The Oshkosh Area School District held a ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony for the Merrill Memorial Corner, Oct. 17, 2025. PC: Fox 11 Online
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Oshkosh Area School District held a ribbon cutting ceremony Friday for the Merrill Memorial Corner.
The space will serve as a lasting tribute to the former Merrill Elementary/Middle School and the generations of community members who passed through the historic school’s doors.
“It’s a celebration of both our past and our future here,” said OASD Superintendent Bryan Davis.
Demolition of the nearly 125-year-old building began late last year. Merrill was built in 1901, with additions in 1932, 1953, 1965, 1992 and 1997.
Many Merrill alums and former staff members attended the dedication for the new memorial. It’s located at the southwest corner of the former Merrill site and honors a trio of influential figures:
- James Merrill, the building’s namesake, who was a Civil War veteran and Oshkosh mayor
- Henry Auler, a prominent Oshkosh architect who designed the school and many other buildings around the city
- Harold Schumerth, a beloved Oshkosh teacher and multi-time state championship-winning football coach
“Just really an opportunity to be able to memorialize those three and be able to build on that legacy as we’re moving forward,” Davis said.
Reclaimed stone and bricks from the Merrill building were harvested and preserved for the memorial corner — tying in a physical piece of the past. That includes a concrete casting “M” from the old school.
“We thought it was important to be able to have some tangible pieces that would move forward,” said Davis. “You can come back to your middle school and touch a piece of it, even though the building’s not here. It just provides that connection.”
The rest of the Merrill site has been turned into a track and field for Vel Phillips Middle School. The space is nearing completion, with the finishing touches scheduled to wrap up in the coming weeks.
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