Schools
EGGLESTON(1897-99), OLSON(1901-02), JOHNSON SCHOOL (1900-01, 1902-12)
The school commonly known as the Johnson School, was originally located in section 11 and known as the Eggleston School. This school was moved from the first location and was renamed Johnson School, Olson School, and then again Johnson School—as most students had those surnames.
The teachers were:
At the Eggleston: Laura Kinney
At the Johnson School: Nona Kinney, Francis Dalton, Anna Quam, Inga Quam, Etta Murphy, Clara Lundmark, Cecile Taylor,
Cora Swenson, Elaine Ozemaa, Retta DeBraie. (There had been no school at this school in 1905-06)
Olson School: John Burgeron
GARFIELD SCHOOL (1917-1940)
The Garfield School operated from 1917-40 in the South West corner of the community in section 30.
Teachers at the Garfield School included:
Margaret Daly, Elaine Ozemaa, Olga Suomala (Bock), Eva Moran (Johnson), Mrs. Levi Lauri, Emily Maki, Selma Anderson, Jennie Johnson, Fay Hensley, Doris E, Anderson, Edna Goff (Mehtala), Olive Abell, Agnes Johnson (Leppala), Velma Suomala, Ida Wentela (Christiansen), Esther Kortesma (Hakkinen).
LINCOLN SCHOOL (1913-1943)
In 1923, the Lincoln School was built directly west from the Oulu Branch of the Iron River Co-operative Store. This school was the most modern of the time. During the summer school, a Finnish reading class was also provided for area students.
Teachers at the Lincoln school over the years included:
Clarice Tester, Saima Rantala (Ozema, Pudas), Angela Miesbauer, Hjalmer Frostman, Bertha Nelson, Lillian A. Leonard, Emily Maki (Mrs. Fred), Rosella Evans, Charlotte Hammar, Adolph Hanson, Maxine Yeakey, Ailie Erkkila (Pihlaja), Joe Moran, Ione Rosberg, Dorothy Frostman (Kangas) Lorraine Pelto, Jennie Fastelund
Source: County Superintendent of Schools, Jessie Smith
LITTLE RED SCHOOL(1891-1930) & PIONEER SCHOOL (1930-48)
The Oulu educational system began in 1891 with the Little Red School which was built on land provided by Fred Johnson for $1.00. This school in section 8 was open from 1891-1930.
Principals and teachers at the Little Red School included:
Stella Dodge, Mrs. K.M. O’Connell, Anne Nelson, Hannah Ives Peterson (Tartar), O.C. Custer, Emelia Lauri (Suomala), Josie Anderson, May Peterson, Eva Morris, Anna Guam, Laura Farlund, Lautie Goodenough, Margaret Maher, Pearl LaQuee, Celia Taylor, Carrie Dougherty, Cora Swenson, Mae Smith, Anna I. Johnson, Esther Johnson (Ehlers), Elaine Ozemaa (Aalto), Anna Micken, Josie Jacobson (Taipale), Esabella Johnson, Fredricka Johnston, Evelyn MacDonald, Ann Torbol, Agnes Rude, Esther Hare, Aileen McGrath, Kathryn Tikkanen (Newland), Saima Rantala Ozemaa (Pudas), Hilda Pudas (Jarvis), Ethel Eliot (Heritage), C. W. Hammar. C. W. Hammar was the last teacher at the Little Red School.
LOG SCHOOL (1895-1903)/ RANKINSON (1903-17)
Located in section 29, the original Log School on this site operated from 1895-1903. While waiting for the building to be completed Mrs. Jacob Rankinson offered to board the teacher-Stella Dodge, who had also been the first teacher at the Red School, Oulu’s first school.
A newer, more modern school was constructed of lumber in 1903 and became known as the Rankinson school.
The building is presently used as the town hall and is one of the oldest buildings in Oulu. An Honor Roll Plaque is proudly hung in this building as a tribute to the men and women from the community who served during the second world war. The Loyal Homemakers gave the building a facelift for the Bicentennial in 1976. It served as the History Center during the 100th Anniversary Celebration in 2004.
Teachers at the Log and Rankinson Schools included: Stella Dodge, Emelia Lauri (Suomala), Minnie Klino, Sarah Watson, Edna Whiting, Nora Nagel, Cecil Lowry, Hjalmer Frostman. Alma Nelson.
NATHAN (1900-04)
NORTHERN SCHOOL (1914-35)
The Nathan/Northern school was built to serve the Northwest corner of Oulu.
