The Harris Centennial
Harris --The past 100 Years
Schools
Page 91-93
History of Schools Goes Back to About 1873 Here
Some historian has noted that the first
legal tax in Osceola County was in 1872, and that did not include
all property. Because of lack of authentic proof we must conclude
that the first building used for school purposes and also for
religious services, was built by popular subscription and many
other forms of gathering money. It required great effort and
manpower to make a meeting place available for the homesteader
and their families. This first building was built about 1873; 80
rods North of the Southwest corner of section 27, which would be
one-half mile West from Harris. Several people still living here
went to classes in that building. It stood there many years.
Harris was platted in 1889; the building was moved about that
time. Sometimes buildings or objects are as interesting as
people. Let’s follow this building. It was moved to near the
spot where Arlyn Rubsam’s house now stands, and was used for
public purposes, school and church. After serving the needs of
one of America’s new settlement so well, it was purchased by
John Forbes in 1901, and moved onto lot seven, block one, Park
Addition; remodeled, and became their home. Later it became,
through purchase, the home of O. M. Campbell and family until his
passing. For many years it has been the home of Robert Gatton and
family, and is located south from the school property on Main
Street. It was dismantled in 1987.
In that building, like thousands of others, many children were
taught the three R’s and other subjects basic at that time.
With all the many changes in modern curriculum, it is still the
foundation upon which modern education is based. Ninety percent
of the world’s business is conducted by the use of addition,
subtraction, multiplication and division and fractions thereof.
The earliest authentic records obtainable regarding Fairview
Township Public Schools was found in the County
Superintendent’s office dating 1887. I shall print it as it
reads.
“Fairview Township there were six female teachers; one male.
Average salary was $32.00 per month. Number of persons between
the age of five and 21: 67. Enrollment in all districts: 46.
Average attendance: 10 in each district. Average cost per month
per pupil: $2.75. There were three school houses valued at $1,500
and the appliance value was $125.”
From another source giving a broader view of the entire country
public school system as related to values: In 1892 there were 81
schools with a total value of $40,000 and equipment at $2,000.
The balance of this report will be fragmentary notes from 1875 to
1915. It is interesting to note that in 1892 the Fairview School
was officered by J. C. Ward, president; M.B. Smith, secretary;
William Mowthorpe, treasurer; George Hamilton and B.F. Webster,
directors. It is also interesting to know that at least three of
these families were real homesteaders, having filed on government
land.
A new two-room building, consisting of basement and two stories
high, was built in 1897, in what is now the Town Park. In 1904,
an addition of the same size was built on the North side, making
a two-story building with four rooms. That building continued to
serve the community until 1917. About that time it was sold to
Wilson Forbes, who razed it and used the lumber for farm
buildings.
The first clarion call for education came from a large bell, a
gift from Phil Henry, one of the town’s businessmen. The
bell went with the building when sold to Wilson Forbes, who
presented it to the Methodist Church. And now, for nearly 70
years, its clear mellow tones have declared for education and
religious liberty. Long may it ring for such freedom!
1901 was a proud year for the Harris school. The first class to
graduate from high school consisted of three girls and one boy.
Let us note that the Harris school operated as one of six
schools, by the same school board. The only difference was that
more grades were taught and there were two teachers; J. Lawrence
Young was principal, and Ada C. Searing was primary teacher in
the Harris district. School board members were A.T. Winterfield,
president; Homer Richards, secretary; A. C. Winterfield,
treasurer (the Winterfields were brothers); Henry Umland, R.
Grove and R. Reeder, members.
While not a full 12-grade high school, it offered a wide range of
subjects found in high schools during the turn of the century.
With only a few weeks of summer school, two of the graduates were
granted certificates to teach in district school. The course was
that good.
First class roll: Nellie Clark, Nellie Stratton, Mary Forbes and
Valdy Barnes.
It is interesting to note the lasting qualities of friendships
formed in school days. These four graduates kept in close touch
through their live time. Valdy passed away in 1962, and Nellie
Stratton in 1963. Nellie (Clark) Harris and Mary (Forbes) Gibson
are still active.
Class roll of 1902: Sophia Wernstrum, Fern Patton, Bertha
Wernstrum, Jacon Giles, Floyd Emerson, and our own Lee McFarland.
Class roll of 1904: Delight Forbes, Mable Wiemer, Lulu Smith, Ray
Stratton and Harriet Logan.
We should note the changes in teachers and board members in 1904.
Teachers: E.E. McFarland, principal; Mrs. E.E. McFarland,
assistant; and Miss Ada Searing, primary.
Board of education: John Logan, president; Homer Richards,
secretary; A.C. Winterfield, treasurer; H.P. Umland, John
McDowell, Wilson Forbes and George Braddrick, members.
Neither time nor space will permit us to follow the graduates of
other years, though we would love to do it. With every form of
edification the community grew and prospered though it had
it’s “bornin’” and growing pains common to
human endeavors. Additions and changes were made in the
curriculum until it became a state-approved high school.
