The first settlers of Cumberland quickly showed that the education of its youth would be a priority for the community when, in 1876, only two years after the first Norwegian settlers came to the area, a meeting was held where it was decided to build a log cabin school house over the winter. It would open for the Island’s children in the fall of 1877 with a budget of $900.00.

Prior to the building, the early education for those interested had been given at the home of Mrs. George Hodgkin, who would provide instruction for a payment of $1.00 a month. The new facility would be completed on the SE lakeshore by Bonett’s bridge and it would serve the community well, although the city would need to appropriate $12.00 to bank and mud the building once winter winds began to pour through the cracks.

The following year, in 1878, a school meeting established an eight-month school year, six in the winter and two in the summer. It was decided the teacher would receive a salary of $250.00 for the year. The original building would serve the needs of the city until 1880 when it had become too small, and the search for another site began.

It would be built on the corner of Grove and 1st Street and be called the “White School House.” Students were eventually broken down into eight grades and by 1883, 235 students attended the school.

In 1888, the first high school graduation took place, as six students were given their diplomas. Two years later, in 1890, a second building was constructed next door to the school as both buildings were needed to hold the rising population of students.

Education was blooming across the entirety of Barron County. A

1896 Advocate announced that 107 teaching certificates had been distributed across the county that fall.

The two school buildings were making due in their location across from a Livery Stable, but a February 27, 1897, Advocate wasn’t overly impressed with what they saw on a visit to one of the buildings. The article said, “A visit to the lower rooms of our city school last week convinced us that there are glaring needs of attention. The walls are dark and grimy, the light poor, the blackboards in one room unfit for use. and the ventilation wretched throughout. It is a crime against the pupils to leave these rooms in their present condition.”

Nevertheless, by 1898, the number of high school graduates had reached 12. An alumni reception was held before that spring’s graduation at the Dr. W. C. Pease residence. The school board entertained some 30 alumni, as the Advocate said, “to renew old acquaintances.”

By 1899, a continual growth in numbers and the condition and location of the buildings were leading to an initial discussion of future school needs. The November 3 edition of the Advocate gave a school report announcing that whooping cough was causing significant absenteeism. Mental Science Teacher Mr. Hamilton, meanwhile, gave a report saying that his student's progress was encouraging despite “Times the members of the class had doubted the existence of a mental faculty.”

In 1900, the school budget hit $6,730.00. The principal received $1,000.00 for the year, while teachers were paid $55.00 a month. Substitutes were paid $1.50 a day, to be subtracted from the sick teacher’s pay. Teachers were not allowed to attend dances during the length of their contact.

The high school enrollment of 1900 reached 80 students, although the average attendance was only 43 a day. In the January 11, 1900, Advocate, Principal Pease announced that beginning the following week, recesses would be decreased from 15 minutes to five minutes, while the new end of the school day would be 3:50 pm.

Prior to the high school graduation of 13 students that spring, discussions became more serious about the need for a new high school building. Local resident comments appeared in the Advocate, including one by P.H. Peterson, who said of the old building, “That old rookery is a poor excuse for a school house.”

Other community members also responded with their thoughts on the topic. Judge Comstock would say, “There is no question but the present buildings are entirely inadequate and unfit for use,” while H.H. Poukey and J.F. Fuller both stood behind the project. A.H. Kellermann would summarize the situation by saying, “If we build a new school house, we must change the location. We need a new building badly and I believe a majority of the people realize it.”

The need for more room wasn’t the only excuse given for the new school. It was said the old buildings not only lacked ground space, but the neighboring Livery Stable, “Emitted smells, flies, and low moral tone.” The discussion would continue throughout the year.

In 1902, the seven high school graduate’s motto was “Jeder ist Seines Glueckes Schmied.” It meant, “Each is the smith of his own fortunes.” S.W. Hines, Board President, meanwhile, presided over the graduation. The dreams of a new school were moving closer to reality as a new site for the building had been determined. It would be placed up on Second Street, near where the current elementary school stands today.

The August 14, 1902 Advocate showed a diagram of what the new building would look like. They estimated its cost at $25,000.00 and said it would be, “The finest school in Northern Wisconsin.” Its plans included four floors, 17 rooms, a gymnasium, and an auditorium.

The building of the new facility took longer and was more expensive than expected, no surprise for a school that size. By August of 1903, it was announced that although “progressing nicely,” the new building would not be ready for the start of the 1903-1904 school year. School started a few weeks later under the guidance of Principal J.H. Ames, who said he had an “intelligent and efficient core of teachers.”

Finally, on January 4, 1904, the new school opened. At a final cost of nearly $35,000.00, the education of our city's youth had entered a new phase.

