Large Vacant School Building in West Bend WI
Barton Elementary School, West Bend Wisconsin

The Barton Elementary School was originally built as the primary public elementary school for the small village of Barton (which was annexed by West Bend in 1961), the building's growth and continued physical expansion between 1924 and 1969 exemplify the development and evolution of the modern graded school in the former village of Barton and the city of West Bend. The building continued to be expanded, even after municipal annexation. While many new school buildings were constructed in West Bend during the post-World War II period, these new schools were built to augment, not replace, existing functional schools such as Barton. The continued expansion and modernization of early-twentieth-century school buildings was a critical piece of the Washington County school board's approach to educating the children in the public school system. The original portion of the building was designed by architects Auler & Jensen in 1924 to be used as the primary public elementary school for the village of Barton. The building's substantial additions served not only to provide space for more students, but also to incorporate elements such as a gymnasium, a cafeteria, and dedicated arts spaces that were seen as essential components of a modern school in the post-World War II period. After 1961, when the village of Barton was annexed by West Bend and became part of the West Bend School District, the building continued to serve as an elementary school until it closed in 2013.
The school remains today the second longest continually operating public school in West Bend, serving as an elementary school for nearly 90 years. The longest continually operating school in West Bend, the Jackson Elementary School, opened in 1892 and became part of the West Bend school district in 1962 when the village of Jackson was annexed.
The site of the current Barton Elementary School has housed a public school building since the mid-1800s. When the first town meeting of Barton was held in 1848, plans to erect a formal schoolhouse to replace the one-room log cabin gifted by Barton Salisbury, founder of the village of Barton, were already underway. The log cabin constructed by Salisbury when he first stepped foot in what would soon be known as Barton, had served as the site of the first town meeting, became a popular meeting place for much of the county, and was the location of the first town sermon. The original structure was removed to make way for a new two-story masonry building for use as the town's public-graded school. The new schoolhouse provided instruction through ninth grade, served as the only graded school in the joint district formed by Barton, and was the first school building of more than one room. The building operated as a school until 1923 when, after a catastrophic fire, it was condemned and a new, three-room, red brick building was erected in 1924 to take its place.
Following the letter of condemnation, the school board elected to build a new school to serve the pupils of the town. According to a newspaper article in 1923, the county superintendent made recommendations "as to what kind of building was best suited for the present and future needs of the district." Figures pertaining to extra costs in taxes and the advantages children would have in attending classes in a more modern school building were presented. It was stated that the new building "will be so arranged that additions can be built to it if the growth of the district demands it." The new building was to "occupy the present site [of the school] on the most picturesque school grounds in Washington County, [and] will cost about $30,000." The architectural firm of Auler & Jensen were contracted to design the new building.
The new Barton Elementary School was designed in the Tudor Revival Style of architecture. The building was constructed before state requirements and recommendations for school buildings were put into place for necessities such as indoor plumbing and better heat, light, and ventilation. The one-story plus raised basement building featured a roughly L-shaped footprint and symmetrical facade with minimal limestone details. The main entrance, slightly protruding from the face of the building, sat above grade and at an angle between the east and south elevations facing southwest and was accessed by a gravel path and concrete steps. A brick segmental-arched doorway once featured the school's name carved in limestone. The first floor of the building's east, south, and north elevations were regularly fenestrated with five 6/6 double-hung windows separated by brick piers, yet featuring a continuous limestone sill. The new one-story plus basement red brick structure housed three classrooms, only two of which were used until 1936.
The Barton School operated as an elementary school and offered additional classes to serve the needs of the community. In 1939, the first short 10-week course in Washington County for out-of-school farm youths between the ages of 16 and 24 was put into place. The free course offering educational opportunities to an expanded demographic was taught once a week by county agricultural specialists at the Barton public-graded school. Prior to 1948, the school was remodeled to accommodate a kindergarten room in the basement, allowing for four classrooms and four teachers. At that time the building was nearly exceeding the 100-person capacity with a total enrollment of 93 pupils.
Barton Elementary School in the Post-War Period (1950-present)
