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Our
District History |
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In 1858 a three-story
building was removed from the Copper Country and loaded
on to a scow. This unpretentious structure, making its
way to L'Anse via waterway, was soon to become the first
schoolhouse.
Located on the lakeshore, just west of what is now the
Baraga Telephone Company, sat the first educational
institution in L'Anse. Housed with one teacher and a
hand full of students, this humble building, which also
served as the Courthouse and Justice Office, was to be
the start of the ever-evolving L'Anse Area Schools.
By 1872, as the true spirit of education persevered, the
citizens of L'Anse determined that their meek
schoolhouse had become inadequate for the growing needs
of the community. A one- story, two room, wooden
structure was soon built on the hill that is the present
site of the Sentinel office and was endearingly referred
to as, "The Little Red School House."
In 1881 L'Anse District Number One had 290 children of
whom 240 were registered in school. In 1882 $4000 was
appropriated to erect a new and suitable school. This
school would be known as the "Grey High School
Building."
By the close of the spring term of 1906, the Board of
Education, once again, was confronted by the seriousness
of overcrowding. The wooden structure built in 1879 was
inadequate to house the large number of town pupils and
those who as Eighth graders had reached the limit of the
education in the outlying schools of Bay Shore, Zeba and
Pequaming. That same year $20,000 in bonds was voted in
to build on the site of the old wooden structure which
had been moved to the northern part of the lot. On
Friday, January 18, 1907, the building was dedicated and
the doors opened to a brand new High School.
By 1923, L'Anse was a booming town and several schools
were built throughout the area (Aura, Herman, Dynamite
Hill, Skanee Road) to accommodate the growing number of
families moving into the area. In 1927, plans were drawn
up and funds provided for what was to be considered the
ultimate in school construction, and is currently the
L'Anse High School.
In 1965 a new elementary facility was constructed. The
school was built adjacent to the existing High School
and featured two wings; one for early elementary and one
for later elementary. The building was dedicated to C.
J. Sullivan, an elementary principal and later, the
school superintendent.
The Industrial Education building was the next
construction project the L'Anse Area Schools undertook.
Construction began in 1973 and was completed in time for
the 1974-75 school year. The project reflected the
growing need for training in the areas woods, welding,
machining, small engine repair, Computer Aided Design,
and other industrial training programs. The building was
dedicated to Harvey Hyde, a L'Anse Area School
industrial arts teacher.
In 1996 the L'Anse Area Schools, under the supervision
of Superintendent Brian Jentoft, along with the REACH
(Rebuilding Education and Community Hope) committee
planned and organized, and was soon to begin
construction of, a new and renovated facility. The REACH
committee was lead by its Chairperson Carrie Lou Thomas. In 1999 Superintendent Ray Pasquali began
overseeing the construction and completion of this
magnificent project. The new facility opened for the
2000-2001 school year and boasted a renovated elementary
and high school, a new cafeteria/auditorium, middle
school, media/library center, gymnasium, commons area,
band room, elementary and superintendent's offices and
state of the art technology system featuring computers
in every room, and six computer labs.
A commemorative plaque was presented to the REACH
committee and is currently displayed in the L'Anse Area
Schools. The plaque proudly states, "If You Seek A
Better School, Look About You." |
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