SCHLESWIG JT. 6 -MAPLE CORNER


                                 Delores Lenz
    Schleswig joint district No. 6 was named the
Maple Comer school in 1919 because of the tall


half-century old maple trees that form right
angles on the school yard. The school has been
and is still commonly referred to as the Mill-
home school as it is-located a mile east of that
village.
    Schleswig No. 6 was organized in 1869. On
December 27, 1869, Peter Kaiser sold the present
site to the district school board for $18. The
description of the site is as follows: "The south-
west corner of the S½ of the SEV4 on the She-
boygan and Calumet Plank Road. Fence running
north along the section line for 6½ rods, thence
west six rods, thence south 61/½ rods, thence east
six rods to the place of commencement of Sec. 35,
T. 17 N, R. 21E." Prior to 1869, this district was
parts of districts 4, 5, and 7, Schleswig. It was
not until 1894 that the district became a joint
district. At present Schleswig joint 6 is joint
with the town of Rhine in Sheboygan county,
and with the town of Meeme. The district now
       consits o-rnst nf.qo '**nQ. ' ,, 9  +4,v 1.52


of section 33, and all of sections 34, 35, and 36
in Schleswig; a small part of section 31 in Meeme; and a part of Rhine township.

    The first records, neat and inclusive, were written in German from 1869
to 1874.
The first log schoolhouse was built on the present school site. Records do
not give
very much information about this school except that in 1875 it was decided
"a shed
shall be built unto the schoolhouse and it shall have a good lock".
The location of
the school was but a short walk from scenic Sheboygan river. One can imagine
that
the students in this first school spent much of their recess time at and
on the river.
    In 1888, the district decided to build a new school. The old school was
sold for
$34, moved to Millhome, remodeled, and to this day is used as a residence.
The new
school, the present building, was built by Herman Dexheimer for $715. It
was built
as a one-room building with windows on the long sides. It is set on a stone
founda-
tion without a basement. New seats were purchased the same year. Every year
the
school walls were renovated by whitewashing.
    In 1897, additional land of 27/4 square rods was purchased from Peter
Kaiser
for $54.50 to enlarge the schoolyard. A new maple floor was laid in 1898
for $61.05.
In 1903, a new woodshed was built. A ventilation system was installed in
1907 for
$36. A well was drilled in 1909. Five years later 50 new adjustable seats
and desks
were purchased for the sum of $67.50. To meet the requirements for special
state aid
for maintaining a first class rural school, the district voted to remodel
the school by
placing the windows on only one long side and in the rear of the classroom.
Since
that time, the progressive patrons and board members have made yearly improve-
ments. It now has an entry, a bell tower, a cloakroom, a large classroom,
piano,
radio, steel filing case, floor furnace, a large library cupboard, electric
plate, and
other modern teaching equipment.

    The school began with an enrollment of about 30 pupils in 1869. By 1875
the at-
tendance had gone up to 74, but for the rest of the 1800's until 1895 the
number of
pupils averaged between 50 and 60. In 1896 the enrollment, for some unexplained
reason, rose to 90 according td the town clerk's report to the county superintendent.
Shortly thereafter the attendance again dropped down to average about 70
pupils
yearly. Since 1900 the attendance has decreased yearly until by 1948 the
enrollment
was down to 26 pupils.

    School sessions during the early history of the school were for six month
periods.
Records show that Schleswig No. 6 was among the first schools of the county
to
have eight month terms beginning in 1874. E. S. Mueller, former county superinten-
dent of schools who taught in this school for eight terms in the 1900's,
states that
English and German sessions were held even at that late date. The records
in the
superintendent's office do not indicate that winter and summer terms were
held, but


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