website  watertownhistory.org

    ebook  History of Watertown, Wisconsin

 

High School

South Eighth Street

 

 

LINK TO FORMER HIGH SCHOOL ON EAST MAIN STREET  

 

   Image Portfolio 

 

 

PREVIOUS HIGH SCHOOL LOCATIONS:

1863-1882   Ducasse building

THE FIRST HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING IN THE CITY

 

Pranks and Intellectual Feats Are Revealed; Building Stands

 

The old-fashioned building at the corner of North Fifth and Jones streets was the first high school building in the city.  It was built by Justice Ducasse, who for many years was a police justice in Watertown in the early days.

 

It may be said here that it was in the Watertown High-School that the first text books in Wisconsin were issued, and it was there, too, that a commercial course was offered to a high school class for the first time in the history of our state.

 

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. Pacobi [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 and is well worth reproduction:

 

"The quaint old Ducases building, about 50 years ago, housed the beginning of our public high-school.  The faculty consisted of Theodore Bernhard, William H. Rohr, Misses Vestey, Cooley and Merriam.  The studies were not as numerous as they are today, but the upper class did trigonometry, and surveying and the pupils could recite history by the page, though they had never looked into a history book.  In those days, people were too poor to buy many text books and the teachers were obliged to do real teaching.

 

"Professor Bernhard was a remarkably successful teacher. When a pupil showed precocity in a certain direction, he would coach him on that line and develop an exhibition stunt for the public examination at the end of the year.   A merchant named Arnim offered prizes to the pupils at this examination and William Voss, fourteen years old, took the first prize with a remarkable geographical recitation, and Max Gaebler, twelve years old, did the Pythagoras theorem.  Professor Bernhard, to the end of his career, frequently would refer with much pride to these feats of his pupils.

 

1883-1896   Western Avenue

 

1897-1917   Union School No.1 (later Armory)

 

1918              South Eight Street

 

There were many different colors used as class colors in the early days.  Purple and gold, for example.  Possibly at one time each class had their own colors.  It was until the 1930s that blue and white became the "official" school colors.

_________________________________________________

 

1890

06 26       GRADUATION CLASS OF 1890

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Emily Andrews, Teresa Breakenridge, Ella Breakenridge, Rosa McCabe, Theodore Campbell, Genie Dervin, Jessie Green, Grace Johnson, Tena Kunert, Bella Lange, Arthur Maldaner, Susie McCabe, Rosa McCabe, Mary McHugh, Olive Meyers, Rose Moran, Alice Reinke.

 

1913

10 02       WATERTOWN DEFEATED BY MILWAUKEE

At Milwaukee last Saturday the Watertown High School football team was defeated by the East Division High School team of that city by the score of 21 to 14.  The Watertown lineup was as follows:  Butler le, Bandelin lt Henke Ig, Keel c, Schultz rg, Keck rt, T. Williams re, Lewandowski q, Hollenbeck If, Koenig rh, L. Williams fb, Buffmeier and Brumm subs.     WG

 

11 14       LONGTIME SCHOOL JANITOR RECOGNIZED

The superintendent presented the following communication to the board: I hereby inform you that I have appointed Mr. Albert Krueger to the position of janitor of high school in place of William Welk, resigned.  The appointment is made subject to confirmation by the board of education.  Action on this appointment was deferred until the next regular meeting.

 

The following resolution by Mr. Gile was unanimously adopted by the hoard:  Whereas; Mr. William Welk has served the city of Watertown as janitor of the high school and other school buildings for a period of thirty-seven years and during this time has in the highest sense proven himself an industrious and faithful servant, always courteous and obliging to those with whom he worked, and, Whereas; On account of advancing years and the infirmities of age he now deems it necessary to resign the position he has so long and faithfully held, therefore be it Resolved: That the board of education of the city of Watertown, hereby express hearty appreciation for the efficient services rendered the schools by Mr. Welk. and admiration for his faithfulness to duty.  Resolved further: That we convey to Mr. Welk our sincere friendship and wishes for a long and happy life among us — his fellow citizens and neighbors.  Resolved: That a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the journal of this body and also that an engrossed copy be sent to the retiring janitor.  Adjournment. Carl R. Feld, Clerk.      The Watertown Weekly Leader, 14 Nov 1913

 

1914

06 25       HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT

Presentation Speech by Louis Bandelin.  Fund for frieze in assembly room of new high school.

 

1915

03 18       NEW HIGH SCHOOL ASSURED

PROCEEDINGS

Of a special meeting of the Common Council of the city of Watertown, Wisconsin, held March 10, 1915.

 

The meeting was called by the mayor for the purpose of receiving and considering the report of the Board of Education in relation to the construction of a new high school.

 

The following communication was presented:

 

To the Common Council and the Board of Education of the city of Watertown.

 

Gentlemen:

At a meeting of the Business Men’s Association held on Tuesday evening, March 9, the following resolution was presented, and unanimously adopted:

 

“Resolved, That it is the sentiment of the members of the Business Men’s Association of Watertown, representatives of heavy tax paying interests, that Watertown should have a new, substantial high school building, capable of accommodating its local pupils and also the children of our farming community who desire to avail themselves of our excellent educational facilities, and any action our school board and city council may take toward the erection of such new high school building will meet with the hearty approval of this association.

 

Very truly yours, Business Men’s Association, Max Melzer, Secretary.

 

The same was placed on file.

 

President Voss of the school board then presented the matter of the new high school, stating, among other things, that a new high school was a necessity; that the old building is overcrowded, is not adapted to the needs of modern service and is defective owing to improper ventilation.  He stated that the cost of a building of the type and size required would be about $100,000.  This building would accommodate 350 pupils in the assembly room, allowing fifteen square feet of space to each pupil, or 400 pupils allowing twelve square feet for each.  That the enrollment at present is about 300 with an attendance of about 280.  The new building would therefore call for an additional seventy to 120 pupils. 

 

He stated further that the proposition of rebuilding the present high school building to conform with present requirements is not feasible, for the reason that during the wrecking of the old and the construction of the new, a period of approximately one and one-half years, it would be impossible to secure suitable quarters in which to hold school.

 

 

Furthermore, the estimated cost of such rebuilding would be $86,000 as compared with $100,000 for the new building, not a great saving.  Also that the lot occupied by the present high school building, with dimensions of 200 x 216 feet, is too small to properly contain the new building, which is about 170 x 160 feet.  The so-called Eighth Street Park, bounded by Eighth, Ninth and Wisconsin streets, being 242 feet north and south and 294 feet east and west, was pointed out as being the most feasible and economical site for the proposed new school.

 

 

Health commissioner Haney stated that the ventilation of the old building is very defective, has been criticized repeatedly by the state board of health and was unfit to be used for high school purposes.

 

During the ensuing discussion, participated in by the members of the school board and common council, various other points were brought out, among them that the school board was unanimous in the opinion that a new building was necessary and that such building should be built along the lines of the plans suggested.  Pencil sketches of the proposed plan were presented and explained by members of the board.  The plan proposed provides for what is commonly known as a fireproof building.

 

Upon the conclusion of the discussion it was the sense of the meeting that the school board should present at the next regular meeting of the common council a formal report and recommendation of its requirements for a new high school building, with pencil sketch attached, for further consideration of the common council.

 

The council adjourned.

Frank S. Weber, City Clerk.    WG

 

03 18       NEW HIGH SCHOOL ASSURED (same date)

City Council Takes Favorable Action.

 

At a regular meeting of the city council last Tuesday evening the following resolution was passed, which assures the city a fine new high school building.  Watertown has differed in several things agitating the people here of late, but it is very gratifying to note that there is almost a unanimous feeling in our city that a new high school building be erected.  This speaks well for the future of our city, and where its educational interests are so enthusiastically looked after we may rest assured it will have a most wholesome effect on the moral and material interests of Watertown.

 

Whereas, A certified copy of a resolution of the Board of Education has been submitted to this Common Council, wherein it is recited that a public necessity for a new high school building has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the said board;

 

And Whereas, The said board has submitted pencil sketches of a new building to cost about $100,000, the same having a seating capacity of 350 pupils in the assembly room, allowing fifteen square feet for each pupil;

 

And Whereas, Said sketches have been examined and all matters in connection with the construction of a new high school building have been thoroughly considered by this common council;

 

And Whereas, It is also the opinion of this common council that necessity exists for the construction of a new high school building in this city;

 

Be It Resolved, That the resolution of the Board of Education, first above mentioned, be and the same is hereby approved, and that the said board be and is hereby directed to secure full workable plans and specifications in accordance with said pencil sketches from the architects, the payment for which is hereby sanctioned.

 

Resolved Further, That the Board of Education be and it is hereby directed to advertise for proposals for the construction of said new building in accordance with such plans and specifications, and to report the result of the advertisement to this Common Council.

 

Resolved Further, That it be and is the sense of this common council that this building be built upon the so-called “school lots” between Eighth and Ninth streets in the Ninth ward.

 

The resolution was adopted by the following vote:

 

Ayes – Beurhaus, Gruetzmacher, Harte, Kerr, Kessler, Knick, Kohn, Lutovsky, Richards, Schmechel, Wedemeyer, Werner—12; Noes—Glatzel—1; Excused—Klemann—1       WG

 

04 01       HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI HOP

The annual Easter ball of the Alumni Association of the Watertown High School has been set for April 5, Easter Monday.  The ball will be held at the Masonic Temple and Bramer’s four-piece orchestra will furnish the music.  Net proceeds of the ball will be applied on the deficit of the reception and banquet to be held next June for the class of 1915.

 

The ball is being arranged and will be in charge of the officers of the association, who are as follows:

President — Mrs. E. L. Schempf.

First Vice President — Ray Reichardt.

Second Vice President — Mrs. Walter Schlueter.

Secretary — Miss Mabel Triplett.

Treasurer — Louis Bandelin.

 

Tickets are now on sale and may be secured from the officers.   WG

 

05 25       CLASS OF 1915

A graduating class of 37 will be given diplomas at the high school graduating exercises to be held at Turner Opera house Wednesday evening, June 16.  The commencement address will be delivered by Paul F. Voelkert, secretary of the department of instruction of the state university.  Following is the list of graduates:  Paul H. Conway, Mabel King, Lucile S. Liebermann, Doris A. Meyer, Margaret Mueller, Daniel L. Brooks, Hannah E. Cowen, Ruth B. Johnson, Florence Lenz, Arnold Nickels, Herbert A. F. Rodeck, Marcella A. Sette, Viola I. Volkmann, Myra Wieting, Marguerite E. Goodnetter, Elsa E. Schwendke, Ruth Ellen Tyson, Ruth Marie Archie, Anna I. Biefeld, Selma Spohn, Edna Ullrich, Mary Wieman,  Helen Cecilia Belrose, Robert A. Brumm, Henrietta M. Buege, Edna C. Hertel, Ewas G. Hub, Ben R. Krueger, Joseph Lange, Hannah C. Lewis, Arthur R. Linnes, Helen A. Maede, Gertrude S. Nickels, John F. Moriarty, Herbert Radtke, Elsie H. Schur, Anna Maass. 

 

Class Honors by Rank - Roedeck, Lucille Liebermann, Daniel Brooks, Arnold Nickels, Helen Belrose.  Class Honors by Election - Daniel L. Brooks, president; Joseph T. Lange, vice-president; Margaret Mueller, secretary; Ruth M. Archie, treasurer. 

 

Class Colors - Purple and white.  Class Flower - Blue aster.  Class Motto - “Nothing Too Much”

 

10 14       NIGHT SCHOOL TO OPEN

Superintendent T. J. Berto announced on Tuesday that the public night school would be opened for the winter session at the high school building Thursday evening.  A competent corps of teachers will be in charge of the school, which will offer a wide range of subjects for study.  There will be classes organized in commercial subjects,  including beginning bookkeeping, advanced bookkeeping, beginning shorthand, advanced shorthand, arithmetic, typewriting, penmanship, spelling, letter writing, rapid calculation, classes in reading in English, in mechanical drawing and manual training, and in any other subject desired by a sufficient number of students.  Night school will be open to all persons over 16 years of age and persons between the ages of 14 and 16 years who are not now attending school.  No tuition will be charged and the text books will be furnished free of charge.  A deposit of $1.50 at the time of receiving text books will be required.  This deposit will be returned at the close of night school upon the return of the text books.  Students should enroll Thursday evening and determine to remain until the term closes in the spring.  Sessions will be held in the high school building Monday evening and Thursday evening of each week at 7:15 o'clock.    WG

 

11 04       BREWERY BRICKS FOR NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING

Carl H. Block and Mallow & Kaddatz were the lowest bidders for tearing down the old Fuermann brewery plant, at the foot of North First Street, recently acquired by the city, their bid being $7150.  The bid includes tearing down the building, cleaning the bricks and hauling 800,000 of them to the site of the new high school building, drawing all nails from lumber and storing lumber.    WG

 

11 04       NEW HIGH SCHOOL HEATING CONTRACT

On Monday evening the contract for putting in the Kewaunee smokeless heating plant in the new high school building was awarded to Kehr Bros. of this city. 

 

Following were the bids submitted:

Thomas Heating Co., Racine, $9392

H. Kelly & Co., Minneapolis, 9830

Otto Biefeld & Co., Watertown, 9786

Kehr Bros., Watertown, 9265

Gen. Heating & Ventilating Co., Milwaukee, 9560

Ind. Heating & Eng. Co., Milwaukee, 9640

Downey Heating Co., Milwaukee, 9575

Healey Plumbing and Heating Co., St. Paul, 11,670               WG

 

11 11       BAUMANN, SUPERINTENDENT OF CONSTRUCTION

The Board of Education has appointed A. F. Baumann, superintendent of construction of the new high school building.  The selection is a good one.

 

11 11       CONSTRUCTION PARTICULARS

Kewaunee Tubular boilers with Hawley Down Draft will be installed in the new high sehool building.  An amendment was offered by Com. Woodard to install Kewaunee No. 118 Smokeless Fire Box boilers, which was adopted.

 

On motion by Com. Woodard, Kehr Brothers being the lowest bidders were awarded the contract to install two Kewaunee No. 118 Smokeless Firebox Boilers with Sturtevant apparatus in the new high school building for the sum of $9265.00, all voting in the affirmative.

 

On motion by Com. Woodard, the application of A. F. Baumann for the position of inspector for the new high school building was laid over until the next regular meeting of the Board.

 

Motion by Com. Conway to purchase Streeter’s Shale Tex brick, like samples delivered to Board, for facing of the new high school building and to be delivered F.O.B. cars to Watertown, Wis., any time when needed before April 1st, 1916 and to be paid for 30 days after delivery at $14.50 per thousand.  Adopted.     WG

 

1916

      Winter of 1915-16

 

THE HIGH SCHOOL AS A COMMUNITY CENTER

During the last decade cities have come to look upon the provision of a place open to the public for recreation, inspiration, and education as a proper function of city government.  Municipalities in the United States are now providing free public music centers, playgrounds, assembly halls, bathing beaches, museums, and libraries.  The Board of Education of the city of Watertown will have in the splendid new high school building, now under process of construction, facilities for some of the various activities of present-day city life.

 

The new high school building is situated upon a lot [South Eighth St] which will give ample room for tennis courts, football, baseball, and other games for all who wish a play place, whether they be children or adults.  The building has in it features that will promote the health, comfort, and pleasure of the citizens of Watertown.  The building is provided with a splendid gymnasium, 87 feet by 59 feet, surrounded on three sides by a gallery eight feet in width.  The gymnasium may be reached by a side entrance, thereby making it unnecessary to open the whole building and making it possible to use the gymnasium at a time when school is in session, without disturbing classes.

 

The gymnasium has a stage 21 1/2 feet by 15 1/2 feet, providing a suitable platform from which lectures, concerts, or dramatics may be presented.  The room is well lighted and well ventilated.  Immediately off from it are shower baths and dressing rooms for men and women.  Even if equipped with only moderate equipment for general gymnastics, the room will make an excellent place in which business and professional men may exercise and relax through indulgence in games of handball, volley ball, indoor baseball, basketball, etc.

 

Well-equipped, modern laboratories will be a feature of the second floor of the building — laboratories in which citizens may have tests made, may have scientific problems solved.  The chemistry laboratory will have equipment such that simple analyses may be made and chemical reactions tested.  In physics the strength of metals, laws of physics, and use of mechanical devices may be proven.  In the biology and botany room the germination of seeds may be tested and analyses of common plants may be made.  The assembly room of the building will be an ideal place for evening entertainments, for lectures on civic development and on matters of general municipal interest.  The assembly room is equipped with an outlet for a lantern, so that a stereopticon can be used.

 

The city of Watertown is expending a large sum of money for its new high school building and should plan to make the widest use of that building.  It is not looked upon as good business policy to erect an expensive plant in any industry and then allow that plant to lie idle for several months of the year, for several days in every week and for over half of each day.  The movement for a wider use of the school plant has been anticipated by the Board of Education in the adoption of the plan of the new high school building.  The building will be a beauty spot in the city, a place of which all of us will be proud.

 

It should be more than that; it should be a place in constant use, a real civic center of the city.   1916 Watertown High School Orbit, pg 8.

 

1916-1917

-- --         VIEW OF NEWLY CONSTRUCTED WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL

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1917

WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL IMAGES

Assembly room

1917 Orbit, WHS_005_420

Assembly room

1917 Orbit, WHS_005_421

Chemistry lab

1917 Orbit, WHS_005_422

Domestic science kitchen

1917 Orbit, WHS_005_419

Gymnasium

1917 Orbit, WHS_005_418

Lower corridor

1917 Orbit, WHS_005_418

Main entrance

1917 Orbit, WHS_005_417

Manual training work shop

1917 Orbit, WHS_005_419

Physics lab

1917 Orbit, WHS_005_422

Reference library

1917 Orbit, WHS_005_420

 

1917

HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL, CHAMPIONS OF 1917

     <  Champions of 1917 / Class of 1918

 

1918

05 26       THE NEW HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING

The Watertown High School is an artistic, modern, fire proof building, constructed of brick and tile.  It is situated on an open plot of ground on Eighth, Wisconsin and Ninth streets.  It was erected in 1916 at a cost of $100,000 and was first occupied for school purposes in June, 1917.  It is 169 ft. long on Eighth Street and 152 ft. deep, with a separate boiler room and coal storage room.  There are entrances on the north, the west, and the south sides.  A wide corridor extends completely through the building on each floor.  In the basement are the shops, shower rooms and domestic science rooms.  On the first floor are the offices, class rooms and toilet rooms.  On the upper floor are the assembly, the laboratories, commercial rooms and toilet rooms   <>   W. C. Streblow, No.10A/36

 

1919

CLASS OF 1919  /  50-year reunion

A group of people posing for a photo

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[06 02 1969]:  A. E. Bentzin, Harold Hartwig, Wallace Buffmire, Meta Donner Schmutzler, Harold Achtenhagen, Aileen Daw Gottschalk, Arthur Mallow, Aileen O'Byrne Craig, F. E. Henke, E. W. Simdar and Edward J. King, Verna Ebert Saniter, Hazel Hathaway Frater, Cora Maass Kaercher, Mabel Bock Schmidt, Hattie Lange Dunn,  Florence Amadon Swenehart and Irene Collins, Mary Bell Gallagher Stanrecheck.