Like many small cities and towns on the outskirts of Wisconsin's larger metropolitan areas, West Bend, just 30 miles northwest of Milwaukee, experienced considerable growth during the decades after World War II. Improved highway transportation and stable costs of living made suburban towns like West Bend ideal homes for many middle- and working-class residents seeking to escape crowded and costly city living. West Bend's post-war census information shows a community undergoing massive demographic changes. Between 1950 and 1970, the town's population nearly tripled from 6,849 in 1950, to 9,969 in 1960, then to 16,555 in 1970. Part of this growth was due to the annexation of surrounding communities like Barton in 1961, though most was due to an influx of new residents from outside the area. In the 1970s, growth slowed due to the end of municipal annexations and to a slowing of incoming residents: between 1970 and 1980, West Bend experienced 23% population growth, which then dropped to 10% between 1980 and 1990.
Due to the dramatically growing population in the 1950s and 1960s, school boards and superintendents in Washington County built new schools and expanded existing schools as fast as they could persuade voters to approve bond issues. The West Bend school board constructed at least five new public elementary, middle, and high schools between 1945 and the early 1970s. These new schools were built to augment, not replace, the city's existing public schools. Older school buildings, including Barton Elementary, Jackson Elementary, West Bend High School (later Badger Middle School, demolished), and McLane Elementary School (West Bend Grade School), were modified and expanded with major additions in the 1950s and 1960s so that they could continue to serve the city's school-aged population.
In contrast, the county's rural one-room schools, which had not been kept up-to-date with modern educational curriculum, were largely phased out by the early 1950s. Rural students were sent to the nearest village or city school, which further served to increase enrollment and necessitate expansion. An annual report from 1955 shows the Barton School's enrollment at a total of 117 pupils. By 1960, this number increased to 257, more than double its attendance five years earlier.
The Barton Elementary School underwent three major post-war expansions in 1955, 1960, and 1969. A vote in 1954 approved the $100,000 addition to be constructed the following year, which included two finished rooms, two unfinished rooms, a gymnasium, lunchroom, principal office, and a new entrance. According to a newspaper clipping from the Washington County Historical Society archives, "School additions were common throughout the county in 1955. Barton, Slinger, Jackson, Hartford, Kewaskum and West Bend were among the municipalities where new facilities were either started or completed in the past year." By 1960, eight classrooms and a cafeteria were added to the Barton School due to continued growing enrollments reaching a record.
The Barton School became part of the West Bend Public School System in 1961 following the Village of Barton's annexation by the City of West Bend. The population of West Bend in 1960 (including the population of the Village of Barton at which time was 1,569) was 11,538 increasing to 16,502 by 1970. A large one-story addition in 1969 off the southern portion of the school added additional kindergarten rooms, a presentation space, art and music rooms, as well as a new entrance, and a nurse's office. The design of this new addition is very similar to the Green Tree Elementary School, a new school that was erected in West Bend in 1969.
Research has indicated that the budget for school building construction nearly came to a halt by 1970. It does not appear that any schools were constructed in the 1970s through the 1980s, although the West Bend School District No. 1 was still among the 20 largest school districts in Wisconsin in 1978. The district also saw a significant budget cut of $392,452 from an overall of $14.3 million due to incorrectly high numbers of student body population. West Bend underwent a second phase of school construction and modifications in the 1990s and 2000s; Barton's own small south addition was completed in 2000. However, the largest periods of growth in West Bend and in its educational system appears to have occurred from the 1910s and 1920s, and again from 1945 through 1970.
Architects, Auler & Jensen (1924 Block)
The architectural firm of Auler & Jensen who designed the Barton Elementary School's original 1924 building was well known for its classically inspired commercial and institutional designs throughout east-central Wisconsin. Henry Auler (1884-1951) was born and attended public school in Oshkosh before taking structural engineering courses at the University of Wisconsin. He also gained practical design and drafting experience in numerous firms throughout the state. In 1907, Auler returned to Oshkosh and opened his own practice and soon became associated with William Waters, a noted Oshkosh architect of the time. During this period, the firm completed the City High School at 215 Church Avenue (1917; extant - now City Hall) in Oshkosh.
After Waters' death in 1917, Auler formed a partnership with architect James P. Jensen (1853-1935). The firm of Auler & Jensen designed many public buildings including Oshkosh and Ripon high schools. After architect Wallace H. Brown joined in the early 1920s, the firm became known as Auler, Jensen & Brown. They were responsible for the design of numerous public buildings as well as private residences. The most notable of which are the Masonic Temple at 204 Washington Avenue (1925), the Paine Thrift Bank at 1621 Congress Avenue (ca. 1925; extant), Fraternal Order of the Eagles at 405 Washington Avenue (ca. 1928; extant), the Wisconsin National Life Insurance Building at 220 Washington Avenue (1927; extant), the Longfellow School at 221 Spaulding Avenue in Ripon (1927; extant), and the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern Newspaper Office at 224 State Street (1930; extant). Residential work in the 1920s and 1930s included designs influenced by the Prairie School and Tudor Revival.
