  |
|
 |
|
History of McIntosh
Excerpts from "All School Reunion" McIntosh School District No. 192The first meeting was a special meeting held at the J.P. Johnson Store on June 11, 1889. The first school board was comprised of J.P. Johnson, Director; O.E. Stovern, Treasurer; and A. Gilmore, Clerk. The question of bonding the district to build a schoolhouse was discussed, and on July 2 the vote was taken and $500.00 worth of bonds were ordered issued. Work on the schoolhouse was begun in September of 1889. After a number of delays, school finally began November 7, 1889. Miss Hattie Bagne was the first teacher, $270.00 was appropriated for current expenses. At the first annual meeting the school terms were set. The salary to be paid the teachers was left to the discretion of the board, but was not to exceed $40.00! In 1892, a new and larger building was built where the present school now stands. In February of 1893 the school term began with two teachers. In 1897, the district was made an independent school district and has been a growing institution ever since. The first graduation was held in 1906 when a class of three received their diplomas. The members of this first class were Mae McCarty, Paula Haaven (Mrs. Martin Berg), and Ida Southmayed (Mrs. Henry Swenson). In 1950, Ida Southmayed attended and took part in the commencement exercises. A picture of the first graduating class is featured in the 1950 yearbook. In 1913, a new building, which is now the oldest part of the present school building, was built. The second addition, which comprised the present old gym and upper classrooms, was added in 1928. In 1936, the teacher training department, which had been an important part of the school system, was discontinued. After the State Department of Education established high school districts in 1938, the stage was set for consolidation of schools within each designated district. Since 1938, a few rural school districts had closed and sent their pupils to their respective classified school. By 1947-48, there were ten rural school districts that sent all of their students to the McIntosh School, and ten other school districts sent their high school students only. The rural school districts within the designated McIntosh High School area were: The Lindsay School District #131 and the Enerson School District #168 in Hill River Township; the Hill Side School District #159, the Voxland School District #162, The Edwards School District #172, and the Ramse School District #189 in Lessor Township; the Flaskerud School District #282 (this became District 1646 and did not close until 1964) in Brandsvold Township; the Husby School District #120, the Warderburg School District #139, the McCarty School District #163, and the Beito School District #122 in King Township; the Foot Lake School District #169 (which became District #1641 until 1958 when it closed), and the Oppegaard or Uggen District #128 (became School District #1634 in 1958) in Knute Township; and the Neset School District #177 in Sletten Township. In 1915, there were 203 school districts in all of Polk County; today there are 2. The other two are Climax and Fertile School Districts. Reorganization of the McIntosh School District began with an area meeting held in Crookston on May 29, 1951. During the week of October 15-20, 5 reorganizational meetings were held with 12 rural school districts. Henry Sorvig, Polk County Superintendent of Schools, participated in many of these meetings. The total school enrollment in 1951-52 had increased to 388 students with 151 resident students and 237 non-resident students in attendance. On December 14, 1951, the district voted on reorganization which passed by a vote of 139 to 8. A new school board was elected on January 28, 1952 and was composed of Harley Shurson, Chairman; Harvey Gustafson, Clerk; William Johnson, Treasurer; and Johnnie Oak, Gerhard Sonstelie, and Haldor Hegg, Directors. The school buildings in the closed rural school consolidate #s 172, 131, 177, 168 and 159 were sold to the highest bidder in September of 1952. No bids were received at this time on buildings in the former rural school district #s 120 and 189. In April of 1954, Haarstad-Lundgren Associates were retained by the school board as architects for the new proposed addition. They submitted building plans in September of 1954 which were accepted by the board. On October 14, 1954, the bond issue for 330,000 was voted on by the voters in the newly consolidated District #192. The referendum brought out over 535 voters who rejected the issue by a vote of 426-109. The next step was for the board to come up with a new plan that might be acceptable to the voters. On July 26, 1955, a second referendum was placed before the voters. It consisted to two parts. The first part was for classrooms only and involved the sale of $210,000 in bonds. The second part was for a gymnasium only and involved the sale of $75,000 in bonds. The classroom voters rejected the gymnasium portion of the referendum by a vote of 172-156. Because of the close vote on the gymnasium portion of the referendum, and the apparent need of including a new gymnasium portion of the referendum, a third bond issue was placed before the voters for a total of $65,000 or $10,000 less than the previous gymnasium referendum. The third referendum on the gymnasium passed by a vote of 303-266, and was augmented by a $11,000 gift from the C.M. Berg Estate given by Mrs. Gusta Berg to be used in the building fund. The sale of bonds was finalized in January, 1959, with Piper, Jaffrya, and Hopwood of Minneapolis as the successful bidder. David H. Olson Comp. of Minneapolis was the general contractor, Hanson Electric of Clearbrook was the electrical contractor, and Mervin Hough of Bagley was the mechanical contractor. The total of the low bids was $251,000. Construction began as soon as weather conditions permitted. The new addition as well as a new hot-lunch kitchen, which was reconstructed from the girls old locker room, was first used in January of 1958. […from the “All School Reunion” (red) book, pages 3 - 4. Not shown is the list of superintendents, principals, and teachers on pages 6 - 8.]
