Shawano County Historical Society

08/31/2026

Its the start of a new school year so we thought it important to talk about the history of being a teacher in Shawano.

Imagine being a teacher in Lincoln School in 1904!

Seven teachers sitting on the steps of Lincoln School on Sawyer Street in Shawano, WI. This is the second Lincoln School built on this site. Today's Lincoln School was built in 1925 after a fire in 1924 destroyed the school in this photo.

1. Miss Delphs
2. Emma Sommers
3. Alice Roberts
4. Bergwin Jones
5. Lima Sommers
6. Grace Tone
7. Anna Naber

TEACHING IN WISCONSIN IN THE EARLY DAYS
To provide special training of teachers, Wisconsin began a normal school building program in 1865, opened the first normal school at Platteville in 1866. Other state LaCrosse, 1905; and Eau Claire 1916. In these schools tuition was free to students who were residents of the state.

Two and four year courses for teaching were given. Completion of the two year course enabled teachers to teach in the rural schools; four year course completion admitted them to a state university and a five year course allowed them to teach a subject in high school. Most who attended these normal schools only had an eighth grade education to begin with.

Teaching institutes were also conducted in many cities including Shawano. Training schools for teachers of rural schools grew out of the teachers institute system and began under legislative authority in 1899. (Shawano held classes for this in the basement of Lincoln School. For more details, read the interview with Mrs. Cattau). Completion of these programs allowed the teacher to teach at the rural schools.

Pay for teachers was not good. Most of the time pay was set by the boards and depended on the wealth of the district. However, in 1913 a minimum wage for teachers was set by law — $40 a month. If boards paid less, they would not get state aid. In 1921 this was raised to $75 a month.

The pay for men and women was not the same. In 1874 men were paid an average of $47.44 per month and women were paid $32.13. There was not much advancement for women either. In 1873 all county superintendents were men. By 1891 10 of 70 were women but women were paid $582.50 and men $823.50. In 1891 of the 175 high schools only one high school, Plainfield, had a woman principal.

Teaching was one of the few occupations open to women. In 1874 certificates for women teachers outnumbered men 2 to 1 and by 1890 it was 4 to 1. Teachers, unlike other professionals had to maintain a very strict moral code.


LINCOLN SCHOOL

Lincoln School is significant in the development of the Shawano school system because it was the first school built for the purpose of educating students after Shawano incorporated as a village in 1871. Before this, there were rural schools but no organized school system. There have been three schools where the current Lincoln School is located on Sawyer Street and all have been named, Lincoln School.

The first public Lincoln School building was constructed on the present Lincoln school site in 1871, and used as a school until 1887. This first school was a wooden two story building consisting of two rooms and a recitation room. Caroline Magee was the first teacher. The building was later moved to Main Street so a new school could be built. Later it was moved to South Main, next to The Farmers Brewery, where it was used as a furniture store but was torn down in 1990.

In 1887, a new brick building was built to replace the old Lincoln School at a cost of $8,000. Along with elementary classes, the high school remained in Lincoln School until 1902 when a separate high school was built. The second Lincoln School was destroyed by fire in 1924. Fire was a common occurrence in schools at this time.

In 1925, a third Lincoln School was built on the same site. It cost approximately $130,000 and was considered, at that time, to be one of the “most up-to-date school buildings in any city in Wisconsin.” The fire that destroyed the original Lincoln School in 1924 presented city leaders with an opportunity to expand their approach to education. They planned a school that would serve children from kindergarten through eighth grade in the burgeoning progressive model.

The Lincoln School is the oldest surviving school building in Shawano, and is the only remaining school building constructed in the city prior to World War II. The building served as the district elementary school until 2011 when it was sold and developed into apartments.

Lincoln School, located at 237 South Sawyer Street in Shawano, Wisconsin was listed on the National and State Historic Registers in 2013.

For more information on the history of schools in Shawano County, follow the link.

https://www.shawanohistory.org/history-of-the-shawano-county-school-system/

08/24/2026

21 year old Anna Boyle in 1909, sitting on the bank of the Wolf River.

