881
Charles F. Viebahn appointed superintendent of schools and
principal of High School WDT
_________________________________________________________________________________________
1881
Watertown
High School from 1881 to 1904
From 1913 High School Orbit
(first Orbit published)
1866, First High School
Theodore
Bernhard
In the
summer of 1879, after the death of Theodore Bernhard, under whose principalship
the Watertown High School had been established in 1866, and who had been its
efficient head ever since, the board of education offered me the vacant
position. Being at that time bound by
contract to the position I then held at Manitowoc I had to decline the offer.
In the
fall of 1880, the position having again become vacant the board of education,
supported by the urgent invitation of many citizens, again offered it to
me. I agreed to accept the position on
condition that the school superintendency be combined
with the high school principalship. My condition was accepted.
The
duties of city superintendent of schools had hitherto combined what are now the
duties of the clerk of the board of education with most of the administrative
duties of the superintendent.
Rohr, W. H.
W. H.
Rohr, who had held the office of superintendent before the change was made, was
now appointed to the new position of clerk of the board of education. He had
formerly been a successful teacher, and during the thirteen years I was
associated with him in the administration of school affairs, he did much to
lighten my work. His excellent qualities as an official have always been
recognized.
I
entered upon the duties of my position as superintendent and principal
1881
High School part of
Union School No. 1 (
In
1881 the home of the high school was in what was then called Union School No.
1, now a part of the high school building.
It occupied only two rooms on the upper floor of that building. As the attendance increased and more room was
needed for the lower grades, the boards of education in 1883 determined to
erect a new building.
1881 definition of
High School
In
1881 the term high school did not mean exactly what it meant in 1904.
Formerly
the eighth grade was a grade of the high school. In 1884 it was made one of the
grammar grades.
Formerly
the school year was divided into three terms of instruction, beginning with the
spring term at the end of the Easter vacation. Since 1888 the school term has
been divided into semesters and the year of instruction was made to end in
June. This was one of the most difficult chances to make, because it interfered
with an old German custom. For some years the fourth year high school class
existed during the spring term only, the regular annual promotions taking place
at Easter and the commencement exercises in June.
It was
our aim not to allow the high school to constitute an entirely separate
institution. To indicate this it was determined not to use the college terms
freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors, but in order to show their relation
to the grades, to use the term ninth grade, tenth grade, eleventh grade and
twelfth grade. But this effort proved an utter failure. The boys and girls persisted
in using the college terms.
Only
two courses of study were followed in the high school, the general science
course and the modern classical course. There were some optional studies -
bookkeeping, commercial arithmetic, drawing, and later, shorthand and
typing. But we could not teach all the
subjects that should have been taught, nor divide up our classes to the best
advantage because our teaching force was too small. The principal, who should
have had the opportunity to give most of his time to supervision, generally had
to teach five or six classes a day.
Most
of the teachers employed during these years were interested in their work and
did good service. When it was found to be desirable that shorthand be taught,
one of the teachers devoted his summer vacation to the study of this art, and
in the fall he was prepared to teach a large class in shorthand.
In
1881 and during a few years that followed, the high school had no supplementary
or extra literary reading matter. The school library contained a few good books
for references, but no books to speak of that boys and girls would care to take
home to read.
All
this has since changed for the better; classical reading matter has been
supplied, the school library has been supplied with many good books, and the
pupils have been given the advantage of using the public library.
The
natural sciences had been given a prominent place on the course of study, but
the apparatus provided was insufficient for the proper teaching of physics and
chemistry. As it is easier to supply the most necessary apparatus and material
for the teaching of chemistry than for the teaching of physics, the former was
for a time made the more prominent study.
·
The
number of assistant teachers required for the high school during these years,
was as follows: 1881, one assistant; 1882, two; I884, three; 1893, four; 1902,
five; 1903, an additional teacher to teach drawing two weeks each month.
_________________________________________________
1883 HIGH
SCHOOL PART OF WEBSTER SCHOOL, WESTERN AVENUE
The 1883 construction of the building, later known as the Webster School, the rooms on (the) upper floor of
which were assigned to the high school, and those on the lower floor to grammar
grades.
06 27 CONTRACT
LET.
Last week the board of education entered into a contract with C. Schmutzler for the erection of the First Ward School
building at the sum of $14,500, this being $100 lower than the bid of J.
Trumbull of Whitewater. The bid of W. Quentmeyer, although lower in price, was not satisfactory
to the Board in certain requirements such as binding the board to advance money
for material on the ground, etc. Mr. Schmutzler binds himself to have the building under roof
and windows in it by December 1, and fully completed by July 1, next. WR
06 27 GRADUATION
OF THE HIGH SCHOOL
Public schools closed this week.
Friday the graduation of the high school will be held at Union School
No. 1, with the graduating exercises and presentation of diplomas. Eight scholars will graduate. On Saturday all the public schools of the
city will hold a grand picnic on Concordia Island. The scholars and teachers will move in
procession to the picnic grounds at one o'clock p.m. WR
07 04 The ground is expected to be broken this
week by Mr. Schmutzler for the erection of the new
First Ward School and the work proceeded with as rapidly as possible. WR
07 13 ANOTHER SCHOOL HOUSE,
DISSATISFACTION WITH
Editorial / Watertown Gazette, 07 13 1883
Many of our citizens seem to
be dissatisfied with the action of the School Board in concluding to build
another school house, claiming that the present school accommodations are
sufficient to meet the requirements of the number of children here, believing
that the expenditure of so many thousands could be far better utilized. Among the many reasons brought forward in
support of their claim are the following:
In case of fire, Union School
No. 1 is badly provided for, sufficient water not being obtainable in that
locality to quench an ordinary blaze, although a cistern was sunk there for
that purpose, but of a kind that is almost useless. A few hundred dollars might be well expended
for the purpose of remedying this.
Others want a bridge across
the river at the foot of Washington Street on the west side, it deemed of far
greater importance and necessity than the erection of another school house at
the present time.
Still other portions of our
citizens consider the necessity of providing a suitable "lock-up" and
a better and safer building than that now used by the
Pioneer Fire Co., for the use of the company.
We might use a whole column
in giving the different views of the citizens of Watertown on this subject, but
believe the above sufficient to show what the sentiment is in the matter.
It is our opinion that a new
school is not an absolute necessity and the money expended in it is needed more
for other purposes. We do not condemn
the School Board for the course taken by it.
We believe that it has acted conscientiously, and the money expended
will be well invested.
1885 GOSLING
The earliest use of the word “gosling” when referring to Watertown high school
students.
1886 Union
School No. 1, Grade School
1887
Before 1897 this was Union School No. 1. In
1897 it became the high school. That is
why there are young children in the image.
The
Watertown High School, located on the north side of Main Street, between
Seventh and Eighth streets. Note Wesley
Methodist Church in the distance on the far left. This image dates to about 1895. The high school was located here until 1917,
when it moved to South Eighth St.
Structure became the Watertown Armory and still later the Youth Activity
Center (YAC). It was torn down in the
late 1960s and the Welcome Inn was constructed on
this site. Today the site of the
Heritage Inn Hotel.
-------- The average salary paid
in 1887, including high school teachers, was $45 per month; in 1908 it was
$60.50
-------- 1887 high school had four
teachers, including the superintendent; in 1908 it had nine, including the
superintendent
1888
UNION SCHOOL NO. 1
c.1890
WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
S. Fifth St and Western Ave.
Constructed
in 1883 as Watertown High School. Became
Webster grade school in early 1910’s.
Demolished in 1957. Today site of
Trinity-St. Luke’s Lutheran School.
1894
12 12 LECTURES
AT THE CONCORDIA
The
students of the high school have secured Professor Wescott for lectures at the
Concordia Opera house, tomorrow afternoon and evening, on China, Korea and Japan,
graphically illustrated with 100 colored stereopticon views, each 15X15 feet in
size. This entertainment will no doubt
prove very interesting, in view of the recent war disturbances in these
countries. The hour for the matinee
lecture is 4 o’clock; evening 8 o’clock. Admission – adults 25 cents; children
10 cents. WR
1895
06 26 THE
SWEET & PROUD SENIORS
Again, with the advent of this
beautiful month of roses, "commencements" become prevalent in all the
various institutions of learning throughout the land. The sweet senior, in her dainty toilette, and
the proud young gentleman graduate, once more claim their share of public
attention, while the annual quota of graduates is again sent forth from their
beloved alma maters into the busy world of practical life. WR
Watertown, from
its representative seat of learning, the high school, sends forth its
representation in the class of '95, the last recitation having been held and
the last examination having been passed on Friday of last week.
c.1895
Became High School in 1897.
GRADUATION CLASS
1895
Emeline
Runkie, Jennie Sproesser
Rohr, Jennie Melzer Faber, Marie Iffland, Arthur
Pohlman, Myrtle Huber, Gertrude Malloy, Fred Downing, Amanda Kabot, Alvina Brennecke, Frank Lounsbury, Lydia Broenneman
Wertheimer, Helen Racek, Susan Kall,
Marie Killian, Ernst Buending, Emma Kelly, Hedwig Hoerman Melzer
1897 UNION SCHOOL No. 1 BECOMES A
HIGH SCHOOL
1898 
Union School No. 1
05 11 Last evening the Board of Education
considered the proposals offered for the remodeling and enlarging of the School
No. 1 into a high school. The bids were
in the main made on different branches of the work, only one bid being received
for the entire contract. Work is
expected to begin next week and the building will be pushed to completion by
September 15. The total amount of the
contracts let figures about $10,800. WR
1898 High
School part of Union School No. 1 addition (
In
1898 additional room was provided by building an addition to Union School No.
1. The part added is the present
assembly room of the high school, with its cloak rooms and the rooms on the
first floor directly below. Alterations
were also made in the basement and other parts of the building. A room for manual training was provided.
The
enrollment of pupils of the high school in 1881 was fifty-two. In 1878, under the principalship of Mr.
Bernard, it had reached 145. In 1904 it
was 215.
Increased
attendance in the high school is due to several causes. Among these the following may be mentioned:
1.
Increase in wealth. There are more people now in our city who can afford to
give their children a secondary education than there were formerly.
2.
Higher appreciation of the value of high school education. Formerly most of our
citizens held the opinion that an elementary education is sufficient for all
except the few that want to prepare for a learned profession. This notion is
slowly changing.
3. The
course of study has been extended and made to contain more subjects which most
people regard as of more practical value than the usual staple subject of the
ordinary high school course.
4.
More teachers are employed. This permits the assignment of each to the branches
which he can teach best.
5.
Occasionally, the too rapid promotion of pupils and admitting them to the high
school before they are properly prepared for it.
12 28 NEW
HIGH SCHOOL OPEN FOR INSPECTION
The
new high school building will be open for inspection to the citizens of
Watertown on Monday, January 2, from the hours of one to four in the
afternoon. School commissioners and
teachers will be present to receive all visitors. By order of the Board of Education. / C.F.
Viebahn, Supt. of Schools. WR
1899 GRADUATION
CLASS
Tillie Hagemann, Clara
Miller nee Boettcher, Cornelia Nowack nee Brennecke, Zayda Grube, William
Marquardt, Amy Ziegelman nee Nickels, Catherine
Zimmerman nee Hall, Alma Kirchoff, Minna Miller nee
Weber, Leona Steinmann, Morgan Throne, Laura Terwedo
nee Schemmel, French Fuller, Louise Pautz nee Jaeger.
07 04 GRADUATION
OF CLASS OF 1899
Amid
flowers and greenery and tasteful decorations the class of '99 was graduated
from the Watertown High School last Friday evening, the exercises being held in
Turner Opera House before a large and appreciative audience. Sixteen young ladies and gentlemen composed
the class. The idea of the decorations
was carried out in red and white, the class colors, the front of the stage
being festooned with bunting of those colors, while a border of white daisies
forced a crest of the bunting, large palms swayed on the sides, and bouquets of
red flowers interspersed the other embellishments, the whole forming a very
tasteful picture.
The
superintendent of schools Prof C. F Viebahn conducted
the exercises and made a brief address in presenting the class, wherein he
alluded to the value of a high school education and the beneficial results
accruing from the association with good books, which such education fits one
for. Prof. Viebahn
complimented the class on its uniformly meritorious work while under his
tutelage, and said that, notwithstanding each member had prepared an essay,
only a portion of them could be assigned places on the program. WR
07 04 RECEPTION
FOR CLASS OF 1899
After
the graduating exercises Friday evening Mr. and Mrs. A. J. Whiting tendered a
reception to the high school class of '99, their teachers and those who
assisted in the musical portion of the program, at their home on Washington
Street. Light refreshments were served
and a pleasant hour passed in social intercourse. WR
07 04 11th
REUNION HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI ASSN
One of
the most successful reunions of the Watertown High School Alumni association
was the eleventh annual, held Saturday evening at the Concordia Opera
house. Nearly 150 members were present
and a delightful evening was passed in the enjoyment of the excellent program
and in the recounting of old school day happenings . . . The program included
the two act farce, "A Box of Monkey's," the banquet, during which
several toasts were responded to, and dancing.
Music was provided by the Blaesius string
quartette during the entire evening. WR
1900
06 26 COMMENCEMENT
The
class of 1900 was graduated from the Watertown high school last Thursday
evening, the exercises taking place in Turner Opera house before a large and
appreciative audience. To the strains of
an inspiring march played by the Amateur Musical club, the class, numbering
nineteen, with the sterner sex, for once, predominating, filed onto the stage
and seated themselves in a semi-circle, their teachers and the board of
education occupying the places in the rear.
The stage was banked with palms and other potted plants, and the class
colors—gold and blue—were effectively embodied in a pretty floral design, which
depended (sic) from the flies. A large
American flag, tastily draped, hung in the background. WR
12 14 LECTURE
COURSE BY PROF. PYRE
The
tickets and circular of instructions for the lecture course at the high school
this winter has now been mailed to the public of Watertown, and we hope that
each recipient will read the instructions carefully. Prof. Pyre is a great favorite wherever he
has lectured. He has a pleasing manner
and knows how to make his lectures very entertaining. The course promises to be one of the finest and
most instructing ever given in this city.
Prof. Pyre being a finished elocutionist recites poetry beautifully and
will and enliven his lectures by copious recitations from the famous American
authors. The price of admission for the
entire course of six lectures will be only 75 cents. WG
1901
06 28 DISTURBANCE
AT 1901 GRADUATION
The
exercises of the graduating class of the High School took place at Turner Opera
House on Thursday evening June 20th 1901.
The house was filled to its full capacity, principally by
representatives of all the best elements of the community, who attended for the
sake of hearing and enjoying the program which had been prepared for the
occasion. As usual, however, the
senseless persons who are the bane of every public gathering were on hand to
disgrace themselves and annoy all the others by their persistent laughing and
talking. It is to be borne in mind that
all the speakers on the program had been trained to speak clearly and
distinctly and every one of them would have been perfectly heard but for the
noise and confusion produced by these senseless and selfish public
nuisances. How long Watertown audiences
will submit to being harassed by these pestiferous persons remains to be
seen. We suggest that the mayor issue a
proclamation of warning to these incorrigibles and that he detail a special
police force with full powers to forcibly eject such persons, and that these
officers be stationed in various parts of the house at every public gathering
and directed to use their authority without fear or favor, to the end that
decent people may enjoy their civic rights in public places. WG
06 28 THIRTEENTH
ANNUAL REUNION
Watertown
High School Alumni Association
[same
date] The commencement season in
Watertown closed on Friday evening, June 28, with the thirteenth annual reunion
of the Watertown High School Alumni Association. As usual the meeting took place at Concordia
Opera House, where about one hundred and twenty-five graduates, with a few
invited friends from out of town, met to renew their acquaintance and to enjoy
the good things prepared by the committee of arrangements.
