While at the intersection of Oakland and Capitol along the Green Line, it is hard not to notice a unique collection of buildings. Since it's creation Shorewood High School has been a major part in the development of the community since the early 20th century.
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the city of Milwaukee and surrounding area saw a time of exponential growth. The population of Shorewood which at the time was called East Milwaukee went firm 2,650 to 16,000 in a span of only 12 years. From the drastic population increase, the school system was overburdened so in February of 1922, the city of Milwaukee voted to ban all non Milwaukee residents from Milwaukee schools. In response the village of Shorewood, made temporary arrangements for students as the community came together to plan. |
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With the decision to not allow non Milwaukee city residents to attend Milwaukee schools the resident of Shorewood had to create a solution. The immediate solution was to send more students to Atwater which was built in 1920. However this was not ideal since again overcrowding was an issue. Over the next two years the community voiced its opinions, concerns and wishes. These included a design that could adapt to an influx of large numbers of students, access for the public, a public park and green space. The wish for a public park is mentioned because, at this time there were no parks in Shorewood, though later in 1922 Hubbard Park was created.
After receiving the public input, it was decided that the school would be comprised of several individual buildings throughout the campus to house different parts of the curriculum. With similar disciplines in the same building. On April 10th 1924, the ground was broken to commence the new construction. Students finished the fall semester of 1924 at Atwater school and the following Monday they traveled an extra five blocks to the new school. Over the next 90 years the school would through numerous renovations and has had multiple additions that have contributed to make Shorewood High School one of the best in the state of Wisconsin. |