School History from 1889-1934(Note: This article by Beatrice Sabourin was printed in one of the issues of the Microphone.) During the 45 years of the existence of the McIntosh Public School, the school has progressed greatly and increased from an enrollment of 46 to its present enrollment of over 300 students. 1889-Mclntosh's first public school conducted in the building which is the present Baptist Church. 1892-A new and larger building was built on the site of the present building. 1902-Primary grades were taught by Miss Marie Albert, now Mrs. J. Holton. The enrollment of 65 included 13 Johnsons. Some of the members of Mrs. Holton's early primary classes included: Alice Burt, Eva Stovern, Ira L. Haaven, John Haaven, Esther Zetterberg, Olaf Scheie, Faye Carpenter, Amy Zetterberg, Agnes Scheie, Clara Dale, and Ingvar Husby. 1906-First graduating class from the McIntosh High School of 3 members. The high school was credited for its first 4 year course. 1907-Smallest graduating class with Bjarne Iverson the only graduate. 1908-P.T.A. was organized by Professor Dunton with the assistance of Miss Marie Albert, now Mrs. J.H. Holton. Professor Dunton succeeded in securing state appropriations for teaching vocational subjects. Blacksmithing, agriculture, domestic science, and manual training were taught. A blacksmith shop was built by the manual training students. This school received statewide recognition at this time. 1909-First Normal Training Department held in City Hall with 13 enrolled. Miss Myra Southworth was the first teacher. 1910-1911-L.A. Jedlike, superintendent of school. Old gymnasium built by manual training students under supervision of teacher and financed by the McIntosh businessmen. Dr. Vincent, President of the University of Minnesota, gave an interesting dedication of the gymnasium and the school appeared in the School Education Magazine. 1912-First half of present brick building was built. 1918-I.S. Hov became superintendent of McIntosh School. Question of consolidation was renewed but rejected. 1920-1921-The McIntosh High School, or Juvenile Band, is making its initial concert tour. The organization is new and the tour is unprecedented in McIntosh School history. The band had 30 members of the student body. Its director was Mr. A.M. Harris, principal of the McIntosh High School. 1921-1922-No Normal Department held because of the lack of applicants. 1924-Coach Orrison's basketball team won district championship by defeating Warren, East Grand Forks, and Argyle at the District Tournament at Thief River Falls. At the State Tournament at Minneapolis, McIntosh defeated Morton and lost to Two Harbors which won the state Championship. The squad included Captain Maynard Stardig, Oscar Lowe, Peter Enevold, Kenneth Jorstad, Arthur Solberg, Gust Torgrimson and Carl Hill. 1929-New part of present building built. Old school building and gymnasium torn down. Alumni of the McIntosh High School purchased the state equipment. Miss Margaret Bjorgo won 3rd in numerous division at the State Declamatory Contest. 1933-34-Banner year for non-resident students with a total of 105 for the grades and high school. […from the “All School Reunion” (red) book, pages 3 - 6. Not shown is the list of superintendents, principals, and teachers on pages 6 - 8.]
Mac Hi Hymn(From the Mac-Hi Microphone, March 23, 1936)
‘Tis here we are pledging […from the “All School Reunion” (red) book, pages 5.]
School SongsTune -"ON WISCONSIN"Fight for McIntosh, Fight for McIntosh Tune -"WARMING UP"Hail to our High School, Hail to Mac High Tune -"IOWA BAND LAW"All hail to our high school Tune –“MINNESOTA ROUSER"WIN-E-MAC High hats off to thee, […from the “All School Reunion” (red) book, pages 6.]
|
|
|
Copyright © Win-E-Mac Alumni Association |  |