This is a photo of Anna Boyle sitting on the bank of the Wolf River on the exact spot where Green Bay Street (old highway 29) would cross the Wolf River. Anna Boyle's home was located on the south side of Green Bay Street, right where the bridge would be built in 1928. Her home was later moved to the corner of Bartlett and Fifth Streets. Anna Boyle was active in politics all her life.

We are captivated by Anna Boyle's dress, hat, and confident pose in this photo and did some research. She's quite well dressed, which makes sense, considering she went to school to study millinery decorating and owned a dress shop in Shawano, "The Lindy-Ann Style Shop."

Anna holds the distinction of being the first woman driver in Shawano County.

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Below is an article about Anna Boyle from 1976, later in her life.

Anna was born in Pella, in Shawano County on October 19, 1888. She died in 1981 at the age of 92. Her grave is located in Riverside Cemetery in Nekoosa, WI.

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March 19, 1976
Anna Enjoys Sharing Time - By ALICE PAUSLEN
Press-Gazette Staff Writer

"I've had a great life, I'm very proud of it and happy," says 87-year-old Anna Boyle. "It's wonderful to be able to say that."

The resident of Villa West has only one wish, that people will continue to pray for peace. "I have great faith in prayer," she says. "I have always asked for help and I have always gotten it. God won't let you down."

Although she says she has had many "ups and downs," Mrs. Boyle looks back with justified pride and satisfaction on many years of involvement in church activities, civic affairs and politics. Two heart attacks and several strokes have forced her to give up community involvement, but she keeps up-to-date, particularly on national politics.

Mrs. Boyle's carefully compiled scrapbooks contain many photos and newspaper articles of her diversified interests, reminders of her own deeds and those of friends and relatives.

"I love people, especially old people and children," comments the grandmother of four and the great-grandmother of nine. "I missed having a real family, my uncle-father dying when I was 6. I have always felt so sorry for people in need."

The former Anna Bartlein was born on Oct. 19, 1888, in Pella and was adopted by her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. William Smith, who operated a sawmill. She went to a country school until she was 12, then attended boarding schools in Shawano, Green Bay and Milwaukee.

Returning to Shawano when she was 18, she studied millinery decorating. In April 1910, she married Charles Boyle, a Soo Line Railroad conductor until 1947.

In 1928 Mrs. Boyle, who holds the distinction of being the first woman driver in Shawano County, opened a dress shop, "The Lindy-Ann Style Shop." However, "the Depression came and the money went," says the former owner, who operated the shop for about four years.

A staunch Democrat, Mrs. Boyle retains an active interest in politics. She was chairman of the women's division of the Shawano County Democratic Party and vice chairman of the party. She was especially active in the election of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, which was the first time a Democratic presidential candidate won in Shawano County.

"It was we women who went out to all the precincts to organize chairmanships and asked organizations if speakers could be allowed to make presentations," recalls Mrs. Boyle. "We worked very hard and put Shawano County over."

Her political interest intensified when her daughter, Mrs. Dorothy Rivers, and her husband, Frank, began working for the government in Washington, D.C. Her daughter died in 1951 at the age of 39.

Through the years, Mrs. Boyle has campaigned for many candidates and has definite ideas on the present administration.

"I like President Ford, he was a good congressman, but I'm disappointed in him now," comments Mrs. Boyle. "He will have to prove to us what he said in his first speech, that he wasn't for the party, he was for the people."

Mrs. Boyle's advice to young people is to know the basic issues and work for the candidates of their choice. "If I thought the Republicans had a better candidate for president, I'd vote for him," admits Mrs. Boyle. "It's not the name, it's the man."

Mrs. Boyle still receives letters from politicians across the nation who notice her name and suggestions on various records. "Most of them are Republicans," she says, smiling.

According to Mrs. Boyle, service activities are "my way of doing." She was Shawano County chairman for the Nationwide Emergency Food Collection in cooperation with the President's Famine Emergency Committee in 1938 and was chairman of the United Council of Civilian Relief for China.

