website
watertownhistory.org
ebook History of Watertown, Wisconsin
High School, Former, Main St
High School is the remodeled former School No. 1
plus the erection of a large addition on the south
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 [left] 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 PROF. THEODORE BERNHARD
/
SECOND WARD HIGH SCHOOL
click to enlarge
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 course 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 AVE
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
-- -- JOSEPH E. DAVIES GRADUATES
Joe Davies' High School
Classmates 'Saved His Head' at Graduation
by Louise Marston, Society
Editor, Wisconsin State Journal 18 May 1958
This is an interesting little anecdote about the late Joseph E. Davies, the Wisconsin-born lawyer who
rose to great heights, politically and socially, in Washington, D. C. Mr. Davies died May 9 in Washington at the
age of 81. He was ambassador to Russia
during World War II and was a special envoy for Presidents Franklin D.
Roosevelt and Harry S. Truman. A
graduate of the University of Wisconsin.
Mr. Davies also was considered one of the leading attorneys in the nation's
capital.
This little story about Joe Davies was told to me by Miss Hilda
Volkmann, 1010 E. Gorham St., who spent her youth In Watertown, Mr. Davies'
hometown, and knew him well. Miss
Volkmann said that when she was in grade school and Joe Davies was a senior in
the Watertown High School [Davies graduated from Watertown High in 1894 as
valedictorian of his class], he had a severe case of typhoid fever and lost
every hair on his head. Out of deference
to their temporarily bald classmate, the other senior boys voted to wear mortar
boards on their heads for the graduation exercises, a dramatic and bold gesture
as Watertown had never had them previously.
"It was the talk of the town, the kind gesture on the part of the
boys and it made such an impression on us younger children," says Miss
Volkmann. Later on
Mr. Davies' aunt lived with Miss Volkmann's family for seven years so that Miss
Volkmann heard his name as a daily byword.
The aunt died many years ago in San Diego, Calif., in her late 90s.
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
UNION SCHOOL No. 1
north side of Main
Street, between Seventh and Eighth.
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
1898
1898, Union School No 1, Weltberger drawing, 03 19 1898, WHS_005_923
1898
03 09 SCHOOL TO BE ENLARGED
Monday evening the Board of Education
accepted the plans offered by Claude & Starck,
architects of Madison, for the reconstruction and enlargement of School No. 1,
on Main Street. The board for some time
has had the matter of providing more school room under consideration, the
scheme being to erect an addition to the above building and change the present
arrangement so that it will be suitable for high school purposes.
Besides the grades of the latter school the
two eighth grades will also be located there.
The addition is to be elected on the south side of the old
building. It will be two stories high
and 50x68 feet in size. The estimated cost is $10,000. Work will he begun as soon as the plans and
specifications are completed and the contracts let, and it is to be ready for
occupancy next September. Under the new
order of things the present high school is to become a
district school containing seven grades.
The Watertown Republican, 03 09 1898
07 20 MISS NELLIE SHINNICK
The board of education has appointed Miss Nellie Shinnick of the town of Watertown to the new position created on the high school staff, at a salary of $55 per month. She has been pursuing a course of study at the Oshkosh Normal. WR
08 03 A special term of school for the pupils of the high school and eighth grades will be opened at the present high school building, on Monday, August 15, and continued two weeks. The regular work for the year will be begun. There will also be reviews from the common branches, and instruction for students preparing to teach. The regular fall term for the high school and eighth grade will probably not begin October. For the other grades school will open September 5. WR
10 05 The contractors of the new high school building promise to have it ready for occupancy on Monday, October 17, which date has been set for the opening of the fall term of the high school and eighth grades. WR
10 19 School will open in the new High School building next Monday. All eighth grade and high school pupils should try to be present on the first day. Non-resident pupils will be received on the payment of a tuition fee of $2 a month. All pupils are furnished with textbooks for use, free of charge. The increased number of teachers will enable the High School to offer more extended and varied instruction hereafter than hitherto. To suit all classes of students various courses will be provided: Modern classical, scientific, English, commercial, etc. Students who wish to prepare for teaching will receive all needed attention. WR
