Manitowoc County WI Archives History - Schools .....Kossuth 1 - Francis Creek ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.org/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.org/wi/wifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com November 2, 2007, 1:34 am KOSSUTH 1-FRANCIS CREEK Lillian C. Jehle Kossuth district No. 1 was appropriately named the Francis Creek school because it is located a short distance north of that village and is the district school for the Francis Creek community. As one would expect, it has always been known by that name. Francis Creek was so named from Francis creek which flows past the school into the West Twin. The Francis Creek district was organized in the early 1850's, but it was not until October 8, 1856, that the trustees for the district purchased 3 3/4 acres of land from Michael Hasmer for $37.50 for a school site. The original school site is used today and is described in the warranty deed as the N. W. corner of the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of section 17, Kossuth. The district then included all of sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15. When Kossuth Jt. 1 was set up in 1901, a large area was detached in the northeastern area. Other small areas were attached and detached since its organization so that today the boundaries of the district are very irregular. The first public schoolhouse, a frame structure, was built about 1852. According to a picture of that school in possession of Mrs. Louis Cootway, a former pupil, the building was about 18 x 24 feet with four shuttered windows on each long side and one in the entrance side. A small entry was attached to the front of the building and a lean-to shed for fuel was added to the rear. The equipment consisted of the usual homemade desks and seats, seating six to eight pupils each. There evidently was no cloakroom, and so the clothes and dinner buckets were stored in the schoolroom. The schoolyard had a large dinner bell atop a high pole to call the pupils in from play. After the first building had served its purpose, it was sold for $43.45 on February 27, 1892, and moved about one mile west to the present highway 141. There it was remodeled into a cheese factory, still standing today and owned by Adolph Schenian. The second and present school building was brick-veneered and built in 1891 at a cost of $708 for material and $747.41 for labor. This school is about 28 x 38 with a smaller brick fuel shed attached to the rear. The building does not have a basement because the schoolyard is covered with only a thin layer of soil on top of rock. Outdoor toilets only are practical. New blackboards, double desks, and a bell were purchased for the new school. The large Webster dictionary added in 1893 is still found in the library. The school was heated by a wood stove until 1908 when a more modern heating and ventilating system was installed. Today a floor furnace is used. A kitchen cabinet and oil stove to aid in serving hot lunches were purchased in 1922. Single type desks and seats replaced the double desks in 1923. A new maple flooring was laid in 1930. Two years later free textbooks were adopted. In 1935, the southwest corner of the schoolroom was partitioned off and made into a semi-library-kitchen. Electric lights were installed the same year, making possible the use of radio and an electric plate. Other equipment consists of a piano, a steel file, maps, globe, bulletin boards, tables, and chairs. A well was drilled on the schoolyard in 1908 by William Reif. Playground equipment consisting of a merry-go-round and a slide was purchased in 1927. Enrollment records-for the latter 1800's on file in the county office show that the school buildings were filled to capacity. Summer and winter sessions were held up to about 1875 with the older boys and girls attending during the winter. In 1870, the records show that 69 pupils attended, but by 1875 and 1880 the average yearly attendance was above 90. During the 1890's the enrollment averaged about 70, but by 1900 the number of pupils had again gone up to 80. Even as late as 1915 the enrollment was near the 60 mark. Since that time there has been a steady decline, so that by 1948 the average daily attendance was 8, although there are still about 80 children of legal school age in the district according to the 1945 school census. The establishment of the parochial school in the village as well as other rural population trends have had their usual effect. The 1857 Kossuth