With the Wausau School District closing three schools and repurposing one, let’s take this time to look at their history before the schools are gone (though the buildings will remain). Each of these school buildings is slated to close their doors as a school for the last time in 2025 – but their history as a school and neighborhood hub will always be important.
Grant
First up, Grant School, originally Sixth Ward School (name changed in 1912), at 500 North 4th Avenue.
It was built in 1909-10, with additions in 2001. The original building was designed by architects Van Ryn & DeGelleke (Milwaukee), and the rear gym addition was designed by SDS Architects (Eau Claire.
At the time it was considered to be located at the edge of the city. It is said that 1,000,000 red bricks were used in its construction. Although students filled the halls starting in 1910, the classrooms on the upper floors were not completed until 1925.
Among the many accomplishments in these walls is being the first school in the area to teach deaf students.
It became a local landmark in 2021.
For more history on Grant School check out the youtube videos below
History Chats | Grant School – Marathon County Historical Society
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_pagyzTYmk
History of Grant School – Friends of Wausau Historic Landmarks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvN0mlEDEz0
Hawthorn Hills
School two is Hawthorn Hills at 1600 Kickbusch Street, which was built in 1986 to replace the historic Longfellow School (415 Seymour Street). In 2015 three new 4k classrooms were added.
The building was built in a modified “L” shape, which reduces the need for hallways and doors. It’s angularity is visible from the exterior. It also features a passive solar attic that was designed to cover up to 30% of the building’s heat. And the surrounding hills and forest provide a beautiful setting.
The triangular shaped library was designed to allow for about 12,000 books for students to borrow. The classrooms (other than those for specialized education such as kindergarten and music) were built with three walls, leaving the fourth open- with the ability to add a fourth “wall” of dividers as needed.
Hewitt-Texas
Our third school is rural Hewitt-Texas school out on 164475 Granite Road. It’s closing leaves just one rural school within the Wausau School District.
Hewitt-Texas Elementary School was built in 1961 and opened in 1962. It is located on a 13 acre wooded lot and it includes a wetland study area, nature trails and outdoor classrooms.
It was built as a single section school, with additions in the 1980s. It has been an important part of the rural community for many years.
In the 1970s the students set up a small school store called the Hornets Corner that students could buy school supplies from. The store took its name from the school’s basketball team nickname.
Before Hewitt-Texas Elementary the area school was called McMynn School, which was located at County Trunk “Q” and Landing Road in Hewitt. The school was built in 1909 and stayed open until 1962 when they decided to consolidate with the town of Texas and join the Wausau School District.
Lincoln
Lincoln Elementary School at 720 South 6th Avenue, opened its doors in 1970. It has been an important part of the Werle Park area – and as such is part of the city of Wausau’s “Neighbor-to-Neighbor” initiative, which promotes neighbors supporting each other by sharing resources, building relationships, and more.
It was designed using an open concept to allow for flexibility in instructional styles. Instead of traditional school design, portable dividers could be used to create spaces as needed. The library included a sunken circular area for reading time and drama activities. The principal and administrative offices were located centrally. Each area was differentiated by different color carpet