 

 

1920

FOOTBALL CHAMPS

                       

 

04 14       DEATH OF JOSEPH BRANDENBERG, senior class   WDT

 

04 14       “THE JUNE BRIDE”  /  WETTER DRAWING ON EXHIBITION

[same date] “The June Bride,” one of Clarence Wetter’s best ink drawings, is now on display in the window of Ryan’s book store.  Besides being the high school poet, Mr. Wetter occupies the position of chief cartoonist, having, contributed a daily cartoon to the various bulletin boards in school since his entrance as a freshman.  For the past two years he has been engaged for the Orbit in doing the principal drawing.  The coming edition will also contain several of his best productions.  During the recent war he designed numerous posters for the various activities and drives, besides making scores of humorous sketches, which were forwarded to the soldiers in the army camps and in Europe.  His best daily cartoons are the political series of Wilson, as well as those relating to the great war.  “The June Bride” will be on exhibition the remainder of the week.            04 14 1920, WDTimes

 

1921

1921 Orbit yearbook available in eBook format

 

1923

01 18       Death of Joseph Brandenberg, senior class   WDT

 

1924       GYMNASIUM AND ASSEMBLY ROOM

             

 

c.1925

ASSEMBLY ROOM

  

 

CONFIRMATION:  There has been an unusual number of well-meaning comments following the posting this morning of this image, wondering if this was indeed the c.1925 assembly room of Watertown High School on South Eighth Street.  On page 86 of the 1917 Orbit there is a collection of nine thumb-size photos of the then new high school on S. 8th and one of them is of the very same room, taken from a slightly different angle.

 

1931

HOMECOMING GAME, Cooney vs. Watertown

 

 

THE KLUB

     

George Bayer, Robert Hargraves, Edward Carey, Dan Milunovich, Augustus Lehrkind, Wilbert Dierke, ?_ Behling, Norman Pautz, Martin Uttech, Mr. Joseph, William Kusel, Clarence Tessman, Gaylord Waite, Cyril Schwarze, Robert Jansky, Robert Kusel, William Beisner, Louis Nowack, Donald Snyder, Roy McGowan

 

The Klub is an organization of approximately twenty Juniors and Seniors.  The purpose of the Klub is to create a better school spirit and to give its members a chance to discuss problems that will confront them during their school years and their later lives.  The Klub meets regularly every week and when the occasion demands it, there are meetings after supper.  The Klub endeavors to get men to speak to them on whatever subject they think important.  Such problems as audience courtesy, national defense, choosing one’s vocation are just a few of the subjects that have been discussed.

 

FACULTY BASKETBALL

           1931 Watertown High School Orbit

Arthur Henke, Gale Rockwell, Frank Keller, Arnold Landsverk, W. Carman Lucas, O. Harvey Krause, Jerome Herreid.

 

Besides interscholastic and intramural basketball the Watertown High School was represented by a faculty team.  They played two games against the Waupun faculty, one ending in a 22-22 tie, and in the other Waupun proved the stronger, winning 32-26. They defeated the Watertown Lion's Club 44-10, and defeated the Vocational three times in practice scrimmages. Landsverk, Henke, and Lucas were the best bets for the teachers. Some people were amused with the idea of faculty athletics, but the pedagogues showed they could play basketball as well as teach.

 

FIRST HIGH SCHOOL CAFETERIA

The cafeteria is a new department at Watertown High School.  During the few weeks of its existence it has really proved itself a great asset.  Those students living at such a distance that it makes it impossible for them to go home for their dinner need no longer try to stop their hunger with a candy bar and a bottle of pop or an apple, but can now enjoy regular meals at our new cafeteria.  Surely the cafeteria is something for us all to be proud of and enjoy.  1931 High School Orbit

 

FIRST CAFETERIA SERVICE OFFERED

After a successful season the cafeteria closed early in May.  This is the first year that W. H. S. has had a cafeteria.  It was also something new in Watertown.

 

Under the experienced hands of Miss Fischer and her helpers it flourished.  It not only furnished meals at a very low cost to those students of both J. H. S. and S. H. S. who wished to eat there, but was also the scene of several banquets and other entertainments where lunch was served.  The basketball banquet which included as guests the basketball team and the tournament help and the coach, took place in the cafeteria.  A very delicious meal was served.  Then too, during the exhibition, ice cream and cake, and sandwiches and coffee were served here.

 

The students who took part in the Tri-City Festival were served both dinner and supper in the cafeteria.  Sundaes were served between meals.  Pupils from both Cooney and Beaver Dam could not praise the cafeteria enough, as neither has one in their high school.  Those who were at the last two school parties enjoyed refreshments in the cafeteria.  It was the first time that this was tried and it was a great success, as both teachers and pupils enjoyed the refreshing sundaes after an hour or so of dancing.

 

The food was served at all times at the lowest possible price, and was not a money-making proposition.

 

As there are but a few weeks of school left, no one will miss the cafeteria much now, but I am sure that next year everyone will be waiting the opening of it.

 

The Blue and White, 06 1931, Published by the Students of Watertown High School

 

JUNIOR HIGH STUNT CLASS

  

 

1931

09 21       CLASS OF 1931 HELD 65th REUNION IN 1996

  

Edward Carey, Walter Brandenstein, Harry Ziegelmann, Wilton Trachte, Harvey Froemming, James Anderson, Andrew Boyum, Chester Gauerke, Adeline Froelich Peterson, Louise Schuenemann Wolff, Helga Bender Henry, Eleanor Dowd Chase, Lucille Wolff Hildebrandt, Luella Mueller Becker, Eunice Laskey Knick, Ethel Sherman Bergman Kaddatz, Edna Schmidt Roberts, Florence Sommerfeld Grosenick, Eila Hoppe Meyer, Norma Zier Barganz, Harold Zier, William Schimpf, Norman Pautz.

 

1934

     Orbit

 

     Class of 1934 dedicated the Orbit to Miss Skinner

 

 

1936

FIRST HIGH SCHOOL FEATURED ON CENTENNIAL POSTCARD

  

 

1937

ACES IN THE FIELD OF MUSIC

  

William Reinhard, Dorothy Prahl, Robert Maas, Wilbur Huber, William Kramer. Herman Schoechert, Margaret Moldenhaur, Winston Krueger

 

1938

AUTO MECHANIC CLASS, possible

An adult education course, the sort of forerunner to MATC?  Certainly does seem to be the old shop room on the lower level of the old high school.  They had windows like these facing 9th St. and it is believed they also had a sort of garage door that would have allowed the entrance of a car.

 

1939

1939 WATERTOWN MEN’S STATE CHAMPS

 

  

Back row from left, Art Ebert, Al Maas, Bob Hutson, Roy Schmidt, Karl Bregenzer, Ralph Weaver.

 

Front row from left: Harris Grabow, John Stofflet, Bob Kuenzi, Coach Arnold Landsverk, Bob Stupka, Clarence Smith, Frank Englebrecht.

 

06 11       ANNUAL CLASS DAY PROGRAM

The annual class day program of the high school senior class was held this afternoon, part of it outdoors on the school campus.  Eugene Iffland, president of the class was chairman.  The program opened with a swing trio, including Lucille Peterson, Ruth Felten, and Jane Zimmermann.  This was followed by presentation of the senior awards.  They were made by Robert Kuenzi.  A vocal trio, consisting of Arleen Krahn, Ruth Felten, and Patricia Simon, followed with a selection.  The class will was read by Albert Joda.  Miss Joan McAdams was chairman in charge.  The crowning of the king, Harris Grabow, was held out of doors.  The queen was Helen King.  The crowning was done by Evelyn Keller and Mike Davy.  The attendants in the royal party were Caroline Wendt, Lucille Peterson and Sydonna Buckley, Robert Usher, Francis Kuenzi, and Robert Hayhurst.

 

1939 GRADUATING CLASS pictured in novel arrangement    WDT

 

1940

06 08       The honor students of the Watertown high school senior class are Karl Sonnemann, son of Mr. and Mrs. H. M. Sonnemann, 809 Division Street; Miss Elinor Eberle, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Eberle, North Washington Street; Miss Verona Minning, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Minning, North First Street; Miss Mary Jane Byington, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glenn R. Byington, 213 South First Street and Miss Margaret Reichardt, daughter of Col. and Mrs. Walter F. Reichardt, 1326 Thomas Avenue.  

 

Class of 1940, held 50th reunion in 1990.

 

1941

1941 Orbit released.  Dedicated to J. H. Herreid, popular member of the faculty.

 

c.1941A group of people standing outside a building

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         Prom Court (?), circa 1930s-40s

 

1942

07 16       Watertown High School Girl Wins High Scholastic Honor

 

1944

Freshman class

 

WAR ACTIVITIES OF PATRIOTIC STUDENTS

         

 

      

 

      

 

      

Click on to enlarge.          1944 Watertown High School Orbit

 

1944 FOOTBALL

  

 

1945 or 46

   High School Marching Band, 400 block of E Main St.

 

1946

1946 ORBIT WILL RETURN TO HUMOR

Lighter theme is chosen this year with war at end

 

With much of the seriousness of the war a thing of the past, the 1946 Orbit staff has decided on a humorous theme for its annual.  This year’s theme will be “The Circus.”  The circus theme fits into the activities of the high school student, and the staff feels it will prove to make this year’s high school annual especially interesting.  The theme, as usual, will be carried out in the introductory pages to all the sections.  The art work of this year’s Orbit is being done by the senior high art classes under the direction of Miss Elsie Hotvedt, art supervisor in the public schools.

 

The organizations will be portrayed in the annual by action pictures characteristic of the particular club.  For instance, the Future Farmers of America will have a picture of the boys testing soil.  The Girls’ club will be seen folding Christmas stamps to be sent to residents of Watertown.  A picture of students working in the library represents the work done by members of the Library Service club.

 

The staff has decided to have the major activities of each club presented which should prove more interesting than the usual procedure of group pictures of members of the club.   WDT

_________________

 

Orbit features service members  

 

1948

06 06       ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR CLASS PLAY REPLACED

                 Centennial Pageant Premiere draws cheers at Watertown

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A bird comes flying in this old German game, played in a representation of the first kindergarten in America.  The scene is from a pageant, “A Century of Progress Cavalcade in Wisconsin,” being given Friday and Saturday nights by Watertown high and grade school pupils.

 

The role of Mrs. Carl Schurz is taken by Janice Kuehneman (rear).  Clockwise around the circle are Marsha Wendt, Bobby Bender, Donald Hartman, Mary Jo Hady, Steve Kohls, Judy Ponath, receiving the bird-borne message, Susan Jo Kressin, Susan Kehl.

 

Watertown, Wis. — The state premiere of the “Century of Progress Cavalcade in Wisconsin,” a pageant for Wisconsin’s centennial, was held here Friday afternoon.  The audience was an enthusiastic auditorium full of school children.

 

Before the year is out, the pageant, written by Miss Ethel T. Rockwell, will be given in scores of celebrations throughout the state.  Miss Rockwell, of Madison, centennial pageantry adviser and coordinator, wrote the drama for distribution to any Wisconsin groups which wished to mark their celebrations with a pageant.

 

The 200 pupil cast of the pageant will give its first performance to an adult audience at the high school auditorium Friday night.  They’ll repeat Saturday night.  For six weeks the high and grade schoolers have been practicing under the direction of teachers.

 

The pageant consists of many scenes and tableaux, with narrators relating the stories.  Some of the scenes, generalized so that they may be presented anywhere in the state, concern the lumber industry, conservation, dairy industry, educational progress, government and the many war periods.  Each community is expected to insert several scenes of strictly local interest.  Watertown’s concern was the first kindergarten class in America in 1856 and the first graduation class of Watertown high school 75 years ago.

 

The pageant is being presented here to replace the annual high school senior class play.       Milwaukee Journal article

 

1949

 

1949 stud handbk    42 pgs           HL to, from here

 

File name follows

PDF_1949_HighSchool-StudentHandbook

Available upon request

 

PROM QUEEN

  

 

06 06       ANNUAL MUSIC FESTIVAL

  

Prior to the annual music festival of the Watertown High School held Saturday evening, members of the chorus, orchestra and band and other guests attended the annual banquet sponsored by the Parents Music Club.  The banquet was held in the high school gymnasium and master of ceremonies was Jack Bentheimer.  The decorating committee, headed by Mrs. H. Engelke, bedecked the tables in a gay blue and white nautical theme with fleets of sailboats and blue and white napkins.  Sailor caps were placed on each chair and bowls of yellow iris were placed on the tables.  Ruth Ebert, who is a chorus member, gave the response for the senior class; Bob Casanova, chorus member, junior class response; sophomores Bob Niere, band member; freshman Ruth Knight, band and orchestra member.  Guests of the Music club are shown in the above photo.  They are:  seated, from left to right: Edward Hinterberg, principal of the high school, Mrs. Hinterberg, Superintendent of Schools Harley J. Powell, Mrs. Powell and Floyd Bordsen.   Standing:  Mrs. Floyd Bordsen, Mrs. William Guyer, William Guyer, Frank Koenig and Miss Rae Miesbauer.

 

-- --           MATHEMATICS & SCIENCE TEACHERS

A group of men playing piano

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Jerome Herreid, Eleanor Griffith, Frank James, F. D. Joseph, Katherine Skinner, Leo Loughlin

 

1940s

  

 

1950

05 31       BAND IN MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY

           

 

-- --           CHEERLEADERS

Includes Catherine Schumann nee Hrobsky   

 

09 06       SEVENTEEN NEW TEACHERS IN WATERTOWN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

  

 

10 25       FOOTBALL STRATEGY SESSION

       Watertown High vs. Ripon

Head Coach Arnold Landsverk, Quarterback and Captain Glenn Braunschweig, Assistant Coach Harris Grabow.

 

12 15       CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

   

Helen Eske, Eugene Zurheide, Elden Beerbohm, Edwin Buchert, Ulysses Wegner, Richard Goodlette, Gordon Baumann, Fred Heim, Jim Bentheimer, William Pugh, Frank Wolf, Mary Ann Pugh, Robert Wood, Mary Radke, Carol Bredlow, Donna Murray, Patricia Krueger, Dorothy Mallow, Jerry Ann Fendt, Donald Stannard, Thomas Curtis, Brendt Schmidt, Herbert Zoeller, Mary Ann Meyer.

 

Other students appearing in the annual pageant and not shown on the picture include: Eric Wimmer, Tom Bredow, Don Mallow, Dennis Wilde, Dolores Klingbeil, Nancy Rome, John Platos, Stuart Grulke, Melvin Nass, Jane Johannsen, Rita Braunschweig, Margaret Zoelle, Margaret Barnes, Barbara Riemer, Edna Goodlette, Valerie Krueger, Carla Hobus, Louise Kaercher, Sandra Buss, Barbara Swailes, Lucille Johnson, Phyllis Galster, Janet Lamb, Helen Kowalke, June Johannsen, Joan Bentheimer, Pat Steffen, Katherine Kading, Lucille Johnson, Mary Jo Sazama.

 

12 16       STAFF OF THE HI SCRIBBLER

Jane Weaver, Carolyn Seefeldt, Bob Crupi, Caroline Recklin, Joan Sprenger, Joyce Raether, Ruth Knight (editor), Jean Schroeder, Cornelia Trachte, Patricia Swailes, Barbara Swailes, Donna Shearier, Betty Stoll, Polly Zimmerman, June Johannsen, Nancy Edwards, Gail Gruner, Virginia Pfieffer, Connie Mann, Jane Johannsen, Barbara Draeger, Dianne Frasser, Mary Jo Sazama, Shirley Johnson, Ardith Welles, Pat Hoffer, Lois Kaercher, Louise Kaercher, Jake Sproesser, Gerald Rabbach, Carol Schultz, Ronald Steckling, Robert Wackett, Robert Niere, Beverly Bublitz.  Miss Arleen Erickson, advisor, is not pictured.

 

12 20       STAFF FOR THE 1951 ORBIT

  

Jake Sproesser, Georgian Fasbender, Carol Bredlow, Margaret Neverman, Miss Myra Maclnnis (advisor), Mitzi Miller, Diana Frasser, Bob Wackett, Caroline Rechlin, Robert Niere, Isola Zoeller, Jean Ann Wetzel, Mary Draeger, Donna Craine (co-editor), Wilma Kehl (co-editor), Marlene Baer, Shirley Kunitz and Helen Kolberg.

 

1952

04 24       HIGH SCHOOL PROM COMMITTEE

        Theme of "April in Paris” 

 

Joanne Peirick, Jo Anne Powers, Idella Erickson, Janice Hobus, Karen Peters, Inez Radke, Cynthia Northrop, Barbara Adams, Margaret Barnes, Bobbie Killian, Mary Jo Euper, Helen Hoof, Geraldine Howard, Sharon Draheim, Patsy Krueger and Janet Lamb.

 

04 26       COMMITTEE ARRANGING POST-PROM PARTY

  

To be held in the upper hall of the Elks club after the prom on Friday, April 25.  The committee is taking over the decorating of the upper hall for the party.  Members of the committee (L-R seated) — Bruce Schlueter, Paul Kaercher, Ruth Knight, Donna Shearier, Bill Casanova, Ronald Juderjahn, Lucille Johnson, Joan Bentheimer; Second row — Jerry Rabbach, Mary Euper, Janet Lamb, Ferne Robbins, Helen Hoof, Joan Zickert, JoAnne Powers, Mary Donahue; Back row—Dale Uttech, Don Pugh, Jerome David, John Beggan, Phyllis Sellnow, Carl Stallman, and Bob Madzar.

 

04 26       PROM NIGHT

               

Rose Berg, Gale Uttech, Mary Jo Sazama, Don Kapheim, Carla Hobus, John Beggan, Marilyn Kennedy, Dan Archie, .Helen Hoof, Fred Hein, Barbara Jurick, Don Pugh, Joan Bentheimer and Bob Barfknecht, Shirley Johnson, queen and Leroy Tesch, king.  Crown bearers were Sue and Sara Shultis. 

 

05 27       FIRST POST-PROM PARTY

First Watertown High School senior class to have a post-prom party at the Watertown Elks Lodge.  

