conto
County WIGenWeb Project
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HISTORIC
OCONTO COUNTY SCHOOLS
Sunshine School
7708 Sunshine Rd.
Lena
Oconto
County, Wisconsin
Article
contributed
by:
Larry
Grady
(transcribed
from the 1953 news article below)
SUNSHINE
SCHOOL
The
Sunshine School District dumber
One was formed in the year of 1881,
as District Number Five of Little River. It is located two miles West
of Lena on County Trunk A. The first school board consisted of C. W.
Halstead, and R. Cashman the other officers.
The original log school
and
benches were built in 1882, on the present
plot of land by F. Pellessier who also taught the first term. The rest
of the school term being taught by E. L. Widger and Jennie Grandie.
When the school was built
it
was on land belonging to Holt. The
District did not acquire title to this property till May 1892. In the
fall of 1892. Sol Pelkey was awarded a $500.00 contract to build a new
school. The old school was used while the new one was being built. It
was of wooden exterior, painted red and in 1909 it was refinished with
brick veneer. At present it is finished with wood siding and painted
white.
The present school board
consists of Alvin Glime, Director; Loyd
Kieffer. Clerk; Paul Magle, Tresurer. The present teacher is Miss
Theresa Steffeck.
When the new school was
built
a large type stove was installed which
burned wood. Wood in the year of 1896 sold for about 95cents a cord.
Today
we have a modern oil burner that keeps the school at even temperature
day and night. About 1930 a group of ladies in the District gave a
home talent play and bought a piano for the school as well as dishes
and cooking utensiles.
The first County
Superintendent was Mr. Gilkey and the supervising
teacher Miss Birr. They had
nine months of school the first year, divided into three terms;
fall, winter, and spring.
In 1944 to 1946 the
Sunshine
School was voted closed and the children
conveyed to the Lena School. Then in 1946 they consolidated with Meadow
Brook and the pupils came to the Sunshine District. The Meadow Brook
School is now used as a Community Club House.
Throughout the years
improvements have been added, such as a basement,
larger playground, playground equipment, water system, indoor plumbing,
and a new floor.
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