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From
the Oconto County
Reporter –History of Little Suamico 1969-70
I
believe written by
Alice Koehne
The
One-Room Schoolhouse
Closely
associated with St. John’s is the Cottonwood Schoolhouse, not
only because
many of the same persons were organizers of both, but also because the
school building now serves the church as a parish hall.
As
with the
church, the settlers organized a school before a building was available
to house it. The beginnings of the School District No. 4 goes
back
to 1892 under the leadership of Henry Koehne, director of the school
board;
Obediah Ferdon, clerk and Alex Zoeller, treasurer. For the
first
few years, the scholars met in Ferdon’s home on county trunk
S to learn
their three “R’s” under the tutelage of
Gusta Jacques. Ferdon received
$4 a month rent for the use of his home and the school teacher was paid
$30, out of which $10 went for room and board. Until August
of last
year, when it was destroyed by fire the house was the oldest in the
school
district. (It had been owned for the last years by the
Vincent Larsons.)
Two of the Little Suamico youngsters who attended school there were
Mrs.
Ed Allen (Edna DeMaiffe) and the late Minnie Koehne Liebert.
Early in the
summer of 1894, John Virtues obtained 26 signatures on a petition to be
presented to the town board requesting authorization for a school
district
to encompass a cited territory. The petition notarized by
then Justice
of the Peace William W. Foster, was favorably considered by the board
members
Harry D. Whitcomb, Obediah Ferdon and Henry G. Bramschrieber, and
school
district No. 4 was born.
A few days
later, on June 9, the new district called its first meeting and again
elected
Henry Koehne as director of the board, John Gierke as treasurer, and
August
Aland as clerk. So many people turned out for the meeting
that the
gathering had to move from the house to the barn to conduct the
business
at hand.
The following
summer, the school board contracted Gust Papenfus to build a
schoolhouse
on land leased from Asa Foster Sr., (grandfather of the present Asa
Foster).
For the sum of $490 Papenfus furnished both material and labor,
including
seats and desks. Grandfather Koehne donated the blackboards.
By 1905 there
were 48 students enrolled in grades one through eight in the one room
schoolhouse.
Some of the boys, their education interrupted while helping their
families
become established in a new land, were as old as 18. The task
faced
by the young school teachers in handling so many students of varying
ages-
in discipline as well as teaching- was formidable, and all for the
compensation
of $25 a month. School was held for six months out of each
year.
During the
66 years of its existence, Cottonwood had 34 teachers all of women with
the exception of Willard Allen who now serves as mail carrier for the
village.
The roster reads as follows:
Gusta Jacques,
Rose Touchette, Vira McGinnis, Ester Minian, Pearl Trechette, Kathryn
Herald,
Laura (Johnson)Virtues, Ida (McDowell) Herbert, Clarice Roy, Lenore
Kehl,
Kathryn Noonan, Mrs. Gertrude Larson, Ethel Armstrong, Georgia LaVigne,
Berna Berman, Mrs. Violet Laduron, Muriel (Coopman) Hicks, Willard
Allen,
Mae (Young) Koehne, Bernice (Krueger) Bergh, Mildred Murphy, Margaret
Rabe,
Mary (Whitcomb) Papenfus, Helen (Carey) Daul, Alice (Lorang) Koehne,
Adella
(Berth) Pagel, Patricia (Young) Mathey, Margaret (Jahnke) Sarvick,
Anita
(Ward) Kennin, Alice Thome, Nora Johnson, Caryl (Leigh) Hazen, Janet
(Jensen)
Reed, Mary Ann Otrodovec and Laurell LaCount.
During the
tenure of one of the early teachers, a tree planting was carried on
around
the new school, each student responsible for planting and caring for
one
cottonwood. Not all the new trees made it, and the first
sapling
to die was the one planted by Margaret Virtues. When Margaret
herself
died soon after, the students read into this an ominous significance
and
became keenly interested in the survival of their particular trees.
Most of the
trees grew and flourished, however, and in 1919, when the school board
began searching for a name they decided on Cottonwood Grove School.
Early in 1960
the last class met at Cottonwood school. The following year
District
No. 4 became part of the Oconto Falls school system and
Cottonwood
went the way of most of the one-room country schools which have been
closed
in the past decade.
It was however,
rescued from oblivion when the congregation of St. John’s
church bought
the building at a cost of $801 from the Oconto Falls school
district.
The one-time school house was extensively remodeled inside and out and
has become an attractive and serviceable parish hall.
Souvenir - District Number Four
Little
Suamico, Wisconsin
1906
Vire
McGinnis, Teacher
School
Board.
August
Brendemihl, Director
John
Foster Clerk;
Peter
Weber Treasurer.