10 26 School opened in the new high school building Monday morning and the pupils of the high school and eighth grades are now enjoying the conveniences and comforts of this fine structure. The new school is the result of the remodeling of former School No. 1 and the erection of a large edition on the south. Its location on Main Street between Seventh and Eighth, is very sightly. The building is of brick and one of the most noticeable features is the splendid light afforded during the day by the multitude of windows. Gas for night lighting is furnished throughout. There are two entrances, one on the south---the main one---and the other on the east. The main entrance, with its large portico and Corinthian columns presents a most substantial and handsome appearance. Upon entering the building a person is at once impressed with the spacious corridors and the wide, easy stairways. It seems that the design of the architect was to afford above all else convenience, comfort and safety. Two stories and a basement comprise the building. The interior woodwork is entirely of Georgia pine. The building proper cost in the neighborhood of $11,000 and the system of heating and ventilation an additional $2,000. WR
1899
07 28 FREE CLASSES
During the month of August, Supt. Viebahn will give instructions free of charge, to all high school students who may need and desire help in any one branch. Those who wish to avail themselves of this opportunity will come to the high school next Monday at 9 a.m. WG
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 ASSISTANT
WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
deems school athletics and debates
detrimental
OPPOSES STUDENT CONTESTS
At the meeting of city school superintendents
and supervising principals, held in connection with the state teachers’
convention in Milwaukee last week, A. J. Whiting, assistant principal of the
Watertown high school, took a decided stand against the custom of holding
interscholastic debates and athletic meets, which has grown so popular among
high schools in recent years.
Mr. Whiting’s ideas were clearly
brought out in a paper which he read before the meeting, the same causing a
very lively discussion and forming the most spirited and interesting feature of
the day’s program. The prevailing
feeling among the superintendents and principals was apparently strongly
opposed to Mr. Whiting’s stand.
The speaker started out with the
statement that interscholastic contests will remain in vogue “until something
else comes equally well adapted to satisfy ambitious teachers and restless
pupils,” and he regretted that such restlessness was apparently gaining a
foothold.
Public sentiment, he said, was so
favorable to such contests, that the opponent is apt to call forth criticism;,
though in spite of this fact it would be his aim to show that they were
detrimental to the cause of education, and were unwise and unprofitable.
In regard to intellectual contests -
debates and declamations—Mr. Whiting maintained that the selection of
contestants gave rise to disappointments and jealousies; they likewise had the
effect of filling the fortunate victors with an undue sense of false pride and
conceit; while the contest itself stirs the partisans to a pitch of excitement
which he considered far from beneficial.
In reference to the scene at the
contest Mr. Whiting said “the hideous bawling and senseless yelling of the irrepressible
and irresponsible mob make life a burden to the sensitive and the refined who
believe that education should add dignity and grace to the genus homo, instead
of making him more like a rampant, roaring, bellowing beast of the jungle.”
The dangers of faculty coaching and
a tendency to devote too much time to preparation were touched upon also.
The speaker’s objections to the
intellectual contests be likewise applied, to the athletic. He believed in athletic training, he said,
but opposed interscholastic contests.
The latter, he maintained, “consume time, energy, interest and money
wholly disproportionate to their importance; interfere with proper mental and
moral training; directly minister to many vices and apparently tend toward a
moral decadence similar to that which characterized ancient Rome.”
The betting feature was used as an
argument against the game. Mr. Whiting
said in conclusion : “Put before your minds the most violent forms of
interscholastic contests you have witnessed, with the attendant betting and
dissipation, and with the determination evident, some times
even expressed, to win or kill. Tell me
whether we who condemn the degrading scenes of the cockpit and the brutal
spectacle of the prize fight, are not countenancing and encouraging something
which differs from these only in degree, not in kind?” The Watertown Republican, 02 Jan 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.
1903
03 21 MONKEY ESCAPES TRAINING
ACADEMY
AND HEADS TO HIGH SCHOOL
A monkey belonging to Seibel Bros, pony and dog show created quite a little amusement for pupils at the high school building and residents adjacent to the training quarters in North Eighth Street Thursday morning. “Casey” with its mate escaped from a barn basement where they are kept but the latter was rescued before it reached the street. “Casey” however made good his escape and took up quarters in one of the trees in the school house yard nearby. He refused all tempting offers to come down and evidently enjoyed his protected position until a number of boys with the aid of a long ladder drove him from his perch. He nimbly jumped from branch to branch and from tree to tree until he was finally cornered when he leaped to the ground, a distance of twenty feet and was driven to the training quarters where he was captured. In the meantime, a large crowd was present to watch the proceedings, which “Casey” evidently enjoyed. The animal is 36 inches high when on his haunches and is yet comparatively in his wild condition. It required 75 minutes time and assistance of half a dozen persons to secure him.
