Wisconsin School for the Deaf - The Wisconsin Times Vol. 133 No. 2 Winter 2011-2012 | Page 12

Walker Hall was originally used to house the entire oral elementary department. Walker Hall housed
the elementary department from 1911 to the 1960’s when both Pie Hall and the second Cochrane Hall
were built. The elementary department was moved into the second Cochrane Hall. The high school
department was moved into Walker Hall where it has remained until the present. Betty Scholterman
Hirte ’45 remembered in her videotaped oral history interview with Christopher Woodfill that as an
elementary student in the ‘30’s, she went to the ground floor of Walker Hall to eat graham crackers and
drink milk before going out for recess in the mid-morning everyday. She also remembered that every
elementary student was required to march up single file to the first and second floors and greet in spoken
English each teacher standing outside each classroom on both floors. Students would not be allowed to
go to their first class before satisfactorily speaking “Good Morning, Mr./Mrs. _____” to every teacher.
Walker Hall, during the ‘30’s was mainly for oral elementary students. Manual elementary students
were taught elsewhere on campus.
Walker Hall is being torn down for several reasons. Walker Hall was built using wood frame with
bricks encasing the outside. At the time Walker Hall was built, it was designed to last until 1974. The
expiration date was pushed to 1985 when 1974 came along. Walker Hall is an inefficient building in
term of heating, air conditioning and electricity. Heating is very wasteful still using the original boiler
heating technology. There is no air conditioning. The electrical system is old and cannot be upgraded to
deal with current technologies. The structure, in general, is in poor shape. In 2005, the entire third floor
of Walker hall was evacuated for approximately six months. The classrooms were relocated elsewhere
on campus. The roof on Walker Hall flattened somewhat and the walls supporting the roof were pushed
out slightly. To repair this structural issue, several red I-beams were installed on the floor of the attic
to keep the roof and walls supporting it solid and correct. This was a temporary measure to ensure the
structural integrity of Walker Hall.
Winter 2012 - 12