 

c.1952

-- --           FIRST LETTER IN GOLF

David Henry Leiknes had the honor of being the first person at Watertown High School to earn a letter in golf

 

1953

Our Senior Year

 

HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM

  

 

HIGH SCHOOL BAND

   

 

08 21       SEVEN FOOTBALL LETTERMEN

  

Seven Iettermen attended the first football meeting called by Jim Thompson, new Watertown high school coach.

 

Bert Kuptz, Dave Veldhuizen, Jack Erdman, AI Worden, Kay Buchert, Don Smith, Dillon Hale.

 

BACKGROUND:  TABLET “ERECTED IN HONOR OF THE GRADUATES OF WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL WHO SERVED IN THE WORLD WAR, 1917-1918.”

 

08 26       HIGH SCHOOL GYM:  NEW ALL-AUTOMATIC SCOREBOARD

A memorial to P. D. Joseph, former high school instructor who had recently died.

 

The new board is over six feet long and about three feet high. 

 

The timeclock operates automatically once it is started and a horn blows at the expiration of each period.  In addition, the face of the clock is lighted with a green light during the final minute of each quarter.  The clock can be reset so that periods of varying length can be timed.  Four lights at the bottom of the clock indicate the period and a series of light combinations at the sides show the score.  They are activated by controls at the scorer’s table.

 

Joseph was intensely interested in athletics and at his death his many friends contributed toward a memorial.  A committee, which included Mrs. Joseph, school officials and teachers, decided to use a portion of the funds for the scoreboard.

 

09 09       FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF

   

George Vinger, assistant B team coach, Coach Jim Thompson, Harris Grabow, varsity line coach

 

09 10       GOSLING’S STARTING OFFENSIVE LINEUP

   

 

Al Worden at right half, Dave Bentzin at fullback, Dave Veldhuizen at quarterback and Jack Erdman at left half.  Jake Mullen at right end, Duane Stark at right tackle, Kay Buchert at right guard, Don Templeton at center, Ken Smith at left guard, Bert Kuptz at left tackle and Tom Hargraves at left end.  Kuptz, Bentzin and Worden are slated to play on defense, too.

 

09 16       WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL’S B FOOTBALL TEAM

        playing a six-game schedule this season

 

Guetzlaff, Ebert, Becker, Parker, Wolfram, Kennedy, Checota, Coach Arnold Landsverk, Block, Rathert, Claussen, J. Krueger, Manthey,  Huber, Taylor, Corcoran, Kasten, Brasch, Hargraves, Coach George Vinger, Appenfeldt (manager), Mullen, Pike, Potter, Halverson, Parish, Erdman, Ziemer, Kaercher, Pubanz, Coogan, Niemi, Zastrow, Foley, Kingsley, Bredow, V. Krueger, Theder, Rehbaum, Clifford, Buss.

 

1954

CENTENNIAL PARADE:  HIGH SCHOOL BAND

  

 

Fall           HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR BAND

        Walt Stamstad, director

 

1955

-- --           STATE CHAMPION WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL TEAM

           

 

The Watertown Goslings won the state baseball championship.  It was the first time for such an achievement.  A planned article will document the occasion by commemorating the team and team players.  The author, Dave Stalker, researched the newspaper clippings and box score's associated with each game and contacted most of the championship team members so to add updating information and perspective.

 

1956

05 27       DETAILS ON SCHOOL ADDITION

The Times is able today, for the first time, to reveal some of the details of the new unit which will serve the Watertown Junior High School, the Watertown Senior High School and the Watertown Vocational and Adult School.  Not only will there be a new unit to the north of the present school, but by the time the work is completed on remodeling and rearranging the present school building that structure will hardly be recognizable.  So many are the changes that are involved in the general overall plans.  The new unit will be two stories high and its exterior will conform pretty generally with the present building, though it will be such that it can be readily set off as a “new school.  A gymnasium-auditorium will be located in the new unit.  It will seat 3,000 persons, have a large stage and a partial balcony.  There will be a spacious lobby in the new unit, with the main lobby entrance at South Ninth and Dodge Streets.    WDT

 

08 23       PLACEMENT OF BICYCLE RACKS

The lawns around the Watertown High School building, especially on the west side of the building, fronting on South Eighth Street, are in for some rough usage soon.  School authorities are faced with the necessity of placing the large number of bicycle racks elsewhere than in the customary places north of the present building, now that that area is to be the scene of building activities in connection with the new high school addition project.  According to school authorities they plan to place the racks on the lawns west of the present building and the many students who ride bicycles to and from school will utilize that area for the purpose, once the new term gets underway and building activities make the relocation of the racks necessary.   WDT

 

-- --           WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL BEGINNERS BAND

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1957

WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL ORBIT DEDICATED TO JOSEPH DAVIES

 

Link to 1957 Orbit  

 

Basketball, Squad A

 

1958

01 31       TEENS AGAINST POLIO (TAP) CAMPAIGN

 

01 31       ROTARY CHOOSES KRESSIN BOY OF THE MONTH

Louis Kressin, chosen by the Rotarians as their January Boy of the Month, has proven by his activities that he's quite worthy of this honor. . . As the first Student Council president to be elected in the system of school-wide balloting, he leads this student-governing body with a practiced ability. 

 

GRADUATION CEREMONY

    < link to set of 9 images

 

Link to 1958 Orbit  

 

-- --         NO TWO CLASSMATES ARE THE SAME

           Editorial by Pat Zeimis, 1958 High School Scribbler

 

There are basically two types of students in every high school, those that are in school because they have to be, and those who are here because they want an education.  The former are characterized by apathy, the latter by ambition.

 

Some of the people in category number two participate in athletics and, because of this, are automatically in the limelight.  Others have dramatic ability, are given the starring roles in a play, and the spotlight is turned on them.  If a student has musical ability, he or she is a school celebrity.

 

However, there is another group of students perhaps more deserving of recognition than any of these.  It consists of those who are accomplishing their purpose in high school-working for and earning a high scholastic average.

 

Many of these people are not very good at kicking extra points or making free throws.  Few among them can reach the high notes in the "Star- Spangled Banner."  It is improbable that there is a John Barrymore in the group.  Nonetheless, ten years from now it will probably be these people, the top fifteen or twenty in their graduating class, who will be real successes in life.

 

Perhaps this would be an opportune time to give to these students the recognition they deserve.  Since semester examinations have taken priority over everything else, it is those who excel scholastically who are now in line for congratulations.

 

To say that the ardently ambitious are rewarded with success one hundred per cent of the time would be wishful thinking.  However, in this world of rising scholastic standards, a good high school education is the foundation for all that follows.  It would be well to recognize those who have worked for and have earned superior grades this first semester. 

 

The rest of the school year offers a challenge, not only to these people, but to every student in high school, to stamp out complacency and work for something better.

 

1959

Link to 1959 Orbit  (1 of 2)

Link to 1959 Orbit  (2 of 2)

 

1950s

Civics or Government Class or Society

 

1960

05 24       1960 ORBIT

The 1960 edition of The Orbit, senior class publication of Watertown High School, is out.  This year the book, the 48th issue, is dedicated to the Watertown Community — for providing a new high school building, a rich curriculum and a limitless opportunity for education.  This year, for the first time, the edition carries a photo of the city council and the city manager.  There also is a photo of the board of education, a beautiful view of the new high school addition at night, views of the building’s interior, in addition to many other pictures of school activities and groups.  The book this year is as handsome and attractive as any in the long line of Orbits that have come off the press since the first one was published 48 years ago.   WDT

 

-- --           JOSEPH E. DAVIES SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

Karen Schmidt & Robert Snyder  

 

Link to 1960 Orbit  

 

06 02       MISS KATHRYN SKINNER

If anyone ever sits down and writes a history of the Watertown Public School system and enumerates some of the outstanding teachers who have served this community the name of Miss Kathryn Skinner most assuredly deserves to be included in any such list.  Miss Skinner is ending her school work here, having retired this week with the close of the 1959-60 school year.  She has been a teacher of mathematics in the Watertown High School.  Aside from that, her great interest in school work, in students and in helping turn out first rate future citizens of the community, have been a tremendous influence for good.   WDT

 

1961

10 year class reunion, class of ’61.

15 year class reunion, class of ’61.

20 year class reunion, class of ’61.

 

1962

-- --           50th REUNION OF CLASS OF 1912, Watertown High School

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12 19       FOUR AND ONE-HALF ROOM ADDITION

The board of education last night approved a resolution which is the first step for a referendum next April to let the people decide whether they want a four and one-half room addition to the present high school building.  The resolution was adopted by a vote of 7 to one, with commissioner Lee Block casting the only vote in opposition, but later in the meeting he asked permission to change his vote and make adoption unanimous.  The resolution was introduced by Commissioner Joseph Rhodes and was strongly supported by Commissioner Edward Hinterberg.   WDT

 

1963

01 13       NORMAN L. LARSON, Superintendent of Schools.  Watertown’s new superintendent of schools, Norman L. Larson, is due to move to Watertown tomorrow and take over his duties at the high school next Monday.  Mr. Larson, who has been serving in a similar capacity at Markesan, accepted the Watertown position last Oct. 14, following the resignation of Eugene W. Tornow who now holds a position with the University of Wisconsin.   WDT

 

04 13       PLAN REVISION

The plan for a four and one-half classroom addition to Watertown High School, originally proposed by the board of education last year as a means of solving the immediate growing space needs at the school will be revived shortly, it was indicated today.  This development came as a result of the recent rejection by the voters in the April 2 election of two alternate plans — one calling for a new junior high school of a seventh and eighth grade, and the other calling for a new junior high school of a seventh, eighth and ninth grade.  WDT

 

04 18       ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT position created; Russell Twesme principal.  The board of education last night created a new position, that of assistant superintendent of schools, and then named the principal of the high school, Russell Twesme, to the post starting July 1 at no increase over his present salary.  The promotion is still subject to Mr. Twesme's acceptance.  The vote to establish the new position was approved 6 to 1, with O. L. Wesemann casting the lone dissenting vote.  He said he did it because he thought the matter should be delayed until next year.   WDT

 

04 19       As expected, the board of education last night revived the plan for a four and one-half room addition to the Watertown High School and at the same time adopted a resolution calling for utilization of the Watertown Airport as the site for a new high school building, either junior or senior, as a long range plan for solving the growing space problem at high school.  Both proposals will go to the common council at an early date.  WDT

 

04 23       The junior prom of the Watertown High School will be held this spring in the high school gymnasium.  “Souir Paree” is the theme of this year’s prom.  The grand march will start at 10 o’clock and will be followed by the presentation of the king and queen and their court of honor.  Reigning as king and queen will be Richard Claas and Connie Wegner. Members of the court of honor are: Frank James, Jeanne Mueller, Lee Ebert, Mary Theder, Kieren Lordahl, Kathy Schmutzler, Sharon Pike Alan Peters, Joan Wolf, James Schwartz, Neil Gamroth and Cynthia Yahn.  WDT

 

05 04       The largest graduating class in the history of Watertown High School is due to bow at the school's 90th annual commencement exercises on Wednesday evening, June 5, at which time the speaker will be William C. Kahl, first assistant superintendent Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Madison.  As of now, a class of 245 seniors is scheduled to graduate.  Last year's class numbered 204.  WDT

 

06 06       Last night’s graduating seniors at Watertown High School presented a check to provide shrubbery at the high school grounds as their class gift in departing from the school.  It was a record class, with 236 diplomas being issued.  Presentation of the class gift was made by Susan Krueger, the class treasurer and was accepted by Principal Russell Twesme.  He lauded the class for its decision in selecting a gift.   WDT

 

08 05       LUTOVSKY FARM

The common council at its meeting tonight is scheduled to act on a resolution calling for an appraisal of the Charles Lutovsky farm in the Boughton-Hall Streets area which has been proposed as a site for a future Watertown High School, either senior or junior under a long-range school expansion plan.  The appraisal is the first step in the plan to acquire the property, a move viewed favorably by the city administration, according to general discussion held at last night’s council committee meeting.  Mayor Robert P. White reported that the asking price for the farm, reportedly consisting of 37.5 acres, is $60,000.    WDT

 

09 04       Negotiations to acquire the Charles Lutovsky farm property as a site for a future high school, either junior or senior, were authorized by a common council resolution adopted last night by unanimous vote of 13 aldermen present at the council meeting. Mr. Lutovsky offered the property for school purposes some months ago and the site has been unanimously approved by action of the board of education. Under terms of the resolution approved last night, Mayor Robert R White is delegated to carry on the negotiations.  Mr. Lutovsky has asked for $60,000 as the price. Two independent appraisals made for the city have placed a fair price value of about $54,000 on the property, the mayor said last night.    WDT

 

09 19       Russell Twesme, who is assistant superintendent of schools in Watertown, last night was appointed acting superintendent as of Sept. 16 and as such was authorized to co-sign the activity account checks and carry out all other duties inherent in the position.  The appointment was approved by unanimous vote of the board of education which also set an additional $150 per month in salary during the time he will serve.   WDT

 

10 01       HOMECOMING

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Homecoming festivities of the Watertown High School this weekend will include skits to be presented in the gym Friday afternoon, the parade at 5 p.m. Friday with the lineup including floats, the homecoming court and the football players, the game between Watertown and Mayville and the homecoming dance Saturday evening. Members of the court of honor are Marilyn Riedl and Robert Schmutzler, homecoming king and queen; Gayle Piper, Linda Bauman, Rita Schmidt, Susan Miller, Joel Toman, Regess Krueger, Richard Erdman and James Finley.   WDT

 

1964

02 10       1964 GRADUATION

Watertown High School this year will graduate the largest class in the history of the school. The commencement exercises are to be held on Wednesday evening, June 3 in the high school gymnasium. There are 251 seniors in the class at the present time. Even with last minute “flunking out,” the class will still be the largest to date. The largest previous class in the history of the school was that of 1963 when 236 seniors received their diplomas. In 1962 there were 204 graduates and in 1961 there were 228.   WDT

 

04 03       LUTOVSKY FARM

The Charles Lutovsky farm, consisting of slightly less than 38 acres, which the board of education had recommended to the common council last September for purchase as a site for a future school, has been sold to private out of town interests which plan a development.  H. M. Dakin of the law firm of Dakin and Dierker, confirmed the report and told the Times that the preliminary papers have been signed and that $65,000 is the sale price.   WDT

 

05 15       FIVE-ROOM ADDITION

The Watertown Board of Education has received the support of the City Planning Commission in its plans calling for the construction of a five-room addition to the present high school building as a means of solving the immediate space needs at the school.  The planning commission will recommend to the common council Tuesday night that the school board be allowed to construct the addition.    WDT

 

05 22       THE ’64 ORBIT

The 1964 edition of The Orbit, senior class publication at Watertown High School, has been issued. It is the 52nd annual publication. The new edition is dedicated to three teachers — Robert Miller, Everett Moore and Wilbert Leys, all in the guidance department. In addition, Mr. Leys teaches citizenship. The dedication page, bearing a photo of the three men, says: “Because of a sincere interest in our activities and hopes for the future, the guidance counselors extend their vocational programs to assist all students. When troubled by a personal problem, we are offered their understanding and encouragements. In appreciation, we dedicate this 1964 edition of The Orbit to Mr. Miller, Mr. Moore and Mr. Leys.”

 

05 29       91st ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT

Details of the 91st annual commencement exercises at Watertown High School were announced today.

The event will take place in the school gymnasium on Wednesday evening, starting with a half hour concert program at 7:20 o’clock.  Willard Buchholtz will direct the high school orchestra in the half hour program.  Donovan L. Richards, high school principal, will open the program with introductory remarks, followed by the welcome which Nancy Winkenwerder, senior class president, will deliver.  Two honor students will deliver addresses.  They are John Eggert and Caryl Lewandowski

 

05 31       FIVE-ROOM ADDITION DEFEATED

The board of education’s plan for a five-room addition to the high school building went down in defeat at last night’s common council meeting at which township chairmen from rural areas which help make up the Watertown Public School District sat in, but the group also held open for future action acquisition of a site for a proposed new junior high school, which is part of an overall plan to relieve the growing space problem at the high school.

 

07 05       LAND ACQUISITION FOR PROPOSED NEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL

The City Planning Commission has taken no action on the matter of putting its approval on or making a recommendation regarding acquisition of the Lutovsky farm site for the proposed new junior high school.  Also involved in the site is additional acreage which would be secured from Dr. E. Allen Miller and the Oak Hill Cemetery Association.  An announcement made today stated that the planning commission members had discussed the proposals but it had been decided to lay it over “for the purposes of obtaining financial information.”  At the last joint session held by the board of education with the common council and the township chairmen who help make up the Watertown Public School District, a resolution was adopted instructing the proper city authorities to negotiate for the site with Charles Lutovsky, Dr. Miller and cemetery association officials.

 

10 30       LUTOVSKY FARM

A conference on how best to speed up consideration of acquiring the Charles Lutovsky farm as a site for the proposed new junior high school was held at the municipal building this morning. It was attended by city officials and representatives of the board of education and others. One of the portions of land under consideration is the Charles Lutovsky farm and also property in the vicinity which is owned by Dr. E. Allen Miller and also a piece of land owned by the Oak Hill Cemetery Association.   WDT

 

11 03       SALE OF OLD REC BUILDING

The common council at its meeting last night took three important — but not unexpected — steps.  It voted to sell the old city hall to the most suitable bidder and to advance plans for the sale of the old recreation building site in Main Street.  The council also approved a resolution calling to proceed with negotiations for the purchase of the Charles Lutovsky farm as part of the site for the proposed new junior high school at a price not to exceed $65,000.  WDT

 

-- --           MYRA MACINNIS (1898 – 1992)   ("Miss Mac" or "Mac”)

Myra L. MacInnis, 94, died Nov. 14, 1992 due to infirmities of old age.  She taught world history at Watertown High School from 1926 to 1964.  She taught at Watertown High School for 38 years and was a teacher for a total of 44 years.  She earned a Master of Arts degree in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.    (link to obit) 

 

1965

01 29       JUNIOR HIGH, RATHER THAN SENIOR, PROPOSED

The reasons for the Watertown Board of Education’s decision to propose the erection of a junior high school, rather than a senior high school, the plans for a four and one-half room addition at the high school, and the problem of a site for the proposed junior high school were discussed by Norman Larson, superintendent of schools, at Monday’s weekly luncheon meeting of the Rotary Club, held at the Legion Green Bowl.  Erection of a junior high school will be less costly than the construction of the senior high school, he told the club.  And with an elementary school also planned for the site, he said, it is best that elementary students are not in the same area with senior high school students.  WDT

 

01 30       LUTOVSKY FARM PURCHASED

After nearly two years of debate and argument the common council last night voted 10 to 3 to authorize the purchase of the Lutovsky farm — now owned by Behrndt, Perkins and Knodl of Milwaukee — along with the Dr. E. Allen Miller property and a piece of land owned by the Oak Hill Cemetery Association, representing in all between 44 and 45 acres as a site for the new Watertown Junior High School.   WDT

 

03 28       NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Eighteen Watertown High School juniors and nine seniors were initiated into the Watertown Chapter of the National Honor Society before an audience of teachers, parents and students.  Initiates are: Seniors — Carol Cayan, Cheryl Ertl, Andrea Hahn, Robert Hutson, Steve Luchsinger, Charles Mundt, Steve Reckner, Donnella Schlegel and John Wiley.  Juniors - Kathleen Allsage, Suzanne Becker, Christine Beltz, Diane Bloedom, Peter Burke, Jan Christensen, Joseph Ertl, Margie Kelm, David Kron, Rose Marie Langer, John Maas, Judy Miller, Susan Miller, Ronald Neumann, Georgia Prahl, Patricia Trachte, Linda Utrech and JoAnne Wildes.

