A small schoolhouse that's been a part of Sheboygan's long
history is slowly being renovated into a community center to help
make a brighter future in one of the city's oldest and toughest
neighborhoods.
Work — and there's a lot of it to do — continues on turning the
Little Red Schoolhouse, 1116 Huron Ave., into a gathering place
that members of the Gateway Neighborhood Association firmly
believe will be the centerpiece to resurrect the vitality of the
surrounding community.
"We want to build the foundation to the past and get people out,
bring people out, start them talking, get the community back
together, thus the community center," said the Rev. Jerry Link, of the
River of Life Outreach Ministries, who is helping to spearhead the
renovation effort of the former school.
Link, along with his wife, the Rev. Julie Link, holds regular church
services and other activities in the schoolhouse under a lease
agreement with the City of Sheboygan. But the two have been
working with other business, city, church and community leaders on
trying to fix up the 1868 building so it can be used for all sorts of
community activities.
"We're going to be having business meetings in here, have
entrepreneur classes, we're setting all this up," Jerry Link said.
"Right now, the focus is on renovation, we've had people stepping
up … I'm absolutely excited."
The church hosted the Gateway Neighborhood Association's first-
ever fundraiser on Saturday at the Little Red Schoolhouse, a potluck
attended by about 50 people, who feasted on foods ranging from
pizza to tamales to Swedish meatballs, roast turkey and chili. Folks
attending bought raffle tickets and chose their favorite dishes for
prizes, and the money raised will go to help pay for association
sponsored community cleanups and banners for light poles around
the Gateway area. The neighborhood is bordered by Ninth and 14th
streets, and Ontario and Superior avenues.
history is slowly being renovated into a community center to help
make a brighter future in one of the city's oldest and toughest
neighborhoods.
Work — and there's a lot of it to do — continues on turning the
Little Red Schoolhouse, 1116 Huron Ave., into a gathering place
that members of the Gateway Neighborhood Association firmly
believe will be the centerpiece to resurrect the vitality of the
surrounding community.
"We want to build the foundation to the past and get people out,
bring people out, start them talking, get the community back
together, thus the community center," said the Rev. Jerry Link, of the
River of Life Outreach Ministries, who is helping to spearhead the
renovation effort of the former school.
Link, along with his wife, the Rev. Julie Link, holds regular church
services and other activities in the schoolhouse under a lease
agreement with the City of Sheboygan. But the two have been
working with other business, city, church and community leaders on
trying to fix up the 1868 building so it can be used for all sorts of
community activities.
"We're going to be having business meetings in here, have
entrepreneur classes, we're setting all this up," Jerry Link said.
"Right now, the focus is on renovation, we've had people stepping
up … I'm absolutely excited."
The church hosted the Gateway Neighborhood Association's first-
ever fundraiser on Saturday at the Little Red Schoolhouse, a potluck
attended by about 50 people, who feasted on foods ranging from
pizza to tamales to Swedish meatballs, roast turkey and chili. Folks
attending bought raffle tickets and chose their favorite dishes for
prizes, and the money raised will go to help pay for association
sponsored community cleanups and banners for light poles around
the Gateway area. The neighborhood is bordered by Ninth and 14th
streets, and Ontario and Superior avenues.
|
Group turning former schoolhouse into meeting place for
Gateway Neighborhood
Gateway Neighborhood
7:41 PM, Mar. 13, 2011 |
Written by Bob Petrie
Sheboygan Press staff
Filed Under Local News
Written by Bob Petrie
Sheboygan Press staff
Filed Under Local News
|
The Gateway Association, well into its first year, is the city's first of what officials hope will be many neighborhood
associations throughout Sheboygan. Plans are in the works for a south-side association, and one near Cooper School,
along with the Ellis historic district on the east city of the city.
"Every neighborhood in the city should have a neighborhood association," Mayor Bob Ryan said. "It gives continuity to
the neighborhood, it gives identity to the neighborhood, it gives the people in the neighborhood a place to go to with
concerns with the neighborhoods."
So far, association members say the effort to lift up the neighborhood is moving in the right direction. Police are saying
crime is trending down, and outdoor activity, such as people getting out of their homes for neighborhood walks is
increasing.
"We've been doing building inspections, the area's cleaned up, the yards are cleaned up, the facades of residences are
looking nicer and I think it's just safer," said Officer Dean Wendlandt of the Sheboygan Police Department, who has
worked primarily in the area during his 30-year career.
Link said he's done some historical research on the building, and wants to restore it to its original floor plan, which
includes a large central room for community use. He's gotten help from a lot of folks willing to donate their time on the
project — a contractor is removing lead-based paint from the building, and the St. Luke's United Methodist Church has
agreed to adopt and renovate one of the rooms. He's also heard from people who used to attend classes in the old
school and want to see it return to a good use in the community.
"There's a lot of those ties to the past, and we're seeing more and more of them," Link said.
