Collected and posted by BILL
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Town Line School - Goldschmidt School
Zorn School - LaFollette School
The original 1893 school on the town line between Grover, Marinette County, and Little River, Oconto County,
known unofficially as Goldschmidt (built on family land) or Town Line School. It was rebuilt at the nearby site of 8917
County J, in 1903 after a fire totally destroyed the first building in 1902.
The second school house at 1917 County J which was unofficially known as Zorn School (built on family land)
and named LaFollette School in 1919, has since been demolished and a private residence sits at
the site.
Town of Little River, WI
Oconto County, Wisconsin
Built 1893 - Rebuilt 1903
 Newspaper
Article - November 1902 - Publication Unknown
WAS
STRUCK BY LIGHTNING .
_______ LITTLE RIVER SCHOOL HOUSE BURNED TO GROUND _________ OCCUPANTS NARROW ESCAPE __________ The Sixteen Pupils and Teacher Rescued
from Burning Building by Some Men Who had Taken Refuge in the School House from Storm ______________ The school house situated upon them town line between the town of Little River and town of Grover (Marinette County),
was struck by lightning Wednesday afternoon at one o'clock. The
building was burned to the ground and but for the presence of a number
of men who were at work upon the road near the school building the
occupants would have perished in the flames.
The story of the catastrophe as gathered by our reporter is as follows: Chas. Schmolinski who has a contract to grade the road which runs by the school house with his crew of six men was at work near the building when school was dismissed for dinner (noon meal). The men had their dinners with them and as the weather was inclement they were invited to come in and eat their dinner in the school, by Miss Edna McDowell, the teacher. They did so and as a terrific hail and thunder storm was in progress they remained within until the afternoon session was begun. Shortly after school was called the building was struck by lightning and almost immediately was enveloped in flames. The electric shock threw most of the occupants to the floor. Mr. Schmolinski who was seated near the stove was badly burned about the right leg. The shoe upon that foot was literally torn to pieces.. The other men escaped almost unhurt being only slightly stunned. The scholars were all badly stunned, and several severely burned. They were unable to help themselves and had to be carried out of the building by the men. Miss McDowell, also, whose clothing was on fire and had to be assisted from the building (see more detail on Teacher McDowell's traumatic experience to the right). The most severely injured were Mr. Schmolinski and a little child named Goldsmith (Goldschmidt) who was very severely burned. (The school was rebuilt the following year at a new, nearby site at 8917 County J as Zorn School then officially named LaFollette School. It has since been demolished and a private residence sits at the site.) |
 Unofficially named Town Line School and Goldschmidt School History of LaFollette School The town of Little River got its name from the river which runs through it. The first settlers in our district were Mr. Herman Jandry Sr., and Mr. Fred Ahrens Sr., Mr. Jandry came from Germany and settled here in 1875. Many of his relatives still live in the Little River Township. Reinhold Behnke and Frank Goldschmidt are the oldest settlers now living in our school district. In the year of 1893 our first school was built on the land now owned by Louis Goldschmidt. Miss Kate Dudden was the first teacher. One afternoon in 1902 some men were digging a ditch near the school house when a thunder storm came up. They ran to the wood shed behind the school for shelter. Seeing they were wet, Edna McDowell, the teacher at that time, called to them to come into the school to dry their clothes. As the men entered the school, the lightning struck. It came down the chimney, traveled along the stove pipes and went down through the floor, ripping the boards loose on the exact spot the teacher was standing. The boards clamped tight again wedging Miss McDowell's foot in the crack. Many of the children fell to the floor; some were badly burned, while others were just frightened. The four men who were in the school, Mr. Schmolinski, Reinhold Behnke, Herman Jandry, and Herman Speering rescued the teacher and the children, and carried out some of the furniture. The school house burned to the ground. In 1903 a new school was built on the present site. Amy Grady was the first teacher. At first the school had no name but was often spoken of as the Zorn School because the building was on the land once owned by Mr. Zorn. At the time of World War I (1917 - 1918), Mr. Shroeder suggested naming it the LaFollette School after Senator Robert LaFollette, Sr. It was voted on by the people of the district and accepted. Information gathered by Floyd Behnke and Carol Goldschmidt. Source of Information is Reinhold Behnke, Mrs. Ferd. Behnke, Mrs. Albert Schroeder, Mr. Fred Last, and Mr. Frank Goldschmidt. Compiled by the children and their teacher, Miss Ruth Fredrickson. (Year unknown) |
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