Property Record
W3908 A MARKING ROAD
Architecture and History Inventory
| Historic Name: | Pleasant Valley School |
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| Other Name: | District Jt. 7 |
| Contributing: | |
| Reference Number: | 72340 |
| Location (Address): | W3908 A MARKING ROAD |
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| County: | La Crosse |
| City: | |
| Township/Village: | Hamilton |
| Unincorporated Community: | |
| Town: | 16 |
| Range: | 6 |
| Direction: | W |
| Section: | 9 |
| Quarter Section: | SW |
| Quarter/Quarter Section: | SE |
| Year Built: | 1920 |
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| Additions: | C. 1992 |
| Survey Date: | 19932015 |
| Historic Use: | school-one to six room |
| Architectural Style: | |
| Structural System: | |
| Wall Material: | Brick |
| Architect: | Parkinson and Dockendorff |
| Other Buildings On Site: | |
| Demolished?: | No |
| Demolished Date: |
| National/State Register Listing Name: | Not listed |
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| National Register Listing Date: | |
| State Register Listing Date: |
| Additional Information: | A 'site file' exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the Wisconsin Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office. Subject property used for school purposes for many years prior to the construction of this school in 1920. The building also was used for 4-H meetings. Continued to be used as a school until approximately 1980 when it served as one of the two kindgergarten classrooms within the West Salem School system. Ms. Peggy Green was the kindergarten teacher in the late-1970s. Schoolhouse was sold in 1982 and converted into a private residence. Attached garage was constructed circa 1992. Adolph Marking was school board clerk in the 1950s. 2015- "Pleasant Valley School was built as a one-room schoolhouse in 1920. Prior to its construction, the subject property had been used for school purposes for many years. When the school was built, the La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press reported that, "improvement in the rural schools of this county during the past few years has been marked. The old style of one-room school house without improvements is passing out. The majority of schools now have heating & ventilating systems which conform to standards prescribed by the state authorities and all new school houses are built in accordance with up to date plans." At the time it was built, the school contained first-thru-eighth grades taught by Miss Verna Young (later, Mrs. Verna Patterson). By 1938, Pleasant Valley School had twelve pupils taught by Miss Viola Schomburg. The building also was used for 4-H meetings (at that time, La Crosse County teachers recognized the educational value of 4-H - a national club program that provided agricultural education and projects for children - and gave credit for work conducted under the program). In 1954, Mrs. Ruth Hutchinson was the teacher at Pleasant Valley School and the school's board consisted of Adolph Marking (clerk), Wilfred Walters (director) and Louis Hemker (treasurer). Pleasant Valley continued to be used as a school until approximately 1980, at that time serving as one of the two kindergarten classrooms within the West Salem School System. It has since been converted into a residence." -"CTH M, CTH O (south) to CTH B (north)", WisDOT #5436-00-01, Prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd. (Vogel/McQuillen), (2015). 2015- "Featuring a raised basement level, this one-story, vernacular schoolhouse exhibits Prairie School style influences with its horizontal massing, modest horizontal brickwork at the top of each elevation, and Prairie School-style inscribed lettering reading 'Pleasant Valley School' above both primary elevation entrances. Topped with a modern, standing-seam metal, hipped roof, a large, rectangular, internal chimney rises above the roof. The symmetrically oriented, primary (east) facade features bookend entrances. Above each entrance are projecting, round-arched, limestone hoods that contain blind arches with modest decoration. Over these hoods are inset, rectangular limestone blocks that are inscribed "Pleasant Valley School". Matching light fixtures that appear to be historic are found next to each entrance. On both the basement and upper levels, windows are featured in groups of three. Upper level windows rest on limestone sills and are composed of modern, double-hung sash topped with original leaded-glass transoms. Original, double-hung, wooden sash basement-level windows feature leaded-glass upper sash. Single, vertically oriented, fixed-sash, leaded-glass windows are located on the upper level over the entrances. The north elevation features single groupings of three windows on each level. Upper level examples are modern and rest on a limestone sill, while basement level windows are original, double-hung, wooden sash with leaded-glass upper sash. Similar to the north elevation, upper level windows on the south elevation are modern and rest on a limestone sill. A one-story, hipped-roof, brick-veneered garage constructed circa 1992 projects from the south elevation and extends to the west beyond the rear (west) facade. The rear facade features single groupings of three windows on each level. This elevation is framed by single, vertically oriented, leaded-glass windows on each level. Also evident are two small windows on the upper level and a single basement-level window that were installed in 1952 when bathroom facilities were added to the school. Since it was last used as a school circa 1980, exterior changes to the building include the construction of the attached garage circa 1992. The former asphalt parking and playground area abutting the school on the south was excavated and, as a result, the garage sits lower on the property than does the schoolhouse (see August 1967 photograph included with this document). A door opening was added on the basement level at the southwest corner of the school to provide access from the garage. Additional changes included replacing the upper level windows on the side (north & south) elevations. On the primary (east) elevation, the original one-over-one, double-hung windows also were replaced; however, their leaded-glass transoms and the basement-level windows are original, as are the tall, leaded-glass windows above each entrance. Primary elevation entrance doors have been replaced and storm doors have been installed. The original galvanized metal roof has been replaced with a new metal roof. The interior retains its original open classroom space although a number of changes were made when the school was converted into a residence. Plaster and lath were removed and the walls and ceiling were furred-out with rigid insulation added. Original trim was removed and reinstalled on new drywall walls. On the existing floorplan, note that the kitchen walls are 7-feet tall and do not extend to the ceiling. Original maple flooring was removed and is currently stored in the basement. Similarly, the school chalkboards also were salvaged and stored in the basement. The level of the floor was raised to the base of the windows in the former school room and library/teacher's room spaces and a laminate floor installed. At the top of each staircase, the walls that formerly defined the cloakrooms have been largely removed. Original pendant light fixtures in the cloakrooms were rewired and retained. It should be noted that the stairs next to the library/teacher's room shown on the original architectural drawings were removed in 1952. At that time, boys' and girls' bathrooms were installed in this area on the upper floor and a kitchen was added on the basement level. (Indeed, when the building was remodeled for residential use, the current owner retained this area on the upper level for a bathroom). As a result ofthis 1952 remodeling, the entrance on the rear elevation was infilled and the two small bathroom windows were added on the upper level and a single window was installed on the lower level." -"Pleasant Valley School/District Jt. 7", WisDOT #5436-00-01, Prepared by Heritage Research, Ltd. (Michael T. McQuillen), (2015). |
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| Bibliographic References: | "Higher Wages Attracting Old Teachers Back Into La Crosse Rural Schools," La Crosse Tribune and Leader-Press, 29 August 1920, page 9. Original Parkinson & Dockendorff plans for this school titled, "School for Joint School District #7, File #588" in possession of current owner of Pleasant Valley School. Estella Krohn Bryhn, "Early Schools of La Crosse County." |
| Wisconsin Architecture and History Inventory, State Historic Preservation Office, Wisconsin Historical Society, Madison, Wisconsin |