After Jensen's death in 1935 and Brown's departure during World War II, Auler again reorganized his firm, renamed Auler, Irion & Wentsch in 1947. He continued as a leading community architect until his death in 1951. In addition to his practice, Henry Auler also served as the president of the Wisconsin State Association of Architects and the director of the Oshkosh National Bank.
Architect Roger Herbst (1955 Block)
Roger Herbst (1918-2002) was an architect based out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, who got his start in his father's architectural firm after serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He became partner in the firm, Herbst, Jacoby & Herbst where he designed schools, churches, post offices, and homes in Wisconsin. The firm of Herbst, Jacoby & Herbst designed a number of buildings in Fond du Lac including their most well-known work, the Wisconsin Telephone Company Office Building at 220 Wisconsin Street in Waukesha (1941; extant).
Architects Lawrence Monberg & Associates (1960 Block)
Shortly after the completion of the Barton School's 1955 additions, Lawrence Monberg & Associates, well known for their exemplary Art Moderne style designs, was contracted for the school's 1960 expansion. The architect Lawrence Monberg (d. 1983) was born in Copenhagen, Denmark, and lived on a farm with his wife in Kenosha, Wisconsin where he based his firm until 1970. The new classroom additions expanded off the north and south ends of the Barton Elementary School building and reflected the architect's signature modern style design. Monberg was also responsible for the design of the Quisling Towers Apartments at 1 East Gillman Street in Madison (1937; extant), the Edgewater Hotel at 666 Wisconsin Avenue in Madison (1948; extant), and Jefferson High School in Jefferson (1963; no longer extant).
The History of Barton and West Bend
The city of West Bend, which includes the former village of Barton, is the county seat of Washington County, Wisconsin, located approximately 40 miles northwest of Milwaukee and 30 miles southeast of Fond du Lac. Although Barton and West Bend were separate municipalities for much of their existence before 1961, when West Bend officially annexed Barton, the two communities have been connected in many ways from their beginnings in the mid-1800s.
The first official record of a town meeting in West Bend, dated April 7th, 1846 included residents from what would become the nearby communities of Barton, Farmington, Kewaskum, and Trenton. Barton Salisbury, the first permanent resident of Barton and the village's eventual namesake, was elected Chairman of the town of West Bend. In 1845, Salisbury had constructed a dam and a sawmill along the Milwaukee River; he would later convert the sawmill to a gristmill, establishing the basis for one of the area's first important industries. Early settlers of West Bend included Joseph and William Verbeck, M. A. T. Farmer, and Moses Weil, among others, who first established residences and businesses in the fledgling community.
By 1847, the larger town of West Bend had been divided into several smaller towns, including Trenton, North Bend (Kewaskum), and Farmington. The following year, portions of West Bend and North Bend (Kewaskum) were appropriated to create the new town of Barton. Barton was originally known as Salisbury Mills after the town's two early mills. It was then called Newark until 1853 when the county board renamed it "Barton" in honor of its founder, Barton Salisbury. Early white settlement in the area, as in much of southeastern Wisconsin, was predominately Yankees from New York State. Settlers of German descent came shortly after, almost all of which traveled through Milwaukee.
On October 16th, 1848, the first town meeting was called to order in the original log schoolhouse on the site of today's Barton Elementary School. This modest one-room cabin formerly served as living quarters for Barton Salisbury, who had donated his home and property to the community in 1846 for educational purposes. The population of Barton ten years after it was first settled was 1,095, of whom 445 were foreign-born. The 1860 Census includes the newly formed Town of Barton with a population of 1,376. Most residents were identified as farmers born in Prussia or other German states. By 1873, the Northwestern Union Railroad established a station in Barton, which had previously been bypassed when the first railroads were built between Milwaukee and Fond du Lac. The rail line, which by 1876 consisted of one round trip passenger train and one mixed train, proved advantageous to the local mill industry attracting additional settlement to the area.
In addition to the mills, larger industrial plants developed on the east side of the river due to easy access to the rail lines. During the 1920s and 1930s, several heavier industries were established in the village to which Barton was claimed to be "The Most Highly Industrialized Village in the State." One of the most successful and longest-lasting industries to start in the village was the Barton Products Corporation, which began in 1942 for the purposes of manufacturing screw machine products, precision-turned parts and components for the durable goods industry.
