Rural Schools of Wood County, Wisconsin

McMillan is building a digital resource focused on the history of the rural schools of Wood County. This is both a deep look at our local history and a remembrance of a once common, but now vanished, national institution. By Wisconsin statute, rural elementary schools had to consolidate with a high school district by July 1, 1962. Before that consolidation, rural students in Wisconsin often attended small elementary schools that were within walking distance of their homes. Even listing and locating these schools is a challenging task, since many early records have been lost. Before 1915, schools were informally named and offically designated by their district number, which could vary over time. The district boundaries also changed to reflect changing locations of students. Some schools were physically moved to serve shifting populations, while others burned down or were replaced with new buildings. Several joint districts spanned county lines, so the building may have been located in another county. The number of schools varied, from nearly 100 early in the century to 77 in 1956. There were also a number of private schools, which are less well documented.

 

Print Resources

Books about Wood County schools:

Attendance records and registers for some Wood and Portage County schools are available at UW-Stevens Point and on microfilm at McMillan.

Books about Wisconsin rural schools:

Digital Documents and Images

The main digital collection is a series of histories of rural schools composed by the staff and students at each school in 1956, apparently as part of the celebration of the centennial of Wood County. They vary widely in content and depth, with some including photographs, farm histories, rosters and school board extracts. As they are fully processed, they will be listed in the table below under the name of the school.

Photographs - All individual digitized photographs, housed at Recollection Wisconsin.

Map of rural school districts in Wood County, Wisconsin 1930.

Consolidation - A list of where students went when the schools consolidated.

County Graduation Exercises, rural and state graded schools of Wood County, June 5, 1935, June 4, 1936 - Lists schools, teachers and graduates.

The following table lists documents, images and oral histories of specific schools. These schools can be located on the map above. Those marked * have extant buildings, though not always on the original site.

 