She was the Shawano County chairman for the U.N. Clothing collections in 1945 and 1946, aided by the Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts. In 1955 she also organized groups of women from county churches to collect money and sew clothes for 60 orphan girls living at a mission on Corsica Island.

Underprivileged children in Milwaukee also benefited from Mrs. Boyle's generosity. For five years, she was chairman of a program to allow the youngsters to stay with Shawano County families for two weeks during the summer.

In 1947 Mrs. Boyle's husband retired because of poor health, and in 1948 the couple moved to Waubeno to be near their son, Charles (Bud), and his family. Mrs. Boyle didn't waste any time getting involved.

She started as a volunteer at the Rock Nursing Home at Blackwell where her sister was a patient. She made a birthday cake and held a party for 80 patients and soon after was asked to supervise recreational activities and provide entertainment while continuing the monthly birthday party. She was chairman for a ladies' group, representing area churches, which visited the nursing home each week.

A "People Who Care" club also was formed with the help of businessmen, and a Christmas party was held for residents of the Blackwell home and a nursing home in Townsend.

During annual visits to Florida from 1950 to 1957 with her husband, Mrs. Boyle worked at a convalescent home for the three to five months the couple remained there.

The Boyles returned to Shawano in 1956, and Mr. Boyle died the following year. In 1967 Mrs. Boyle suffered a light stroke and was forced to cut back on most of her activities, living in a Shawano nursing home. In April 1975, after recovering from a stroke which left her temporarily blind, she moved to Green Bay where her son and his family reside.

Before leaving Shawano, Mrs. Boyle donated many old pictures and literature on the county and surrounding area to the Heritage House, a historical home.

She is optimistic on the future of this country. "I'm very fond of young people, and I'm very unhappy when people blast them. When you see what some of them are doing, you have to realize they have to be good. We always have had bad among them, but that happens in any group."

08/18/2026

Shawano Has History Earns Statewide Recognition

The Shawano community has another reason to celebrate.

The Shawano Has History project has earned statewide recognition, receiving the 2026 Wisconsin Historical Society Board of Curators Public Program Award. This award recognizes Wisconsin organizations, individuals, or groups that have launched an exceptional or innovative public history program in the preceding year.

On August 17, Christian Overland, Director and CEO of the Wisconsin Historical Society, presented the award to Michael Oberle, Shawano County Historical Society Board member, and Ben Hartwig, Leadership Shawano County representative. Historical Society representatives, Leadership Shawano County members, city officials, representatives from BID, the Chamber of Commerce and Community Education, and project sponsors attended the award ceremony.

For Shawano, the award recognizes a community effort that has brought the stories of the city's historic downtown buildings to life through interpretive plaques, online resources, and educational programs.

A partnership between the Shawano County Historical Society and Leadership Shawano County, the project began with a simple goal: to share the history behind Shawano’s historic downtown and the buildings that people pass every day. Since the first plaques were installed, the initiative has grown steadily, encouraging residents and visitors alike to slow down, read the stories, and gain a greater appreciation for Shawano's architectural and business heritage.

With 20 plaques installed, the project highlights the history of specific buildings, businesses, and the owners who called them home. Each plaque includes a QR code linking to additional photographs and information through the historical society’s website. Together, the markers create a self-guided walking tour that allows people to explore downtown while learning about the history that helped shape the community.

The plaques, walking tour, and community education programs are the most visible parts of a larger effort. Volunteers from the Historical Society and Leadership Shawano County worked with property and business owners, city officials, community organizations, and sponsors to make the project possible.

The award recognizes the value of preserving local history and the dedication of the volunteers and supporters who have contributed to the project over the past several years. It also serves as encouragement for the future. Additional buildings are being researched, new plaques are planned, and the project hopes to expand throughout Shawano County, ensuring that more stories will be preserved and shared with future generations.

For everyone participating in this project, or simply stopping to read a plaque, the award is a reminder that local history matters—and that Shawano's story is worth telling.