School growth continued into the 1920s with a growth in numbers and offerings. By the 1920-21 school year, there was once again a considerable discussion about the need for more room. To accommodate this growth, a frame building was built across Second Street to house grades 1, 2, and 3. The School newspaper would say, “Now every student has a whole seat to themselves.”

For the next few years, the city dealt with other needs, such as a new sewer system. In 1924, however, with the school population now reaching 600, building needs could no longer be ignored. To accent the issue, a school walkout was held.

The Beaver Booster would say of the incident, “Thursday, the citizens of the town were amazed to see students pouring forth from the building. It was a general walkout planned by the faculty.”

Each grade participated with slogans on posters, including the kindergartens, “We need room to grow.” The freshmen poster read, “Where do we graduate, here or Rice Lake?” while the seniors said, “We are the next taxpayers. We are willing.” They would march from the school to the north of town where Hocum’s Meat Market stood and then back to the Company Store. Floats, made by the upperclassmen, were included in the remonstration.

At least some changes to the present structure were confirmed in a report issued by State School John Callahan, based on an annual inspection and follow-up that year by the State Agency. Although commenting on the school’s “Fine spirit and the industrious students,” the report also mentioned, among other things, that “The electrical gongs don’t always work, the assembly of students is very crowded, the third-floor gymnasium is certainly a risk from the standpoint of fire, the basement classrooms certainly ought to be abandoned, and the State is suggesting a metal vault to safeguard records be provided.”

The District would eventually go to the public with the idea of a new building. In an article in the Advocate, School Board President W. G. Miller would say, among other things, “Cumberland faces an immediate building program before its schools can function anywhere near their maximum efficiency. It may build a structure that will put her among the most progressive communities or keep going with its present hand-to-month system by handicapping every boy and girl in school.

The community responded in April at a Special Board Meeting attended by 350 voters, who passed authorization to move ahead by a 296 to 26 vote. The decision would lead to the construction of a new building to stand next to the 1904 structure. In February 1925, the Cumberland students moved into their $90,000 new school, which the Beaver Booster described, saying, “Every student has his own seat 100 percent of the time.”

The article in the school newspaper went on to discuss the new gymnasium by saying, “No more will visitors say we play basketball in a chicken coop.” Adding that the locker room had 75 lockers, it went on to say, “When we get rich, we will add more.”

The Depression of the late 1920s and 1930s created a difficult time for the Cumberland District. School activities and staff became harder to finance, and budgets were cut. One of the few positive additions to the District was the development of a new athletic field created by filling in the large swampy area to the north. Built by workers from the Federal Government’s Works Progress Administration, a newly created football field opened in 1937 and would serve the District until the building of Endeavor Stadium.

The District made one final addition to the Second Street Schools in 1953, when overcrowded rooms and the desire to move the lower grades into the building from across the street led to a referendum. It called for a $120,000 six-room addition to be built connecting the two older structures. Again, the community overwhelmingly responded with a positive confirmation vote, 270 to 38, and bids began to be collected on May 12.

As the 1950’s continued, the “baby boom” moved into full swing, and it soon became necessary for the School Board to begin looking into long-range plans for the community. This period also coincided with a decline in rural population and the high cost of rural schools. With improved transportation making it easier to bus children into the city, where a consolidated school could offer more programs, Cumberland began to make preliminary plans for a new high school to accommodate this growth.

After four years of discussion and planning, the District and the voters of the city, almost without opposition, agreed. and said, “Yes.” Cumberland would be updating once again. This time with a new High School on the west edge of town.

The Advocate would back the decision in an Editorial the following week. It would say, “There is a factor of civic pride involved in placing the school where people entering or leaving Cumberland may see the new High School from the highway. A new, impressive structure dedicated to the education of our children leaves a lasting and worthwhile impression. Looking ahead with a feeling of optimism and progressiveness, we can visualize other improvements in the area of the school and hospital, which could enhance the city’s beauty a great deal.”

Superintendent H.L. Hoyer would add, “When the questions were finally put before the public, “Shall we build a new high school? and “Where shall it be built?” opposition could be counted on two hands. This proving again what a progressive community we live in and the intense desire of its people to give its youth the best education possible.”

Initially it was to be built on a smaller plot of land, but the School District would eventually seek the authority of the voters to purchase 12 additional acres east of the site. Although some of the land was swampy, fill from the excavation of the school would likely raise the area two feet. The School Board announced, “A practice football field and two baseball diamonds would be added to the area once filled.”

School Board President Howard Jacobson went on to tell a Special School Board Meeting in February of 1958 that the purchase of the 12 acres and previously estimated earth moving cost would “Actually save the taxpayers money in addition to having a new property.” The voters at the meeting passed the proposal 78 to 7.