Name
Location
Resources
Altdorf School  Seneca Township 1956 History
Arbutus School  Port Edwards Township 1956 HistoryArbutus School: history and memories by Edward J. Arendt, 
Aprin Graded School  Arpin Village 1956 History
Audubon School Pittsville 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Audurndale Graded School Auburndale Village 1956 History
Babcock Graded School  Babcock 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Bakerville  Lincoln Township  
Bean School  Hansen Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Bearss Marsh School  Cranmoor Township  
Bell School  Saratoga Township School records stored at Wisconsin Historical Society
Bethel Academy Wood Township  
Biron Graded School  Biron Village (1879) 1956 History
Black River School  Hiles Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Blenker School  Milladore Township  
Brost (AKA Evergreen) School Remington Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Cameron's Pride School (AKA  Richfield Road School, but changed name in 1919.) Cameron Township 1956 History
Carey Bluff School  Carey Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Children's Choice (Before 1917 called Glebke School) Grand Rapids Township 1956 History
City Point  Hiles Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Clovernook School  Arpin Township.  
Columbia School  Saratoga Township  
*Cranmoor Graded School (AKA Green Grove Island School, Bennett School and Cranberry Creek School before 1925.) Cranmoor Township 1956 History,  Cranmoor School history  by Beatrice M. Smith, 
Crescent School  Arpin Township 1956 History
Dairy Belt School  Richfield Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Daly School Remington Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Dexterville School  Dexter Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
East Rock School  Rock Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Ebbe School  Lincoln Township 1956 History
Elliott School (moved and renamed Ross School) Saratoga Township  
Elm Tree School (AKA Koch School) Saratoga Township School records stored at Wisconsin Historical Society
Evergreen Hill School  Marshfield Township 1956 History
Far View  Richfield Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Four Corners School Wood Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Garrison School (AKA Pail Factory School) Wisconsin Rapids  
German School  Port Edwards  
Golden Glow School  Rock Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Good Cheer School  Wood Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Green Elm School  Sherry Township  
*Green Grove School  Port Edwards Township 1956 History
Grove Graded School  Wisconsin Rapids 1956 History
Hemlock Creek (AKA Nicholaus) School Dexter Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Hewitt School  Hewitt Village 1956 History
Hillcrest School  Rock Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
*Hill View School  Rudolph Township 1956 HistoryStudents (1912), Schoolhouse, Schoolhouse, Students (1900)
Hillside School  Auburndale Township  
Howe School  Wisconsin Rapids School, School
Irving School  Wisconsin Rapids School
Knuteson (AKA Hart) School Dexter and Remington Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Lincoln School  Lincoln Township 1956 History
Lindsey School  Rock Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Lone Birch School  Rudolph Township 1956 History
Lone Elm School  Lincoln Township 1956 History
Lone Maple School  Sherry Township 1956 History
Lone Pine School  Sigel Township 1956 History
Long School  Richfield Township 1956 History,  Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Maple Grove School (AKA  Esser School when founded, sometime before1900) Richfield Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
McKinley School  Saratoga Township  
*Meadow Brook (Meadowbrook) School  Arpin Township Classroom w/ students (1948-50), 1956 History
Mill Creek School  Sherry Township 1956 History
Mill Creek (Grove) School  Marshfield Township 1956 History
Milladore Graded School  Milladore Village 1956 History
Model School  Wisconsin Rapids 1956 History
Nasonville school  Lincoln Township  
Natwick School  Hansen Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Nekoosa Public Schools Nekoosa Village 1907, 1910
North Arpin School  Aprin Township 1956 History
North County Line School  Milladore Township  
North Hansen School  Hansen Township 1956 HistorySchool as converted to a homeReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Oak Grave (AKA Hass0 School Remington Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Oak Leaf School  Richfield Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Otter Creek School Wood Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Pail Factory School (AKA Garrison School) Wisconsin Rapids  
Pearl School  Grand Rapids Township 1956 History
Pershing School (AKA Sherry School) Sherry Township 1956 History
*Pine Grove School  Seneca Township  
Pioneer School  Sigel Township 1956 History
Pittsville Graded School Pittsville City 1956 History
*Plank Hill School  Port Edwards Township 1956 HistoryPlank Hill School: history and memories by Edward J. Arendt, 
Pleasant Corners (AKA Pleasant Hill) School Rock Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Pleasant Hill School  Auburndale Township 1956 History
Pleasant Valley School  Hansen Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Pleasant Rock School  Rock Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Pleasant View School  Sigel Township 1956 History
Port Edwards Village Port Edwards Village School w/ students (1900)School (1905), School with addition (1910), School (c 1910), School (c1920)
Progress School Rock Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Riverview School  Lincoln Township 1956 History
Rocky Run School  Carey Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Ross School (was Elliot School before being moved) Saratoga Township School records stored at Wisconsin Historical Society
Rudolph Village (1879) Rudolph Village 1956 History
St. Mary's  Auburndale Village  
St. Michael's  Hewitt  
St. Phillip's  Rudolph Township  
Scranton School  Hiles Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
*Shady Lane School  Lincoln township 1956 History
Shady Nook School  Richfield Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Silver Birch School Dexter Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
*Snyder School  Sigel Township 1956 History
*Spring Lake School  Sigel Township 1956 History
Stepping Stone School  Milladore Township 1956 History
Stern School (previously Hemlock) Dexter Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Sunnyside School  Rudolph Township 1956 History
Sunshine School  Milladore Township 1956 History
Three Oaks  Richfield Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Turner School  Sigel Township 1956 History
Two Mile School (later Woodside) Grand Rapids Township 1956 History
Veedum School  Dexter Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Vesper Graded School  Vesper 1956 HistorySchool  and students (1880s), Brick school (aft. 1907), Students, Brick school (aft. 1907), School and students (bef. 1907), Classroom lunchtime
Wallace School  Hiles Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Washington School  Rock Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
Webster School  Marshfield Township 1956 History
West Cary  Cary Township 1956 HistoryReading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
White Oak School  Auburndale Township  
*Wittenberg School  Port Edwards Township 1956 HistoryWittenberg School : history and memories by Edward J. Arendt, 
*Wood Farm School  Port Edwards Township  
Woodland Echo School  Aprin Township 1956 History
Yellow River School Remington Township Reading, riting, rithmetic & recess : country schools in the towns of Cary, City Point, Dexter, Hansen, Hiles, Remington, Richfield, Rock, Sherwood and Wood by Sally Winkels, 
General images   Girl putting her lunch away at school, Students in classroom having lunch, Mrs. Arndt (teacher at unidentified school)

 

 

Help us out!

We are looking for the location of the following schools:

  • Arpin Township: Powers Bluff 
  • Grand Rapids: Franklin
  • Milladore: Brookside
  • Remington: Yellow River
  • Seneca: Jackson