Wow, was I wrong about this one. When I first saw it on several post cards, I was dead certain that this was the school building I attended fourth and fifth grade in. Talk about outlandish false memories. According to the Manawa Advocate, it was gutted by fire in 1923, and the burned-out hulk left behind was unsalvagable.
Construction started on this building in August 1896 and was completed in 1897. Its destruction by fire in December 1923 was an odd foreshadowing of the fire that would destroy the school I went to in 1972.
Although most post cards identify it as the high school, it was constructed to house the elementary school as well, and a sepearate high school was built in 1917 -- and it turns out this is the building I mistook for that one. I think.
Even though it stood for only twenty-six years, I've seen at least a half-dozen different images of it turn up on turn-of-the-century post cards sold through on-line auctions, making it probably one of the most photographed buildings in town, giving even the milk condensory and Esche's Mill a run for their money.
From The Manawa Advocate:
"Fire Saturday morning destroying the Manawa State Graded School building, together with all furniture, fixtures and supplies and about 50 tons of coal.
"The first alarm was sent in by Emil Kottke, janitor of the high school at 9:30 o'clock, but when men arrived at the building the basement on the north side was in flames and they had gained such headway that no attempt could be made to check them without efficient fire fighting apparatus, of which the village is sadly lacking. The New London fire department was sent for but their arrival was too late to be of any assistance except to protect nearby houses.
"The first section of the grade school was built in 1896 and housed both high school and grades until 1905 when an addition was made which practically doubled the capacity of the building. The structure was then used for both school until 1918 when the present high school was completed and the old building has been used exclusively by the grades."
I don't know where the original high school building was, so I've put it here with the other school buildings, which were on Depot St.
Page maintained by Dave Okonski :: last update 7 March 2004