National Register Web Summary –
Sheboygan Falls School
101 School Street, Sheboygan Falls, Sheboygan County
Architects: Oppenhamer & Obel (1928 high school); Edgar A. Stubenrauch (1949 elementary school); Edgar A. Stubenrauch & Associates (1956, 1957, 1962 & 1963 additions)
Dates of Construction: 1928 (w/ 1949, 1956, 1957, 1962 & 1963 additions)
Sheboygan Falls School is important to the educational heritage of Sheboygan Falls. Initial construction consisted of the high school built in 1928. An elementary school was constructed on the property in 1949 and these two buildings were connected with planned additions built in 1956, 1957, 1962 and 1963. Sheboygan Falls School is the oldest intact school building in the community. From 1928 to 1969, it served as the city’s only public high school and, following construction of the elementary school in 1949, it was the site of public education for all its school-aged children. Sheboygan Falls School’s multiple additions reflect the growth of the community and its educational offerings; specifically, the 1956 addition was devoted to a band room, industrial arts, and an agricultural classroom and shop space. In addition to satisfying the general educational needs of its students, the school’s curriculum was tailored to the community, as seen in its agricultural courses that saw an enrollment increase following consolidation and expansion of the school district to include surrounding rural areas.
Sheboygan Falls School also embodies the historic trend of school buildings as a center of community activity within the city. Completion of the building’s construction phases were celebrated by local residents with open houses and dedication programs. Citizen volunteer groups were formed to raise money for materials and equipment during these school building projects with local businesses and individuals donating funds.
Following construction of a new high school in 1969 and, later, separate elementary school and middle school buildings, Sheboygan Falls School closed in 2018. The building continues to retain its school features and finishes including its auditorium, gymnasium, original display cases, terrazzo floors, and glazed wall tile. |