 

03 30       FIVE ROOM ADDITION

Basic bids for the new five room addition to Watertown High School total $90,880, according to figures announced this morning following the opening of bids at a meeting of the board of education last evening.  The low bidder on the general contract is Wisconsin Products Co. of Mauston.  Its figure was $68,900.   WDT

 

04 18       CONSTRUCTION BEGINS

Work on construction of the five-room addition to Watertown High School to help relieve the growing space problem is due to begin next week.  A meeting of the contractors is to be held here on Friday at which time plans for the work schedule and preliminary construction plans will be outlined.  Approval of the addition and the financing of it was the final official act of the old common council members who served on the fiscal body for the Watertown Public School District when the plan was approved 17 to 2.  WDT

 

05 09       JUNIOR PROM

         

The 1965 junior prom of the Watertown High School, the top social event of the year, was staged Friday evening in the gymnasium of the high school.  Decorations for the party carried out the theme “Tales from the Vienna Woods.”  John Coughlin and Nancy Volant were the royal couple.  In their court of honor were Marjorie Miller, John Neis, Susan Miller, John Shier, Michelle Foley, Joe Ertl, JoAnn Wildes, Ron Neumann, Georgia Prahl, Robert Raether, Sharon DiTorrice and John Dickinson.   WDT

 

   Labelled “1965 prom” but likely mistaken

 

05 21       NEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, sketches and plans

Preliminary work on the sketches and plans for the new junior high school here is underway.  The Madison architectural firm of Law, Law, Potter & Nystrom is in charge of the work and will submit its preliminary sketches within a short time.  Members of the board of education will be called into session to view them and discuss general plans as soon as a date is set.  The common council has already purchased the greater portion of the new school site — the former Charles Lutovsky farm in Hall Street, and the other parcels of land, one from the Oak Hill Cemetery Association and another from Dr. E. Allen Miller are still to be acted on.   WDT

 

05 23       NEW JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL, formal approval of

The board of education at its meeting last night gave formal approval to the preliminary plans for the proposed new junior high school when it adopted a resolution accepting the plans prepared by the architectural firm of Law, Law, Potter and Nystrom of Madison.  Last night’s resolution also instructed the architects to proceed with the necessary working plans for the school.  The plans for the new school provide for 110,000 square feet of space and accommodations for from 1,000 to 1,100 students.   WDT

 

05 29       1965 ORBIT: RICHARD CONLEY

Richard B. Conley, English and Latin teacher, today has the distinction of being honored with the dedication of the 1965 edition of “The Orbit,” the senior class publication of Watertown High School.  The dedication to Mr. Conley, published under a page-size photograph of him, reads” “For his ceaseless interest in the welfare of each of his students, for the extras that he gives to his job as English and Latin teacher, for his efforts to give us new and rewarding experiences, and for all the qualities which are most important for an understanding relationship between teacher and student; we dedicate the 1965 Orbit to Richard B Conley.”   WDT

 

06 11       92nd ANNUAL COMMENCEMENT; CLASS OF 1915 HONORED

Watertown High School last night held its 92nd annual commencement exercises, graduating the largest class in its history — a total of 298 seniors.  The outpouring of parents, friends and others for the program also set a near record.  During the opening part of the program recognition was extended members of the class of 1915 who were present following the golden jubilee reunion and dinner which members attended earlier in the evening.  Donovan L. Richards, the high school principal who made the introductory remarks opening the program, made mention of the golden jubilee reunion and asked members of the class to stand, a special section having been reserved for them.  There were 39 members in the class of 1915 who received diplomas just a half century ago.   WDT

 

09 09       ADDITION UNDER CONSTRUCTION

The addition now under construction at the Watertown High School is due to be completed and ready for occupancy within the next few weeks.  This project was scheduled to have been ready for occupancy before school started, but delays in delivery of materials and work of contractors has caused the need for temporary teaching accommodations to be provided in other parts of the building, it was pointed out today.  The new addition, referred to as five rooms, consists of one large double room, two classrooms separated by a folding door, plus one additional classroom.  The building addition also includes a large food storage room for the cafeteria kitchen and locker facilities for 110 students. WDT

 

09 23       NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

The following seniors of Watertown High School have been selected by the faculty as members of the Watertown High School Chapter of the National Honor Society:  Robert Brandenstein, Ross Damrow, John Dickinson, Michele Foley, Diane Mueller, Catherine Schmeling, Mary Schultz, Peggy Schwartz, Judith Semon and Shari Vinger.   WDT

addition also includes a large food storage room for the cafeteria kitchen and locker facilities for 110 students. WDT

 

10 14       HOMECOMING 1965

Wayne Le Macher and Shirley Sterwalt will reign as king and queen of the homecoming activities of Watertown High School.  The parade will be held Friday at 4:30 p.m.  The homecoming game with Mayville is scheduled Friday evening.  The dance will be held Saturday evening in the high school gymnasium.  Members of the court of honor are: Richard Kuckkan and Chris Beltz, Tom Moore and Lynn Snyder, Peter Burke and Susan Miller, William Clark and Bernadine Hoeft, Richard Witte and Sally Theder, James Beaver and Gayle Gorder.  WDT

 

1966

01 07       DEMOLITION COMPLETED / New Riverside Junior High School

Demolition of Watertown’s old high school building at North Eighth and Main Streets, later a federal armory and still later utilized as a recreation center has finally been completed.  The work of tearing down the old building was begun last June 9 after a Milwaukee group of developers — Berndt, Perkins & Knodl, acquired the property from the city for $35,000 as part of the deal whereby the city secured the old Charles Lutovsky farm which constitutes the major portion of the site for Watertown’s new Riverside Junior High School in Hall Street.  The Milwaukee developers plant to construct a motel and related facilities on the former recreation site.  Under the agreement, the site is to be utilized by construction of a complex costing no less than $250,000 and to begin “construction of the improvement within 61 days after final approval by the common council and planning commission or within 61 days after the structure on the premises at present is demolished, whichever is later.”   WDT

 

03 16       GRABOW AND McQUOID RETIRE

The Watertown High School athletic coaches, both veteran in their fields, announced their retirement from major sports Wednesday night.  Coach Harris Grabow, basketball coach at the school for 19 years, will drop the coaching reins in favor of Eli Crogan, and Coach Weir McQuoid, grid coach for six seasons here and for 19 years overall, has given up football coaching but will continue as wrestling coach where his teams here won 30 straight dual matches.  No football successor has been named.   WDT

 

04 --         CLASS OF ’66, TRIP TO WASHINGTON, D.C.

  

John Heine, David Kottwitz, Dale Henning, Terry Triana, Dale Meyer, Barry Baumann, Mrs. Richards, Mr. Donovan Richards, principal, John Strayer, Ron Neumann, Bob Wilkes, Rich Kuckkahn, Pete Burzynski, John Maas, Mary Sweeney Ardisonne, Mary Ann Hackbarth, Connie Cassidy McFarland, Bonny Baumann Melius, Christine Beltz Maas, Sherry DiTorrice Adsit, Linda Uttech, Michelle Foley Larson, Kathy/Kate Krier Peterson, Tersenia Schuett, Peggy Schwartz Barnes, Judy Tourbier Saniter, Joanne Pugh Ponda, Linda Hill, Diane Kaercher Frisch, Jean Loukuta Krause, Sandra Schmoldt, Mary Lou Schlueter Kopp, Kathleen Alsage Pitzwelt, Terry Rooney Albaugh, Ellen Snow Conant, Suzanne Becker, Sylvia Stangler, Susan Frentzel

 

05 09       RIVERSIDE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL PLANS APPROVED

Voters of the Watertown Public School District in yesterday’s special election rallied to the support of the board of education in its plans for a $2,465,000 Riverside Junior High School in Hall Street. The vote was almost 2 to 1 in favor of the referendum No. 1, which the school board had proposed. The final count was 1,791 for and 944 against. The referendum carried every ward in the city and in the ten townships it lost only the town of Emmet and the town of Lebanon. In the city the vote was 1,521 for and 687 against. In the townships the vote was 270 for and 257 against.   WDT

 

06 11       RIVERSIDE JUNIOR HIGH GROUND BREAKING CEREMONIES

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Ground breaking ceremonies were held at 9 a.m. today for the new Riverside Junior High School to be erected in Hall Street.  The new school, a $2,465,000 project, was approved by the voters of the Watertown Public School District by a 2 to 1 vote on May 11.  At today’s ceremonies were Joseph Rhodes, school board member, Edward Hinterberg, board president, James Potter of Law, Law, Potter and Nystrom, Madison, the architects, Russell Twesme, school superintendent, John Verg, school buildings and grounds superintendent, Delwin Hintzmann, board member, Al Maas of Maas Bros. Construction Co., Watertown, the general contractors, George Wolff and Lee Block, board members, John Findlay of the architectural firm, and Orville Wesemann, board member.   WDT

 

06 17       JEROME H. HERREID, 1908-1966

Had been a faculty member here for 36 years and taught physics and general science.  

 

06 25       PERMIT FOR GENERAL CONSTRUCTION OF RIVERSIDE JUNIOR HIGH

City Building Inspector Orville Rettig announced that a permit for the general construction of the Riverside Junior High School has been issued to Maas Bros. Construction Co. of Watertown.  The permit for that part of the work lists the sum of $1,111,100.  The cost of the entire project, according to contract quotations at the time bids were opened and adjusted, will be well over $2,000,000.  

 

11 03       CROGAN REPLACES GRABOW

Defense has been the name of the game for Watertown High's cagers as they started their first week of drills under the guidance of Eli Crogan, new head coach.  Crogan coached at Soldiers Grove and Fennimore before coming to Watertown.  Last season he guided the Watertown junior varsity to an 11-6 record, and moved up to the head coaching position in the spring when Coach Harris Grabow. retired.  The new mentor has already established his early season pattern of work.  "We're going to spend 65 per cent of our time on defense and rebounding because we feel those are two vital phases of the game," Crogan stated.  "We aren't too concerned about offense for the time being because we think that that will come along all right."

 

12 21       REPAIR WORK AFTER FIRE

Repair work, along with reconditioning and replacing the fire damaged equipment and furnishings in the Watertown High School auditorium, will require at least a period until May or June, it was concluded at yesterday's survey made by the Maas Bros. Construction Co., school administrators and representatives of stage equipment and seating concerns. Structural damage will require extensive repairs and just how much repair work will be needed to restore heating and ventilating ducts is still unknown. However, the damage appears to be more extensive than visible signs indicated at first, Russell Twesme, superintendent of schools, said.   WDT

 

1967

01 02       RICHARD CONLEY, outstanding young educator

Richard Conley, a member of the Watertown High School faculty, today carries a new honor.  Last night he was named Watertown's outstanding young educator of 1966 at a dinner meeting held at the Plattdeutscher Hall by the Watertown Jaycees. Stan ley Chandler, another faculty member, made the announcement on behalf of the panel of judges who made the selection from a list of nominees. A senior English and Latin instructor, Mr. Conley will represent Watertown in the State Jaycee OYE finals to be held at the Holiday Inn Central at Milwaukee.

 

01 18       MISS MARGARET OTT Retires

  1960 photo

The retirement of Miss Margaret Ott, veteran teacher of German at Watertown High School, takes from the school system another longtime and dedicated school teacher.  Effective Jan. 20.  Miss Ott has chalked up an almost enviable record as an instructor and faculty member and the hundreds and hundreds of boys and girls who studied in her classes and came under her influence can look back with pride on her work.  Miss Ott's father, the late Dr. John Ott who spent so many years as instructor of English and librarian at Northwestern College, was one of the state's outstanding educators and among the city's leading residents whose influence on and off the college campus is still felt today.   WDT

 

01 31       FUNDING DRIVE FOR ANNUAL POST-PROM PARTIES

Plans now are being formulated for a finance drive to provide needed funds for Watertown’s annual post-prom parties.  The annual post-prom parties started in 1952 but now have become an institution in Watertown.  The parties were established in order to provide a place to go following the close of the prom at the high school.  While the Elks Lodge sponsors the parties, handles all the arrangements and furnishes the manpower for each party, the money required is provided by business firms, professional people, industrial concerns and others.  Approximately $700 is required for each party.

 

02 24       REPAIR WORK AFTER FIRE

Work has begun at Watertown High School to repair the damage caused by the fire which swept much of the school auditorium last Dec. 13, Russell Twesme, superintendent of schools, told the Times this morning.  The work is being done by the Maas Bros. Construction Co. of Watertown which is also the holder of the general contract for the new Riverside Junior High School now under construction.  Mr. Twesme said that no date has been fixed for the completion of the repairs in the auditorium but that school officials hope it will be ready by the end of May.  No events are being scheduled in the auditorium for the balance of the current school year.

 

04 28       JUNIOR PROM

Outstanding decorations carried out the theme of the junior prom of the Watertown High School held Friday evening in the gymnasium.  Murals portrayed the tales of the 1001 Arabian Nights.  There was a colorful market place in the lobby featuring booths with wares and a mosque with the hallway leading to the gym.  Huge camels idled near striped tents.  Three-dimensional murals depicted a mystical Arabian city.  Highlight of the room was the grand march when King Mike Groehler and his queen, Sheila Imming and their court of honor were introduced.  In the royal court were:  Carol Sweeney, Dean Strauss, Colleen McFarland, Jack Stallman, Karen Christians, Dick Chandler, Sandy Schmutzler, Steve Grabow, Kathy Drachenberg, Rick Schuett, Val Hintzmann and John Hrobsky. Junior attendants were Stanley Chandler, Jean Sweeney and Madonna Imming.

 

05 15       1967 ORBIT

The 1967 edition of The Orbit is out.  It is a handsome, rich looking publication.  This edition is dedicated to Miss Betsy Blazek, girls’ physical education director and cheerleader director.  The dedication is brief and simple, stating:  We gratefully dedicate The Orbit of 1967 to Miss Blazek.” . . .  It then quotes these words from the writings of Sir James Matthew Barrie:  Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.”

 

05 17       JEROME HARRIS HERREID SCIENCE AWARD

A new student honor will be presented during the Scholastic Awards Day program at Watertown High School on May 24 in memory of Jerome Harris Herreid who served on the faculty from 1930 to 1966.  The award will be known as the Jerome Harris Herreid Science Award and will consist of a plaque in the center of which appears a satin bronze etching of the former teacher.  Surrounding the etching are smaller plates on which the names of the recipients will be inscribed.  Since the memorial will be presented as an annual award, it will be kept on display in the high school.  Each recipient will also receive a personal gold medal that may be worn on a tie-chain or necklace.  A sum of money will also accompany this personal award.

 

08 31       STANDARD PHY ED UNIFORM FOR BOYS

The Watertown Senior High School has adopted a standard uniform for boys in physical education.  The girls have had a standard uniform for several years.  The uniform will be required according to the following timetable:  Seniors: Optional.  Sophomores and Juniors: required by the end of the first semester.  The uniform chosen will last a student several years depending on use and care.  Labeling space is provided to insure identification.  The uniform also has a reversible top for team games.  Uniforms are available at Fischers and Kerns.

 

09 27       CLASS GIFT

Trophy Case is Gift of Graduating Class / 94th Annual Commencement

A trophy case, of special design and which is to be constructed and installed at the Watertown High School, is the 1967 class gift to the school, it was announced during the 94th annual commencement exercises held in the high school gymnasium.  The gift was announced by the treasurer of the graduating class, Carol Mann, on behalf of the seniors who graduated.  The program was presided over by the class president, John Hrobsky who welcomed the audience.  The evening opened with a half hour concert by the high school orchestra directed by Willard Buchholtz.  There was no commencement speaker.  Instead, there were student speakers, including Judith Nowack, James Frater, and Michael Bausch.  Two Foreign Exchange students who graduated with the class and who will be returning to their homelands shortly after spending the past school year here, also spoke . They are Ermyas Admassu of Ethiopia and Luis Mattioli. of Argentina.  Delwin Hintzmann, president of the board of education presented the diplomas.  The high school mixed chorus sang the traditional “The Halls of Ivy” and “Alma Mater” was sung by the class.  Donovan Richards, high school principal, and Superintendent Russell Twesme also took part in the program.   WDT

 

09 27       B. C. Trueblood

B. C. Trueblood, 715 Market Street, retired Watertown High School manual training instructor and later director of the Watertown Vocational and Adult School as it was then known, is leaving Watertown after spending the greater share of his life here.  Mr. Trueblood came to Water-town and began his duties as a manual training instructor under the late Superintendent of Schools Thomas A. Berto. That was in 1912.  He remained in the school system here until 1946 when he resigned because of the illness of his wife who had suffered a stroke.

 

1968

01 23       NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Nineteen members of the Watertown High School junior class have been selected for membership in the Watertown Chapter of the National Honor Society.  The selection of candidates is based on four areas: scholarship, character, leadership in ability, and services performed in school and the community.  Candidates are selected by a faculty committee.  The students are: Leslyn Amthor, Annette Archambeau, Gerald Beltz, Tim Block, Davis Bothe, Robert Byrne, James Christian, Glenn Herold, James Kehrer, Robert Kopplin, Kirk Krempel, Sydney McQuoid, Janice Paradies, Fred Pontzloff, Ruth Richter, Steve Schaefer, Patricia Tessmann, Amy Thies, Robert Weisensel.

 

03 01       DEDICATION DELAYED

Formal dedication of the new Riverside Junior High School, which is now nearing completion, will not take place until next fall.  Work on the building was delayed several times during construction due to strikes and shortages caused by strikes in other parts of the country but the work is now nearing completion and the building is now due to be ready for occupancy during the Easter recess in April and not by April 1 as was first indicated.  Even after occupancy some work will remain but this will not substantially interfere with the school’s operation.

