This
file portion of www.watertownhistory.org
website
High Schools
[1] Ducases building
became high school, c1863
[2]
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 Ducases
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."
1864
08 11 Watertown Seminary WD
1872-1876
The Upper High School
Grade from 1872-1876.
Two rooms on the upper floor of Union School, No. 1. Theodore Bernhard.
1879
07 03 Exercises by High School
Students WD
1881
Charles F. Viebahn appointed superintendent of schools and
principal of High School
WDT
_________________________________________________________________________________________
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.
1883
High School part of
Webster School (
The
result of this was the building now 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.
1893
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.
High School,
1881 definition of
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.
_________________________________________________
1885 The
earliest use of the word “gosling” when referring to
Watertown high school students.
1887
-------- 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
1898 
Click upon to
enlarge
Union School No. 1
1906 Night School
11 17 1906
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 . . .
1908
-------- 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
06 18 Commencement WL
06 25 Senior Class play 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
___________________________________________________________________
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.
1915
03 17 Death of Charles F. Viebahn WDT
05 25 Class of 1915
1917 Watertown High School images
|
Assembly
room |
|
|
Assembly
room |
|
|
Chemistry
lab |
|
|
Domestic
science kitchen |
|
|
Gymnasium |
|
|
Lower
corridor |
|
|
Main
entrance |
|
|
Manual
training work shop |
|
|
Physics
lab |
|
|
Reference
library |
1923
01 18 Death
of Joseph Brandenberg, senior class WDT
1936
First High School featured on Watertown Centennial
postcard
1939
1939 graduating class
pictured in novel arrangement WDT
1941
1941 Orbit
released. Dedicated
to J. H. Herreid, popular member of the faculty.
1944
1954
First steps taken to secure properties which would make up the new High
School addition.
1955
High School principal Edward Hinterberg addresses student assembly on first day of
1955-56 school year, at which time text books were
issued.
1956
03 07 The City Council decided not to sell the
old Home Management House in Dodge Street which is to be cleared away to
provide part of the site for the new high school addition. A bid had been entered by Clarence Wesemann for it, but the council decided the condition of
the building is such that it should not be moved and that it would be to the
city's advantage to demolish the house and dispose of the salvaged
materials. WDT
1957
05 09 Junior prom WDT
10 19 Sometime in the next couple of weeks,
members of the Board of Education are going to determine if they want to
include a laundry in the high school building project. At present the subject is under study, with
the provision that a decision be made later.
If a laundry is installed it will make possible the washing of towels
used by students, such as athletes and others who make use of the showers. It will also enable washing athletic suits
and sports equipment. If the school does
go in for such laundry service it will merely be following what some other
schools are now doing. WDT
11 20 Preliminary
plans for the remodeling of the Watertown High School, a project which cannot
be carried out until after the new addition, now under construction, is
completed, have been approved and the architects, Durrant
and Bergquist of Boscobel, Wis., and Dubuque, Iowa,
have been authorized by the Board of Education to begin work on the formal
plans and sketches, along with specifications.
WDT
1958
01 05 Edward Hinterberg,
principal of the Watertown Senior High School, retires WDT
04 18 Eugene Tornow
replaces Hinterberg
WDT
05 03 New
gymnasium-auditorium used first time for graduation. Hinterberg
presenter for last time. WDT
06 16 Council approves contracts for remodeling
of high school WDT
07 01 Eugene Tornow,
new principal, began his duties WDT
07 21 Science instructor
Frank James attends GE Fellowship program
WDT
08 22 Remodeling programs
delays start of school. WDT
09 04 New high school
addition due to open with the first full day of classes on Monday, Sept.
15. WDT
10 11 Special scholarship committee; five
faculty members named to WDT
10 27 1958 Watertown High School football squad WDT
11 17 Stage equipment for High School
approved WDT
12 15 New addition
dedication plans WDT
1959
03 18 Senior Class trip to Washington, D.C., and
New York City WDT
03 26 Eugene Tornow,
WHS principal, selected as new superintendent of schools WDT
04 10 Junior Prom, “Bali Ha'i” WDT
05 09 Arnold Landsverk,
physical education instructor and athletic director and former coach,
resigns WTD
05 21 Russell Twesme new
principal, replaced Tornow WTD
07 18 New daily seven day
class period
WDT
07 24 High School Football Team WTD
09 02 New
City Hall
proposed for old High
School/Armory site on E Main WDT
10 14 Open
House, High School addition WDT
10 15 New theatre, Dedication, open house WDT
11 14 Homecoming Parade Vandalism WDT
12 04 Christmas pageant cast WDT
12 09 Wrestling squad WDT
1960
Windows Door Ad, new High School, Marmet Corp
03 18 First journey to state tournament in
21 years WDT
05 25 Commencement exercises WDT
08 19 Married students in high school, policy
relative to WDT
1961
08 19 Frank James awarded a NSF grant in
chemistry and physics WDT
1983
05 09 Principal Hugh Burkett
, resignation accepted WDT
12 17 Specifications
for a New High School WDT
1984
03 17 Asbestos in ceilings at Watertown High
School and Schurz Elementary may be removed
WDT
04 29 Child care center at Watertown High School
investigated; a School Age Mother (SAM) program WDT
09 26 Child care lab; school age mothers
program WDT
10 01 Homecoming activities WDT
11 17 Improved high
school facilities, study of WDT
1985
02 24 Basketball team wins Little Ten
Conference title with a perfect record
WDT
05 05 Senior High prom WDT
06 21 Specifications for new High School WDT
08 16 Purchase of Stangler
farm considered for future high school
WDT
09 24 After a brief discussion and no expressed opposition, the Watertown Plan
Commission approved a conditional use permit for the construction of a new high
school on the northeast corner of the city.