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 NIGHT SCHOOL OPENED
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 NIGHT SCHOOL CLOSED
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
ALUMNI ASSN, ANNUAL BANQUET
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
1910
06 21 “TAKEN JUNE 21, 1910, AT 5:00 AM /
JUNIORS + FRESHMEN”
Juniors would be class of 1911
c.1910
1911
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
-- -- THE WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL ORBIT LAUNCHED
Name “ORBIT” chosen instead of “VIBRATOR”
Following abstracted from 1913 edition of the Orbit, the first yearbook of the Watertown High:
Feb. 25 – Seniors decide to publish annual.
Feb. 26 – Names suggested for annual.
Feb. 27 – “Orbit,” “Vibrator” and “Quibbler” voted on.
Feb. 28 – Sympathetic vibrations passing from pupils who need not take February’s Latin exam, to those who must.
Mar. 1 – Immortalization of Dan Brooks who suggested the name “Orbit.” [note: Dan Brooks was a sophomore in 1913]
Elsewhere in this first edition the following is found: ORBIT – A short word formed by selecting five letters out of VIBRATOR.
So now we know. In choosing “Orbit” over “Vibrator” these young Goslings unknowingly coined a designation that could be used over the years, avoiding puns on a possible second meaning (double entendre).
Go Goslings!
___________________________________________________________________
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
06 11 HIGH SCHOOL TO BECOME
ARMORY
Old high school building to be used
The National Guard Company now forming in Watertown will use the old high school
building for an armory and drilling station.
The use of the building was given them at a special meeting of the board
of education held Friday evening. The
city council had already given its permission. Watertown News, 06 11
1917
1920
03 17 ALDERMEN AGAIN CONSIDER
TRAINING SCHOOL AND ARMORY
FOR OLD HIGH SCHOOL SITE
Nothing can be done until Dodge and Jefferson Counties
committees decide
Chairman Harte of the council committee, to which was
referred the conversion of the old high school building into an armory for a
cavalry unit, stated that he had nothing to report as the committees of the two
counties who are considering it as a training school for teachers had not
met.
Mr. Harte. said that the [cavalry] boys were doing the
right thing in going on with the organization of the unit as he saw no chance
for a training school . . . must not also lose the chance for a cavalry troop.
Alderman Raue inquired if
the building had not been condemned as a school, which elicited the information
that it had been condemned as a high school on account of insufficient
ventilation.
Alderman Lutovsky, who
represents the ward in which the building is located, said that he believed
those in the neighborhood would prefer a training school, but that he had grave
doubts about it being accepted as such by the two counties.
Mayor Mulberger stated that
he was very much in favor of the cavalry troop, and although at the, present
time the disposition of the building was out of the hands of the council, he
was glad that the members had gone on record affirmatively.
His honor further stated that a military organization
such as the calvary unit would be one of the best things for the boys of the
town and something for this city to be proud of.
07 21 OLD HIGH SCHOOL
BUILDING RETURN ACCEPTED BY COUNCIL
Must be re-roofed at once in order to keep it from going to ruin
Arrangement to be made for use as
Armory
Formal acceptance of the old high school building by
the board of education was made at the council meeting last evening.
When the matter came up Mayor Wertheimer took occasion
to say that the people of this city desired and expected that the same should
be remodeled for use as an armory for Troop G.
[chapter on National Guard]
Referring to some questions that had been raised as to
technical compliance with the law, the mayor said that the will of the people
could be accomplished in a manner fully legal and that Watertown should go
forward in this matter and have at least as good an armory as some of the
smaller cities that have already established military units.
At the conclusion of his remarks, the ladies and
gentlemen who were in attendance at the meeting, which
by the way was unusually large for Watertown, applauded the utterance by hearty
hand claps.
Aldermen Gruetzmacher,
Krueger and Block made suggestions as to safe guarding the interests of the
city in the property in all events.
Capt. Sproesser of Troop G was
present and, upon invitation of the mayor, stated that he was of the opinion
that the city should put the building in shape for occupancy by putting on a
new roof and installing a new heating plant.