 

04 09       1968 JUNIOR PROM

“Land of the Rising Sun” is the theme of the 1968 Junior Prom of Watertown High School. Reigning over the festivities will be Davis Bothe, son of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Bothe, 1301 South Third Street, and Linda Wilkes, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Verne Wilkes, 908 Lyndell Street.  The prom will be held on April 25, beginning at 9 p.m., in the high school gymnasium, with the grand march at 10 p.m.  The public is cordially invited to view the prom. Doors will open at 8:20 p.m. for the spectators and Merlin Braasch’s Orchestra will provide music from 9 p.m. until midnight.

 

-- --           “FINIAN’S RAINBOW”

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05 17       56th EDITION OF THE ORBIT

The 56th edition must be classed as among the most handsome annuals issued since the first edition came off the presses 56 years ago.  The cover is simple and attractive and the entire book boasts a sturdiness that makes evident its fine quality.  This year’s book, covering 144 pages, is dedicated to no particular individual as was the case in the past.  This edition is dedicated to the “Citizens of Watertown.”

 

06 08       CLASS GIFT

The class of 1968 which graduated from Watertown High School at exercises last night before a capacity crowd in the school gymnasium presented as its class gift a check for a microfilm reader for the school library.  The presentation was made by Thomas Opps, treasurer of the class.  Last night marked the 95th commencement of the school.  The class consisted of 314 seniors who marched across the stage in caps and gowns to receive diplomas from Orville Wesemann, president of the board of education of the Watertown Unified School District.

 

10 10       HOMECOMING

Lester J. Herro and Karen LeMacher will reign as king and queen of the homecoming festivities of Watertown High School this weekend.  Members of their court of honor are Gary Christenson and Linda Niay, Dan Weber and Tina Tesch, Roy Krubsack and Sally Feld, Bob Busler and Mary Fischer.  The king and queen will be crowned Saturday evening at the homecoming dance.  Les Palmer and his band will play for the dance, which will be held from 8 p.m. to midnight in the senior high school gymnasium.  Tickets will be available at the door for $1.50 each.

 

10 20       LANDSVERK FIELD

Arnold (Rosie) Landsverk, who died here on the evening of July 5, was one of the most popular and beloved athletic coaches in the long history of sports at Watertown High School and when the new Riverside Junior High School is dedicated Sunday afternoon the new athletic field which is located on the grounds will also be dedicated to his memory and in tribute to him as a man and as a coach.  The new field was named in his honor, “Landsverk Field,” by action of the board of education of the Watertown Unified School District in tribute to the coach who contributed so greatly to athletics and the physical education program at Watertown High School.

 

10 23       DEDICATION OF NEW JUNIOR HIGH

Robert Van Raalte, assistant superintendent of the State Department of Public Instruction, said he was much impressed with the new junior high school here.  In his talk at the dedication of Riverside Junior High School on Sunday afternoon, he called attention to the very fine junior high school erected in Watertown.  He extended congratulations to both the Board of Education and to the community for putting up so fine a building.  Yesterday afternoon’s dedication program was well attended.  During the Open House a large number of persons visited the various areas of the school, and all were impressed with the triangular classrooms, one of the features of the new building.

 

1969

-- --           MIXED CHORUS

  

 

02 27       DRESS CODE ISSUE

About 20 students at Watertown High School Thursday defied an administration policy regarding school dress.  The girls came dressed in culottes and pant-dresses.  The student council proposed to the administration that "the present dress code be modified to include culottes and pant-dresses for girls.  These outfits must be of acceptable length.  The reply from the administration was "It seems reasonable that if students are not now able to dress so as to promote modesty and dignity of dress that they would not insure acceptable length and style of culottes and pant-dresses.  Therefore, the wearing of culottes. pant-dresses and other styles of divided skirts will be prohibited."  High school principal Donovan Richards stated that between 10 and 12 persons were sent home up to noon Thursday to change their clothes to comply with the school dress code.  He said the students sent home were wearing everything from culottes to bermuda shorts.

 

04 11       POST PROM ENTERTAINMENT CHANGE

The post prom party will have a different format this year for the first time in its 18-year history.  Those attending the party, which is held annually at the Watertown Elks Club, will be entertained by a popular rock and roll band. in contrast to the orchestras and variety acts hired for the event in past years.  Tony's Tygers, a top rock band from Milwaukee, will provide the entertainment.  The band, which is frequently hired for events of this type, had a record on the national record chart several months ago.  The record, "Little by Little," is known well by the young set across the nation.

 

04 18       POST PROM PARTY COMMITTEE

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Description automatically generated with medium confidence      Junior prom party sponsored by the Elk’s

John Meyers, Robert Breunig, Carol Frederickson, Elk Daniel Wethall, Linda Wilkes, Lester J. Herro, Robert Steinhorst, Sydney McQuoid, Leslyn Amthor, Suzy Verhamme, Deborah Metzger, Janyne Reckner

 

05 05       1969 PROM

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Bob Opps and Lori Shoemaker, Dan Creydt and June Mueller, Paul Wolff and Barbara Bauch, King Arthur Turke and Queen Jackie Schuett, Lester Herro and Irene Bubernak, Paul Riedl and Lynn Bruske, Robert Stupka and Betty McFarland.  Junior attendants were Kim Bruske, Tom Radloff and Tim Opps.

 

05 19       THE CHAMPS, 30 years later

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Watertown High won the state class B basketball championship in 1939, beating Neenah, 33 to 28, in the title game and these are the cagers that did it.

Bob Hutson, Art Ebert, Harris Grabow, Bob Stupka, Clarence Smith, Roy Schmidt, John Stoflett, Ralph Weaver and Frank Engelbrecht.

 

05 20       STUDENTS FOR FOOD CAMPAIGN

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Robert Kopplin, Fred Mueller, Peg McFarland, David Willeford and Fred Pontzloff.

 

The food has been turned over to the Jefferson County Welfare Department for distribution to needy families.  One hundred high school students were involved in the canvass.

 

05 24       SCHOLARSHIPS AWARDED

Scholarships valued at $101,355 were awarded to Watertown High School seniors today at the annual scholarships award day program which began at 9:20 a.m.  Heading the large list of awards were four Joseph E. Davies scholarships totaling $12,800.  The presentation of the Davies scholarships was made by Lee Block, president of the board of education of the Watertown Unified School District.  The four winners are Janice Paradies, Davis Bothe, Fred Pontzloff and Robert Kopplin.

 

06 02       CLASS OF 1919  /  50-year reunion

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A. E. Bentzin, Harold Hartwig, Wallace Buffmire, Meta Donner Schmutzler, Harold Achtenhagen, Aileen Daw Gottschalk, Arthur Mallow, Aileen O'Byrne Craig, F. E. Henke, E. W. Simdar and Edward J. King, Verna Ebert Saniter, Hazel Hathaway Frater, Cora Maass Kaercher, Mabel Bock Schmidt, Hattie Lange Dunn, Florence Amadon Swenehart and Irene Collins, Mary Bell Gallagher Stanrecheck.

 

06 04       1969 EDITION OF THE ORBIT

The 1969 edition of the Orbit, which is the senior class publication of Watertown Senior High School, was issued to subscribers this week.  This year’s theme is “Turn of the Wheel.”  This issue, which is the 57th edition of the annual publication, is dedicated to Al Rippe, former Watertown photographer who recently sold his studio here and moved to La Crescenta, Calif.  The dedication reads “The Orbit Staff of 1969 dedicates its Orbit to Mr. Al Rippe, a well-known photographer in Watertown for many years.  Through his efforts and countless hours of hard work, patience, and understanding, he has enabled Watertown High students to capture memories through pictures in the Orbit.”

 

“One thing about the Orbit dedication which affected me emotionally was the fact that it turned out to be a father and son honor.  You see, the Orbit had been dedicated to my dad sometime in the mid 20's.  He was the custodian of high school at that time and evidently was pretty well liked.  I remember him telling how he would sneak the boys into the boiler room during the half time at basketball games, so they could have a smoke.  At that time you wouldn't dare have a cigarette within a block of the school.  I know he liked the students and they liked him.”

 

10 15       HOMECOMING FESTIVITIES / WATERTOWN vs. OCONOMOWOC

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Members of the court:  Dave Hintzman and Joan Kubly, Don Kwapil and Jean Maas, King Steve Marks and Queen Edie Schuenemann, Paul Wolff and Nancy Bohlman, and John Hlava and Mary Tangney.

 

11 20       NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY CANDIDATES

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Ten seniors of Watertown High School named candidates for the local chapter of the National Honor Society.  Glen Siferd, Dave Martin, Kiara Kritz, David Dettmann, Jim Schultz, Yvonne Retzlaff, Jean Fendt, Jill Uttech, Janice Huebel and Debbie Usher

 

1970

06 04       COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES

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Ray Kubly, president of the board of education of the Watertown Unified School District and Superintendent of Schools Russell Twesme present a diploma to Takaaki Hirai, foreign exchange student from Japan.   John Hlava, Jeffrey Ertl, David Wolff, Jean Peirick, Myriam Montano, Elizabeth McFarland.

 

10 07       HOMECOMING ROYALTY

Reigning over homecoming activities:  King Ed Dehnert and Queen Barbara Golper.

 

10 30       NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY

Eleven Watertown Senior High School students selected to become members:  Michael Schmidt, Edward Frami, James Wrass, Thomas Klecker, Robert Nowack, Kale Butenhoff, Diane Stueber, Mona Miller, Sherri Kohlhoff, Jacquie Burbach and Chris Grosnick.  High School Principal Russell Loven.

 

1970-76

-- --           JOHN DAVID, History teacher and football coach

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While at Indiana University John had played football and was a member of the 1968 Rose Bowl team.  Upon graduation, he taught US history and coached football at Watertown Senior High School from 1970 to 1976 before joining the family business with his dad and brother.  He served as the Mayor of the City of Watertown for 12 years.     Obituary 

 

1971

-- --           CLASS OF 1971

Class reunion held in 2022 (due to Covid)

 

1972

-- --           CLASS OF 1972 had 50-year reunion in 2022

 

1975

01 26       ELEANOR GRIFFITH, 1902-1975

Miss Eleanor Griffith, 72, of 102 Tivoli Drive, a former Watertown Senior High School teacher, passed away Sunday evening at the Watertown Memorial Hospital following a lingering illness.  A memorial service will be held at the First Congregational United Church of Christ Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock with the Rev. Robert Tully officiating.  The body of Miss Griffith has been donated to medical science.  Memorials may be given to the church missions of the First Congregational United Church of Christ or the Cancer Fund.  The Schmutzler Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.

 

Miss Griffith was born in Columbus, September 15, 1902.

 

Miss Griffith was a graduate of Ripon College and did graduate work at the University of Wisconsin, University of California, Northwestern University in Illinois, Colorado State University, Indiana University, Arizona State University and New York University.  She taught mathematics at the senior high school from 1925 until her retirement in 1967.  She had been the Girls’ Club advisor since 1944 and also served as the junior class advisor.  Miss Griffith was an excellent and truly dedicated teacher.  She was interested in all phases of extra-curricular activities at the high school.  She was a member of the First Congregational United Church of Christ, served on the church board for a number of years, and was currently a member of the diaconate.

 

1976

-- --           HIGH SCHOOL PROM, 1976

 

Bev Spoerle, Randy Leys, Pat Zillmer, Ed Klebig, Jeanne Kuehl, Steve Kwapil, Scott Walters, Nancy Crandall, Mike Saniter, Linda West, Jack Weihert, Judy Christian, Mike McDonald, Pam Bartee.

 

1977

09 27       1977 HOMECOMING EVENT

The 1977 Homecoming will be held during the week of Oct. 10 through 15 at Watertown High School.  This year Homecoming has been re-organized to promote more participation by students, alumni, and the community.  An evaluation of the 1976 Homecoming was conducted last year by a committee of students and teachers who produced a set of guidelines by which this year’s Homecoming will be conducted.  The Homecoming Committee for 1977 consists of Anne-Marie Condon, student council president; Vicki Joyce, student council vice president; Lauri Bush, senior class president; Carey Bergdoll and Kim Veldhuizen, junior class representatives; Dennis Nicoski, sophomore class representative; and Jim Bauman, representing the student body-at-large.  This committee has worked for weeks to produce the 1977-78 Homecoming Handbook which contains all of the rules and regulations, entry blanks, judging criteria, and due dates for all activities to be conducted during Homecoming Week.   WDT

 

1978

06 09       GRADUATION

Diplomas were awarded to 328 graduating seniors at Watertown Senior High School commencement exercises Saturday afternoon.  Most students said they were hot and nervous as the temperature rose into the 80s before the program.  One student asked if hair pins would hold the mortarboard securely so it wouldn’t fall off.  But the nerves were controlled and the temperatures endured as graduates and spectators listened to the commencement address by George Walter, professor emeritus at Lawrence University.  WDT

 

1981

Oct           “MOST DRAMATIC WIN IN SCHOOL HISTORY”

       Watertown vs West Bend East

Barry Vredenbregt contribution:  It was more than 25 years ago when then Watertown High School football coach Dan Herbst was cleaning out an office and gave me a 16-millimeter film canister that held the game vs West Bend East from October 1981.  The game had, what is believed to be, even to this day, the most dramatic win in school history:  An 80-yard TD with six seconds remaining.  So with the Class of 1982 having its 40th class reunion on Saturday at the Elk's Club, I had the film digitized.  Two of the three main people involved in the play were at the reunion: Quarterback Jeff H. Harris and Tight End, Brian Wegner. Unfortunately, Jon Moldenhauer, who caught Harris' pass that was tipped by Wegner, and then ran for a touchdown as the clock expired, is no longer with us.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws5IEBhUmQs

 

1985

03 02       W.I.A.A. REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BASKETBALL GAME

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07 15       A new chemistry lab to meet the needs of expanding enrollments in that subject was approved by the board of education of the Watertown Unified School District.  The new lab will be constructed in room 332 of the high school and will cost $18,965.  In addition, there will be costs for minor remodeling as well as some electrical and plumbing work.  Total cost of the project is estimated at $26,695.  The lab will handle up to 24 students and is designed to be moved to a new location or a new building in the future.  The lab is being purchased from School Interiors, Inc., of Milwaukee.   WDT

 

09 07       “The Dawn of a New Day” is the theme for this year’s Watertown Senior High School yearbook to be distributed starting today.  The theme combines maximum coverage of school activities with a new layout style in the opening section.  The publication contains 152 pages with seven full-color pages.  Color section includes homecoming, the musical “Oliver,” student life and full-color page of the school.  There are also sections on Snow Week, the spring play, prom, sports and clubs.  The new layout style features candid school scenes in the junior, sophomore and faculty picture sections, and also within the index at the end of the book.  Individual cameo photos of seniors are pictured on a black background.  Two pages are covered with senior signatures.   WDT

 

10 11       A high school facility in Watertown should have about 321,000 square feet of space, more than double what the current high school has, according to a “Suggested Final Space Program” which will be discussed by the board of education of the Watertown Unified School District Wednesday evening.  Members of the board of education have received the proposed space allocation study and its results will be discussed briefly by Dr. Richard Stolsmark, superintendent of schools, at the meeting Wednesday. T hese space needs are being proposed for the three options being considered by the board to improve the high school facilities.  Those options are complete renovation of the existing high school, changing the junior high school to a high school and construction of a new facility.  WDT

 

1987

04 16       GYMNASIUM FLOOR

Costs to repair, resand and repaint the gymnasium floor at Watertown Senior High School are components of the maintenance segment of the proposed 1987-88 school budget.  The operations and maintenance budgets of the Watertown Unified School District were presented to the board of education Wednesday night.  The two budget segments were presented by Dennis Mudler, business manager, and Bruce Saniter, supervisor of buildings and grounds.  Mudler said wooden boards beneath the two main baskets in the high school gymnasium have become so worn that when they are stepped upon, the opposite ends of the boards actually become elevated.   WDT

 

1988

03 08       MICHAEL PTACEK

Michael Ptacek is the new principal of Watertown Senior High School.  He had served as acting principal since the resignation of Charles W. Dill in February.  Ptacek was previously the assistant principal of the high school since June of 1983, when he was named to succeed JoAnn Truss.   WDT

 

05 01       TOP STUDENTS

The top 10 students in the class of 1988 of Watertown Senior High School have been announced by Michael Ptacek, principal.  The top students are selected on the basis of academic achievements and grade point average for their high school years.  The top 10, in alphabetical order, are Matthew Arpin, Andrew Crawford, Abbigail Endres, Michael Krolnik, Robert Lemke, Loren Mach, Michelle Mueller, Tracey Nickels, Sue Ullrich and Jennifer Welbourne.  WDT

 

05 09       1988 PROM

About 375 students danced to the music of Interface at Watertown High School’s junior prom Saturday night, according to chaperone Diane Schmidt.  The theme of this year’s dance was “Stairway to Heaven,” the classic hit by Led Zeppelin.  Post prom activities were highlighted with a performance by Tohjah, a band from southern Illinois.  The dance went smoothly, Schmidt said, adding that the students “were very cooperative.  We had a very good showing.”  Steve Andrews and Alisa Harris reigned as prom king and queen.  The court included Brian Raguse and Rachel Quest, Cheng Yang and Amy Scheiber, Todd Schumann and Jan Neubauer, John Fischer and Valeri Lampman, and Chris Buescher and Jenny Kwapil.  Crown bearers were Matt Scheiber and Tera Rowoldt.   WDT

 

06 08       CLASS OF 1988

On a sun-drenched morning at Riverside Park, 252 seniors from Watertown Senior High School received their diplomas Saturday, graduates who hoped their futures would be as bright as the cloud-free sky.  Students were in a celebratory mood as they reflected upon the culmination of their high school days.  Beach balls bounced from graduate to graduate, occasionally straying onto the stage.  Enthusiastic cheers greeted the announcement of the more popular students and even air horns were sounded.  “The school is proud of you, not because you graduated, but because you are winners,” said W. Charles Dill during his welcoming speech.  Dill recently resigned as high school principal to accept a similar position at Johnsburg High School in McHenry, Ill..   WDT

 

1989

01 20       BEST SITE IS HWY 109, NORTH OF HWY16 BYPASS

The city’s plan commission heard reasons from Watertown school officials why the proposed school site is the best currently available.  Dr. Richard Stolsmark, superintendent of schools for the Watertown Unified School District, told commission members that the proposed site, one of seven reviewed by school officials, seemed to be the best location available when the district purchased the former Stangler farm.  “We thought it was as good as we could do — we were aware the bypass was there, but we feel that’s a problem that can be solved,” Stolsmark said.  The proposed location of the school, planned at state Highway 109 just north of the Highway 16 bypass, has become an issue for the district’s referendum election on Feb. 21.  Voters will be asked to approve bonding for $16 million to finance the construction of a new high school.

