PHOTOS

Memories of Lakeview School by J. Robert Johnsen

Lakeview Elementary School was a one room building with girls and boys cloakrooms. Heating was with a wood stove which had a sheet metal surround to keep us varmints (the students) from getting burned. A big wood shed was nearby.  The girls and boys pit toilets were also behind the school building. In the winter it took heroes to use them.

The school was located on the west side of Stone Lake and the village of Stone Lake was on the east side of the lake. About 5 yrs ago we stopped by the school. It was still there but a "protective building" had been built over it. I believe one of the Gruenhagen family owned the property at that time. It may be gone by now.  

My father, Jens Johnsen, was on the school board with George Mikkula and Christ Thorp. The school was closed when I graduated in 1940. There were only seven of us and 4 graduating would have left only 3 students for the next year. Two of the 3 were Marjory and Natalie Clark. 

Lakeview School was built about 1890. It was the only school in the area until the village of Stone Lake built a school in 1910 [Sawyer County]. Until then the village children walked around stone lake but in winter they crossed the lake on the ice. Only about a mile then.

Some time later when the Lakeview School properties were sold.  Christ Thorp, as a member of the board, took it upon himself to burn the books owned by the school. My sister Helen happened by and there was Christ out in the schoolyard burning the books. Helen found a book that she had written her name in when she was going to the school. She made the mistake of asking Christ if she could have the book. "No No. I have burn them all". A verbal donnybrook took place but Helen went off with the book. Why would any one insist on burning books?

My 1st grade teacher was Margaret Dawn. She later married Alva Gundry. 2nd thru 7th grade teacher was Vitus Koel who became principal at Sarona schools. The last teacher at Lakeview School was Mrs. Jack (Ione) Thrasher.