The Prairie School (Wind Point, Wisconsin)

Last updated

The Prairie School
Address
The Prairie School (Wind Point, Wisconsin)
4050 Lighthouse Dr, Wind Point, WI 53402

Wind Point
,
Wisconsin

United States
Coordinates 42°46′22″N87°46′29″W / 42.772901°N 87.7746599°W / 42.772901; -87.7746599
Information
Type Private school
Established1965
CEEB code 501918
Head of schoolNathaniel Coffman
GradesPreK–12
Gender Co-educational
Campus49.5 acres
Color(s)Red & Navy    
Athletics conference Metro Classic [1]
MascotHawks
Nickname Prairie
Website www.prairieschool.com

The Prairie School is a private pre K-12 school in Wind Point, Wisconsin, in the Racine metropolitan area. [2]

Contents

History

The school first opened in 1965. [3] It was co-founded by Imogene "Gene" Powers Johnson (died March 3, 2018), [4] wife of Samuel Curtis Johnson Jr.; and Willie Hilpert, wife of Frank Hilpert. [5]

Initially the school founders intended to convert the 2300 Washington Ave. residence into a school facility and grow it at that site, but they could not overcome complying with building codes and conversion logistics, so a different site was chosen. Taliesin Associates designed the school buildings, with Charles Montooth as the lead designer of the original and subsequent buildings up to 2004. The school founders selected Taliesin's designs because they contrasted to other square/rectangular-based ones of the time; their other proposal from architects in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, had the ordinary design. [6]

Johnson continued to serve as the director and chairperson of the school after its establishment. [4] Michael Burke of The Journal Times described her as "one of the Racine community’s major benefactors". [7] Samuel Curtis Johnson served as the school's Chairman of the Board until 1983, when he was named Founding Chairman Emeritus, a position he held until his death. [8]

By 2004 there had been ten additions to the school facility. [6]

John H. ("Jack") Mitchell was the first Headmaster. Mark Murphy served as the headmaster from 1993 until June 30, 2014. [9] Nathaniel Coffman, previously the headmaster of the York Country Day School, became the new headmaster at that time. [10]

Campus

The magazine Buildings described the campus as being "Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired". [11] Imogene Johnson, one of Prairie's founders, was the wife of the eponymous head of SC Johnson corporation, based in Racine. The Johnson family and company commissioned many Wright buildings, such as their corporate headquarters Johnson Wax Headquarters, the Wingspread conference center very near the school, and others.

The first building became the Middle School, and is a complete circle surrounding a small courtyard. The Lower and Upper School buildings were soon added, which are curved arcs attached to the Middle School by hallways. Other early additions included a small gymnasium, a circular cafeteria, and a teardrop-shaped art department with a second story for offices and small student workspaces with excellent lighting. Most Prairie School buildings are single story, made of brick, and colored red, and emphasize circles. With the exception of the field house, there are hallways connecting them. [12] [13] [14]

In 1969 the H.F. Johnson Fieldhouse opened. There was a $14 million planned 25,000-square-foot (2,300 m2) addition, built circa 2004, added to the fieldhouse's north, with engineering done by Zimmerman Design Group and general contracting being done by Bukacek Construction. The addition includes a two-story atrium connecting it with the original building as well as basketball courts, a multipurpose room used for dance classes, a running track inside the building, and a weight room. [6] [15] [16]

In 2014 the Osiecki Soccer Field was dedicated and is a “certified level two” playing surface by the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the only FIFA–2 level high school soccer field in Wisconsin. [17] [18]

In 2020 construction began on the Leipold Johnson Early Childhood Center a 12,500 square foot Early School (3K & 4K PreKindergarten) building which opened in August 2021. [19] Built by Bukacek Construction each classroom has 1,220-square-feet. [20] [21] The Early School wing also has an art room, music room and multi-purpose room that is available to all students. [19]

Athletics

The following sports are offered in the Upper School: [22] [23]

Further reading

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frank Lloyd Wright</span> American architect (1867–1959)

Frank Lloyd Wright Sr. was an American architect, designer, writer, and educator. He designed more than 1,000 structures over a creative period of 70 years. Wright played a key role in the architectural movements of the twentieth century, influencing architects worldwide through his works and mentoring hundreds of apprentices in his Taliesin Fellowship. Wright believed in designing in harmony with humanity and the environment, a philosophy he called organic architecture. This philosophy was exemplified in Fallingwater (1935), which has been called "the best all-time work of American architecture".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Racine, Wisconsin</span> City in Wisconsin, United States

Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on the shore of Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Root River, situated 22 miles (35 km) south of Milwaukee and 60 miles (97 km) north of Chicago. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 77,816, making it the fifth-most populous city in Wisconsin. It is the principal city of the Racine metropolitan statistical area. The Racine metropolitan area is, in turn, counted as part of the greater Milwaukee combined statistical area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wind Point, Wisconsin</span> Village in Wisconsin, United States