West Bend lagged considerably behind Barton in terms of growth and population through most of the last half of the nineteenth century, despite the fact that it was named the county seat of Washington County in 1853. Not until 1893 did West Bend finally outpace Barton in population growth. The two communities perpetuated a friendly rivalry, but their proximity also led to interconnected economies and shared interests. As late as 1926, the importance of connection between Barton and West Bend was highlighted by an editorial in the West Bend News, which asked, "Is there anything between heaven and earth capable of moving the powers that be to build a sidewalk between the city and Barton?" The editor went on to complain, "The merchants want more trade, yet they won't facilitate it." West Bend established one of the first dedicated high schools in the county in the late 1800s, and Barton sent its graduates to the West Bend High School through the mid-twentieth century.
In 1961, the village of Barton was annexed into the city of West Bend although the rest of rural Barton Township remained independent. At that time, the Barton Elementary School was also annexed into the city of West Bend's school district and continued as one of the largest schools in the district.
Education in Barton and West Bend and the Development of the Modern Educational System
The design and construction of the Barton Elementary School, completed in phases between 1924 and 1969, exemplifies a statewide trend in the growth and specialization of educational facilities during the early twentieth century. The Barton Elementary School is a well-preserved example of a long-lived school with physical expansions that were not only a reaction to increasing enrollment, but also added components that were considered important in a modern public school.
In the late nineteenth century, most community schools combined primary and secondary grades into a single building. By the turn of the century, there was a growing recognition that younger children and older children had distinctly different educational and developmental needs that could be best served through separate, specialized facilities. The push for secondary education led first to a proliferation of separate public high schools, the Free High School Law, which provided state aid to fund public high schools in Wisconsin, was passed in 1875 and by 1923 over 400 school districts operated high schools. Junior high schools also gained favor in the early twentieth century, particularly in larger urban areas, to bridge the gap between primary and secondary education.
At the other end of the spectrum, educational reformers were also advocating for the incorporation of early childhood development programs that would bring younger children into the public school system. In 1856, German immigrant Margareth Meyer Schurz established the first kindergarten in the United States in Watertown, Wisconsin. The kindergarten model, which was designed to teach social interaction and engagement in young children through arts, crafts, and music, gained widespread acceptance in the early twentieth century. The first public kindergarten program in Wisconsin opened in Manitowoc in 1873 and by the turn of the century kindergarten was "seen as a vital part of the public education system of progressive cities."
The twentieth-century education reform movement ushered in the era of the modern school building. Beginning in the early 1900s the State of Wisconsin began to actively encourage communities to replace their older primary schools with modern "state-graded" schools. As noted in Cultural Resource Management in Wisconsin, "The term graded school was generally used to refer to any school that had more than one room and therefore contained more than one grade of pupil." A 1901 act of the state legislature provided special funding for the construction of new graded schools, and a second act passed in 1905 required schools with more than 65 pupils to provide at least two rooms and two teachers. These legislative acts thus had a direct impact on the form and design of schools across the state. As Cultural Resource Management in Wisconsin points out, "the state even provided sample plans to guide districts in their remodeling projects."
In marked contrast to the single-room schoolhouse, these schools were large, solidly built buildings, typically architect-designed of fireproof construction with modern amenities such as central heating, electricity, and indoor plumbing. Spacious classrooms were well-lit and ventilated with large windows. The interior reflected the programming needs of the students it was built to serve, with secondary schools generally featuring more specialized spaces to accommodate a diverse curriculum. Primary schools typically featured a kindergarten space and some sort of open assembly space that could serve multiple functions.
After World War II, public school development in Wisconsin shifted from the expansion of school districts and facilities to restructuring and consolidation. The number of school districts, which peaked at 7,777 in Wisconsin in 1938, fell to just 435 by 1973. One-room rural schools, which stood at 6,181 in 1938 and 3,242 in 1953, ceased to operate completely in Wisconsin by 1969. The shifts were precipitated by new laws that empowered the state superintendent to eliminate smaller districts and by a series of state and federal funding programs introduced in the 1950s and 1960s that provided various incentives for consolidation. The rising costs of modern education and up-to-date teaching methods made it increasingly difficult for small districts with limited funds to maintain their schools.
