Rushford High School - Valley Legend Yearbook (Rushford, MN)

Page 16 text:

After all legal matters, including the call for bids, had been taken care of, late in November, 1935, actual construction -was started. Work on the'building proceeded at a rapid pace, and on Friday morning, April 17, 1936 the laying of the corner stone, a traditional, ceremony accompanying the erection of any important building, was solemnized when Mr. M; Johnson, Chair- • man of the Board of Education,‘laid the'corner stone -f the ■ new school addit'on TK3 following p-ogram was given daring the coua e'e of th.) m:i i.rg s ioromony: Kister of Ceremonies....................Supt. J. T. Hanson Our School ........................... High School kBand Director, Everett 0. Goli Invocation ...... ....... J£ov. N. L. Otterstad Pastor, Rushford Lutheran Church Abide With Me ..................... High School Band Laying of the Cornerstone .......... Mr. M. Johnson Chairman, Board of Education Resume of Eloction and Building Events. • Supt. J. T. Hanson America ...... ............... Audience Accompanied by School Bapd „ Benediction .... «»«.« ..« «« Rev. N. L. Ottorstad Supt. J. T. Hanson, in the talk whioh he gave, spoko of the sevon cardinal objectives of Eduoetion, and explained that with the completion of the new building, it would bo stush easier to carry out theso objootivos, and that evory student who attends tho Rushford school is going to profit by the facilities .thus provided. Ho paid espocial tributo to tho people of Rushford, through whoso efforts the now building was undo possible. Although it was not fully oguipppd and the dedioation » -SNisis had not been held, tho new building was put to constant use throughout tho year. All basketball games woro held in it, fcho oporotta was presontod on the now stage, band concert and PTA moetings were held in it, and on March 3,4,5, and 6 it housed the hundreds of people who cano from far and near to the District Basketball Tournomant. On Thursday, March 18th, the Dedication Exorcises were hold in tho auditorium. Open houso was held during the aftor-noon for visitors and patrons, and in the evening the following program was presented:

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Real izing that an addition would have, to be 'builtf bo-sthc former chofl building, local authorities, in February, 1935 brought the proposed issue to the voters of the city in a special election to f.eterfniho if the necessary bopds could be sold. In the election residents signifipd by a large majority that thoy v cro heartily in- favor, of the addition, and bonds to the- extent of $30,000 were then sold, this sum . t being the amount that vras called for in the drawings by the architect, i • ' , ‘ • , 1 » • • i • Host unfortunately, however, difficulties were encountered as soon as bids'were-called Due to errors in the original drawings, the lowest bid submitted was for approximately $46,000, whereas the original sum voted was for only $30,000; Faced with this problem, local authorities were uneble to continue with the plans. They wore givep their -choice of doing two things, either calling for another bond election, or else applying to the Fodoral Government for aid through the Public Yi'orks Administration. They selected the latter -course, •• ’ . The application for aid was first sent in early in tho spring. No definite action scorned to be given tho application, although everything possible wc.c done to that end. 0n September 11, word was received that tho. project had been rejected by Harry L, Hopkins, fodoral director of the FV A, With that report, Rushfordites.practically throw away their last hope that any fbdoral aid v;ould bo given, I ’ ' . However, not daunted by this report, the Board of Education continued thoir efforts fop official sanction Thus, after months of delay, reports of refusal, and other expressions to the effect that' federal aid would not ho given to this city in tho construction of the proposed school addition, residents of Rushford wero surprised t9 extreme limits when word v.cJ? passed about that the Federal Government hud upproved the project and that fund3 amounting to $ 25,950 would be immediately allocated to this city.

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Vrc siding officer. ..... Superintendent Joseph T. Hanson1 Concert Music. . . .7:30-8:00.............Rushford School Band Director, Everett 0. Goli Invoctxt io»........................ Rev. George Stanley '■ Polish Folksong .......................... Byreoson Troharno Girls' Glee Club ..... Helon Brohaugh, Director Presentation of the Building . David L. Jacobson, Architect Acceptance for the District..................Mr. } . Johnson Chair-nan. Boar 1 rf Education A Moonlight Might . ..... .................. Gunnar Wecncrborg Boys' Glee Club ...... .Evorett Goli. Diroctor Dedication Address .............. Dr. John Gunderson Rockwoll Vigil ............................... F, Melius Christiansen Lixed Chorus ................ Helen Erohaugh, Director Groutings fron tho Alarmi.............Dr. Charles Ralph Drako America ........................................... Audi once Benediction, . ........................... Rev. George Stanley Instrumental Music....................... Rushford School Band Yihon tho walks have boon laid and tho landscaping about the building has boon completed, the toted cost of the now addition to the school will bo approximately £72,000. This will include aim st '.2,000 for legal costs and preliminary expanses, over $2,000 far tho acquisition af c. site, and approximately 04-000 for engineering, architectural and supervision foes. The throe min construction contracts. General, Heating and Plumbing, and Electrical, total almost $54,000, and equipment costs aro a little under1 $10,000. During the past fifty-five years, seven-hundrod o.nd seven students have graduated fram tho Rushford City Schools. These graduates, and other students who have attended here, havo been thankful to the pooplc of the community for tho educational opportunities which have bocn providod. Wo are not forgetful of the sacrifices which have been made and must bo made by the poopi f the School District in providing end maintain!' these better educational opportunities.