The
lower hall had been tastefully arranged and decorated as a reception room,
where Dr. N. A. Barber, Miss Anna Habhegger and Miss
Else Wiggenhorn received the guests. At nine o’clock the banquet was announced. This was served in the upper hall, which was
also decorated in red and white, the class colors of the class of 1901. Girls of the high school class of 1902 acted
as waiters.
MENU
Bouillon
Wafers
Chicken
Croquettes
Creamed
Potatoes
Green
Peas
Olives
Bread
and Butter.
Fruit
Salad
Cheese
Wafers
Ice
Cream
Assorted
Cake
Salted
Nuts
Coffee
Peppermint
Wafers
The
banquet over, Miss Kittie Williams of the class of 1891, as toastmistress,
announced that our unlucky anniversary had arrived, and that the first piece of
sad luck was the absence of Mrs. Kading, who was
first upon the list of post-prandial speakers with the subject “Woman’s
Possibilities.” As Mrs. Kading is practicing law in Watertown, much interest
centered in her subject and all regretted her enforced absence.
The
other toasts were as follows: “Ideals” responded to by Miss Emma Shakshaskv, 1896; “The Ladies,” responded to by Lewis
Parks, 1900, “Our Unlucky Anniversary” responded to by Miss May Kelly; “Reminiscenses” responded to by Prof. M. H. Jackson.
All
the responses were replete with “sayings wise and otherwise,” and were received
with hearty applause. Prof. Jackson in
particular, struck a responsive chord in many hearts, due to his former
pleasant connection with the schools of Watertown.
One
number on the program was the song “May Morning,” which was delightfully
rendered by Miss Lula Bertram of the class of 1897, who also “responded” to an
enthusiastic encore.
Following
the toasts a short business meeting was held, after which the association
listened to a two-act comedy entitled “Mr. Bob,” presented by the following
casts of local talent, the picture of each participant appearing below:
Philip
Rovson . . . . . John W. Schempf
Robert
Brown, Clerk of Benson & Benson . . . . Daniel Throne
Jenkins,
Miss Rebecca’s Butler . . . . Jno. Chapman
Rebecca
Luke, Spinster . . . Elizabeth Throne
Katherine
Rogers, her Niece . . . . . Blanche Webb
Marion
Bryant, Katherine’s Friend . . . . Gertrude Malloy
Patty,
Miss Rebecca’s Maid . . . . . Mrs. W. J. Lee
The
play was replete with humor and ludicrous incidents and was given with marked
dramatic ability and excellent effect.
Thus
ended one of the most successful and enjoyable reunions of the society. Notwithstanding the oppressive hot weather,
all felt that a most pleasant and profitable evening had been spent. There was indeed a single note of regret
heard among the older members — regret that so many of the olden time were
absent.
07 19 MISS MARIE KILLIAN
At a
meeting of the Board Education held last Wednesday evening, Miss Marie Killian
was transferred from 5th grade, No. 4 to the position of high school teacher,
at a salary of $40 a month, leaving a vacancy in the 5th grade in that
building, which will be filled at the next meeting of the School Board. WG
08 30 EXAMS
FOR FALL TERM
The fall term of the public schools, except school
No. 3, will open on Tuesday, September 3.
Examinations will be held as follows: For admission to seventh and
eighth grades, Thursday, Augusts 29. For
admission to high school, Friday, August 30.
For removal of conditions of high school students, Saturday, August
31. All these examinations will be held
in room 2 of the high school building and will begin each day at 9 a. m. Applicants for admission to the high school
are requested to bring with them and submit any certificates of standings which
they may have. Such certificates will
help to ascertain fitness, but no one will be admitted without at least some
examination.
C. F. VIEBAHN.
Superintendent of Schools. WG
08 30 SCHOOL
NO. 1 USED FOR HIGH SCHOOL
(same date) Four school buildings will hereafter be
used in this city for public school purposes.
School No. 1, in the 2d ward, school No. 2 in the 4h ward, school No. 3
in the 6th ward, and school No. 4 in 1st ward.
School No. 1 will hereafter be used for 8th grade and
high school classes exclusively.
09 20 MISS
ELLEN SULLIVAN
Miss Ellen Sullivan, who was
elected by the board of education a few weeks ago to the position of teacher of
biology, physiology and physical geography at the high school, has received an
offer from the board of education of Cleveland, O., for the position of teacher
of biology in the Cleveland high school.
Miss Sullivan has decided not to accept the offer, and will retain her
position in this city. Miss Sullivan is
a graduate of Cornell and received one of the two highest scholarship prizes
awarded by the university. — [Fond du Lac items in Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin of Sept. 16, 1901.]
Miss Sullivan’s home is in
the town of Clyman, and she is well known in Watertown. At one time this summer it was thought she
would apply for a position in our high school, but it appears the wages offered
was not inducement enough for her. WG
10 11 NIGHT
SCHOOL
At a meeting of the Board of
Education held last Tuesday evening it was decided to hold a public night
school, to which all boys and girls of this city over 15 years of age are admitted
free. School will be held two nights a
week for five months, beginning Monday evening, October 21,1901. Messers. Viebahn, Whiting and Muenich will
be the instructors. This will be one of
the best night schools ever held in the city and all young men and ladies who
possibly can should take advantage of it
WG
10 18 NIGHT
SCHOOL, more on
The night school which will
open next Monday evening at the high school will give an excellent opportunity
for young people over 15 years of age to improve their education. The principal branches to be taught are
bookkeeping, arithmetic and English. The
students will be so classified that all may be given the work and the
instructions for which they are prepared.
The school is, however, not intended for children who ought to attend a
day school. A night school that is held
but two times a week can do little or nothing for children that have not yet
mastered the first rudiments of reading, spelling and arithmetic. If it is warranted by the attendance, the
school will be continued for five months.
There will be two sessions a week, probably on Mondays and
Thursdays. All who attend the school
will be expected to do some work at home in preparing tasks and lessons
assigned. No one should attend this
school who is not willing to study and to attend punctually and regularly.
Judging from the character of
the students already enrolled the prospects for a successful night school is
most excellent. The school is for girls
as well as for boys. WG
1902
06 01 SUMMER
SCHOOL FOR TEACHERS AND PROSPECTIVE TEACHERS
The teachers and prospective teachers
of Dodge and Jefferson counties will be given an opportunity to attend a summer
school to be held in this city at the High school building July 7th, to August
1st. There has long been a desire on the
part of many teachers of these two counties to have a summer school located at
some central point such as Watertown, and to have the work of instruction such
as will best prepare them for the county teachers’ examinations. This school is organized to meet these
demands. The course of study will
include all the old as well as new branches required for the three grades of
teacher certificates. No attempt will be
made to give systematic professional training, as that will be the function of
the summer institutes to follow. The
school will also afford high school students an excellent opportunity for
academic review of common and high school branches. Students intending to write for certificates
in Jefferson County will be given an opportunity to do so on the last day of
the session.
1904
06 28 COMMENCEMENT
A very large audience greeted the class
of 1904 of the high school at its graduating exercises held at Turner Opera
House on the evening of the 23rd instant.
Every seat in the house, including the galleries, had been reserved and
assigned upon application to friends of the graduates, students of the upper
classes of the public schools and citizens generally. Some who had not been able to obtain seats
found standing room in the aisles and doorways.
As usual the stage had been tastefully decorated by the junior class,
aided by the teachers, the decorations consisting of palms, wild ferns and
masses of ox-eye daisies, together with liberal quantities of gold and white
bunting hung in festoons below the foot-lights and above the platform.
Unfortunately, just as the exercises
were about to begin, the electric lights were extinguished, delaying the
opening for half an hour. Finally a few
gas jets were lighted, a few lamps brought in, and at 8:45 Supt. C. F. Viebahn announced that owing to the delay there would be a
change in the program. He stated that
the instrumental duets would be deferred until more lights could be obtained,
and that his own address would be omitted, and the exercises would open with a
history of the class of 1904 by Josephine Voss.
This exercise proved to be an enjoyable “give-away,” combining history
with prophesy in a humorous vein, the individuals being dealt with better
understood and appreciated by the class than by the general public. Miss Voss’ number was a decided success.
1906
11 06 ESTABLISHMENT
OF A NIGHT SCHOOL
At a regular meeting of the board of
education a matter of considerable importance was disposed of. It was the adoption of a report favorable to
the establishment of a night school in the high school building for the benefit
of the young men and young ladies of the city who are unable to attend the day
schools by reason of the fact that they are employed in the factories or
otherwise engaged in earning a livelihood.
Chairman Voss said they [the committee on teachers and instruction] was
not overly sanguine as the experiment had been tried here in the past without
success. They were willing however to
risk the venture, realizing that there were more young ladies and young
gentlemen in the city than there were then.
The report stated that the members of the committee had taken the matter
up with the superintendent of schools and three of the assistants of the high
school and they had concluded to recommend the holding and maintaining of such
an evening school. They recommended that
it be held in the high school building for a term of four months, commencing
Thursday, Nov. 15, 1906, instructions to be given twice a week, Mondays and
Thursdays. It was further recommended
that the male teachers of the high school be employed at a compensatory salary
. . .
11 17 The night school opened at the high
school building last evening under quite favorable circumstances. The attendance, however, was not as large as
was expected, at least by some of the members of the board of education which
authorized the opening of the school at its last meeting. One of the members of the board last evening
when informed by a Leader
representative that the enrollment was twenty-nine, expressed surprise and said
he thought it would be at least fifty. .
. . Superintendent Roseman also thought there would be a larger enrollment ...
He is of the opinion that the attendance will increase, especially when it
becomes known and the fact of the benefits becomes appreciated. It should not,
however take coaxing or persuasion to increase the number of students. There
are many young men seen nightly loafing on the street corners and young ladies
gadding the streets who would do well to take advantage of this opportunity . .
.
12 16 The public night school has closed for
the holiday season. The new feature in
the public educational institution of our city will reopen on Thursday evening,
Jan. 3rd. The night school has proven a
great success and many of the young people of the city who are engaged in
earning a livelihood in factories, stores and offices are taking advantage of
this excellent means of adding to their store of knowledge. Superintendent Roseman and the teachers in
charge are well pleased with the success of the school thus far. Even some of the members of the board of
education who were opposed, in a way, to the school, now realize that no
mistake was made in launching this new department . . . Those who have attended
thus far have expressed their intention of returning at the reopening and it is
more than probably that several new students will be enrolled. This is a rare opportunity and there should
be many more in a position to reap the benefits.
1907
Graduation Class
1908
---- THESPIANS
06 18 Commencement WL
06 27 To use the phraseology of the theatrical people, the
seniors of the Watertown High School held the boards at the Turner Opera House
last evening, presenting their class play, "All On Account of the
Professor." The young people not
only "held the boards", but they held the rapt attention of their
audience which fairly packed the hall.
The young folks acquitted themselves in a very credible manner and that
their work was appreciated was amply evidenced in the generous applause which
came with frequency.
It was no doubt the means of
giving permanency to high school class plays in Watertown and it is safe to
predict that hereafter it will be an annual event to which each senior class
will look forward to with great expectancy, as will also be the case with
friends and patrons of this local institution of learning. Each member of the cast carried out their
respective parts without a hitch and in a manner that reflected great credit
upon the senior class of 1908. WL
09 11 Re-shingling
portion of the High School; L. Wright manual training teacher; Eighth grade
transferred to School No. 4.
11 13 Playgrounds proposed for vacant
lots; later site for High School WG
1909
01 22 Webster Debating Society
officers elected WG
01 22 Manual training and
drawing, new dept WG
07 02 Commencement exercises, 42
grads WG
07 02 Last Monday evening there
was a large attendance at the 21st annual reunion of the Watertown High School
Alumni Association . . . WG
08 20 Ratio maintained pupils and assistants WG
08 27 Mechanical
drawing sets WG
1910
01 21 Mrs. Gordon E. Bacon
entertained teachers and her Latin class
WG
01 22 Manual training and
drawing, new dept WG
01 29 Junior Prom for
Seniors WG
03 11 Boys' and girls’ declamatory contests WG
03 11 Inter-class basketball
games at the Turner WG
03 25 Thieves enter High School WG
04 22 Prof. B. E. McCormick, first
assistant principal, resignation
WG
04 29 Class
honors for the year WG
06 10 Senior
class play WG
06 17 Debate on immigration laws WG
06 24 Commencement WG
06 24 Condition of High School WG
07 01 Twenty-second annual reunion of High
School WG
1911
03 02 High School Debate—The High School debate
at the High School building last Friday night was a very interesting affair,
the question under debate being State Ownership of Water Power in
Wisconsin. The Watertown team, composed of
Peter Brooks, Philip Quentmeyer and George
Lewandowski had the affirmative side of the question and the Beaver Dam team
had the negative. Wm. F. Voss of this
city presided at the meeting and I. O. Hubbard, principal of the Fond du Lac
High school, David Bogue, attorney of Portage, and A. M. Jones, principal of
the Lake Mills school, officiated as judges.
The judges decided two in favor of Beaver Dam and one in favor of
Watertown. WG
03 16 State Superintendent Carey Compliments
Watertown High School
Mr.
James Moore, President of Board of Education, Watertown, Wisconsin
Dear
Sir:
I am
in receipt of the report of Inspectors Terry and Borden of their visit to your
High School on March 7th.
The
report as a whole is very favorable, especially considering the number of
pupils per teacher, and the inspectors give the school a good ranking among the
high schools of the state.
The
discipline and general attitude were excellent and the recitations were well
conducted by the teachers, though in some cases there did not seem to have been
a rigid enough insistence upon thorough preparation by the students of the
assigned lessons. Apparently, if there
is any special problem in the school it is that of securing harder study on the
part of the considerable number of the pupils.
With the excellent management and the strong force of teachers which the
school has at present this more rigid insistence upon the proper amount of work
by the pupils should not be difficult.
This
and various other matters relating to school work were fully discussed in a
faculty meeting held after school.
The
equipment and janitor service are satisfactory.
The
inspectors note a large increase in the enrollment since the last visit. It has now reached what should be considered
the extreme limit for the number of teachers.
With an average of over 30 pupils per teacher it is self-evident that
the teachers must be overburdened with work and that it is impossible to meet
the needs of individual pupils or of the school as a whole in a thoroughly
efficient degree.
The
building, too, as you are no doubt fully aware, is too small for so large a
school.
I
sincerely hope that you will seriously consider both of these questions and
that you can see your way clear to increase the number of teachers this year if
possible — if not, than certainly next year — and also that provision can be
made for adequate accommodations in the near future.
The
growth of your school is very gratifying and indicates an excellent sentiment
toward education in your community, but it should be remembered that it also
brings added responsibility in the matter of providing increased facilities if
a high standard of work is to be maintained.
Assuring
you of my interest in the success of your school, I remain,
Very truly
yours
C. P.
Carey, State Superintendent WG
Class of 1911,
50 year reunion, 1961. Watertown Historical Society Collection
1911
07 20 School Superintendent’s Annual Report
High School crowding; public school enrollment;
Webster School
The enrollment this year [school year
ending June 23, 1911] shows an increase of 1 pupil over that of 1910. The total enrollment this year is 1231, and
last year it was 1230. This shows that
the school population in our city is not increasing very rapidly. Our records show that a greater number of
school children left the city during the past year than entered.
The enrollment in the high school
reached 311 this year, which is 91 more than the seating capacity of the
assembly room. This congested condition
was handled by having those who lived within three blocks of the building
report for recitation only, and by assigning the balance of the overflow seats
in the library, laboratory, and two recitation rooms on the first floor . . .
In my opinion, the heating and
ventilating scheme to be installed in Webster School is one of the very best,
and I have every reason to believe that it will work perfectly.
The boys’ closet and urinal in
Webster School ought to be placed against the west wall and fitted up in a
sanitary manner. In order to make this
room sanitary the sewerage system will have to be readjusted and while doing
this the additional cost to move the closets and modernize them would not be
great . . .
