User:Kmnrr1/Oak Mound Consolidated School

Oak Mound Consolidated School was a public 1-10 school with its location in Kragnes Township, Clay County, Minnesota. Built in 1913, the school was renowned for its size and ultra-modern features compared to other rural schools during its years of operation.

History

Clay County School District No. 78 was organized in Kragnes Township on 3 Apr 1895. A one room schoolhouse, typical of the era, was erected that year. It sat on Capt. William and Louisa Newcombe’s land in the SW corner of the SE ¼ of section 29, Kragnes Township. Neighboring district No. 106 was organized in 1901 and was named “Oak Grove School.” That schoolhouse was built in the NE corner of section 6 in Oakport Township on the Alfred Olson farm. District 78 was known as the “North School” and District 106, the “South School.” In 1900, the North School was moved to the SE corner of the NE ¼ of section 30 in Kragnes Township, on John Vinton’s land. The playground was located to the direct south on Jacob Nelson’s land. These two schools continued to function separately over the next 12 years.

   On 15 Feb 1912, Rev. Fred A. Stever, pastor of the Oak Mound Congregational Church rounded up numerous farmers of the community and organized the “Oak Mound Farmers Club.” This was the first club of its kind in Clay County and likely the Red River Valley. A majority of the club’s charter members were also members of Oak Mound Church. As rural school consolidation was being discussed statewide at this time, the club discussed the building of a consolidated school near Kragnes.

A meeting was held on 12 Jun 1912. 20 residents of districts 78 and 106 took a straw vote concerning consolidation of the two districts. It was decided to look into the legal process of school district consolidation. On 15 Oct 1912, another meeting was held at the District 106 schoolhouse. An official vote was taken and 27 people voted unanimously that districts 78 and 106 consolidate. The new district was named “Consolidated School District No. 78.” As a result, the mill rate in District 78 rose from 2.5 to 23.7 in 1913.

The first school board was organized on 12 Nov 1912. The initial members consisted of Ole M. Steen, President; John T. Gee, Clerk; Charles Fossay, Treasurer; Alfred Olson, Martin W. Gee and William G. Gilbery, Directors. Mr. Steen later resigned and was replaced by Mike Higgins. These men were not only administrators, but also problem solvers and repairmen who served without pay. The members of Oak Mound Church were largely responsible for the building, operating and maintenance of the school. The entire original school board members were also members of the church.

The first project of the school board was to take on the task of erecting a new school building. On 13 Mar 1913, bids for the construction of the school were opened at the Hancock Bros. offices in Moorhead. Charles Anderson of Anderson & Smeby Construction Co. was the lowest bidder. He was awarded the contract and was to build the school at the cost of $15,000. A 3½ acre lot for the schoolyard was purchased from Mrs. Louisa Newcombe and Martin and Jennie Gee in the NW ¼ of section 32, Kragnes Township at the cost of $400. The site was to the direct south of Oak Mound Church.

As construction on the school began, Mike Roebuck and Oscar Danielson hauled bricks from Kragnes by horse and wagon. Glass for the building’s many windows was imported from Fargo. One load overturned enroute to the building site and resulted in a great deal of glass breakage. Mike Steen was hired to drill a well for $200. The Fargo Plumbing and Heating Co. was paid $1000 to install plumbing. In addition to the construction of the building itself, purchasing a lot and drilling a well among other things cost an extra $1,950.68, raising the total expense of the building and site to $16,950.68.

The first annual meeting of the consolidated district was held at the school on 19 Jul 1913. There was $657.34 in the treasury combined from the two old districts. A taxation of $4950 was approved by the school board. It would cover expenses such as teachers wages, fuel, interest on bonds, and bus driver salaries. Bonds were issued to the state of Minnesota to cover the cost of the school building.

An exceptionally modern school for its day, the building was equipped with electricity, telephone, toilets, drinking fountains, running hot water and a coal burning furnace, which provided hot water heat. These were powered by a 32 volt Delco Electric Light Plant in the basement, powered by a gasoline engine. A piano was also part of the school’s initial equipment. These luxuries of the building made it one of the few in the community with plumbing or electricity. The building layout consisted of a basement, first and second floors, and an attic. Newspaper articles of the time described the new school as the “one of the best of its size in the state”, and that it “occupied the most beautiful site of any school in the state.”

