Meeting News
     Fairwater Historical Society organizers met for the third time November 6 at the Fairwater Lions Club. Attending were Milton Born, Arlene Erdman, Marie Hardesty, Maurice and Lorraine Kimble, Florian Laper, Donald Lee, Verna Lee, Cirena Lenz, Bill and Betty Loechelt, Tom Montag, Pam (Schuster) Offerdahl, Bob Schuster, Barbara Vande Brink, Robert Zabel, and Karen (Erdman) Zanto.
     The next meeting has been scheduled for December 4 at the Lions Club. An informal exchange of photographs and other materials at 2:00 will precede the 2:30 meeting.

Lions Endorse Possible Transfer of Old School
     At their October 19 meeting, members of the Fairwater Lions Club endorsed the idea of transfering ownership of the 1910 portion of the village’s former public school to the Fairwater Historical Society for restoration as a museum. The Lions would retain the 1960 classroom addition.
     Arlene Erdman, Florian Laper, and Bob Schuster attended the meeting to describe the project and discuss interest in the possible division of the building, which would be needed to pursue grant funding for preservation and restoration.
     The Lions appointed a subcommittee of Lowell Laper, Stanley Harmsen, Dave Gallops, and Cora Lawson to work with historical society organizers on the details of a transfer. At the November historical society meeting, Florian Laper, William Loechelt, and Bob Schuster volunteered to meet with the Lions and historical society attorney Steve Sorenson. Issues to be discussed include the possibility of sharing restroom facilities, remodeling needed to ensure security, transfer of a portion of the original school lot, ongoing storage for Lions Club materials, and maintenance of shared space.
     In the interest of protecting the building from further deterioration, the Lions agreed to allow the society to make roofing repairs while discussions continue.

Roof Inspected--School Bell Rung Again
     Florian Laper, George and Jerold Sanders, and Bob Schuster have inspected water damage in the former public school building and have confirmed that damage is primarily confined to three areas of the roof and the classroom areas immediately below them.

Public school attic and roof (top of drawing faces east)

Public school classrooms (top of drawing faces east)

     Leaks are occurring on the west-facing slope of the roof south of the tower and along the two roofing troughs Roofboards and rafters appear to be in good condition elsewhere, although the entire roof is in need of reshingling.
     The west-facing slope, the area that has suffered the greatest damage, has been covered with a tarp for the winter. The trough closest to the tower has been patched temporarily, while the east-facing trough has been cleared of the chimney debris that had created a water dam.
     The roof and the two floors of the bell tower were also inspected. The original wood shakes on the roof have deteriorated badly, and a complete replacement of the roof is needed. The rooms of the tower appear to be in good condition. The inspection confirmed that the school bell remains in the upper room and is in working condition. It was given a ceremonial ringing reportedly heard throughout the village.

School Cleanup
     Encouraged by the extended fall weather, members of the Lions Club and organizers of the historical society spent the last weekend of October sorting through materials stored in the original rooms of the old school building and cleaning up decades of accumulated debris. Stanley Harmsen and Dave Gallops of the Lions and Florian Laper cheerfully contributed hours to the effort.
     Associated with the cleanup, organizers had the chance to take a closer look at the condition of the old school.
     While the upper division classroom in the building’s southwest corner has had significant water damage, the other two original classrooms appear to be in good good repair. The original tin ceiling tiles throughout the building appear to be in generally good condition but have been damaged beyond repair in part of the upper division room and at the rear of the main hallway. With the exception of the school’s original slate blackboards, which have been removed throughout the building, the classrooms are intact. Wainscoating has been removed from water damaged areas near the entry steps in the main hallway and will require replacement.
     Lighting fixtures, only partially functional throughout the building, and windows that remain boarded up for security purposes have left much of the building unlighted and have slowed the early inspections. Current lighting in the classrooms consists of fluorescent fixtures rath
     Much remains to be done, and if restoration is undertaken volunteers will be needed to complete the cleanup. Photographs and other sources of information will be needed to complete the inventory of materials and furnishings.

Horn/Lee Grocery Visited
     Organizers attending the November meeting visited with Verna Lee and inspected her long-time grocery, now vacant, on downtown Main Street. Mrs. Lee has offered storage space to the historical society on the first floor of the building but has expressed reluctance to have the building used as a museum while the public school building is restored. Further discussion will be on the agenda for the December meeting.
     While establishment of a museum continues to be considered, the issue of storage for donated items is more immediate. Organizers have asked Tom Montag to draft a press release for area papers to encourage interest in the society’s activities and the donation of materials.

Names of Former Students, Teachers Solicited
     In association with restoration plans for the old school building, society organizers are soliciting photographs, yearbooks, and other materials to help in developing a complete record of former Fairwater Public School students and teachers. Existing information has been posted to the society’s Web site.

Fairwater area students behind the schoolhouse believed to have been
the predecessor to the 1910 public school building

ACTIVITY UPDATES
     Applications To Create FHS, Inc., Completed: Steve Sorenson, Ripon attorney, has completed filing the incorporation form for the Fairwater Historical Society and the application for tax exemption. When both are approved, the society will become an affiliate of the State Historical Society of Wisconsin.
     Towne Miller’s Concrete "Monument," long submerged in the north branch of the Grand River below the highway bridge, has been relocated to the front steps of the old public school with help from Stellmacher Lumber. Rescued by George and Jerold Sanders in advance of the bridge’s replacement, the monument had been stored in the Sanders’ driveway.
     Historical Society organizers now have an explanation for the origin of the piece, dated 1925. It is thought that it was originally a doorway lintel in the Fairwater Hemp Company plant, owned in part by Miller, and that following a fire at the plant it found its way along with other building materials to the river bank.
     Henry Pangburn Gravestone: Arlene Erdman has been contacted by the Veteran’s Administration in Washington asking for confirming information about the Civil War service record of Henry Pangburn. She has requested a replacement for Pangburn’s gravestone, which has deteriorated beyond repair.
     Newsletters: Cirena Lenz reports that copies of FHS newsletters placed in the village post office have attracted considerable interest.