Wind Point is a village in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,651 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Wesley Peters</span> American architect and engineer (1912–1991)

William Wesley Peters was an American architect and engineer, apprentice to and protégé of his father-in-law Frank Lloyd Wright.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robie House</span> House in Chicago, Illinois

The Frederick C. Robie House is a historic house designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright in 1908-09 and constructed in 1909-10. It is located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, Illinois, on the campus of the University of Chicago. Robie House is regarded as a high point of the Prairie Style and marks the end of Wright’s Oak Park years, an incredibly creative and productive twenty-year period that has been called his first golden age.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taliesin (studio)</span> Studio and home in Spring Green, Wisconsin

Taliesin is a house-studio complex located 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of the village of Spring Green, Wisconsin, United States. Developed and occupied by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, the 600-acre (240 ha) estate is an exemplar of the Prairie School of architecture. Wright began developing the estate in 1911 on land that previously belonged to his maternal family.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnson Wax Headquarters</span> Corporate headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin

The Johnson Wax Headquarters is the corporate headquarters of the household goods company S. C. Johnson & Son in Racine, Wisconsin, United States. The original headquarters includes two buildings designed by Frank Lloyd Wright: the Administration Building, completed in April 1939, and the Research Tower, completed in November 1950. The headquarters also includes the Golden Rondelle Theater, relocated from the 1964 New York World's Fair, in addition to Fortaleza Hall and The Commons, a memorial to Samuel Curtis Johnson Jr.. Both of the original buildings were widely discussed when they were completed, and they have been depicted in several exhibits and media works. In addition, the original headquarters has received the American Institute of Architects' Twenty-five Year Award and has been designated as a National Historic Landmark.

Samuel Curtis Johnson Jr. was an American businessman. He was the fourth generation of his family to lead S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., a consumer products company headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin. The son of Herbert Fisk Johnson Jr., he became a celebrated business icon who turned a relatively small wax company into a multibillion-dollar global household name. A noted philanthropist and environmentalist, Johnson led his company and community "to protect this planet and leave it a better place for future generations to live," noting, "A good executive, a busy executive, always has time to do some other things, especially for the good of the community."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taliesin West</span> Studio and home in Scottsdale, Arizona

Taliesin West is a studio and home developed by the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright in Scottsdale, Arizona, United States. Named after Wright's Taliesin studio in Spring Green, Wisconsin, Taliesin West was Wright's winter home and studio from 1937 until his death in 1959. The complex is the headquarters of the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, a nonprofit organization that hosts tours and events there. Taliesin West is designated as a National Historic Landmark and a World Heritage Site.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wingspread</span> Historic house in Wisconsin, United States

Wingspread, also known as the Herbert F. Johnson House, is a historic house in Wind Point, Wisconsin. It was built in 1938–39 to a design by Frank Lloyd Wright for Herbert Fisk Johnson Jr., then the president of S.C. Johnson, and was considered by Wright to be one of his most elaborate and expensive house designs to date. The property is now a conference center operated by The Johnson Foundation. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Washington Park High School</span> Public secondary school in Racine, Wisconsin, United States

Washington Park High School is a public, four-year high school in Racine, Wisconsin, USA, with an enrollment of 1,500 students. Its school colors are blue and orange. The school's mascot, the panther, was adopted by the Class of 1949, reportedly because of a nearby Native American effigy mound in the shape of a panther. It is a part of the Racine Unified School District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Horlick High School</span> Public high school in Racine, Wisconsin, United States

William Horlick High School is a comprehensive public four-year high school in Racine, Wisconsin with an enrollment of approximately 2,000 students. The school opened to students in 1928, after William Horlick, the original patent holder for malted milk, donated the land the school was built on. It was designed by Racine architect J. Mandor Matson.

Herbert Fisk Johnson III, known as Fisk, is an American billionaire businessman. He is the fifth generation of his family to lead S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc of Racine, Wisconsin, as chairman and CEO. As of March 2025, his net worth was estimated at US$5.4 billion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbert and Katherine Jacobs First House</span> House in Madison, Wisconsin

Herbert and Katherine Jacobs First House, commonly referred to as Jacobs I, is a single family home located at 441 Toepfer Avenue in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Designed by the American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, it was constructed in 1937 and may have been the first Usonian home. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2003. The house and seven other properties by Wright were inscribed on the World Heritage List under the title "The 20th-Century Architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright" in July 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thomas P. Hardy House</span> Historic house in Wisconsin, United States

The Thomas P. Hardy House is a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Prairie School home in Racine, Wisconsin, United States, that was built in 1905. The street-facing side of the house is mostly stucco, giving the residents privacy from the nearby sidewalk and street, but the expansive windows on the other side open up to Lake Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Racine Unified School District</span> School district in Wisconsin, United States

Racine Unified School District (RUSD) is a school district serving the eastern portion of Racine County, Wisconsin. It encompasses a 100 sq mi (260 km2) area, and serves the city of Racine and six other towns and villages, which had a combined population of 139,193 at the 2010 census. RUSD is the fifth-largest school district in Wisconsin. It has 22 schools, with a student enrollment of more than 16,000. The district employs 1,757 teachers and 171 administrators.

