newsletter - Village of Brown Deer

J anu ar y, 2 0 1 4 V o l um e X XX X II , I s s ue 1
B r own D e er Hi s t o r i ca l S o c i e t y, I n c .
N EWSLETTER
IN MEMORIAM
Upcoming Meeting
Date:
Thursday, January 23, 2014
Time:
6:30 pm Board of Directors
7:00 pm Guest Presentation
Where:
Lois & Tom Dolan Community Room
4355 West Bradley Road
Brown Deer, WI
Open To the Public and Society
Membership
Brown Deer Historical Society
Board of Directors
Officers
Joseph Klucarich President
Rose Klucarich Vice President
Robert Moranski Treasurer
Kathleen Schilz Secretary /Editor
Directors-at-Large
Barbara Bechtel Bernice Knurr
Tim Schilz
Mary Buckley
LeRoy Knurr
Barry Godshaw
Submit any newsletter articles or
historical acquisitions to:
Kathleen E. Schilz
6543 W. Floral Lane
Brown Deer, WI 53223
[email protected]
414-355-4182
The Historical Society lost one of its founding
members in October, 2013. Dorothy Kittleson
passed away, leaving a legacy of dedication and
devotion to the Village of Brown Deer community
and the Brown Deer Historical Society. While
Dorothy was known to “shoot from the hip”, she
was intelligent, educated and driven to preserve
history in Brown Deer. With our gratitude,
Dorothy’s daughter Kristi and her husband Mark
will be our guest speakers at the January 23rd
meeting, and have graciously provided this editor
with a wonderful article detailing Dorothy’s own history, efforts and
successes in her long life. Please read the insert and enjoy.
Page 2
V o l um e X XX XI I, Is s ue 1
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
After our business meeting of the Board of Director’s on Thursday, January 23rd, we will give recognition to
Dorothy Kittleson for her years of service, her dedication, and her achievements while serving as president and a
member of the Brown Deer Historical Society. One of her favorite focuses was the conception, implementation,
and oversight of “The Living Schoolhouse”, where she served as the Head Teacher for 35 years. We are asking for
members to attend this recognition in due respect to Dorothy Kittleson. It will be a time of healing, and
remembrance.
The new “Living Schoolhouse” program was in-session in October with the current Head Teacher Jean Jankovich.
Fourth Grade classes from Brown Deer Elementary school participated in the program, and there has been interest
shown by area schools to participate.
Still missing are Brown Historical Society Newsletters for October 1996 and 2004, January 2007 and July 2011.
Contact me if you find any of them.
In this new year, remember to complete the enclosed 2014 registration card, and return it using the return envelope
for your 2014 membership, and contact me if you wish to discuss becoming a Historical Society Board member.
Joe K.
January Meeting Agenda
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Attendance
Persons desiring to be heard
Minutes of July 25, 2013
Minutes of October 24, 2013
Treasurer’s report
Old Business-Reports
A. Open Houses in 2014
B. Picture hanging/walls in Schoolhouse
C. History of Brown Deer Schools research
D. Living Schoolhouse Program report for 2013
7. New Business
A. Living Schoolhouse Program in 2014
8. Tribute to Dorothy Kittleson
9. Adjourn to guest presentation
Please contact Joe Klucarich or call 354-6453 to
discuss being a Historical Society Board member .
Brown Deer Historical Society
2014 Board of Directors
*Joseph Klucarich
*Rose Klucarich
Robert Moranksi
Kathleen Schilz
Officers
President
Vice President
Treasurer
Secretary
Directors -at-Large
Barbara Bechtel
Mary Buckley
Bernice Knurr
LeRoy Knurr
Tim Schilz
Barry Godshaw
Open
Open
*Elected at the Annual Meeting, October 24, 2013 for a 3-year
term to expire December 31, 2016. Two Board positions
remain to be filled.
M E E T I N G S C H E D U L E F O R 20 1 4
The Brown Deer Historical Society Board meets quarterly on the fourth Thursday at 6:30 pm. Any presentations
planned typically follow at 7:00 pm. Members are welcome and invited to attend these meetings and
presentations. Presentation and speaker suggestions are always appreciated. Mark your calendars with these dates:
January 23, 2014
April 24, 2014
July 24, 2014
October 23, 2014
Kristi and Mark Kittleson
The History of the Brown Deer Schools
The Dolan’s of Brown Deer
General Membership Annual meeting and Elections
The Open House dates will be discussed at the January meeting and typically are planned during events occurring
in the Village Park over the summer months. Watch for the Open House dates in the April Newsletter.