The school was built on land in section 4 that had been provided by Selma Hill. It was originally open from 1900-1904. When the Nathan School reopened in 1915, it was known as the Northern School. The school had been moved a short distance to land provided by Fred Reinholm. Teachers at the schools included:
Teckla Maki, Della Collins, Benjamin Dougherty, Edna Anderson, Louise Briggs. Hazel Bryan, Ethel K. Elliot, Esther Erickson (Johnson), Kathryn Tikkanen (Ozemaa), Olga Suomala (Bock), Irene Corrigan, Hilda Pudas (Jarvis), Ailie Ruuska, Selma Nuopponen, Anne Martin, Joe E. Moran
Source: County Superintendent of Schools, Jessie Smith
OULU ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (1953-99)
The Oulu Elementary School was built and opened in 1953 to replace the dated Washington school. It was the first school with indoor plumbing and central heating. This was also to be the last school in Oulu. It operated from 1953 until closing in 1999, having been open longer than any other Oulu school.
The first principal at the Oulu Elementary school was Bernard Lindelof. The first teachers included: Ailie Pihlaja, Amelia Lauste, and Shirley Gustafson (Kinney).
In 2003, the school was converted into a twelve unit apartment complex. As the only apartment facility in the community, it provides rental housing for individuals and is allowing some of the seniors to stay in the community
SOUTHERN SCHOOL (1914-35)
The Southern school served the mid-Southern area of Oulu from 1914-35 and was located in section 28.
Teachers included:
Angela Miesbauer, Saima Rantala(Pudas), Marie Moran (Pudas), Albert Mitchell, Alina Aalto, Hjalmer Frostman, Ellen Henshall, Helen G. Wells, Lydia Franson, Hilda Pudas (Jarvis), Ellen Savage, Marxa Pelkola, Ruth Peterson, Marjorie E. Barr, Amelia Frostman (Lauste)
WARREN SCHOOL
The school was located in section 23 at the intersection of the present Airport Road and Bayfield Line Road. Teachers and principals included:
Clarice Tester, Isabel Johnson, Thea Swanby, Fred Rux, Hjalmer Frostman, Alice Hobbs, Celia Teppo, Mabel Halvorsen, Stella Welsh, Saima Rantala (Ozema, Pudas), Angela Meisbauer, Mary Felix, Esther Marinson, Myrtle O’Toole, Eva B. McCormick, Mary Tuura, Helen Wells, Martha Verville, Selma Anderson, Elvie Bloomquist, Stella Harris, Edith Pearson, Ethel Elliot, Lyla Dagsgaard, Dorothy Kelly, Eino Kortesma, Irene Corrigan, Margaret Taft, Angela Rock (Hissa), Irene Daly, Bernard Lindelof, Helen Johnson, Ruth Lund, Joe Moran, Nancy Sever, Dagney Lindelof (Pihle), Dorothy Pudas (Maki). Dorothy Pudas was the last teacher at the school.
WASHINGTON (1918-1953) AND O’MALLEY SCHOOLS (1904-1918
The O’Malley School was built in section 36 to provide education to students in Oulu’s most southeastern corner. It was later moved. The school was closed when the larger Washington School was built across the road in 1918. O’Malley teachers included:
Eva Morris, Josie Taylor, Carrie Dougherty, Laura Haugen, Cecile Taylor, Theresa Ayr, Mary Olson
The Washington School was built in 1918 to replace the O’Malley School. Later, the school had a third room added to house High School grades for a period of time. When the Washington School closed, it became the Baptist Church from 1953-65.. Source: Bayfield County Superintendent of Schools, Jessie Smith
Teachers and Principals at the Washington School included:
· Marguerite O’Toole, Lylith Lund, Marie Moran (Pudas), Eva Moran (Johnson), Mrs. Chas Tuura, Constance Wells, Eva McCormack, Lucy Moran (Hoefling), Gladys Meisbauer, Florence Kvarnes, Ione Murphy, Ray McGettigan, Lillian Rock, John Kortesma, Lois Wert, Joseph Daindock, Eino Kortesma, Ailie Erkkila (Pihlaja), Ida Wentela (Christiansen), Velma Suomala, Esther Hakkinen, Dorothy Frostman (Kangas), Ethlyn Johnson, Amelia Lauste, Angela Hissa, Delphine LaCrosse, Marian Hissa, Agnes Hecimovich (Liska), Bernard Lindelof, Shirley Gustafson (Kinney). The first high school teacher was Ray McGettigan .