| A History of STRUM and the TOWN OF UNITY by Roy Matson |
| THIS IS PAGE 26 | TABLE OF CONTENTS | PAGE BACK | PAGE FORWARD |
| building. Esten was paid 75 cents for a pail and broom that first year and his record as treasurer shows an expenditure of $60.80 for the second year. A broom and pail had then gone up a nickel. The purchase also included a “tin cup” for 10 cents. No pupil census is available now and Gilbert Dahl had no comment regarding those who attended except to mention that many youth took advantage of any opportunity to learn the new language. The annual meeting of district 8, town of Sumner, which was held September 25, 1871, had nothing regarding building expense but the 1872 meeting shows that $225.00 was raised to pay debts of the district. We find that Sam Hogue received $3.20 for a stove and pipe. $1.60 was spent for the clerks book and he received $20 for boarding the teacher. The 3rd annual meeting has a list of 19 taxpayers and their wages for working on the school building. Amounts from $1.87 to $4.12 are listed for these men and $10 is the cost of freighting lumber from Osseo. Again, Esten had a bill for a tin cup, tin pail and a broom totaling 80 cents. The cost of the lumber was $61.72. Even Evenson was elected clerk in 1874. An interesting note reads that $100 was to be raised to straighten the school house. There was still no mention of any expenditure for books. Then in April, 1875 we have a move to rebuild the school and to place the building near the northwest corner of the SW1/4 of section 28. This immediately awoke the taxpayers in the west valley (Rognlien Valley) and at a special meeting in June of that year there was a move to build in the “center” of the district, the southwest corner of the NE1/4 of Section 29. Evenson evidently had the meeting well organized because the move was approved. The school was built in the next two months, plastered and ready at a cost of $206.81. At the 1876 annual meeting we find the first expenditure for school books. $18.27 was sent to the Skandinavian, a norwegian daily in Chicago. Also, on December 28, 1876, Ole Thomasgaard and John Rice earned $4.50 for building a toilet. Isabelle Torbler was the first teacher mentioned, Hattie Thompson the next. Both received orders of $12 and $14 per month respectfully in 1876. The annual meeting of 1878 was first in the town of Unity. The Johnson Valley school was now District #4. $20 was spent for wood in 1879. Nels Kleven was clerk and his clear handwriting continues for several terms. Teachers during the 80’s were Iver Peterson, Edgar Nevin and Ingeborg Ness. The latter lived in Carter Valley and walked each school day, rain or shine, from her home to the Thomasgaard farm, then across fields to the southwest corner of Nels Kleven’s farm, and then to the school. Annual meetings always decided on a two term school year, usually beginning the first of October, a winter vacation and another term beginning in June. During the late 1880’s there was a move to have male teachers and D. W. Maloney taught in 1889. Also in that year Severt Rekstad, A. Larson and Hans Hammer were elected to plan a new school building to be located in the southeast corner of the northeast quarter of section 29. Possibly the valley road which followed a section line north to the cemetery had been relocated for easier travel by that date. The building site was adjoining the road on the east. A special meeting was held in November, 1889 when plans for a 22’x32’ building with a 12’ ceiling were presented. The footing stone was to be furnished by Allen Anderson at $5.00 per cord. Paul Christopherson bid 56 cents per thousand for hauling lumber from Strum. The old building was sold to Allen Anderson for $31.50. The railroad was in operation by the next spring but no lumber yard had yet been established. Sivert Rekstad had drawn the plans, traveled to Fairchild to place the lumber order and was paid $1.84 railroad fare along with a $1 hotel bill and $1.50 for his time. He was a pretty low-priced architect. The freight charge for the lumber was paid to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minnesota and Omaha RR Company on August 4, 1890. The building was similar to nearly all such rural schools dotting the countryside at that date. Nels Kleven’s details of costs are clearly |