The cavalry organization is to keep the same in repair and police the
grounds, which meant the keeping down of weeds, shoveling of snow, and general
up keep of grounds and building. The
contract is to be between the city and Troop G.
Ald. Harte, chairman of the committee on public
buildings, informed the council that he had made a thorough examination of the
building and that preservation of the building demands that it be fixed at once
-- regardless of whether or not it is to be used as an armory. The water comes in all over when it rains,
water and steam pipes are busted, and all the walls have become effected. “It will be ruined in a few years and should
be roofed and fixed up before winter sets in” said the alderman from the
Twelfth.
This seemed to be the prevailing opinion of the
council, and on motion of Ald. Gruetzmacher the whole
subject was referred to a joint committee composed of the committee on public
buildings, finance and judiciary. A definite report is expected at the next
meeting. WDTimes
c.1920s
HONOR ROLL, VETERAN'S WALL, SIDEWALK IN FRONT OF HIGH SCHOOL
Sidewalk in front of High School
1949
07 11 COMPANY M PRIOR TO
DEPARTING FROM ARMORY FOR SUMMER TRAINING
1959
1959, Proposed site for new city hall
1960
12 28 OPPOSE
POLICE-FIRE STATION AT EIGHTH AND MADISON
Three members who
served on a committee named by Attorney Charles
E. Kading, while he was serving as acting city
manager here, to study city hall expansion needs today issued a statement
opposing the proposed construction of a new police
and fire station at the corner of North Eighth
and Madison streets and suggested that maybe “it is time to hold another
referendum” on the matter. The three are
Arthur Kuenzi, a registered professional engineer who
was president of the old Otto Biefeld
Co., now the Otto Biefeld Corp.; Albert W. Maas,
general contractor and head of the Maas Bros.
Construction Company and a former city councilman; and O. E. Carlson, for
many years a building materials supplier here.
WDT
1961
02 04 CONDITION OF THE BUILDING
The condition of the recreation building, with its dirty and unkempt walls and the condition of the floors and many other things about it have reached such a point that one councilman who dropped in yesterday afternoon to look it over said today he was shocked by what he found. George Shephard plans to have the matter put on the next council committee agenda for discussion to see what can be done to make some elementary improvements about the condition of the building. WDT
02 18 CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE-POLICE STATION IN DOUBT
The City Council last night added hundreds of more words to the long standing and running argument over plans for a new fire and police station and when it was over it had approved, by a vote of 3 to 2, to take the next step for the construction of such a building but, which in the end, won't even get off the ground, according to present indications - at least not during the present administration. The 3 to 2 vote was on a resolution to authorize sample soil borings on the site of the proposed building - the block which now houses the recreation building. But even now the actual construction has two strikes against it. Councilman George Shephard and Councilman Raymond F. Franz who have previously declared they will not support the $400,000 bond issue to finance it last night repeated their statements “for the official record.” WDT
05 19 RECREATION BLDG CLOSED; ACTIVITIES
TRANSFERRED TO THE OLD DOUGLAS SCHOOL
The city council did the expected last night. It voted to close the recreation building and
transfer all activities to the old Douglas School
as soon as the board of education turns the school over to the city, expected
to be around July 1. By so doing the
council went on record not to spend any public sums for repairing the
recreation building or arising its safety standards. The vote on the measure was 13 to 1 — with
Alderman Erich Nuernberg of the sixth ward casting
the only “no” vote. He had sought to
delay any action by having the resolution tabled until such time as the old
Douglas School has been turned over to the city. WDT
1962
11 09 MOTEL, DINING AREA, MEETING ROOMS AND COCKTAIL LOUNGE
If plans to dispose of the Watertown Recreation Building and the site which makes up the block on which it is located are carried out and present ideas regarding its future facility are fulfilled Watertown may get what city officials consider a much-needed community establishment — a motel, dining area, meeting rooms and cocktail lounge. The cocktail lounge would be needed in such a facility to help pay operational costs, it has been pointed out. At last night’s meeting of the common council the aldermen voted unanimously to refer to the City Planning Commission a resolution taking the first step toward such a project. The resolution is being sponsored by Council President William Wiegand. WDT
11 19 RECREATION DEPARTMENT NEEDS
The recreation building in Main Street, scheduled to be closed and abandoned as a public safety measure, may yet receive a reprieve and continue to be used at least through the coming winter months. That was one of the possible decisions that came out of last night’s common council committee meeting. With a new city hall in prospect, plans call for a large basement which can be utilized by the recreation department but until such a plan is actually carried out and the new quarters are available, the recreation department will either have to continue functioning in the present building or steps will have to be taken to rent the Turner Hall on a basis of fitting in the recreation schedule when the Turner Hall is available. WDT
