Howe
Built in 1893
Named For:
Timothy O. Howe – a member of the U.S. Senate, representing the state of Wisconsin. Howe lost is senate seat in 1879 to fellow Republican Matthew H. Carpenter. He then served as U.S. Postmaster General under President Chester A. Aurthur from 1881 until his death in 1883. In his early career, Howe was elected circuit judge in Wisconsin and served in that position from 1851 to 1855. As a circuit judge, he also served as a justice of the Wisconsin Supreme Court until a separate Supreme Court was organized in 1853.
Location: Between Oakes Ave and Banks Ave; Between 23rd St and 24th St
Features:
Howe was one of several schools built in 1893. An addition was constructed in 1901. At that time Howe consisted of seventeen classrooms, a recitation room, kindergarten, manual training, printing, sewing, and lunch room. A gymnasium was added in 1926.
Accomplishments:
The pupils had a Junior Red Cross Chapter during the 1918-1919 school year. They made donations for home and foreign relief efforts, including raising money for a French orphan. Efforts included Liberty Bonds in the amount of $10,200, War Savings Societies in every room purchasing stamps of $5,400, and with the aid of teachers completed 2,200 garments for the Red Cross. They were also successful in gardening, having over 350 students involved in 250 gardens. The Howe students won for the third consecutive year at the County Fair in gardening.
Another early advancement in education in Superior included a rule abolishing corporal punishment, starting in the 1892-1893 school year. The annual report from that year stated, “On the whole the rule has worked out well. The abnormal cases where it would benefit is more than offset by the injury to the others.”
Closing:
The Howe School was razed in September of 1966. The gymnasium addition was saved for several years and continued in use. Golden Living Apartment is currently on the site where Howe School once stood.