About Our District

The history of the West Iron County Middle School begins with the history of the Iron River School System. In 1910 there were 137 pupils enrolled in the Iron River school district and by 1928 there were nearly 2,000. The first school in Iron River was erected in 1882. It was merely a log house on Genesee street where Selin’s Furniture Store is today. The log schoolhouse consisted of two rooms, one for the grade students and one for the high school students.

In 1892 the log schoolhouse was relocated to Cayuga street at the future site of the Central School with an east wing added to the building. In addition, space was rented near the present day Main Street Cafe. This space was used for kindergarten and first grade classes until it was destroyed by fire.

The first graduation class consisted of five pupils in 1893, and in 1894 the second graduating class consisted of eight pupils–all of which were girls. All those who wished to graduate were obliged to pass a third grade examination. In order to become a teacher, a person must attend a special review class in high school and then pass a county examination. Many times girls of fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen years of age became teachers.

On April 17, 1896 a program was given by the school in order to pay for a piano for the school. The program was given in the Town Opera House and many in the audience went away shocked at the “Hungarian Dancing Girl” who wore a skirt that came half way up to her knees!

In 1904 the Central school was built with the wings of the building being added in 1910. In 1902 the school building was two stories high. In the lower floor were three class rooms and a hall, and on the upper floor, four class rooms. Each room was used for one to three grades, and there was no kindergarten. A separate building some time later was built for kindergarten purposes.

An outdoor wood stairway with a railing was the only way of access to the upper story. In each room there was a large wood-box and a stove. The stoves were large, the type used in many lumber camps during the period, that took three to four feet length logs. Putting wood in the stoves was quite an event, for it took three or four boys to manage one log. The stoves were surrounded by fences on which were hung caps, coats, and mittens. The wood-box, which was filled from outside, was at the back of the room, and the teacher’s desk was on a platform.

The athletics of this time consisted of football and baseball. There was no coach, and all athletic equipment was bought by the boys. The school board assumed no responsibility for accidents and paid no expenses. When the team played away from home, the boys stayed with friends or members of the opposing team. Basketball was not played until 1905.

A spelling team competed with neighboring towns for the spelling championship. Sleigh rides were frequent affairs as well, and often sleigh ride parties were held in Crystal Falls or Florence.