Maty Murty

Maty Murty was born January 18, 1895 on a day colder than blazes in the Town of Rose. She was the daughter of James "Jeff" Murty and Maggie Thomas Murty. She was delivered by Dr Carey and midwife, Mrs Ben (Mary) Swett. She graduated from Wild Rose High School in 1913. She first attended school at the Brownlow School in the Town of Mt. Morris. She was a teacher and over her 43 year career she taught in the following Waushara County schools: Rice, Hartford, Colebrook, Webb, Chain O'Lakes, Poy Sippi. She taught 3 years at the progressive school that is part of the Wild Rose Museum. She had 22 students in Progressive one room school with grades 1 through 8. She also taught in Minnesota. She went to summer school for years and years. She lived in a house without electricity in those years so she studied by the kerosene lamp. She also had goats. I remember her promising me that I could ride Senator Whitehead when I got older. I never got to ride her and I expect my mother probably said there was no way I could ever ride a goat. She died in Wild Rose July 15 1996 and is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery in Wild Rose. Many of you may remember her driving her old car that frequently broke down. She may have lived so long because she had to walk home so often when the car was sick. She was my great aunt. This picture was probably her high school graduation picture.

Wild Rose Basketball Team 1935-36

This is the Wild Rose Basketball team from 1935-36. Back row: Leo Kaminski, Samuel Williams, Donald Stewart, Gordon Caves and Donald "Red" Colligan. Front row: Warren "Beans" Patterson, Bruce McCormick, Robinson "Rob" Williams, and Calvin Woodward. It is obvious that the picture was taken in the spring because of the leaves on the tree.

Wild Rose Faculty Play 1938

Back in the 1930's, not only were there class plays but there were also faculty only plays in Wild Rose. Standing" Elmer Hougum, Gladys Fosnot and Lois Bonson. Seated: Carl Handke, William Godson, Dorothy Harvey (later Williams) and Marlene Nelson.

Wild Rose Christmas Program 1951

We used to have school Christmas Programs and this picture is from Wild Rose in 1951. The Jingle bells girls are the 1st and 2nd graders. Their outfits were made by the mothers without patterns so you will notice different necklines. They were made out of red cheesecloth and had silver trim. From left to right: Carla Christie Casper, Louise Leuthold Williams, Cathy Bowen, Pam Anderson, Rosemary Cook Bartel, Carol Colligan Marquard, Judy Patterson McKenzie, Sharon Thompson Gauno, Karen Pilz Cartwright and Kay Williams Williams. Mr. Schreiner was the music director and Lillian Attoe (later Senn) was the accompanist. The lady in the front in the bathrobe is probably Rosalie Smith.

Wild Rose Horeb Presbyterian Church

Presbyterian Church in the early years. This is a picture of the of the Horeb Presbyterian Church in Wild Rose at 501 Jackson St. You will notice that there are no other buildings around it other than the outhouse on the right side of the picture and the trees are small.

James Widrick & Jessie Madson

The picture is probably before 1910. James Alfred Widrick was born July 9, 1890 in the Town of Belmont, Portage County to James E Widrick and his wife Delilah Carter Widrick. He lived in the Town of Rose with his parents in 1910. He married Jessie Madson, daughter James Madson and his wife Hannah Hanson, on January 25, 1911. Jessie was born in the Town of Springwater December 6, 1890. In 1914, they followed her parents who had moved to Dunstable, Alberta, Canada to homestead. James died November 5, 1987 and Jessie died August 6, 1985, both in Barrhead, Alberta, Canada.

Wild Rose High School Teachers in 1934

Here are the Wild Rose High School teachers from 1934. William Godsen was the principal and taught algebra and civics. Mr. Godsen was well known for a poem he required students caught chewing gum to memorize. "The gum chewing pupil and the cud chewing cow, there is a difference. Let me see now. It is the contented look on the face of the cow." Miss Camille Blott who graduated from Carroll College taught French. She was from Mukwonago and this was her first teaching job. Muriel Jones later Mrs John McCallum taught English and Latin. Carl Handke was the coach and his subjects were geometry, typing and the sciences