The school building was completed in the late summer of 1913. It was officially named the “Oak Mound Consolidated School”, as it was located on a mound of bur oak trees, native to the area. It was the sixth known organization in the community to take on the name, “Oak Mound.” It was also the second consolidated school built in Clay County, following the Comstock School that was built in 1909. Eventually the area in which the school and church were located became known as “Oak Mound, Minnesota.”

The community was justly proud of their new school and celebrated its completion by holding a dedication banquet. Minnesota Governor Adolph O. Eberhart was among the many guests present at the dedication.

Classes began on 15 Sep 1913, with four teachers who taught grades 1-10. Enrollment averaged around 50 students throughout the years, although the school had closer to 100 pupils in its early years.

The first teachers were Sophie Mathison, Leonora Erickson and Hannah Kaldahl. Their salaries ranged from $60-65 a month. Mr. Severt O. Tang was the first principal and had resigned from the Comstock Consolidated School to take up work at Oak Mound. John Nelson who lived ½ mile north of the school became the first janitor for $45 a month. As this school was a modern one for its day, several students from the Oberg and Brendemuhl Schools in Kragnes Township and even students from North Dakota were redistricted to attend Oak Mound.

Three horse-drawn wagon buses manufactured by Studebaker were purchased for $734. Likewise, three drivers hired to transport the children to school. Three sleighs were purchased from August G. Anderson for eased travel during the winter months. The first bus drivers were Gust Gunderson, George Boulton and Jacob Nelson. Their monthly salaries ranged from $50-55. Many other local farmers were employed as bus drivers over the years.

The former district 78 and 106 schoolhouses were soon moved by means of steam engine to the Oak Mound Schoolyard. It was originally intended to use the buildings as a residence for the teachers. In time, they were both used as garages to house the wagons and sleighs. The teachers boarded with various members of the school board.

Manual training (shop) and cooking classes were included in the original curriculum. In those days, the grades were grouped and met in three main rooms. The lower grades (1-3) occupied what eventually became the student teachers’ living quarters. The intermediate grades (4-6) met in what eventually became the lower grade rooms. The seventh, eighth and high school grades held their classes upstairs. The side classrooms were also in use then.

Mr. Tang was principal for only one half year. He later became county superintendent of schools. In February 1914, he was replaced by Aufin Brandvig, who served the remainder of the school year for $100 a month. Mr. Thomas E. Riley became the third principal of the school in the fall of 1914. During this time, a very active group of young people organized a club that put on plays. They were widely attended by the community and were performed in the assembly room of the school. The comedy “What Happened to Jones” was a successful performance done by the club. One of the plays was presented in Moorhead at the lyceum.

Rev. Eugene C. Ford of the Oak Mound Church organized the “Oak Mound Singing Society” in 1915. A community and church organization, this choir practiced on Friday evenings at the school and had between 50 and 60 members in its prime. Charles Hain was President of the society; Mrs. Jennie Gee, Vice President; Miss Olga Olson, Pianist; and Rev. Ford, Director. They performed regularly at the church and school. At the suggestion of Rev. Ford, the choir produced “The Galilean” for Easter on 4 Apr 1915. The assembly room of the school was packed with the largest crowd ever drawn in for a religious service at Oak Mound during that era.

Upon the building of the school, the Oak Mound Farmers Club began hosting their annual 4th of July picnics in the schoolyard. As many as 300 people attended this event which included a picnic, car racing, guest speakers, dancing, a baseball game and other recreation. A blizzard in 1917 forced 100 people to spend the night in the school after the Farmers Club annual meeting of which 200 had attended.

During WWI, many American communities contributed to the war effort by organizing local chapters of the Red Cross. In 1917, community members filled the school to its capacity and organized the “Oak Mound Red Cross Society” with the assistance of Attorney William Russell and Rev. Dwight F. Mowery of Moorhead. There were 27 charter members, with Martin Gee, President; Mrs. Mary Nelson, Vice President; and Miss Etta Swanson, Secretary-Treasurer.