The permit allows for the construction of the school on a 120-acre site
at 1531 North Fourth Street. The permit
was necessary since the new school would be built on a parcel of land now zoned
residential. Appearing before the
commission were administrators of the school district and Robert Stangler, current owner of the property who accepted the
district's offer to purchase in May. WDT
11 18 Ron LeRoy,
Senior High School Band Director, Teacher of the Year WDT
12 18 Members
of a committee charged with determining which of the three options for an
improved High School should be followed, were presented to the board of
education of the Watertown Unified School District. Mrs. Jeanne Reed, president of the board,
said the seven who have agreed to serve are Jan Quest, William Mullen, James
Clifford, Jerry Theder, Dr. Ed Hoy, Sandra Philipsen, Andrea Turke and Ray Dobbratz. She said
several others have also been asked to serve on the committee but they have not
confirmed their intention to serve. WDT
1986
04 29 The Watertown
Daily Times has surveyed other public schools in the Little 10 Conference
as well as several others of similar size in this area, and found few offerings
of Latin classes. School districts which
do not offer Latin include Fort Atkinson, Hartford, Hartland, West Bend West
and West Bend East. Jefferson High
School offers one Latin class. Next year the lone class will be second year Latin for the about
six students who have indicated an interest. Oconomowoc High School has one Latin class,
and Beaver Dam schools offer Latin at the junior high school. Senior high
school students in that district must attend the classes in the junior high
school. WDT
05 06 High School prom
07 16 The Latin program will be phased out over
three years rather than dropped immediately.
The decision was on a narrow 5-4 vote.
The Latin program modification was one of several budget changes which
were approved by the board. WDT
1996
08 28 The Watertown Planning Commission Monday
night approved the second step in a plan to renovate the old Watertown High
School into a health club, child care center and elderly apartment building.
The plan commission paved the way for developers Peter M. Hanson and the
Watertown Athletic Club to continue toward a general development plan, which,
when approved, is equivalent to achieving zoning. In approving the developers’
concept Monday, the commission brought up several areas which need more
detailed information. Under the concept plan, the athletic club would use the
gymnasium area and Mary Linsmeir School would use
classroom space in the newer portion of the former high school. Watertown
Community Church, a 30-member congregation, would use the auditorium area on
Sunday mornings and occasionally on a week night. WDT
1998
05 19 Scholarships and
awards ceremony WDT
08 27 Rest
room plans at High School Stadium WDT
08 04 To build rest rooms with
money from sale of old Watertown High School WDT
08 30 Peace Garden transforms bus turn around
area WDT
10 18 Federally
Subsidized School Breakfast Program, Watertown High School will
join the initiative. WDT
12 19 A new Watertown
Police Department proposed for near high school WDT
1999
03 06 End of Latin
program WDT
04 01 Proposal to introduce girls bowling as
a letter sport
WDT
04 03 Police facility on High School land;
option allowed construction of WDT
05 01 Junior prom court
WDT
05 04 Graduation moved to High School gym from
Riverside Park WDT
05 13 Two
graduation ceremonies planned, Riverside Park and school gymnasium WDT
07 29 Health and Wellness Center to be
located at the former high school, 415 S. Eighth St WDT
07 22 Budget for school food service
introduced
WDT
09 19 Athletics program will continue to be
run by interim director
WDT
10 13 Orange Bowl parade; band trip to Miami; to
perform in
WDT
2000
09 13 The passing of a fondly remembered era ended this
summer with the demolition of the oldest portion of the former Watertown High
School on South Eighth Street. The red
brick building where students used to rush to classes is now on its way to
becoming a parking lot and playground for the new Health and Wellness
Center. The transformation is slated to
be completed by Oct. 1. The building
held many memories for those that taught or attended school there. While the newer portion of the former school
has been remodeled to house numerous community service agencies as part of
HAWC, no financially feasible use could be found for the old portion because of
the building’s age, noncompliance of safety codes and neighborhood issues. The high school building opened its doors to
students for the first time on Jan. 2, 1917.
