Oconto County WIGenWeb Project
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HISTORIC OCONTO COUNTY SCHOOLS
  Sunny Slope School
6902 County Road K
Photo Source OCGS
Town of  Oconto Falls
Oconto County, Wisconsin


Sunny Slope School
built 1918
replacing the original built in 1894

This is the 28th in a series of articles sponsored by the Oconto County Teacher's Association to promote better public relations in the schools of our county.

contributed by:
Larry Grady

(transcribed from the 1954 news article below)
Peterson Home Served as School
At Sunny Slope First Five Years

Only Two Trees Remain on
Grounds for Which Elm Lawn School
Was Named in 1921 

THE SUNNY SLOPE SCHOOL

The location of the original Sunny Slope school, District No. 5, town of Oconto Falls, was in the house of Peter Peterson across the road from, the school's present location in the year of 1893. In 1894 a school house was built which served until the present one was constructed. At a special meeting on April 19, 1913, a vote was taken to build a new school. Not until 1918 was the new school completed at a cost of $2,944.42 plus $390.32 for fixtures.

In the first school the benches were homemade and served for many years when double seats were bought which were in use as long as the first building stood. When the school was rebuilt in 1918 single, adjustable desks were bought which are in use at the present time. The first stove was a large box stove, later replaced by a jacket stove.

In 1952, an oil burning space heater was installed. Electric lights have replaced the wall kerosene lamps found in the first school. Our present equipment includes a piano and a radio. In 1952, playground equipment was purchased including a "merry-go-round, teeter-totter, gymnasium set and bats and balls. A well was dug, but it never has been a source of water supply. Water has been carried from the August Benson farm across the road ever since the school has been built.

Examining the records available we found that the first school terms were taught for seven months. In 1910, there were eight months of school to be taught in three terms as follows: School opened September 6 and closed December 23. It reopened January 2 and closed February 24. The last third of the term began April 3 and school closed on May 27. In 1914, the schoolboard voted for nine months of school. In 1919 the free textbook system was voted upon and adopted.

Some of the officers to serve on the first school boards were John Daily, Bill Plain, Charles Oleson, Peter Peterson, Thomas Benson, Peter Anderson, Ansheln Dahlquist and Gustave Johnson.  The first teacher was Annie Mc Dougal. The wages were from twenty-five to thirty-five dollars a month. Among the early teachers were Alberta and Minnie Boone, Arthur Schall, Agnes Mc Donnel, Belle Porterfield, Elsie Pagel and Cora Welch.

The present school board members are John Fabry, Jr., Arnold Anderson and Leonard Johnson. The present teacher is Mrs. Frances Brunner.

Old School Bell Goes To Peru

1963 News Article

Information researched and contributed by:
 Jill Gondek

Oconto Falls - The bell on the Sunny Slope School, which has been sold by the Oconto Falls Integrated District, is going on a long trip before it arrives at its new home.

The Board which met this past week had authorized that it be given to Lambert Anderson for his Ticuna Land Mission School near Peru, South America. Lambert, who is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Emil Anderson attended this school as a lad and was called to his studies from play many a time by its ringing.

At the mission school which Lambert organized there are about one hundred children eagerly learning to read and write, with adult classes in the evenings. Lambert and his wife Doris went among the Ticunas to put their language into form, and they have done an outstanding piece of work with those primitive people.

His people will love the story of the old school bell and to have it in their school to call their children to classes.

After surveys, the board of education has been given authorization to sell Sunny Slope School as there are too few children to attend for a teacher to be placed at this point.

If just one Ticuna boy or girl gets the impetus to make of life what Lambert Anderson had achieved, the old bell will become a wonderful symbol.

 


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