DISTRICT NO. 61 REPLACES WITH A FINE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING OLD ONE THAT SERVED NEARLY HALF CENTURY
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Patrons, Pupils, School Authorities Join in Appropriate Dedicatory Exercises
Patrons, pupils and school authorities in District No. 61, six miles west and half a mile south of Lindsay, dedicated Tuesday evening their splendid new school building recently completed at a cost of $4,500 to replace the old structure which had served the district as its educational instuttion 47 years.
Constructed with forethought to the future when perhaps a two-room school will be desired, the new building is one of which the taxpayers of the district may well be proud. It is 40 by 26 feet in dimensions. On the main floor is the class room, 26 by 26; a well-equipped library room, 14 by 14, which will serve as a recitation room when the time comes to employ a second teacher; a cloak room five by 10, and a hall, five by 12. The class and library rooms are separated by a folding partition.
The blackboards are of slate, with a mat three feet wide along one side of the room for posting samples of the pupils' work. Lightin, ventilating and heating systems, as well as desks and other equipment are of the latest approved types for standard schools.
In the spacious basement are a large community room, a well furnished kitchen and the furnace and coal rooms. The community room and kitchen were appropriately "initiated" Tuesday evening when the ladies of the district served there an elaborate lunch to all the folks attending the dedicatory exercises.
The Dedication
The dedicatory exercises Tuesday evening at which Elmer L. Anderson, moderator, presided, included the singing of "America" by the audience; several numbers by the pupils under direction of the teacher, Miss Ruth Vaum--a flag salute, "School Days" and "America, the Beautiful"--two delighful readings by Miss Ellen Anderson, a former pupil of the district; reading of the history of the district by Elmer L. Anderson, and talks by Rev. Swanson of Newman Grove, city superintendent L.W. Nelson, of Newman Grove, County Superintendent Fred s. Lecron, of COlumbus, and by A.E. Swanson, director. A motion to thank the members of the building committee for their services was unanimously adopted. The committee included Elmer Anderson, A.E. Swanson and J. Albert Anderson, the members of the board, together with F.A. Jenson and Johannes Johnson.
Rev. Swnason took as his subject the name of the school, which is known as "The Golden Rule." He developed the thought that education without a conscience is a serious matter; that if people fail in morals they fail in education, and that through all education should be interwoen the teachings of the Great Teacher.
Superintendent Neslon declared a community was judged by its schools and churches and that the sentiment toward education could be judged by its school buildings. He expressed the thought that the real teacher teaches many things for the uplift of the child other than those things found in books.
County superintendent Lecron complimented the people of the district on their new, modern building, declaring that its influence would reach down through the years. He also stated that the greatest responsibility with which a school board id charged is the employing of a teacher. A fine building with a poor teacher is little better than no building at all. Money spent for education, he said, meant less money for courts and penal institutions. He illustrated this thought by citing the case of two young men who had not received the benefits of an education and who had comitted a crime that they would not have committed had they acquired a different outlook through education. It cost county and state more to prosecute them in courts than it would have cost to educate them.
Mr. Swanson spoke briefly, thanking the people of the district for their hearty cooperation with the building committee, stating that many dollars had been saved by the district through their help and suggestions.
History of District 61.
The history of District 61 as written by Elmer Anderson was as follows:
"In writing the history of District 61 I have been somewhat handicapped and it is somewhat of a hit and miss job as the director's records for the first 19 years have been lost and I have had to get what information I have from the pioneers and first pupils of this district and from the teacher's daily register, so I will not vouch for the correctness of the dates or information that I have gathered. Forty-seven years is a long time to remember facts as they happened. I doubt if any one of us could do as well 47 years hence in remembering the events as they happen at the present time. Mrs. John Bloomquist and Claus Peterson have helped me a great deal in gathering this information.