The Advocate supported the purchase of additional land, saying, “In the event of future school expansion (and who is to deny the probability?), there would be marvelous potential in that direction. We are heartily in the favor of and very enthusiastic about this latest proposal and once the problems of cost and the actual physical requirements of the building itself are resolved, we can proceed to equip ourselves with this modern educational plant. It will be none too soon by the time it will be ready for occupancy.”

With the decision to build done, the Board, Administration, and a Citizen Building Committee would meet regularly over the next several months to work on the details. Among those on the committee were James Nelson, Sam Donatelle, Ray Jacobson, Marshall Weimar, Harry Hines, Harold Berg, and Arvid Ackerson.

School Superintendent H. L. Hoyer would add, “A very fine local lay building committee met with the Board of Education and the Architects on many occasions. These men represented the City Council, Civic Club, Kiwanis Club, American Legion, and rural areas. The local newspaper also gave us 150 % of their cooperation. The public demand for information was great, proving how interested they were.”

The estimated cost of the new school was $850,000. It would be capable of housing up to 475 students with a cafeteria able to serve 142 students at one time. School Board President Howard Jacobson would soon attend a City Council Meeting to discuss the entrances to the new building.

Bids were sent out, and by August 28, 1958, the groundbreaking took place. The October 16 Advocate showed a picture showing the progression of the new building.

That winter involved ongoing discussions about the future of the rural schools. Maple Plain and Crystal Lake dissolved and joined the Cumberland District. The biggest discussion took place as both Luck and Cumberland courted the students from the McKinley area. After several months of discussion, a split decision would integrate 40 students towards Cumberland and 30 to Luck. Overall, by the next school year, some 90 new students were headed into the Cumberland Schools.

By January 22, 1959, the Advocate placed another picture of the new building on the front page of the paper, saying it was ahead of schedule due to “Milder than usual temperatures.”

That winter also saw the School and City work to add another exit to and from the school. A strip of land was purchased from Mrs John Engesther Sr., which would allow 5th Avenue to be extended to school property. A driveway was developed from the north parking lot to the end of the street.

The last graduation at the old Second Street High School took place on May 28, 1959, as 61 seniors received their diplomas. Valedictorian LaVonne Olson would receive a National Merit Scholarship as she announced her attentions to attend Augsburg College in the fall.

As things continued, some groups would get a peek at the project. The Kiwanis were able to take a tour during their June 25 meeting.

Others seeking information about the new school could attend the Annual Meeting on July 30. Sixty-three residents took that option and heard of the $517,699.00 budget for the upcoming school year. The mill rate increase for the city would be $4.46 per $1000, of evaluation. This would be in part for the 10 new teachers the District would be employing for the additional students and curriculum.

Finally, September 10 was set for the first day. The District would have an overall enrollment of 1,294 students, up from 1,058 in 1958. The lunch cost was set at $1.25 a week, and busing routes were set.

Excitement met the high school students during their first days in the new building. Nancy Sundial said of the new building, “I like the large bathrooms, while Gloria Monchilovich said, “I think the color schemes in the halls are well done.” Dick Poukey added, “I think it’s one of the best schools in the area,” while Bob Beran said of the new building, “Cumberland is fortunate to have such a wonderful school.”

The building only had one unfortunate event in the first two months. On Monday, October 12, a break-in took place as burglars entered through a broken glass door at the West end of the building and then splintered the door into the office. It was believed they picked this day as the students had the day off for Columbus Day. They could not break into the safe in Principal Hoyer’s room, however, and made off with only $8.75.

Finally, on November 8, 1959, a dedication ceremony was held in the new building. State Superintendent George Watson was the guest speaker, congratulating the city for their “Commitment to Education.” An open house was held for over 1400 people following the ceremonies, as the residents of the community received a tour of the new building. Three days after the dedication, the new gymnasium held a “Veteran’s Day Program,” and less than two weeks later, the first basketball game.

In 1965, two projects continued the rebuilding process of the District. The 1903 building was torn down, leaving parts of the remodeled 1924 structure and the 1953 addition to house the Elementary students, while a Junior High wing was added to the High School. In 1998, a new building project led to the further addition of a new Middle School that was constructed to the south of the current High School. Other remodeling projects of the current buildings have continued for the past 20 years.

With each addition over the past 140 years, Cumberland has been able to show their commitment to education and the youth in the community. Today, the dedication of our first settlers remains strong.

- By Mark R. Fuller -

CUMBERLAND SCHOOL DISTRICT

Historical Articles Of Cumberland Schools

1877 - 1965 The History of Cumberland Schools

1924 - Cumberland Schools Move Forward

1959 - The Current Cumberland High School Opens