 

02 08       VIOLATION OF BUILDING CODES

Watertown Senior High School was one of 437 old schools in the state that were inspected and found to be in violation of some current state building codes.  The study was conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations (DILHR).  Watertown Senior High School, more than 70 percent of which was built in 1917, was among those listed as having some violations related to fire safety. The DILHR report listed three violations at Watertown Senior High School:  (1) The facility lacks automatic door-closing devices in its stairwells; (2) The facility lacks smoke detection devices in its basement; and (3) The facility lacks proper exit lighting.

 

02 10       SMITH FARM OPTION.  The Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Promotive Corporation has entered into an option to purchase the 300-acre Warren Smith farm, and offer about one-third of it for sale to the Watertown Unified School District as a site for the new Watertown Senior High School.  The land is located in the northwest section of the city and its western property line is the eastern property line of soon-to-be developed Quarry Park, a 174-acre park which is owned by the city.  The farm is located west of North Church Street, north of Elm Street and east of Carriage Hill Drive and the Mary Knoll Subdivision.  The board of education of the Watertown Unified School District supports the acquisition and has made the site its prime location for the new high school which is the subject of a referendum on Feb. 21.  This site will eliminate opposition expressed by some that the Robert Stangler farm, purchased by the school district in 1985 as the high school site, was a dangerous location because of the need to cross the Highway 16 bypass to gain access.

 

02 12       MAYOR IS KISSED.  Two weeks ago, it seemed unlikely that Mayor David R. Lenz and Richard Stolsmark, superintendent of schools for the Watertown Unified School District, would find common ground on the location for a new high school.  But a voters' forum Thursday night, not only were both men sitting next to each other, smiling and in agreement on the latest proposed site, but Stolsmark even kissed the mayor on the top of his head at the conclusion of the meeting.  The night's final question jokingly suggested that Stolsmark had promised to kiss the mayor if the city worked out a deal on a new site.  The superintendent of schools obliged the audience of about 50 people with a peck on the mayor's head.

 

03 19       INDUSTRIAL ARTS DEPARTMENT — TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION

As Watertown High School moves to the 1990s its Industrial Arts Department — now referred to as Technology Education — needs to modernize its facilities and enlarge its curriculum.  That was the opinion of the department’s teaching staff as they presented school board members with plans for updating technology education at the high school.  “The bottom line is we need to prepare a better student,” said machining instructor Bruce Magnuson.  “This program needs to be dynamic.  Presently I have no academic facility at all to work in.  It’s basically a shop and I struggle with that every day.”

 

04 22       SMITH FARM OPTION REJECTED

The Watertown Area Chamber of Commerce Promotive Corporation has decided not to exercise its option to purchase the Warren Smith farm, a move that seriously jeopardizes that site as a potential new high school location. City Attorney Robert A. Bender, a member of the promotive corporation, said the board decided Wednesday that the asking price for the land, about $5,000 an acre, was too much. “We elected not to pursue the option. We had some difficulty in reaching agreement with Mr. Smith,” Bender said.

 

05 16       “TIME IN A BOTTLE”

The theme of the 1989 Watertown Senior High School prom Saturday when students danced the night away to tunes from the top 40 hits at the high school gymnasium.  The king and queen, Pam Da Walt and Steve Meyers, were crowned by the 1979 king and queen, Kevin Conley and Jean Sweeney Kohlhoff.  In keeping with the theme for the evening, couples traveled through a “time tunnel” for the grand march and walked over a large clock on the floor.  Silhouettes from the 1930s, ‘40s and ‘50s decorated the walls.  Couples enjoyed dancing to music provided by a band called “Toys.”

 

06 10       307 GRADUATING SENIORS

Despite gray skies and steady rains outdoors, the mood inside Watertown Senior High School was upbeat and festive Saturday, as 307 graduating seniors bid their final farewells to teachers and classmates during annual commencement exercises.  Graduation ceremonies were to be held outdoors at Riverside Park, but were relocated to the high school gymnasium at the last minute due to threatening weather.  It turned out to be the right move by administrators as a steady downpour began to fall just prior to the ceremony’s scheduled 10 a.m. start.

 

1990

05 07       “ALMOST PARADISE” 

For more than 200 students, Saturday night was “Almost Paradise.”  That was the theme of the Watertown High School junior class prom held at the high school.  There were about 246 individuals attending the prom activities at the high school, according to organizer Kathy Wagner. The final count was down about 70 students, she noted.  Wagner said the prom committee had anticipated about 350 students because of the expansion of the ninth grade at the high school.  “We expected the attendance to be up,” she said.  Wagner thought maybe the cost deterred several students from attending.

 

06 02       CLASS OF 1990

Despite strong gusty winds and the persistent threat of rain, Watertown High school’s class of 1990 successfully graduated 244 seniors during outdoor commencement exercises Saturday morning at Riverside Park. Under ominous gray skies, the students were greeted by class secretary Amy Endres, who introduced this year’s class song, “Forever Young” by Rod Stewart. The graduates then heard from a number of their fellow classmates, including student council president Jennifer Hanson, class treasurer Jim Beranek, foreign exchange student Frede Lei, Erin Boyd and Brooke Nustad representing the top 10 students and Chris Brom, senior class representative.   WDT

 

09 24       HOMECOMING THEME:  THE JUNGLE”

Homecoming activities are in full swing at Watertown Senior High School this week, according to organizers of the event.  The 1990-91 Watertown Senior High School Student Council is making a special plea to alumni of the school to participate in the activities during the weekend.  This year’s theme is “The Jungle.”  Alumni are welcome to support the Gosling football team when it takes on the West Bend West Spartans Friday at 7:30 p.m. at Washington Park.  King Tony Meyers and Queen Jenny Wilson and other members of the homecoming court will be introduced at halftime.  The high school band and cheerleaders will also entertain at halftime.   WDT

 

12 11       CHOICE BETWEEN STANGLER AND SMITH SITES

There is a good chance Watertown voters will be deciding where to build a new high school before they actually decide whether or not they want to build the school itself.  Members of the Watertown School Board’s site committee have decided to propose an advisory referendum in April providing citizens with a choice between the Stangler and Smith sites for a future high school facility.  The entire board will vote on the committee’s recommendation at their regular monthly meeting Wednesday in the Educational Service Center, 111 Dodge St.  That meeting begins at 7:30 p.m.  The school board purchased the 108-acre Stangler farm in the fall of 1985 for $2,500 per acre.  Since that time, questions have been raised pertaining to the safety of its location for a high school.  City residents would have to cross the Highway 16 bypass to reach the site, located near Watertown Memorial Hospital on the city’s far northeast side.  The Smith farm is located on the city’s northwest side and was not for sale in 1985.  Since that time negotiations between the owners and the school board have taken place and a sale agreement is believed to be possible.   WDT

 

1991

02 16       STANGLER AND SMITH SITES FOR NEW HIGH SCHOOL 

By approving a referendum in April on a choice between the Stangler and Smith sites for a new high school, the Watertown Board of Education Wednesday evening effectively rejected a fourth potential site.  The fourth site first came up for discussions when the site committee met Monday.  That group reviewed the Stangler, Smith and Darcey sites as well as a new proposal for the Endres farm.  The Darcey site is located along Boulder Road (old County Trunk Highway M), and the Endres site is located on West Road in the town of Watertown.  Ed Kileen appeared before that committee to offer that 78 acre parcel of land at a cost of $390,000 which is $5,000 an acre.

 

04 29       POST PROM PARTY SALVAGED

The post prom party, which has been a tradition after Watertown High School proms for almost 40 years, was salvaged this week after nearly becoming extinct.  Kathleen Wagner, a guidance counselor at the high school, said a group of students came forward with suggestions that may keep the party alive for years to come.  Declining attendance at the party for the past several years left the status of this year’s party in doubt.  Wagner said several student groups were approached for ideas that might make the party more popular.  “We tried to get a feel for what they really wanted,” she said.  “We wanted students to get involved in planning the party and getting the attendance back up.”  When the student groups failed to respond to administration inquiries, the 39-year-old tradition was in danger of fading away.   WDT

 

05 11       1991 JUNIOR PROM

About 110 couples attended the 1991 junior prom at Watertown High School Saturday.  The theme for the prom, held in the school gymnasium, was “Hold On to the Night.”  Students danced to the music of Johnny Law.  Queen Dana Richter and King Dominic Alvarez reigned over the festivities.  Selected in voting by the junior class in March, they were announced during the grand march.  Other members of the court were Crist Harris and Kelly Brusenbach, Jason Wesemann and Tammie Nass, Joel Herbst and Stacy Schneider, Brenda Behlke and Brad Thompson, Kate Hornickle and Elliot Clark, and Keye Bruske and John Ehlinger.   WDT

 

06 14       GRADUATES ARE LIKE BUBBLES

Students in the Watertown High School 1991 graduating class are like bubbles, each is different, some drift far away, while others stay close to home.  That was how Watertown High School senior class representative Andrew Mullen described the future to his fellow classmates at commencement ceremonies Saturday morning at Riverside Park.  Under a bright, cloudless sky, Mullen demonstrated his concept by blowing bubbles into the air.  He explained how the container is the high school and the liquid is the graduates leaving school.  "Each is different, each goes a different way," he noted.  He also expressed the need to live for the present and not the past.  "The present is all that exists," he said.   WDT

 

07 02       KATHY WAGNER NEW PRINCIPAL

Kathy Wagner, assistant principal for Watertown Senior High School, will become the new principal on Aug. 1, according to Dr. Suzanne Hotter, superintendent.  Wagner was offered the position Monday evening following an executive session of the board and accepted the contract on Tuesday.  The board is expected to formally approve the contract at a meeting on Aug. 24.  Wagner succeeds Michael Ptacek who accepted a principalship in a Minneapolis suburb.   WDT

 

08 24       1991 WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL ORBIT

The 1991 Watertown High School Orbit will be distributed in the Dodge Street lobby from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday.  The theme of this year’s yearbook is “Showcase,” a tribute to the talents and abilities of students who make the high school their showcases.  The 189-page book has a silver and blue cover with embossed lettering and red accent color.  The red accent color is picked up in the opening section of the book and the blue is used as a background color in the senior color section.  Endsheet artwork on the inside of the front cover depicts a blue stage curtain opening.  A closed stage curtain is depicted on the inside of the back cover.  Theme sections in the yearbook include “For All to See,” which highlights special events during the school year, “Spectacular Performance,” which chronicles Gosling sports, “Exhibits of Interest,” which displays the photographs of students, faculty and administration, and “On Display,” in which students are quoted on their views of the high school, music and what constitutes “style.”   WDT

 

11 04       SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HIGH SCHOOL

The Watertown High School has had a history of additions and renovations since its original construction in 1917.  One question facing the Nov. 12 referendum is whether residents think the school is still able to meet the educational needs of students. Another question is whether they can afford the $20 million price tag.  Three additions have been made onto the high school since it was built in 1917.  The additions increased the size of the building from its original 96,953 square feet to the current size of 131,746 square feet.  Since then, regular maintenance has kept the building structurally safe but repairs are becoming increasingly complex.  Proponents of a new school said it is time to stop patching up the building.  Instead, they support the construction of a 274,810 square foot facility on a portion of the 180-acre Warren Smith farm.  The last time the high school received a face-lift was in 1964 - almost two decades ago.  Science and technology of the future cannot conform to the space limitations, especially in the 76-year-old portion of the building, administrators stress.

 

1992

01 13       BACK TO THE AGE-OLD TRADITION OF GRADUATION

Four years ago Jerry Kreitzman attended a graduation ceremony at Watertown High School.  He never forgot what he saw.  Instead of young adults passing a milestone in life, he saw rowdy teenagers throwing balloons and disrupting the procession.  It was then he vowed to bring dignity back to the age-old tradition of graduation. The ceremony has been revamped little by little since Kreitzman came to the rescue.  As a teacher of history and government at the high school he has tried to instill appreciation in his students of the finer points of pomp and circumstance.  His crusade got a boost Wednesday evening when the board of education approved the purchase of academic robes for faculty members who wish to attend the June 6 graduation.  For Kreitzman and administrators, it signified the board’s respect of academia.

 

05 06       1992 HIGH SCHOOL PROM

As hundreds of people looked into a mystical medieval world Saturday night, juniors Stacey Mathews and John Daniels felt the magic of being crowned queen and king of the prom.  The prom drew 135 couples, Principal Kathy Wagner said.  The number was up from last year’s attendance of 110 couples.  “That’s a good turnout,” she said.  “I’m pleased with it.  For a couple of years I was concerned about lowering attendance but now it looks good.”  The prom, hosted by the class of 1993, took on the aura of its theme — medieval magic.  A castle which reached to the ceiling of the Watertown High School gymnasium and murals of trees took those in attendance to Sherwood Forest.  WDT

 

05 26       EARL HENNESSY

A teacher who has worked in the Watertown Unified School District 29 years has been given the Lawrence Award for Outstanding Teaching in Wisconsin.  High school history teacher Earl Hennessy has been notified by Lawrence University in Appleton. that he is one of two teachers selected.  Hennessy was nominated by a former student, Leslie Hanson, who is now a senior at Lawrence.  Hennessy will be awarded a cash prize of $1,000 and a separate amount of $250 for high school library acquisitions at Lawrence's commencement ceremonies June 14.  The university. will release additional details at that time.  "When I got the letter (announcing the award) I read it three times." he said. "Then I called and asked if this was on the level."

 

05 30       GROUNDBREAKING FOR $20 MILLION HIGH SCHOOL

A milestone in the construction of the $20 million high school is planned for the last weekend in May.  Ground breaking for the 300,000 square foot school will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday at the corner of Fremont and Elm streets on the northwest side of Watertown.  The high school is located near Quarry Park, a 168-acre parcel under development by the city of Watertown.  Shared outdoor facilities for environmental studies, physical education stations and athletics are part of the arrangements in the design of the two facilities.   WDT

 

06 01       START OF CONSTRUCTION OF $20 MILLION HIGH SCHOOL

The official start of construction for a $20 million high school was marked Sunday afternoon as honorary guests turned over the first clumps of ground at the site.  About 50 people gathered on a grassy hill at the Smith farm for a short ceremony marking a new phase of the school building project.  Casually sitting in lawn chairs and leaning against cars, the onlookers came to witness the site one more time before it is transformed into a four-wing, 300,000-square-foot community center.  “As we turn the first shovel of dirt this afternoon, we are about to start construction of the biggest project our community has ever undertaken,” school board President Glenn Schwoch told the onlookers.  “We cannot predict the future but this building project is concrete evidence . . . that the people of Watertown want to be prepared for that future.”   WDT

 

06 06       1992 GRADUATION

With a feeling of uncertainty and a prominent sense of urgency, Watertown High School graduates took the stage at Riverside Park Saturday to receive diplomas.  The sun shone through the clouds just before the 241 anxious young adults began receiving their diplomas in front of a sea of instamatic cameras held by beaming relatives and friends.  Thousands of onlookers crowded the park to catch a glimpse of the ceremony and more than 100 kindergartners were bused in to witness the ceremony in order to remind everyone of how fast time passes.  During the traditional commencement exercises, which lasted about an hour, student speakers thanked their parents and teachers for helping them through the years.  Student speakers remarked about the challenges ahead and what it will take to succeed when the economic forecast seems dismal at best.   WDT

 

07 27       COMBAT TRUANCY

Administrators at Watertown High School will be prepared to combat truancy with their toughest policy yet when doors open this fall.  Beginning this fall, students will only be permitted two unexcused absences that are not made up in detention, Principal Kathy Wagner said.  Previously, students were allowed four such absences before losing credits in a course.  A minimum attendance requirement of 85 percent will also be dropped under the new policy.  Instead, students will earn credit based solely upon the completion of course requirements with a passing grade.   WDT

 

11 16       CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

Despite losing four weeks to wet weather, construction on the Watertown High School is speeding along, the site manager said this week.  Bill Heraly of Miron Construction, the construction management company, said the academic wing of the building is quickly taking shape.  The second floor on the wing is being put in place and all signs indicate that portion of the building will be enclosed by the end of December, he said.  Precipitation has been a looming problem to construction workers, Heraly said, as thick mud on site sometimes makes operating equipment impossible.  Rain today put masonry work on hold but crews installing pre-cast plank were on site, he said.  He expected masonry crews to be back on site Monday regardless of the weather.  “We’re really used to the mud by now,” he said with a laugh.  “It’s something we had to learn to live with.”   WDT

 

12 05       AIR CONDITIONING AND GREENHOUSE BIDS

A $2 million contract for heating, ventilation and air conditioning for the new Watertown High School was awarded Wednesday evening.  The contract includes air conditioning for the entire school.  The board of education for the Watertown Unified School District accepted the low bid of $2,701,500 from Kilgust Mechanical of Madison.  In addition to total air conditioning, the contract includes a small greenhouse.  Original plans called for air conditioning of only the core areas of the facility.  “We received very competitive bids on the rebid and that’s what we were looking for,” said site manager William Heraly of Miron Construction.  The project was rebid and redesigned after the district received few proposals during the main phase of bidding, all of which were over budget.   WDT

 

1993

05 02       1993 JUNIOR PROM

More than 200 students in Watertown Saturday night attended the 1993 junior prom.  The prom decorations were centered around New York’s Central Park, but the selection of the court drew the most interest.  For the first time ever, prom court was selected by a random drawing after the grand march.  In the past, members of the junior class would vote for the court weeks ahead of the prom.  Erika Batzko and Andy Luchini reigned as queen and king for the evening.  Their court was Sara Suhr and Dale Stangler; Jennifer Cook and Matt Quest; Rebecka Seeber and Scott Fanello; Lisa Jackson and John Velez; Jessica Hilker and Chad Frentzel; and Heather Fredriksen and Shane Waller.

 

06 06       APPLIED SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS TECHNOLOGY CENTER

The Watertown Unified School District has exceeded the $83,000 needed to ensure the construction of an applied science and mathematics technology center.  Almost $113,820 has been earmarked toward the project through grants, said Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Hotter.  Besides grants, money spent by the district on mathematics or science technology was applied to the $83,000 goal.  Hotter said members of the Jeffris Family Foundation of Janesville were “very supportive” when she met with them last week.  The foundation has granted the district $116,000 to construct the unique facility in the new high school on the condition that the community and school district each contribute $83,000 toward equipment in the center.  The community reached the goal in March.   WDT

 

06 11       SENIORS GRADUATE

More than 1,000 people filled Riverside Park Saturday as 249 Watertown High School seniors graduated.  As the sun shone through on the cloudless day, students donned sunglasses and smiles during the morning ceremony.  Students forming a sea of royal blue gowns listened intently as classmates offered their final farewell to high school.  "Education, experience and memories are three things no one can take away from me," said student Lara Buescher, reciting a poem.