The high school work progressed quite
satisfactorily, regardless of the crowded condition. During the first part of the year a little
annoyance occurred on account of one of the lady assistants being a little weak
in discipline. The teacher was a
conscientious hard worker, but she was not a match for events as they developed
in the growing minds of the children. In
addition she found the work very heavy and at Christmas time asked for a leave
of absence . . . On account of the crowded conditions the best results cannot
be expected. Many of the pupils were
compelled to sit at home and report only for classes . . . It is difficult to
regulate the home time with that of the school clock and pupils come in at
different times, and having no vacant room in which to assemble, are compelled
to stand around the halls until the classes pass. To obviate this condition more room ought to
be provided . . . WG
1912
03 14 High
School Teams to Debate
A debating team from Columbus will
come to Watertown to meet a team from the Watertown High School in debate on
Friday evening. The question for debate
is “Resolved, that trial by jury in the United States should be
abolished.” Both teams have been working
on the question for several months.
The Watertown team, which is composed
of Wallace Thauer, Alvin Brendemuehl
and Peter Brooks, will debate the affirmative of the question. The debate will be held in the high school at
7:30 o'clock. Hon. William F. Voss will
preside.
On the same evening another team
consisting of Alya Soldner,
Jack Coughlin and George Lewandowski will debate the negative question with
Beaver Dam High School at Beaver Dam. In
order to defray the expenses of the teams a small admission fee of 10 cents
will be charged. WG
05 09 Editor Daily Times Might Take Own Advice Before "Rushing Into
Print"
Editor Gazette:—The Daily Times of Saturday evening calls an
unsigned article in The Gazette
against members of the police force
"cowardly," that it “cast odium upon the whole department." If this is so, then how much more cowardly
was that unsigned article in favor of a mashing ordinance, which appeared in a
recent issue of The Times, in which special mention was made of High School
students. Did not that throw odium
upon the entire school? According to The Times own reasoning then, that was
an insult to the entire student body, and not only that, but to every parent
who has a child in High School. If any
complaints are to be made against High School students, why don't they take it
to the school board? That body is a
regularly-constituted one, and complaints should be made to it. All its members are respectable men, and it
has always contained men of good reputation.
The Times says "Of late
it seems to be the fad to discredit everybody connected with the conduct of
city affairs, and the police of course come in for their share." On the contrary, it seems to be the fad for
some of those connected with the city administration to insult everyone with
any claim to respectability, and the police can expect nothing else than to be
discredited if they follow the lead of some of their superiors.
A Minor. WG
1912
Class of
1912. Watertown Historical Society Collection
1912: Largest Class in
History of High School
06 27 Thursday
evening, June 20, 1912, a large audience was present to enjoy the exercises of
the Watertown High School at Turner Opera House. The weather was ideal and it added greatly to
the pleasure of the evening. The program
was a decidedly good one, and the different addresses of the graduates on the
program were well spoken and reflected great credit on the school, the teachers
and the graduates.
Prof.
A. B. Hall of the State University was the orator of the occasion and took for
his subject "The Playground of Life," the drift of his argument being
that all should cultivate a live and let live spirit in order to bring about a
better condition in life for all.
The
diplomas were presented to the class by the Hon. Wm. F. Voss, chairman of the
committee on teachers and instruction of the board of education. Mr. Voss reminded the graduates that their
education was finished so far as the Watertown High School was concerned, but
said it never really would be complete.
He spoke of the many changes for the good of the school that had taken
place in the past 15 years— new courses and instructors were added, such as manual
training, domestic science, music and commercial. He closed his remarks by wishing the
graduates, on behalf of the Board of Education, success and happiness through
life.
Following
is the program in full, the list of graduates and the addresses delivered . . .
The
list of graduates follows . . . WG
Watertown High School Alumni Association
and Banquet a Great Success.
06 27 1912
One of
the most successful reunions and banquets of the Watertown High School Alumni
Association in its history took place last Friday evening at Turner
Opera House, followed by a ball.
The attendance was larger than it has been for many years. The fore part of the program consisted of
renewing old friendships and of social chat, followed by the banquet for which
the following menu was served . . .
Miss
Wilder made an excellent toast-mistress and J. E. McAdams' address to the class
of 1912 was a decidedly able and interesting one.
On
behalf of the Alumni he heartily and truly welcomed the class into the society;
that the learning and also the great talent which the members of the class have
shown will be a big aid in forming an association which will be stronger and
better than ever.
“To
those members of the class who were not going to college do not forget your
books, a well informed person gets the most enjoyment out of life, education is
better than great wealth. The father who
has given his children an education has done his duty. Today people are
realizing more than ever the value of an education; ten years ago only about
twenty students graduated from the local high school; this year fifty-four.
“Be
grateful to your parents and teachers, have no petty jealousies, be charitable
and humane, and have faith in yourselves.
Girls of the class, do not be butterflies or bees, but be a happy
medium.
“I
welcome you on behalf of the Alumni into this society, and may health and
happiness attend you throughout your lives.”
Miss
Regina Hoefler responded, saying that the class felt
honored to be taken into the Alumni; that the class of 1912 was made up of 34
girls and 20 boys who had shown much talent and had excelled in many ways, and
would no doubt be a credit to the society, that the annual alumni banquet
afforded a means for the class to reunite and renew friendships, that the
members of the class should be true to their class, to the Alumni and to
themselves. WG
11 14 "THE GRAND OLD FLAG"
The Watertown High School will
present the greatest war drama ever written, "The Grand Old Flag," at
Turner Opera House on the evening of November 21,
with two hundred home people on the stage under the direction of Col. F. L.
Hunt, author of the play. He is coming
from Chicago with all his scenery and costumes, the same that were used in this
great play at McVickers Theater for eleven weeks,
under the auspices of the U.S. Grant Grand Army Post, an organization with
twelve hundred members that attended the performance in uniform and made one of
the most attractive and enthusiastic audiences that ever attended a war
production in America. For weeks the audience continued to be very large and
the patrons were sailors, soldiers and patriotic citizens with the boxes filled
with the elite of society and even the governor and his staff came up from
Springfield to enjoy the play. This
great production will be presented by the Watertown High School with home
talent. In addition to the four acts of
the great drama there will be five beautiful tableaux, a chorus of one hundred
and fifty voices, several soloists, a male quartette and plantation jubilee
singers. The prices will be 25, 35 and 50 cents. WG
11 21 "THE
GRAND OLD FLAG"
The
students of the Watertown High School are working afternoon and evening on the
big chorus and the big plantation jubilee and the four acts of the great war
drama, "The Grand Old Flag," to be given at Turner Opera House,
Thursday evening, Nov. 21. The papers of
Oshkosh and Appleton, where the play was just presented, printed articles over
a column long in praise of the success it was in these towns – and it will be
the same in Watertown. The papers say
that Col. Hunt, the gentleman who is here from Chicago, is worth the price of
admission for his German part. They also
say the beautiful tableaux at the end of each act are worth the money; also the
big war song chorus at the end of the fourth act is worth more than the price
of admission. WG
1913
01 02 HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF '05 ENTERTAINMENT
Last Friday evening the Watertown High School class of 1905
held a reunion and banquet at the Commercial
Hotel. The table decorations were in
the class colors, black and gold, and a Christmas tree was placed in the center
of the table. Miss Marie Killian
officiated as toastmistress. She began
teaching in the Watertown High School the year the class of 1905 entered the
High School. Miss Maude Beisner responded to the toast:
Schoolmates:
"I
am wishing for you today,
And
wishes are prayers, they say,
What
wealth of joy, if this be true,
Will
surely come, dear friends, to you."
Each member of the class present responded to a toast. It was decided to make the event an annual
affair. Present were: Misses Marie
Killian, Kathryn Becker, Anna Kress, Gertrude Kramer, Maude Beisner,
Irene Jones, Laura O'Brien, Helen Deimel, Eugenie
Abele, Anna Goecke, Hilda Gnewuch,
Mrs. A. Keel; Messrs. Arthur Radtke, Ashippun; Walter
Simon, Memphis, Tenn. WG
___________________________________________________________________
1913 Letter from
Jack to Jill
1913, New High School note
1913, Spring weather note
From 1913 High School
Orbit (first Orbit published)
WEATHER
LETTER.
Watertown,
Wis.,
Dear
Jill:
Your
good letter found me in a most receptive mood when it came yesterday. I am glad
that you are so much enjoying the apparently perpetual sunshine of California.
I
cannot help contrasting the beautiful weather you describe with that which we
are now experiencing. We have our rubbers on our feet, are holding our skirts
in one hand, and our umbrellas in the other, after the fashion appropriate to
Wisconsin people at this season of the year. The backbone of old Winter has
passed, but we are not yet out of range of the last expiring whisks of his long
caudal appendage. An operation upon him similar to the one you and I performed
on our old cat would do him good, don't you think so?
Do you
remember how people used to tease us when we went up the hill to get a pail of
water? Well that kind of an excursion would not be necessary now, for we could
use rain water, or melted sleet, or extract of hail stones, just as we chose to
select, for we are having all of these in monotonous rotation.
You
will wonder with me whether the people who named this good old place Watertown
were trying to be truthful, or just sarcastic. Our old high school has not yet
been washed away. If you were here today we would jump over the puddles
together and visit the dear old place. They
are going to have a new high school as soon as the weather clears up so
that the carpenters can get to work at it.
The
seniors are going to get out an annual this year unless the weatherman
frustrates their plan. I shall not fail to send you one.
Happiness
here is at present confined to the Watertown geese, and their aquatic
associates, the ducks and frogs.
This
tirade against the weather is not intended to discourage you from coming back
home next year. I much hope you will do so.
Sincerely
yours, Jack.
P. S.
The paleness of this ink is due to the fact that it rained in the ink bottle.
1914
02 05 JUNIOR
PROM
The Junior prom of the Watertown High
School held at Masonic Temple Friday evening was one of the most successful in
the history of the school. Orange and
black, the class colors, were used in decorating, and the greenery used at the
Knight Templars ball a few evenings previous were intact, which added much to
the attractiveness of the ball room. The
grand march was led by Daniel Brooks, president of the junior class, and Miss
Marian Anderson, a member of the high school faculty. Refreshments were served by members of the
sophomore class. Beside the Juniors and
Seniors present were the high school faculty, Hon. William F. Voss, M. F.
Blumenfeld, John G. Conway, A. A. Frattinger, H. W.
Werner, members of the school board, and Mrs. J. G. Conway and Mrs. H. W.
Werner. The committees having charge of
the prom were made up as follows:
Music — Robert Brumm,
Doris Meyer, Helen Belrose.
Refreshments — Margaret Mueller,
Helen Maede, Rose Murphy, Mary Wieman,
Edna Hertel.
Amusements — Margaret Mueller, Ruth
Archie, Ben Krueger, Viola Volkman, Reginald
Humphrey.
Decorating — Melvin Norbert, Reginald
Humphrey, Mabel King, Lucile Liebermann, Ewald Hub, Joseph Lange, Herbert Rodeck, Paul Conway, Edna Ullrich, Gertrude Nickels.
Invitations — Dan Brooks, Elsie Schurr, Lester Williams, Marcella Sette.
Program — Elsie Schwendke,
Selma Neitzel, Ruth Johnson, Marcella Holstine, Dorothy Hoeffner.
Reception —
Dan Brooks, Paul Conway, Reginald Humphrey, Herbert Rodeck,
Edna Ullrich, Mabel King, Lucile Liebermann.
WG
02 12 VISITED
HIGH SCHOOLS
William F. Voss, president of the
Board of Education, W. H. Woodard, A. H. Frattinger,
M. F. Blumenfeld and Simon Molzahn, members of the
Watertown Board of Education, and Supt. T. J. Berto
visited Ft. Atkinson last Thursday to inspect the new high school in that city,
with a view of using the information in the erection of the new high school in
Watertown.. WG
04 16 NEW
HIGH SCHOOL ASSURED
At an adjourned meeting of the Board
of Education last evening the Board arranged to engage Parkinson &
Dockendorf of La Crosse, architects, to draw plans and specifications for a new
high school. The Board also decided the
Eighth Street city property, with the Meckes property
just north of it, as the proper site for the school. WG
05 07 HIGH
SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT
Commencement week will open with the
production of the Senior class play on Monday, June 15. The graduation exercises will be held at
Turner Opera House on Wednesday, the 17th, with the alumni reception and
banquet on the following evening.
Prof. Albert Johnson of the
University extension division of the University of Minnesota will deliver the
address, his subject being “The Quest.”
Prof. Johnson was until the last year connected with the University of
Wisconsin in a similar capacity. His
excellence as a commencement day orator is unquestioned, and the board of
education has been fortunate indeed to have his services.
Wallace Thauer,
Ray Meyer and Louis Bandelin have been selected as
the honor students who will have a part in the commencement exercises. The first named will act as valedictorian,
the second as salutatorian and the third will make the presentation of the
class memorial. It is now expected that
the graduating class will number thirty-three.
The right to produce a popular school
play, “The Varsity Coach,” has been secured, and the members of the senior
class who will take part in the play are already hard at work under the
direction of Miss Edna Chadwick.
The eighth grade graduation exercises
will be held at Turner opera house Tuesday evening, and the alumni reception
and banquet will be held on Thursday evening, but arrangements for this; the
closing feature of the week, are as yet incomplete. WG
11 05 HALLOWEEN
AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
The teachers and over 300 pupils of
the Watertown High School enjoyed a Halloween entertainment at the High School
building last Friday evening. A program
was carried out by the different classes that kept all in excellent humor from
8 until after 11 o’clock. It was by all
odds the most successful entertainment ever given by the pupils of the high
school, and the various amusements, through of a ludicrous character, were
elevating and edifying, and several of the stunts pulled off showed that the
pupils of the Watertown High School are possessed of much originality and have
a liking for good, wholesome amusement.
1217 ARCHITECT
REQUESTED FOR NEW HIGH SCHOOL
To the Mayor and Common Council.
The undersigned special committee to whom
was referred the matter of examining the plans, etc., in connection with the
new high school proposition, beg leave to report that we have had several
meetings with a special committee of the board of education and as a result of
such several meetings it was deemed advisable that before proceeding further
with the matter in question, that an architect be employed for the purpose of
ascertaining whether the present high school building cannot be remodeled and
enlarged and if so whether it would be advisable to do so.
The undersigned further report that
the board of education desires authority to expend not to exceed three hundred
($300) dollars of the five thousand ($5000) dollars heretofore appropriated for
the use of the board of education in obtaining plans and specifications for a
new high school building and the undersigned committee recommends that a
resolution be passed authorizing the board of education to do so.
Respectfully submitted,
Wm. A. Beurhaus,
Wm. Wedemeyer,
F. C. Werner,
John Kessler,
Geo. A. Richards,
Special Committee.
The report was adopted. WG
1915
03 11 BUSINESS
ASSN FAVORS NEW HIGH SCHOOL
The
Gazette is pleased to note
that at a meeting of the Business Men’s Association of Watertown held last Tuesday
evening a resolution was passed favoring the erection of a new high school
building of a size sufficient to accommodate not only the pupils of high school
age in this city, but also the young people of the farming district around
Watertown who may desire a high school education. Start the good work along as speedily as
possible. This commendable move of the
Board of Education, started about two years ago, we thought had been buried; at
least it has been a sleeping. We hope
the good work will now be taken hold of with a vim
and be completed within a year or two.
Watertown needs a new high school building and a good large campus
surrounding it, and needs them badly. WG
03 11 DEBATE
TEAMS LOOSE
[same date] The Watertown High School teams were unfortunate
last week in losing both debates, being defeated by the Columbus team at
Columbus, taking the negative side of the question, in the debate between
Watertown, Beaver Dam and Columbus, and at the local high school by the
Columbus high school team, taking the affirmative side. The question under debate was “Resolved, That
Our Immigration Laws Should Debar All Immigrants Over 10 Years of Age Who are
Unable to Read and Write; Provided That the Law Should not Apply to Dependents
When Qualified Immigrants or Residents of the United States.” At the Watertown High School the Watertown
team consisted of Gilbert Schmutzler, Herbert Rodeck and Ed Bandelin. The Beaver Dam team consisted of Franklin
Kuehl, Irwin Lathrop and Walter Neiman.
