The original Juddville schoolhouse was a log structure, built in 1890. This log schoolhouse was moved to the farm of Henry Olson at an unknown time, and then around 1910, a new schoolhouse structure was built at the southeast corner of Highway 42 and Juddville Rd. The Juddville Contemporary Clay Studio Gallery currently resides in that second schoolhouse structure which is now over 110 years old. (Source: Williamson, Patty. “Northern Door Once had 26 Rural Schools”. Peninsula Pulse, October 21, 2016. https://doorcountypulse.com/northern-door-26-rural-schools/)

Juddville had an excellent school system back in these early years. Many graduates went on to higher education, in part due to the premium that Scandinavians in the Juddville area placed on higher education.  (Source: Smith, Linda Neeck. “Juddville, – The Shadows of Our Yesteryear”. Door County Almanak – Farms, No. 4,  The Dragonsbreath Press, 1987, p. 228.)

The following Door County Advocate item offers a feel for Juddville life and schooling back in the 1880’s: “A spelling school is held at the (Fish Creek) schoolhouse every week and is well attended by scholars and patrons of the school. Last week the Juddvllle school and their teacher, Miss Hattie Stevens, made us (Fish Creek) a visit on spelling night and took part in the programme which consisted of spelling, singing, rapid addition, etc. After a pleasant evening the visitors departed for their homes. Come again, Juddville, whenever you can!” (Source: “Around the County: Fish Creek”. Door County Advocate, 12/23/1886, p.2. https://archive.co.door.wi.us/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=ea91eb62-96e3-4ad5-b0c2-0fc095b362be/wsbd0000/20120910/00001281)

The Christmas programs held each year at the Juddville schoolhouse were important events for the local community. People came from all around to attend. It was a real honor for those children selected for the major roles. If they went on to do well later in life, the whole community would share in the credit for their success. (Source: Smith, Linda Neeck. “Juddville, – The Shadows of Our Yesteryear”. Door County Almanak – Farms, No. 4,  The Dragonsbreath Press, 1987, p. 228.)

Here’s a newspaper article from The Independent describing the Christmas festival in 1888:

• Our school closed last Friday after a successful term of four months under Miss Hattie Stevens, of Fish Creek. She is engaged to teach the spring term, which will begin in April. This is the fourth year she has taught this school and she has given the best of satisfaction. A Christmas tree and entertainment was held in the schoolhouse Christmas eve. The festival was prepared by the teacher and older pupils, and proved to be one of the pleasantest affairs that has ever taken place in this vicinity. All who attended entered into the spirit of the occasion in a manner that showed they meant to have a “merry Christmas,” and they had it. The following is the programme which was delivered with credit to both teacher and pupils:

         Song – 

• • “Our Greeting,” – School
  • “Nobody’s Child,” – Laura McSweeney
  • “An Apt Quotation,” – Howard Moses
  • “The Nine Suitors,” – Eva Robertoy
  • “The Little Sparrow,” – Leonard Klhl
  • “The Two Acquaintances,” – Lillie Larson
  • “Triple Letters,” – Conrad Olson
  • “The Sperience ob de Reberend Quacko Strong,” – Miles McSweeney
  • “Bessie’s Christmas,” – Myrtle Kihl
  • “The Two Points,” – Oscar McSweeney, Laura McSweeney, Leonard Kihl
  • “Flo’s Letter,” – Elna Belsvig
  • “The Devil and the Lawyer,” – Alson Kinzie
  • One in Blue and One in Gray,” – Christian Hanson
  • “Gone With a Handsomer Man,” – Gertie Schuyler
  • “Harry’s Ride,” – Charley Anderson
  • “What Freddie Thinks,” – Blaine McSweeney
  • “Savingr Mother,” – Jessie McSweeney

• The soliciting was done by Misses Gertie Schuyler and Jessie McSweeney, and from the success they met with we judge the girls understand the art right well. They will please accept our thanks for the active part they took in making it a success.
• The jolly Capt. Campbell was a guest of Mr. and Mrs. C. A. Lundburg last Friday
  evening. He is always welcome but especially so on this occasion as he donated very liberally toward the Christmas tree. (Source: “The County Mailbag – Juddville” section. The Independent, 12/28/1888, p. 3. https://archive.co.door.wi.us/jsp/RcWebImageViewer.jsp?doc_id=fae15343-a5c5-4172-8e8f-939ee2361de1/wsbd0000/20120522/00000657)

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The Juddville school also served as the original gathering location for what eventually would become the St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.  The church used the Juddville schoolhouse as the meeting place for its congregation from 1886 to 1900.  In 1900, a new St. Paul’s Lutheran Church building was started at the site where it stands today, and that became the new “official” gathering place for the church’s congregation in 1903. (Source: Holand, Hjalmar R.. “39. St. Paul Lutheran Church, Juddville, Wis.”, History of Door County, Wisconsin – The County Beautiful, Volume 1, 1917, p. 210.)

The schoolhouse stayed active until 1957 when it was closed as a school for good. It was then converted by the St. Paul Lutheran church into a Memorial Center used for Sunday school, and other church and community activities. (Source: Kuhns, Roger. “School’s Out: The Past Times of One-Room School Houses”, Door County Living, May 1, 2004. https://doorcountypulse.com/schools-out/)