The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1921-06-16

ton according to fecordS oh iiie VI
the minutes of the early board meet
ings.
In the early days, the younger
generations were permitted only
three or four months of schooling IN
the wear, and the teachers salary was
from $500 to $500 per week ana
board. Sometimes the teacher was
required to "board around in the
various homes of the community, ana
at other times, the school board pald
her board at boarding house.
The first school located in the VI
cinitv of Sank Centre was situated
.bout three miles south Of the pre-
sent civ limits on the Melrose ROAD.
This school was known as the Rams
dell District School, and the board
consisted of S. S. Ramsdell, MEDIATOR
and S. NJ. Bruce, clerk.
This school was established in 1861
and Miss Nellie Harmon, sister OF
the late "Chan" Harmon, was en-
gaged to teach the school. MISS
Harmon's salary was $500 per week
and board.
About one year later, residents re
siding nearer the present site OF the
CITY of Sank Centre, erected school
building situated on the Melrose road
lust over the Sank River south OF the
VILLAGE. It was here that the major
itv of the village children attended
school, total of about twenty boys
and girls.
When this second school was es-
tablished. Miss Frances Reid was en-
gagged as teacher. Miss Reid re
NAMED only one term and she was
succeeded by Miss Jennie Stabler,
who later became Mrs. J. H. Simon
ton. and who is still a resident OF
Sank Centre. Miss Reid later mar
ried Chan Harmon, a pioneer mill
man of this locality and an heir TO
the Loring Park property of early
Minneapolis.
Miss Stabler's salary was not quite
as large as that of Miss Harmon be
ing awarded the handsome sum of
$500 per week and board, but she
maintains that her salary was not
entirely unsatisfactory inasmuch as
she "was boarded in one home and
not around the community"
1t was customary in those early
DAVIS when the severe cold and early
conveyances made winter travel al
most impossible, to hold the school
term from May until the last OF
August.
Miss Stabler was teaching the new
Sank Centre school just south OF the
village when the Indian outbreak
came on in the summer of 1862 and
the troubles with the savages pre-
vented her from continuing the school
term. ,
Following the Indian wars, Sank
Centres next educational institution
was a private school conducted by
Miss Stabler and located about where
the present steam laundry stands on
Main street. Miss Stabler conducted
this school for several months.
When the political situation made
it agreeable to do away with the old
military stockade, the hospital build
ing within the stockade was moved
onto what is believed to be the site
of the present public schools, and
here was established Sank Centres
first entirely local public school.
Luther Tubs was employed to teach
this institution and it was here that
many of the city's present business
men followed the antics Of the three
"Rs."
The founding of this new school
marked the birth of the community
spirit in Sank Centre. Not only was
the old stockade building school
room, but it answered other purposes
in the community and became the
center of ~ all public and. religious
meetings. Here religious services
were held on Sunday; community
gatherings and political rallies filled
the docket during week day evenings
and even the "Sons of Malta" thai
time honored fraternal order, held it:
occasional meetings. This school re
manned intact and retained its dignit!
as an institution of learning unit
years later when Sank Centres NOR
modern school building was erected
+ T. *
1t was in all probability, the re
fusal of Dean Stabler to leave hi
property to the mercy of the Siou
and the declaration of his wife to re
main with him in Sank Centre, tina
laid the foundation to the maintain
ing of stronghold here during tn
Indian wars. ...
When the first news of the out
break came, it was the immediate in
tention of the settlers to fee frol
the savage infected territory into tn
cities. For this purpose the "Gres
Trek was organized and when tn
caravan of refugees first started OF