This painting by 1931 Niagara graduate Gladys Jolette depicts the former Niagara paper mill in 1963, during the Kimberly-Clark years. It is hanging on the wall of the boardroom at the school. (Iron Mountain Daily News photo)

NIAGARA, Wis. — The School District of Niagara has been working to better connect with the history of the school and community.

It started a few years ago when they decided to have a hallway dedicated to Niagara veterans. The wall features photographs and information, including their names and where and when they served.

The latest idea to highlight the past is in the new boardroom.

“We thought it would be good to tie in the history of the school,” District Administrator Nate Burklund said.

Working with Karen Klenke of the Niagara Historical Museum, they gathered photos of the old school and some of the classes.

There are images of the old red brick school that was downtown, where the Pit Stop gas station now is located.

The school, built in 1917, housed both the high school and elementary school grades until the new elementary school was completed in 1976 at its present location.

The new high school was built adjacent to the elementary school.

It was finished in 1993 and the old building was torn down in 1996.

They recently decided to move the concession stand to a common area that has comfortable seating and is adjacent to the theater. They plan to use the nearby walls to feature sports from the past.

The entryway to the gymnasium has three basketball jerseys donated by 1994 Niagara graduate Anna DeForge. She played professionally in the United States and Europe.

New backboards in the gymnasium also move sideways, making it easier to get them out of way for volleyball games.

These are some of renovations that have been made since the district approved a $3,995,000 building referendum in November 2020.

The project consisted of capital maintenance, safety and security upgrades, building systems and site improvement and acquisition of furnishings, fixtures and equipment.

Three other projects are planned for the summer with money from the referendum.

The exterior doors will be replaced at a cost of $230,000; a new air handler will cost about $200,000; and there are plans to build an exterior building for storage and busing.