About

Our first schoolhouse was built of round logs and covered with a dirt roof. The size of the room was twelve feet by fourteen feet. The floor was made of logs that were cut in half the long way, and set on the floor, round side down. A table was provided, lengthwise across the building with wooden benches on either side for seats. Students sat facing each other across the table, which was three and a half feet wide. When inside this building, it was possible to touch the roof from any point inside. The teachers name was Mrs. Smith. She was to receive one dollar a month for every student that she was teaching. There were fifteen students, and the schooling continued for about two months during the fall and winter seasons. This began the first educational institution in Southeastern Otter Tail County. As there was not enough money to pay the teacher, the patrons of the school paid the teacher by donating vegetables and whatever articles could be spared. The district was organized May 19, 1871. The log house served as the school until 1883 or 1884, when it was replaced with a frame structure, later remodeled into the Johnson home. Next, a vote was taken on bonds of $8,000 to build an addition to the old building. The records show that it was mostly done around 1905. In 1927, a new addition, including a gym and four classrooms was built. Another addition was built in 1940 including a new, larger gym, showers, dressing rooms, shop, home economics room, and several other classrooms. A separate elementary school was constructed in 1957, and there were additions to the high school building for a music department, and an Ag. Department. Another addition was added to the high school in 1968. This consisted of a new boiler room, a large gym, locker rooms, library, offices, a science department, and two more classrooms