River Falls High School - Kinnick Yearbook (River Falls, WI)

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South F ork

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JLX mf HISTORY OF RIVER FALLS HIGH SCHOOL S this book is the first attempt of the River Falls High School to issue a year . book. it seems fitting that it contain a few glances into the past of our school. In 1854, less than a half dozen years after the very first settlers came into this valley, a tiny building, twenty by thirty feet in dimensions, was erected on what is now Fourth Street on the lot where the residence of Dr. Gallup now stands. The school site was donated by Powell Brothers. Mr. Lyman Powell was the father of Mrs. Weld and Mrs. Ensign of this city. The money was raised by subscription, and the building served as both school and church. Miss Helen Flint was the first teacher. Her salary was paid by subscription. The next year school district No. 1 was or- ganized and the management of this school was put into the hands of a school board. In 1856, the uRiver Falls Academyi' was built on the west side where the High School now stands. The funds for this building were raised by the River Falls Academy Association by subscription also, and the land was likewise donated by Powell Brothers. Professor Benjamin Wilcox was the first principal, with Mr. A. P. Weld, his assistant. This building was leased by district No. 1 from 1862 until they purchased it in 1865. It then became a public school Mrs. Alice Weld, who was then a little girl, tells of the joy and pride with which the children formed in line, and with their teacher at their head marched from the old one-roomed building on Fourth Street to their new building on the West Side. Here later, Mrs. Weld became a teacher in the primary department, with Mrs. Armstrong, of this city, as an assistant. At the same time, Miss Emma Levings was principal of the upper grades. It was during this time that the first attempt at grad- ing and systematic promotion was made. The old academy was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1879. A temporary build- ing was erected, and a year later a five-room brick building was constructed. This now comprises the east wing of our present building. Since then additions on the west, north and south have been made. Page Ten