The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-10-10

missed that the organization took place in the fall of
1887. Incompleted minutes of meeting held at that
time show that Alexander McCurdy was chairman;
John PALMER secretary and Asa E. Camp treasurer.
While the records indicate that the organization was
effected at that time, school was held until the
January 1889 term when building was built ana a
room finished School began with Miss Ella Wilson as
teacher In July 1888 the Board was changed and A.
J. Thomas was elected to replace Alexander McCurdy as
chairman Mr. Thomas in recounting some of the ex-
periences of those early days tells of the trials and
tribulatons of the Board in financing the project
While the board decided to have school and the
teacher was on duty with about IL pupils, several
months elapsed before the matter Of salaries were
thousht Of The board of the district negotiated fin
ances on personal notes the Exchange Bank Of Ely
controlled by o. D. Kinney. Mr.. Kinney and the in
diydual members of the board receive credit for pull
ing the struggling young district through its financial
difficulties. School had also been in session several
months when the clerk who James Sheridan, Sr, at
that time began to inquire ''when the county appor-
tionment was due" notwithstanding the fact that no
levy school purposes had been made this very nee
essary procedure the part of the board having been
overlooked. This condition remeded the following
year and regular levy made.
In some mysterious manner $4,000 in bonds were
Roated at that time Treasurer Asa E. Camp secured
the money from somewhere not at present clear to the
old timers here. With the bonds foated one room build
ing built in the woods. This building was part
of what is now the Community Service Center. The
original building constructed by Craswe Heaney,
local contractors lots purchased from Geo. c. Green
wood. The price paid for the lots was $780,
The district at that time comprised one Congress
sional township 1912. Later it enlarged to en-
the Town of Morse and at consists OF
six congressional townships In March 1888 census
was taken for the purpose of organizing the village
While stated in previous histories of the dis
rict that the school enrolment for the first year num-
bered 112 it remains fact that only So people signed
petition in 1888 for the organization of the village
In all probability the previous historian placed the figure
one before the actual school enrolment and it should
read "12 enrolled" So the total who signed the
petition for incorporation and everybody here at that
time signed. By the time the election the ncorpora-
ton held TT votes cast, all yes.
The population, however, increased rapidly for the
records of the election of first village officers show
that of the candidates received as high 115
Upon the organization of the village steps were
taken to open street to the school house. 1t was also
imperative that a sidewalk be built and two-plank
walk was laid from the bank to the school
This the first walk constructed in the village and
gave the young city quite metropolitan appearance
In 1890, the population of Ely had increased to 9O1
according the federal and the school popula
ton had increased accordingly
In 1891 the school had increased in enrolment
and teachers were added Miss Wilson in the mean
time had rendered her resignation having become Mrs
A. ]. Fenske. Burton Hurd became principal in that
year with force of three teachers, viz Mrs Hoover
Miss Squire and Miss Smale Three rooms had been
finished in the building in the meantime. The follow
ing year it found necessary to rent rooms in the
Van Blarcom building for school purposes and if we
are not mistaken another in small building
where the Vail block stands was also utilized
So rapidly had the enrolment increased that in
1894 it was deemed advisable to borrow $4,000 from
the state to enlarge the school building At the annual
meeting the election held and the bond issue
unanimously authorized The board at that time
sisted of A. ]. Thomas A. E. Camp and Chas. G. Ship
man. The tax levy that year for general school pur-
poses was $675O.O0, and increased for the fol-
lowing years use to $9,250O0 Plans were also drawn
for thorough rebuilding of the school house
A. j. Thomas held the position of director in the
district six years. being replaced in 1895 by R. S.
Miller. H. Van Blarcom was elected treasurer and
Chas G. Shipman clerk. contract let to DON
lin Cullen of Superior for the remodeing of the
school for the sum of $7,278.O0. The work COM
pleted for the opening of school in the fall and six
teachers were employed with C. G. Graham prin-
cpal.
In February 1896 school was established at Win
ton with Edythe Ireland teacher Miss Ireland con-
Quoted her classes in what was the town hall OF
Morse Township and continued this for three years
when an addition was built to the hall and another
room with teacher established. The following year on
petition of the citizens of Winton, Contractor jury
built school building there his contract being for
s1387.OO. Three teachers employed for the new
building.
In 1896 the annual meeting elected P. R. Vail as
treasurer R. S. Miller chairman and Chas. G. Shipman
clerk. At this meeting the tax levy was set at
s9se5OO In 1897 Chas. Scheaffer elected clerk;
R. s. Miller chairman and H. Van Blarcom treasurer
At this time nine teachers under Principal Graham
were employed.
1898 saw another change in the personel of the
board, p T. Brownell being elected director with
Van Blarcom and Chas Soheaffer the other mem
bers This year also L. w. Wilson was chosen as
principal of the school and the teaching force increased
Mr.. Wilson, (now attorney at Aurora) held the
position until 1901.