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Mosling School
Mosling Road and County P
Oconto County, Wisconsin
Photo contributed by:
Jill Gondek
Taken 2010.
Article contributed by Larry Grady
(transcribed from news article below)
OCONTO COUNTY (WIS.) REPORTER — THURS.. NOV. 5. 1953
Slivers from Bare Feet But One
of the Problems of Early Teachers
Mosling School Changed Since Its Origin 54 Years Ago, Keeps Pace with Progress
This is a history of the Mosling Graded school as recalled by Alfred Anderson and Ewald Druckrey. It is one in a series of articles regarding Oconto County schools which will appear regularly In the Reporter.
The Moslirig school was a one room school in its beginning as long ago as 1899. The teacher that year was a Miss Margy Gould, who perhaps taught the children in the crowded room for about $40.00 a month. The teachers changed with the years and the salary continued to climb until in 1923 the salary was $110.00 a month. Then the depression struck in 1929 the wages dropped to $65.00 a month in 1934.
During the early years the school was held four months in the fall and 3 months in the spring. There was a dug well about 15 feet deep with a wooden pump, but most of the time the water could not be used so the larger boys carried water from the Selnow and Pete Hanson farms. This task kept them on the road a good share of the day. At this time the woods grew up on all sides around the school yard.
There was a large box heater about four feet or more long which used four foot cord wood. On cold days the teacher let the children take turns to sit near the stove.
The floor in the room was of oak or ash and many was the sliver the teacher had to pull out of the feet of the barefoot boys. The seats and desks were large enough for two children to sit together.
The county superintendent about that time was Asa Royce. He probably came on the train as far as the Mosling station. From there he rode bicycle up the road to visit school. One of the first school boards was J. P. Mosling, Gustave Anderson and Cornelius Serier.
Owing to the large attendance and too crowded conditions tc comply with the law, a project under W. P. A. was started to build an addition, and an extra room for a State Graded school. This work was begun in the fall of 1934 and it was quite a problem in those days with the equipment that was had. The school board at that time was Chas. Olson, Art Bartlet and Alfred Anderson.
In 1941 hot lunches were provided, with the cooking being done by Mrs. Bill Moser. The kitchen was in the primary room hall. The children sat in their seats for lunch. In 1947 the present lunch room was made in the basement with a seating capacity of about 60. For the last five years Mrs. Robert Hintz has been doing the cooking.
Some new desks were provided in 1940. At the present time we have 70 modern desks, with 64 being now occupied. In 1942 Che school was wired for electricity and in 1948 a new refrigerator was bought for the lunch room. In 1945 the present furnace and stoker were installed. In the fall of 1948 two out-lying schools joined Mosling. These were Berry Lake school and Sunny Hill Side school. This was also the year Harry Heiden was hired to transport all children who lived two miles or over to our school. The bus route at present covers a total of 54 miles a day.
In 1951 school was delayed a week in starting because of water-works being installed in the school. In this current year many improvements were made—namely: a complete paint job for both rooms, the sanding and varnishing of floors and desks, new window shades, purchasing of a slide projector and screen, outdoor basketball poles and balls, the removal of boys' lavatory from the school yard, removal of worn out playground equipment, building of a cook's supply room in the basement, new book cases for the primary room, painting of all furniture in the school, a complete set of maps for the upper room and many new text books.
The present school board members are William Janssen, clerk; Ernest Buchholz, director, and Alvin Giese, treasurer. Mrs. Richard Cox was hired to teach the upper room in 1948 and is still teaching in this capicity. Mrs. Fred Gamier was hired in 1951 to teach the primary room and is still teaching.
In the fall of 1953 a Homemakers organization was formed with Mrs. Arnold Hanson as president. Both the Homemakers and the 4-H club hold their meetings at the Mosling school.
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