An addition was constructed in 1926 to eliminate crowded space and a
larger addition was added in 1956.
2001
03 03 Percentage of students graduating on the
rise; dropout rates decline WDT
03 07 Replacement of two sections of the Watertown High School
gymnasium floor was discussed at the Board of Education Buildings and Grounds
Committee meeting. Dennis Mudler, director of business services and transportation,
told the committee the substructure, or particle board, below the polyurethane
top structure of two basketball courts on the east and west ends of the
gymnasium is failing and is only 7 years old.
The wood section of the floor is not affected. Vibrations are causing the substructure to
give way. Patches were placed in January
but staples are beginning to come up.
The top structure remains in good condition. WDT
05 26 Dr.
Frederick Lemke scholarship program, WACF
WDT
2008
11 05 $22,385,000 referendum approved for
additions and renovations; second referendum to exceed revenue limits
defeated WDT
2009
02 10 Frank James,
1913-2009, High School chemistry teacher, 1944-1975
02 10 Doug Keiser's Education
Blog: Douglas W. Keiser, Ph.D.,
Superintendent of schools, Watertown Unified School District
07 09 Three wall murals, painted by Brianna Baurichter WDT, no
link
Cross-References:
No
1: Theodore Bernhard, first High
School founder, was one of the Forty-Eighters.
Image Portfolio
Click to enlarge
1982 1989
1917, Main entrance
1917, Lower corridor and gymnasium
1917, Domestic science kitchen and manual training
work shop
1917, Assembly room and reference library
1917, Assembly room
1917, Physics and chemistry labs
Peace Garden
The Peace Garden is a showpiece
for Watertown High School, used at graduation and other outdoor events. It is the first thing the students, staff,
and visitors see when they approach the high school. The garden was the
inspiration of Steve Jacobson, much beloved teacher, who passed away in 2008
ago.
Watertown
Daily Times, 11 25 1996
“He
has forever changed the opportunities available to the students, staff and
community of Watertown.” Dr. Suzanne Hotter, superintendent of the Watertown
Unified School District, let the words hang in the auditorium of the high
school this morning.
After
a pause, a standing ovation recognized the man who helped create a technology
center at the school and who, most recently, presented the district with a
$35,000 gift for a more artistic endeavor. Tom Jeffris
of the Jeffris Family Foundation of Janesville
attended the ceremony to dedicate Meridian, the steel sculpture now located in
front of the school. It was a celebration of sculptor Ed McCullough's work and
also of efforts to move education beyond the walls of the classrooms.
Fittingly, it occurred during American Education Week.
Watertown
High School Orbit, 1998
The
Peace Garden has come a long way in the past two years. The two-acre plot in
front of the school is filled with plants and trees from over 30 countries
around the world. In addition to the greenery, benches provide a place to
relax, and the Meridian decorates the south end of the Garden.
The
idea of the Peace Garden started with Mr. Jacobson. Two Peace Gardens have
already been established in the world. One is in Hiroshima, where the atomic
bomb hit, and the other is on the Canadian-States border. With these as an
inspiration, the project was started. We live in a world of hate and where
peace is not taught. Mr. Jacobson wanted to teach it. He wanted a place where
people would walk by this garden every day and say to themselves,
"Peace." The more they would hear it, the more they would question
and think about it, and they would learn.
Watertown
High School was chosen as the place to put the garden. Could there be a more
appropriate spot to put an International Peace Garden than the community's
educational center? The garden would be a place for students to reflect not
only on their day-to-day problems but also to remind them of the friends they
have across the globe. It would be a beautiful and living memorial to
everlasting peace between all individuals and all nations.
Many
have contributed their time and money in order to see the garden grow.
Donations have come from the students and individuals throughout the community.
Many students and faculty have also contributed their time to work in the
garden.
Much
has been done with the Peace Garden, but there is still a lot to do. This
summer an amphitheater made with natural stones will be put in at the north end
of the Garden. This will provide a place for class instruction, concerts, and
such. They are also planning on putting in a Community Garden at the north end,
which will consist of plants given from gardens throughout the community. An
integrated watering system is also going to be installed. With all of this
being done, there is still a need for continuing maintenance. The garden, like
peace, must not only be planted, but nurtured so it will grow into something so
wonderful that it will consume all people. - Suzie Zobrist
The
Meridian represents the circle of life. Life doesn't flow in a circle, though.
It has its bumps and bruises, but it is still continuous. It is a symbol of
hope and life.
Cross References:
