1938 Jackson High School Time Capsule Presentation

8/3/2019 1938 Jackson High School Time Capsule Presentation

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1st School set up in 1864 and was run by Miss AnnaThomas. 11 people attended the short-lived school.

1866 Another school, on the East side of the river,

was conducted at Mrs. Johnsons home. 16students attended.

1868 A new school was built by 3rd street, close tothe bayou. Miss Mandy Mario, the teacher,

received $15 dollars a month. School ran for threemonths in the winter and three months during thesummer. Each session averaged around 30students.


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1874 Jackson was able to build a new school. Thisserved as the main school for 21 years until yet anotherschool was built.

1895 With the help of a $25,000 bond a new school wasbuilt. This was referred to as the Central School. Also in 1895 the Ward School was built on Depot Hill for

$28,500.

1912 Voters agreed to build a new high school for thecost of $40,000. The new building would be two storiestall and made of brick. The day the students moved into the 1912 building the old

Central Building caught fire. The school district was able torebuild the inside of the Central Building so that theelementary students could be housed there again.


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The Great Depression was the longest-lastingeconomic downturn in the history of theWestern industrialized world.

At the height of The Great Depression 1 in 4people were unemployed. There was also nowelfare system at that time.


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The PWA was part of President FranklinDelano Roosevelts New Deal program in 1933.The purpose of the PWA was to put people

back to work by building large scale publicworks such as: dams, bridges, places ofworship, hospitals and schools.

The PWAs goal was to spend $3.3 billion in thefirst year and $6.0 billion in all.


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CWA (Civil Works Administration) purpose wasto create manual labor jobs for the unemployed.However, jobs were only temporary and this was

not an answer to the unemployment the countryfaced.

WPA (Works Progress Administration)purposewas to distribute food, clothing and housing to

underprivileged children and families. The WPAwas also employing millions of unskilled workersto carry out public works projects, including theconstruction of public buildings and roads.


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A total of $1,645,1050 was spent on the state ofMinnesota during the first year of the New Dealprogram. Between the years of 1935 and 1941, the

New Deal spent a total of $270,473,091 Included in these funds:

The Heron Lake dam

Construction of a creosote bridge in Sioux Valley township

Improvements to the athletic fields and pool in Jackson

Installation of 20,385 ft. of water main

19 fire hydrants

Several thousand feet of sewers and 664 manholes in Jackson.

1938 Jackson High School


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Once again, the student population began to outgrow the 1912school building It was decided to build the new 1938 school just North of the old 1912

building Prior to building the school, the Knox house had to be moved from its

location because it was located where the new school was to be built. To offset the cost of a new school, the school board and the City of Jackson

applied for a PWA grant, which was part of FDRs New Deal programs.

Dec 1, 1937 was the ground breaking ceremony for the new highschool. People stood out in the December weather and watchedthe event.

In 1938 Construction was complete. Total cost of the project wasapproximately $250,000. The PWA paid $121,600 of that total cost

In 1962 there was a need for expansion, so the school added on tothe 1938 building with the agricultural wing. That 1962 addition is still being used today by the county


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*This was the Knox/Robertsonhouse that was on the site of the1938 school.* The house also became the firsthospital of Jackson.

Dedication ceremony March 281938

Cornerstone of 1938 building


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Original PWA Document dealing with School officials anddetails about the 1938 school


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The 1938 building was no longer used as a highschool after 1981 when the current high school wasbuilt

After the new high school was built, the old 1938building was used as a middle and alternativeschool for students

In 1997 the JCC school district was created. The old1938 building was no longer being used in a schoolsetting except for the 1962 portion which thecounty allowed the school to use for agricultureclasses . In 2004, there was an addition to the current high school.

This consisted of the wrestling room, Ag/Art wing andauxiliary gym were completed, ending the use of the 1938and 62 building as a school setting


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1938 School Building with the 1912school in the background.

