Property Record
N7201 COUNTY HIGHWAY N
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | ROCK RIVER VALLEY SCHOOL |
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| Other Name: | |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 221545 |
| Location (Address): | N7201 COUNTY HIGHWAY N |
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| County: | Jefferson |
| City: | |
| Township/Village: | Milford |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | 7 |
| Range: | 14 |
| Direction: | E |
| Section: | 1 |
| Quarter Section: | |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: |
| Year Built: | 1881 |
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| Additions: | |
| Survey Date: | 2012 |
| Historic Use: | elementary, middle, jr.high, or high |
| Architectural Style: | Front Gabled |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Cream Brick |
| Architect: | |
| Other Buildings On Site: | N |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | The first school in the Town of Milford School District No. 5 was founded in the mid-nineteenth century. Classes were initially held in a non-extant brick schoolhouse at the intersection of County Highway N and Finder Road. It became known as Rock River Valley School. In 1871, a portion of the Town of Aztalan School District No. 6 was added to the jurisdiction of the Town of Milford School District No.5, and these students began attending Rock River Valley School. Due to increased enrollment, a new, larger brick building was constructed in the original school’s place in 1881 at N7201 County Highway N in the Town of Milford. At that time, the old school was sold for $5 and removed from the property. As the residents of the school district were predominately German, classes were initially taught in that language. It wasn’t until 1907, that classes were held solely in English. However, feeling that the language should not be completely forgotten, the German language continued to be taught as an additional subject from that time forward. By the mid-twentieth century school consolidation, Rock River Valley School was one of five remaining schools serving the Town of Milford . Today the Town of Milford is served by schools located in the City of Lake Mills, the City of Watertown, and the Village of Johnson Creek. In 2003, the Rock River Valley School building was donated to the Johnson Creek Historical Society by John Higgins. At that time, the Historical Society made plans to move the schoolhouse to the Village of Johnson Creek and utilize it to house the historical society. These plans have not yet been carried out. |
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| Bibliographic References: | One Room Schools of Jefferson County. Johnson Creek: Johnson Creek Historical Society, 2006. Pages 114 and 138. |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |