Marquette Elementary and Georgia OKeefe Middle School

1501 Jenifer Street, Madison, WI 53703

Total Enrollment:
Marquette: 241
Georgia OKeefe: 465
TESTING PRIORITY: LOW

ABSTRACT
The main sources of lead contamination in the garden would be from the remains of previously
used lead paint and leaded gasoline. The school was built in 1939, 35+ years before lead was
phased out of paint and gasoline. However since the building veneer is brick it is likely a
significant amount of lead paint was used only inside the building, not on the outside. Moreover,
the garden is located relatively far from the sort of roads most likely to have legacies of lead
contamination in adjacent soils. The origin of the soil used in the gardens is unknown. Based on
a site visit it looks as though some soil may have been imported and compost may be used. These
factors make it a low priority for testing, although testing is always recommended.

GARDEN CHARACTERISTICS
*This garden is shared by Marquette Elementary and Georgia OKeefe Middle School.
Garden Type: No information could be found at the moment.
Bed Type: The garden uses raised beds to hold the soil in place.
When Established: 2008
Size: There are 6 raised beds, each approximately 40 square feet. From a site visit,
it looked as though some gardening has possibly been done on the bare ground next to the
box plots. This area is approximately 100 square feet.
Location on School Grounds: Between Marquette Elementary and Jenifer Street
Soil Type/Soil Origins: From a site visit, it looks as though some of the beds have
dark soil as if it was bought. But the exact soil type and origin is uncertain.
Mitigation Used: Raised beds and possibly compost. There is a compost bin on
site but no information was given if it is spread in the raised beds as a mitigation strategy.
Previous soil testing: No information found at the moment.

NEARBY LAND USE

Major Roads: East Washington Ave.
According to aerial photos, East Washington Ave. was present in 1942 (although was probably
present earlier). Lead gasoline was used in cars that frequented East Washington until lead was
phased out of gasoline which may have been as late as 1996. The four roads bordering the school

site are Jenifer Street, S. Thornton Avenue, Spaight Street and N. Dickinson Street. These roads
have been present as of 1942 as well.
Currently, single and multi-family homes surround the school. There are little to no industrial
sites near by.

PAST SITE USE

The certainty of previous land use before the school was built is uncertain. It is assumed to be
farmland and/or undeveloped.
CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION
Originally Geogia OKeefe Middle School was called Marquette Jr. High School and this
original section of the schools (located on S. Thornton Avenue and Spaight Street) was built in
1939. Based off aerial photos, a portion of the Marquette Elementary building was built between
1939 and 1962. The last portion of Marquette Elementary was built sometime after 1976.
BUILDING MATERIALS
The buildings are made out of brick and mortar. Therefore, it is unlikely a significant amount of
lead paint was applied to outside walls and leached into soils. It is likely that lead paint was used
inside the building since it was built before lead was phased out of paint.