Lawrence School History (1852 - Present)
In 1852, George and Mary Lawrence deeded a parcel of land to the Waukesha School Board for $5, for the purpose of establishing a school on Saylesville Road, 3 miles south of the village of Waukesha. The original school was erected that same year. It was a one-room frame structure of approximately 20 by 30 feet, with windows on two sides and a door at the front of the building. Blackboards divided the single room in those early days. The plumbing consisted of a well in the playground area and two outhouses - one for boys and one for girls. As time went by, farms sprouted up around the school and attendance grew. The School Board later purchased additional land for $10, which expanded the school grounds to approximately half an acre. During the Great Depression, a brick schoolhouse was built on the site, consisting of five rooms and a basement. The new school opened in 1931 and continued to educate children in Waukesha until 1976.
The school stood vacant and unused for eight years. Its windows were broken, and the floors and ceiling were crumbling, then it was purchased by Prohealth Care in 1984 and converted to a residential treatment facility. It was initially called The Lawrence House and later The Lawrence Center. In 2009, the center was closed and would remain vacant until 2013. In May of 2013 remodeling of the facility began, to return The Lawrence Center to its original purpose and has once again become The Lawrence School.
The facility now consists of 15 rooms, with 17,000 square feet and over 4 acres of outdoor play space for Waukesha children ages 6 weeks to 12 years of age. The building is now equipped with state of the art security and safety features, making it Waukesha's premier child care center. Call to schedule a tour of the facility at 262-650-7777.
In 1852, George and Mary Lawrence deeded a parcel of land to the Waukesha School Board for $5, for the purpose of establishing a school on Saylesville Road, 3 miles south of the village of Waukesha. The original school was erected that same year. It was a one-room frame structure of approximately 20 by 30 feet, with windows on two sides and a door at the front of the building. Blackboards divided the single room in those early days. The plumbing consisted of a well in the playground area and two outhouses - one for boys and one for girls. As time went by, farms sprouted up around the school and attendance grew. The School Board later purchased additional land for $10, which expanded the school grounds to approximately half an acre. During the Great Depression, a brick schoolhouse was built on the site, consisting of five rooms and a basement. The new school opened in 1931 and continued to educate children in Waukesha until 1976.
The school stood vacant and unused for eight years. Its windows were broken, and the floors and ceiling were crumbling, then it was purchased by Prohealth Care in 1984 and converted to a residential treatment facility. It was initially called The Lawrence House and later The Lawrence Center. In 2009, the center was closed and would remain vacant until 2013. In May of 2013 remodeling of the facility began, to return The Lawrence Center to its original purpose and has once again become The Lawrence School.
The facility now consists of 15 rooms, with 17,000 square feet and over 4 acres of outdoor play space for Waukesha children ages 6 weeks to 12 years of age. The building is now equipped with state of the art security and safety features, making it Waukesha's premier child care center. Call to schedule a tour of the facility at 262-650-7777.