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Memories of Friess Lake School

Memories of Lloyd Jung, Richfield Resident, written in 2011: “75 years ago, I started 1st grade in Friess Lake School, a one-room school located on the corner of Holy Hill Rd and Hwy 164 (formerly Hwy J). My teachers during the 8 years were Kenneth Riesch, Helen Stirn, Clarissa Smith and Beulah Mayer-Timm. Mr. Riesch and Ms. Stirn eventually got married. Here are some of the Freiss Lake School - Hat Day - 1945students with whom I attended school: Anita Rice, Bebe Rice, Tom Rice, Betty Friess, Adell Friess, Lucille Wittenberger, Bobby Wittenberger, Lois Wittenberger, Ralph Wittenberger, Mary Ann Lofy, Germaine Wiedmeyer, Vivian Wiedmeyer, LaVerne Jung (my brother), Carol Mayer, Donald Potter & Nancy Aulenbacher.

As I entered the school house, to the left, was the wood storage room. To the right was a shelf that held the water bubbler. The father of Mary Ann, Adolph Lofy, brought drinking water in a milk can and emptied it in the bubbler daily. He was the closest farmer to the school. Next to the wood storage room was the large wood stove. The school room had five or six rows of individual desks. Twelve to twenty pupils and one teacher for all 8 grades. Friess Lake School - 1949
I remember the outhouses, one for the boys and one for the girls. We had a large grassy playground for recess with a merry-go-round. We all took part in Christmas plays. Our parents and families would fill the school house. I looked forward to summer picnics held at the end of the school year. The highlight of the picnic was the food, especially ice cream in large containers kept inside a leather bucket to keep it cold.

Our teacher, Beulah Mayer started a 4-H club with our school and another school. It was named the Busy Bees. While I was in school, I remember watching Albert Lofy clearing the wooded lot across the road so he could build a new house.

I will never forget the one-room school house and the very good teachers. I graduated in the top of my class. I was the only pupil in the 8th grade. Graduation was held at the McLain Auditorium, West Bend on June 3, 1945. I received a Common School Diploma.

Photos: "Hat Day" at Friess Lake School - 1945; Friess Lake School - 1949
Note: Lloyd Jung passed away on 2/2020.

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