Harmony High School - Cardinal Yearbook (Harmony, MN)

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Tollkf Sanmkusuk N. X. Helle iitiarfo uf Eburatinn K. W. Fust L. O. BAUCiKN, Secretary A. H. Daniels, President . N. Thundaijs, Treasurer

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(Our District Number Forty (formerly known as District Number Twenty ) was organized during the pioneer days of the early lifties. |l was the twentieth to be formed in Fillmore County and although a great many more have since been organized, it has always ranked among the first in educational affairs. In the minutes of the first annual school meeting, held in 1859, we find this interesting information: RRSoi.vrd, That ihree months of school shall bo hold by a qualified male teacher who shall recieve not more than twelve dollars a month: said teach rr shall receive what money shall be drawn from the county treasurer as so.m as ll .h availau.c i.n l fo: the l aiar.ee of his salaiyfif any) he shall wait until Oct. 1st. isiJO, without interest. Said teuchorsha.l board free of charge with the parents or guurdlans of the children attending school, according to the number of children sent, and it is further made the duty of parents and guardians, sending children to school, to furnish their children scats and desks and ull othor necessaries and also to furnish n snfllcicnt amount ot wood, froo of chargo to the district. Francis J. Craig. Clerk. In 18'»9, fifty seven were in attendance in the first school house. The attendance increased rapidly as young men and young women, with the children, found that the school was a profitable place to spend a few hours each day during the winter months. In 181J4. a small frame school house was built east of Greenfield Church. Many of our prominent citizens attended this school. Among those who taught it are found the following: M. A. Maland, 1872: Ida Ferris. 1S72: Tollef Sanderson, 1874: Nellie Gnuatad, 1878; Maria Adams, 18S2: o. .1. Wolsted, 1ks2: Nettie Dean, 1 83: L. E. Goss-man, 1883; I . Ii. I lamer. 1884. The foundation of Harmony had been laid and the pioneers, realizing its favorable surroundings, saw fine prospects for a thriving village. After consideration it was decided to build a two-story school house here. This building.which is a part of Arlington Hotel, faced the cast toward Main Street. In the lower room Miss Farrell taught the primary grades. Under her care seven of this year's graduates received a thorough start and a good foundation for the work which has followed. § rluml 9 The building was lighted by windows on the north and south. The rooms were heated by large stoves, placed in the center of the room. The teacher generally served as janator, or kept the troublesome boy busy by allowing him to carry in the big sticks of wood. The stove in the upper room was surrounded by a galvanized iron jacket, and most of the Seniors can remember the sensations resulting from roasting cheeks and cold f ? t. The following were principals in this building: VV. 11. C . Dux-bury, 1HXH: .1. H. Diixburv, 1887: -I. D Stout. 1888: R. VV. fi. Vogen-itz. IKS!): S. C. Vordale, I89; : K ;. Voshurgli, 18»H: VV. K. i;Um-mings, 1892; ,J. T. Keppel, 1893; Walter Cooper, 1MM: .1. F. Jones, 1895. The attendance ranged between KH and 143. In 1895 a small building in the north part of town was rented and used as a school room, because of tin crowded condition of the school house. In this building, which the pupils spoke of as the •'school in the sink hole,” Rupert Barnes instructed the intermediate grades. Ibis same year many plans were made to provide room for the increasing attendance. After due consideration the voters decided to build a four room building on what is the present site. This site contains one and a half acres and far • » Main Street. F. VV. dates was the lirst principal in the new building. Three rooms were used in 189i, but in the following year the fourth room was furnished and the fourth teacher hired, with J. F. Jones as principal. In 19JJ C. F. R!ford introduced sum.» high school work. It was not divided, however, from the grade work and because of disadvantages was not. recognized as of importance until the following year, when 0. (i. Selvig, the present superintendent, became principal. 1 hat same year a lifth teacher was engaged, and a lirst year high school class was organized and instructed in connection with the eighth grade. I hat year the attendance increased to -1)5 and more room became an imperative necessity.

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(Our Id the summer of HM2. the oastern half of the present building was constructed, the other part was somewhat remodeled,and a steam heating: plant was installed to heat the entire building. The first Hoor of the addition was divided into two large airy rooms, which are now occupied by the fourth to the seventh grades. These are model school rooms, being lighted from one side, and are pleasant and well ventilated. On the upper floor is a large high school assembly room having seating capacity for about sixty five students. It is lighted from t he east. The walls of the room are daintily tinted, which makes it a pleasant room indeed. Adjoining this room is the library and reading room, and the superintendent’s office. The reading room is furnished with a large table, magazine rack, shelves and book cases. Magazines, periodicals, two daily papers, and the county papers are kept on lile. In the library are about 700 volumes of reference material and general reading The north room of the original building on this floor was divided into a class room and a laboratory room. The laboratory contains apparatus and facilities for the study of sciences. The south room is used by the eighth grade. The primary and intermediate grades are in the four rooms on the first floor. Miss Langum has charge of the first room: Miss ('halfanl, of the second; Miss Winter has part of the fourth and the fifth grade in the n- xt room, while Mrs Bakke has charge of the sixth and seventh grades in the fourth room. The eighth grade students have Miss Franklin as teacher. otImmI • The students of the high school are pursuing either the Latin or the Literary course. The greater number take the former This year a large number of students have taken German. The present enrollment of th-high school is lifty-on . In 15). 1 there were eleven enrolled. The total enrollment of the school has increased from 1SU to 'J7l during the same period. The records show there has been a marked increase in the regularity of attendance, also. Boiler tc'lml-arship has resulted and with this greater elfleiejey. It whs said not long ago. “It will lx a proud day when the School can present the first class of graduates, who will have iinish-ed at Harmony the regular Minnesota High School Board requirements for graduation. That day has arrived A class of nine, the first class, has completed the course. For this reason, the year nineteen hundred and live marks an important epoch in the history of the Harmony school. The school has never had so large an attendance. The work in the grades shows progress. In the high school there is a strong .Junior class that gives promts: of future achieve-mem and the Sophomore and Freshman classes will not tail to take their steps upward. The school has enjoyed a steady growth and progress in the pa t. It has before it a promising future. With the best of teachers at the head of it. with promising pupils through out the depart-men is, with a painstaking board to care for it, and with the people of the district earnest in effort to advance the interests of their school, our beloved school will ever grow in usefulness and strength.