"In the years 1878 and 1879 a community school was held west of Salem Lutheran church in an old sod house owned by Cassin brothers, where the pupils of District 61 attended school if they could. The arrangement was not very satisfactory, it seems. So in the spring of 1880, District 61 felt the need of a school of its own. A record of the different meetings held in the district would in itself be an interesting book. But we must let our imaginations work there as we think of all the important questions that they had to decide--whether to build, where to build and what kind of building they would need. The county superintendent was here at least three times, if not more, to help in the all-important work.
Site Cost $3.
"In the month of August the district purchased one acre of ground from P.J. Oberg and wife for $3 for a school site. It may be interesting to us to know what kind of a deed the district had to this ground. It is a qui claim deed made out so that if this ground is not used for a school site it reverts to the grantor, his heirs and assigns. The deed was made out Aug. 31, 1880 in the presence of August Eckman and Lars Jacobson, and acknowledged before C.H. Blecher, justice of the peace.
"The building that was then built was 18 by 24 feet and the wok on it was begun as soon as it was possible to haul the material, which was hauled from Columbus by members of the district who had teams and wagons to haul with.
"John Swanson was boss carpenter, while members of the district gave what help they could. The building at that time was not finished, having no foundation nor plaster and having a temporary chimney. Still, it was ready so that school was opened that year Nov. 1, 1880, with Miss Alice E. McCutcheon as teacher and the following pupils, most of whom are known to us, enrolled for the first term: Anna Peterson Francisco, now in California; Emma Peterson Knudson, Boise, Ida.; Betsy Peterson Tomas, California; Jennie Knudson Gummerson, Fonda, N.M.; Mary Newman Nelson, Scottsbluff, Neb.; John BLomquist; John Dubia, Amanda Oberg Flink, deceased; Cassuis Dubia, Charlie Peterson, West Hill; Claus Peterson, Newman Grove; John Johnston, Otto Olson, Herrick, S.D.
This term of school started Nov. 1 and ended Jan. 14, 1881, as the winter became so severe that it was impossible for the children to continue. Mr. Peterson says he remembers positively that they just about froze to death before they quit school.
Had Vacation in Winter
"Who were the school board for the first term of school I have been unable to learn. The severe winters and harships were surely felt in those early days as one looks through the teacher's records after the first winter of school was held in the fall during September, October and November, and started again in april, continued through May, June and July, with vacation through the winter, while some terms were held in summer months only.
"In 1888 or 1889 the schoolhouse was plastered and the foundation and chimney were built by Nels Jenson, with Fritz Jenson, a member of the present building committee who was at that time 11 or 12 years old, as helper. 'Now,' one old timer said, 'We have a schoolhouse in real good shape.'
"It may be of interest to us to read the oldest school meeting minutes that we have on record now. They are minutes of the annual meeting held June 27, 1898 at 2 p.m. as follows: 'Moderator in chair. Minutes of last annual meeting read and approved. The report of the treasurer was read and auditing committee appointed. The auditors reported they had audited the treasurer's report and found same correct, $101.52 in treasury. N.P. swanson, John P. Anderson, auditing committee. Otto Wilson was elected moderator for three years. On motion it was voted to hav seven months of school during the school year, commencing first Monday in September and continuing two months, commencing first Monday in January and continuing three months: commencing first Monday in May and continuing two months. John A. Bergstrom to haul coal during school year for $2.25. Levy made, teacher fund, four mills; general fund, one mill. Motion made to adjourn. J.M. Carlson, director.'
School was now held for a number of year with a little repair work now and then until 1906. At the annual school meeting June 25, 1906, it was decided to build an addition of 12 feet to the west side of the old building and a sum of $350 was levied for this purpose. This work was done by Oscar Dahlman, the school board acting as building committee. The school board at the time was John P. Anderson, director; John P. Anderson, treaurer; Claus Peterson, moderator.
Roster of Teachers.
