Little Red Schoolhouse

The Little Red Schoolhouse, built in 1864, was originally known as Watermill School and located on County Road G, five miles northeast of Tomah.

The land for the school was leased from the King Family until 1899 when it was purchased from an estate. The name Watermill was given because the school was built near Mill Creek and there was a mill constructed for the lumber industry there. Beginning in 1912, Watermill was the first school in the area to supply free textbooks. In 1914, an entry was added to the school building – the only addition that ever occurred. The school closed in 1965, and thereafter was purchased by the city of Tomah and moved to its present location within Gillett Park.

The Little Red Schoolhouse Museum opened to visitors in 1967. An attendant is on duty to give a brief history of the school and answer questions. The wood stove, desk, and other furnishings are all a part of the past. Many volumes of old books line the shelves. Maps and smaller items are on display in wall cases.