Holy Angels Catholic School

Introduction

Text-to-speech Audio

Holy Angles Catholic Church established its first parochial school associated with the church in 1866. This first school was held in the original, wood framed Holy Angels Church after a new, brick church was built. John Lindl served as the school's first teacher. This building served as the school until 1880, when it was sold and moved to make way for the second, brick school building which is still on the site.

Images

Old Catholic School around 1903. WCHS 017,352

Old Holy Angels School around 1938. WCHS 017,373

Holy Angles School diploma for Ethel Bradley in 1922. WCHS 2004.472

Font, Academic certificate, Paper, Paper product

Backstory and Context

Text-to-speech Audio

In 1878, Father Rukengruber built a new two story brick school on the corner of 7th Avenue and Hickory Street for a total of $7000. It held school rooms for eight grades of students and living quarters for four sisters.

As student enrollments increased from 41 in 1878 to 150 in 1903 the school was expanded. In 1918, the student enrollment grew to 197 at which time the old parish house was used for more classrooms. In 1926 the school moved to 8th Avenue and Elm Streets.

Since then many businesses have been in the space including the Wiskirchen Schoolhouse Tavern, Landvatter’s Radio & TV shops, The Mail Drop, Sgt. Rocket’s comics, KB Carpentry & Remodeling. The building currently serves as apartments.

Sources

Rathburn Associates. Final Report: Intensive Architectural/Historical Survey, West Bend, WI. West Bend, WI:1988.

Western Historical Company. The History of Washington and Ozaukee County. Chicago, IL. Western Historical Company, 1881.

Unknown. "Notice." West Bend Democrat (West Bend) April 21st 1880.

Leadership West Bend Class of 2018. Historic Downtown West Bend Walking Tour. West Bend, Wisconsin. 2018.

Image Sources(Click to expand)

Unknown photographer. Original photograph owned by the Washington County Historical Society.

From the Washington County Historical Society Object Collection. Owned by Washington County Historical Society.