"The teachers who have served this district in the 47 years (I am giving their present names and addresses in as far as I know them): Alice E. McCutchen, 1880-2; Emma Eng Wychoff, May to July, 1883; Alice Lambert, 1883-4; Etta M. Whitcomb, 1884-5; Mary Heany, August to November, 1885; Eva Coffey Johnson, deceased, 1886-7; Bessie Bolton, April to July, 1888; Lizzie Wright, January to June, 1889; Olive Wright, 1890-1; Veda Northrup, 1891-2; Selma Johnson Eng, deceased, 1892-4; Hedwig Martenson, Denver, Colo., 1894-6; Anna C. Finch, 1896-7; Minnie Johnson Hamburg, North Branch, Minn., 1897-8; W.J. Cain, deceased, 1898-1900; Eulalia Swanson Stromquist, Palo Alto, Cal., 1900-2; Julia Hallgren Switzer, Norfolk, Neb., 1902-3; J.V. Olson, Newman Grove, 1903-5; Lucy Potter Hill, Monroe, 1905-6; Effie Olson, 1906-7; Agda Nelson Knutson, 1907-8; Ruth Becklund Lundeen, China, fall term, 1908; J.V. Olson, spring term, 1909; Cora Johnson Church, deceased, 1909-10; Daniel W. Anderson, Looking Glass, 1901-12; Selma Nelson Long, St. Edward, 1912-13; Bertha Anderson Gustafson, Dist. 61, 1913-16; Esther Nordgren Hoogner, Wakefield, 1916-18; Elinora Nelson, Chicago, 1918-19; Elmer E. Anderson, Dist. 61, 1919-20; Helen M. LeNoir Survace, Arizona, 1920-21; Shirley Dyar Orshek, Boone, Neb., 1921-24; Clara Nelson, deceased, 1924-26; Ruth Waum, our present teacher, 1925-27.
"The pioneers who came here in the '80s or earlier who are still living, are Mr. and Mrs. John Bloomquist, Newman Grove, 1876; Mrs. Gust Hallgren, Newman Grove, 1879; John Heany, Newman Grove, 1880; Mr. and Mrs. Frank Selander, Omaha, 1882. Those still living in District 61 are Mr. and Mrs. N.P. Swanson, 1885; Mrs. John Bergstrom, 1886; John P. Anderson, 1887.
Create Building Fund.
"From 1906 to 1923 school was held each year with no unusual occurrence except a little repair now and then. In 1923 a new thought seemed to be in the minds of the members of the district, as a motion was made and carried at the annual school district meeting to levy $1,700 for the school year, what was not needed for school expenses to be put aside as a sinking fund, so that when time was ripe for a new school building the district would have some money to start on. In 1924 this fund was started with $500 and a like sum has been set aside each year since then. At the annual school district meeting June 14, 1926 the question of erecting a new building was raised and the school board was authorized to post notices according to school law for a special meeting to vote on a levy for the purpose of building a new schoolhouse. this special meeting was called according to law July 19, 1926 and at this meeting 1 1/2 mills for a period of five years, or $3,574.80, was voted by a vote of 23 for and three against. A building committee of five was elected by the district, consisting of the present school board--Albert Swanson, director; J. Albert Anderson, treasurer, Elmer L. Anderson moderator--and Fritz Jenson and Johannes Johnson. A motion was made and carried that all details of building be left in the hands of the building committee.
"This building in which we are gathered this evening to dedicate to the use of educating the children of District 61 is a result of the activities of the foregoing committee. It is a building 26 by 40, with 12 foot ceiling, main part with grade entrance, full basement, modern heating and lighting building by Alex Johnson and Harry Farrar with members of the district working when they could, at an approximate cost of $4,500.
School was held for the first time in the new building Jan. 31, 1927 with the following pupils enrolled: Curtis Peterson, Irene Hallgren, Irene Jenson, Fern Anderson, Kenneth Peterson, Helen Larson, Aldgen Nygren, Loraine Swanson, Arthur Larson, Evelyn Hallgren, Donald Selander, Glenn Hallgren, Duane Selander.
"This is the best of my ability with the records and recollections available, the history of District 61 from 1880 to Feb. 8, 1927. May it continue to be a real fount of learning and a training school to help prepare its pupils to become useful men and women in carrying on their work in the world, wherever they may find it.[The Columbus Daily Telegram, February 11, 1927]