University of Wisconsin Stout - Tower Yearbook (Menomonie, WI)

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History of Stout PEBBLE was tossed into the waters of a quiet little lake: the pebble sank from sight, but it had started a tiny circle of ripples that spread into a larger, and a larger, ever widen- ing, until the farthest shore was touched b) a slight movement of the water. A little frame build- ing was erected for the use of the public school classes of Men- omonie for the pursuit of man- ual training in the year 1891: the building was long since abandoned, but the course had awakened a tiny flame of interest that spread into a larger, and a larger. — ever widen- ing until the farthest states of our Union were touched b its influence. I he beautiful city of Menomonie in western Wisconsin. si tv-si miles east of St. Paul, has every reason to point with pride to The Stout In- stitute located there. — a school of national reputation: and to speak with gratitude ami respect of that citizen, now deceased, from whom the school takes it name, whose public spirit and interest in practical education prompted him to begin the work that has been so ably carried on. For two years the first little wooden building served its purpose, provid- ing cooking for the girls, and bench work for ' the bo s. But it was soon found quite inadequate for the desired extension in this field: and in 1 S°. Mr. Stout built and equipped a splendid, three-story building on the site of the present tower building, connected in like manner lu a bridge with the city high school. This was indeed a wonderful improvement over the tiny frame structure in which the work first began: but in the winter of 1897 both it and the high school were burned to the ground. Despite the loss, and with courage undaunted, Mr. Stout a second time built and equipped the Stout Manual Training School, a $150, structure, com- pleted in 1898. The city rebuilt its high school, and the two new buildings were connected as before. Ample provisions were now made for pupils from the fifth grade through the high school to take up the different branches of home economics ami manual training. The equipment and courses were so complete and the character of the work so satisfactory, that the high school graduates were called to teach in other schools: although the purpose of the school was not the training of special teachers at that time ami did not become so until 1903. ing ..i ui.u mil , .mil uiu m«h wet-onie so until ivim. In 1899 the kindergarten training school was organized as a part of the public school system; and in 1903 The Stout Training School for I IS]

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teachers of home eco- nomics and manual train- ing, as well as for the kindergarten, was inau- gurated with Mr. L. I). 1 larvey as superintend- ent Until 1908 this re- mained under the man- agement of the board of education of Menomo- nie; but in that year, the growth of the school having surpassed the highest expectation. Stout Institute was in- corporated as an inde- pendent organization with Honorable J. H. Stout as President of the Board of Trustees, and Superintendent L. 1). Harvey as President of the Institute. In 1909. after ten years of successful work, the kindergarten course was discontinued, because of the establishment of a like depart- ment at the State Normal School in Superior. At about the same time the Trade Schools for plumbers and bricklayers offering one-year courses of practical training, were organized; and four years later extra provision was made for training teachers of the machine and building trades. The I Ionic-makers ' Department, also made possible by the public spirit i Mr. Stout, was organized in 1907 for those desiring training in the dis- charge of the duties and responsibilities of a home, but not interested in the professional side of the regular course. This department has been dis- continued for the current year (1915-16) due to lack of room, but will re-open next fall ottering better facilities than ever before. 1906 marks the date of the first Summer School Session: last year marks the date of the tenth. The increase in enrollment from twenty to three-hundred-thirty, and in faculty members from six to fifty in that time suggests the success. The summer school gives opportunity lor a good main special courses not offered in the regular term, and the coming session promises even greater variety than heretofore. A special feature is to be made of a course in cooking and sewing for teachers in rural schools under the direction of Miss I ' mma Conlev. the State Inspector of Home Kconomics in the Public Schools of Wisconsin. The practical phase of Household Management introduced so successfully in the regular course this year is also to be offered at the 1916 summer t the time of the incorporation of the institute in 1908, it was evident that additional buildings must he provided at an early date to accommodate the increasing number of students: and by 1910 Mr. Stout ' s plans for the erection of another building were nearlv completed, when his death in that vear i:n . i:d all his benevolent work. ( 16]