H O W H I S T O RY W A S S AV E D I N B R O W N D E E R
On a blustery day in January, 86 years ago in Ironwood, Michigan, a girl was born. Her father, Sulo, an iron
ore miner, and her mother, Hilda, decided shortly after her birth that mining was too dangerous, and would
move to a picturesque farm in Marengo, a small town in northern Wisconsin. Another daughter, Gloria, soon
joined her and her older brother, Harold. They worked hard on the farm but also reaped the rewards of the
land and animals. This was during the depression. Dorothy soon realized that she loved school.
Even though in those days, girls weren’t always encouraged to continue their studies, at a very young age,
Dorothy expressed interest to her parents about becoming a teacher. She graduated at the top of her class
from Ashland High School. That summer, during a trip to town, they drove by Northland College. She asked
her father if she could go in and inquire about how to register. Her father and mother agreed it would be a
good idea and so she went in and applied on the spot. She was accepted and also given the opportunity to
assist a professor to help offset the costs of tuition and books. Four years later, she graduated Summa Cum
Laude, with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Dorothy went on to teach high school level grades, mostly 10th; 1 year
at Black River Falls, 2 years at Whitewater, 2 years at Two Rivers and finally decided she would like to get to
the city of Milwaukee, where she could teach students that were college bound. She applied for a teaching
position at Shorewood High School and went on to teach English and also headed the
Theatre Department there for the next 6 years.
While teaching, she met Earl Kittleson, a dashing young man, also
teaching high school level art but at a different school. They fell
madly in love and had many common interests. They were married
at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in 1958, a church they were both
active in. Several years later their daughter Kristi came into their
lives and they decided that living in the suburbs would be a great
place to raise a family. They moved to Brown Deer in 1964. Three
years later, Mark, their son, would complete their family. Earl
continued to teach art at Menomonee Falls High School and
Dorothy stayed home to take care of the children and the family’s
home. But the children grew and were soon off to school leaving Dorothy to search for
more to do in her community.
Dorothy, with her educational and teaching background and high energy, decided to get involved in
community activities. She joined the Brown Deer Junior Woman’s Club
where she made many friends and became immersed in community
activities. She and another member realized there was no local library, so
they started one! In 1969, with donations of books and the two
volunteering their time to catalog, sort and coordinator programs in the
basement of Brown Deer Church of Christ, they co-founded the first
Brown Deer Public Library. While busy with the library, Dorothy was
approached in 1971, by Ray Diderrich and his sister, Estelle Sustar, about
saving their elementary school. Ray told Dorothy, “If you can start the
library you can save our school!”
The school was to be torn down during construction in the area;
however the old schoolhouse had quite a past. The Little White
Schoolhouse was built in 1884 in Old Brown Deer. The original
structure was 30’ x 25’. A 20-foot addition was built in 1900. The Little
White Schoolhouse was used as a school from 1884 to 1922. It was the
second school in Brown Deer. The first one was a log building built
before 1860. Both schools were named Brown Deer School. The Little
White Schoolhouse was one-room and had grades First through Eight
taught...by one teacher.
-3-
The pupils were from the surrounding farms and had to help with the planting
in the spring and harvesting in the fall, so school was in session for about seven
months – from the middle of October through the middle of May. After 1922,
the St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran congregation used the Schoolhouse as a
church. Then it became a factory, the Witt Sheet Metal Co., during which the
front the building was altered at that time, and the coatroom became an office.
A fire also occurred which did extensive damage to parts of the wall, the
ceiling, the woodwork and the floor (which is still apparent in the current
building). Later, the schoolhouse was used for storage.
Dorothy couldn’t forget Ray’s words about saving the 1884 schoolhouse and went to meet with a local business
owner of the coffee shop. The space left from the demolition of the schoolhouse had been considered for a
parking lot for the coffee shop. After their meeting, the owner agreed to not to tear it down if it could be moved
in a timely manner. As it happened, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect.
