Strathcona Part Three - Centennial Series

 The children’s Sleuth Hunt ended last Friday.  Not only was this an enjoyable event for them, but also educational.  Perhaps some of the old timers remember the items the young people searched for, such as a salt box, a razor strap, and a pocket watch.  We marveled at the changes that have come about in just the past 50 years.  It was sad to see the activity, but we plan to do it again next summer. We appreciate the Roseau Dairy Queen’s assistance in making this a successful summer museum activity.

We have been working with the Minnesota Historical Society on a book they plan to publish next year called “Are We There Yet?”  If any of you have memories of vacationing in our area during the 40s and 50s, please contact the museum at 463-1918.

RCHS Focus of the Week

As with most parents, those who lived in Deer Township and Strathcona had the same desire to educate their children. 

“Deer Township organized School District # 50 in 1901 [organized July 8, 1901 according to “Roseau County School District Record Book”]. The first school  was held in the home of Perry and Lenny Johnson.  The first school board consisted of O. J. Christianson, Pete Johnson, and William Wood.  The first teacher was Blanche Johnson.

School records for SD# 57 [organized April 4, 1902, RCSDR] in Strathcona were found dating back to the 1903 -04 school year but the schoolhouse wasn’t built until 1905. A new school was built during the WPA days.

“District 75, also known as the Hagstrom School, was first mention[ed] in records August 1903 when a meeting was held to elect a school board. This board consisted of Anton Nelson, director; H. Sather, clerk and Chris Eystad, treasurer.  A log schoolhouse was built in 1904. A new frame building about 1919-20 by Sig Nelson’s father.  Anna Gustafson and John Hogan were two early teachers.  Among the early students were Archie Olson; Minne, Elmer, and Reuben Hagstrom, Sig Nelson; Jonas Stromlund, Ragnar and Sanny Strandberg, Nels, Carl, and Jonas Wicklund, and the children from families of Bystrom, Christianson, Christopherson, Haugen, Miller, Thompson, Jonson, and Larson.  The last year the school was in operation was 1947-48.  Mrs. Roy Gjovik was the teacher…

The Grass Lake consolidated school district came into being in 1947 when surrounding districts were consolidated into SD # 90JT. There was a school enrollment of about 45 pupils taught by two teachers.  One of the schoolhouses burned …in 1952.  Another building was purchased and moved.  School terms were only six months, divided into fall and spring terms because it was too difficult and cold to have school in the winter.

In 1904 there was a school located in section 5 Township 159 Range 41.  The teacher was F. M. Knepper, who taught a term of 5 months. 

A school was built in 1904 in section 32, Township 159 Range 41 on the shores of Grass Lake. This land belonged to John Homolka.

 “Another “homestead” school was near the Benwood Post Office.  Sydney A. Sherman invited neighboring young people to attend and conducted classes in his shack for $100 a term.  This was around 1903.  A new schoolhouse for this district, #77, was built in 1910.” (Strathcona Heritage, 100 years of Community Spirit)

Some items of interest about the Grass Lake School were told in “Footsteps in Education 1894 -1970.”

“During the first World War and in the period when the U. S. Army was in France, the Grass Lake School was a center for Red Cross activity.  Bandages, mitts, socks, scarves, and sweaters were made and brought to their centers to be prepared for shipment to the “doughboys” in France.  Many a man learned the art of knitting during this period.  No matter where people went they took their knitting with them.

“Perhaps one of the most exciting and most expensive happenings in Grass Lake district was [when the school burnt down in 1952.]  Mr. and Mrs. Johnie Forst were driving by the school when they noticed smoke and flames pouring from the school.  Guesses as to what happened was that, due to some fault in the installation of a new furnace, some automatic switch did not work properly. There was perhaps some joy among the 37 pupils who were displaced by the fire; but not for long because another building was purchased and moved in post-haste.”

Roseau County Museum Hours: Monday – Friday,  9 – 4.

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