“I looked up the address for your dojo and it seems to be a house? Is that right?” “Yes, that is correct!”.

This is a common question that is asked when new students find the dojo on the internet. Umineko Dojo is in Caledonia, Wisconsin and is literally located within an old school house that used to be called the Sands School. The earliest the site was built on was in 1839 and re-built in 1844. In 1906, it was re-built again for $2,000. The school was renamed the Burbank School in 1918 then remodeled again in 1940 for $10,000 complete with a large auditorium, bathrooms, and kitchen in the basement.

Around 35 students would attend classes there and attendance continued to grow throughout the 19th Century. The school had students of all grades attend classes there. The school had a radio but no television at the time it was active. The backyard expands to almost two acres and had children’s playground equipment and even, at one time, a complete baseball diamond. When it was too cold outside or there was bad weather teachers would instruct students on dance or play other games inside within the auditorium. Burbank School officially became a part of the Racine Unified School District in 1961. When the school closed in 1966, the building continued to be used as an educational facility. The auditorium of the Burbank School was the social center of the community and acted as a Community Center. Different groups within the local community met there to carry out their activities – everything from a farmer’s Club, playing piano and singing, dinner events, playing card parties, public speaking, fundraiser bake sales, to one-act plays on the stage.

In 1975 it was used as offices. Some time thereafter it was extensively remodeled by Tom and Mary Holsten who remained owners until 2018 when it was sold to Louis Arroyo Sensei and his family. In 2010 a school reunion was held with more than 125 former students and staff in attendance who traveled from as far as Hawaii to attend.

Umineko Dojo is proud to maintain this property and grateful to have a genuine traditional dojo located in the auditorium where the building can continue to help people learn and develop themselves in martial arts. Dojo students enjoy the privacy of the property as well as class sizes and are happy training there. With a concrete nameplate above the front door displaying “Burbank School, District 7, 1940” and a brass plate commemorating teaching staff, the history of the Burbank School will not be soon forgotten.

Check out our below gallery of the school and dojo!