local lore

Girls school rules

Sep 16, 2026

Here are some entertaining rules from the “Rules and Regulations for Students” booklet provided to students at the Villa Maria: • “If boys wish to visit juniors and seniors, they must limit their visits to twice a month.” • “Hair may be worn in curlers only on Saturdays.” • “Lipstick may be worn...

Local Lore: The Villa Maria fire and its aftermath

Sep 16, 2026

By 1969, the historic Villa Maria had been a successful Catholic school for young women for 78 years. The primary school building had been built in 1891, with education beginning in the fall of that year, and a residence hall, known formally as Marian Hall, had been added to the campus in 1946....

Local Lore: The Villa Maria school for girls

Sep 9, 2026

Old Frontenac’s Villa Maria is perhaps the most famous of Lake City’s historic Catholic schools, and with an appearance that looks straight out of a fairytale in a location that’s just as magical, it’s easy to understand why. “Beautiful Villa Maria!—comes involuntarily to one’s lips as one catches...

Local Lore: The Nazareth and McCahill Schools

Sep 2, 2026

Lake City’s public elementary schools, high schools, and Commercial College have all been covered in this series on our community’s educational facilities, but there are still many more to write about, including rural, one-room schoolhouses and the Central Point School. This week, however, will...

Local Lore: The proposed high school of 1958

Aug 26, 2026

When a growing student population in combination with school consolidations began overwhelming the Lake City Public School system in the 1950s, the issue of erecting new facilities was at the forefront of the Board of Education’s list of priorities. In 1952-1953, the school board “employed the...

Local Lore: The Lake City Commercial College

Aug 26, 2026

This week’s article on Lake City’s educational facilities will cover the Lake City Commercial College and English Training School. Be sure to look for the supplement to last week’s article on the 1958 high school addition in this week’s issue, as well, and another big shoutout to Dr. Becky...

Local Lore: Lake City high schools

Aug 19, 2026

Continuing the saga of Lake City’s educational facilities, this week will focus on its public high schools and the series of additions and subtractions that yielded Lincoln High School as we know it today. Thank you again to Dr. Becky Houghton for sharing her research with me! To recap a little...

Local Lore: Update on The Copper Penny

Aug 12, 2026

Mark Nibbe stopped by this week to share some physical evidence that The Old Bank Bar was once The Copper Penny (or was at least planned to be). This plastic keychain was just one of a few mementos the Thiels gave away promoting the new bar when it opened, along with coasters and drink chips. The...

Local Lore: Lake City elementary schools

Aug 12, 2026

This week I’m finally tackling a topic that’s been requested by readers more than any other, and with the beginning of the school year on the horizon, I figured now was the right time. Similarly to Lake City’s medical history, there is a lot of information available about Lake City’s schools, so I...

Local Lore: The Old Bank Bar

Aug 5, 2026

Of the bars that have existed in downtown Lake City, few seem to have racked up a reputation as well-known as the Old Bank Bar. After the Lake City State Bank moved across the street to its present-day location (now named Alliance Bank), the building at 100 S. Washington Street sat empty until...