1938 School Building with theaddition


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1997 Jackson Middle School closes and classesgo to Lakefield The ALC was housed on the third floor of the

building until 2003 The County rented the second floor for Human

Services

June 25th 2001 County purchases the school

building for $1

00,000 The 62 addition was still used actively by the

high school for the ag classes as well aswelding and metal shop until 2004


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Some of the services offered in the 1938 building,by the county, were: Veteran Services, driverslicense, Family Services Network and CommunityHealth.

The 38 building severed as a location for dancerecitals, family fun night and 4-H activities

The newly constructed portion of the 2012Government Center will house only HumanServices. It will be up and running around the endof February 2012


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Preservation of the 1938 building was a high priority formany, as it was architecturally impressive and a fineexample of construction during the Great Depression fromthe PWA Grants. Over 300 tons of Kasota Stone was used for the trim alone.

Modern buildings, according to some, last an average of 40years due to resource depletion, in stark comparison, thehistoric Jackson High School stood for 72 years withminimum maintenance.

Many wanted to refurbish the 1938 building because it wasbuilt during the Great Depression and had a lot of historicaland sentimental value. In order to refurbish the 1938 building, it wouldve cost around

$7.6 million, $5.4 million without 62 building. Investors were sought, however none were found None of the investors thought renovation was feasible


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The auditorium was a structural

marvel for its time.Community members wereexcited with the possibilitiesthat an auditorium wouldbring!

The auditorium was used toperform plays, bandconcerts, along with a widevariety of other things. Theauditorium even had aperformance by Liberace!!

Even though it was a historicalmarvel, many peoplethought the seats wereuncomfortable .


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A Joint Facilities Committee was formed in 2004 to discusspossible options for the future of the Resource Center. The Committee consisted of people from around the county This committee

came to an agreement to build a new 57,000 sq. ft. facility.

This idea was vetoed twice and a smaller facility was agreed on for a newbuilding.

December 15, 2009 the county board passed resolutionto proceed with construction of a new county servicebuilding. They called for a public hearing, intending toissue bonds. The reason for this was to pay for the

building amounting to $5,195,000 February 22, 2010 a reverse referendum filed, and

election was called for, regarding the issue of usingbonds


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June 8, 2010 the vote resulted as 717 yes and 1657 no. Itwas decided that bonds would not be used to pay forthe building.

The county then looked at new ideas and decided tobuild a human services building. To pay for thebuilding, the county used cash reserves and wind taxrevenues.

County Commissioners recognized the feelings ofindividuals toward the 1938 building, but decided forthe betterment of the county, it was more effective andefficient to build a new facility.


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Heating and cooling costs were $75,000 peryear, with only 25 people working in thebuilding.

The cost to renovate the 1938 and 1962buildings was $7.1 Million. The majority ofrenovations would be bringing the 1938building up to code.


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Faculty and Administration Lists

Class Lists for the Central Building Grades 1-8

Class Lists for the Ward School Grades K-6

High School Class lists, Freshman Senior

PWA Grant details with Contractor Amount Details

High school band concert program

Proposed Building program: Architect Designs, Example of BondBallot, Letter to voters explaining why build new

Roberson / Knox house picture

Papers from: December 2nd 1937, February 17th 1938, February 18th

1937, March 24th 1938

2 pennies


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The Opened Time Capsule

A penny

High School Band Concert

Program


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Kindergarten Class Lists Fourth Grade Class Lists


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1st Grade Class Lists 5th

Grade Class Lists


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Plans/ Designs for School


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A display case will be placed by the existingtrophy cases in the high school commons area.This case will display all the items that were inthe 1938 time capsule.


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Bob Ruby: Construction Assistance of display box

Galen McCarthy: Artistic assistance of display box

Cathy Buxengard: Supplying historical

information on the school Michael Kirchmeier: Supplying information on the

schools as well as on preservation

Jackson County Commissioners: Discussing thediffering viewpoints

Dan Condon and The Pilot: Providing picturesalong with news articles

Mark Titus: Supplying information of the schools

1938 Jackson High School Time Capsule Presentation

Documents