The history of public education and school construction in Barton and West Bend in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century mirrored these progressive developments in public education. The first public school in Barton was a one-room log cabin, which had given way to a two-room brick schoolhouse by 1869. This structure remained the only public school in Barton until 1923, when it was destroyed by fire. By 1924, Barton boasted a three-room brick schoolhouse with modern indoor plumbing and room for expansion. A series of additions following World War II were constructed to expand the growing Barton School. This expansion followed closely in line with the closing and consolidation of many of Barton Township's rural county schools. The new additions featured specialized spaces such as a gymnasium, cafeteria, presentation space, as well as art and music rooms.
Historically, Barton and West Bend shared educational facilities, demonstrating an interconnected educational system even while the two were distinct municipalities. In West Bend, public education was more focused on high school and secondary education. Primary education, beginning in the 1860s, was largely serviced by the city's parochial schools. By 1862, West Bend had constructed two buildings, Old South and Old North, to serve as the city's public schools. By the late 1880s, Old North had been repurposed as the city's high school. These two masonry buildings (both demolished) accommodated all of the public school students in the city as well as many high school students from surrounding villages and towns (including Barton) through the early twentieth century. In 1887, 31 out of 53 students in the West Bend High School were non-residents. As late as 1912, the West Bend High School was still one of only three four-year high schools operating in Washington County. Out-of-town students took the train in every day, while some rural pupils rented a room in town for the school week.
By the 1920s, the city of West Bend was in dire need of new school facilities. In 1927, a new modern high school building was completed at Fourth and Oak streets. This building was expanded in 1952 and 1957 with large additions for a gymnasium and a swimming pool. After a new high school was completed in 1970, the former West Bend High School was converted for use as the Badger Middle School, West Bend's first middle school. The building was substantially remodeled in 2008-2010 and the older portions of the building were demolished.
In 1939, the West Bend Grade School (later McLane Elementary School) was completed at 833 Chestnut Street. Designed by O'Meara and Hills architects, the impressive L-shaped building was expanded in 1950 and 1963 and served as West Bend's only elementary school until 1955, when Decorah Elementary School and Fair Park Elementary School opened in the city.
After the end of World War II, West Bend experienced exponential growth during the decades after World War II. Between 1950 and 1970, the town's population nearly tripled from 6,849 in 1950, to 9,969 in 1960, then to 16,555 in 1970. Part of this growth was due to the annexation of surrounding communities like Barton in 1961 and Jackson in 1962, though most was due to an influx of new residents from outside the area.
Consolidation of smaller school districts such as Barton and Jackson under the West Bend school district and the closing of the county's rural schools in the post-war period also helped to spur expansion of existing schools and construction of new schools.
In 1954-55, two new elementary schools, the Decorah Elementary School at 1225 Sylvan Way and Fair Park Elementary School at 519 Indiana Avenue-were constructed in West Bend. In 1969, a third elementary school, Green Tree Elementary School at 1330 Green Tree Road, was completed. This period of construction extended not just to new buildings, but also to substantial additions and modernization programs for existing school buildings, including major additions to the Barton Elementary School and the Jackson Elementary School.
Building Description
The Barton Elementary School is a two-story masonry building located in West Bend, Wisconsin, along the west bank of the Milwaukee River. The building is located at the northwest corner of River Drive North and School Place, in the heart of the Village of Barton, formerly an independent municipality but today a part of the City of West Bend. The school was constructed to replace the original Barton graded school on this site that had been condemned and demolished in 1923. The school served the students of Barton for almost four decades, then continued to be the community's main school after annexation to the West Bend school district in 1961. After annexation, the name of the community in which the school was located changed, but it served children from the same geographic region it always had, along with serving a population of children from West Bend. The building continued in school use, and continued to expand, as it served Barton then West Bend. The school finally closed in 2013 due to changing demographics and school reorganization.
