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file portion of www.watertownhistory.org
website
High Schools
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
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.
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
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
___________________________________________________________________
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
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
1939
1939 graduating class pictured
in novel arrangement WDT
1954
First steps taken to secure properties which
would make up the new High School addition.
1956
Watertown Daily Times, 03
07 1956
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.
1957
Watertown Daily Times, 10
19 1957
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.
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
12 04 Christmas pageant cast WDT
12 09 Wrestling squad WDT
1960
Windows Door Ad, new High School,
Marmet Corp
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
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
08 27 Rest room plans at High School
Stadium. 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
2001
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
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.