If you would like to learn more about the Shawano Has History Project, explore researched properties, or support the effort by donating to or sponsoring a plaque, please visit:

https://www.shawanohistory.org/historic-properties/

08/18/2026

The Chaimson’s Fair Store plaque...an update!

Danny Chaimson recently traveled from Chicago to Shawano to see the plaque he sponsored on the Chaimson’s Fair Store Building. The building was constructed in 1907 by his great-great-grandfather, Max Chaimson, making the visit a special connection to his family’s history in Shawano.

Thanks Danny!

Chaimson's Fair Store was located at 134 S. Main St. Today the building is the home to Willow & Ash Decor Co.

08/17/2026

We found a couple of interesting photos. The first is the 1899 graduating class from "Shawano High School." The second photo is the 50th anniversary reunion from 1949.

In 1899, high school classes were held in the top floor of Lincoln School on Sawyer Street in Shawano. This graduating class didn't attend classes in the Lincoln School building on the site today, they attended classes in the second Lincoln School building on Sawyer St. A photo of the building is attached.

Just like today, these students attended school, graduated, and held class reunions.

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Photo 1: Graduating Class of 1899
Back row: Theresa Herback Bohr, Walter Mulroy
Grace Ainsworth Tonne, Frank Jones, Hattie Brooks Banta, Prof. Musser-Teacher, Marie Lirsch Miersera

Second row: Lily Schussman Fuchs, Hortense Stevens, Miss Susan Davis , Prof. Rood-Teacher, Miss Bucholtz-Teacher, Josephine Bush Ihde, Emily Brauer Matthews

Front row: Leo Mittelstadt, Ida Sommers Madler, Alice Ackerman Brightman, Berwyn Jones Helms, Bertha Guenzel Jones, Edward Jennings

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Photo 2: June 9th 1949 - 50 yrs after graduation in 1899
Standing: Grace Tonne, Hortense Stevens, Marie Miersera, Frank Jones

Seated: Leo Mittelstadt, Alice Brightman, Lillie Fuchs, Ida Madler.

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Photo 3: The second Lincoln School on Sawyer Street in Shawano, WI.

For more information about Lincoln School, follow the link.

https://www.shawanohistory.org/schools-in-the-city-of-shawano/

08/10/2026

With plans for a new court house complex moving forward, we're posting information about the dedication of the current courthouse.

Shawano County has used three different courthouse buildings on or near Main Street since the county was created in 1853. The first was built in 1857, the second in 1883 at a cost of $17, 000 by J. L. Whitehouse, and the current Art Moderne style limestone building was constructed between 1956 and 1958 for $1.4 million.

Photos of the courthouses are included.

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Here’s an article from the Leader about the dedication of the current court house.

Dedicate Shawano Courthouse Saturday
$1.4 Million Unit Replaces Old Structure
SHAWANO (PG) — Shawano County's new $1.4 million courthouse will be formally dedicated and opened to inspection here Saturday afternoon. The dedication rites are scheduled to get underway at 2 o'clock.

County Judge C. B. Dillett will act as master of ceremonies and the dedication ceremonies will be initiated by Circuit Judge Andrew W. Parnell of Appleton.

The invocation will be given by the Rev. Warren J. Mueller, pastor of the Peace Evangelical and Reformed Church, and the benediction will be offered by the Rev. Joseph C. Schaefer of Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Presentation of the new structure for the dedication rites will be made by Arthur H. Schultz, chairman of the building committee. Mike Powers, Shawano County Board chairman, will accept the building.

Tours Saturday, Sunday
Tours of the building will be conducted by the American Legion Auxiliary from 2 until 8 p.m. Saturday and from 2 until 5 p.m. Sunday.

The old courthouse, torn down to make room for the present structure, was built in 1883 and had been adjudged inadequate for expanded services several times before the County Board authorized an appropriation for the new building in November 1948.

The first move called for funds for preliminary plans, at which time the Board authorized the appropriation of a yearly sum to be earmarked for the courthouse building fund.