The judges were Supt. A. L. Halverson, Oconomowoc; Principal L. G.
Curtis, Waterloo, and Principal Oscar Bauer, Juneau.
The Watertown team at Columbus was
made up of Paul Conway, Elmer Lemmerhirt and Dan
Brooks. They were accompanied there by
W. J. Trautman, principal of the High school.
WG
03 17 DEATH OF CHARLES F. VIEBAHN WDT
03 18 NEW
HIGH SCHOOL ASSURED
PROCEEDINGS
Of a special meeting of the
Common Council of the city of Watertown, Wisconsin, held March 10, 1915.
The meeting was called by
the mayor for the purpose of receiving and considering the report of the Board
of Education in relation to the construction of a new high school.
The following communication
was presented:
To the Common Council and
the Board of Education of the city of Watertown.
Gentlemen:
At a meeting of the Business
Men’s Association held on Tuesday evening, March 9, the following resolution
was presented, and unanimously adopted:
“Resolved, That it is the
sentiment of the members of the Business Men’s Association of Watertown,
representatives of heavy tax paying interests, that Watertown should have a
new, substantial high school building, capable of accommodating its local
pupils and also the children of our farming community who desire to avail
themselves of our excellent educational facilities, and any action our school
board and city council may take toward the erection of such new high school
building will meet with the hearty approval of this association.
Very truly yours, Business
Men’s Association, Max Melzer, Secretary.
The same was placed on file.
President Voss of the school
board then presented the matter of the new high school, stating, among other
things, that a new high school was a necessity; that the old building is
overcrowded, is not adapted to the needs of modern service and is defective
owing to improper ventilation. He stated
that the cost of a building of the type and size required would be about $100,000. This building would accommodate 350 pupils in
the assembly room, allowing fifteen square feet of space to each pupil, or 400
pupils allowing twelve square feet for each.
That the enrollment at present is about 300 with an attendance of about
280. The new building would therefore
call for an additional seventy to 120 pupils.
He stated further that the
proposition of rebuilding the present high school building to conform with
present requirements is not feasible, for the reason that during the wrecking
of the old and the construction of the new, a period of approximately one and
one-half years, it would be impossible to secure suitable quarters in which to
hold school.
Furthermore, the estimated
cost of such rebuilding would be $86,000 as compared with $100,000 for the new
building, not a great saving. Also that
the lot occupied by the present high school building, with dimensions of 200 x
216 feet, is too small to properly contain the new building, which is about 170
x 160 feet. The so-called Eighth Street
Park, bounded by Eighth, Ninth and Wisconsin streets, being 242 feet north and
south and 294 feet east and west, was pointed out as being the most feasible
and economical site for the proposed new school.
Health commissioner Haney
stated that the ventilation of the old building is very defective, has been
criticized repeatedly by the state board of health and was unfit to be used for
high school purposes.
During the ensuing
discussion, participated in by the members of the school board and common
council, various other points were brought out, among them that the school
board was unanimous in the opinion that a new building was necessary and that
such building should be built along the lines of the plans suggested. Pencil sketches of the proposed plan were
presented and explained by members of the board. The plan proposed provides for what is
commonly known as a fireproof building.
Upon the conclusion of the
discussion it was the sense of the meeting that the school board should present
at the next regular meeting of the common council a formal report and
recommendation of its requirements for a new high school building, with pencil
sketch attached, for further consideration of the common council.
The council adjourned.
Frank S. Weber, City
Clerk. WG
03 18 NEW
HIGH SCHOOL ASSURED (same date)
City Council Takes Favorable
Action.
At a regular meeting of the
city council last Tuesday evening the following resolution was passed, which
assures the city a fine new high school building. Watertown has differed in several things
agitating the people here of late, but it is very gratifying to note that there
is almost a unanimous feeling in our city that a new high school building be
erected. This speaks well for the future
of our city, and where its educational interests are so enthusiastically looked
after we may rest assured it will have a most wholesome effect on the moral and
material interests of Watertown.
Whereas, A certified copy of
a resolution of the Board of Education has been submitted to this Common
Council, wherein it is recited that a public necessity for a new high school
building has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the said board;
And Whereas, The said board
has submitted pencil sketches of a new building to cost about $100,000, the
same having a seating capacity of 350 pupils in the assembly room, allowing
fifteen square feet for each pupil;
And Whereas, Said sketches
have been examined and all matters in connection with the construction of a new
high school building have been thoroughly considered by this common council;
And Whereas, It is also the
opinion of this common council that necessity exists for the construction of a
new high school building in this city;
Be It Resolved, That the
resolution of the Board of Education, first above mentioned, be and the same is
hereby approved, and that the said board be and is hereby directed to secure
full workable plans and specifications in accordance with said pencil sketches
from the architects, the payment for which is hereby sanctioned.
Resolved Further, That the
Board of Education be and it is hereby directed to advertise for proposals for
the construction of said new building in accordance with such plans and specifications,
and to report the result of the advertisement to this Common Council.
Resolved Further, That it be
and is the sense of this common council that this building be built upon the
so-called “school lots” between Eighth and Ninth streets in the Ninth ward.
The resolution was adopted
by the following vote:
Ayes – Beurhaus,
Gruetzmacher, Harte, Kerr, Kessler, Knick, Kohn, Lutovsky, Richards, Schmechel, Wedemeyer, Werner—12; Noes—Glatzel—1;
Excused—Klemann—1 WG
04 01 HIGH
SCHOOL ALUMNI HOP
The annual Easter ball of the Alumni
Association of the Watertown High School has been set for April 5, Easter
Monday. The ball will be held at the
Masonic Temple and Bramer’s four-piece orchestra will
furnish the music. Net proceeds of the
ball will be applied on the deficit of the reception and banquet to be held
next June for the class of 1915.
The ball is being arranged and will
be in charge of the officers of the association, who are as follows:
President — Mrs. E. L. Schempf.
First Vice President — Ray Reichardt.
Second Vice President — Mrs. Walter
Schlueter.
Secretary — Miss Mabel Triplett.
Treasurer — Louis Bandelin.
Tickets are now on sale and may be secured from the officers. WG
A graduating class of 37 will be given
diplomas at the high school graduating exercises to be held at Turner Opera
house Wednesday evening, June 16. The
commencement address will be delivered by Paul F. Voelkert, secretary of the
department of instruction of the state university. Following is the list of graduates: Paul
H. Conway, Mabel King, Lucile S. Liebermann, Doris A. Meyer, Margaret Mueller,
Daniel L. Brooks, Hannah E. Cowen, Ruth B. Johnson, Florence Lenz, Arnold
Nickels, Herbert A. F. Rodeck, Marcella A. Sette, Viola I. Volkmann, Myra Wieting,
Marguerite E. Goodnetter, Elsa E. Schwendke,
Ruth Ellen Tyson, Ruth Marie Archie, Anna I. Biefeld,
Selma Spohn, Edna Ullrich, Mary Wieman, Helen Cecilia Belrose,
Robert A. Brumm, Henrietta M. Buege,
Edna C. Hertel, Ewas G. Hub, Ben R. Krueger, Joseph
Lange, Hannah C. Lewis, Arthur R. Linnes, Helen A. Maede, Gertrude S. Nickels, John F. Moriarty, Herbert
Radtke, Elsie H. Schur, Anna Maass.
Class Honors by Rank - Roedeck, Lucille Liebermann, Daniel Brooks, Arnold Nickels,
Helen Belrose.
Class Honors by Election - Daniel L. Brooks, president; Joseph T. Lange,
vice-president; Margaret Mueller, secretary; Ruth M. Archie, treasurer.
Class Colors - Purple and white. Class Flower - Blue aster. Class Motto - “Nothing Too Much”
10 14 NIGHT
SCHOOL TO OPEN
Superintendent T. J. Berto announced on Tuesday that the public night school
would be opened for the winter session at the high school building Thursday
evening. A competent corps of teachers
will be in charge of the school, which will offer a wide range of subjects for
study. There will be classes organized
in commercial subjects, including
beginning bookkeeping, advanced bookkeeping, beginning shorthand, advanced
shorthand, arithmetic, typewriting, penmanship, spelling, letter writing, rapid
calculation, classes in reading in English, in mechanical drawing and manual
training, and in any other subject desired by a sufficient number of
students. Night school will be open to
all persons over 16 years of age and persons between the ages of 14 and 16
years who are not now attending school.
No tuition will be charged and the text books will be furnished free of
charge. A deposit of $1.50 at the time
of receiving text books will be required.
This deposit will be returned at the close of night school upon the
return of the text books. Students should enroll Thursday evening and determine
to remain until the term closes in the spring.
Sessions will be held in the high school building Monday evening and
Thursday evening of each week at 7:15 o'clock. WG
11 04 BREWERY
BRICKS FOR NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING
Carl H. Block and Mallow & Kaddatz were the lowest bidders for tearing down the old Fuermann brewery plant,
at the foot of North First Street, recently acquired by the city, their bid
being $7150. The bid includes tearing
down the building, cleaning the bricks and hauling 800,000 of them to the site
of the new high school building, drawing all nails from lumber and storing
lumber. WG
11 04 NEW
HIGH SCHOOL HEATING CONTRACT
On Monday evening the contract for putting in the Kewaunee
smokeless heating plant in the new high school building was awarded
to Kehr Bros. of this city.
Following were the bids submitted:
Thomas Heating Co., Racine, $9392
H. Kelly & Co., Minneapolis, 9830
Otto Biefeld & Co., Watertown,
9786
Kehr Bros.,
Watertown, 9265
Gen. Heating & Ventilating Co., Milwaukee, 9560
Ind. Heating & Eng. Co., Milwaukee, 9640
Downey Heating Co., Milwaukee, 9575
Healey
Plumbing and Heating Co., St. Paul, 11,670 WG
11 11 BAUMANN,
SUPERINTENDENT OF CONSTRUCTION
The Board of Education has appointed
A. F. Baumann, superintendent of construction of the new high school
building. The selection is a good one.
11 11 CONSTRUCTION
PARTICULARS
Kewaunee Tubular boilers with Hawley
Down Draft will be installed in the new high sehool
building. An amendment was offered by
Com. Woodard to install Kewaunee No. 118 Smokeless Fire Box boilers, which was
adopted.
On motion by Com. Woodard, Kehr Brothers being the lowest bidders were awarded the
contract to install two Kewaunee No. 118 Smokeless Firebox Boilers with
Sturtevant apparatus in the new high school building for the sum of $9265.00,
all voting in the affirmative.
On motion by Com. Woodard, the
application of A. F. Baumann for the position of inspector for the new high
school building was laid over until the next regular meeting of the Board.
Motion by Com.
Conway to purchase Streeter’s Shale Tex brick, like
samples delivered to Board, for facing of the new high school building and to be
delivered F.O.B. cars to Watertown, Wis., any time when needed before April
1st, 1916 and to be paid for 30 days after delivery at $14.50 per
thousand. Adopted. WG
1916
Winter of 1915-16
THE HIGH SCHOOL AS A COMMUNITY
CENTER
During the last
decade cities have come to look upon the provision of a place open to the
public for recreation, inspiration, and education as a proper function of city
government. Municipalities in the United
States are now providing free public music centers, playgrounds, assembly
halls, bathing beaches, museums, and libraries.
The Board of Education of the city of Watertown will have in the
splendid new high school building, now under process of construction,
facilities for some of the various activities of present-day city life.
The new high
school building is situated upon a lot [South Eighth St] which will give ample
room for tennis courts, football, baseball, and other games for all who wish a
play place, whether they be children or adults.
The building has in it features that will promote the health, comfort,
and pleasure of the citizens of Watertown.
The building is provided with a splendid gymnasium, 87 feet by 59 feet,
surrounded on three sides by a gallery eight feet in width. The gymnasium may be reached by a side
entrance, thereby making it unnecessary to open the whole building and making
it possible to use the gymnasium at a time when school is in session, without
disturbing classes.
The gymnasium has
a stage 21 1/2 feet by 15 1/2 feet, providing a suitable platform from which
lectures, concerts, or dramatics may be presented. The room is well lighted and well
ventilated. Immediately off from it are
shower baths and dressing rooms for men and women. Even if equipped with only moderate equipment
for general gymnastics, the room will make an excellent place in which business
and professional men may exercise and relax through indulgence in games of
handball, volley ball, indoor baseball, basketball, etc.
Well-equipped,
modern laboratories will be a feature of the second floor of the building — laboratories
in which citizens may have tests made, may have scientific problems
solved. The chemistry laboratory will
have equipment such that simple analyses may be made and chemical reactions
tested. In physics the strength of
metals, laws of physics, and use of mechanical devices may be proven. In the biology and botany room the
germination of seeds may be tested and analyses of common plants may be
made. The assembly room of the building
will be an ideal place for evening entertainments, for lectures on civic
development and on matters of general municipal interest. The assembly room is equipped with an outlet
for a lantern, so that a stereopticon can be used.
The city of
Watertown is expending a large sum of money for its new high school building
and should plan to make the widest use of that building. It is not looked upon as good business policy
to erect an expensive plant in any industry and then allow that plant to lie
idle for several months of the year, for several days in every week and for
over half of each day. The movement for
a wider use of the school plant has been anticipated by the Board of Education
in the adoption of the plan of the new high school building. The building will be a beauty spot in the
city, a place of which all of us will be proud.
It should be more
than that; it should be a place in constant use, a real civic center of the
city. 1916 Watertown High School Orbit, pg 8.
1917 Watertown
High School images
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Assembly
room |
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Assembly
room |
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Chemistry
lab |
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Domestic
science kitchen |
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Gymnasium |
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Lower
corridor |
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Main
entrance |
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Manual
training work shop |
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Physics
lab |
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Reference
library |
1920
FOOTBALL CHAMPS
1921
1921
Orbit yearbook available in eBook format
1923
01 18 Death of Joseph Brandenberg, senior class WDT
1924 GYMNASIUM AND ASSEMBLY ROOM
1931
HOMECOMING GAME, Cooney vs. Watertown
THE KLUB
WHS_008_579
George
Bayer, Robert Hargraves, Edward Carey, Dan Milunovich,
Augustus Lehrkind, Wilbert Dierke,
?_ Behling, Norman Pautz, Martin Uttech,
Mr. Joseph, William Kusel, Clarence Tessman, Gaylord Waite, Cyril Schwarze,
Robert Jansky, Robert Kusel,
William Beisner, Louis Nowack, Donald Snyder, Roy McGowan
The Klub is
an organization of approximately twenty Juniors and Seniors. The purpose of the Klub is to create a better
school spirit and to give its members a chance to discuss problems that will
confront them during their school years and their later lives. The Klub meets regularly every week and when
the occasion demands it, there are meetings after supper. The Klub endeavors to get men to speak to
them on whatever subject they think important.
Such problems as audience courtesy, national defense, choosing one’s
vocation are just a few of the subjects that have been discussed.
FACULTY BASKETBALL
1931 Watertown High
School Orbit
Arthur
Henke, Gale Rockwell, Frank Keller, Arnold Landsverk,
W. Carman Lucas, O. Harvey Krause, Jerome Herreid
Besides
interscholastic and intramural basketball the Watertown High School was
represented by a faculty team. They
played two games against the Waupun faculty, one ending in a 22-22 tie, and in
the other Waupun proved the stronger, winning 32-26. They defeated the
Watertown Lion's Club 44-10, and defeated the Vocational three times in
practice scrimmages. Landsverk, Henke, and Lucas were
the best bets for the teachers. Some people were amused with the idea of
faculty athletics, but the pedagogues showed they could play basketball as well
as teach.
FIRST HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA
The cafeteria is a new
department at Watertown High School.
