Unity High School

Unity, Clark County, Wisconsin

 

The Second Unity High School

This photo is from the Thomas Shanks Collection.

(Click on it for a larger view)

 

The picture above is the second school building which burned to the ground as a result of children playing with matches in the woodshed. The very first one was a log cabin.  The third school building was constructed of brick and stone.  It was a large three story which was highly attended.  I spoke with the man who tore it down in 1964 and he told me it was quite a job!  Apparently the bell tower nearly fell on their truck as they pulled on it.  Everyone I have met with seems to have a story of what happened in some room, or near a certain window or corner of that school.  It's neat to hear all of the stuff that happened to people while it was in operation.   Alan Gurtner, local Unity Historian.

 

1883

While Unity was witnessing the establishing of new stores and businesses, a man of importance and prominence came into the community, namely John R. Salter. He, having attended the University of Wisconsin, was naturally quite interested in school affairs. Up until this time it was nothing more than a grade school, thus the students graduating from the eighth grade were forced, either to go to some distant place or to discontinue their education. To better such conditions, Mr. Salter in 1883 began plans to organize a High School. He, himself, consequently became its first Principal and taught in same for a period of four years. In Mr. Salter’s first graduation class of 1887 there were seven students; namely, Fred Vaughn, John Lamont, Arthur Ransom, Jennie and Worden Cook, Calvin Burton, and Grant McCurdy. Some of our old-timers of today remember some of these former graduates.

In spite of the good times and happy hours of this cheerful group, disaster would darken their path. One afternoon in the fall of 1890, children apparently amused themselves by playing with matches in the woodshed of the school building. Usually the outcome of such a game proves fatal as was the case in this incident. A fire was kindled in the wood shed and gained ground too rapidly for the children to control and as a result soon reached the school building. Before sufficient help could be secured, the school had completely burned. From then until time would permit the construction of a new building, classes were held in the drugstore, which was located a short distance south of our present post office. After a few months of combined efforts of the settlers a new and larger school building was finished and ready for occupancy. This was located in about the same place as the former. Several improvements had been made over the older building, and a new and more efficient set of textbooks had been installed.  Source: Unity Centennial Booklet 1872 - 1972.

This photo is from the Thomas Shanks Collection.

(Click on it for a larger view)

1954

HISTORIC HIGH SCHOOL AT UNITY HAS ITS LAST DAYS

Unity-- After nearly 75 years of service to the young people of this community, the Unity High School building, said to be the first high school established along the Soo Line between Stevens Point and Ashland, will be used exclusively as a grade school.

On June 28, the Unity High School district will be annexed to the Colby High School district as the result of a referendum on March 4, which approved annexation 123 to 4.  The action did not change the status of the Unity Grade School, which will continue to operate.

 *          *          *          *

The last seniors to receive diplomas from the Unity High School were Renata Johnson, valedictorian; Philip Knuf, salutatorian; Robert Johnson, Shirley Johnson, Darlene Molle, Darlene Rachu, Gerald Hebert, Charlotte Mohan and Jerome Tennis.

Four faculty members released from their positions as result of the consolidation have signed contracts to teach elsewhere.  They are Ray Nevins, principal;  Mrs. Glenn Frome, commercial; Joseph McCormick, English and athletic coach and Richard Jansen, biology and science.

The Unity School Board, which includes Walter Anderson, treasurer; Albert Jeske, Director, and Gilbert Wiedenhoeft, clerk, has not reached a final decision on the number of grade school teachers to be employed in fall, but indicated that the faculty would include three, and possibly four members.

The Unity School district will provide its own buses to transport high school students to Colby. Agreements are under consideration to make buses available to children of adjoining districts also affiliated with the Colby High School District.

The present Unity school building was erected about 1909 and is believed to be the third public school to serve the village.  The previous building was a frame structure which stood about two blocks south of the present school.  Source: Marshfield News Herald  June 23, 1954  Page 3, transcribed by Ken Wood.

 

1963

 

HIGH SCHOOL DAYS ENDED

 

Since 1909 this building (2nd Unity High School) has served high school (picture unavailable) and grade school students at Unity. Starting this fall it will be used exclusively as a grade school building.  The 74 year-old Unity High School district will be added to that of Colby, its neighbor a short distance to the north.  Source: Marshfield News Herald  January 2, 1963  Page 8, transcribed by Ken Wood.

 

 


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