Miscellaneous Funds Used
Miscellaneous income, such as delinquent tax collections, also went into the fund.

In a series of actions, the board authorized the building of the courthouse along with replacement of the old county jail.

Construction of the jail began in August 1954 and dedication services were held in March 1956.

Preliminary plans for the new courthouse were completed early in September and contracts for construction were awarded on the 22nd of that month.

The move from offices scattered throughout buildings in Shawano began July 1, 1958, and was completed in 15 days.

Courts On Third Floor
The two-story building is currently housing all the county offices, with the third floor providing space for the Municipal and Circuit Courts along with County Court. The County Board meets there, as do several committees of the Board.

Second-floor space went to the highway, welfare and agriculture departments, along with the County School Board, treasurer, clerk and register of deeds offices.

Basement space was designed primarily for storage and record space for the various offices.

The 200-by-100-foot structure was designed by the architectural firm of Foeller, Schober, Berners, Safford and Jahn of Green Bay.

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From the Wisconsin Historical Society
Courthouse, built in the Art/Streamline Moderne style of architecture, is still in excellent and largely original condition. Jail next door (405 N. Main St.) built the year before and was designed by the same architects.

The Shawano County Courthouse Complex consists of the Powerhouse and Courthouse at 311 N Main Street and the Jail at 405 N Main Street. The first county courthouse and jail were constructed at the 311 N Main Street property in 1853. The courthouse was replaced in 1879, and a separate jail building was constructed in 1902.

The Powerhouse was constructed between 1913 and 1926 to serve the courthouse. The current courthouse and jail were designed by prominent Green Bay architecture firm Foeller, Schober, Berners, Safford & Jahn between 1956 and 1958.

The Shawano County Courthouse is a two-story Art Moderne style building located on the west side of Main Street between W 3rd and W 4th Streets. Constructed in 1958, the building has a rectilinear footprint, concrete foundation, limestone exterior walls, and flat roofs with parapets. The exterior cladding is comprised of various sizes of rectangular limestone pieces, and the facades are symmetrically arranged.

Fenestration consists of single-pane and three-part aluminum frame windows with smooth stone sills. The primary façade (east elevation) has a central recessed entrance characterized by aluminum framed window walls on the first and second stories separated by a corrugated metal panel with signage reading “SHAWANO COUNTY COURT HOUSE.” A carved stone depiction of the Scales of Justice is centered above the entrance. On either side of the entrance are 13 fenestration bays with a continuous row of windows on the first story and alternating windows on the second story. Similarly styled, but slightly shorter wings extend from the north and south (side) elevations. Each has a central entrance flanked by four two-story fenestration bays. The entrances are accessed by concrete steps with concrete half walls and metal railings.

08/04/2026

Did you know we have 20 Shawano Has History plaques installed?!

Its summer time so take a walk and visit the the plaques to learn about your local history. You can use this handy plaque walking tour map.

With Shawano’s historic downtown being on the National Register of Historic Places since 1999, these plaques tell visitors about Shawano’s historic properties, businesses, and owners.

You can find the map on our website….follow the link to download the .pdf file. You can use this map on your phone or print the map.

You can also view the .jpg photo files listed below.

https://www.shawanohistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/260322_shs-brochure_v15_without-raddant.pdf

08/03/2026

Here's a photo taken in front of the Farmers Brewery in 1920 from Eva Kroenke.

Employees of the Farmers Brewery posing for a photo:
Front row: Conrad Velland, Robert Habeck, unknown, John Seifert, Hadie Boehm, William Bohm. Others in front row are unknown.

Back row: Herman Marohl, Bill Habeck, Charles Marohl and August Kroening.

The Farmers Brewery is located at 713 S. Main Street in Shawano. For more information on the Farmers Brewery, follow the link.

https://www.shawanohistory.org/the-farmers-brewery/

07/29/2026

The Shawano Has History crew is planning another walking tour......register today.

Walking Tour on the 8th! Register today!

07/28/2026

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