Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-10-20

of Grand Rapids, it is of interest
to know something of their
history and the names of some
of the early school teachers, who
labored Loyalty in building tie
strong foundation upon which
our education system now
stands.
Citizens Interested in the Schools.
1t may be laid down as a true
statement that the advancement
of the schools, from the very
beginning to the present, has
always been uppermost in the
minds of the citizens; when it
was a question of spending
money for school purposes there
has at all times been a liberal
response. To help carry out
their wishes thepeople have been
fortunate in having school
boards who thoroughly believed
that nothing was too good when
it concerned an advancement
educationally.
The pictures of the buildings
tell this story even better than
words. The step from the little
log school to the magnificent
Lincoln building was not taken
in a day. Buildings have been
erected, little by little, as the
times and conditions demanded
it. The Lincoln high school
stands today as a living monu-
ment, telling in no uncertain
words the present progress
of our people and their faith in
the city's and county's future.
Six Well Equipped School Buildings.
Today Grand Rapids boasts
of five fully equipped ward build
ings and one high school building,
in each of which is a corps of
competent teachers, presided
over by a principal, who in turn
is responsible to the superinten-
dent, under the direction of the
board of education.
The curricula include not ONLY
the traditional, and not quite
out-of-fashion, three RS but
studies which a generation ago
were untbought of. In fact the
grade schools of today rank rela-
lively as the high schools of a
decade ago, and the high schools
of today has set up a standard
fully equal to that of some of the
universities and colleges of that
same period.
School Established in 1843.
The first school was establish
ed in 1913 by ]. S. Hurlbut, a
missionary. 1t was of log con-
struction and was located on
the west side of the river,
formerly Centralia. Mr.. Hurl-
but had charge of the school one
year and was succeeded by John
Warner. In 1915, Mrs. Searles
became it's mistress. The school
had an attendance of about
eight scholars and only those
parents who patronized it, paid
for it's support. In 1916, a
second school was opened in a
private house where the Ameri-
can express Office now stands.
Miss Hannah Dawes was the
first teacher.
The First Public School.
The first regular school was
opened in 1852 in what was
formerly a blacksmith shop.
The building was pine struc-
ture, 2Ox3O, and painted only
on the inside. This schools
first mistress was Miss Leonard,
She was hired to teach only two
terms. Miss Sarah Grant came
next and staid until 1855. Miss
Mary Powers, the deceased wife
of Ira Purdy, succeeded Miss
Grant. Next came Miss Susie
Compton, the deceased wife of
r. {. Worthington. The other
teachers then came in the follow
ing order: Mrs. Wiley, 1856;
Miss Sarah Jackson, 1857; w.
P. Butler. 1858; Lucinda Hall,
1859.
In the year 1859 the school
became overcrowded and an
other room was rented in a
building on the corner of Mil
waukee street and Washington
avenue Mr.. Taylor, George
Lang and Walter Allen then
followed in quick succession, the
latter being the last teacher in
the building.
| Laborins Under Difficulties.
There were eight benches in
this school to accommodate the
pupils The benches were arrang-
ed around the room and faced