Elisha Raymond came to the area that would some day be named after him in 1835. The early histories tell of settlers who stayed at Raymond's for a month or more while deciding where to stake their claim. No doubt many a land and home seeker, in the wilderness of that day, found much comfort in the enjoyment of Mr. Raymond's backwoods hospitality (Roots and Recollections: Raymond WI 1846-1996, Raymond Sesquicentennial History Committee & The Grassroots History of Racine County, Racine County Historical Museum, Inc., 1978).�

Raymond School was founded and built after the consolidation of three other schools in 1961. The three schools, Raymond Center School, East Cape School, and DeRemer school were all steeped in rich and proud tradition. In consolidating together in 1961 they created a slogan that reflects those rich and proud traditions. We proudly use it today: ��Ambition, Belief, Character

As long as people in the community continue to care about one another, to help one another, always for the good of the townspeople, we will be a cherished community for many years to come (Roots and Recollections: Raymond, WI 1846-1996).

We are raising future doctors, construction workers, lawyers, teachers, farmers, police officers, and so much more . . .��

What else, you ask?���

Citizens with character, members of society that embrace the sense of community and family, pillars that the rest of the world can lean on, children that come back home and as adults are proud to remember where they came from.��

It happens through the collaborative effort between citizens, school, and community���

It takes hard work, compassion, and involvement from the school and the community. The hard work is cultivated from a strong sense of pride, the compassion comes from people who love, and the involvement is derived from a community that cares.��

We think it is important because remembering and celebrating our history helps us to carry on the traditions that Raymond was founded on . . . ��

From the Town of Raymond website:��Raymond, Wisconsin was incorporated in 1846. Originally founded and named after Elisha Raymond, we have historically been an agrarian community with strong family and community values.�

From the Raymond School District Belief Statement: ��Creating a sense of respect and cooperation will produce responsible citizens��

And that is not all . . . ����

Raymond has a long history of taking care of its’ own���

The first thing Soren built (in 1886) after they arrived was a granary. He enlisted the help of a few of his Danish neighbors, including the carpenter Rasmus Larsen (Roots and Recollections: Raymond, WI 1846 to 1996, Raymond Sesquicentennial History Committee).

The big event of the year was threshing. The neighboring farmers would gather together to cut the grain. One would bring a threshing machine, sometimes two, and they'd all work together to get the crop in. The day would end with the big meal the women had prepared (Roots and Recollections: Raymond, WI 1846-1996).

In case of a fire, all hands came to help form bucket brigades. Whether a fire was started by lightning or by green hay combustion, neighbors would always help in any way they could (Roots and Recollections: Raymond, WI 1846-1996).�

They gave him a place to sleep and some breakfast. The next morning they hitched up the team, put a couple bags of seed into the wagon, and then drove around the neighborhood. It wasn't long before they'd collected enough grain for him to do his spring planting. People in those days helped each other out, even though they might not have much themselves (Roots and Recollections: Raymond, WI 1846-1996).

Our community has a long history of giving back���

The school burned down in the summer of 1889 and was rebuilt the same fall at a cost of $899.21. Henry Hunter was paid $130.00 for labor, the lumber was $318.76, the chimney $5.00 and the paint $20.00. To top it all off, a new stove and pipe cost $10.40 plus 50 cents for help to put it up (The Grassroots History of Racine County).

Charles Patterson built the belfry in 1914. The pupils of the school held a basket social to pay for the bell and it called the children to class until 1934 (The Grassroots History of Racine County).�

"In the spring of 1920, William Sorenson was building a barn on his farm back in the field about one mile west of Highway U on Highway K. A group of some thirty farmers were there for the barn raising. Word came that a fire had broken out at Henry Olson's Meat Market at North Cape. The men left immediately for the fire. There was no fire engine at that time. They took cans of water and pails with them. A lady nearby brought her soapy wash water over. The building was saved (The Grassroots History of Racine County, Racine County Historical Museum, 1978).

These are the traditions that live on here, in our school and in our community���

This is why we call Raymond home. ��Welcome home.���