Names
of Pupils
Lena Luebke, Jake Brendemihl,
Tom Brendemihl, Fred Ruiter, Vivian Kohne, Ida Reiter, Viola Ingram,
Mabel
Hornbrook, Walter Hornbrook, Emma Luebke, Ella Bauman, Marnie Ferdon,
Mary
Brendemihl, Erwin Fredon, Obadiah Ferdon, Ella Durand, Grace Virtues,
Oliver
Zoeller, Helen Jankauski, Anna Jankauski, Mary Jankauski, Lillian
Virtues,
Klimer Jankauski, Alex Zoeller, Clyde Williams, Ross Williams, John
Virtues,
Chester Ferdon, Elmer Ferdon, John Weber, Will Ferdon, Joe Jankauski,
Willard
Hornibrook, Adeline Zoeller, Francis Zoeller, Louisa Virtues, Margaret
Virtues, Edward Durand, Leona Ruiter, Floyd Ferdon, Arthur Ferdon, John
Zoeller, Ormie Virtues, Otto Luebke.
|
Please
click on each photo for a larger view.
1906
|
 Back
Row—L to R: Elsie Ferdon, Vivian Koehne, Grace Virtues,
Everal Papenfus,
Margaret Virtues, Tillie Brendemuhl, Laura Johnston (Teacher), Russell
Moore, Jake Brendemuhl. 2nd R: Ethel Richard, Dorothy Virtues, Mae
Papenfus,
Lucy Brendemuhl, Jack Brendemuhl, Gopher Moore, -- Lindsley, Alex
Zoeller,
Ruben Plouff, — Lindsley. 3rd R: Myrtle Plouff, lola
Papenfus, Olive Virtues,
Beatrice Papenfus, Beatrice Koehne, Myrtle Brendemuhl, Art Brendemuhl,
Louis Ward, Frank Ferdon, Henry Koehne, Carl Ward, Art Richard.
1915
|
Unidentified
boys
|
Unidentified
girls
|
Left to
right-Back to
Front: Betty Geano, Johnny Zoeller, Lucille Foster, Isobel Zoeller, 2nd
Row: Lucille Geano, Arliss Foster, Spike Ferdon, Gerry Foster, Gloria
Zoeller.
3rd Row: Hulda Friedman, unknown, Helen Foster, Bill Friedman, Elaine
Foster,
unknown. 4th Row: Gene Foster, Earl Koehne. Last Row: Dan Koehne,
Gordon
Papenfus, Elmer Lade, Helen Friedman, Erma Lade.
1930
Teacher
May Young
|
Front
Row: Marvin Durand,
Lucille Pleckman, Ruth Durand, Florence Peters, Gloria Zoeller, Ruben
Pleckman,
Lillian Stephenson, Gertrude Zoeller. Second Row: John Zoeller, David
Donahue,
Rudolph Retatty, Betty Geano, Lucille Geano, Lucille Foster.
1935
|
Front
Row: Norbert Lepinski,
Billy Gokey, Donald Laabs, Lester Blan, Angeline Lepinski, Mona
Matravers,
Second Row: Robert Laabs, Elva Durand, Gertrude Zoeller,
Bernard
Lepinski, David Stephenson, Fred Foster, Phyllis Friedman. Third Row:
Wesley
Durand,
Marvin
Durand, Neal Eichman,
Lillian Stephenson, Ruth Durand, Velma Blan.
1940
|
Lower
Grades 1942-43
Patsy
Gokey, Margaret
Larsen, Bobby Laabs, Donald Laabs,Jim Virtues, Raymond Ostrenga, Roy
Laab,
Bobby Gzonka, Lowell Virtues, Celtus Laabs, Frank Gzonka.
|
Upper
Grades 1942-43
Wesley
Durand, Marvin
Durand, Joan Grzonka, Neil Eichman, Phyliss Friedman, Eva Durand,
Dorethy
Grzonka, Teacher Adela Berth, Billy Gokey, Fred Foster and Jerome
Pansier.
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Playing
Outside 1942-43
|
1942
|
Field
Trip 1942-43
|
Eighth
Grade Graduation
1944
Adella
Berth, Marvin
Durand, Phyliss Friedman, Neil Eichman, Jerome Pansier, Wesley Durand
and
Fred Foster
|
Left to Right:
Ronnie Joachim, Nancy Barrett, Roy Laabs, Bernadine Ostrenga, Bill
Koehne,
Lowell Virtues, Marilyn Barrett, Bob Grzonka, Glen Virtues,
lone
Durand, Frank Grzonka, Helen Eichman, Karen Joachim, Raymond Ostrenga,
Eddie Eichman, Bob Laabs, Donald Laabs, Jack Koehne, Jim Virtues,
Cletus
Laabs.
1945
|
 .
Row:
Lowell Virtues,
Ione Durand, Ray Ostrenga, Marilyn Barrett, Cletus Laabs, Helen
Eichman,
Donald Laabs, Nancy Barrett; Mrs. Tuome. Second Row: Gerrie Foster,
Mary
Koehne, Bernadine Ostrenga, Audrey Larsen, Virginia Jankowski, Ruth
Thome,
Elaine Jankowski, Susan Vincent, Georgianna Pyrek, Marge Koehne, --
Vincent,
Gerald Vincent. Front Row: Al Barrett, Bill Koehne, -- Vincent, Eddie
Eichmann,
Glen Virtues, Roy Laabs, Jim Ostrenga, Fred Koehne, Bill Walla.