 

07 16       MODEL FOR TECHNOLOGY-BASED LEARNING

Almost half a million dollars has been awarded to Watertown High School to designate it as a model for technology-based learning, the governor said this morning.  Watertown High School is one of five state schools selected for the Governor’s Wisconsin/Ameritech 1993-94 K-12 SuperSchool Initiative.  The grant gives a boost to the new high school’s planned applied math and science technology center, which was spurred by a $116,000 grant from the Jeffris Family Foundation of Janesville.  The school district and community raised matching funds of $83,000 each.

 

07 16       ANOTHER TECHNOLOGY GRANT

Watertown High School will add another technology grant to its already long list through a $520,000 on-line telecommunication network.  The school is one of 50 Midwestern schools chosen to participate in a $2.6 million, two-year Ameritech communications network pilot program.  In Wisconsin, the “Ameritech Learning Village” will be created by directing $520,000 each to Watertown and nine other schools.  A representative of Ameritech will brief the school board about the proposal at a meeting tonight.  The board will determine whether to participate in the pilot project.

 

10 24       AN AMERITECH SUPERSCHOOL

The governor was in town Monday to name Watertown High School as an Ameritech SuperSchool.  During a brief address, Gov. Tommy G. Thompson praised the Watertown Unified School District for its efforts in promoting technology in education.  “Today in Watertown, you’ve made a giant step forward,” the governor told more than 200 residents, educators and students in attendance at the Rotary Club meeting.  “This is something that every one of us can be proud of.  Tomorrow in Watertown is going to be a better place to live and to work and to play because of what you’re doing today.”  The high school was named in July as one of five state schools selected to share in a $2.2 million Ameritech SuperSchool grant.  Watertown High School is expected to receive $350,000 to $450,000.  The grant names the five schools as demonstration sites for technology-based learning.

 

11 16       REPAIRS TO 1956 PORTION OF SCHOOL

Repairs to the 1956 portion of the high school, should it be retained by the school district, would cost approximately $920,000, officials say.  The figures were released by administrators of the Watertown Unified School District for a group studying the building’s fate.  That group has already decided to recommend the oldest portion of the building be razed.  Officials said the $920,000 reflects immediate needs for operation and maintenance in the school, not any remodeling costs.  That figure includes $250,000 for a new boiler, $175,000 for site improvements and $150,000 for demolition of the 1917 portion.  Other items included in that cost are $125,000 for window replacements, $100,000 for asbestos removal, $75,000 for reroofing and $45,000 for tuckpointing and caulking.  The reroofing and window costs would be eligible for rebates.

 

1994

02 28       HIGH SCHOOL FOR SALE

FOR SALE:  Watertown High School.  Centrally located, includes just over 3 acres of property.  Yes, the board of education for the Watertown Unified School District has decided to put Watertown High School on the market.  By an 8-0 vote Thursday, the board supported a report calling for the sale of the entire existing building to a private developer in an effort to get it back on the tax rolls.     WDT

 

03 13       APPLIED SCIENCE / MATH CENTER

Construction of the applied science/ math center for Watertown High School began last week, the site manager said.  Footings for the $271,434 center were poured Thursday and the foundation was started Friday, said Bill Heraly of Miron Construction.  He said he expected the structure to be up and enclosed soon so it won’t delay outside site work in that area.  The center is located behind the north wing, or auditorium.    WDT

 

05 08       1994 JUNIOR PROM

More than 200 students filled the Watertown High School gymnasium Saturday evening for the 1994 junior prom.  The event marked the last school prom which will be held in the building.  Next year, pupils will dance the night away at the new school.  Kevin Tucker, who headed the prom committee, was selected by random drawing to reign as king.  Kristin Hansen was selected as queen.  Other prom royalty, also selected by random drawing, were Jessie Crim and John Johnson; Stacy Mann and Pat Martin; Stacy Barriere and Tony Lenius; Rebecca Weber and Matt Prickette; Lauren Clark and Jim Romlein; and Shelley Bovee and Blaise Denault.  Miniature king and queen were Trayven Weihert and Stephanie Huebner.

 

05 15       TOP GRADUATING SENIORS

The top 10 graduating seniors at Watertown High School have been named by Principal Kathy Wagner.  These students have the 10 highest grade-point averages in their class. In alphabetical order, the students are Erika Batzko, Mike Cassaday, Jeremy Eppler, Julie Gremmels, Heather Hensler, Brad Klein, Jackie Kwapil, Gayle Lenz, Andy Schauer and Tom Stendel. 

 

05 18       EIGHTH STREET PARK RECALLED

Nostalgic memories of the old high school will be recalled this weekend with the final farewell to the old alma mater.  The memories are many for Eleanor (Nack) Schroeder of Watertown, who was there from the beginning.  She can remember when the site of the old high school was a park.  Nack, 82, lived at 504 S. Eighth St. for 52 years.  "I was born there in 1912 and the high school wasn't built until 1917," she recalled.  "It wasn't much of a park, but I have a picture of me when I was 5 standing in front of the park.  You can look from Eighth Street right across to the houses on Ninth Street."

 

1885 birdseye of Eighth Street Park,

bounded by Eighth, Ninth and Wisconsin streets

 

05 23       CLOSED CAMPUS CONSIDERED

The probability of a closed campus at Watertown High School next year will result in changes to the lunch program, the food service director said. Food service expenses in the district are expected to increase 26 percent, while revenues from about 400 additional high school students will result in about a 27.84 percent increase.  The 1994-95 food service budget was designed assuming there will be a closed campus at the high school, said Jean Kwapil.  A closed campus means students are not allowed off campus for lunch.

 

05 25       PROTEST T-SHIRT BAN

About 40 Watertown High School students were at a board of education meeting Thursday to protest the banning of a T-shirt earlier in the week.  School board members remained tight-lipped, though, acting on advice from legal counsel.  "Legal counsel has recommended you refrain from any comment or asking any questions," Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Hotter told board members at the onset of the meeting.  She said discussion of the issue would have to take place at the next board meeting, June 9, when it could properly be put on the agenda.  She added that at that time it should be discussed in closed session because it regards student discipline issues.  Some students were suspended Tuesday morning after staging a sit-in in the school office, protesting an administrative ban on a T-shirt.  The students say administrators wrongly deemed the T-shirt offensive.  The shirt depicts a local student dressed only in white briefs participating in an "air jam," pretending to play a bass guitar.  That student was suspended earlier this year for his performance.

 

05 31       CLASS OF 1994

Through an inspirational, sometimes humorous, ceremony, the Watertown High School class of 1994 was honored by parents, friends and faculty Saturday morning.  The temperature neared 80 degrees at Riverside Park as 234 graduates took their seats for the commencement exercises.  About an hour and a half later, gripping their diplomas, the young adults hugged and posed for picture after picture as the high school wind ensemble played.  Later that day, 39 students graduated with High School Equivalency Degrees from Madison Area Technical College.  About 130 people attended the ceremony. Guest speakers were Bill O'Brien, president of Wisconsin WetGoods, and class representative Beverly Babcock.

 

06 10       AND THE MOVE IS ON

Boxes and books from Watertown High School began the trek to the new facility this week, looking for new homes in the offices and library.  All that remains to be done pertaining to the construction of the school are some odds and ends, said construction manager Bill Heraly of Miron Construction.  The board of education will vote tonight whether to spend $9,000 to hire Reynolds Transfer and Storage Company, Inc. to move equipment and furniture.  Four vendors toured the school and were asked to give proposals to move supplies and equipment.  Only Reynolds bid on the project.  The funds are included in the building budget.

 

08 16       NEW HIGH SCHOOL OPENS

The new Watertown High School will open its doors for students the morning of Aug. 24.  Droves of teen-agers and parents, trying to find their way into and around the new building, are expected.  Officials have received calls about the lack of sidewalks on the 300-plus acres of property leading to the school and members of the board of education are wondering what to do.  “We’ve really got a problem here and have to work with the city,” Business Manager Dennis Mudler said at a meeting Thursday.  Mudler said sidewalks and paths to the school were going to be put off until officials could see the “traffic patterns,” or where students were walking.  However, concerns from parents wondering about sidewalks have sped up discussions.  WDT

 

08 26       NEW HIGH SCHOOL OPENS (2)

Sounds of students talking and laughing echoed through the halls of the new Watertown High School today as its doors were opened for the first day of classes.  The opening follows years of debates, plans and construction.  For the first time since 1917, the high school on South Eighth Street sat vacant on the first day of school.  Before school this morning, teachers quietly put finishing touches on their classrooms.  A few students walked through the sparkling glass and burgundy-trimmed doors of the entrance.  The pupils wandered through the hallways, the smell of a new building was everywhere.  “Everything’s ready to go,” said a confident Kathy Wagner, principal of the school.    WDT

 

08 28       POLICE LIAISON at High School

A workshop about a police liaison at Watertown High School will be held by the board of education and the Watertown Police Department Thursday evening.  Sgt. Mark Meddaugh of the Watertown Police Department will conduct the discussion during a board meeting at the Educational Service Center.  The board of education earlier this summer had requested information about the possibility of having a police officer work as a liaison at the school.  Police Chief Charles McGee has indicated an interest in developing ways to work with the school district in juvenile issues.  Several area districts have a police liaison program, where an officer works closely with the high school but is not stationed in the building.   WDT

 

09 03       PRAIRIE RESTORATION PLANNED

The weeds are knee-high on the property on the outskirts of Watertown High School.  Teachers Dave Gruenewald and Jane Haag know.  They spent Wednesday afternoon wading through the foxtail and rye. Gruenewald, Haag and other educators joined experts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum in the grasses across from the newly-opened school.  The experts are helping to plan a prairie restoration on some of the school’s 180 acres.  The prairie will be used for various aspects of education — from environmental studies to art.  The prairie eventually will be restored on property along Endeavour Drive, from Carriage Hill Drive to Highway 26.

 

09 16       DEDICATION ACTIVITIES

It was quite a sight Friday evening, seeing hundreds upon hundreds of people coming out to catch their first glimpse of the new Watertown High School and participate in dedication activities.  There were crowds everywhere — far beyond what was anticipated.  The parking lots, huge by normal standards, were filled to the brim long before game time.  Many people had to park on the grass or on nearby streets.  The Watertown Athletic Booster Club’s “tailgate party” was so well attended they couldn’t make the brats and wieners fast enough.  At times the line stretched a city block long.

 

“Pretty amazing.”  That’s how former student Brian Dopke described Watertown High School Sunday prior to the ceremony dedicating the $20 million facility.  The description was repeated often by residents who attended weekend tours and events at the school.  Sunday marked the official dedication at the school, with 1961 graduate and former astronaut, Dan Brandenstein, delivering the keynote address.  But residents didn’t wait for Sunday to get a glimpse of the school.  There were 939 residents who signed guest books during tours of the school Friday afternoon, and about 3,000 fans flooded the Arnold Landsverk Field for the first on-site football game of the season that night.  Watertown defeated West Bend East, fittingly breaking in the field.  WDT

 

09 21       OLD HIGH SCHOOL BACK ON TAX ROLLS

The old Watertown High School is on its way back to the tax rolls, pending approval of contract details.  The board of education for the Watertown Unified School District Thursday night gave its OK to a proposal from James B. Grunewald of Milwaukee. Grunewald offered $333,000 for the building and its property.  The school and the 3.2 acres it sits on have been appraised at $920,000.  Grunewald submitted the only offer to the school district, said Business Manager Dennis Mudler.  He said six potential buyers toured the building. Mudler said Grunewald indicated that he may use the property for apartments.

 

09 25       EXPANSION OF LIBRARY SERVICE

Watertown High School and Madison Area Technical College-Watertown are working together to expand library service to students and the community.  The schools have a long history of joint projects — beginning with the formation of the vocational school at the high school in the 1920s.  Beginning Monday MATC students will have access to the library.  “This does not happen in a lot of other places,” said Lynn Hertel, administrator of MATC.

 

1995

09 28       GRADUATION ’96

Will be held in the gymnasium at Watertown High School.  Several concerns about holding the ceremony at its traditional site, Riverside Park, led to the decision, said Principal Kathy Wagner.  School board member Denise Barker and student board member Jessie Groose urged that seniors be allowed input into the decision.  Last year, seniors were allowed to vote on where to hold the ceremony.  They selected the park.

 

“Students should have a big part in that decision,” Groose said.  Wagner listed several concerns of the ceremony at Riveside Park, including difficulty for older and handicapped residents in parking and getting to the site.  The sound system is better in the gymnasium and it will be comfortable no matter what the weather is.  She noted that it costs $2,000 in overtime to set up the park on the morning of graduation, something that could be avoided by setting the gymnasium up ahead of time.

 

1996

09 21       65th REUNION, CLASS OF 1931

  

Edward Carey, Walter Brandenstein, Harry Ziegelmann, Wilton Wrachte, Harvey Froemming, James Anderson, Andrew Boyum, Chester Gauerke, Adeline Froelich Peterson, Louise Schuenemann Wolff, Helga Bender Henry, Eleanor Dowd Chase, Lucille Wolff Hildebrandt, Luella Mueller Becker, Eunice Laskey Knick, Ethel Sherman Bergman Kaddatz, Edna Schmidt Roberts, Florence Sommerfeld Grosenick, Eila Hoppe Meyer, Norma Zier Barganz, Harold Zier, William Schimpf, Norman Pautz.

 

1997

12 15       FORMER HIGH ON S. EIGHTH PURCHASED

Finding good uses for an old building was one of the reasons for purchasing the old Watertown High School facility, said Bill Ehlinger, one of the owners of the Watertown Athletic Club.  “We are in the process of taking over the whole project,” he said, noting that developer Peter Hanson will no longer be one of the owners as of Jan. 10.  After Jan. 10, the entire old high school facility will be the property of the Watertown Athletic Club owned by local residents Ehlinger, Bill O’Brien, Bob Long and Dan Rullman.  The Watertown school district sold the old high school last January to Hanson, a resident of Oconomowoc, and the Watertown Athletic Club for the sum of $226,000.  Hanson had at the time wanted to convert the older portion of the former school into apartments but later decided not to continue with that plan.

 

1998

08 30       PEACE GARDEN

What began as a nondescript bus turnaround on a miniature model of Watertown High School more than five years ago [c.1993] is now a blooming example of what students and a devoted teacher can do when they set their minds to it.  That bus turnaround, once an island of grass surrounded by parking lots and sidewalk, is today a sea of color in the form of a peace garden.   WDT

 

2000

EARLY PORTION OF SCHOOL WAS DEMOLISHED DURING THE WINTER OF 1999-2000

A picture containing building, outdoor, house, old

Description automatically generated   

The entire old high school facility had become the property of the Watertown Athletic Club

 

01 09          HIGH SCHOOL DEMOLITION -

 

06 09       CLASS OF 2000 / Matt Teuteberg Memorial

A mass of Gosling blue filled Watertown High School gymnasium Saturday morning as 311 students graduated as the class of 2000.  The day’s festivities began in the Peace Garden as students gathered with mixed emotions. Sara Cahoon and Eric Hamme dedicated a bench in the garden in memory of former classmate Matt Teuteberg, who died in an automobile accident in late March. “Today is not just a celebration for us,” said Cahoon. “We have all experienced many great times together, but we have also had to deal with many heartaches.”  WDT

 

08 18       HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER APPROVED

Renovation plans for the Health & Wellness Center of Watertown were approved by the site plan review committee Wednesday.  Plans include a playground and parking lot to replace the original red brick school at the south side of the two-city block complex at 415 S. Eighth St.  Razing of that portion of the former high school was completed this month.  The playground and parking lot, along with renovations to the building, should be done Oct. 1, said Dr. William Ehlinger, center president.  Other projects will be done in the future.  The center has removed asbestos from the building and remodeled parts of it.  It plans to install lighting for the 65-space parking lot and complete other improvements.  WDT

 

2003

04 23       “Glitz and Glamour, Spend a Night in Hollywood,” is the theme of the 2003 junior prom.  Grand march and coronation of king and queen will be held at 10 p.m.  The traditional post prom will be hosted at the Elks Lodge and will be open from midnight until 3 a.m.  Entertainment to be offered includes pool, casino type gambling, music and loads of free food.  A large number of door prizes will also be available.   WDT

 

05 17       The Watertown High School class of 2003 will honor its valedictorian and salutatorian at the graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 7, at 10 a.m. in the High School gymnasium.  Valedictorian is Kevin Burleson, son of Polk and Elizabeth Burleson.  He has achieved a 4.000 grade point average in his high school career. Salutatorian is Brielle Hulick, daughter of David and Cindy Hulick.  She has a 3.992 grade point average.  Both have been on the high honor roll, received academic letters and are members of the National Honor Society.  WDT

 

08 03       The sound of children still filters through the hallways and rooms on South Eighth Street at the former Watertown High School building . In what is now the Health and Wellness Center (HAWC), which houses 10 nonprofit agencies and one for profit business, youngsters can exhaust their energy in HAWC Fitness’ new Kidz Gym.  The Kidz Gym opened in early spring and is filled with a variety of fun-filled activities for children age and younger.  The gym features activities and equipment such as scooters, hippity hops, ball pit, large rainbow colored balls, basketballs and basketball hoop, hula hoops and a foam balance beam.  The gym is located in the balcony of the old high school gym. There is an island in the center containing padding for the children and hard floor around the padding for children to use scooters, etc.  Sara Jappinen, youth and family programs coordinator at HAWC Fitness, said, children love to explore the gym to see what activities are available.  WDT

 

10 03       The 2003 Watertown High School Carolers have been selected.  The Carolers will be available for performances in the Watertown area throughout December.  The group sings about 20 minutes of holiday music dressed in traditional caroling costumes.  Members of this year’s group include: sopranos Brianna Duffy, Marissa Floyd, Karen Kneer, Molly McFarland, Rachel Niemann and Sara Woodard; tenors Josh Cochrane, Nick Herold, Alex Mackyol, Zack Miller and Ryan Moldenhauer; altos Megan Heiden, Mandy McVeigh, Beth Miller, Molly Pfister, Kelly Sina and Gina Symkowski; basses Ben Allen, Tim Anderson-Hereth, Noah Ash, Jodie Hall, Zack Stueber, Justin Wagner and Geoff Wood.  WDT

 

11 04       HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER FUNDRAISER

The gym of the former Watertown High School will be transformed into a nostalgic homecoming dance Saturday to raise money for the Health and Wellness Center that now occupies the building.  The event will be held from 7 to 11 p.m.  Vintage dress is optional, but a prize will be given for the most authentic homecoming look.   WDT

 