The Fairview school system was consolidated in 1915, at the
petitioned request of the voters. A special election was held
resulting in a three to one vote in its favor. At a later
election a $55,000 bond issue was passed at nearly the same
majority. Foundations were put in that fall and the building
continued in 1916. Movement into the new building was effected
the following spring.
Through all the difficult changeover process, Prof. I.W. Machamer
and his staff of instructors gave valiant support and service.
Several vacant rooms around town were utilized and the
reorganization continued through the year.
The mental change required was often disappointing, frustrating
and provoking; horse drawn buses over roads that received little
care, no heat except the blankets furnished by parents. High
ideals, determination and a dedicated people can solve any
problem, and did.
Members and officials of the board of education at the time of
consolidation: C.H. Gibson, president; Robert Robertson, Sr.,
secretary; C.C. Cady, M.d., treasurer; and other members: Earl
Beck, L. J. Hagerty, James McNabb and G.W. Moeller.
- Written by C.H. Gibson
In the spring of 1918, the first 12-year class was graduated from
the new school. Graduates were Helen Burley, Glee Forbes, Lola
Forbes, Frances Mueller, James McNabb, Louis Snyder and Maude
Umland.
Individual and team triumphs in every field – baseball,
football, track, basketball, musical – have marked the
passing years. A small town and a small school, but nothing small
about the spirit and dedication of the students and faculty. The
trophy cases and the records attest the achievements. We note
only a few and regret that we are unable to list all of the
notable accomplishments.
In 1925, Harris boasted an undefeated football team. Numbered
among their victims were Orange City, Estherville and Rock
Rapids.
In 1927, the football team was also undefeated and their schedule
included Estherville and Rock Valley. There were some lop-sided
triumphs. They defeated one of their rivals 115-0 and another
57-0.
Outstanding achievements in track included such notable team
performances as winning two relay events at the Dakota Relays at
Sioux Falls, placing second to Mason city in the Estherville
Invitational Track Meet, and placing second to Fort Dodge in the
district track meet held at Estherville. In these meets the
Harris tem finished ahead of such schools as Estherville,
Emmetsburg, Spencer, Rock Rapids, Emmetsburg, Spencer, Rock
Rapids, Jefferson, Spirit Lake, Sibley and Worthington.
In basketball outstanding teams were so numerous that it is
impossible to list them. They were the rule rather than the
exception. Harris teams were many times champions of the county,
often winners of the sectional tournaments, and one team would be
stopped by no lesser opponent than Central of Sioux City.
We recall that in early competition of musical events, there was
one winner in each district and at the state level there was one
first and second place. In 1928, the Harris boys’ glee clubs
were rated the second best in the state. The same year the mixed
chorus won the right to represent this district in the state
contest in Iowa City. So each year there are achievements of
varying degrees.
On July 20, 1950, the voters of the Harris Consolidated School
gave their approval for the erection of a new gymnasium,
auditorium and classrooms. There were 172 yes votes and 86 no
votes.
On October 24, 1952, dedication exercises ere held in the new
one-story auditorium-gymnasium, which is 90 feet by 90 feet. As
an auditorium it can seat over 1000 and for games the bleachers
and stage have a capacity of 850.
Remodeling included six new restrooms, a new home economics
department, commercial rooms, dining hall and classrooms. The
total cost of the project was $137,000.
Speaker for the evening was James Paustian of Davenport, former
superintendent at Harris.
President of the school board was Irvin Berman and Cornelius
Landhuis was superintendent.
In the late 1950’s, and early 1960’s, a bus barn was
built Southwest of the school and an addition was built between
the new gym and the old school for a new industrial arts room.
In 1953, the Band Boosters decided to raise $2,500 for new
uniforms for the band and this was done in one month. This was
accomplished by gleaning cornfields, serving luncheons, donations
and a carnival and a surprise basketball game.
Last year (1963-1964) there was no high school at Harris. Lake
Park and Harris Community Schools have an arrangement whereby
Harris tuition’s its high school students to Lake Park and
Lake Park tuition’s its seventh and eighth grade students to
Harris.
The present members of the board of education are Pierce Hibma,
president; Ervin Lorch, Lee McClain, Art Rowe and Wayne
Blahauvietz. Mrs. Don Timmons is secretary.
During the last ten years several attempts have been made to
organize Osceola County schools into a single school unit with an
all county tax base. Each time the voters rejected the proposals.
In 1957, the Harris Community School was formed by the
reorganization of the remainder of Fairview Township and a large
portion of Allison. Later several sections of Harrison Township
joined the district.
No chronicle of Harris School would be complete without mention
of some faculty members. These are mentioned because of the
number of years they served at a time when length of tenure in a
school system was not usual. We list W. S. McBride, Gertrude Mohr,
and Harriet Henry. More recently C. Landhuis has served as
superintendent for 17 years. Gerald J. Dolphin has been elected
by the board of education for 1964-65 to succeed Supt. Landhuis.