The new Brown Deer Village Hall had just opened and there was plenty of space and land surrounding the
building that she envisioned could be a perfect home for the Little White Schoolhouse. Dorothy went directly to
Village President, Earl McGovern and Village Manager, Gerald Schwerm. They were excited about the project
and told her if she could raise the money for the move and restoration, they were sure the Village would approve
giving the land for the school’s relocation. Those were tall tasks, and to raise the money properly, Dorothy knew
that an official organization would have to be formed.
The Milwaukee County Historical Society was known and is still a great resource to advise in forming a Historical
society. Thus, the inception of The Brown Deer Historical Society came about. Dorothy Kittleson, Ray and
Dorothy Diderrich and Estelle Sustar worked hard to get every available resource. A membership was
established and a quarterly newsletter was distributed. The organization received donations both in-kind and
monetary, bids from movers of historic buildings and restoration companies, and many volunteers worked on
fundraisers for their capital campaign drive. After the professionals were chosen, Ray and Estelle were essential
in working with the restoration professionals to put the Little White Schoolhouse back into its original form. On
June 5, 1972, Joseph Gill (the coffee shop owner and owner of the land where the schoolhouse sat) donated it to
the Village of Brown Deer. The Little White Schoolhouse was moved on July 29, 1972, with the funds that were
raised through organizations, industries, businesses and individuals. The community continued to support the
project with donations and in 1973, the exterior restoration was completed and in 1976, the interior restorations
were finished.
During the entire process, Village residents and alumni from
the 1884 Schoolhouse shared hours of stories, and recollections
with Dorothy and other
volunteers about the school
and its contents. In a short
time, antique stores, private
collections and other resources
were combed for items
authentic to an 1800’s
schoolhouse. Double desks,
ink wells, Abe Lincoln and
George Washington pictures,
an 1884 recitation bench, a pot bellied stove and many more items were located
and purchased or donated. Ray Diderrich built an exact replica of the teacher’s
desk that stood in the front of the classroom so many years ago when he
attended the school as a student (It is there in the current building still). Not a
detail was missed!
-4-
Soon the Little White Schoolhouse was ready to open its doors to the
public in its new location completely restored inside and out. But
being a schoolhouse and with Dorothy’s teaching background,
Dorothy thought about the schoolhouse’s sustainability both
financially and as an entity. She also thought about the gift of land
the Village had given and thought the schoolhouse could give the
Village a gift in return. This was the gift of The Living Schoolhouse
Classes. These would be classes authentic to the time period, which
would bring history to life! Although the schoolhouse held grades 18, these classes would focus on 4th grade, a grade Dorothy was
familiar with because her son was in the fourth grade at that time.
In May 1976, the Little White Schoolhouse came “alive” once again with
the sounds of children’s voices and the school’s first teacher, Miss Martha
Dockery, (aka - Dorothy Kittleson in dress replicated from an 1800’s
outfit), teaching the 3 R’s – reading, writing and arithmetic. Upon
arriving at the school, Miss Dockery ushered the children into the school
by ringing the brass school bell. Girls donned pinafores and boys put on
suspenders. The pledge of allegiance was recited to a flag with 38 stars.
Pupils sat at double desks and used McGuffey Readers, Webster Spellers
and slates. When it was time to recite their lessons, the children went in
groups to the front of the room to sit on the recitation benches and then
were called upon to recite from the platform or to work on arithmetic
problems on the slate blackboard. Mrs. Pautz’s fourth grade class from Dean School was the very first class to
participate in The Living Schoolhouse Classes. Mark Kittleson,
Dorothy’s son, was in that first class that attended. Mrs. Pautz
would continue bringing her classes for many, many years after that
first session and would encourage other teachers at her school to
participate. Soon the program became so popular that schools
from all over were reserving dates for their 4th graders. The
program was a gift for students from Brown Deer schools but
students from outside of Brown Deer were charged a small fee.
