Enlarge

Van Brunt Memorial School

Horicon, WI. - The Wisconsin Historical Society placed the Van Brunt Memorial School in Horicon, Dodge County on the State Register of Historic Places in November.

The Van Brunt Memorial School, built in 1922 and expanded with later additions, was designed by the notable Wisconsin firm of Parkinson and Dockendorff as a “combination school” housing primary (kindergarten through junior high) students and secondary (high school) students in separate wings.

The Van Brunt Memorial School is significant as the most important educational building in Horicon and represents this rural community’s commitment to secondary-level education. The Van Brunt Memorial School contained all primary through secondary levels until 1964, when a separate high school was constructed. After 1964, the Van Brunt Memorial School continued to be significant as Horicon’s elementary and junior high public school.  In 1955 and 1966, additions were constructed to the school to accommodate increasing student enrollment and meet state requirements for school buildings.  In 1993, the school district proposed to demolish the Van Brunt Memorial School. Instead, local voters chose to fund a remodeling of the building that included interior alterations to the gymnasium and auditorium, the construction of an elevator and stair tower at the rear of the 1922 school to meet accessibility requirements, and the construction of a new gymnasium.  Today, this school continues to represent the long history of public education in Horicon.

The State Register is Wisconsin's official list of state properties determined to be significant to Wisconsin's heritage. The State Historic Preservation Office at the Wisconsin Historical Society administers both the State Register and National Register in Wisconsin.

To learn more about the State and National Register programs in Wisconsin, visit www.wisconsinhistory.org. 

About the Wisconsin Historical Society
The Wisconsin Historical Society, founded in 1846, ranks as one of the largest, most active and most diversified state historical societies in the nation. As both a state agency and a private membership organization, its mission is to help people connect to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing stories. The Wisconsin Historical Society serves millions of people every year through a wide range of sites, programs and services. For more information, visit wisconsinhistory.org.