12 15 NIBBLES FOR SITE DEVELOPMENT
Although the city of Watertown's advertisements calling for proposals on the city recreation building, which is up for sale, have appeared in newspapers in Watertown, Milwaukee and Madison only and have not yet been published in trade journals, the office of Mayor Robert P. White has already had "nibbles" from five sources, including one in Chicago. The recreation building and site are being offered for sale, since the city proposes to close the building and transfer present usages to other localities, although this has not yet met with complete success and efforts to find alternate operating locations are continuing. WDT
1963
05 11 Another step in the probable construction of a 30 to 40 unit motel, cocktail lounge and convention and gathering center, on the site of the present recreation building, first announced some two years ago as a possibility, was reported last night to members of the common council by Mayor Robert P. White during the regular meeting of the council. The mayor announced that an option on the property has been issued. The site, which includes a solid block, lies between North Seventh and Eighth Streets along Main Street. The mayor said that since the property was put up for sale by the city his office has had many inquiries, some from as far away as Texas, representing interested parties considering a motel and allied establishment. WDT
1964
05 08 Mayor Robert P. White’s recent statement to the Daily Times that interest in acquiring the city recreation building site in Main Street is still “very much alive” was followed up last night with his announcement that a new “offer” to purchase the site has developed. The mayor said that Merion Realty Co., Inc., a subsidiary investment group of a large Milwaukee business organization, has expressed interest in the site and that this has now reached the point where the concern was represented at a recent meeting of the City Planning Commission to discuss possibilities informally. WDT
05 20 By a vote of 12 to 2 the common council last night accepted the offer made recently by the Marion Realty Co., Milwaukee, to purchase from the city the property known as the recreation building site. Such a step had been recommended by the City Planning Commission. In the resolution, the city set the sum of $35,000 as the price to be paid for the complete one square block property in Main Street. The council also set a 90 day time limit for the conclusion of the sale. WDT
08 01 PLANS FOR MOTEL,
CONVENTION FACILITIES
Plans for a motel, several retail stores and convention facilities, including a bar and other services on the site of the present recreation building at Main and the area between North Seventh and North Eighth Streets, may move a step closer to realization next week. The Marian Realty Co., representing outside interests which propose to construct the new complex in downtown Watertown has announced it wishes to exercise its option on the property. WDT
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 31 The Marian Realty Co. of Milwaukee last night was granted a new extension on its option to purchase the recreation building site and construct a motel and convention complex on the block costing no less than $250,000. The price is to be $35,000 for the entire downtown block. The extension expires May 3 of this year. In the event the realty company does not exercise its option the council agreed to consider negotiating a similar option with the group known as Behrndt, Perkins and Knodl, also of Milwaukee, owners of the Charles Lutovsky farm which the city is to acquire as part of the site for a new junior high school. WDT
02 13 There now are two out of town groups seeking the old recreation building site in Main Street for commercial development purposes. This came to light last night during the common council’s committee meeting after it was disclosed that the Marian Realty Co. of Milwaukee had decided not to exercise its option on the property. The two groups are Behrndt, Perkins and Knodl of Milwaukee who have agreed to sell to the city 34 acres of the former Charles Lutovsky farm as part of a new school site, and a Madison group which had first shown an interest in the site some two years ago. WDT
02 28 Representatives of Behrndt, Perkins and Knodl, Milwaukee, were in the city last evening in connection with plans for utilizing the site of the old recreation building in Main Street on which the group holds a 90-day option. Architects have been at work on plans for a 29-unit motel, restaurant and cocktail facilities, along with meeting and convention facilities, which the Milwaukee concern proposes to erect on the site, subject to approval by the City Planning Commission. WDT
07 28 DEMOLITION
OF THE OLD REC BUILDING
Work
on demolishing the old recreation building in Main Street continues. It is to pave the way for a motel and related
facilities. Owners of the property are
Behrndt, Perkins and Knodl
of Milwaukee. The original part of the
old building began as School No. 1 and the rear wall had a stone inscribed
“1863.”
