What ever happened to Fulsher School?

[Renee class of '80]

I went down memory lane in the Historical Society, and was so disappointed I didn't see any mention or pictures of Fulsher School. I went to the little brick school house grades 2-4; Mrs. Allard, Miss Tuttle and Mr. Kolasa...(years 1968-71) We had the cafeteria with homemade food in the basement, and the best end of year "pot luck" I can ever remember, and was so much fun. I had some wonderful memories there. Is it still standing, what ever happened to it? Been many, many years since I have been back.
Thanks,
Renee

[Old Scout]

There is a rather large picture of the Fulsher school on the north wall of the class room area and a copy of an old year book in the book rack. I am not sure if there are any other documents.

You don't want to see what the old school looks like now. It has turned into a disaster area. I also attended the Fulsher school back in the 50's (53-59) and it makes me just about sick to see it now. After the school district sold the building it has turned into a junk yard. The guy that has it is a junk collector and uses the building to store all his junk. The rooms are full of junk and so is the yard. There has been nothing done to maintain the building and the roof has collapsed. I wouldn't be surprised if the floors have also by now. When you drive by you can look through the windows and see the sun shining in through the roof. It was a nice building that someone could have made into something decent, but now the best thing that could happen would be for it to be torn down before it collapses in a big heap.

Be thankful that you have fond memories of the school and can remember what it was like back then. It is better than seeing what it is like now.

[KEN]

It has turned into a disaster area.

EXACTLY!!!!

It`s blight for the area around it.
The entire area should be cleared and cleaned up.
Isn`t the owner of that property in violation of property codes!
Tourists visiting the area must shake their heads in disgust when they drive by.

[Renee class of '80]

OMG! How sad that is! I remember the inside to this day, and how charming it was with the hardwood floors, staircase upstairs, and to the right the basement area and kitchen, BIG classrooms and all the windows, and big portrait of President Washington hanging on the left wall upon entering, and the smell of the mimeograph machine all the classes used in the center.
How tragic it is. When I come home to visit, I must look up in the books you suggested and take a drive. It will break my heart to see it in that condition. Thanks.

[Ron Johnson]

It is a shame that the Fulsher school has fallen into ruin. When she was 19 years old, my grandmother, Selma Johnson, taught at the original one-room schoolhouse that was on the site. Her students in 1910 were Mercedes and Leon Arseneau; Amelia, Lenore and Fredrick Cull; Joseph, Leonard and Edward Coey; Leo and Eugene Durand; Ward and Clyde Fulsher; Clifford, Birdie and Wava Gennett; Mabel and Corinne Hathaway; Marie and Irene Kummer; Frank and Lowell Liberty; Lizziebell and Herbert Mitchell; Mabel Noyes; Myrtle and Eva Schgdloski; Lester and Russell Thompson; Alice and Beatrice Wright.

For the past two years, I have been researching Tomahawk's early days. I would welcome any information about the original rural schools around Tomahawk (there were nine) and information about families that arrived in Tomahawk prior to 1892. I have already written the stories of over two hundred pioneer families, but there is always more to learn.

Ron Johnson

johnson.ronald5@gmail.com

[Old Scout]

Check out the Tomahawk Area Historical Society face book page. There is information and pictures of the old schools.

https://www.facebook.com/TomahawkAreaHistoricalSociety

[KEN]

I haven`t seen the old school house for a few years.
Has there been any change?
Is it still an eyesore and blight on the community?

What shame to see such a beautiful piece of real estate go to waste!

[Old Scout]

The Fulsher School is in such bad shape that the best thing that could be done would be to tear it down and put it out of it's misery. The roof is pretty much gone and during the day when you drive by you can see sun light shining through into the rooms. From what I hear the rooms are full of junk and I have no doubt the floor will go before long. The yard looks like a junk yard and there is more there than ever as he keeps adding to it regularly. After spending six years there in grades 3 - 8 I have a lot of good memories of the place and it just about makes me sick every time I go by the place.

When they closed it there was so much potential to make something of the building but instead it turned into a dump.

[Renee class of '80]

When I went there, it was grades, 1-4. It was so lovely. Mrs. Allard still teaching, and was 2nd grade at that time. She must had been 80 then! Christmas time we would paint the angels and snowmen on all the windows. It had so much history, sad the historical society didn't see it's potential and try and maintain it, or keep it open. We lost Washington School to a fire, and this just left in ruins. Maybe when it goes, someone will salvage the bricks and do something nice with them. I guess that's about all we can hope for.

[cmnorton]

After reading the posted responses to this question, I think I now want to cry. I, too, went to Fulsher back when it still went to eighth grade. Mr. Ruprecht was the principal and in later years, he was my junior high math teacher. Fulsher School is still my answer when the question "Where were you when you heard that President Kennedy was shot?" is asked. That was the first time I ever saw a man (our principal at that time) cry.

Playing in the woods, softball at recess, the wonderful lunches, Christmas pageants, the smell of the mimeograph machine, big and little toilets, watching the older kids raise the flag out front are my memories; how incredibly lucky I was to have that school experience.

[Old Scout]

When you mention Mr. Ruprecht it brings back some fine memories of my favorite teacher. I had him for for 6th thru 8th grades. This was back in 56 thru 59. Those were some of the best years of school as far as I am concerned.

[KEN]

Isn't the owner in violation of any town codes or laws?!?!

Most cities will make homeowners do things like paint or even cut the grass or get rid of weeds!

[Renee class of '80]

Just my guess is it's not in city limits, and probably since it was a school, the city still owns it, so they do what they will until people complain. It would be nice to see the bricks perhaps recycled into something nice or sold, and torn down and then the lot could be sold.

[Old Scout]

The School is in the town of Bradley and was owned by the school district. A while after it was closed it was put up for sale and is now owned by a private party and is leased to the guy that has turned it into a junk yard. At least that is the information I have heard.

[Renee class of '80]

So public records should show who is responsible, and if not zoned for a junk yard, the city should start sending out notices and have it cleared up. Not only is it an eye sore, but a public health hazard if you have leaking oil and chemicals from whatever he's dumping in there the past 40 years. I's a shame the local do not say something and persist on getting this taken care of.

[Kerry Tobin]

It's not the city, that school is far enough out that it's going to be one of the townships, which will likely have much looser laws.

You would need to get the township to pass new laws and then enforce them if you want anything to change.

[Renee class of '80]

By definition: A township is a division of a county, while a town is a populated area with less people than a city but more than a village. Townships are generally much larger than towns and usually contain many towns and villages within their geographical limits.

Then Lincoln county should do something if it is becoming a hazard, or eye sore to the people who live there and charge the owner on their taxes or a separate bill Give them a 90 day notice to clean it up or the county will. An individual has to respect their boundaries, and like I said, if not zoned for a junk yard, steps should be taken that the property owner clean it up. Just my opinion

[Old Scout]

As I said in my earlier post, the school is in the town of Bradley and the town board would be the ones that would have to pursue this. They are the ones that set the ordinances for the town. I don't believe the county would get involved unless it was requested by the town of Bradley. Unless they get sufficient complaints I doubt if anything would happen.

[Renee class of '80]

http://townofbradley.org/pg/history

Next Town Meeting the people of Bradley need to step up and bring this up. It's a disgrace.
Tomorrow they are having an appropriate "land Planning Meeting"
Residents should show up. It's never going to change until someone takes notice and speaks up

*Town Plan Commission Meeting*

What: Plan Commission Monthly Meeting
Time: 6:30 PM
When: August 22, 2016
Where: Bradley Town Hall
Agenda: Land Plan Use