Local history buffs’ attempts to preserve a two-room school house appear to have failed.
The Oconto Falls School District has received a $61,000 offer to purchase the Spruce School from a person who reportedly plans to renovate the building for a home.
School officials told the Oconto Falls Area Heritage Center, which planned to move to the school and use it as the centerpiece of a historical attraction, that it has until Thursday to match the price or the buyer’s offer will be accepted.
Contingent upon a few conditions, the closing date is scheduled June 30.
The association planned to move the school, located at 7904 County Road A, Lena, to the former Jefferson School lot on the west side of Oconto Falls.
“In the best of all worlds, yes, it would become part of a mini Heritage Hill in Oconto Falls, but unfortunately, that’s a difficult dream to accomplish,” Oconto Falls School District Superintendent Dave Polashek said.
He said the school district has no need for the school, and it would ultimately begin to deteriorate. Before closing in June 2012, Spruce School educated generations of Spruce-area students. In recent years, the schoolhouse was operated as a charter school with an environmental emphasis for students in grades one through five.
“I’ve always been in love with the Spruce School, and we were very fortunate to make it into a charter school,” Polashek said.
Low enrollment and financial issues led to the closure of the school, known for its great parent involvement.
Dale Seeling, of the Oconto Falls Area Heritage Center, told the Times Herald on Tuesday that he doubted he could orchestrate enough interest from donors to match the offer.
“The apathy in the community is much harder than I anticipated,” he said.
He said there’s only a “slim ray of hope” the heritage center can secure the funds it needs. The organization is looking for people willing to guarantee a three-year loan to pay for the building. Then, fundraising attempts could continue for the project, estimated at $300,000 — half for the school’s purchase and move, and half for an endowment fund for operating costs.
The organization contacted more than 100 foundations known to give funds for educational or historical projects, and although some are considering donations, none have given yet, Seeling said.
Even if the heritage center is unable to purchase Spruce School, it will continue efforts to develop the Jefferson School site into a historical attraction.
“That’s still our goal,” Seeling said.
In December, the School Board transferred ownership of the Jefferson School property to the heritage center.
Seeling said the heritage group will continue its efforts to preserve the history of the community.
“The group is still active, it’s just that one of the ideas we had is not going to come to fruition,” he said.
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