Jennifer Sampson, a member of the association's board of directors, said the school was vacant and "just deteriorating"
before the Links got involved in trying to get it fixed up.
"The fact that people are in here, and they see people coming in, brings a little more respect," said Sampson.
Sampson and her husband, Sheboygan Ald. Kevin Sampson, live a few doors from the schoolhouse, and say they want
to see the neighborhood thrive again.
"The mayor's office and the Police Department have done a tremendous job with the neighbors here," Kevin Sampson
said. "I've noticed a big difference in how quiet it's gotten. There was a time when you didn't see anybody out walking …
but now we're seeing a lot more foot traffic in a positive light than what it used to be."
Chad Pelishek, city development director, said the push to create neighborhood associations — where residents work
together as well as with police and city officials to improve the appearance and safety in their neighborhoods — is
making headway.
"It's one of the good ways of bringing the neighbors together, working toward the common goal," Pelishek said.
The city has several Community Development Block Grant projects planned for the Gateway Neighborhood, including
spending $750,000 in federal funds to rebuild Huron Avenue from 10th to 14th streets into a more pedestrian-friendly
street. The city is also putting $200,000 in federal funds toward building a gateway park at 10th Street and Erie Avenue.
Steve Benish, owner of Magic Car Wash at 10th and Erie and the treasurer of the Gateway Association, says he's glad
to be involved in the turnaround effort.
"I want this neighborhood to be clean and nice for people to come in and use my business," Benish said. "I like the city
to be nice, I want people here, I want the city to grow and I want it to keep growing."
Tom Faley, president of the Gateway Association board and an area landlord, said it took some time for everyone in the
group to mesh, but they're working well together now and the organization is in it for the long haul.
"I think this has a lot of legs," Faley said. "This is just the first of many years on the Gateway Neighborhood Association.
I'm really proud to be a part of the Gateway."
associations throughout Sheboygan. Plans are in the works for a south-side association, and one near Cooper School,
along with the Ellis historic district on the east city of the city.
"Every neighborhood in the city should have a neighborhood association," Mayor Bob Ryan said. "It gives continuity to
the neighborhood, it gives identity to the neighborhood, it gives the people in the neighborhood a place to go to with
concerns with the neighborhoods."
So far, association members say the effort to lift up the neighborhood is moving in the right direction. Police are saying
crime is trending down, and outdoor activity, such as people getting out of their homes for neighborhood walks is
increasing.
"We've been doing building inspections, the area's cleaned up, the yards are cleaned up, the facades of residences are
looking nicer and I think it's just safer," said Officer Dean Wendlandt of the Sheboygan Police Department, who has
worked primarily in the area during his 30-year career.
Link said he's done some historical research on the building, and wants to restore it to its original floor plan, which
includes a large central room for community use. He's gotten help from a lot of folks willing to donate their time on the
project — a contractor is removing lead-based paint from the building, and the St. Luke's United Methodist Church has
agreed to adopt and renovate one of the rooms. He's also heard from people who used to attend classes in the old
school and want to see it return to a good use in the community.
"There's a lot of those ties to the past, and we're seeing more and more of them," Link said.
Jennifer Sampson, a member of the association's board of directors, said the school was vacant and "just deteriorating"
before the Links got involved in trying to get it fixed up.
"The fact that people are in here, and they see people coming in, brings a little more respect," said Sampson.
Sampson and her husband, Sheboygan Ald. Kevin Sampson, live a few doors from the schoolhouse, and say they want
to see the neighborhood thrive again.
"The mayor's office and the Police Department have done a tremendous job with the neighbors here," Kevin Sampson
said. "I've noticed a big difference in how quiet it's gotten. There was a time when you didn't see anybody out walking …
but now we're seeing a lot more foot traffic in a positive light than what it used to be."
Chad Pelishek, city development director, said the push to create neighborhood associations — where residents work
together as well as with police and city officials to improve the appearance and safety in their neighborhoods — is
making headway.
"It's one of the good ways of bringing the neighbors together, working toward the common goal," Pelishek said.
The city has several Community Development Block Grant projects planned for the Gateway Neighborhood, including
spending $750,000 in federal funds to rebuild Huron Avenue from 10th to 14th streets into a more pedestrian-friendly
street. The city is also putting $200,000 in federal funds toward building a gateway park at 10th Street and Erie Avenue.
Steve Benish, owner of Magic Car Wash at 10th and Erie and the treasurer of the Gateway Association, says he's glad
to be involved in the turnaround effort.
"I want this neighborhood to be clean and nice for people to come in and use my business," Benish said. "I like the city
to be nice, I want people here, I want the city to grow and I want it to keep growing."
Tom Faley, president of the Gateway Association board and an area landlord, said it took some time for everyone in the
group to mesh, but they're working well together now and the organization is in it for the long haul.
"I think this has a lot of legs," Faley said. "This is just the first of many years on the Gateway Neighborhood Association.
I'm really proud to be a part of the Gateway."
