The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1922-09-11
Be1nidji's Brand New. I
Half Million-Dollar ].
High School Is Open,
Not Entirely Completed, Splendid New
Junior and Senior High School Building Is
Being Used; Structure Is One of Best and
Most Complete in State; Will Be Finished
Entirely Next Month"; T.:

FOR once In It's history at least,
Bemidji has been provided adequate
high school facilities for the indefinite
future. With the completion of the
entire new high school structure set
for early October, Bemidji's half
million dollar institution is far cry
from the little red school house on the
hill or the clumsy old log school
house in the woods, which most of
US have known at some time or
other.
The days when the there Rs"
were the main and practically the
only essentials to an education have
come and gone, at least 50 far ~
Bemidji is concerned, and right now
one of the most up to date high
schools in the state Of Minnesota IL
the boast Of this city.
Only ID years or so ago, the Be-
midi high school department held
forth in few half hidden rooms. in
the Central school building and the
number of graduates at that time
could be counted easily on the fling
ers of either hand. i,
About IL years ago Bemidji felt
the increasing need of suitable
high school building to house both
the Senior and Junior departments
and at that time modern structure
was erected between Sixth and
Seventh streets on America and
Irvine avenues. The city then sat
back and watched with pride the in
creasing enrolment each year. =.
Need of New School Felt
A little over two years ago, the
need of facilities was again keenly
felt and plans were being made BY
those most interested for some sort =
of a structure to relieve the conges-
ton at the high SCHOOL, While the
plans were still in the process Of
formation, the high school building
was destroyed by fire one cold win
ter morning and the lack Of neces
sary school facilities was thousand
times more keenly felt. Class work
was held in every available hall or
meeting place and exceptionally
good work was accomplished despite
the severe handicap. Fifty one stud
ents graduated from the Bemidji in
stitution in 1921 and fifty-four IN
1922 although there was no in
stitute for them to graduate from.
In the meantime plans for a new
building had progressed and the
selection of proper site became the
topic of the hour.
Work IL Rushed
Two days after the present site
at the head of Beltrami, Minnesota
and Bemidji avenues at Fifteenth
street was selected by popular vote
work on the new structure began
and it has required the utmost effort
at all times that the building might
be ready for school use this fall.
Contractor Ed. Jackson of this
city, who has the general contract
and the various other contractors
are to be complimented for the
structure which they have erected.
Mere words seem inadequate to
describe the beauty and complete
ness of the building, although in
this article the writer will attempt
in a humble way to give the i'm
preston gained by HIM on very
recent "tour" of the new institu-
ton. When the building is later
opened to the public in general, It
is urgently requested that every
resident of the city make 1t point
to view the entire structure. A first
hand impression is always the best
and more lasting to the viewer A
formal dedication is being planned,
it is understood, for about the mid
del of the present school year when
every detail of the institution is In
it's best possible working order.
School Opens
Pupils in both Junior and Senior
departments began registering for
the term this afternoon and regular
class work will begin Wednesday
despite the fact that only the two
upper stories are ready for use at
the present time. If no bad luck IL
experienced, all of the contractors
will have their various jobs COM
pleted by October 10, the mammoth
neutrality-suspicious. being the last
portion of the building to be finish
ed. -..'.
Excavating for the new structure
was started last fall and soon the
building began to take on form.
Work continued all winter and sum
mer as rapidly as possible. Delay in
| receiving material is retarding some
of the work at the present time but
is expected to have 10 serious effect
On the completion Of the school
within the next few weeks 49,,
Magnificent Monument
Contractor Jackson has erected a
MAGNIFICENT monument to his ability
| (Continued on Page 81