When
the major portions of the building, fronting on Main Street, were constructed
is a matter of question. The building
was a high school until the World War I period and then became an armory and
later the recreation building. As a high
school it replaced the old Webster School in Western Avenue which had served as
a high school before becoming an elementary school. It is no more, having been leveled for a
playground and replaced with a modem Webster School at 634 South Twelfth Street. WDT
11 04 MOTEL
PLANNED
The
motel to be constructed at the corner of North Eighth and Main Streets, on the
site of the former recreation building, will be up and ready for occupancy by
next summer, one of the three developers involved in the project told the Daily
Times. James J. Knodl,
one of the three men involved in the project, said the facility would be up by
next summer. The razing of the old rec
building which years ago served as a high school, has been underway for many
weeks. Under the terms of the purchase
contract with the city, construction of the motel must get underway 61 days
after the building is razed. WDT
1966
01 25 PLANS FOR MOTEL
Plans for the financing of the motel and related facilities on the site of the old recreation building here have been advanced and it was announced that a Menomonee Falls dentist, Dr. Guido E. Quartullo has entered into the operation as an investor with the Milwaukee group which purchased the property at Main and North Eight Streets from the city — Berndt, Perkins and Knoll of Milwaukee. Under terms of the agreement with the city the construction must begin within 41 days after the property is cleared and that was Wednesday of this week. WDT
02 05 PLANS FOR SITE
Plans for the future of Watertown’s old recreation building site in Main Street, between North Seventh and North Eighth Streets, which Behrndt, Perkins and Knodl of Milwaukee, a group of developers secured from the city last year, were discussed at a meeting held here yesterday afternoon following an earlier announcement last week that Dr. G. E. Quartullo of Menomonee Falls had bought into the operation. WDT
03 05 NEW OWNERS
The new owners of the city’s former recreation site, in Main Street, have requested that they be permitted to meet with the common council next week to discuss with the city their future plans for the site. The new owners are Dr. G. G. Quartullo and Delore Schultz, both of Menomonee Falls. When the entire block area was sold by the city to Berndt, Perkins and Knodl of Milwaukee, for $35,000, it was stipulated that the site was to be used for a 32-unit motel, include a commercial area and a section that would offer convention facilities and a meeting place for large gatherings, as well as provide a steak room, a bar, etc. A minimum construction of $250,000 was also stipulated. WDT
08 23 UNSIGHTLY CONDITIONS
AND MESS
Hanging city officials in effigy via dummy which was strung up from a tree in the old recreation building block area yesterday apparently was the last straw for the city and a cleanup of the place was begun. The Daily Times received a telephone call about the incident this morning from someone who had witnessed it. Aldermen urged that the city clean up the place and bill the owners if they did not move to clean up “the unsightly conditions and mess” on the site which fronts on Main Street. Signs painted on the block-long retaining wall, which drew heavy fire from aldermen, also have been obliterated. WDT
08 24 RETAINING WALL
VANDALIZED
Vandals have again attacked the surface of the retaining wall which fronts Main Street on the site of the old recreation building, only hours after city crews “cleaned up” the site and resurfaced the wall to obliterate the slogans and saying which had defaced the wall and which was an eyesore for many months. The cleanup was carried out yesterday. Later someone had painted a letter “P” on the wall, authorities said. Police said they had at least a lead on one suspect and had the names of several others they were going to question. WDT
09 27 MOTEL PROJECT POSSIBLE
David Fries, city attorney, last night reported to the common council that an entirely new start on a motel project may be in the making, that the old recreation site in Main Street is now owned by Dr. G. G. Quartulla, Menomonee Falls dentist, and that prospects for new construction appear vague but likely. The city attorney’s verbal report was made in reply to questions which had been raised at the previous council meeting. The initial plans for a motel commercial area, convention facilities, have been “thrown out” and a new beginning is about to be made, according to the latest information made available to the city attorney. WDT
1967
02 11 INFORMATION ON PROPOSED MOTEL
