Excerpts from: Hopes, Dreams and Memories – 100 years of Erskine History 1889 – 1989

The first school in Erskine was held in O.J. Branna’s house. Later a building on main street was used with Oscar E. Melsness as teacher.

In 1896 a small two-story, two-room structure was built on the northwest corner of the present school site. This “little red schoolhouse” was for thirteen years the basis of School District 230. Superintendent G.D. Aakhus, who selected and taught the school’s curriculum, also conducted classes in the old fire hall on the east shore of Lake Cameron. In 1901 the enrollment was 100 pupils.

A protest was filed in 1902 with the school board forbidding them from using the school house for Norwegian School.

It was not long before the residents of the district realized their building was too small. In 1909 the building was replaced by the present brick schoolhouse.

1899 School Reports

The following are a report of our city and surrounding schools.

As will be seen by the following report, the total enrollment of the city school is 61, and out of that number only 21 pupils have attended daily. Therefore we earnestly call attention of the parents, and request that they join the teachers in the endeavor to secure for the next month a larger daily attendance. It is only through the united efforts of parents and teachers that the children can be interested to attend regularly!

PRIMARY DEPARTMENT, Enrollment, 33.

The following have attended daily: Clara Roisum, Camily Johnson, Charely Gundy, Eddie Gundy, Oscar Nelson, Julius Eggen, Anna Bratton, and Arnold Kasser.

Synneve Hamre, Teacher.

GRAMMAR DEPARTMENT, Enrollment, 28.

The following pupils have attended regularly: Anna Olson, Annie Hanson, Autumn Kasser, Barbara Eggen, Carrie Olson, Emma Eggen, Harry Johnson, Isabell Kasser, James Bratton, Laura Eggen, Loren Dillon, Norman Zinn and Theodore Nelson.

N.J. Oridson, Principal.

[…from “Hopes, Dreams and Memories – 100 years of Erskine History 1889 – 1989,” page 13]

 

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In 1916 Supt. T.C. Engum and the school board were encouraging consolidation of three rural school districts, the Cronquist School #170, the Clementson School #269 and District #164 in Badger township, with the Erskine district #230. As can be seen from accounts of meetings held to convince the rural people of wisdom of consolidating, children also helped the cause. “One Monday afternoon the glee club girls enjoyed a glorious treat which Mr. Engum had prepared for them. At half past one Floyd Cronquist was at the school with a team and flat sleigh. They started from town with songs and shouts! First they went to the Clementson schoolhouse where the glee club rendered a few selections. They had the opportunity of listening to very interesting lectures given by Miss Anna Shellum, of the State Department of Schools, and Supt. N.A. Thorson on consolidation. Some of the pupils and Miss Benson, the teacher, served a very nice lunch. There was laughing, talking and eating! After this meeting the girls started for the Cronquist schoolhouse. They stopped at the Cronquist farm where they had super and enjoyed themselves with various amusements until the meeting was called at the schoolhouse. The girls sang two songs and everyone seemed pleased with the whole program. Miss Shellum and Supt. Thorson were the main speakers. The girls started for town singing “Home Sweet Home.” A more enjoyable time could not have been had!” In 1917 the schools consolidated and a $20,000 expansion and improvement was completed which included electricity and plumbing installation.

[…from “Hopes, Dreams and Memories – 100 years of Erskine History 1889 – 1989,” page 47]

 

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The school had its problems even in the “olden days” as can be seen from this 1921 article:

Something is Radically Wrong

“The first question that comes to our mind is, where do our boys and girls spend their evenings? Are they at home with the mother and family looking over their lessons for the following day? A visit to the school rooms would not indicate that they were very studious either at day or evening. Several of the teachers are complaining of their acts in the school rooms and they are at their wits ends to know what to do. At a meeting of the teachers and parents to be held at the school house next Wednesday evening some of these problems will be discussed and it is your duty as a parent to attend and learn where the trouble lies and help correct them if such a thing is possible. The teachers are willing to lend their influence, the school board will help correct matters and it is high time that the parents take a little interest and co-operate with them. Will you join hands with them, come the meeting on Wednesday evening and talk matters over?”

