This photo appeared in the April 12, 1899 The Stillwater Gazette (weekly), part of the "Our County Public Schools Series" column (see this issue for a detailed history of the school district up to that time).

This photo appeared in the April 12, 1899 The Stillwater Gazette (weekly), part of the “Our County Public Schools Series” column (see this issue for a detailed history of the school district up to that time).

If you have any photos or memories of the school to share, please contact us.

Arcola District No. 4, May Township
DISTRICT FORMED Originally part of Lyman District #6 which likely formed in 1852. District #4 split off in 1870 and split again in 1896.
YEARS SCHOOLS BUILT 1870, post-1898
GENERAL LOCATION Northeast of Twin Lakes in the town of May, in eastern Washington County.
MODERN ADDRESS Highway 95 and Square Lake Trail
DISTRICT BOUNDARIES Big Carnelian Lake marks the western boundary, Little Carnelian Lake marks the southern boundary, and the St. Croix River marks the eastern boundary.
DISPOSITION Residence
NOTES
  • An early school was moved down by the river at the corner of the main road between Stillwater and Marine and the road to Arcola, but it was burned soon after the move. Mr. Martin Mower then allowed school to be held in a house and later in a loft over a storehouse. In 1870, through the efforts of the numbers of the northern and western sections of the districts a division was made. In the spring of 1896 the district was again divided. The children in the western part of the district were unable to attend, some of them having five miles to come to school and over very poor roads. A great deal of opposition was met with at first but being very persistent in their efforts the division was made and is known as District No. 74. A new school was built after the 1898 Gazette article was written. The school was closed by 1952 when the school survey was published, from which the photo below was taken.
  • In 1898 there were 45 pupils and the average distance that they ahd to travel to get to school was one and a quarter miles.
  • Consolidated with Marine District #4 and others in 1955.

Known Teachers

1870: Jane Nelson (first teacher after inital district split)
Pre-1897: Jennie Young
Miss Meredith
Lavina Maxwell
Marion Yorks
Bridget Malone
Mary Parrott
Flora Campbell
Ann Scott
Almena Hultquist
Blanche Clark
Ella Morgan
Miss Mower
Lizzie Cooney
Herbert Gidney
Adolph Torell
A. B. Falk
Amos H. Hill
1897 & 1901: Aurora Swanman
1913: Alice Quist
Other teachers: Helen Dahl

 

Arcola School in 1952.

Arcola School in 1952.