Neva Schools

Neva Schools NEVA RURAL SCHOOLS

One of the hardships facing the settlers was clearing a space in the dense forest for a school and worse than that was the financial demands.
It was not uncommon for the children who followed trails to school through the woods, to encounter Indians and wild animals.
There was no set age for a child to begin school or how many years they went. Some would go until they no longer fit into the seats or until they were needed at home to help with the farm chores. Because the students had to buy their own books as well as all the paper and pencils they used, in some cases, it became too expensive for the parents to send them to school.
Running expenses for the year, plus any need expenses occurring during the year were raised by a tax. Events such as box socials were held to finance such things as the purchase of a school organ.
Pupils were taught reading, spelling, arithmetic, geography, history, grammar and had copy books for penmanship. They also sang and read poetry. The chalkboards were of slate, and there was a globe, dictionary and some library books. They sat on split log benches that were set on legs of sawed off logs.
Diseases took their toil, such as, diphtheria, measles, whooping cough, influenza, and many other childhood diseases that are today almost unheard of because of inocculations.
During the early years, teachers obtained their teaching certificates by taking examinations upon completion of eighth grade and attendance at the County Training School. Examinations in various subjects which included orthoepy, orthography, mental and written arithmetic, the Constitution of the United States , Constitution of Wisconsin, algebra, physiology, and others. Teachers also were their own janitors and for this they received about thirty dollars extra each year. They had to leave the school to get water and firewood from outdoors.
Annual meetings of the school board were well attended. According to the records of various school boards the business consisted mainly of allotting contracts for wood for heating, banking the school with sawdust and snow, whitewashing, cleaning the school and of course hiring a teacher.
The one room school was once a way of life for many area residents. As was typical of one room schools the heating system consisted of a jacketed stove probably in the middle of the room. Those sitting nearby were overheated and those farther away were cold. Lunches would be frozen by noon and the water would freeze in the drinking pails. Schools were banked with sawdust and snow to hold in the hear and prevent drafts from the outside.
In the middle 1870�s there were only three or four families in the whole Neva and Deerbrook area, north of Antigo.
The Neva township schools were erected soon after the arrival of the first settlers. From 1882, when the school district was organized, the school districts changed many times. By 1887 school district number one included almost all of the town of Upham as far as what is now Veteran Memorial Park. In 1888 these school districts were changed and an additional district was created. District number three included all of Kempster and parts of Upham. By 1915, the township was divided into five districts.
The following schools were researched for the Neva Township Centennial Celebrating 100 years. 1883�1983. The schools were: Summit Lake School 1883, Neva Graded School 1883, Kempster School, Deerbrook Graded School 1904, Gillis Graded School 1922, John Novak�s School, Little Chicago School 1912, and the Springbrook School, 1905.

THE FIRST SCHOOL

The first school in the area was a building on the John Novak farm about three fourths of mile south of Mattek�s Corners. It was built of hand hewned logs.Inside were tables and benches of split logs.
The first teacher at this school was Miss Jenny Mosher.
From information we could gather the school was in use for about four years. When a school was built (or a house was remodeled into a school) at Deerbrook the old log school was abandoned.
The site of the first school is now owned by Fred and Irene Hofmann. It is the first farm on the West, North of Highway I.
Since there was no recorded information or documented records we are relying wholly on written history from old newspaper clippings and visiting with those who remember.
The above article was taken from the book written in celebration of the Neva Townships 100 years. The book is still available from the Sikora Market at Neva.

THE DEERBROOK SCHOOL

As more and more settlers came north the need for another larger school was evident.
Up to this point the school on the John Novak�s farm and the school up in Kempster are the first schools built in the then township of Neva.
A written history states that an old house was remodeled into the school. Another newspaper clipping reads, �A school was then built on top of the hill in the old, platted, but undeveloped, Village of Reeves.� The site of the school was later to become the Deerbrook sand pit and where John McClean now lives. Records go back to 1888 for this school. Very little is recorded.

TEACHERS FOR DISTRICT NO. 4
1888-1889 Miss Beatrice Rossiter
1889-1890 Mr. Charles McComb
1890-1891 Mr. James Gallager
1891-1892 Miss Nellie Reader
1892-1893 Miss Margarette Cavenaugh
1893-1894 Miss Marcia Cook {first five months}
Miss Margarette Cavenaugh {finished}
1894-1897 Miss Josie Hopp
1897-1899 Mr. Giles Rynders
1900-1901 Miss Irma E. Raettig
1901-1904 Miss Rose Seaman

DEERBROOK SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
From 1888 to 1904

Tom Hafner
D. Dexter
Mark Snyder
B. Chittenden
Herman Krugel
Michael Lackerman
Matt Plzak

C. J. Raess
Joe Stinson
Daniel Hubbard
Fred Rusch
V. O�Connor
Charles Chadek

SPRINGBROOK GRADED SCHOOL
September 8, 1919

Arletta Lukas
Elvin Behm
Edward Kakes
Millie Klapste
Arthur Nichols
Louis Zdrazil
Rosie Zdrazil
Hattie Novak
Orlin Lukas
Georgiana Kubovy
Leonard Petska
Irvin Malliet
Maynard Wolter
Sadie McCandless
Joseph Wahleitner
Harold Tooley
Iva Malliet
Irvin Novak
Lillian Gallenberg
Jame Gallenberg

Olive McCandless
Lucile McCandless
Ray Zwicky
Frankie Urban
Herold Schaffer
Georgie Schaffer
Pearl Kramer
Forest Kramer
Willie Kramer
Laura Kubichek
William Warner
Evelyn Volkel
Frank Peters
Caroline Peters
Eugene Lukas
Olaf Beyers
Eugene Beyers
Ruby Zwicky
Leo Klapste
Pearl Huenick

VISITORS TO SPRINGBROOK
By Alice Helmbrecht , Teacher

Regina Novotny
Miss Moss
Almeria McFarlane
Mrs. Wm. O�Neil
Melissia Warner
Mrs. Wm. Tooley
Mrs. Adolph Rine
Anne Weix
Anna Mettler
Carrie Zwicky
Dorothy Nichols
Mrs. John Wenzek
Mrs. I.W. Malliet
Mrs. L. Zwicky
Mrs. J. W. Kramar
Mrs. F. Kramar
Almera McFarlane
Regina Novotny

Lydia Paul
Mrs. J. Plzak
Mrs. J. Blanek
Alvina Plzak
Bessie Klapste
Marie Edwards
Mrs. A. Rine
Harriet Barta
John Behm
Frank Plzak
Mrs. Wm O�Neil
Almera McFarlane
Clara Lukas
Alvina Kakes
Carrie Zwicky
Lydia Paul
Regina Novotny
John Behm