Monroe County, Wisconsin - Chapter 43: State Public School, 1912

Chapter 337, laws of 1885, made it the duty of the board of supervision, by and with the consent of the governor, to select a suitable site and erect thereon buildings for a state school or temporary home for dependent and neglected children - such institution to be known as the "State Public School." Soon after the enactment of this law the board advertised for proposals for furnishing a site for this institution, and received responses from Stevens' Point, Waupaca, Green Bay, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Ripon, New Lisbon, Sparta and La Crosse. Subsequently the board visited all these places, inspecting the sites proposed and canvassed the advantages of each locality, and, finally, with the approval of the governor, selected Sparta as the locality for the school, accepting an offer of a tract of land embracing 164.8 acres as the site. This land lies in one regular body on the northeast of the city, being partly within its limits, having the La Crosse river for its eastern boundary and one of the city streets as its western line. The location is in all respects a healthful one, possesses many attractions in itself, and commands a view of one of the finest landscapes in the state.

During the year 1886 three cottages were erected and equipped in accordance with the provisions of the law, two of them of solid brick, two stories and an attic in height, with stone basement, and capable of accommodating 100 pupils. The third cottage, a frame structure, veneered with brick, two stories and an attic above a stone basement, was devoted at first to the uses of the superintendent and his family, but subsequently to the accommodation of the young children, of Avhom it affords room for thirty. The institution was opened for the reception of pupils on the 13th of November, 1886, with Robert T. Roberts as superintendent. It soon became apparent, from the rapidity with which committments were made, that more room must be provided before the full benefits of the institution could be realized. Accordingly the legislature of 1887 made provisions for the erection of a central building, two cottages and such other structures as it should (Icciii iiocpssary. The board of supervision, during that year, had erected the buildings named, and in addition tliereto a boiler and engine liouse and laundry and a l)arn. The central building is of briek, three stories in height upon a stone basement, and furnishes room for the superintendent and his family and employes, a general kitehen and large dining room, an assembly room and offices. The cottages are of brick, two stories and an attic in height, with a stone basement, and furnish accommodations for sixty pupils each. A school house, two stories in height, containing three class rooms and necessary halls on each tioor, and furnishing accommodations for about 250 pupils, was erected in 3889, as were also a cold storage building, ice house and additional farm buildings, and a dAvelliug house on adjoining land purchased was reconstructed into a comfortable hospital.

In August, 1891, the board of control elected F. L. Sanborn, of Ashland, to be superintendent in place of ]\Ir. Roberts, whose term had expired. July 7, 1892, fire, believed to be the work of an incendiary ward, destroyed the roof and upper story of the main building. The building was promptly reconstructed at a cost of .^4,814. 96. The primary object of the institution is to furnish a temporary home for dependent and neglected children until suitable homes can be found for them in good families. AVhile they remain in the institution they are instructed in the elementary branches of an English education.

July ], 1895, lion. S. S. Landt was elected to the superiutendency, which position he held for four years. Under his administration a general hospital Avas constructed at a cost of $3,300; also an addition to the laundry building for storage purposes at a cost of $1,000. M. T. Park succeeded Mr. Landt on July I, 1899, and continued in office nine years. -During his administration the following buildings Avere erected: Horse barn for driving teams, at a cost of $2,250; two playhouses or pavilions, costing $300 each ; new coal shed with capacity for storing 600 tons of coal, at a cost of $4,000; shed for farm machinery, at a cost of $300; two additions were built on Cottage "D," increasing the capacity from fifteen to thirty 1)abies, at a cost of $6,000.

C. M. Bright succeeded ^Ir. Park as superintendent on July 1, 1908, and continued in office three years. Two niMv cottages Avere constructed at a cost of about $22,000; alst) other improvements of remodeling and new ])lumbing in the cottages, school liouse and kitchen, at an expense of $1,000.

ville, was transferred to the State Public School, succeeding C. M. Bright as superintendent on August 1, 1911. LTp to the present time 3,711 children have been committed, the majority having been placed in homes on indenture contracts, where they remain until they become eighteen years of age. The average population of the institution is now (May 29, 1912) 140.