1948
|
Front
Row: Marjorie Koehne,
Bernadine Ostrenga, Mary Koehne, James Ostrenga, Virginia Jankowski,
Audrey
Larsen, Elaine Jankowski, Albert Barrett, Danny Koehne, Geraldine
Foster.
Back Row: Carol Plouff, Ruth Thome, lone Durand, Nancy Barrett, Marilyn
Barrett, Sherry Plouff, Mrs. Thome, Roy Laabs, Glen Virtues, Edward
Eichman
William Koehne, William Walla, Fred Koehne. Absent-Robert
Grzonka
1949
|
 Christmas
Program
(right
photo)
Dan
Koehne, Al Barrett,
Ken Krueger, Ted Schultz, Richard Grzonka, Ronnie Ostrenga, Bill
Foster,
Judy Koehne, Diana Wilbur, Laurie Krueger, Sharon Matuszewski, Jean
Koehne,
Anna Larsen, Pat Matuezewski
1953-54
(Left
photo) Back Row: Billy
Walla, Mary Koehne, Billy Koehne, Bernadine Ostrenga, Carol Plouff,
Elaine
Jankowski. 3rd Row: Jim Ostenga, Fred Koehne, Kenneth Krueger, Billy
Foster,
Albert Barrctt, Audrey Larsen. 2nd Row: Judy Koehne, Jean
Koehne,
Jackie Plouff, Sharon Laabs. Front Row: David Grzonka, Laurie Krueger,
Patsy Matuszewski, Richard Grzonka, Anna Lee Larsen . |
David
Grzonka, Laurie
Krueger, Ted Schultz, Diana Wilbur, Patsy Matuszewski, Sharon
Matuszewski,
Jim Ostrenga, Sharon Laabs, Ken Krueger, Dan Koehne, Ron Ostrenca, Mary
Koehne, Elaine Jankowski, Richard Grzonka, Judy Koehne, Anna Larsen,
Audrey
Larsen, Billy Foster, Jean Koehne, Allie Barrett, Gerrie Foster,
(Standing)
Delia Wilbur, Miss Ward, Margie Koehne.
1954
|
Front
Row: Ronald Ostrenga,
James Barrett, Gerald Matuszewski, Billy Gronka, David Grzonka, Sharon
Matuszewski, Patsy Matuszewski, Second Row: Richard Grzonka, Jean
Koehne,
Anna Lee Larson, Judy Koehne, Billy Foster, AIbert Barrett, Danny
Koehne,
Dennis Deaton, Third Row: Mrs. Kennin, Diane Deaton, Marjorie Koehne,
Sharon
Laabs, Billy Zachow, Elaine Jankowski, Audry Larsen, Gerrie Foster.
1955
|
Back
Row:Bill Foster,
Allie Barrett, Danny Koehne, Bill Zachow, Gerrie Foster, Sharon Laabs,
Diane Deaton, Mary Frisque, Mrs. Hazen 2nd Row: David Grzonka, Raymond
Frisque, Dennis Deaton, Richard Grzonka, Ruth Frisque, Jean and Judy
Koehne,
Anna Larsen. 1st Row: Ronnie Ostrenga, Gerald Matuszewski, Jim Barrett,
Patsy and Sharon Matuszewski, Darlene McGraw, Christine Grzonka,
Shirley
Ostrenga.
1956
|
8th
Grade Class Trip
1956
|
Back
Row: Laurell LaCount
(Teacher), Jim Gatz, Shirley Ostrenga, Pat Matuszewski, Sharon
Matuszewski,
Christine Grzonka, Carol Mundt, Billy Grzonka, Jim Barrett. 2nd Row:
Kim
Kolberger, Robert Benedict, Gary Kaminski, Anthony Frisque, Chris
Kolberger,
Jean Ann Pagel, Cecila Frisque, Busier Matuszewski. Front Row: Paul
Koehne,
Gary Friedman, Roger Friedman, Jim Koehne. Nancy Friedman, Bonnie
Mundt,
Darrel Mundt, Randy Pagel, Cindy Mundt.
1961
|
Last
Cottonwood Picnic
May 31,
1961
Teacher
Laurel LaCount
School
Board:
O.G.
Virtues
H. J.
Koehne
William
Page;
|
Cottonwood
Grove Reunion
Commitee 2002
Gerrie
Foster, Judy Koehne
Boyce, Sherry Plouff Kamps,
Audrey
Larsen Hanes,
Marge Koehne Sutrick,
Marilyn
Barrett Bramschrieber,
Margaret
Larsen Follett
(absent)
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