You have been studying all night and your eyes can barely stay open. You walk into the room and smell the scent of fresh sawdust. You ache from the calluses on your hands from all your hard work. The machines are so loud you can barely hear your own thoughts. You are ready for a day of stuffing your brain with knowledge. You are ready for a day of school.
The Orville Beach Memorial Manual Training school was a manual training school that taught you unique skills such as woodworking, sewing, cooking and much more. The school opened after the passing of Orville Beach as he left his money to make the people of Oshkosh more educated in manual training. Orville Beach was a part of lumber mills in Oshkosh and it connects to his training school. He was so involved that he felt that this school would be a success and it most definitely was. This training school was a big opening in a way that it gave Oshkosh a chance to further its education and extend all the unique skills to learn about.
The school is known as the Fox Valley Technical College of the olden days. This school was very important to the people of Oshkosh. The building was no longer needed because the University of Oshkosh and the Fox Valley Tech was built and there was no need for the training school anymore. The school brought a new branch of education to Oshkosh and to its people. The training school helped many people realize what other jobs, experiences and skills there are in the world. The school gave them a chance to learn all about these skills and what they have to offer. Without it who knows where we would be now.
Written by: Heidi Colburn
Date: 10/12/18
Historic Location: Orville Beach Memorial Manual Training School