Barton Elementary School as it currently stands today was constructed in phases that reflect the school's growth and expansion through the 20th Century. The original school block was designed by local architects Auler & Jensen and completed in 1924. Typical of other Tudor Revival style school buildings from the 1920s, the original Barton School featured a symmetrical design with brick exterior walls and limestone detailing. Additions spanning a period of 26 years enveloped most of the original 1924 structure, and the building today doesn't reflect any particular high style of architecture, but rather reflects the general school design trends of the mid-to late- twentieth century era. Later architect-designed additions from 1955, 1960, and 1969 have left only the west elevation and portions of the south and east elevations of the original building exposed. Inside, the Barton School retains its original floor plan and circulation patterns, and historic decorative details including tile and wood flooring, classroom doors, wood trim, built-in cabinetry, transom windows, and chalkboards. The post-war additions reflect the growing trend toward more specialized spaces including a gymnasium, library, cafeteria, presentation space, and art and music rooms; many of these spaces are still intact.
The Barton Elementary School stands at its original location bordered by River Drive North to the east, School Place to the south, Fairview Drive to the west, and a development of single-family homes to the north. The property is located in the former village of Barton, now part of the city of West Bend, in southeastern Wisconsin's Washington County at the junction of US Highway 45 and Wisconsin Highway 144. The school is situated on a large 7-acre lot that sits slightly elevated sloping east towards the Milwaukee River. The primary (west) facade faces onto a surface parking lot, which stretches the full length of the building. A concrete sidewalk leads up to the center of the primary elevation and curves out in either direction, providing access to various entrances around the building. The parking lot and paved areas to the west extend outward into flat grassy areas. An L-shaped playground is located north of the paved area. A chain link fence runs along portions of the school's property line, including the eastern boundary fronting River Drive North.
The Barton Elementary School is composed of the original 1924 block and expanded with seven additions constructed between 1955 and 2000.
1924 Block
The original 1924 school building has undergone a series of additions from 1955 through 2000, which have expanded the original block to the north and south. Currently, the only portions of the original building that are still exposed on the exterior are the west and south elevations of the western wing of the building and a small section of the east elevation. The two-story building is constructed of red brick laid in a five-course common bond with minimal limestone detailing and a brick chimney on the west elevation. The first floor is slightly below grade as the landscape slopes downward to the north. A set of concrete stairs on the south elevation lead down to the boiler room and an additional set of stairs at the west side, lead to a first-floor classroom. The exposed facades are regularly fenestrated with large window openings at the second floor and small window openings at the first floor. The school is built on a concrete foundation. The windows throughout the 1924 block are replacement windows within the original openings.
The original building design featured simplified Tudor Revival style elements such as a crenelated brick parapet with limestone coping and projecting main entrance. Exterior details still visible in the 1924 block include the limestone water table, sills, and belt course. The original main entrance was removed in 1955 when the gymnasium was added.
Located just above the limestone belt course on the building's south elevation is a sign reading, "BARTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL," in aluminum letters. The crenellations in the parapet have since been infilled and the limestone coping removed, suggesting the parapet may have been rebuilt at some point.
Although the original plan of the 1924 block is still evident on the first floor, with a central double-loaded corridor extending north, most of this space was reconfigured in 1955 and 1960. The 1924 stair was removed and the space utilized for locker rooms, the southwest playroom space was converted to a boiler room, and the classrooms were subdivided with concrete block walls. Portions of the corridor walls were rebuilt with concrete block. Wood and glass doors opening onto the corridor date to 1955. The flooring in the corridors is vinyl tile with vinyl base, and the ceilings are dropped ceilings with fluorescent lighting installed at a later date. This flooring and ceiling is installed throughout the classroom spaces on the first floor of the 1924 block as well. Window casings and base trim are all later alterations.
The central stair at the juncture of the 1924 block and south 1955 addition was installed in 1955 and features concrete steps with rubber treats and simple metal handrails on the concrete block walls.
On the second floor, the 1924 block retains more of its historic plan and some historic finishes. The three classrooms retain their historic volume, wood flooring (under carpet in one room), painted wood baseboards, chalkboard surrounds, and some historic wood and glass paneled doors. The corridor is lined with metal lockers added in 1955/1960 and features tile flooring and lay-in ceilings.
1955 Additions (North and South)
The two additions completed in 1955 were designed by Milwaukee architect, Roger Herbst.
North 1955 Addition
The north 1955 addition, which was constructed to add classroom spaces, a lunch room, and offices to the school, is two stories tall, clad in red brick, and regularly fenestrated on the east and west sides with window openings that mimic the 1924 block. The original 2/2 aluminum windows remain intact on the first floor of the east elevation; the remaining windows are replacement windows within the original openings. The window openings feature cast stone sills, and a limestone water table and belt course run along the east and west elevations. A one-story projection extends from the east elevation of this addition, which houses a secondary entrance. The north side of the north 1955 addition is completely obscured by the north 1960 addition.