2004

05 12       CLASS VALEDICTORIANS

Seven Watertown High School seniors will share the honor of class valedictorian at the annual commencement ceremonies June 12 in Watertown High School gymnasium. The seven, all of which will finish their high school careers with perfect 4.0 grade point averages, are Brianna Duffy, Marissa Floyd, Jordan Goetzke, Kendra Gurnee, Janelle Hoffman, Mary Beth Holden and Nicole Miller.  Duffy is the daughter of Kristopher and Janice Duffy, Floyd is the daughter of Duane and Jackie Floyd, Goetzke is the son of Dale and Janis Goetzke, Gurnee is the daughter of Brian and Cathleen Gurnee, Hoffman is the daughter of Gerald and Arlene Hoffman, Holden is the daughter of Dr. Rick and Ellen Holden, and Miller is the daughter of Doug and Kathy Miller.   WDT

 

06 14       COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES

The senior class of 2004 filed into the high school gymnasium one last time Saturday morning for Watertown High School’s commencement exercises.  Hundreds of proud family members and friends were on hand for the event.  Molly Pfister and Kelly Sina, student council representatives, welcomed the nearly 300-member senior class and guests with a humorous list of pros and cons of graduating from high school.  They said in two months students will wish they were eating a gourmet meal in the high school cafeteria rather than living off of food cooked in a dorm room.  Pfister and Sina reminded students sharing a bathroom with family members won’t seem as bad once they’ve experienced sharing one with 20 other people.  Although students thought their lockers were small, it won’t be compared to the jail-size dorm room they’ll be living in this fall.   WDT

 

2005

04 16       SHOW CHOIR SPECTACULAR

After two years of creating characters, a plot, songs, dance moves and lyrics the locally written musical, “Career Day,” will make its debut Friday night.  “As seniors come closer to the end of their high school career they find themselves thinking about their next step in life and what they should become,” David Zimmermann, director of the performance, said.  “That’s what the musical is about.  It hits close to home for many of the students in the performance because they’re going through the same thing as the characters.”  The musical will be part of the Show Choir Spectacular and will be presented by the Watertown High School Rhapsody in Blue Show Choir at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium.  The Girl’s Show Choir and Men In Blue will also be presenting musical performances at the event.   WDT

 

05 06       2005 PROM

Watertown High School juniors Ben Zautner and Autumn Dettmann took a stroll by the bubbling water fountain, near the park benches, next to the Statue of Liberty decorations and onto the dance floor in the high school commons Saturday night after being crowned king and queen of prom.  Prom court was chosen by the junior class through a ballot vote.  Couples were put together by the number of votes each person received and the two who received the most votes were crowned king and queen.  The rest of the prom court included Tony Roche and Kimmie Albertin, Brandon Gilbertson and Jeanette Muth, Scott Kohlhoff and Katherine DePover, Mark Sina and Kaylee Zastrow, Mike Gates and Brittany Braasch, and Patrick Nichols and Jenny Krueger. The miniature king and queen were Matthew Engel, son of Paul and Patsy Engel, and Abigail Vinz, daughter of Scott and Connie Vinz.  WDT

 

05 16       PROJECT LEAD THE WAY

The Watertown High School is the first of about 70 schools in the state to receive its official certification in Project Lead the Way, a pre-engineering program, taught by Bryan Kind.  Project Lead the Way was implemented this year at the high school through a $ 100,000 grant the district received from the Kern Family Foundation.  John Farrow, director of the program for the state and professor at Milwaukee School of Engineering, visited the school Monday morning to give the class the official banner of certification.  Three weeks earlier Farrow and a number of Project Lead the Way founders from New York observed the class for certification.   WDT

 

06 26       CLASS OF 1950; 55th REUNION

Watertown High School juniors Ben Zautner and Autumn Dettmann took a stroll by the bubbling water fountain, near the park benches, next to the Statue of Liberty decorations and onto the dance floor in the high school commons Saturday night after being crowned king and queen of prom.  Prom court was chosen by the junior class through a ballot vote.  Couples were put together by the number of votes each person received and the two who received the most votes were crowned king and queen.  The rest of the prom court included Tony Roche and Kimmie Albertin, Brandon Gilbertson and Jeanette Muth, Scott Kohlhoff and Katherine DePover, Mark Sina and Kaylee Zastrow, Mike Gates and Brittany Braasch, and Patrick Nichols and Jenny Krueger. The miniature king and queen were Matthew Engel, son of Paul and Patsy Engel, and Abigail Vinz, daughter of Scott and Connie Vinz.  WDT

 

09 02       2005 ORBIT

A number of Watertown High School students were able to pick up their 2005 Orbit Wednesday night at a high school open house.  Other students will receive their yearbook Tuesday from 3:05-5 p.m. in the commons.  The black cover titled with silver printing reading, “Never Before ... Never Again,” is embossed with a Watertown Unified School District seal.  The inside front and back pages picture a double spread of the graduated class of 2005 on the school bleachers.    WDT

 

12 30       NEW BAND INSTRUMENTS

Watertown High School band students will be using newer instruments this year after the district’s board of education approved purchasing $89,972.50 in replacements during Thursday night’s regular meeting. “This has been long overdue,” Superintendent Dr. Doug Keiser said.  “Many of the instruments used now were purchased in the era of the 1950s and are falling apart. The music department has really worked hard to make them last.” Instruments to be purchased include oboes, tubas, trombones, horns, saxes, cymbals, xylophones, cellos, drum sets and others.  The board approved a four-year equipment lease with option to purchase instruments with low bids from Interstate Music at $57,746.50, Ward-Brodt Music Co. at $5,430, White House of Music at $26,025, and Taylor Music at $771.   WDT

 

2006

02 02       THE BLUE ZONE

What was once a closet and storage space has been turned into “The Blue Zone,” the Watertown High School store.  The student run store sells sweatshirts, hats, beads and other Watertown Gosling apparel.  “It’s really been quite the project,” marketing teacher and adviser Rhonda Nachtigall said.  “The marketing class has been working on this since September.  It’s just amazing what they’ve been able to accomplish by turning this closet into a store.”  The marketing and business students spent last semester working with vendors, creating displays, pricing, cleaning and working with school administrators to create the store name. The students also surveyed students, staff, parents and business members in the community to learn what products interest people.  WDT

 

08 20       NEW FITNESS CENTER

The Watertown Unified School District will be the fiscal agent for the construction of a new fitness center at the high school.  Project leaders hope to break ground next week.  “At this time we have over $360,000 pledged for the project with a goal of $450,000,” Jon Moldenhauer, of the Optimist and Booster clubs, said.  “We’re in a position to break ground in a timely manner for the students and before the winter weather starts.”  Moldenhauer said the clubs have collected at this time almost $200,000 with pledges due in the upcoming months.  Three local banks have agreed to finance the project to help start construction.   WDT

 

2007

05 04       JUNIOR PROM

The bright lights and cameras of “Hollywood” shined on Watertown High School Saturday night while juniors Kai Ludwig and Emily Merritt were crowned king and queen and hundreds of students wore their finest to the annual event.  About 475 students spent Saturday dancing from 8 p.m. to midnight in the high school commons area which was decorated around the theme, “A Night on the Red Carpet.”  High school parents checked coats, served drinks and assisted with valet parking for students who attended the event.  Many arrived and departed in limos that lined up in front of the high school.  Students entered the school, checked their coats and walked down a red paper carpet and onto the “Walk of Fame.”  Juniors sold peel and stick stars for the “Walk of Fame” for $1 last week allowing students to write their names on the stars and find them the night of the dance.  Other decorations included giant paper Oscars, a water fountain, movie cameras and paper cut-outs of stars such as Marilyn Monroe. WDT

 

05 17       GRADUATION CLASS

The top 10 students for the Watertown High School graduating class of 2007 have been announced by Principal Scott Bostwick. The valedictorian of the class this year is Jesse Koehler and the class salutatorian is Jacqueline Krubsack. Others in the academic top 10 list are: Samantha Christian, Kallie Henze, Lyndsey Rein, Tim Schilling, Rachel Zeman, Alec Bakke, Ryan Moldenhauer and Kelly McGorey.

 

06 08       GRADUATION

After 13 years of education and preparation, members of the Watertown High School class of 2007 walked into the gymnasium as students one last time Saturday morning during the annual commencement ceremony and left as graduates.  Families, friends and teachers filled the high school gym and watched and cheered as the 275 students made their final steps across the podium dressed in blue caps and gowns and received their diplomas.  "There will be no more raising your hand to talk, no more passes needed to go to the bathroom," Elizabeth Warpinski, class representative, said.  "We've waited the past 18 years, six months and 21 days for this.  Now we will enter a brave new world and change the way others view us."

 

08 30       2006-07 ORBIT

Watertown High School students will be able to pick up the school yearbook from 4:30 to 7 p.m. today during the open house in the commons area.  The gray cover shows a picture of the entrance to the high school and reads, “Guess you had to be there.”  The inside front and back pages picture a double spread of the graduated class of 2007 on the school bleachers.  The class of 2007 seniors are pictured again individually in color with a light blue background in the center of the book.  Black and white pictures of freshmen, sophomores and juniors are also included in the Orbit volume 94.   WDT

 

2008

01 06       NEW HEALTH AND WELLNESS CENTER CLINIC

A dream became a reality Saturday for those who have donated their time and efforts to establish a free medical clinic in Watertown for low income residents and the working uninsured.  Members of the Watertown Area Cares Clinic Committee and a group of local contractors and volunteers gathered Saturday to celebrate the kick-off and demolition project at the future home of the new clinic at the Health and Wellness Center on South Eighth Street.  “Before it was all theoretical,” said Tim Strauch, director of information services for Watertown Memorial Hospital.  “Now it’s real and that’s really exciting.”

 

05 03       JUNIOR PROM

Hundreds of students dressed in their finest danced around paper dragons, bamboo shoots and oriental decorative fans at Watertown High School’s annual prom Saturday.  Juniors Des Smith and Kailey-Jo Krueger were crowned king and queen of the annual event.  About 435 students spent Saturday dancing from 8 p.m. to midnight in the high school commons area which was decorated around the theme “Shanghai Moon.”  High school parents checked coats, served drinks and assisted with valet parking for students who attended the event.

 

2009

05 09       TOP STUDENTS IN GRADUATING CLASS

The top 10 students for the Watertown High School graduating class of 2009 have been announced by Principal Scott Bostwick.  The valedictorian of the class is Moses Balian and the class salutatorian is Elizabeth Miller.  Others in the academic top 10 list are: Anum Samdani, Desmond Smith, Lauren Holterman, Ashley Schuett, Lindsey Ryan, Pierce Luker, Jessica Callaway and Quincy Eckert.

 

05 14       SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS

Scholarships and awards valued at nearly $500,000 were presented to Watertown High School seniors at the annual awards program Sunday afternoon in the school’s auditorium.  Heading the list of locally administered scholarships were Quincy Eckert and Daniel Jurczyk, who each received one of two Betty J. Joseph scholarships valued at $26,000 over four years. Eckert is the daughter of Ken and Amy Eckert. Jurczyk is the son of Dave and Debbie Jurczyk.

 

06 08       GRADUATION CLASS

Proud parents and family members applauded and snapped photos at a rapid pace as the sea of blue that was the Watertown High School class of 2009 spilled into the school’s gymnasium on Saturday for one last time.  Donning dark blue gowns and mortarboards, hundreds of Watertown High School seniors waved back at the audience with beaming smiles as they collected their diplomas during Saturday’s graduation ceremony held in the school’s gymnasium.

 

09 09       2008-09 SCHOOL YEARBOOK

Watertown High School students may pick up the 2008-09 school yearbook at the bookkeepers office during school hours.  The light blue cover with a picture of the school’s street sign reads, “At the End of Endeavour Drive.”  The inside front and back pages pictures a double spread of the graduating class of 2009 on the school bleachers.  The class of 2009 seniors are pictured again individually in color with a blue background in the center of the book.  A special section is a tribute to the memory of the late Ben Richter.  The two-page spread includes color pictures of Richter with his friends and fellow classmates throughout his school career.  Richter died of injuries he sustained from a lightning strike near his home on July 7, 2008.

 

2012

CLASS OF 2012 VIDEO DEDICATION

     < YouTube video

 

2013

STUDENT BODY VIDEO PRODUCTION

03 10         Video includes over 50 clubs and sports, over 1100 students.

 

SCOTT MANTEI NEW HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

05 15        

 

2014

12 06       STANLEY CHANDLER (1924-2014)

http://watertowndailytimes.wi.newsmemory.com/newsmemvol2/wisconsin/watertowndailytimes/20141209/wdt-2014-12-09-a-009.pdf.0/img/Image_4.jpg   

Stanley Chandler (1924-2014), taught at Watertown High School from 1957 until his retirement in 1986.  Stan was not just a social studies teacher, he was also the audio visual director, started the school print shop and coached the high school tennis team.

 

2015

04 28       MOCK PROM CRASH SCENARIO, Watertown High School

         

 

07 14       SCOTT MANTEI RESIGNS AS PRINCIPAL

Watertown High will start the 2015-16 school year with a new principal.  Scott Mantei has resigned to take a job as principal of Grafton High School.

 

-- --           GRADUATION, Class of 2015  

 

2018

06 18       KUSEL STEPS UP TO HELP AT HIGH SCHOOL

Kusel steps up to help at Watertown High School

 

With help from local industry, Watertown High School's manufacturing courses are getting a makeover for the 2018-19 school year.

 

Over the past 18 months, work has been completed to finalize curriculum, acquire board approval, select equipment and secure funding to update next year's classes. Courses next year will be welding, machine tool and metal fabrication.

 

Jesse Domer, Watertown High School's manufacturing instructor, said, "Partners like Kusel Equipment are making updates to our welding and machining courses possible. These updates are providing better educational training for our students at WHS."

 

The program has been soliciting donors over the past nine months to raise the $60,000 price tag to accomplish these changes. Kusel Equipment Co., a Watertown business, recently donated $6,000, making it a "Welding Booth Sponsor" for this initiative.

 

"Educational opportunities can take shape in many different ways," Dave Smith, CEO of Kusel Equipment Co., said. "Kusel is committed to helping those Watertown High School students explore a future path either in a trade or a specific manufacturing career that suits their interests."

 

As the oldest company in Watertown, Kusel Equipment Co. has a deep and distinguished history that has only continued to flourish since its inception in 1849.

 

With beginnings as a tinsmith that grew into one of the leading cheese equipment makers in North America, to starting the stainless steel drain industry in the United States, Kusel Equipment Co. continues to deliver on its promise of quality products coupled with superior customer service. Today, Kusel continues its heritage of designing and manufacturing all of its products where the company was founded -- Watertown.

 

Jeremy Walker, vice president of manufacturing for Kusel Equipment Co., said, "We are excited to be partnering with the Watertown Unified School District, especially with our investment to expose students to a solid welding experience. We've all learned that an advanced, traditional educational path isn't for everyone. Giving students other options for their futures will provide them with the tools to succeed."     WDT

 

2019

06 08       CLASS OF 2019

Link to pdf file  

 

2021

06 07       HIGH SCHOOL NHS DONATES TO WATERTOWN FIRE DEPT.

The Watertown High School National Honors Society chapter used funds raised through an Emil’s Pizza fundraiser and donated $500 to the local fire department.  The fire department partnered with Watertown High School and the NHS chapter to offer two CPR training classes next year so Watertown students will have the opportunity to be better prepared to handle certain medical emergencies.

 

07 26       JOSH KERR NEW WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL

Succeeds Brian Loss, who resigned June 30.  Kerr, who had served as associate principal for seven years at Watertown High School, has been with the district a decade, starting as a high school social studies teacher and a varsity soccer coach.     WDTimes article

 

08 25       CLASS OF 1954 67th REUNION

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The Watertown High School graduating class of 1954 held its 67th reunion Aug. 7 at Lindberg’s by the River

 

Arlene Creydt Rather, Carol Block, Kenneth Boeder, Marian Preinfalk Heese, Victor Herschi, May Steckhahn Burgy, William Bergin, Erline Kuehl Adler, Donald Stannard, Patricia Wood Benzel, Donald Beaudoin, Jack Becker, and Robert Adler; front row, Phillip Peck, Edward Raether, Peter Colletti, Ione Kreitzman Staude, Evelyn Dantuma Arndt, Audrey Hilgendorf Ninmann, Barbara Swailes Fischer, and Leona Heinz Behling.

 

10 25       CLASS OF 1960, 60th CLASS REUNION

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Paul Fernholz, Ron Kohls, Al Schoenike, Tom Freiwald, Karla Johnsen Mullen, Jeanne Schultz Goeglein, Dick Rohde, Dick Walter, Kent Karberg, David McMurray, Lyle Braunschweig, Diane Reinhard, James Rothschadl, Jim Oiler, Ed Twesme, Anita Christian Borchardt, Jack Hartung, Doris Borchardt Wegner, Karen Schmidt, Gloria Barganz Duehring, Karen Sazama Sonnentag, Jane Marjorie Uttech Parlow, Jim Clifford, Penny Luedtke Wegner, Nancy Heiden Klinger, Eileen Zwieg Buescher, Joann Wagner Goergen, Joan Coughlin Genske, Lucille Wolff Parlow, Kathleen Kennedy Pierce, Charlie Stellbrink, Reed Larson and Rich Crupi.

 

2022

05 07       JUNIOR PROM COURT, JUNIOR & SENIOR

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The junior court includes Nathan Walter, Ethan Johnson, Wyatt Steffanus, Ben Gifford, Denzel Esquivel, Bohdi Degrandt, Ralph Haumschild, front row, Mikaylah Fessler, Kirsten Wiedmeyer, Emmaleigh Rein, Abby Walsh, Madelynn Braatz, Gabrielle Schmidt, and Gabby Sippel.

 

The senior court members includes Logan Fuchs, Dylan Geske, Caleb Clark, Nathan Kehl, Aden Clark, Taylor Walter, Ollie Meyers, and front row, Brianna Wanke, Ella Bailey, Meghan Hurtgen, Sujeiry Villareal, Maddie Brunner, Madison Peters, and Lily Gifford.

 

07 26       2022 DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI

Eric Rimm is the 2022 Distinguished Alumni.  Rimm, who hails from the Watertown High School Class of 1982, attended University of Wisconsin-Madison. He completed his doctoral degree in epidemiology at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.   WDTimes article 

 

2022

10 08       CLASS OF 1972 had 50-year reunion in 2022

 

2023

09 29       WATERTOWN 2023 HOMECOMING

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Watertown 2023 Homecoming King Callen Smith and Queen Alora Thomas get a free ride down Main Street during their parade.

  Video clip       

 

 

 

   Image Portfolio 

 

 

 

 

Cross References:

Notepad