During the few weeks of its existence it has really proved itself a
great asset. Those students living at
such a distance that it makes it impossible for them to go home for their
dinner need no longer try to stop their hunger with a candy bar and a bottle of
pop or an apple, but can now enjoy regular meals at our new cafeteria. Surely the cafeteria is something for us all
to be proud of and enjoy. – 1931 High School Orbit
JUNIOR HIGH STUNT CLASS
1934
Orbit
Class of 1934 dedicated the Orbit to Miss Skinner
1936
FIRST HIGH SCHOOL FEATURED ON
CENTENNIAL POSTCARD
1938
AUTO MECHANIC CLASS, possible
An adult
education course, the sort of forerunner to MATC? Certainly does seem to be the old shop room on
the lower level of the old high school.
They had windows like these facing 9th St. and it is believed they also
had a sort of garage door that would have allowed the entrance of a car.
1939
1939 graduating class
pictured in novel arrangement WDT
1940
Class
of 1940, held 50th reunion in 1990.
1941
1941 Orbit
released. Dedicated to J. H. Herreid, popular member of the faculty.
c.1941
Prom Court (?), circa 1930s-40s
1942
07 16 Watertown
High School Girl Wins High Scholastic Honor
1944
WAR ACTIVITIES OF PATRIOTIC STUDENTS
Click on to enlarge. 1944 Watertown High School Orbit
1945
or 46
High School Marching Band, 400 block of E Main St.
1946
1946 ORBIT WILL RETURN TO HUMOR
Lighter
theme is chosen this year with war at end
With
much of the seriousness of the war a thing of the past, the 1946 Orbit staff
has decided on a humorous theme for its annual.
This year’s theme will be “The Circus.”
The circus theme fits into the activities of the high school student,
and the staff feels it will prove to make this year’s high school annual
especially interesting. The theme, as
usual, will be carried out in the introductory pages to all the sections. The art work of this year’s Orbit is being
done by the senior high art classes under the direction of Miss Elsie Hotvedt, art supervisor in the public schools.
The
organizations will be portrayed in the annual by action pictures characteristic
of the particular club. For instance,
the Future Farmers of America will have a picture of the boys testing
soil. The Girls’ club will be seen
folding Christmas stamps to be sent to residents of Watertown. A picture of students working in the library
represents the work done by members of the Library Service club.
The
staff has decided to have the major activities of each club presented which
should prove more interesting than the usual procedure of group pictures of
members of the club. WDT
1949
PROM QUEEN
1940s
1950s
Civics
or Government Class or Society
1952
First Watertown High School senior
class to have a post-prom party at the Watertown
Elks Lodge.
1953
HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM
1954
CENTENNIAL PARAGE:
HIGH SCHOOL BAND
Fall HIGH
SCHOOL JUNIOR BAND
Walt Stamstad, director
1956
05 27 The Times
is able today, for the first time, to reveal some of the details of the new
unit which will serve the Watertown Junior High School, the Watertown Senior
High School and the Watertown Vocational and Adult School. Not only will there be a new unit to the
north of the present school, but by the time the work is completed on
remodeling and rearranging the present school building that structure will
hardly be recognizable. So many are the
changes that are involved in the general overall plans. The new unit will be two stories high and its
exterior will conform pretty generally with the present building, though it
will be such that it can be readily set off as a “new school. A gymnasium-auditorium will be located in the
new unit. It will seat 3,000 persons,
have a large stage and a partial balcony.
There will be a spacious lobby in the new unit, with the main lobby
entrance at South Ninth and Dodge Streets.
WDT
08 23 The lawns around the Watertown High School
building, especially on the west side of the building, fronting on South Eighth
Street, are in for some rough usage soon.
School authorities are faced with the necessity of placing the large
number of bicycle racks elsewhere than in the customary places north of the
present building, now that that area is to be the scene of building activities
in connection with the new high school addition project. According to school authorities they plan to
place the racks on the lawns west of the present building and the many students
who ride bicycles to and from school will utilize that area for the purpose,
once the new term gets underway and building activities make the relocation of
the racks necessary. WDT
1957
Watertown High School
Orbit dedicated to Joseph Davies
Basketball, Squad A
1958
GRADUATION CEREMONY
< link to set of 9 images
1960
05 24 1960
ORBIT
The 1960 edition of The Orbit, senior class publication of Watertown High School, is
out. This year the book, the 48th issue,
is dedicated to the Watertown Community — for providing a new high school
building, a rich curriculum and a limitless opportunity for education. This year, for the first time, the edition
carries a photo of the city council and the city manager. There also is a photo of the board of
education, a beautiful view of the new high school addition at night, views of
the building’s interior, in addition to many other pictures of school
activities and groups. The book this
year is as handsome and attractive as any in the long line of Orbits that have come off the press
since the first one was published 48 years ago. WDT
06 02 MISS
KATHRYN SKINNER
If anyone ever sits down and writes a history
of the Watertown Public School system and enumerates some of the outstanding
teachers who have served this community the name of Miss Kathryn Skinner most
assuredly deserves to be included in any such list. Miss Skinner is ending her school work here,
having retired this week with the close of the 1959-60 school year. She has been a teacher of mathematics in the Watertown
High School. Aside from that, her great
interest in school work, in students and in helping turn out first rate future
citizens of the community, have been a tremendous influence for good. WDT
1961
10 year class
reunion, class of ’61.
15
year class reunion, class of ’61.
20 year class
reunion, class of ’61.
1962
12 19 The board of education last night
approved a resolution which is the first step for a referendum next April to
let the people decide whether they want a four and one-half room addition to
the present high school building. The
resolution was adopted by a vote of 7 to one, with commissioner Lee Block
casting the only vote in opposition, but later in the meeting he asked
permission to change his vote and make adoption unanimous. The resolution was introduced by Commissioner
Joseph Rhodes and was strongly supported by Commissioner Edward Hinterberg. WDT
1963
01 13 Norman
L. Larson, Superintendent of Schools.
Watertown’s new superintendent of schools, Norman L. Larson, is due to move
to Watertown tomorrow and take over his duties at the high school next
Monday. Mr. Larson, who has been serving
in a similar capacity at Markesan, accepted the Watertown position last Oct.
14, following the resignation of Eugene W. Tornow who
now holds a position with the University of Wisconsin. WDT
04 13 The plan for a four and one-half
classroom addition to Watertown High School, originally proposed by the board
of education last year as a means of solving the immediate growing space needs
at the school will be revived shortly, it was indicated today. This development came as a result of the
recent rejection by the voters in the April 2 election of two alternate plans —
one calling for a new junior high school of a seventh and eighth grade, and the
other calling for a new junior high school of a seventh, eighth and ninth
grade. WDT
04 18 Assistant
Superintendent position created; Russell
Twesme principal.
The board of education last night created a new position, that of
assistant superintendent of schools, and then named the principal of the high
school, Russell Twesme, to the post starting July 1
at no increase over his present salary.
The promotion is still subject to Mr. Twesme's
acceptance. The vote to establish the
new position was approved 6 to 1, with O. L. Wesemann
casting the lone dissenting vote. He
said he did it because he thought the matter should be delayed until next
year. WDT
04 19 As expected, the board of education last
night revived the plan for a four and one-half room addition to the Watertown
High School and at the same time adopted a resolution calling for utilization
of the Watertown Airport as the site for a new high
school building, either junior or senior, as a long range plan for solving the
growing space problem at high school.
Both proposals will go to the common council at an early date. WDT
04 23 The junior prom of the Watertown High
School will be held this spring in the high school gymnasium. “Souir Paree” is
the theme of this year’s prom. The grand
march will start at 10 o’clock and will be followed by the presentation of the
king and queen and their court of honor.
Reigning as king and queen will be Richard Claas
and Connie Wegner. Members of the court of honor are: Frank James, Jeanne
Mueller, Lee Ebert, Mary Theder, Kieren
Lordahl, Kathy Schmutzler,
Sharon Pike Alan Peters, Joan Wolf, James Schwartz, Neil Gamroth
and Cynthia Yahn.
WDT
05 04 The largest graduating class in the
history of Watertown High School is due to bow at the school's 90th annual
commencement exercises on Wednesday evening, June 5, at which time the speaker
will be William C. Kahl, first assistant superintendent Wisconsin Department of
Public Instruction, Madison. As of now,
a class of 245 seniors is scheduled to graduate. Last year's class numbered 204. WDT
06 06 Last night’s graduating seniors at
Watertown High School presented a check to provide shrubbery at the high school
grounds as their class gift in departing from the school. It was a record class, with 236 diplomas
being issued. Presentation of the class
gift was made by Susan Krueger, the class treasurer and was accepted by
Principal Russell Twesme. He lauded the class for its decision in
selecting a gift. WDT
08 05 LUTOVSKY
FARM
The common council at its meeting tonight is
scheduled to act on a resolution calling for an appraisal of the Charles Lutovsky farm in the Boughton-Hall
Streets area which has been proposed as a site for a future Watertown High
School, either senior or junior under a long-range school expansion plan. The appraisal is the first step in the plan
to acquire the property, a move viewed favorably by the city administration,
according to general discussion held at last night’s council committee
meeting. Mayor Robert P. White reported
that the asking price for the farm, reportedly consisting of 37.5 acres, is
$60,000. WDT
09 04 Negotiations to acquire the Charles Lutovsky farm property as a site for a future high school, either
junior or senior, were authorized by a common council resolution adopted last
night by unanimous vote of 13 aldermen present at the council meeting. Mr. Lutovsky offered the property for school purposes some
months ago and the site has been unanimously approved by action of the board of
education. Under terms of the resolution approved last night, Mayor Robert R
White is delegated to carry on the negotiations. Mr. Lutovsky has
asked for $60,000 as the price. Two independent appraisals made for the city
have placed a fair price value of about $54,000 on the property, the mayor said
last night. WDT
09 19 Russell Twesme,
who is assistant superintendent of schools in Watertown, last night was
appointed acting superintendent as of Sept. 16 and as such was authorized to
co-sign the activity account checks and carry out all other duties inherent in
the position. The appointment was
approved by unanimous vote of the board of education which also set an
additional $150 per month in salary during the time he will serve. WDT
10 01 Homecoming festivities of the Watertown
High School this weekend will include skits to be presented in the gym Friday
afternoon, the parade at 5 p.m. Friday with the lineup including floats, the
homecoming court and the football players, the game between Watertown and
Mayville and the homecoming dance Saturday evening. Members of the court of
honor are Marilyn Riedl and Robert Schmutzler,
homecoming king and queen; Gayle Piper, Linda Bauman, Rita Schmidt, Susan
Miller, Joel Toman, Regess
Krueger, Richard Erdman and James Finley.
WDT
1964
02 10 1964
GRADUATION
Watertown High School this year will graduate
the largest class in the history of the school. The commencement exercises are to
be held on Wednesday evening, June 3 in the high school gymnasium. There are
251 seniors in the class at the present time. Even with last minute “flunking
out,” the class will still be the largest to date. The largest previous class
in the history of the school was that of 1963 when 236 seniors received their
diplomas. In 1962 there were 204 graduates and in 1961 there were 228. WDT
04 03 LUTOVSKY
FARM
The Charles Lutovsky
farm, consisting of slightly less than 38 acres, which the board of education had
recommended to the common council last September for purchase as a site for a
future school, has been sold to private out of town interests which plan a
development. H. M. Dakin of the law firm
of Dakin and Dierker, confirmed the report and told
the Times that the preliminary papers have been signed and that $65,000 is the
sale price. WDT
05 15 FIVE-ROOM
ADDITION
The Watertown Board of Education has received
the support of the City Planning Commission in its plans calling for the
construction of a five-room addition to the present high school building as a
means of solving the immediate space needs at the school. The planning commission will recommend to the
common council Tuesday night that the school board be allowed to construct the
addition. WDT
07 05 LAND
ACQUISITION FOR PROPOSED NEW JUNIOR
HIGH SCHOOL
The City Planning Commission has
taken no action on the matter of putting its approval on or making a
recommendation regarding acquisition of the Lutovsky
farm site for the proposed new junior high school. Also involved in the site is additional
acreage which would be secured from Dr. E. Allen Miller and the Oak Hill Cemetery Association. An announcement made today stated that the
planning commission members had discussed the proposals but it had been decided
to lay it over “for the purposes of obtaining financial information.” At the last joint session held by the board
of education with the common council and the township chairmen who help make up
the Watertown Public School District, a resolution was adopted instructing the
proper city authorities to negotiate for the site with Charles Lutovsky, Dr. Miller and cemetery association officials.
10 30 LUTOVSKY
FARM
A conference
on how best to speed up consideration of acquiring the Charles Lutovsky farm as a site for the proposed new junior high
school was held at the municipal building this morning. It was attended by city
officials and representatives of the board of education and others. One of the
portions of land under consideration is the Charles Lutovsky
farm and also property in the vicinity which is owned by Dr. E. Allen Miller
and also a piece of land owned by the Oak Hill Cemetery Association. WDT
11 03 SALE OF OLD
REC BUILDING
The
common council at its meeting last night took three important — but not
unexpected — steps. It voted to sell the
old city hall to the most suitable bidder and to advance plans for the sale of
the old recreation building site in Main Street. The council also approved a resolution
calling to proceed with negotiations for the purchase of the Charles Lutovsky farm as part of the site for the proposed new
junior high school at a price not to exceed $65,000. WDT
1965
01 29 JUNIOR
HIGH, RATHER THAN SENIOR, PROPOSED
The reasons for the Watertown Board of
Education’s decision to propose the erection of a junior high school, rather
than a senior high school, the plans for a four and one-half room addition at
the high school, and the problem of a site for the proposed junior high school
were discussed by Norman Larson, superintendent of schools, at Monday’s weekly
luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club, held at the Legion Green Bowl. Erection of a junior high school will be less
costly than the construction of the senior high school, he told the club. And with an elementary school also planned
for the site, he said, it is best that elementary students are not in the same
area with senior high school students. WDT
01 30 LUTOVSKY
FARM PURCHASED
After nearly two years of debate and argument
the common council last night voted 10 to 3 to authorize the purchase of the Lutovsky farm — now owned by Behrndt, Perkins and Knodl of Milwaukee — along with the Dr. E. Allen Miller
property and a piece of land owned by the Oak Hill Cemetery Association,
representing in all between 44 and 45 acres as a site for the new Watertown
Junior High School. WDT
03 28 NATIONAL
HONOR SOCIETY
Eighteen Watertown
High School juniors and nine seniors were initiated into the Watertown Chapter
of the National Honor Society before an audience of teachers, parents and
students. Initiates are: Seniors — Carol
Cayan, Cheryl Ertl, Andrea Hahn, Robert Hutson, Steve
Luchsinger, Charles Mundt,
Steve Reckner, Donnella
Schlegel and John Wiley. Juniors -
Kathleen Allsage, Suzanne Becker, Christine Beltz, Diane Bloedom, Peter
Burke, Jan Christensen, Joseph Ertl, Margie Kelm, David Kron, Rose Marie
Langer, John Maas, Judy Miller, Susan Miller, Ronald Neumann, Georgia Prahl, Patricia Trachte, Linda Utrech and JoAnne Wildes.
03 30 FIVE
ROOM ADDITION
Basic bids for the new five room addition to
Watertown High School total $90,880, according to figures announced this morning
following the opening of bids at a meeting of the board of education last
evening. The low bidder on the general
contract is Wisconsin Products Co. of Mauston.
Its figure was $68,900. WDT
04 18 CONSTRUCTION
BEGINS
Work on construction of the five-room
addition to Watertown High School to help relieve the growing space problem is
due to begin next week. A meeting of the
contractors is to be held here on Friday at which time plans for the work
schedule and preliminary construction plans will be outlined. Approval of the addition and the financing of
it was the final official act of the old common council members who served on
the fiscal body for the Watertown Public School District when the plan was
approved 17 to 2. WDT
05 09 JUNIOR
PROM
The 1965 junior prom of the Watertown High
School, the top social event of the year, was staged Friday evening in the
gymnasium of the high school.
