Perkins, Hamilton, and Fellows, a Chicago architect, firm was hired to design the new high school. The architect recommended the Roeff’s Hill site from a list of choices because “Nature has made it one of the best high school sites in the USA.” At the time of the construction plans, 15 acres were required for an ideal high school site. There were quite a few reasons for choosing to build Lincoln on Roeff’s Hill. The site was centrally located in the city and the previous high school was too small and run down to accommodate all the students.

In Chloupek’s first year as Superintendent in 1920, Manitowoc County had 110 school districts and 142 teachers.  The total enrollment of all schools, both public and private, was 4,161 students.  Most schools had enrollments of 25 to 35 students, while 2 had over 56 children in attendance.  She was reelected for another 2 terms as County Superintendent.

On the unusually hot afternoon of Saturday, July 26, 1930, friends, teachers and former students of John Nagle gathered on the grass and under trees on the grounds of the Manitowoc County Normal School (today’s Heritage Center) on Michigan Avenue in Manitowoc to dedicate a stone monument with the inscription “To John Nagle, Educator, Philosopher, Editor, 1848-1900.”

Local residents should take some comfort knowing the old school served generations of rural children well. An old large black maple tree, possibly planted when the brick school was built, remains in the school yard. If only it could tell us all the stories of when the children sat and played beneath its spreading branches in the cool shade.

It was the custom to have several plays, a half-dozen songs and a number of recitations, depending on the number of students in each of the eight grades. The success of the program either raised or lowered the social status of the teacher – even more than her performance in the classroom.