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Group wants to keep another rural school from vanishing

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Fritz Bradley, Franklin Gilkes, Chuck Stagman and Joe Stagman are the four men leading the Brodtville School Preservation group, which hopes to raise funds toward the restoration of the rural school. (Photo by Correne Martin)

Perhaps the most fascinating piece of history inside the old Brodtville schoolhouse is an enormous, hand-painted, fabric banner that spans over half the one room’s width and all of its height. The banner shows an honor roll of sorts of Patch Grove, Bloomington and Bagley area businesses from yesteryear. The Brodtville School Preservation members would love to know the banner’s origin and artist if area citizens would hold the key to that information. (Photo by Correne Martin)

By Correne Martin

Last fall, the town of Wyalusing was looking at the future of the old Brodtville schoolhouse on County Highway P. The township considered tearing it down, as taxpayer dollars were being spent to maintain the rarely-used, historical building, with what was thought to be a decrepit foundation.

But a newly-formed organization, Brodtville School Preservation Inc., stepped in and requested the town deed them the 152-year-old building. And that is what happened. The town will continue to maintain the land and adjacent cemetery, but since the $1 transfer of ownership between the two entities, the new organization has taken over restoration of the one-room schoolhouse—a once traditional monument that’s all but vanished in rural America.

Led by four senior men, three of whom attended courses decades ago at the rural school, the preservation group has been soliciting donations for cleanup, repairs, a new roof, proper record-keeping and other restoration goals. Chuck Stagman, Fritz Bradley, Franklin Gilkes and Joe Stagman are still in the process of determining exactly how the facility will be used once its spruced up, but they are certain of the strong value that remains.

They intend for it to be available to the public at some point, likely on a rental basis, whether it be for private gatherings of family and friends, Brodtville school reunions, public meetings or otherwise.
“A lot of elbow grease and some paint is really all that’s needed,” Bradley pointed out.

“It’s still here and it’s in relatively good shape,” added Chuck Stagman.

The original wood floor is still in excellent shape and the exterior structure itself is sturdy. The front steps should be replaced and a handicapped entrance built. The foundation in question has been determined to be in better condition than once thought, but if enough money were raised down the road, a new foundation could be built.

Additionally, there is no water and sewer on the property, but whether those utilities are added will come down to the purpose of the building and the amount of funds.

A cleanup day has been scheduled for Saturday, July 16, beginning at 10 a.m. Volunteers are encouraged to attend with equipment and materials needed to scrape paint, reapply paint, fix windows and otherwise scrub the building.

Donations are also accepted at this time. Community Development Alternatives, of Prairie du Chien, is the fiscal agent for the Brodtville School Preservation. Interested individuals may contact CDA at 326-7333 or Chuck Stagman at (608) 778-9490.

Currently, the preservation group has a number of old photographs of early 20th century classmates as well as old articles about the building. But they are interested in seeing more. Anyone who has photos or copies they could share is invited to do so by contacting Chuck.

It’s hard to imagine the Brodtville schoolhouse once served as a place of blackboard instruction by one teacher to as many as 42 students. Back in those days, when the school children put on a play, it was standing room only for parents and grandparents.

With restoration as an attainable goal, perhaps the school will be filled to capacity again soon.

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