Decorations for the party carried out the theme “Tales from the Vienna
Woods.” John Coughlin and Nancy Volant
were the royal couple. In their court of
honor were Marjorie Miller, John Neis, Susan Miller,
John Shier, Michelle Foley, Joe Ertl, JoAnn Wildes, Ron Neumann, Georgia Prahl,
Robert Raether, Sharon DiTorrice
and John Dickinson. WDT
Labelled “1965 prom” but likely mistaken
05 21 NEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, sketches and plans
Preliminary work on the sketches and plans
for the new junior high school here is underway. The Madison architectural firm of Law, Law,
Potter & Nystrom is in charge of the work and will submit its preliminary
sketches within a short time. Members of
the board of education will be called into session to view them and discuss
general plans as soon as a date is set.
The common council has already purchased the greater portion of the new
school site — the former Charles Lutovsky farm in
Hall Street, and the other parcels of land, one from the Oak Hill Cemetery
Association and another from Dr. E. Allen Miller are still to be acted on. WDT
05 23 NEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, formal approval of
The board of education at its meeting last
night gave formal approval to the preliminary plans for the proposed new junior
high school when it adopted a resolution accepting the plans prepared by the
architectural firm of Law, Law, Potter and Nystrom of Madison. Last night’s resolution also instructed the
architects to proceed with the necessary working plans for the school. The plans for the new school provide for
110,000 square feet of space and accommodations for from 1,000 to 1,100
students. WDT
05 29 1965
ORBIT: RICHARD CONLEY
Richard B. Conley, English and Latin teacher,
today has the distinction of being honored with the dedication of the 1965
edition of “The Orbit,” the senior class publication of Watertown High
School. The dedication to Mr. Conley,
published under a page-size photograph of him, reads” “For his ceaseless
interest in the welfare of each of his students, for the extras that he gives
to his job as English and Latin teacher, for his efforts to give us new and
rewarding experiences, and for all the qualities which are most important for
an understanding relationship between teacher and student; we dedicate the 1965
Orbit to Richard B Conley.” WDT
06 11 92nd ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT; CLASS OF 1915 HONORED
Watertown High School last night held its
92nd annual commencement exercises, graduating the largest class in its history
— a total of 298 seniors. The outpouring
of parents, friends and others for the program also set a near record. During the opening part of the program
recognition was extended members of the class of 1915 who were present
following the golden jubilee reunion and dinner which members attended earlier
in the evening. Donovan L. Richards, the
high school principal who made the introductory remarks opening the program,
made mention of the golden jubilee reunion and asked members of the class to
stand, a special section having been reserved for them. There were 39 members in the class of 1915
who received diplomas just a half century ago.
WDT
09 09 ADDITION UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The addition now under construction at the
Watertown High School is due to be completed and ready for occupancy within the
next few weeks. This project was
scheduled to have been ready for occupancy before school started, but delays in
delivery of materials and work of contractors has caused the need for temporary
teaching accommodations to be provided in other parts of the building, it was
pointed out today. The new addition,
referred to as five rooms, consists of one large double room, two classrooms
separated by a folding door, plus one additional classroom. The building addition also includes a large
food storage room for the cafeteria kitchen and locker facilities for 110
students. WDT
09 23 NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
The following seniors of Watertown High
School have been selected by the faculty as members of the Watertown High
School Chapter of the National Honor Society:
Robert Brandenstein, Ross Damrow,
John Dickinson, Michele Foley, Diane Mueller, Catherine Schmeling, Mary
Schultz, Peggy Schwartz, Judith Semon and Shari Vinger. WDT
addition also includes a large food storage
room for the cafeteria kitchen and locker facilities for 110 students. WDT
10 14 HOMECOMING 1965
Wayne Le Macher and
Shirley Sterwalt will reign as king and queen of the
homecoming activities of Watertown High School.
The parade will be held Friday at 4:30 p.m. The homecoming game with Mayville is
scheduled Friday evening. The dance will
be held Saturday evening in the high school gymnasium. Members of the court of honor are: Richard Kuckkan and Chris Beltz, Tom
Moore and Lynn Snyder, Peter Burke and Susan Miller, William Clark and
Bernadine Hoeft, Richard Witte and Sally Theder, James Beaver and Gayle Gorder. WDT
1966
01 07 DEMOLITION
COMPLETED / New Riverside Junior High School
Demolition of Watertown’s old high school
building at North Eighth and Main Streets, later a federal armory and still
later utilized as a recreation center has finally been completed. The work of tearing down the old building was
begun last June 9 after a Milwaukee group of developers — Berndt, Perkins &
Knodl, acquired the property from the city for
$35,000 as part of the deal whereby the city secured the old Charles Lutovsky farm which constitutes the major portion of the
site for Watertown’s new Riverside Junior High School in Hall Street. The Milwaukee developers plant to construct a
motel and related facilities on the former recreation site. Under the agreement, the site is to be
utilized by construction of a complex costing no less than $250,000 and to
begin “construction of the improvement within 61 days after final approval by
the common council and planning commission or within 61 days after the
structure on the premises at present is demolished, whichever is later.” WDT
03 16 GRABOW AND McQUOID RETIRE
The Watertown High School athletic coaches,
both veteran in their fields, announced their retirement from major sports
Wednesday night. Coach Harris Grabow, basketball coach at the school for 19 years, will
drop the coaching reins in favor of Eli Crogan, and
Coach Weir McQuoid, grid coach for six seasons here and for 19 years overall,
has given up football coaching but will continue as wrestling coach where his
teams here won 30 straight dual matches.
No football successor has been named.
WDT
05 09 RIVERSIDE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PLANS APPROVED
Voters of the Watertown Public School
District in yesterday’s special election rallied to the support of the board of
education in its plans for a $2,465,000 Riverside Junior High School in Hall
Street. The vote was almost 2 to 1 in favor of the referendum No. 1, which the
school board had proposed. The final count was 1,791 for and 944 against. The
referendum carried every ward in the city and in the ten townships it lost only
the town of Emmet and the town of Lebanon. In the city the vote was 1,521 for
and 687 against. In the townships the vote was 270 for and 257 against. WDT
06 11 RIVERSIDE JUNIOR HIGH:
GROUND BREAKING CEREMONIES
Ground breaking ceremonies were held at 9
a.m. today for the new Riverside Junior High School to be erected in Hall
Street. The new school, a $2,465,000
project, was approved by the voters of the Watertown Public School District by
a 2 to 1 vote on May 11. At today’s
ceremonies were Joseph Rhodes, school board member, Edward Hinterberg,
board president, James Potter of Law, Law, Potter and Nystrom, Madison, the
architects, Russell Twesme, school superintendent,
John Verg, school buildings and grounds
superintendent, Delwin Hintzmann,
board member, Al Maas of Maas Bros. Construction Co., Watertown, the general
contractors, George Wolff and Lee Block, board members, John Findlay of the architectural
firm, and Orville Wesemann, board member. WDT
12 21 REPAIR WORK AFTER FIRE
Repair work, along with reconditioning and
replacing the fire damaged equipment and furnishings in the Watertown High
School auditorium, will require at least a period until May or June, it was
concluded at yesterday's survey made by the Maas Bros. Construction Co., school
administrators and representatives of stage equipment and seating concerns.
Structural damage will require extensive repairs and just how much repair work
will be needed to restore heating and ventilating ducts is still unknown.
However, the damage appears to be more extensive than visible signs indicated
at first, Russell Twesme, superintendent of schools,
said. WDT
1967
01 18 MISS MARGARET OTT Retires
1960 photo
The
retirement of Miss Margaret Ott, veteran teacher of German at Watertown High
School, takes from the school system another longtime and dedicated school
teacher. Effective Jan. 20. Miss Ott has chalked up an almost enviable
record as an instructor and faculty member and the hundreds and hundreds of
boys and girls who studied in her classes and came under her influence can look
back with pride on her work. Miss Ott's
father, the late Dr. John Ott who spent so many
years as instructor of English and librarian at Northwestern College, was one of the state's
outstanding educators and among the city's leading residents whose influence on
and off the college campus is still felt today. WDT
01 31 FUNDING DRIVE FOR ANNUAL POST-PROM PARTIES
Plans
now are being formulated for a finance drive to provide needed funds for
Watertown’s annual post-prom parties. The annual post-prom parties started in 1952
but now have become an institution in Watertown. The parties were established in order to
provide a place to go following the close of the prom at the high school. While the Elks
Lodge sponsors the parties, handles all the arrangements and furnishes the
manpower for each party, the money required is provided by business firms,
professional people, industrial concerns and others. Approximately $700 is required for each party.
02 24 REPAIR WORK AFTER FIRE
Work has begun at Watertown High School to repair the
damage caused by the fire which swept much of the school auditorium last Dec.
13, Russell Twesme, superintendent of schools, told
the Times this morning. The work is being done by the Maas Bros.
Construction Co. of Watertown which is also the holder of the general contract
for the new Riverside Junior High School now under construction. Mr. Twesme said
that no date has been fixed for the completion of the repairs in the auditorium
but that school officials hope it will be ready by the end of May. No events are being scheduled in the
auditorium for the balance of the current school year.
05 15 1967 ORBIT
The 1967 edition of The Orbit is out. It is a handsome, rich looking
publication. This edition is dedicated
to Miss Betsy Blazek, girls’ physical education director and cheerleader
director. The dedication is brief and
simple, stating: We gratefully dedicate
The Orbit of 1967 to Miss Blazek.” . . .
It then quotes these words from the writings of Sir James Matthew Barrie: “Those who bring
sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”
05 17 JEROME HARRIS HERREID SCIENCE AWARD
A new student honor will be presented during the
Scholastic Awards Day program at Watertown High School on May 24 in memory of
Jerome Harris Herreid who served on the faculty from
1930 to 1966. The award will be known as
the Jerome Harris Herreid Science Award and will
consist of a plaque in the center of which appears a satin bronze etching of
the former teacher. Surrounding the
etching are smaller plates on which the names of the recipients will be
inscribed. Since the memorial will be
presented as an annual award, it will be kept on display in the high
school. Each recipient will also receive
a personal gold medal that may be worn on a tie-chain or necklace. A sum of money will also accompany this
personal award.
08 31 STANDARD PHY ED UNIFORM FOR BOYS
The Watertown Senior High School has adopted a standard
uniform for boys in physical education.
The girls have had a standard uniform for several years. The uniform will be required according to the
following timetable: Seniors:
Optional. Sophomores and Juniors:
required by the end of the first semester.
The uniform chosen will last a student several years depending on use
and care. Labeling space is provided to
insure identification. The uniform also
has a reversible top for team games.
Uniforms are available at Fischers and Kerns.
09 27 CLASS
GIFT
Trophy Case is Gift of Graduating Class /
94th Annual Commencement
A trophy case, of special design and which is
to be constructed and installed at the Watertown High School, is the 1967 class
gift to the school, it was announced during the 94th annual commencement
exercises held in the high school gymnasium.
The gift was announced by the treasurer of the graduating class, Carol
Mann, on behalf of the seniors who graduated.
The program was presided over by the class president, John Hrobsky who welcomed the audience. The evening opened with a half hour concert
by the high school orchestra directed by Willard Buchholtz. There was no commencement speaker. Instead, there were student speakers,
including Judith Nowack, James Frater, and Michael
Bausch. Two Foreign Exchange students
who graduated with the class and who will be returning to their homelands
shortly after spending the past school year here, also spoke . They are Ermyas Admassu of Ethiopia and
Luis Mattioli. of Argentina. Delwin Hintzmann, president of
the board of education presented the diplomas.
The high school mixed chorus sang the traditional “The Halls of Ivy” and
“Alma Mater” was sung by the class.
Donovan Richards, high school principal, and Superintendent Russell Twesme also took part in the program. WDT
1969
MIXED CHORUS
1975
01 26 ELEANOR GRIFFITH, 1902-1975
Miss Eleanor Griffith, 72, of 102
Tivoli Drive, a former Watertown Senior High School teacher, passed away Sunday
evening at the Watertown Memorial Hospital following a lingering illness. A memorial service will be held at the First
Congregational United Church of Christ Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock with
the Rev. Robert Tully officiating. The
body of Miss Griffith has been donated to medical science. Memorials may be given to the church missions
of the First Congregational United Church of Christ or the Cancer Fund. The Schmutzler
Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.
Miss Griffith was born in
Columbus September 15, 1902
Miss Griffith was a graduate of
Ripon College and did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin, University
of California, Northwestern University in Illinois, Colorado State University,
Indiana University, Arizona State University and New York University. She taught mathematics at the senior high
school from 1925 until her retirement in 1967.
She had been the Girls’ Club advisor since 1944 and also served as the
junior class advisor. Miss Griffith was
an excellent and truly dedicated teacher.
She was interested in all phases of extra-curricular activities at the
high school. She was a member of the
First Congregational United Church of Christ, served on the church board for a
number of years, and was currently a member of the diaconate.
1977
09 27 The 1977 Homecoming will be held during
the week of Oct. 10 through 15 at Watertown High School. This year Homecoming has been re-organized to
promote more participation by students, alumni, and the community. An evaluation of the 1976 Homecoming was
conducted last year by a committee of students and teachers who produced a set
of guidelines by which this year’s Homecoming will be conducted. The Homecoming Committee for 1977 consists of
Anne-Marie Condon, student council president; Vicki Joyce, student council vice
president; Lauri Bush, senior class president; Carey Bergdoll
and Kim Veldhuizen, junior class representatives;
Dennis Nicoski, sophomore class representative; and
Jim Bauman, representing the student body-at-large. This committee has worked for weeks to
produce the 1977-78 Homecoming Handbook which contains all of the rules and
regulations, entry blanks, judging criteria, and due dates for all activities
to be conducted during Homecoming Week.
WDT
1978
06 09 Diplomas were awarded to 328 graduating
seniors at Watertown Senior High School commencement exercises Saturday
afternoon. Most students said they were
hot and nervous as the temperature rose into the 80s before the program. One student asked if hair pins would hold the
mortarboard securely so it wouldn’t fall off.
But the nerves were controlled and the temperatures endured as graduates
and spectators listened to the commencement address by George Walter, professor
emeritus at Lawrence University. WDT
1985
07 15 A new chemistry lab to meet the needs of
expanding enrollments in that subject was approved by the board of education of
the Watertown Unified School District. The
new lab will be constructed in room 332 of the high school and will cost
$18,965. In addition, there will be
costs for minor remodeling as well as some electrical and plumbing work. Total cost of the project is estimated at
$26,695. The lab will handle up to 24
students and is designed to be moved to a new location or a new building in the
future. The lab is being purchased from
School Interiors, Inc., of Milwaukee. WDT
09 07 “The Dawn of a New Day” is the theme for
this year’s Watertown Senior High School yearbook to be distributed starting
today. The theme combines maximum
coverage of school activities with a new layout style in the opening
section. The publication contains 152
pages with seven full-color pages. Color
section includes homecoming, the musical “Oliver,” student life and full-color
page of the school. There are also
sections on Snow Week, the spring play, prom, sports and clubs. The new layout style features candid school
scenes in the junior, sophomore and faculty picture sections, and also within
the index at the end of the book.
Individual cameo photos of seniors are pictured on a black
background. Two pages are covered with
senior signatures. WDT
10 11 A high school facility in Watertown
should have about 321,000 square feet of space, more than double what the
current high school has, according to a “Suggested Final Space Program” which
will be discussed by the board of education of the Watertown Unified School
District Wednesday evening. Members of
the board of education have received the proposed space allocation study and
its results will be discussed briefly by Dr. Richard Stolsmark,
superintendent of schools, at the meeting Wednesday. T hese
space needs are being proposed for the three options being considered by the
board to improve the high school facilities.
