LOWDEN SCHOOLS

LOWDEN PUBLIC SCHOOL

Records show that the first public school in Lowden was held in a rented building in 1859. One year later the first schoolhouse, a one-story frame building, was erected west of the Evangelical and Reformed Church. In 1874 a two-story brick schoolhouse was built on the site of the present elementary school, and in 1909 the first part of the present building was constructed. Although there was no gym then, boys’ basketball was started in 1910 with the girls starting to play about nine years later. The gym was added in 1929, and a classroom addition on the north, in 1938. In 1941 the present superintendent, Everett W. Breneman, came to Lowden. He has been the leader in many advances; among them are the installation of the bus system in 1946, the introduction of the hot lunch program in 1948, the organizing of the bands and Band Parent Club in 1950, and the expansion of the curriculum.

Building, however, was at a standstill until crowded conditions, partially brought on by consolidation in 1952, made it imperative to build the cement block building on the northwest corner of the lot in 1953. This housed the music and industrial arts and the agriculture departments, but this year it will be used for a bus barn as a new high school and gym have just been completed south of Memorial Park and will be in use this fall for grades seven through twelve. This also makes it possible for kindergarten to be included in the program, and the old building will now house kindergarten through sixth grade.

TRINITY DAY SCHOOL

The first sessions of the school were taught in the Henry Wiebel home north of Lowden and then in part of the church. Then in 1872 a building was erected west of the church. Ten years later it was moved to the present location and enlarged. This was in use until the erection in 1921 of the present building, which consists of two classrooms, kitchen facilities, auditorium, gym, and bowling alleys. Recent improvements include modernizing of the kitchen facilities with the introduction of the hot lunch program in 1952 and rebuilding of the bowling alleys in 1956. Originally the pastor taught this school, but in 1877 a teacher was called. Then in 1920 the staff was enlarged with addition of a lady teacher. George Roggatz, present principal, has been here since 1951.

FORMER SCHOOLS

EVANGELICAL AND REFORMED PAROCHIAL SCHOOL

This was established in 1883 and was held in the building which was west of the church and which later was used for Sunday School and then torn down to make room for the new education building. The pastor was the instructor, but this school was discontinued in 1918.

PRIVATE SCHOOL

For four years Lowden had a private school This was conducted on the second floor of the Petersen Bros. store with the Petersen brothers and sisters as students.