Cuba City's Rural Schools

Country schools once dotted the landscape around Cuba City, providing educational opportunities to rural students for generations. Thank you to all who have shared their knowledge and photographs. This list is a work in progress--if you have any information or photographs to contribute, please do!

Carr School

June 1915. Contributed by Andrea Lehrman.

Contributed by Andrea Lehrman.

 

Casper School (Paris Township No. 6)

Located northwest of Georgetown.

1955-1956. Front row: Ron Deiter, Karen Casper, Les Johns? Back row: Steve Maring, Mary Alice Johns, Mrs. Pickel, Dan Burbach, Bob Johns?

Elk Grove School 

Elmo School (Elk Grove Township No. 1)

Built in 1892, replacing the earlier McNett School. The Elmo School was located at the intersection of Mine Road and Southwest Road. It was moved by Marshall McNett to his farm in 1956 and is currently used as a home on the Mike and JoAnn McNett farm. Donald and Lois Booth built their new home on the original school site in 1978.

Lora Millman was the first graduate. The following taught at Elmo School from 1892-1942: Cynthia Thomas, Lulu Draper, Julia Kistler, M. L. Green, Emma Corlett, Rose Hilton, Mae Edgington, Evelyn Richards, Will Murray, Ella Smith, Lorna Nash, Rena Horseley, Laura Harris, Theresa Hoelting, Esther Dowling, Jeanette Dowling, Helen McBride, Ica Skaife, Miss Weinbrenner, Leona Dowling, Lucille Carr, Evelyn Schuh, Lucille McNett, Ruth Dietzman, Mrs. Ed Reiser, Marguerite Kienzle, Elva White, Mary Winn, and Marybelle McNett.

Elmo School students, circa 1915. Front row: ?, Evan McNett, Winifred McNett, Clarence Mueller. Middle row: ? Baxter, Lucille McNett, Fern Dowling, Helen McNett, LaVerne Ketto, Helen Masbruch, ?, ?, Florence Kienzle. Back row: Esther Dowling, Annie Mueller, Belle Booth, Isabel Harker, Ralph McNett, Halsey McNett, Carl Kienzle. Photo and identifications courtesy of LouAnn Nystrom.

Elmo School students. Isabel Harker, second from the right. Photo courtesy of LouAnn Nystrom.

Published in the Platteville Journal (May 7, 1942).

Fairview School (Hazel Green Township No. 7)

Located south of Cuba City, near the intersection of Highway 11 and 80. 

Georgetown School (Smelser Township No. 4)

Located on St. Rose Road in Georgetown. Currently serves as the Smelser Town Hall.

Contributed by Charles Nichols.

 

Image from the school's 1952 cookbook.

Image from the school's 1952 cookbook.

1950s. Teacher, Lelia Nichols. Contributed by Charles Nichols.

1959 World Book Encylopedia set used at the school.

Heil School (Smelser Township No. 5)

Located southwest of Georgetown, along County Road H. The schoolhouse was moved to Cuba City and is now a residence located at 415 N. Randolph Street.

Circa 1920. Delores Holt is seated, second from left.

Circa 1920. Delores Holt is on the right.

Lone School (Smelser Township No. 6) 

Located north of Georgetown, along Lone Road.

Contributed by Chris Frederick.

Contributed by Chris Frederick.

Contributed by Chris Frederick.

Louisburg School

Contributed by Kay Hammer.

McNett School (Elk Grove Township No. 1)

Located on Mine Road in Elk Grove Township. Replaced by the Elmo School in 1892. The building was reportedly sold to Frank Bentley for $20 and was still in use as a sheep shed in 1942 ("Elmo School Will Observe Anniversary of Founding," Platteville Journal, May 7, 1942, 1). Bentley had a home and farm along Center Drive Road, northeast of the village of Elk Grove.

The McNett School is visible in this detail from the 1877 Atlas of Lafayette County, Wisconsin.

Model School (Smelser Township No. 10)

Located southwest of Cuba City, at the corner of Model and Center Road. Currently used as a residence.

Circa 1927-1928. Left to right: Zelda Robbins, Ed Helbing, Francis Whitaker, Kenneth Robbins, Dale Whitaker, Joe Helbing, Dorothy Whitaker, Marion Daniel, Lilace Robbins, Louise Helbing, Lois Daniel, Margaret Helbing. Contributed by Cheryl W-b.

 

Circa 1927-1928. Back: Ed Helbing?, Dale Whitaker, Joe Helbing?, Francis Whitaker (little boy smiling), Lilace Robbins, Dorothy Whitaker, Louisa Helbing, Marion Daniel, Margaret Helbing, Lois Daniel. Little girl in front of others: Zelda Robbins. Boy in front: Gordon Whitaker? Contributed by Cheryl W-b.

1938. Teacher, Beth Duncan. Contributed by Jan Selleck.

North Hollow School (Hazel Green Township No. 2)

Providence School

Red School

Located on County H in Lafayette County. The school was destroyed by a fire after the roof was struck by lightning in September 2005. 

Rock School (Smelser Township No. 2)

St. Peter's School (Elk Grove Township) 

Circa 1946-1947. First Row: ? Pratt, two boys dressed the same are Bernard and Donald Averkamp, Marie Foley, Leanne Belken behind her, girl on end, Jeanette Belken. Back row: Pratt, and the girl behind Donald Averkamp is Jean Hoppenjan. Teacher was Miss Ganshert. Contributed by Darlene Rielly.

1954. Teacher, Virginia Kenny. Left row: Eldon Pratt, Armenta McWilliams, Richard Foley, Charles Foley, Marie Foley. Next row: Jeanette Wedig, Sara Wedig, Bill Pratt, Norman Foley, Dick Belken. Third row: Ben McWilliams, Karen Riechers, Darlene Belken, Marsha Foley, Randy Wedig, Jeanette Belken. Fourth row: Rachel Pratt, ? Osterholz, Bob Belken, Richard Lochner, Lyle Foley. Contributed by Darlene Rielly.

1956. Front row: Connie Whitaker, Perry Whitaker, Doug Riechers, ? Osterholz, ? Klein, ? Foley, Bart Wedig, and Ron Belken. Middle Row: Rachel Prattl, Ben McWilliams, Mick Whitaker, ? Osterholz, Jeanette Wedig, Unknown, Bob Belken, Darlene Belken. Back Row: Randy Wedig, Karen Riechers, Dick Belken, Charles Foley, Richard Foley, Armenta McWilliams, Norman Foley, and Marsha Foley. Teacher, Ila Schuster. Contributed by Darlene Rielly.

Sullivan School 

 

White/Central School (Benton Township)

Located northeast of Cuba City, at the corner of St. Rose and SW Road.

Contributed by Rachel Knoblich.

 

Vondra School (Smelser Township No. 3)

Located near Happy Corners on County Road H. Operated circa 1906-1962. The schoolhouse was moved to Cuba City and is now a residence located at 312 W. Webster Street.

Contributed by Daryl Vondra.

Contributed by Daryl Vondra.