The latest information in connection with the proposed motel, to be constructed on the site of the former recreation building, at Eighth and East Main Streets, was presented to Mayor Robert P. White on Wednesday by Dr. G. E. Quartullo, Menomonee Falls, a dentist, who now owns the property. Quartullo advised the mayor that efforts now are well underway to secure a tenant for the commercial portion of the property, which will consist of approximately 10,000 square feet of floor space. Dr. Quartullo and a Menomonee Falls contractor, Delore Schultz, acquired the property from three developers, James J. Knodl and Richard H. Berndt of Milwaukee and Forrest W. Perkins of Muskego. The three had acquired property from the city for $35,000, this low figure having been established in order for the city to be helpful in bringing about the construction of a downtown motel. WDT
02 28 CITY MAY REGAIN TITLE TO THE PROPERTY
City Attorney David J. Fries today issued a statement on the status of the old recreation site which had been asked to provide for the common council by Alderman Armund Turke, president of the council. In his statement, the city attorney points out that there is a mortgage in the face amount of $90,000 to the Bank of Watertown, and “that it cannot by ascertained, however, from the public records, whether the amount owed to the Bank of Watertown is in this full amount or not.” The city attorney, in summarizing the legal aspects, gives it as his opinion that the city of Watertown at its option may regain title to the property on payment of $35,000, together with possibly such sum as the owners can establish constitute reasonable costs and that any balance on the mortgage would, in the city attorney’s opinion, not constitute reasonable costs. WDT
02 15 LACK OF PROGRESS IN DEVELOPING SITE
O. Harvey Krause, city assessor of Watertown, differs sharply with the policy of the present city administration relative to some real estate transactions carried out in the past few years and especially with the transactions involving the old recreation site on Main Street, between North Seventh and North Eighth Streets, according to a statement he issued at his office this morning. “The progress or lack of progress in developing the old recreation building site recently prompted Mayor Robert P. White to publish a record of the steps taken in the sale of this property,” Mr. Krause says in his statement. WDT
03 06 KEEPING “A WARY EYE”
Members of the common council at their committee meeting last night agreed informally to keep “a wary eye” on the “immediate future” of the old recreation site at Main and North Eighth Streets in order to keep informed on prospects for the construction of a motel complex on the property. Alderman Armund Turke, the council president, said he feels that if there is no evidence of construction or assurance of construction this summer, or near the close of the year that the council consider a move to regain the property from its owners. At the same time Alderman G. G. Waller told the council he feels the aldermen should be kept better informed on developments through regular “progress reports.” WDT
10 11 SEEK TO REGAIN THE OLD REC BUILDING
The next step in the city of Watertown’s decision to seek to regain the old recreation building site in Main street will be taken in Jefferson County Circuit Court, but as yet no date has been set for a hearing. The city sold the block square area to Milwaukee promoters for a motel complex for $35,000 during the previous city administration. The property was later sold by the Milwaukee group to Delore Schultz and Dr. G. G. Quartulle of Menominee Falls, Wis. WDT
11 22 ATTEMPT TO RETRIEVE PROPERTY
The city of Watertown is all set to go to trial in connection with the steps that have been taken to retrieve the recreation site located at the corner of Eighth and Main Streets. The property was sold to three Milwaukee developers for $35,000, with the stipulation that they erect a motel costing at least $250,000. The three, instead of proceeding with the erection of a motel, sold the property to a contractor and dentist from Menomonee Falls. Since the sale, the dentist, Dr. G. E. Quartullo, has bought out his associate. WDT
1968
03 29 RED OWL CONSIDERED FOR SITE
A meeting was set up by the common council last night for April 15 to afford Dr. G. E. Quartulle of Menomonee Falls, owner of the old recreation site, his attorney and representative of Red Owl an opportunity to appear and present the council with a plan which could lead to the occupancy of the site by Red Owl. It was pointed out that the law firm of the late Malcolm Whyte, Milwaukee, a native of Watertown, engaged by the council as consultants in the city’s attempt to regain ownership of the block-square property would in no way affect that attempt, a matter now pending in Jefferson County Circuit Court. WDT
04 02 RED OWL PLAN
A meeting was set up by the common council last night for April 15 to afford Dr. G. E. Quartulle of Menomonee Falls, owner of the old recreation site, his attorney and a representative of Red Owl an opportunity to appear and present the council with a plan which could lead to the occupancy of the site by Red Owl. It was pointed out that the law firm of the late Malcolm Whyte, Milwaukee, a native of Watertown, engaged by the council as consultants in the city's attempt to regain ownership of the block-square property would in no way affect that attempt, a matter now pending in Jefferson County Circuit Court.
