Our community, Marion, N. Dak., 1900-1975: prairie to present

• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: North Dakota State Library 2014
• Subjects: Cora; Greenland; Keller; Korn
• Online Access: http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/ndsl-books/id/14779

first only two or three rooms were finished. The rest was done over a period of years. In 1910 C. H. Deyoe installed the heating plant for $642.50. In 1911 Geo. Sogard finished the fourth room for $272.00. In 1912 the west half of the basement was finished, and in 1914 Henry Conrad finished the east half of the basement. After the school house in town was built, school house No. 2 a half mile south of town, was sold, and the school in town became school No. 2. The records for this period are missing but about 1911 a fourth school house. No. 4, known as the Kaiser school, was built in the southeast corner of the district. $1,500.00 in bonds were issued for this. When the school house in town was finally finished, the district began to consolidate. Schools No. 1 and No. 3 were closed and the pupils transported to town by busses. In 1917 school house No. 4 (Kaiser school) was moved into town, placed beside the big school house, and was used as a class room for two grades. This made seven class rooms and completed the consolidation of the district. The first high school subjects were taught in the school year 1910-1911. Three subjects were taught. In 1911-12 five subjects were taught, in 1912-13, eight subjects, in 1913-14, ten subjects, and in 1914-15, thirteen subjects. While no definite records were found, the best information seems to be.that the first graduating class was in 1916, and that the graduates were Cora Bomberg, Tressie Keller, Ruth Korn, Paul Thomas and Donovan Wheeler. As early as 1919 there was agitation for a new school house and in 1920, at a general election there was a vote of 58 to 40 in favor of building a new school house, not to exceed $30,000.00 in cost. This was found by the school board to be insufficient and at another election, a bond issue of $45,000.00 was approved by a vote of 89 to 36. The bonds were sold to the state at 4% interest, and an architect employed to submit plans. However the state had contracted to buy over $2,000,000.00 of bonds from other school districts ahead of us, and the depression of 1920 and the years following had dried up the land department's income, so it looked like many years before we would get any money. About this time a lot of bond salesmen from private investors descended on the different school districts offering to take their bonds, but at an interest rate about one and three-quarters percent higher than the state had contracted for. Because this higher interest rate would have amounted to over $15,000.00 additional interest for the twenty year period of the bonds, the school board turned it down. However, it seems that about all districts that were ahead of us, took on the offer of the bond salesmen and cancelled their applications with the state. So it turned out that instead of being two million dollars down the line, we found ourselves at the top of the list, and got our money quickly. By this time the 1920 depression and rather poor crops had left this community in poor financial condition, and brought on very strong opposition to building the school. A petition signed by 93 voters asking that the school board "abandon any further intention of building the new proposed school building at Marion during these financial stresses be abandoned." Later the other side swung into action and presented the board with another petition signed by 143 voters stating that "We the undersigned feel that it is necessary for the best interests of Sheridan School District to have said proposed new school building erected at the earliest possible date." Many voters had signed both petitions. During all this time the school board had been cautiously developing plans and specifications and in September, 1923, bids were opened. Twelve contractors submitted bids, but all were deemed too high and were rejected by the board. In February, 1925, bids were again submitted and this time bids- came within the estimate and seemed very reasonable. The lowest bid was accepted and the present school house was erected during the spring and summer of 1925. The cost of the building was: General contract (building), $31,570.00; mechanical (heating and plumbing), $7,672.00; electrical, $685.00; architect, $1,996.00. Total net cost, $41,923.00. This left over $3,000.00 for furnishings and grounds, and everything was completed well within the estimates of the bond issue of $45,000.00. In the 35 years from 1890 to 1925 school boards were almost continuously occupied in planning, moving or building school houses. With the closing of the Saratoga, Piano, Greenland, and Grandview Schools in the 1950's, a need for a larger school was realized, and through much reorganization under the direction of Superintendent Dale Nudell, the Marion Special School District was formed in 1959. Construction on the new school was begun July 10, 1959, Moline Construction, Jamestown, N.D., was the General Contractor; Frostad Plumbing and Heating, Valley City, N.D., was the Mechanical Contractor; Central Electric, Fargo, N.D., was the Electrical Contractor; and Seifert and Staszko Associates, Fargo, N.D., were the Architects. The cost of the building was $221,000, $203,000 was from bonding and $18,000 was from the Veterans Memorial Fund. The building is made of brick and concrete block construction with natural birch trim and doors. This money also purchased new desks, some equipment, sidewalks, and a boiler for the old building. The new building included six grade class rooms, lavatories,a large gymnasium complete with stage and lighting, furnace room, locker rooms, coaches room, and storage area. The gym was ready for use March 5, 1960, and hosted the Grade Tournament which Marion won. Graduation of 1960 was also held in this gym. Open house for the new school was held August 28, 1960, 450 people attended. The Dedication was held September 30, 1960. The Marion Special School District Board at this time consisted of Charles Struble, Leonard Neevel, Walter Piehl, Bernard McCleary, and Norman Limesand, with Lawrence Martin as Clerk. The old gym was divided into a Science Department and Hot Lunch Room. A kitchen had been added to the east end of the lunch room. The old stage became the Superintendents and Secretary's Office. Glass blocks replaced the old windows and the stairs have been carpeted. The school of 1925 was thus converted to serve the junior high and senior high students and the new building was to serve the first six grades. Custodians have been: John Welhoff, Emil Keller, Orlando Draheim, John Kallander, Art Waldie, Nick Schommer, Bob Nicholas, Freida and Nick Lutgen, Mr. and Mrs. Ted Miedinger, and Leroy and Luella Matzke since 1964. Secretaries have been Mrs. Edna (Cleo) Flugga and Mrs. Sue (Curtis) Paulson. The Dickey-Adrian Schools were closed in 1971 and through redisricting many students are bussed to Marion. Bussing service was started for all rural students in 1958 to the Marion Public School, it had been sporadic pre- 39 Scanned with a Zeutschel Zeta book scanner at 300 dpi. Edited with Multi-Page TIFF Editor.