The north 1955 addition houses four classrooms (two per floor) flanking the central double-loaded corridor that connects the 1924 block and north 1960 addition. Walls are painted concrete block. Doors in the corridors are wood with top glass panels and louvers at the bottom. The ceilings are dropped ceilings with fluorescent lighting. Flooring is vinyl tile with vinyl base. The two classrooms on the first floor of the addition continue the flooring, ceiling, and base of the corridors. Built in cabinets and cubbies line the walls, and the chalkboards have metal frames. The trim around the windows appears to have been installed with the windows. In the first-floor east classroom, the window openings with historic windows feature simple wood sills.
South 1955 Addition
The south 1955 addition, which houses the school's gymnasium, is two-stories tall and connects to the southeast corner of the 1924 block. This addition is also clad in red brick with cast stone sills. The southwest corner of the addition served as the main entrance to the school when the addition was constructed; the limestone surround, inscribed with "Barton School," was recreated during the school's expansion in 1960 and once again in 1969, and is still visible from the interior of the building. The large window opening with original multi-paned metal window above this entrance is partially visible from the exterior and retains its original cast stone surround. The north elevation retains its original large glass block windows. The south elevation of this addition is largely obscured from the exterior by the south 1960 addition; the upper portion is unornamented red brick. The large window openings on this elevation, mimicking the north elevation, are not visible from the exterior but are intact with original glass block windows on the interior. The east elevation of the south 1955 addition is red brick laid in common bond, with a limestone water table. The two window openings on this elevation house replacement windows within the original openings and feature brick lintels and cast stone sills. The parapets are capped with metal copings.
A small vestibule north of the former main entrance at the south 1955 addition gives access to the 1924 block to the north and to the gymnasium in the south 1955 addition. Double wood doors on the east wall of the vestibule open into the double-height gymnasium space, which features painted concrete block walls, exposed metal trusses at the ceiling, and vinyl tile flooring. Wood doors along the south and east walls are simple stained wood. The original glass block windows are intact on the north, south, and east elevations. Basketball hoops are installed on all sides of the gymnasium.
1960 Additions (North, Center, and South)
The three additions completed in 1960-located to the north, south, and east of the original 1924 building, were all designed by architects Lawrence Monberg & Associates.
North 1960 Addition
The north 1960 addition is a two-story masonry structure with red brick exterior laid in common bond. Original plans show expansive curtain windows with recessed aluminum fascia panels framed by projecting brick end walls and overhanging eaves on the east and west elevations. These curtain walls were removed in the 1980s and masonry infill with smaller rectangular window openings was installed. The north elevation is intact, with unfenestrated brick walls flanking a center two-story entrance and stair enclosure. This entrance enclosure retains the original aluminum curtain wall with fascia panels between the brick piers, although the windows on the first floor have been replaced with solid panels.
The interior of the north 1960 addition houses classrooms and continues the floor plan and function of the 1924 block and north 1955 addition. The central corridor on both floors is painted concrete block with molded vinyl base. The ceiling in the corridor is the historic height with original acoustical tiles. Rows of metal lockers line the corridors between the classroom doorways, which are famed by projecting curved concrete piers. The classroom doors are original stained wood doors with three vertically oriented square openings, most with large single pane transoms and single pane sidelights in a stained wood frame. Transom windows extend from the doorway along the top of the corridor wall along each classroom. Inside the classrooms, the walls are painted concrete block. Flooring is carpet, and ceilings are dropped ceilings with fluorescent lighting. The classrooms retain original wood cabinets and shelving. Chalkboards and bulletin boards are held in metal frames. Original plans for this addition show that the southeast classroom was designated as a kindergarten. The stairs at the north end of the north 1960 addition features concrete treads and risers (which have been painted) and a metal balustrade with simple railing and metal grid panels.
Center 1960 Addition
The center 1960 addition, is a small, one-story rectangular structure that extends from the east elevation of the 1924 block, along the north wall of the 1955 gymnasium addition. This addition is unfenestrated and features recessed vertical banding on the exposed east and north elevations, consistent with the east elevation of the south 1960 addition.
