'One Hundred Years of Memories'
by Shelia Tomkins
(Excerpts from pages 1-4 of the
booklet)
While 1888 marks the year of the first graduating
class of Guttenberg High School, the history of
education in Guttenberg begins many years earlier.
The first German settlers arrived in Guttenberg in
1845, and in the next decade schools were
established.
An independent school district was organized and the
first permanent schoolhouse was built in 1854 at a
cost of $2,000. It was located on Lot 17 of Block 14,
Prairie la Porte. The first school for the lower
grades was located on Lot 9 of Block 2 in Guttenberg,
while the higher grades attended school in what was
called the "Academy Building" on Lot 4 of
Block 15, Prairie la Porte.
A Dubuque traveller, who visited Guttenberg in 1859,
wrote: "There are three public schools in the
city, two English and one German."
"The First One Hundred Years, A History of
Guttenberg, Iowa" by Walter Jacobs, has the
following information:
The school board had acquired title to some
land on the river bank, and in 1880 a bond issue
of $5,000 was authorized to build a new building.
There was much opposition to the erection of a
new building, but the election carried by 74
votes. The erection of the building was started
at once and a large two story brick building with
four large rooms on the first floor and one large
and two smaller rooms, together with an office,
on the second floor, was built. The town clock,
financed by popular subscription was placed in
the tower at a cost of $350. When the building
was completed the Mayor appointed a committee of
two, August Safelder and Adolph Class, to
purchase a fire bell to hand in the tower. An
exceptionally sweet toned bell, weighing 647
pounds and costing $200, was bought by the town
to be used in case of fire. The school was to
have the use of it, twice each day in calling
school. The bond issue was not sufficient to pay
the cost of the building, which amounted to
$8,100 and with the cost of the furnishings
brought this total to $9,000. Popular consensus
of that day was that "the youngest child now
living will never live to see this debt
paid." The members of the school board at
the time of the building were Herman Ihm,
president; William Goetz, Henry Eckart, John
Luther, James Schroeder and Jacob Falkhainer.
John Troester was secretary and August Safelder,
treasurer. The first principal to serve in the
new building was George H. Smart, who had
succeeded his own father as principal in 1871.
Other teachers were J.H. Zimmerman, who taught
German; Anna Anderson and Mathilda Krakow."
The community continued to grow and by the turn of
the century, it was apparent that larger school
quarters would soon be needed. Historian Walter
Jacobs:
"The school board was able to secure a
lease on the land directly north of the school
building for a 99 year period, and plans were
made for the erection of another building. Plans
were drawn by John P. Larkin of Dubuque, and bids
were asked for the construction of the building,
the cost of which was not to exceed $6,000. Anton
Zwack was the successful bidder, and the work was
started at once. The building was not completed
in time for the opening of school, so the first
and second grades were placed in the Turner Hall
until the building could be completed. The
building was ready for occupancy in early
December of 1903, and on December 4, the seats
were removed from the Turner Hall and placed in
the newly completed building."
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