assessment roll lists W. Robinson, Carper Hessel, S. Walker, John Krist, John Strouf, Jos. Kellner, John Woodfield, Geo. and John Robinson, W. Dolezal, Jacob Hessel, Casper Ewen, and Michael Hasmer as early residents of the district. Others who came later were Wencil Wacek, Frank Kliment, Anton Youra, John Rezek, Wencil Kerscher, Wenzel Titera, Wencil Swade, John Tesarik, Joseph Maresh, and Anton Hochman. Some former pupils who became well-known were Lillian L. Chloupek, county supervising teacher and county superintendent of schools; Adolph Chloupek, an attorney at Mishicot; Dr. Chas. Chloupek of Green Bay; John Chloupek, county judge; Erwin Chloupek, a lawyer in San Francisco; Louis Stastny, a wholesaler in Chicago; Louis Meyer, town chairman; Orrin Meyer, Calumet county agricultural agent; the Hessels, who were and are prominent Francis Creek businessmen; Jos. Konop, prominent lawyer of Milwaukee, Ladimer Titera, a Major in World War I; as well as a host of others who became prominent in the community and county. Some district residents who became teachers were Lillian Cholupek, Clifford Meyer, Ursula Baugniet, Francis Schenian, Ivy and Sylvan Hessel, Orrin Meyer, E. Chizek, Clarence Mleziva, and others. The names of the school officers prior to 1872 are unknown. Wm. Chloupek is recorded as clerk from 1872 to 1874; Wm. Robinson, clerk from 1874 to 1880. Others who served on the board prior to 1906 were Frank Dolezal, Anton Chloupek, Christ Phiel, John Krainik, Emanuel Fierst, Joseph Chloupek, John Rezek, John Robinson, John Strouf, Jos. Tesarik, Ignatz Pankratz, Anton Skarievoda, John Peroutka, and Albert Stransky. There is no record of who the teachers were before 1872, but a complete list of all persons who taught this school is available since that year. Those teaching here up to 1907 were: John Chloupek 1872-3, Annie Sullivan 1873-4, John P. Kennedy 1874, Melora Shove 1875, Wm. Burke 1876, Leroy Backus 1877-80, John Chloupek 1880-86, John Pospisel 1886, F. B. Morrisey 1887-9, Adelia Boettcher 1890 (last teacher, in the old school), Mary Pelishek (2 mo.) and Blanche Tilson (6 mo.) 1891, Bridget O'Dea 1892, Maggie Kane 1893-96, Eugene Mason 1896-99, Annie Schneider 1899-1901, Peter Gruber 1901-02, John Guhin 1902-04, and Anton D. Strouf 1904-07. Former teachers who became prominent in other professions were County Judge John Chloupek, Atty. Anton Strouf, and banker P. C. Baugniet. The Francis Creek school has always taken an active part in school fairs, township and county contests, and in progressive school movements. It has served as an eighth grade diploma examination center for surrounding schools. A near-serious accident occurred in April 1919, when lightning struck the schoolhouse while classes were in session. The bolt struck the bell tower and entered the classroom injuring several pupils slightly and Richard Swade quite seriously. The first business place of Francis Creek was a flour and grist mill and a brewery built and owned by Anton Chloupek on the present John Meyer farm located across the road to the north of the school. One of the original buildings is still standing. Mrs. Geo. Schmidt, formerly L. L. Chloupek, reports that quite a good-sized village existed at one time around the mill and school property. The first tavern and dance hall was built by Joseph Chloupek at the place where the Jos. Stransky home is now located, which is on the northeast corner of the Polifka road and highway 141. That business place was later moved to the present Wagner's hall by John Stastny. The first Francis Creek postoffice was located in this building. The first business place in the present village was begun by Casper Hessel nearly a century ago. That business place was located at the present Luke Herman home. Later the place was taken over by Charles Hessel, Sr. In later years the establishment was moved a short distance and is now the Louis Hessel place. A church and cemetery on the present Stransky farm is a reminder of the early days of the community. Contrary to most rural villages, Francis Creek has grown and prospered with the coming of the railroad and the modern highways. Additional Comments: Extracted from: 1848 - 1948 CENTENNIAL HISTORY of the Manitowoc County School Districts and Public School System EDITED BY JOS. J. RAPPEL, COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS 1948 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.org/wi/manitowoc/history/schools/kossuth1159gms.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 9.1 Kb