This early Manitowoc County town had its own school, church and sports teams, like the Osman Scrubs

“Many of the hardy and intrepid sons of the Emerald Isle took up their abode in the county and joined their fortunes with that of the community,” wrote Dr. Louis Falge in his 1911 volume of "History of Manitowoc County."

“The towns of Maple Grove, Rockland, Cato, Meeme, Liberty and Franklin are largely indebted to them for their coming so early in their history and developed the land into well cultivated farms,” he added.

The township of Meeme includes the Osman area. The origin of the name “Osman” isn’t entirely known.

The first schoolhouse in the township of Meeme was built a half a mile south of Osman, at the home of Henry Mulholland, in 1851. A log school was then built in 1853. John Stuart was the first teacher.

A second school building was constructed in 1858 before a third brick school building was built in 1920.

When the new school building was ready for students, the old school was moved to the Hoban farm.

The 1963-1964 school year marked the end of the Osman school building as classes across Manitowoc County consolidated into the school districts we know today.

When in operation, the Osman school had many successful graduates, including Michael Kirwan, who became a circuit court judge; John Nagle, county superintendent of schools; John Carey, state senator; and many others.

In 1850, a Catholic church was founded in Osman. And in 1851, the first church building was constructed. A 3-acre lot was donated by Henry Mulholland. In return for the parish’s appreciation for the generous donation, Mulholland was given a front pew!

When the church was ready to be dedicated, there was a dispute about what to name the parish. Irish parishioners wanted the name St. Patrick, while the German constituents rallied for the name St. Joseph. Bishop Heni of Milwaukee settled the dispute and named the parish St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers.

Manitowoc history: How Manitowoc's Citizenship Day celebration of May 1939 drew national attention and sparked a nationwide movement

In 1864, a second church building was constructed, which served the community until 1925, when a church, school and convent were built.

In 1874, the “St. Isidore Catholic Total Abstinence Society of Meeme” was formed. The original membership list included 120 names. Some members took the pledge for two years, some for five years. On June 21, 1874, it was decided the organization would hold a ball on July 4 and the proceeds would go to form a library. Grossing $306.47, some of the expenses were $32.17 for groceries, $8 for the music and $11.75 for refreshments. The Meeme Circulating Library was established with its own constitution and was located in the sacristy of St. Isidore Church with open hours on the first and third Sundays after the Masses. Each member could take one book per month.

More Manitowoc history: Guila Bustabo, considered the ‘greatest woman violinist in the world,’ was born in Manitowoc in 1916 and returned to play here in 1938.

In 1877, the Total Abstinence Society voted to build a hall. A site was donated, located just east of the school, by James Peppard. The hall, measuring 30 by 50 feet, was known as Temperance Hall. The hall was home to many meetings, family gatherings and an annual St. Patrick's Day celebration — when there was a dispensation from the abstinence pledge. The hall was in operation until a larger dance hall was built in Osman.

An early settler, Anton Walterbach Sr., operated a grocery store, ice cream parlor, a tavern and a small hall. This became the social center for the community of Osman. Later, the store was converted into a blacksmith shop and wagon shop. The town of Osman even had a baseball team — the Osman Scrubs.

Amy Meyer is executive director of the Manitowoc County Historical Society.

This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Manitowoc County town of Osman had a school, church and sports teams