In 1922, teachers of the school and Oak Mound Church women began teaching a weekday religious school at the church. Students would walk from the school to the church every Wednesday or Thursday for religious instruction. They largely increased the size of Oak Mound Sunday School and put on many programs to the benefit of the parishioners and parents. Instrumental in carrying out this religious instruction were Misses Esther Nelson and Olga Steen, Mmes. Amy Fobes, Hertha Gee, Kay Fossay and Judith Larson.

An annual event of the Sunday School was Children’s Day. It was held every May and marked the end of another year of Sunday School. The church was always packed and folding chairs were usually needed to accommodate everyone. The church service consisted of a program put on by the Sunday School children. Afterwards, a community potluck lunch was held at the school and was followed by a game of baseball and other recreation. This was one of the most largely attended events of the church and school and continued on for many years.

In 1925, Oak Mound School became affiliated with Moorhead State Teachers College (now MSUM) and began a student teacher training program. Practice teachers would come in six week periods, and would room and board at the school. Annie (Peterson) Nelson (Mrs. Fred Fredrickson) was hired as the first cook. With the addition of a cook, the regular teachers and janitors also began living at the school.

A flagpole was constructed on 18 Apr 1929. Students, teachers and the workmen who constructed the pole deposited a time capsule containing names and other memorabilia in the pole’s foundation.

In 1930, the Whist Club seeked permission to use the manual training room for their meetings. Permission was granted by the school board. In addition to playing cards, the club also practiced and performed three-act plays, in which they invited the community to come and watch at the school.

The horse drawn wagon buses went out of use in about 1930 or ‘31. They were replaced by automobiles and eventually motorized buses. As late as 1936, they were used in the spring when roads were too muddy to accommodate motor vehicles.

Throughout the years, the school remained a focal point in the community. For many years, there was some sort of activity taking place every Friday night. Dances became a popular event. After interest of P.T.A. meetings declined, the “Oak Mound Community Club” was organized and was an active community organization for many years. Farm Bureau and Farmers Union also held their meetings there. Many of these groups met on a certain Friday of the month on a rotating basis with the others.

The Oak Mound Church held countless potlucks, suppers and church anniversaries on the 2nd floor of the school. Their annual meetings and Oak Mound Ladies Aid meetings were also held there as well. Card parties, birthdays and anniversaries of community members were other popular events held at the school.

The Oak Mound 4-H Club was organized in 1932 as the “Oakport Willing Workers Club.” Another club named Oak Mound was organized in 1934 in Kragnes Township. Both of these clubs began meeting in the Oak Mound School as their membership increased. The Oak Mound Club dissolved around 1940-41 and the Oakport Club took on the name of “Oak Mound” and they continued to meet at the school. School students were largely involved in 4-H with the assistance of parents and teachers.

Although it can’t be said exactly what years the school offered tenth grade, grades were reduced from 1-10 to 1-8 in 1938. The high school students were now transported to Moorhead. During the 1930s and ‘40s Oak Mound School students participated in various county events held for rural schools such as music festivals and Play Days. An Oak Mound Softball Team was organized and they held a series with the Averill School for many years. Oak Mound won most of the games.

On 15 Mar 1941, a snowstorm blew the bell tower off the roof of the school. It wasn’t replaced and the portion of the roof it occupied was shingled over. It can be seen in older pictures of the school.

Oak Mound Church began a building renovation project in 1948. As the extensive remodeling was being completed in 1950, church services were held at the school. Re-dedication services were held on 10 Sep 1950, followed by a supper at the school.

In 1951, the Wednesday/Thursday School was discontinued, although many school students continued to attend Oak Mound Sunday School.

The school’s relationship with Moorhead State Teachers College ended in 1952. There was no cook and now only one teacher who provided her own residence. For the last five years grades were reduced to 1-6. The district consolidated with several others to form Independent School District 152 in 1956. The last school year at Oak Mound School was 1956-57. Mrs. Bertha Mondry was the last teacher.