The meeting was held and as a result school authorities decreed that pupils in grades 7-12 were obliged to observe a 2-hour study period from 7:30 to 9:30 pm Monday through Thursday.

In November 1922 a move was started to dissolve the Erskine Consolidated School District. This was a hot issue, as can be seen from the report of the Polk County Commissioners meeting: “Last Tuesday evening the advance guard from here left for Crookston to attend the hearing on the school question which came before the commissioners the following day. Wednesday morning a small army of people from the village and country followed. The petitions ask that the consolidated school district be dissolved and that three small districts be organized outside of the village. Several of those who were in attendance made talks for and against the proposition, and in the course of the discussion very little was said that had any bearing on the case. Mostly personal matters were discussed, in many cases showing very poor judgment and things were said that have been regretted, we are sure. We understand that the commissioners have rendered their decision that the school district should be dissolved.”

The commissioners decision was appealed, and when State Representative B.M. Benson came home to help fight for the rural districts, he was condemned by the Appeal Committee for helping to wreck his home school.

In the spring of 1924 it was finally reported that the long drawn out school fight was settled when the Judge of District Court sustained the order of the county commissioners for the dissolution of the Erskine Consolidated School District.

Another school fight developed in 1927 when a special school election to decide on whether or not to build a gym was the issue. The gym was to cost no more that $9,3000.00 and the average cost per year to run the school was $11,427.00. Thomas Vollom was clerk, and he reported that the school had a surplus of almost $8,000.00 and would receive up to $13,000.00 in taxes and state aids, and therefore would have the gym paid for in one year. He appealed to the citizens to be farsighted, public-spirited and progressive so our village could be in the rank where it ought to be. His figures were not accepted by the committee of the opposition, however. They had their own ideas as to the condition of the school district, and their figures showed it to be almost $15,000.00 in debt. Evidently people sided with them at the time as gym proposition was defeated 137-87. Basketball games would again have to be played upstairs in the city hall which was then remodeled for gymnasium purposes. Ruth Koehler remembers when games were played there, the floor shook. The players had to run back to the school to shower and change clothes after the game.

“The Athletic Association seems to be up against it for a room for a gymnasium. After having made arrangements for the old church building for the season the owner has come forward and canceled the contract. We are told that the council may come to their assistance and allow them to use the upstairs of the village hall for a gymnasium which will be as good a room as can be had under the circumstances. What’s the matter with the people of the district putting their heads together and seeing that suitable house is built for this purpose?” – 1922 Echo.

[…from “Hopes, Dreams and Memories – 100 years of Erskine History 1889 – 1989,” page 73]

 

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Until the school gymnasium was built in the early 1930’s most school activities for the general public were held in the M.W.A. Hall. It was also used for political meetings, traveling road shows, basket parties, dances, and for innumerable other purposes when the expected assemblage of people would be greater than could be conveniently taken care of elsewhere in the village.

A vote was taken in the spring of 1930, which came out for the new gym – 159.

The next stop in completing a gymnasium was having bids put in by construction companies. Plans and specifications had been drawn up by Broaten & Foss Inc., from Fergus Falls.

The addition was completed in the early 1930’s, and would now be the site of many school and community events. Many basketball games were played by local businessmen, sometimes against farmers in the area and with merchants from surrounding villages. The money raised was usually used to improve the new building, such as stage curtains, or for community projects such as a skating rink.

Erskine was chosen to host many sub-district basketball games throughout the following years, even boasting as district championship team in 1938.

Even with all the disagreements involving the building of the gymnasium, it was a step made towards the future in Erskine.

[…from “Hopes, Dreams and Memories – 100 years of Erskine History 1889 – 1989,” pages 81-83]