Irish Ridge Writings

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A HISTORY of the MUSCODA SCHOOLS Grant County, WI
1839 - 1967

In 1839 a school was taught at English Prairie (later named Muscoda), by Allen Bloyer. The memories of the older settlers failed to preserve the names of his many successors over the years following. Most of the schools held three month terms and were taught by young women.

In 1854 a log schoolhouse was built across from the present Riverdale Manor at 1000 N. Wisconsin Ave. with Charles W. Wright doing the carpentry. George R. Frank taught the first school in this building which was later sold to the Methodists for their church.

In 1860 a two-story frame building was built at a cost of $2,500 between the old town (near the Wisconsin River) and the new town (near the railroad).

A high school was organized in 1877 with P. B. McIntyre, P. A. Daggert and 0. P. Manlove as the school board. H. R. Smith was the principal. The first class, consisting only of Donald Mclntyre and Mary Garland graduated in 1880.

In 1885 that school burned and a new two-story, stone building was built. This building consisted of four large rooms plus a large hallway on the first floor and stairs to the top two rooms. Some time later, an addition of four more rooms was built onto the north side. A large widow's walk was built on the roof as many of the old pictures show.

In the summer of 1920, lightning struck the roof, burning it off. After the repairs the building continued in use until 1939, but now without the widow's walk. The class of 1938 graduated from a boxing ring set up on the east side of the building.

Work was beginning on the new school just west of the old building at 408 N. Wisconsin Ave.. This school served the students following the 1939 class.

The class of 1939 attended all four years of high school in the old stone building (which was torn down) but was the first class to use the gymnasium of the new school for graduation exercises. This building was used as a high school until the fall of 1963 when the present building was put in use at 235 E. Elm St.

About 1961, Avoca had consolidated with the Muscoda School District. In the fall of 1967, Blue River became a member of the new district which was then named the Riverdale School District. The building which had been used as a high school was then put to use as a grade school. The class of 1967 was the last class to graduate from the Muscoda High School.

Composed by John Duffey, class of 1938, for the 1996 MHS Reunion, where it was presented by Virginia Schaefer Tracy, class of 1940.

This history of the schools of Muscoda, Grant County, WI has been presented by John Wm. Greene, class of 1953, with thanks to the following: This history is as it was written and with credit to John Duffey and Virginia Schaefer Tracy for the October 4, 1997 Muscoda High School Reunion Class Directory. The directory was prepared by Ilo 'Lindy' Adams, class of 1940, from information origionally compiled by Nick Giantomasso, class of 1950.

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