Justave Mandor Matson was an architect in Racine, Wisconsin. He designed the United Laymen Bible Student Tabernacle in Racine County, Wisconsin and Wilmanor Apartments in Racine County. Matson assisted Pennsylvania firm Richter & Eiler in the design of the Holy Communion Lutheran Church (1928) at 2000 W. Sixth. He also designed Racine City Hall, Horlick High School and Park High School, as well as Mitchell Elementary and middle school. Frank Lloyd Wright replaced Madson in 1935 as the architect for S.C. Johnson's administration building. Matson is also credited with designing the Granada Theatre at 1924 Charles Street in Racine. Matson is also credited with designing St. Edwards Church in Racine and Roosevelt School in Racine.

The Keland House, also known as the Keland-Johnson House, is located in Racine, Wisconsin, United States. It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1954, almost 50 years after he designed the Thomas P. Hardy House in Racine. It is currently known as the Boyd Home.

Imogene Powers Johnson was the widow of Samuel Curtis Johnson Jr., who was CEO of S. C. Johnson & Son of Racine, Wisconsin. She was the heir to the cleaning product company SC Johnson, and a billionaire. The Johnsons were major benefactors of Cornell University.

Sun Prairie West High School (SPWHS) is a high school in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin, United States. It is one of two high schools in the Sun Prairie Area School District, the other being Sun Prairie East High School. During the 2023-2024 school year, there were 1,347 students at Sun Prairie West High School. SPWHS is a WIAA Division 1 school and is a member of the Big Eight athletic conference in all sports except for football, in which it is a WIAA Division 2 school and a member of the Badger Conference.

References

  1. ↑ "WIAA Schools: School Directory".
  2. ↑ "Village Map". Town of Wind Point. Retrieved July 2, 2019.} or "2010 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Wind Point village, WI" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved July 2, 2019. // Note that the street address is: "4050 Lighthouse Drive Racine, WI 53402", and this is actually in Wind Point even though the city name of the address is Racine.
  3. ↑ "Village History". Village of Wind Point. December 20, 2013. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  4. 1 2 Mauk, Alyssa (March 13, 2018). "Hundreds gather to remember Imogene Johnson". The Journal Times . Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  5. ↑ Exclusively Yours , Volume 45. Patten Company, 1991. Snippet view on Google Books (page number unstated): "When two area women, Mrs. Samuel (Gene) Johnson and Mrs. Frank (Willie) Hilpert, conceived the Prairie School idea in the 1960s, it came as no surprise that Taliesin Associates (the firm[...]"
  6. 1 2 3 Hertzberg, Mark (March 6, 2004). "Prairie's creator returns to oversee another expansion". The Journal Times . Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  7. ↑ Burke, Michael (March 4, 2018). "'Gene' Johnson, widow of the late Sam Johnson, dies". The Journal Times . Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  8. ↑ "Cornell benefactor Imogene Powers Johnson dies at 87". Cornell Chronicle . Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  9. ↑ Fiori, Linsday (February 6, 2013). "Prairie School headmaster to retire". The Journal Times . Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  10. ↑ Bullock, Lindsay (September 30, 2013). "Prairie School picks new headmaster". The Journal Times . Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Low-Maintenance Fixtures Secure 53% Savings for Historic School". Buildings . 110 (4). Stamats Communications, Inc.: 22. March 28, 2016. Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  12. ↑ Sides, Phyllis (October 22, 2001). "Buildings from Wright disciples scattered about area". The Journal Times . Retrieved July 2, 2019.
  13. ↑ "Prairie School- Upper School". Bukacek Construction. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Prairie School – Science Classrooms". Bukacek Construction. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  15. ↑ "Prairie School Fieldhouse". Bukacek Construction. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Prairie School – Soccer Complex". Bukacek Construction. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  17. ↑ Journal Times Staff (October 21, 2014). "New Prairie School soccer field dedicated". The Journal Times . Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  18. ↑ Journal Times Staff (October 15, 2014). "Prairie soccer field". The Journal Times . Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  19. 1 2 Journal Times Staff (March 13, 2020). "Prairie School plans expansion for pre-K program". The Journal Times . Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  20. ↑ Brendan J. O’Brien (April 7, 2021). "Community Newsletter: The Prairie School". The Journal Times . Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  21. ↑ Journal Times Staff (March 13, 2020). "Prairie School plans expansion for pre-K program". The Journal Times . Retrieved August 26, 2022.
  22. ↑ "High schools: Prairie fall sports meeting, starting dates". Journal Times. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
  23. ↑ "The Prairie School". www.metroclassicwi.org. Retrieved July 1, 2019.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.