Following the school’s closing in May 1957, the building was purchased by Kragnes Township for $1 and it became their township hall. Kragnes Township Board meetings were held at the school, and the Oak Mound 4-H, Church and Community Club continued to meet there for some time. The community club’s activities included potlucks, card playing, and dancing. At one time, they were meeting once a month and also held New Year’s Eve parties. The wall separating the two east classrooms on the first floor was removed to make room for community functions and the second floor was put out of use to cut heating expenses in the winter.

Among the school’s many alumni, perhaps the most famous students are Aviatrix Florence Klingensmith and Congressman Arlan Stangeland. Klingensmith was born Florence Gunderson and attended Oak Mound School. Her father Gust was one of the original bus drivers and also a janitor at the school. Florence went on to become Clay County, MN and the State of North Dakota’s first licensed female aviator. She became famous and was acquainted with Amelia Earhart. Her career was cut short when her plane crashed in 1933 at the National Air Races in Chicago. She is buried in the Oak Mound Cemetery.

Stangeland grew up at Oak Mound and attended school there. In 1976 he was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, representing Minnesota’s 7th District from 1977-1991. He passed away in 2013.

In 1967, Judge Saetre of Moorhead approached the township board with the plan of turning the school building into a home for delinquent boys. He was turned down.

Oak Mound Church members voted to add a full basement under the church in 1967. As the church was raised and construction began, church services were once again temporarily held in the school. Upon the basement’s completion, the church no longer held events at the school. As interest declined, Children’s Day in May was reduced to a potluck lunch in the church basement with no baseball game or picnic at the school.

Around 1970, the Oak Mound Community Club discontinued their activities at the school. Also around this time, the Oak Mound 4-H Club began meeting in the Georgetown School, and eventually the Georgetown Community Center. In 1971, Marvin Hartke moved on the schoolyard and lived in a mobile home.

In 1982, the Oak Mound 4-H Club began planning for their 50th anniversary. The club’s Community Pride Project for that year was restoring one of the horse-drawn wagon buses from the school. This particular bus had sat in the courtyard of the North Junior High School (now Robert Asp Elementary) in Moorhead. One Sunday in January 1982, they removed the bus with Kevin Reski’s crane and began the restoration process. The bus had seen some deterioration over the last several years. After several months of work, the club finished the restoration process.

Their efforts were a success and they proudly displayed the bus at the Oak Mound 4-H Club’s 50th anniversary celebration on 11 Jul 1982. A church service, followed by a turkey barbecue and program were held at the Oak Mound School. Somewhere between 250-300 former club members and community members attended. Amongst the visiting, movies, slides and pictures of the Oak Mound Club were shown in the school. Horses were harnessed to the restored bus and everyone got a chance to ride the “Mascot” of the event. Two of the wagon buses and one of the sleigh buses from Oak Mound are now on display at Bonanzaville in West Fargo.

Around 1992, the school and yard were sold and the building was to be torn down. A 13 member reunion committee was organized and an all school reunion was planned. The reunion was held on 12 Jul 1992 at the school. Over 240 former Oak Mound School teachers, students and their families attended the event. An outdoor church service was held, followed by a turkey barbecue at 12:30. A program was held at 2:00 p.m. with Bob Gee as Master of Ceremonies. An attempt was made to unearth the flagpole time capsule that had been laid in 1929. Only a chain, tire iron and bottle were found.

Cups bearing a picture of the school were sold to help cover expenses for the reunion. Eventually, the contents of the school were auctioned off. The building which had proudly stood as a center of the community for 80 years, was demolished in June 1993. A private residence now occupies the school site. The concrete nameplate that was mounted on the front of the school was removed and encased with bricks from the building. It was set in cement on the former site of the flag pole and was dedicated on Rural Life Sunday, 21 May 1995. A church service and potluck picnic were held in the schoolyard. A program followed, which included the christening of the monument. Over 70 people attended the dedication.

Plans for a final all school reunion of the Oak Mound School began in January 2014. A reunion committee of eight began planning the reunion, and the date was set for Sunday, 27 Jul 2014 at the former school site.

The day included a non-denominational church service, potluck and barbecue lunch and a program in the afternoon. Over 100 people attended the celebration. The Forum of Fargo Moorhead and several local TV news stations provided media coverage of the event.

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