06 13 RED OWL “FINAL OFFER”
A meeting was set up by the common council last night for April 15 to afford Dr. G. E. Quartulle of Menomonee Falls, owner of the old recreation site, his attorney and a representative of Red Owl an opportunity to appear and present the council with a plan which could lead to the occupancy of the site by Red Owl. It was pointed out that the law firm of the late Malcolm Whyte, Milwaukee, a native of Watertown, engaged by the council as consultants in the city's attempt to regain ownership of the block-square property would in no way affect that attempt, a matter now pending in Jefferson County Circuit Court.
06 18 CASE HEADED FOR CIRCUIT COURT
Dr. G. E. Quartullo, Menomonee Falls dentist who is the owner of the old recreation site property in Main Street which the city sold for $35,000, has asked $75,000 to sell it back to the city and last night had his offer rejected. Rejection came at an executive session of Watertown aldermen who met with Mayor A. E. Bentzin prior to the council’s regular committee meeting last night. As a result, the case now is headed for settlement in Jefferson County Circuit Court.
11 09 ATTORNEYS CLASH
There was a flare up between attorneys Wednesday afternoon during the fifth day of the circuit court trial in the city’s effort to retrieve the so-called recreational site at Eighth and Main Streets here. Yesterday’s court session was held in the circuit court chamber at Jefferson, with Judge Henry Gergen, Jr. of Beaver Dam presiding. The clash occurred when Attorney Thomas Hayes of Milwaukee, representing Dr. G. E. Quartullo, accused Attorney Edward Cleveland of the Milwaukee law firm of Whyte, Hirschboeck, Minahan, Harding & Harland, which is representing Watertown, of not having turned over to him some of the documents introduced Wednesday afternoon.
1969
03 06 RED OWL CONSIDERATION ENDS
An effort by Dr. Quido E. Quartillo, Menomonee Falls dentist, to obtain more money than had been awarded to him for the Eighth and Main Street recreation property has failed. At the conclusion of the circuit court case in which a determination was to be made by Judge Henry Gergin, Jr., as to the sum which the dentist was to be paid for the property, Gergin set the figure at $65,926. The city had received $35,000 for the property and sold it at this very low price, in order to assist in the construction of a motel and related facilities on the site. WDT
04 09 MOTEL TO BE ERECTED ON SITE
The final chapter in the Watertown “rec” case was written yesterday afternoon when the City of Watertown issued a check in the amount of $65,926 to cover its cost of recovering the recreation site at Eighth and Main streets.
The check was issued to Guido E. Quartullo and Helen M. Quartullo and the Bank of Watertown, which holds a mortgage on the property. It was mailed to the law firm of Whyte, Hirschboeck, Minihan, Harding and Harland at Milwaukee, counsel for the city. The property had been initially sold by the city to three developers, James J. Knodl and Richard Berndt of Milwaukee and Forrest W. Perkins of Muskego.
The sale price was $35,000. It was sold with the understanding that a motel and related facilities costing at least $250,000 be erected on the site. It was stipulated that the city was to retrieve the property with payment of reasonable costs if the project did not materialize.
09 17 INDOOR-OUTDOOR SWIMMING
POOL PROPOSED
The citizen’s advisory committee on the disposition of the city owned property on Eighth and Main Streets recommended to the city council Tuesday evening in a written report that the city use the land for the purpose of constructing an indoor-outdoor swimming pool. The committee was formed on June 16 by Mayor Kenneth Wilkes for the purpose of recommending to the council what should be done with the Rec site since the city had regained possession of the land. The Rec property was sold by the city to three developers for $35,000, with the stipulation that a motel and related facilities costing at least $250,000 be erected on the site. They, in turn, sold the land, and the new owners also were unable to put together a motel project. The city re-acquired the land through a court action.
LINK
TO HIGH SCHOOL ON SOUTH EIGHTH STREET
![1911, later Armory, [PC_136]](http://www.watertownhistory.org/Images/HighSchool8.jpg){kind=link}
Cross reference:
Honor Roll, Veteran's wall, along sidewalk
History of Watertown, Wisconsin