Title: Fauver Hill Kindergarten Center (Onalaska, Wisconsin) Records
Bulk Dates: 1970-1999
Inclusive Dates: 1915-1999

Creator:

• Fauver Hill Kindergarten Center (Onalaska, Wis.).

Unique Identifier: MSS 092

Quantity: 2.2 cubic feet

Physical Description: 3 archives boxes, 1 flat box

Repository:

La Crosse Public Library
Contact Information

Archival Location:

La Crosse Public Library (Map)

Abstract:

Originally a Town of Campbell school begun in 1867, the school continued to be called Campbell School until 1919, when the name was changed to Fauver Hill. Fauver Hill School joined the Onalaska School District in 1960, and continued to be used as an elementary school until 1983 when it became the Fauver Hill Kindergarten Center, housing all the kindergartners in the district. The Center closed in 1999.

Materials include photographs, scrapbooks, newspaper clippings, and many items compiled in preparation of the memory book, “Fauver Hill, 1867-1999,” published in honor of the closing of the school.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.lcpl-mss092

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(Accession no. 2003.078) Donated by Marian W. Mieden

Materials in this collection are available for patron use.

[Identification of item], Fauver Hill Kindergarten Center (Onalaska, Wisconsin) Records, MSS 092, La Crosse Public Library Archives, La Crosse, WI

Processed by Christine Stolz, 2005

Materials from the Fauver Hill School Collection include many items used in preparation of the Fauver Hill memory book, “Fauver Hill, 1867-1999,” compiled before the school closed on June 4, 1999. Materials include artwork of the exterior of the school (1990s), history and timelines (1990s), preliminary copies of the memory book (1999), reminiscences collected from former Fauver Hill students and staff members (1999), and a list of teachers that taught at Fauver Hill including the first teacher, Lucy Johnson (1990s).

Other materials include a building report (1966), miscellaneous materials (1971-circa 1990s), newspaper clippings (1945; 1970s-1998), and a general scrapbook containing many newspaper clippings (1970-1979). Three kindergarten scrapbooks are included, two of which are made up primarily of photographs (1975-1976 and 1976-1977). The other kindergarten scrapbook includes newspaper articles, which document the start of the Onalaska Kindergarten Center, and also includes some photographs (1983-1986).

Many photographs are included in the collection. Students are rarely identified in any of the photographs, but teachers and staff members are identified in the “teachers and classes” and “teachers and staff” folders. Most photographs are undated. Photographs are included of the building and grounds (1915; 1970s), cafeteria (1970s), and classroom scenes (1970s-1980s). Other classroom scenes are color slides (1970s-1980s). Additional photographs include special events, outdoor scenes (1970s-1980s), teachers and classes (1970s-1990s), teachers and staff (1970s-1990s), and volunteers (1970s-1980s).

The first school built in the Town of Campbell in La Crosse County in 1867 stood on the present corner of OS and Highway 16, which was on the William Hartley property. Lucy Johnson was the first teacher, and five students attended the school. The building was later sold, and a new school was built in 1879 on land donated by David Fauver located on present day Highway 16 close to Interstate 90. The school was named Campbell School, and one teacher taught grades one through eight.

In 1919, the name of the school was changed to Fauver Hill School in honor of donor, David Fauver. A new school building was constructed on the same site in 1924. The building contained a classroom, library, storage room and kitchen. The school was modernized in 1936 with the addition of running water and toilet facilities.

In 1957, three classrooms were added to the original structure, four classrooms were added in 1966, and a gymnasium was added in 1974. Depending on enrollment numbers, the school at times housed grades kindergarten through grade six and later, kindergarten through grade four.

In 1960, the school joined the Onalaska School District. By late 1982 and early 1983, a proposal was put forth by the Onalaska School District to change Fauver Hill School from an elementary school to a kindergarten center. An expanded kindergarten curriculum was proposed including nature study, performing arts programs, and additional field trips. Many parents initially opposed the plan because they were concerned about having their young children ride a bus to school rather than attend a neighborhood school. The school board approved the plan, and in the fall of 1983, Fauver Hill School was changed from an elementary school to Fauver Hill Kindergarten Center. Former Fauver Hill elementary students began to attend Northern Hills and Pertzsch Elementary Schools.

As enrollment in the Onalaska School District continued to increase and overcrowding occurred at the district’s elementary schools, taxpayers approved an $11.8 million dollar referendum in November 1997 to build a new elementary school with a kindergarten wing. The Onalaska School Board accepted a bid from Gundersen Lutheran to sell the Fauver Hill School and property for $1.4 million dollars. Gundersen Lutheran later used the building for exercise and health education programs. Fauver Hill Kindergarten Center closed on June 4, 1999. The new school, Eagle Bluff Elementary with its adjoining Onalaska Kindergarten Center, opened August 1999.

(Clipping file)

Onalaska--Schools

(Picture file)

Onalaska--Schools

(372.218 F276)

Fauver Hill Kindergarten Center yearbooks

(372.9775 F276)

Fauver Hill, 1867-1999

• Campbell School (Campbell, Wis.).
• Fauver Hill Kindergarten Center (Onalaska, Wis.).
• Fauver Hill School (Onalaska, Wis.).
• Elementary schools--Wisconsin--Onalaska

Box 1   Folder 1	Artwork, 1990s
Box 1   Folder 2	Building report, 1966
Box 1   Folder 3	History and timelines, 1990s
	Memory book
Box 1   Folder 4	Preliminary copies, 1999
Box 1   Folder 5-7	Reminiscences, 1999
Box 1   Folder 8	Miscellaneous, 1971-1990s
Box 1   Folder 9	Newspaper clippings, 1945, 1970s-1998
	Photographs
Box 1   Folder 10	Buildings and grounds, 1915, 1970s
Box 1   Folder 11	Cafeteria, 1970s
Box 2   Folder 1-4	Classroom scenes, 1970s-1980s Physical Description: Images in folder 4 on slides
	Events
Box 2   Folder 5	Aesthetic Arts Day, 1970s
Box 2   Folder 6	Bicentennial, 1975-1976
Box 2   Folder 7	Bicentennial Wagon Train, 1976
Box 2   Folder 8	Carnival, 1980
Box 2   Folder 9	Christmas, 1970s
Box 3   Folder 1	Field trips, 1970s-1980s
Box 3   Folder 2	Guest presenters, 1970s-1998
Box 3   Folder 3	Halloween, 1970s
Box 3   Folder 4	Miscellaneous, 1970s-1980s
Box 3   Folder 5	Thanksgiving, 1970s
Box 3   Folder 6	United Nations Day, circa 1979
Box 3   Folder 7	Outdoor scenes, 1970s-1980s
Box 3   Folder 8	Teachers and classes, 1970s-1990s
Box 3   Folder 9	Teachers and staff, 1970s-1990s
Box 3   Folder 10	Volunteers, 1970s-1980s
	Scrapbooks
Box 4	General, 1970-1979
Box 4	Kindergarten, 1975-1986
Box 3   Folder 11	Teachers, 1990s