Those options are complete renovation of the existing high school,
changing the junior high school to a high school and construction of a new
facility. WDT
1987
04 16 GYMNASIUM FLOOR
Costs to repair, resand
and repaint the gymnasium floor at Watertown Senior High School are components
of the maintenance segment of the proposed 1987-88 school budget. The operations and maintenance budgets of the
Watertown Unified School District were presented to the board of education
Wednesday night. The two budget segments
were presented by Dennis Mudler, business manager,
and Bruce Saniter, supervisor of buildings and
grounds. Mudler
said wooden boards beneath the two main baskets in the high school gymnasium
have become so worn that when they are stepped upon, the opposite ends of the
boards actually become elevated. WDT
1988
03 08 Michael Ptacek
is the new principal of Watertown Senior High School. He had served as acting principal since the
resignation of Charles W. Dill in February.
Ptacek was previously the assistant principal
of the high school since June of 1983, when he was named to succeed JoAnn
Truss. WDT
05 01 The top 10 students in the class of 1988
of Watertown Senior High School have been announced by Michael Ptacek, principal.
The top students are selected on the basis of academic achievements and
grade point average for their high school years. The top 10, in alphabetical order, are Matthew
Arpin, Andrew Crawford, Abbigail Endres, Michael Krolnik, Robert Lemke, Loren Mach, Michelle Mueller, Tracey
Nickels, Sue Ullrich and Jennifer Welbourne.
WDT
05 09 About 375 students danced to the music of
Interface at Watertown High School’s junior prom Saturday night, according to
chaperone Diane Schmidt. The theme of
this year’s dance was “Stairway to Heaven,” the classic hit by Led
Zeppelin. Post prom activities were
highlighted with a performance by Tohjah, a band from
southern Illinois. The dance went
smoothly, Schmidt said, adding that the students “were very cooperative. We had a very good showing.” Steve Andrews and Alisa Harris reigned as
prom king and queen. The court included
Brian Raguse and Rachel Quest, Cheng Yang and Amy Scheiber, Todd Schumann and Jan Neubauer, John Fischer and
Valeri Lampman, and Chris Buescher
and Jenny Kwapil.
Crown bearers were Matt Scheiber and Tera Rowoldt. WDT
06 08 CLASS OF 1988
On a sun-drenched morning at Riverside Park,
252 seniors from Watertown Senior High School received their diplomas Saturday,
graduates who hoped their futures would be as bright as the cloud-free
sky. Students were in a celebratory mood
as they reflected upon the culmination of their high school days. Beach balls bounced from graduate to
graduate, occasionally straying onto the stage.
Enthusiastic cheers greeted the announcement of the more popular
students and even air horns were sounded.
“The school is proud of you, not because you graduated, but because you
are winners,” said W. Charles Dill during his welcoming speech. Dill recently resigned as high school
principal to accept a similar position at Johnsburg
High School in McHenry, Ill.. WDT
1989
01 20 BEST
SITE IS HWY
109, NORTH OF HWY16 BYPASS
The city’s plan commission heard reasons
from Watertown school officials why the proposed school site is the best
currently available. Dr. Richard Stolsmark, superintendent of schools for the Watertown
Unified School District, told commission members that the proposed site, one of
seven reviewed by school officials, seemed to be the best location available
when the district purchased the former Stangler
farm. “We thought it was as good as we
could do — we were aware the bypass was there, but we feel that’s a problem
that can be solved,” Stolsmark said. The proposed location of the school, planned
at state Highway 109 just north of the Highway 16 bypass, has become an issue
for the district’s referendum election on Feb. 21. Voters will be asked to approve bonding for
$16 million to finance the construction of a new high school.
02 08 VIOLATION
OF BUILDING CODES
Watertown Senior High School was one
of 437 old schools in the state that were inspected and found to be in
violation of some current state building codes.
The study was conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor
and Human Relations (DILHR). Watertown
Senior High School, more than 70 percent of which was built in 1917, was among
those listed as having some violations related to fire safety. The DILHR report
listed three violations at Watertown Senior High School: (1) The facility lacks automatic door-closing
devices in its stairwells; (2) The facility lacks smoke detection devices in
its basement; and (3) The facility lacks proper exit lighting.
02 10 SMITH
FARM OPTION. The
Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Promotive Corporation has entered into an
option to purchase the 300-acre Warren Smith farm, and offer about one-third of
it for sale to the Watertown Unified School District as a site for the new
Watertown Senior High School. The land
is located in the northwest section of the city and its western property line
is the eastern property line of soon-to-be developed Quarry Park, a 174-acre
park which is owned by the city. The
farm is located west of North Church Street, north of Elm Street and east of
Carriage Hill Drive and the Mary Knoll Subdivision. The board of education of the Watertown
Unified School District supports the acquisition and has made the site its
prime location for the new high school which is the subject of a referendum on
Feb. 21. This site will eliminate
opposition expressed by some that the Robert Stangler
farm, purchased by the school district in 1985 as the high school site, was a
dangerous location because of the need to cross the Highway 16 bypass to gain
access.
02 12 MAYOR
IS KISSED. Two
weeks ago, it seemed unlikely that Mayor David R. Lenz and Richard Stolsmark, superintendent of schools for the Watertown
Unified School District, would find common ground on the location for a new
high school. But a voters' forum
Thursday night, not only were both men sitting next to each other, smiling and
in agreement on the latest proposed site, but Stolsmark
even kissed the mayor on the top of his
head at the conclusion of the meeting.
The night's final question jokingly suggested that Stolsmark
had promised to kiss the mayor if the city worked out a deal on a new
site. The superintendent of schools
obliged the audience of about 50 people with a peck on the mayor's head.
03 19 INDUSTRIAL
ARTS DEPARTMENT — TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION
As Watertown High School moves
to the 1990s its Industrial Arts Department — now referred to as Technology
Education — needs to modernize its facilities and enlarge its curriculum. That was the opinion of the department’s
teaching staff as they presented school board members with plans for updating
technology education at the high school.
“The bottom line is we need to prepare a better student,” said machining
instructor Bruce Magnuson. “This program
needs to be dynamic. Presently I have no
academic facility at all to work in.
It’s basically a shop and I struggle with that every day.”
04 22 SMITH
FARM OPTION REJECTED. The
Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Promotive Corporation has decided not to
exercise its option to purchase the Warren Smith farm, a move that seriously
jeopardizes that site as a potential new high school location. City Attorney
Robert A. Bender, a member of the promotive corporation, said the board decided
Wednesday that the asking price for the land, about $5,000 an acre, was too
much. “We elected not to pursue the option. We had some difficulty in reaching
agreement with Mr. Smith,” Bender said.
05 16 “TIME
IN A BOTTLE” was the theme of the 1989 Watertown Senior High School prom
Saturday when students danced the night away to tunes from the top 40 hits at
the high school gymnasium. The king and
queen, Pam Da Walt and Steve Meyers, were crowned by the 1979 king and queen,
Kevin Conley and Jean Sweeney Kohlhoff. In keeping with the theme for the evening,
couples traveled through a “time tunnel” for the grand march and walked over a
large clock on the floor. Silhouettes
from the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s decorated the walls. Couples enjoyed dancing to music provided by
a band called “Toys.”
1990
05 07 “ALMOST
PARADISE”
For more than 200 students, Saturday night
was “Almost Paradise.” That was the
theme of the Watertown High School junior class prom held at the high
school. There were about 246 individuals
attending the prom activities at the high school, according to organizer Kathy
Wagner. The final count was down about 70 students, she noted. Wagner said the prom committee had
anticipated about 350 students because of the expansion of the ninth grade at
the high school. “We expected the
attendance to be up,” she said. Wagner
thought maybe the cost deterred several students from attending.
06 02 CLASS OF 1990
Despite strong gusty
winds and the persistent threat of rain, Watertown High school’s class of 1990 successfully
graduated 244 seniors during outdoor commencement exercises Saturday morning at
Riverside Park. Under ominous gray skies, the students were greeted by class
secretary Amy Endres, who introduced this year’s class song, “Forever Young” by
Rod Stewart. The graduates then heard from a number of their fellow classmates,
including student council president Jennifer Hanson, class treasurer Jim Beranek, foreign exchange student Frede
Lei, Erin Boyd and Brooke Nustad representing the top
10 students and Chris Brom, senior class
representative. WDT
09 24 HOMECOMING
THEME: “THE JUNGLE”
Homecoming activities
are in full swing at Watertown Senior High School this week, according to
organizers of the event. The 1990-91 Watertown
Senior High School Student Council is making a special plea to alumni of the
school to participate in the activities during the weekend. This year’s theme is “The Jungle.” Alumni are welcome to support the Gosling
football team when it takes on the West Bend West Spartans Friday at 7:30 p.m.
at Washington Park. King Tony Meyers and
Queen Jenny Wilson and other members of the homecoming court will be introduced
at halftime. The high school band and
cheerleaders will also entertain at halftime. WDT
12 11 CHOICE
BETWEEN STANGLER AND SMITH SITES
There is a good chance
Watertown voters will be deciding where to build a new high school before they
actually decide whether or not they want to build the school itself. Members of the Watertown School Board’s site
committee have decided to propose an advisory referendum in April providing
citizens with a choice between the Stangler and Smith
sites for a future high school facility.
The entire board will vote on the committee’s recommendation at their regular
monthly meeting Wednesday in the Educational Service Center, 111 Dodge St. That meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. The school board purchased the 108-acre Stangler farm in the fall of 1985 for $2,500 per acre. Since that time, questions have been raised
pertaining to the safety of its location for a high school. City residents would have to cross the
Highway 16 bypass to reach the site, located near Watertown Memorial Hospital
on the city’s far northeast side. The
Smith farm is located on the city’s northwest side and was not for sale in
1985. Since that time negotiations
between the owners and the school board have taken place and a sale agreement
is believed to be possible. WDT
1991
02 16 STANGLER
AND SMITH SITES FOR NEW HIGH SCHOOL
By approving a referendum in April on a
choice between the Stangler and Smith sites for a new
high school, the Watertown Board of Education Wednesday evening effectively
rejected a fourth potential site. The
fourth site first came up for discussions when the site committee met
Monday. That group reviewed the Stangler, Smith and Darcey sites as well as a new proposal
for the Endres farm. The Darcey site is
located along Boulder Road (old County Trunk Highway M), and the Endres site is
located on West Road in the town of Watertown.
Ed Kileen appeared before that committee to
offer that 78 acre parcel of land at a cost of $390,000 which is $5,000 an
acre.
04 29 POST
PROM PARTY SALVAGED
The post prom party,
which has been a tradition after Watertown High School proms for almost 40
years, was salvaged this week after nearly becoming extinct. Kathleen Wagner, a guidance counselor at the
high school, said a group of students came forward with suggestions that may
keep the party alive for years to come.
Declining attendance at the party for the past several years left the
status of this year’s party in doubt.
Wagner said several student groups were approached for ideas that might
make the party more popular. “We tried
to get a feel for what they really wanted,” she said. “We wanted students to get involved in
planning the party and getting the attendance back up.” When the student groups failed to respond to
administration inquiries, the 39-year-old tradition was in danger of fading
away. WDT
05 11 1991
JUNIOR PROM
About 110 couples
attended the 1991 junior prom at Watertown High School Saturday. The theme for the prom, held in the school
gymnasium, was “Hold On to the Night.”
Students danced to the music of Johnny Law. Queen Dana Richter and King Dominic Alvarez reigned
over the festivities. Selected in voting
by the junior class in March, they were announced during the grand march. Other members of the court were Crist Harris
and Kelly Brusenbach, Jason Wesemann
and Tammie Nass, Joel Herbst and Stacy Schneider, Brenda Behlke
and Brad Thompson, Kate Hornickle and Elliot Clark,
and Keye Bruske and John Ehlinger. WDT
06 14 GRADUATES
ARE LIKE BUBBLES
Students in the
Watertown High School 1991 graduating class are like bubbles, each is different,
some drift far away, while others stay close to home. That was how Watertown High School senior
class representative Andrew Mullen described the future to his fellow
classmates at commencement ceremonies Saturday morning at Riverside Park. Under a bright, cloudless sky, Mullen
demonstrated his concept by blowing bubbles into the air. He explained how the container is the high
school and the liquid is the graduates leaving school. "Each is different, each goes a
different way," he noted. He also
expressed the need to live for the present and not the past. "The present is all that exists,"
he said. WDT
07 02 KATHY
WAGNER NEW PRINCIPAL
Kathy Wagner, assistant
principal for Watertown Senior High School, will become the new principal on Aug.
1, according to Dr. Suzanne Hotter, superintendent. Wagner was offered the position Monday
evening following an executive session of the board and accepted the contract
on Tuesday. The board is expected to
formally approve the contract at a meeting on Aug. 24. Wagner succeeds Michael Ptacek
who accepted a principalship in a Minneapolis suburb. WDT
08 24 1991
WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL ORBIT
The 1991 Watertown High
School Orbit will be distributed in the Dodge Street lobby from 1 to 5 p.m.
Wednesday. The theme of this year’s
yearbook is “Showcase,” a tribute to the talents and abilities of students who
make the high school their showcases.
The 189-page book has a silver and blue cover with embossed lettering
and red accent color. The red accent
color is picked up in the opening section of the book and the blue is used as a
background color in the senior color section.
Endsheet artwork on the inside of the front
cover depicts a blue stage curtain opening.
A closed stage curtain is depicted on the inside of the back cover. Theme sections in the yearbook include “For
All to See,” which highlights special events during the school year,
“Spectacular Performance,” which chronicles Gosling sports, “Exhibits of Interest,”
which displays the photographs of students, faculty and administration, and “On
Display,” in which students are quoted on their views of the high school, music
and what constitutes “style.” WDT
1992
05 06 1992
HIGH SCHOOL PROM
As hundreds of people
looked into a mystical medieval world Saturday night, juniors Stacey Mathews
and John Daniels felt the magic of being crowned queen and king of the
prom. The prom drew 135 couples,
Principal Kathy Wagner said. The number
was up from last year’s attendance of 110 couples. “That’s a good turnout,” she said. “I’m pleased with it. For a couple of years I was concerned about
lowering attendance but now it looks good.”
The prom, hosted by the class of 1993, took on the aura of its theme —
medieval magic. A castle which reached
to the ceiling of the Watertown High School gymnasium and murals of trees took
those in attendance to Sherwood Forest. WDT
05 30 GROUNDBREAKING
FOR $20 MILLION HIGH SCHOOL
A milestone in the
construction of the $20 million high school is planned for the last weekend in
May. Ground breaking for the 300,000 square foot school will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday
at the corner of Fremont and Elm streets on the northwest side of
Watertown. The high school is located
near Quarry Park, a 168-acre parcel under development by the city of
Watertown. Shared outdoor facilities for
environmental studies, physical education stations and athletics are part of
the arrangements in the design of the two facilities. WDT
06 01 START
OF CONSTRUCTION OF $20 MILLION HIGH SCHOOL
The official start of
construction for a $20 million high school was marked Sunday afternoon as
honorary guests turned over the first clumps of ground at the site. About 50 people gathered on a grassy hill at
the Smith farm for a short ceremony marking a new phase of the school building
project. Casually sitting in lawn chairs
and leaning against cars, the onlookers came to witness the site one more time
before it is transformed into a four-wing, 300,000-square-foot community center. “As we turn the first shovel of dirt this
afternoon, we are about to start construction of the biggest project our
community has ever undertaken,” school board President Glenn Schwoch told the onlookers.