The center 1960 addition on the north side of the gymnasium houses the kitchen, which features concrete flooring, tile walls, and exposed mechanicals. A window with rolling metal shutter provides connection between the gymnasium and the kitchen space. North of the kitchen is a locker room with painted concrete block walls and tile flooring. Steps at the west end of these two spaces lead down through as storage room and to the main corridor of the 1924 block at the first floor.
South 1960 Addition
The one-story south 1960 addition (which was constructed to house a modern cafeteria but converted to a library in 1969) obscured the 1955 entrance with a glass curtain wall entrance vestibule and corridor with a main entrance door that was accessed from the south. The west elevation of the enclosed entrance corridor remains intact with original curtain wall and fascia panels. A metal mansard roof was added to this elevation when the 1969 addition was completed. The 1960 entrance doors are no longer intact as the building is now accessed from the west due to the 1969 addition, but the opening is visible from the interior of the building. The east elevation of the south 1960 addition is largely unfenestrated, with one grouping of three double-hung aluminum windows at the south end and a pair of metal and glass doors at the north end, and the brick features recessed vertical banding along the entire elevation. The south wall of this addition is completely obscured by the 1969 addition.
The south 1960 addition originally housed a cafeteria, with the kitchen at the east end. When the 1969 addition was constructed, the cafeteria was converted to a library. The space is still a large open volume, with original acoustical tile ceiling and a mixture of fluorescent and pendant lighting. The wood paneling on the north and south walls was installed in 1969, as well as the carpeting. A former large opening on the south wall was infilled at some point after 1970 with a solid wall and ribbon window. The raised platform at the west end of the space, with wood stairs and lattice railing, was installed sometime after 1970 as well. The library connects with the west corridor of the south 1960 addition via a set of three stained wood doors with vertically oriented square glass panes. The corridor is intact, with historic ceiling and lighting, brick walls on the east and north sides with vinyl baseboards and vinyl flooring. A large brick trophy case is situated on the east wall of the corridor just north of the library entrance. The former exterior entrance to the 1960 addition is now a large opening that connects the south 1960 addition with the 1969 addition.
1969 Addition
The large one-story 1969 addition south of the south 1955 addition has a simple design, matching much of the existing masonry of the building. The red brick is arranged in a simple running bond with a soldier course detailing under window openings. The addition is minimally fenestrated with paired aluminum windows with operable lower hoppers and features a metal mansard roof that runs along the east, west, and south elevations of the building including the new 1969 entrance, which still exists today.
The 1969 addition retains is original floor plan with few alterations. The entrance vestibule at the northwest corner of the addition features tile flooring, which extends into the corridor at the entrance before transitioning to vinyl tile. The interior vestibule doors are metal and glass. The corridors feature vinyl tiling floor and baseboards, inset metal lockers along the walls, and 2x4 lay-in ceilings with fluorescent lights. Classroom doors are metal with small vertical lights and metal frames. The double-loaded corridor forms a modified U-shape through the addition, with the eastern corridor extending north-south from the library to the south entrance. Original plans show that the three classrooms along the east side of the addition were kindergarten rooms; the two rooms on the south side of the addition were an art room and music room. What was originally the presentation room, just east of the entrance vestibule and corridor, has been divided. In all the classrooms, flooring is wall-to-wall carpet. The walls are painted concrete block. Ceilings are 2x4 lay-in ceilings with fluorescent lights. Built-in cabinets and shelving are extant in most rooms, but most are significantly damaged. Closets have been constructed in most classrooms.
2000 Block
Construction in 2000 on the Barton Elementary School included a partial renovation of the far southwest corner classroom constructed in 1969, as well as the addition of one classroom off the south elevation. The one-story addition features a solid brick wall along the east and west elevations and a single window opening with a brick sill on the far southeast corner. The brick wall along the east elevation stretches out from the south entrance (1969 addition) beyond the face of the 2000 south elevation. The red brick is arranged in a simple running bond with a soldier course detailing under window openings to match the 1969 addition.
The interior of the 2000 addition is similar to the classrooms in the 1969 addition, with carpeting floor, 2x4 lay-in ceiling with fluorescent lights, built in cabinets along the walls and painted concrete block walls.

West elevation (2015)

South elevation of 1924 block and west elevation of 1960 block (2015)

West elevation of 1924, 1955 and 1960 blocks (2015)

East elevation of 1960 block (2015)

East elevation of 1960, 1955 and 1924 blocks (2015)

East elevation of 1950 and 1924 blocks (2015)

East elevation of 1960 and 1955 blocks (2015)

South elevation of 1969 block (2015)

First floor entrance corridor (2015)

First floor room in 1960 block (2015)

First floor gym in 1955 block (2015)

Typical corridor in 1924 block (2015)

Typical corridor in 1960 block (2015)

Typical classroom in 1924 block (2015)
