1854-Old Fifth Ward School opened, which would later become Audubon School. This building (1854-1906)

1856-First meeting was held. Meeting was held in which the Committee of Schools recommended the opening of Primary, Secondary and Grammar Schools in the 3rd and 5th ward school buildings. A limit of 50 pupils per teacher was set in 5th ward school.

1864-A petition to open a school for colored children was presented. A tornado blew the roof off of the 5th ward school building and it costs the district $2,500 to replace.

1868-The schools were charged with failure of giving any moral instructions to the students, and this charge was vigorously denied by principals and students. Primary department of fifth ward school was so crowded that they had to divide it into 2 shifts, one in the a.m. and one in the p.m. Mayor requested that schools be closed for 2 weeks because of the prevalence of smallpox. Request was denied.

1871-Due to overcrowdedness, a one story addition was built at a cost of $565.00.

1873-A petition requesting a school in the fifth ward north of 23rd st. was filed.

1875-Teaching of German in the Ward Schools was introduced as well as the granting of a 15 minute recess during the a.m. and p.m. sessions.

1884-Plans for a school house in the fifth ward were approved. This building was named the Eagle Point School and opened for classes on Feb. 4.

1889-Eagle Point School was named Audubon School.

Above: Audubon School, October of 1905. 1st class, Primary Dept.

Above: Picture not labeled except that students were born in 1894

Above: Pictured not labeled except that students were born in 1897.

1890-Petition to the Board to erect flag staffs on the various school buildings and fly the American flag on the days that school was in session.

1893-11,656 children in the district, average daily attendence was 3,542.

1897-Charles G. Kretschmen, Principal of Audubon School died and B.J. Horchem was approved temporary Principal.

1907-Petition filed to change the name of Audubon School to the Charles G. Kretschmen School, was denied.

Above are the graduates of Audubon School in the year 1908. Class Motto: You'll find that luck is only pluck to try things over and over. Patience and skill, courage and will, are the four leaves of luck's clover. School Cry! U! Rah! Rah! U! Rah! Rah! Audubon, Audubon U! Rah! Rah!

1912-Audubon Alumni Association formed

1915-Social Center was opened at Audubon School to be held 2 nights a week during the winter months.

1922-The district ruled that married women could not teach.

1943-All of the school openings were delayed for one month because of a polio epidemic.

1949-The opening of school was delayed one week because of an outbreak of poliomyelitis and a shortage of coal due to the mining strike.

1950-Contracts were set for laying the first all weather courts in the Audubon, Bryant and Prescott School playgrounds. They were constructed of asphalt over a crushed rock base.

1953-3rd and 4th graders, with parents' permission, were released from school one hour a week to attend religious instruction.

Classroom opened at Audubon School for the teaching of mentally handicapped children on a 1/2 day basis begining in the fall of 1954

1956-On December 10th a resolution to change the district's name from Independent School District of Dubuque to the Dubuque Community School District was passed.

1973-School board accepted a $21,900 bid from Tschiggfrie Excavating Co. of Dubuque to demolish the old Audubon School, 535 Lincoln. Ave, by October 15. Construction completed September 10, 1973.

Newspaper article in TH about the demolition of the old Audubon School

The newly constructed Audubon School

1977-Audubon Alumni Association met to discuss women's suffrage, with remarks both opposed to and in favor of votes for women.

1980-Audubon gets new playground equipment.

2002-Audubon gets walls and windows! A New School...Well Almost!

Up until the summer of 2002, Audubon School did not have permanent walls in between the classrooms, windows or doors. We are happy to announce the renovation of Audubon School now complete with all of the above renovations successfully implemented. We are excited to see our students excel to the next level during the 2002-2003 school year. Below you will find some "before" pictures of what the grade level areas looked like last year. Click on the blue links below for a full size picture.

1st Grade Area

3rd Grade Area

4th Grade Area

5th Grade Area

6th Grade Area

2002-Audubon gets a new sound system for the gym thanks to a DRA Grant written by the PTA.

2003-Audubon adds a leveled book room thanks to the Community Partnership Grant. Audubon also gets a new sound system!

2004-Audubon's Principal of 10 years, Kay Helbing, retires. The district hires Andy Ferguson as the new principal.

2004-Audubon welcomes new business partner, Horace Mann.

2005-Audubon has new security system installed from DRA Grant

2005-Audubon welcomes new business partner, The Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark

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