“We cannot predict the future but this building project is concrete
evidence . . . that the people of Watertown want to be prepared for that
future.” WDT
06 06 1992
GRADUATION
With a feeling of
uncertainty and a prominent sense of urgency, Watertown High School graduates
took the stage at Riverside Park Saturday to receive diplomas. The sun shone through the clouds just before
the 241 anxious young adults began receiving their diplomas in front of a sea
of instamatic cameras held by beaming relatives and friends. Thousands of onlookers crowded the park to
catch a glimpse of the ceremony and more than 100 kindergartners were bused in
to witness the ceremony in order to remind everyone of
how fast time passes. During the
traditional commencement exercises, which lasted about an hour, student
speakers thanked their parents and teachers for helping them through the
years. Student speakers remarked about
the challenges ahead and what it will take to succeed when the economic
forecast seems dismal at best. WDT
07 27 COMBAT
TRUANCY
Administrators at Watertown
High School will be prepared to combat truancy with their toughest policy yet
when doors open this fall. Beginning
this fall, students will only be permitted two unexcused absences that are not
made up in detention, Principal Kathy Wagner said. Previously, students were allowed four such
absences before losing credits in a course.
A minimum attendance requirement of 85 percent will also be dropped
under the new policy. Instead, students
will earn credit based solely upon the completion of course requirements with a
passing grade. WDT
1994
08 28 POLICE LIAISON at High
School
A workshop about a
police liaison at Watertown High School will be held by the board of education
and the Watertown Police Department Thursday
evening. Sgt. Mark Meddaugh
of the Watertown Police Department will conduct the discussion during a board
meeting at the Educational Service Center.
The board of education earlier this summer had requested information
about the possibility of having a police officer work as a liaison at the
school. Police Chief Charles McGee has
indicated an interest in developing ways to work with the school district in
juvenile issues. Several area districts
have a police liaison program, where an officer works closely with the high
school but is not stationed in the building.
WDT
1995
09 28 Graduation ’96 will be held in the
gymnasium at Watertown High School.
Several concerns about holding the ceremony at its traditional site, Riverside
Park, led to the decision, said Principal Kathy Wagner. School board member Denise Barker and student
board member Jessie Groose urged that seniors be
allowed input into the decision. Last
year, seniors were allowed to vote on where to hold the ceremony. They selected the park.
“Students
should have a big part in that decision,” Groose
said. Wagner listed several concerns of
the ceremony at Riveside Park, including difficulty
for older and handicapped residents in parking and getting to the site. The sound system is better in the gymnasium
and it will be comfortable no matter what the weather is. She noted that it costs $2,000 in overtime to
set up the park on the morning of graduation, something that could be avoided
by setting the gymnasium up ahead of time.
1997
12 15 Finding good uses for an old building was
one of the reasons for purchasing the old Watertown High School facility, said
Bill Ehlinger, one of the owners of the Watertown
Athletic Club. “We are in the process of
taking over the whole project,” he said, noting that developer Peter Hanson
will no longer be one of the owners as of Jan. 10. After Jan. 10, the entire old high school
facility will be the property of the Watertown Athletic Club owned by local
residents Ehlinger, Bill O’Brien, Bob Long and Dan Rullman. The
Watertown school district sold the old high school last January to Hanson, a
resident of Oconomowoc, and the Watertown Athletic Club for the sum of
$226,000. Hanson had at the time wanted
to convert the older portion of the former school into apartments but later
decided not to continue with that plan.
1998 PEACE GARDEN
08 30 What began as a nondescript bus
turnaround on a miniature model of Watertown High School more than five years
ago [c.1993] is now a blooming example of what students and a devoted teacher
can do when they set their minds to it.
That bus turnaround, once an island of grass surrounded by parking lots
and sidewalk, is today a sea of color in the form of a peace
garden. WDT
2000 Matt Teuteberg Memorial
01 09 
High
School Demolition -
06 09 CLASS
OF 2000
A mass of Gosling blue filled Watertown High
School gymnasium Saturday morning as 311 students graduated as the class of
2000. The day’s festivities began in the
Peace Garden as students gathered with mixed emotions. Sara Cahoon and Eric Hamme dedicated a bench in the garden
in memory of former classmate Matt Teuteberg, who
died in an automobile accident in late March. “Today is not just a celebration
for us,” said Cahoon. “We have all experienced many great times together, but
we have also had to deal with many heartaches.”
WDT
08 18 HEALTH
& WELLNESS CENTER APPROVED
Renovation plans for the Health &
Wellness Center of Watertown were approved by the site plan review committee
Wednesday. Plans include a playground and
parking lot to replace the original red brick school at the south side of the
two-city block complex at 415 S. Eighth St.
Razing of that portion of the former high school was completed this
month. The playground and parking lot,
along with renovations to the building, should be done Oct. 1, said Dr. William
Ehlinger, center president. Other projects will be done in the
future. The center has removed asbestos
from the building and remodeled parts of it.
It plans to install lighting for the 65-space parking lot and complete
other improvements. WDT
2003
04 23 “Glitz and Glamour, Spend a Night in
Hollywood,” is the theme of the 2003 junior prom. Grand march and coronation of king and queen
will be held at 10 p.m. The traditional post
prom will be hosted at the Elks Lodge and
will be open from midnight until 3 a.m.
Entertainment to be offered includes pool, casino type gambling, music
and loads of free food. A large number
of door prizes will also be available. WDT
05 17 The Watertown High School class of 2003
will honor its valedictorian and salutatorian at the graduation ceremony on
Saturday, June 7, at 10 a.m. in the High School gymnasium. Valedictorian is Kevin Burleson, son of Polk
and Elizabeth Burleson. He has achieved
a 4.000 grade point average in his high school career. Salutatorian is Brielle Hulick, daughter of David and Cindy Hulick. She has a 3.992 grade point average. Both have been on the high honor roll,
received academic letters and are members of the National Honor Society. WDT
08 03 The sound of children still filters
through the hallways and rooms on South Eighth Street at the former Watertown
High School building . In what is now the Health and Wellness Center (HAWC),
which houses 10 nonprofit agencies and one for profit business, youngsters can
exhaust their energy in HAWC Fitness’ new Kidz
Gym. The Kidz
Gym opened in early spring and is filled with a variety of fun-filled
activities for children age and younger.
The gym features activities and equipment such as scooters, hippity hops, ball pit, large rainbow colored balls,
basketballs and basketball hoop, hula hoops and a foam balance beam. The gym is located in the balcony of the old
high school gym. There is an island in the center containing padding for the
children and hard floor around the padding for children to use scooters,
etc. Sara Jappinen,
youth and family programs coordinator at HAWC Fitness, said, children love to
explore the gym to see what activities are available. WDT
10 03 The 2003 Watertown High School Carolers
have been selected. The Carolers will be
available for performances in the Watertown area throughout December. The group sings about 20 minutes of holiday
music dressed in traditional caroling costumes.
Members of this year’s group include: sopranos Brianna Duffy, Marissa
Floyd, Karen Kneer, Molly McFarland, Rachel Niemann
and Sara Woodard; tenors Josh Cochrane, Nick Herold, Alex Mackyol,
Zack Miller and Ryan Moldenhauer; altos Megan Heiden,
Mandy McVeigh, Beth Miller, Molly Pfister, Kelly Sina
and Gina Symkowski; basses Ben Allen, Tim Anderson-Hereth, Noah Ash, Jodie Hall, Zack Stueber,
Justin Wagner and Geoff Wood. WDT
11 04 The gym of the former Watertown High
School will be transformed into a nostalgic homecoming dance Saturday to raise
money for the Health and Wellness Center that now occupies the building. The event will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Vintage dress is optional, but a prize will
be given for the most authentic homecoming look. WDT
2004
05 12 CLASS
VALEDICTORIANS
Seven Watertown High School seniors will
share the honor of class valedictorian at the annual commencement ceremonies
June 12 in Watertown High School gymnasium. The seven, all of which will finish
their high school careers with perfect 4.0 grade point averages, are Brianna
Duffy, Marissa Floyd, Jordan Goetzke, Kendra Gurnee,
Janelle Hoffman, Mary Beth Holden and Nicole Miller. Duffy is the daughter of Kristopher and
Janice Duffy, Floyd is the daughter of Duane and Jackie Floyd, Goetzke is the son of Dale and Janis Goetzke,
Gurnee is the daughter of Brian and Cathleen Gurnee, Hoffman is the daughter of
Gerald and Arlene Hoffman, Holden is the daughter of Dr. Rick and Ellen Holden,
and Miller is the daughter of Doug and Kathy Miller. WDT
06 14 COMMENCEMENT
EXERCISES
The senior class of 2004 filed into the high
school gymnasium one last time Saturday morning for Watertown High School’s
commencement exercises. Hundreds of
proud family members and friends were on hand for the event. Molly Pfister and Kelly Sina,
student council representatives, welcomed the nearly 300-member senior class
and guests with a humorous list of pros and cons of graduating from high
school. They said in two months students
will wish they were eating a gourmet meal in the high school cafeteria rather
than living off of food cooked in a dorm room.
Pfister and Sina reminded students sharing a
bathroom with family members won’t seem as bad once they’ve experienced sharing
one with 20 other people. Although
students thought their lockers were small, it won’t be compared to the
jail-size dorm room they’ll be living in this fall. WDT
2005
04 16 SHOW
CHOIR SPECTACULAR
After two years of creating characters, a
plot, songs, dance moves and lyrics the locally written musical, “Career Day,”
will make its debut Friday night. “As
seniors come closer to the end of their high school career they find themselves
thinking about their next step in life and what they should become,” David
Zimmermann, director of the performance, said.
“That’s what the musical is about.
It hits close to home for many of the students in the performance
because they’re going through the same thing as the characters.” The musical will be part of the Show Choir
Spectacular and will be presented by the Watertown High School Rhapsody in Blue
Show Choir at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The Girl’s Show Choir and Men In Blue will
also be presenting musical performances at the event. WDT
05 06 2005
PROM
Watertown High School juniors Ben Zautner and Autumn Dettmann took
a stroll by the bubbling water fountain, near the park benches, next to the
Statue of Liberty decorations and onto the dance floor in the high school
commons Saturday night after being crowned king and queen of prom. Prom court was chosen by the junior class
through a ballot vote. Couples were put
together by the number of votes each person received and the two who received
the most votes were crowned king and queen.
The rest of the prom court included Tony Roche and Kimmie Albertin, Brandon Gilbertson and Jeanette Muth, Scott Kohlhoff and
Katherine DePover, Mark Sina
and Kaylee Zastrow, Mike Gates and Brittany Braasch,
and Patrick Nichols and Jenny Krueger. The miniature king and queen were
Matthew Engel, son of Paul and Patsy Engel, and Abigail Vinz, daughter of Scott
and Connie Vinz. WDT
05 16 PROJECT
LEAD THE WAY
The Watertown High School is the first of
about 70 schools in the state to receive its official certification in Project Lead
the Way, a pre-engineering program, taught by Bryan Kind. Project Lead the Way was implemented this
year at the high school through a $ 100,000 grant the district received from
the Kern Family Foundation. John Farrow,
director of the program for the state and professor at Milwaukee School of
Engineering, visited the school Monday morning to give the class the official
banner of certification. Three weeks
earlier Farrow and a number of Project Lead the Way founders from New York
observed the class for certification. WDT
06 26 CLASS
OF 1950; 55th REUNION
Watertown High School juniors Ben Zautner and Autumn Dettmann took
a stroll by the bubbling water fountain, near the park benches, next to the
Statue of Liberty decorations and onto the dance floor in the high school
commons Saturday night after being crowned king and queen of prom. Prom court was chosen by the junior class
through a ballot vote. Couples were put
together by the number of votes each person received and the two who received
the most votes were crowned king and queen.
The rest of the prom court included Tony Roche and Kimmie Albertin, Brandon Gilbertson and Jeanette Muth, Scott Kohlhoff and
Katherine DePover, Mark Sina
and Kaylee Zastrow, Mike Gates and Brittany Braasch,
and Patrick Nichols and Jenny Krueger. The miniature king and queen were
Matthew Engel, son of Paul and Patsy Engel, and Abigail Vinz, daughter of Scott
and Connie Vinz. WDT
09 02 2005
ORBIT
A number of Watertown High School students
were able to pick up their 2005 Orbit Wednesday night at a high school open
house. Other students will receive their
yearbook Tuesday from 3:05-5 p.m. in the commons. The black cover titled with silver printing
reading, “Never Before ... Never Again,” is embossed with a Watertown Unified
School District seal. The inside front
and back pages picture a double spread of the graduated class of 2005 on the
school bleachers. WDT
12 30 NEW BAND INSTRUMENTS
Watertown High School band students will be
using newer instruments this year after the district’s board of education
approved purchasing $89,972.50 in replacements during Thursday night’s regular
meeting. “This has been long overdue,” Superintendent Dr. Doug Keiser
said. “Many of the instruments used now
were purchased in the era of the 1950s and are falling apart. The music
department has really worked hard to make them last.” Instruments to be
purchased include oboes, tubas, trombones, horns, saxes, cymbals, xylophones,
cellos, drum sets and others. The board
approved a four-year equipment lease with option to purchase instruments with
low bids from Interstate Music at $57,746.50, Ward-Brodt Music Co. at $5,430,
White House of Music at $26,025, and Taylor Music at $771. WDT
2006
02 02 THE
BLUE ZONE
What was once a closet and storage space has
been turned into “The Blue Zone,” the Watertown High School store. The student run store sells sweatshirts,
hats, beads and other Watertown Gosling apparel. “It’s really been quite the project,”
marketing teacher and adviser Rhonda Nachtigall
said. “The marketing class has been
working on this since September. It’s
just amazing what they’ve been able to accomplish by turning this closet into a
store.” The marketing and business
students spent last semester working with vendors, creating displays, pricing,
cleaning and working with school administrators to create the store name. The
students also surveyed students, staff, parents and business members in the
community to learn what products interest people. WDT
08 20 NEW FITNESS CENTER
The Watertown Unified School District will be
the fiscal agent for the construction of a new fitness center at the high
school. Project leaders hope to break
ground next week. “At this time we have
over $360,000 pledged for the project with a goal of $450,000,” Jon
Moldenhauer, of the Optimist and Booster clubs, said. “We’re in a position to break ground in a
timely manner for the students and before the winter weather starts.” Moldenhauer said the clubs have collected at
this time almost $200,000 with pledges due in the upcoming months. Three local banks have agreed to finance the
project to help start construction. WDT
2007
05 04 JUNIOR
PROM
The bright lights and cameras of “Hollywood”
shined on Watertown High School Saturday night while juniors Kai Ludwig and
Emily Merritt were crowned king and queen and hundreds of students wore their
finest to the annual event. About 475
students spent Saturday dancing from 8 p.m. to midnight in the high school
commons area which was decorated around the theme, “A Night on the Red
Carpet.” High school parents checked
coats, served drinks and assisted with valet parking for students who attended
the event. Many arrived and departed in
limos that lined up in front of the high school. Students entered the school, checked their
coats and walked down a red paper carpet and onto the “Walk of Fame.” Juniors sold peel and stick stars for the
“Walk of Fame” for $1 last week allowing students to write their names on the
stars and find them the night of the dance.
Other decorations included giant paper Oscars, a water fountain, movie
cameras and paper cut-outs of stars such as Marilyn Monroe. WDT
08 30 2006-07 ORBIT
Watertown High School students will be able
to pick up the school
yearbook from 4:30 to 7 p.m. today during the open house in the commons
area. The gray cover shows a picture of
the entrance to the high school and reads, “Guess you had to be there.” The inside front and back pages picture a
double spread of the graduated class of 2007 on the school bleachers. The class of 2007 seniors are pictured again
individually in color with a light blue background in the center of the
book. Black and white pictures of
freshmen, sophomores and juniors are also included in the Orbit volume 94. WDT
2012
CLASS OF
2012 VIDEO DEDICATION
YouTube video
2013
STUDENT BODY VIDEO PRODUCTION
03 10
Video includes over 50 clubs and sports, over
1100 students.
SCOTT MANTEI
NEW HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
05 15 
2015
04 28 MOCK PROM CRASH SCENARIO, Watertown
High School
07 14 SCOTT MANTEI RESIGNS AS PRINCIPAL
Watertown High will start the 2015-16
school year with a new principal. Scott Mantei has resigned to take a job as principal of Grafton
High School.
GRADUATION, Class of 2015
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