Sheboygan's Farnsworth Middle School dates to 1929. Its opening brought a slew of dignitaries.

Gary C. Klein, Sheboygan Press
·3 min read

SHEBOYGAN — In 1929, Sheboygan was on a roll. A few years earlier in 1924, Central High School opened. Population growth in the city created a need for more elementary and junior high space. Then, a new south-side elementary and junior high school was OK'd in 1929, according to information provided by the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center.

South Side Elementary and Junior High School was constructed by J.R.C. Cullen and Sons, Inc., of Janesville. The school was built on 5.12 acres of land purchased from the Northern Furniture Company at a cost of $4,500.

The total cost of building the school building, equipment and landscaping was $501,928. The building was designed to serve as a combination elementary and junior high school.

The school served children from the southern area of the city and took upper-grade pressure from Longfellow and Franklin schools. It relieved Central High School of about 200 students at the time.  Sheboygan education facilities were bursting at the seams during that era.

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The building was completed on Sept. 8, 1931, and the building was dedicated on Oct. 2, 1931. The Sheboygan Press printed the following invitation: "A cordial invitation to attend the formation dedication of the new Junior High School is extended to the people of Sheboygan. The dedication will be held in the magnificent new auditorium at 8 o'clock Friday evening October 2. The High School Band will furnish spirited instrumental numbers, the Junior High Chorus will sing and the following prominent personages will speak: State School Superintendent John Callahan, Martin Halverson, Mrs. Ed. Deuss, Sheboygan Press editor Charles E. Broughton, Mayor Otto Geussenhainer, and Herman Schuelke."

According to a Press clipping, State School Superintendent John Callahan remarked at the dedication that the importance of education is in raising the standard of living. He pointed out how education has converted luxuries of the past into necessities of today, which he said always means a stimulation of business. He added that instead of turning out thousands of graduates to displace others, schools are now turning out graduates who are creating new fields of endeavor, which results in a "distribution of competition."

FILE - The Monday, November 4, 1929 edition of The Sheboygan Press featured an illustration of the newly proposed Junior High School which would become know as Farnsworth Middle School over 30 years later.
FILE - The Monday, November 4, 1929 edition of The Sheboygan Press featured an illustration of the newly proposed Junior High School which would become know as Farnsworth Middle School over 30 years later.

Sheboygan Press Editor Charles E. Broughton remarked about the role of parents in his speech. He said: "Having the individual care of the children on her hands at home, the mother usually is highly pleased to send them to school when vacations comes to a close. During school hours, she is relieved of their care, but it must not be forgotten that the obligation has been transferred to the teacher, who becomes a sort of mother to her pupils. Do not forget this great responsibility that has been given to the teachers and try to cooperate with them in every manner when problems arise."

When the school opened, it featured a first-year staff of 24 full-time teachers and four part-time teachers. The enrollment the first year was 862 pupils (462 boys and 400 girls) attending kindergarten to grade nine. On June 1932, the first ninth-grade graduation exercises were held, awarding diplomas to 157 students.

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The building was also used in the evenings for typewriting, shorthand, sewing and gymnastic work. In 1932, Mead Public Library opened a branch in the new facility.

The original mascot was a saber-toothed tiger and later became a panther.

In 1937, the school's creed was: "To study faithfully. To shoulder responsibilities. To have a sense of honor and fair play. To show consideration of others. To promote student government activities. To strive to appreciate the finer things in life."

In 1958, following elementary school expansions, it only housed junior high school students. Two years later, in 1960, the building became known as Farnsworth Junior High School. It later became known as Farnsworth Middle School in 1983 and has that name to this day.

Gary C. Klein can be reached at 920-453-5149 or gklein@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @leicaman99.

This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Sheboygan Farnsworth Middle School was built in 1929