Oakfield High School - Oak Leaves Yearbook (Oakfield, WI)

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OAK LEAVES fiftieth dPhnniversary of Oakfeld fHigh School The history of the Oakfield school has been one of progress and growth from the time of its organization as a district school to the present time when we find it occupying a high place among the schools of this area and making for itself a still greater name. The interest of the community was first directed toward the idea of a High School in 1888, and so in that year our one and only O.H.S. was founded. The first class was graduated in 1891 with nine members. Our school had but a three year course until 1903, when the fourth year was added. The course had been proposed in the years 1900 and 1902, but had been defeated. In 1891, the basement was fitted up for the primary room. In 1898, the interior of the building was remodeled and a room for the Grammar department was made on the second floor. In 1906, the building was again remodeled and enlarged and a second assistant was added to the High School faculty. With this change there was ample room for both the High School and the Grade School Departments. In February, of 1911, our school was placed on the accredited list of high schools of the State University at Madison, where it has remained ever since. This placed Oakfield on a par with the best high schools in the state. Following this, improvements were made in the laboratory. New equipment and materials were added to help in the scientific studies. During the five years, 1928 to 1933, the office was moved downstairs and the main room enlarged. This made it possible to enroll more students. The next improvement was the addition of many windows to the assembly, thus giving more light and fresh air to the entire room. The basement was remodeled and turned into a large recreation room one year, but later was partitioned off to make two cloak rooms. Following these improvements the whole school was redecorated. In the year 1929 the old school bell was placed in front of the school as a victory bell. Since that time it has been customary to ring it after winning a game in basketball, baseball or any of the sports we have at Oakfield High. In 1936-37 a new desk was bought for the main room, to take the place of the table that had served its purpose for many years. New equipment was added to the laboratory, and new books to the library. Even after all these changes and additions have been made we find that many more things could be done. Our laboratory is much too small for the size of the classes that are held in it and the same is true about the English room. In 1909 the first high school glee club was formed, and in 1910 students were given opportunity for debate, declamation and parliamentary practice. It was in this year that basketball, tennis, and baseball were started. [261

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OAK LEAVES he Oakfeld tHigh School hBand On September 16, Mr. Morton called a meeting of parents interested in the reorganization of the high school band. Mr. Marvin Kaiser of Fond du Lac, who had replaced Mr. Joe Schmitz, was introduced to the group. For the first few weeks Mr. Kaiser taught notation and time to the whole school. After a few more meetings, the band members enjoyed their first ensemble on October 12 and found twenty-nine band members with instruments. Eighteen of this group were beginners, and eleven had played in the old organization. The band has presented three concerts this year. The first one was presented November 22 at the high school as an entertainment to promote the organization of a Band Parents’ Association. The band members practiced faithfully all winter, and on March 14th they presented their first formal concert at Liberty Hall. The class of music played proved that they had been working hard. The band, now in uniform, went to Columbus to participate in the District Music Festival on May 7th. but they were “rained out. This year we were enrolled only as a marching band, but next year we hope to enter the concert work as well. The final event of the year was the Commencement Concert held at Liberty Hall on May 24th. The band presented a beautiful spectacle with their new uniforms set in the colorful background of the prom decorations. The progress of the band speaks well for Mr. Kaiser. The school board purchased a new Sousaphone. a new baritone, and a new bass drum at the beginning of the year. The Band Parents' Association has furnished us with complete new uniforms. They are made up of white military caps trimmed in purple and gold; the capes are purple flannel with gold satin lining, with “Oakleaves in the form of a horseshoe upside down in purple, and the letters O.H.S. inside the horseshoe also done in purple. White duck trousers and white shirts with purple ties complete the outfit. Our drum major. Stell Leidholdt. is completely outfitted also and has done very well in the short time she has worked with the group. We have a merit system whereby we may earn points toward band awards given by the school at the end of the year. The officers of our band are; President ..............................Orville Erdmann Secretary .................................Ruth Dowidat Librarian .................................Carol Tesch The members of the band are: Carol Tesch, Ruth Dowidat, Hortense Schoepke, Lorraine Gruenwald, Merwin Sampson, Jean Mary Randall, Marie Kenyon, Robert Bird, Gerald Doyle. Geraldine Sonn. Lois Leiberg, Lowell Horning, Billy Rosenfeld, Dale Burleton, Delores Ogle, Obert Merrill. Jr., Marilyn Horning. Dorothy Wachendorf, Orville Erdmann. Lucille Teachout. John Dowidat, Donald Ogle. Warren Erdmann. Robert Wagenknecht, Lester Cook. Gerald Censky, and Dorothy Stumpf. [25]

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OAK LEAVES FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF OAKFIELD HIGH SCHOOL —Continued In 1911 we find another strong basketball team, and on looking back we find some of the opponents we met this year. In 1912 we had a good basketball team, even though we played teams from schools not in our class. In 1914 the Board of Education voted the official “O, in view of the interest taken in the sports. In 1932 our basketball team won a consolation trophy and in 1935 won third place. In 1935-36 they were co-champions with North Fondy and won a trophy. In 1937-38 we find a very successful basketball season. Our boys won first place at the tournament, bringing home a nice trophy to place with the conference trophy. In 1928 one of our students won first place in oratory at the declamatory contest. In 1930 second place was won in declamation. The most successful year was 1936 when two honors were claimed for O.H.S. First place was won in speaking and in declamation also. This year (1938) a trophy for first place in oratory was claimed by O.H.S. The largest class which was ever graduated from our school contained twenty members and was the class of 1933. Mr. Hornby was principal at that time. The smallest classes ever graduated had five members. These were the classes of 1895. 1904, and 1930. The largest enrollment of the school was in 1931 when there were ninety students enrolled. The smallest enrollment was in 1902, when there were only thirty-three enrolled. The following men have acted as pricipals of the school since organization: Charles Elkinton, 2 years: J. M. Burke, 2 years: Myron E. Keats, one-half year; B. L. Bohm, 2 years; A. M. Olson. 4 years; B. W. Bridgeman, 3 years; Geo. De Guirc, 1 year: F. L. Foote. 2 years: A. J. Hansen, 1 year; L. G. Curtis, 4 years; G. W. Puffer. 1 year; W. L. Patterson, 1 year; N. G. Lentzner, 3 years: Paul Bergen, 1 year: R. E. Runzheimer. 2 years; R. G. Kleist, 1 year; W. N. Olsen, 1 year; Hilker. 1 year: Ostendorf, 1 year: Hulse. 2 years; H. F. Hornby, 5 years; A. Northrup, 2 years, and W. M. Morton, 3 years. With the closing of this school year we find that our principal for the past three years, who has been very good in his services and has been an active citizen of Oakfield, is to leave us. and that Mr. H. R. Heimerl, a former student, grade school teacher, basketball coach, and high school teacher is to be our principal for the coming school year. We, the Seniors, who have been with him for four years, wish him the best of luck. In closing, let us hope that in another fifty years there will be another interesting chapter to add to our history. Perhaps in that chapter a new school house can be described to some of us old-timers” and we will wish we were back following the Golden Rule. 1271