School Hillcrest

Hillcrest State Graded School, District No. 2, Town of Somers, Kenosha County, Wisconsin
Circa 1954
(Photo of plate owned by Joe Fonk, photographed by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson)

The above text was printed on back of the Hillcrest plate above.
Circa 1954
Hillcrest State Graded School, District No. 2, Town of Somers, Kenosha County, Wisconsin
(Photo of plate owned by Joe Fonk, photographed by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson)

1913-1914 School year class picture of Hillcrest Graded School, Town of Somers, Wisconsin
See student identification below.
(Photo courtesy of Joe Fonk)

Student Identification Key
1913-1914 School year class picture of Hillcrest Graded School, Town of Somers, Wisconsin
See student identification below.
(Photo courtesy of Joe Fonk)

Student names for
1913-1914 School year class picture of Hillcrest Graded School, Town of Somers, Wisconsin
See student identification above.
(Photo courtesy of Joe Fonk)

School District No. 2 - Hillcrest School
The story of School District No. 2, now Hillcrest State Graded, is full of interest from its organization in the early Forties (1840's).
In 1841, the first building was located about a mile east of the present site on the (then) Ira Newman farm, and was a rude log structure. The foundation stones are still there.
The quarter acre of land in Section 26, T. 2N., R22 E. on which this log schoolhouse was built, was to be used for school purposes without charge, or rent, so long as it should be occupied for the purpose of a District School.
The first school was known as the Ridge School, and the first Board of Trustees was: Cephus Weed, Treasurer; Jonathan H. Talcott, and Jonathan Pierce.
In 1852 a roll was called for the building of a new schoolhouse, and $360 was voted for this purpose. The site chosen was the present one, now Hillcrest. Among items of special interest in the Treasurer's book, are: "April 2, 1842-cash paid for recording school lot deed, 51 cents; paid for cleaning schoolhouse-25 cents."
During the Civil War, the undersigned agreed to pay the Treasurer of School District No. 2, the sum set opposite their respective names, for the purpose of keeping a school, to be taught by Robert Graham, during the summer of 1862. Leonard Lee $5, Thomas Hunt $3, S.B. Clapp $3, Ira Newman $1, A. Northway $1, J.C. Stover $1, James Talcott $1, E. Pennoyer $2, Burton Curtiss $1, Thomas Jordan $2, Eli G. Runals $3 and James A. Newman $2.
Robert Graham also served as Township Superintendent of Schools and later became State Superintendent of Schools.
Among the early students of District No. 2 was William Fisher, who, for many years, was one of Kenosha's most prominent merchants; also Lucius Lee, who, after finishing for the ministry, was sent to Turkey, where he did mission work for 30 years; the Jordan family, Thomas, Henrty, George, John, Ann and Maria; the Barnes family, V. and Phillip, prominent attorneys, William and Carrie, teachers; Miss Lily Runals, an accomplished musician and opera singer, who later joined the Metropolitan in New York; the Rogers family, William, Thomas, James and Elizabeth.
Some few years ago the one-room building made way for a modernized two-room red brick, with a recent primary building added, where more than 120 pupils are schooled, under the tutorship of three teachers, ow the Hillcrest State Graded.
(Source:  My Memoirs by Minnie A.G. Ozanne, Copyright 1848 Minnie A.G. Ozanne. All Rights Reserved.)


Buy 40 Acres For New School
"Hillcrest State Graded School has purchased 40 acres of land from Joseph Heimes for the new school building.  Construction will begin in early spring.  Plans call for a six classroom building, to replace the present over-crowded school.  Approximately 140 pupils attend classes in two main floor rooms and two basement class rooms.
(Source:  Racine Journal January 11, 1954)

New Hillcrest School
"An estimated 700 persons attended dedication ceremonies Sunday at Hillcrest State Graded School.  Participating in the program at the newly-constructed building were: Wayne Wornick, Rev. Robert Mueller, Somers Congregational Church; Frank Newman, Mrs. Martha Cummings, principal.
Speakers included  Miss Leona Fischer, elementary school supervisor from the Department of Public Instruction, Madison; Miss Margaret Diehl, Kenosha County Superintendent of Schools; Jay W. Rhodes, Chairman of the Town of Somers.
Musical selections were by the Washington Junior High School chorus.
The new school building was opened to classes on January 17, with attendance of 160 students.  Five teachers employed are:  Mrs. Martha Cummings, principal. Carol Poynter, Gail Gillmore, Colene Westmoreland, and Mary LeVall."
(Source:  Racine Journal March 8, 1955)