In total, The Living Schoolhouse program ran for 35 years, May
1976 thru October 2010 and touched the lives of over 20,500
students. Dorothy Kittleson, Gladys Grehn, Dorothy Diderrich
and Estelle Sustar are volunteers who taught and/or assisted with the “living schoolhouse” since its inception. In
years that had multiple classes, a number of other volunteers also taught and assisted with classes. Dorothy was
the only teacher that taught all 35 years, and in many of the later years, Bernice Knurr was always by her side as
the teaching assistant.
Both parochial and public schools participated in The Living Schoolhouse program. They included Dean,
Algonquin, Richards, Whitefish Bay, Donges Bay, Mequon, Muskego Elementary, Hillel Academy, North Trinity
Evangelical Lutheran, Mount Lebanon Lutheran, St. Cecilia, St. Marks, St Catherine’s, Good Hope, Henry Clay,
Cumberland, New Berlin Center Elementary, Glendale, Grand Avenue, St. John’s School for the Dear, St.
Francis, St. John Vianney, Holy Apostle, St. Monica’s, St. Philip Neri School, University School, St. Bernadette’s,
St. Eugene’s, Brown Deer Middle, Bayside, St. Aloysius, Fox Point, St. John’s Lutheran, Lake Bluff, Shorewood,
Willow Glen, St. Robert’s, Christ memorial, Thoreau, St. Peter Immanuel, Clara Barton, St. Nicholas, St. James’,
Calvary, Manitoba, Stormonth, Freistadt, Happy Hill, Good Hope Catholic, Christ King, Garfield Avenue, St.
Margaret Mary, Goodrich, Loving Shepard Lutheran, Gilbert Stuart, Northwest Catholic and several Cedarburg
and Brown Deer home-schools.
-5-
In 1979, Brown Deer’s Little White Schoolhouse became an official
Milwaukee County landmark because of its historical and architectural
significance. In 1993, the Schoolhouse was placed on the State Register of
Historic Places and also in 1993, on the National Register of Historic
Places.
Hard work and dedication to the schoolhouse led Dorothy Kittleson to be
honored with many awards including:

Volunteer in Education Award – American Association of University
Women – 1990
 Certificate of Commendation (Restoration and school program) – State
Historical Society – 1990
 Resolutions of Commendation (Schoolhouse Program)– Brown Deer Village Board - 1990
 Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award – Brown Deer Chamber of Commerce – 1994
 Citizen of the Year Award – Village of Brown Deer – 1994
 Certificate of Commendation (20 years of the “Living Schoolhouse” program – Board of Education - 1995
 JC Penny Golden Rule Award – nominee – 1996
 Assembly Citation for the Brown Deer Historical Society – accepted by Dorothy Kittleson - 1996
 Village Board Resolution for founding the Brown Deer Historical Society – 1997
 Village Board Resolution for publication “Brown Deer – Then and Now” – 1998
 Distinguished Alumni Award – Northland College – 1999
Dorothy’s many publications for the Brown Deer Historical Society included:
 Brown Deer’s Heritage Almanac 1972 (1972)
 1884 Little White Schoolhouse Brochure (1976)
 Historic Brown Deer Brochure (1996)
 Brown Deer Then and Now – Commemorating Wisconsin’s Sesquicentennial –
1848-1998 (1998)
Dorothy Kittleson gave her all to The Little White Schoolhouse. From the day she
first heard about it from Ray Diderrich, through the fundraising and actual moving of
the building which was hoisted by a crane onto a semi truck and inched along Brown
Deer Road all the way to its new location, through searching through hundreds of antique stores with her family in
tow looking for the perfect artifacts that would find their home in the schoolhouse, through teaching classes for 35
years and giving tours of the museum during 4th of July celebrations and so many other activities, they all revolved
around the Little White Schoolhouse, which was truly Dorothy’s passion and love, now her legacy.
After she retired from teaching, she often recounted stories about the schoolhouse, whether it be of restoration,
fundraising or just one of the special celebrations that had been part of the schoolhouse’s past. Her eyes would
light up and she would discuss in detail, the joys and triumphs of meeting and teaching students the Living
Schoolhouse program. One of her favorites was how two brothers, towering over her in height, came with their
children and let her know that they had attended one of her classes at the schoolhouse years before and now their
children had also attended that Living Schoolhouse program.
