The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-28
GALA DAYS FOR :.
RUSHF0RD TOWN
FOUNDERS CELEBRATE; COSTLY
SCHOOL DEDICATED.
Smallest Organized City in the State
Has Dual Festival and Welcomes
Home the Wanderers-Pioneer Scan
Fifty Years of Work and Pronounce
It Good, ..-.
Special to The journal.

Special to The journal.
Rushford Mimi. Aug. 2S.-Rushford, the
smallest duly organized city in the state is
celebrating Its 1ftieth birthday by dedicating
$4,000 public school building.
Fifty years ago the frowning cliffs and bluffs
towering $50 feet above the water of Root river,
one of the most picturesque streams in the west,
looked down upon the waving grasses of the
hoWer-decked meadows, where the fawn sported
at will, unafraid. and the dusky children of the
forest viewed with wide.open eyes and bated
breath the unbidden approach of the paleface
with the never to- be forgotten covered wagon,
Its yards of canvas whitening the valleys and
prairies like the sails of the Maayhower whit
ened the stormy Atlantic in the days of the
pilgrim fathers.
To the eyes OF the sturdy pioneers this shell
tered spot at the confluence of the Root river
and Rush creek, where the valley broadens to a
plain over two miles in width, seemed a natural
location for town on account of an abun.
dance of waterpower and natural roadways lead.
ing to the adjacent prairies
Substantial log houses were erected and the
nucleus of the future city laid while the popula-
ton OF the mile square now included in the cor.
roration numbered less than half dozen fam.
Dies.
This village was named Rushford, and the
rapid influx Of immigrants gave 1t growth OF
such Importance that the federal government
established a postoffce in the summer OF 1851
with g. G. Hurlbut postmaster
New School Is Towns Pride.
rude log schoolhouse where nine children
received instruction erected that year. and
as the town grew in Importance more substan-
tial school buildings were erected until the
present magnificent structure built of native
stone and finished in birch stained light ma.
hogany was determined upon at an expense OF
$40, 900.
On the first door are six grade rooms, from
primary up; second floor. high school room, tive
grade rooms. two recitation rooms, library Law
atory, superintendent's office; basement, manual
training. gymnasium, three vacant rooms heat
Ing plant. etc. The heating scheme is of the
most improved plan, and the building is proyid
ed with electric fixtures in every room, making
1t one OF the best appointed school buildings IL
the state.
The Rushford high school has graduated or
army of pupils many Of whom have become
prominent educa tors and its reputation Is grow.
Ing under the management Of Professor E. r.
Mitchell
Dedication Plans.
The new building will be dedicated tomorrow
| III the presence Of a large concourse of people
Among the speakers will be Albert L.. Cole
| candidate for governor, and s. G. Iverson, state
| auditor.
The banquet CT the Rushford alumni will be
held at the high-school assembly room tomorrow
| evening.
The enrolment Of over 800 pupils shows 9
good growth in small town, when compared
with the nine who were enrolled fifty years ago
OF the nine two will be present at the dedi
cation, Mrs. Mary West and Mrs. Louise Ell
dred. =
Rushford has been fortunate thru all the years
OF Its existence in having a progressive spirit
In control and as a consequence the town has
forged ahead when towns apparently more favor
! ably situated have refrigerated. The last cen
sus gave Rushford an increase. Of nearly 100
while nearly ever other town in its class in this
part of the state fell back.
Rushford citizens have not been lacking II
patriotism. During the rebellion thirty-one mer
| enlisted from the village, and in the Spanish
war several Of our young men went to the front
one sacrificing his life.