Education Directory

Wadena Schools

Teachers and of graduates from 1906 through 1949

"The first pioneers built a log school house north of the village. School, religious services, shows, and all public meetings of the area were held there. This school was financed by the township.

George W. Fitch was hired to teach the school in the winter of 1865-66. A religious meeting being held at about the time school was to begin was the probable cause of the building burning. In those days a good deal was preached about 'fire and brimstone,' so Fitch said this fire might have been a case of 'spontaneous combustion.' Fitch then organized a commercial school at 'Hageman Hall' and enrolled anyone, young or old in a room about 16 feet square. Some learned to write and keep accounts but more, Fitch said, improved the art of 'sparking,' in which accomplishment none seemed to be deficient.

The burned schoolhouse was replaced by a larger one-room stone structure, 18' x 36' on the site at the west end of the present cemetery. It was erected on contract with Major Harriman for $800.00. The first term, Fitch had 94 enrolled ranging in age from youngsters to young men older than Fitch. Marble slab benches were used, some of which actually had backs on them. An assistant teacher held classes at one end of the room while Fitch taught another at the other end. Wide planks were fastened around the wall on two sides with stationary planks for seats. This is where they studied, but when writing they stepped down and faced the stone wall, using the seat as the desk. The room was heated with a huge 'box stove' in the front of the room.

After the railroad came, and the village grew in population, a two story brick school was built down near the center of town and pupils were graded according to their progress.

On July 22, 1895, when Wadena was incorporated, an independent school district was established. (Also, ten rural 7-month schools were established in Illyria Township, at least two miles beyond city limits.) The central part of the building was built at this time.

In 1909 a two-story addition was constructed on the north of the original brick school building and three teachers were employed. Two women and one man were hired for a term of eight months at $43.50 per month. There were 119 school age pupils in the district, 94 of which were enrolled in school. The average daily attendance was 62. In 1922 a two-story brick addition was added to the south side of the original building.

The average cost of tuition per month for each pupil was $1.23 and the value of the school equipment was $180. The school library boasted 202 volumes.

The four year high school was established in 1923. Wadena then had an educational system of a 12-year school financed by taxes from the Wadena Independent District. Ten rural sub-districts were established in 1909. 168 pupils were enrolled in these country schools. In 1946 the rural districts were consolidated with the town district and the district bought four school buses. The first bus was bought September 23, 1946 and financed by the Wadena Business Men's Club. The first buses were second hand and bought at a cost of $1,204.10 and $1,180.00 and $1,400.00. One new bus was bought - a 1946 Dodge for $3,047.44. Certificates of $100.00, $150.00, and $200.00 were sold and paid back by the school district. Kenneth Baldwin was President of the Business Club at this time and Leallen Knox secretary. Ray Herwig was president of the school board and J. H. Wilson secretary.

This school system continued until 1959 when Wadena voted itself into the already organized system of Clermont and Elgin.

Before this reorganization the Wadena Consolidated district built a gymnasium and connecting hall in the year 1948-1949. This was built with a majority of donated labor.

The new reorganization was called Valley Community School District of Clermont, Elgin, Wadena. The high school is located between Clermont and Elgin. Each town has Kindergarten through sixth grade. The Junior High is located in Clermont.

Two long term teachers in the Wadena School: Miss Ella Foxwell and Miss Cecil Flanagan."

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Graduates of Wadena High School
(1906 - 1949)

(If a year is not in the list there was no information in the book.)

1906

1907

1908

1911

1912

1913

1914

1915

1916

1917

1919

1920

1921

1922

1923

1924

1925

1926

1927

1928

1929

1930

1931

1932

1933

1934

1935

1936

1937

1938

1939

1940

1941

1942

1943

1944

1945

1946

1947

1948

1949

1950

1951

1952

1953

1954

1955

1956

1957

1958

(The class of 1958 class was the last to graduate from Wadena High School.)

Early teachers in the Wadena School

Former Superintendents of the Wadena School

~source: The above information has been excerpted from "Permanent Record of History of Wadena"

a project of the Wadena Public Library and sold at the 75th anniversary of the Incorporated Town of Wadena, June 24, 1972.

Linnie Hoover Howell