Dorothy Kittleson passed away on October 13, 2013 at the age of 85. After a brief interruption of classes, a new
program was developed to accommodate needed change and classes began again by Head Schoolteacher, Jean
Jankovich, in October 2013. It warms the heart knowing that the Living Schoolhouse program was revived and
classes resumed only the week before her passing. We’re sure Dorothy would have been pleased to know that the
schoolhouse she worked so hard to save over 42 years ago will carry on and continue to touch students lives for
many years to come in addition to be a part of history preserved for many generations to enjoy and cherish.
Sincerely submitted by Kristi Kittleson, Dorothy’s daughter.
-6-
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V o l um e X XX XI I, Is s ue 1
P H O T O G A L L E RY – T H E L I V I N G S C H O O L H O U S E
OCTOBER 2013 SESSIONS
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V o l um e X XX XI I, Is s ue 1
WHAT HAPPENED IN 1884? H ISTORY.
Jan 4 ....... In Ontario, Canada: Last sighting of an Eastern Cougar is documented
Jan 8 ....... Chrome tanning process for leather patented by Augustus Schultz
Feb 1 ........ 1st volume of the Oxford English Dictionary, words beginning Aa - Ant is published
Feb 18 ...... USSR Police seize all printed copies of Tolstoy’s “What I Believe In”
Feb 19 ...... Tornadoes in Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and
................ Indiana kill 800 people.
Mar 12 ..... Mississippi establishes the first US State college for women
Mar 13 ..... US adopts Standard Time
Mar 17 ..... John J. Montgomery makes the first glider flight in Otay, CA
Mar 27 ..... First long distance telephone call, Boston to New York
May 1 ....... Construction begins on Chicago’s first skyscraper, at 10 stories high
May 1 ....... Moses Walker becomes the first black player in Major League baseball
May 1 ....... The US 8-hour work day is determined by the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions
May 13 ..... The Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) forms
May 14 ..... The Anti-Monopoly Party forms in the US
May 17 ..... Alaska becomes a US territory
May 19 ..... Ringling Brothers Circus premieres
Jun 5 ....... William Sherman refuses the Republican presidential nomination saying “I will not accept if
................ nominated and will not serve if elected”.
Jun 16 ..... The first roller coaster begins operation on Coney Island
July 3 ....... Dow Jones published it’s first stock average
July 4 ....... The first US bullfight is held in Dodge City, Kansas
July 4 ....... The Statue of Liberty is presented to the US in Paris, France
July 5 ....... The US accepts the 2nd Chinese Exclusion Act
Aug 5 ....... The cornerstone for the Statue of Liberty laid on Bedloe’s Island (New York City)
Aug 10 ..... A 5.5 magnitude earthquake hits the east coast from Virginia to Maine, and felt in Cleveland, OH
Aug 28 ..... The first known photograph of a tornado is made near Howard, South Dakota
Sep 5 ........ Staten Island Academy is founded
Sep 20 ...... The Equal Rights Party nominates female candidates for President and Vice President of the US
Oct 6 ........ The Naval War College forms in Newport, Rhode Island
Oct 13 ...... Greenwich established as the universal time meridian of longitude
Oct 14 ...... George Eastman patents paper-strip photographic film
Oct 25 ...... In the first World Series, the Providence Grays sweep the New York Metropolitans in 3 games.
Nov 4........ Grover Cleveland (Dem) beats James Blaine (Rep) for his first term as President
Nov 15 ...... Colonization of Africa is organized at an international conference in Berlin, Germany
Nov 17 ...... Police arrest John L. Sullivan in the 2nd round of bare-knuckle boxing, for being “cruel”
Nov 25 ...... John Meyenberg of St. Louis, MO patents evaporated milk
Dec 6 ....... The aluminum capstone is set atop the Washington Monument in Washington DC
Dec 9 ....... Levant Richardson patents ball-bearing roller skates
undated in 1884:
 Mark Twain writes “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
 The water hyacinth is introduced in the US and quickly becomes an invasive species.
 The “Gilded Age” continues from 1869 through 1896
 The Depression of 1882-1885 is upon the United States of America
The Brown Deer Historical Society is incorporated as a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. All donations are tax-deductible.
We rely on our membership and the benevolence of donors to support our effort.
Thank you in advance for your membership renewal. Please encourage others to join and experience the joy of history.