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There were several country schools as the people
realized that an education was necessary. One was located east of
town very near Mr. Anna Lee's homestead. Mrs. Arthur Myhre (Edna
Rudser) tells of the children walking past their farm (one mile east of
town) and they would stop to see the baby (herself). No doubt Mrs.
Rudser could have told many incidents from those times. Mrs.
Rudser was the daughter of Mrs. Lee. Incidentally, the barn on the
Rudser farm was the latest in the Shevlin Gothic construction and people
came from miles around to see it.
Now going back to information about schools. One
was built to the south on land pioneered by the Lengeby family, now
owned by Richard Anderson. This school was later moved to a Mackey
quarter. After it closed it was moved again and can be seen today
at the Mrs. Raymond Mackey farm. The Hampden School was built in
1908. The first principal in this modern school system was Kimball
Keeping. He was killed in action during World War I.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE COUNTRY SCHOOLS IN STORLIE
TOWNSHIP
Storlie school No. 1 was built in the southeast corner
of the northeast corner of the northeast quarter of Section 11.
Later it was moved a mile further north. This school operated
until 1922 when it was closed and taken into the Loma School District.
It was later sold to Rev. Unseth which is the farmstead where Julius
Skjerva resides.
The last teacher who taught there was Miss Esther
Bartel of Alsen. Some of the well known teachers who taught in
this school were Emma Smith of Loma, Mabel Heimbecker of Gordon
Township, Nellie Sunderland of Fairdale, and Ester Gunderson of
Northwood, who became Mrs. Thorval Iverson.
Storlie School No. 2 was started in the fall of 1908
and located along the northwest quarter Section 8. Later it was
moved to the NE corner of the NE 1/4 Section 15. From there it was
moved to the NW corner of the SW 1/4 Section 28. It was
discontinued when Hampden School District was reorganized and moved in
to be used as a bus barn.
Pupils who attended this school included Frances
Clock, Evans Flott, Clinton Howes, Floyd Howes, Anna Harveland, John
Harveland, Martha Harveland, Harland Meling, Agnes Peterson, Edna
Peterson, Hazel Chambers, Grace Severson, Ella Kvall, Alida Harveland,
Lloyd Clock, Myrtle Flott, Lois Howes, Hazel Howes, Iver Harveland, Ruth
Harveland, Ruby Olson, Thressa Peterson, John Peterson, Myrtle Peterson,
Alice Severson, Jordis Kvaal, Petrolf Kvall. The Peterson family
were know as Bjorland in later years.
Storlie No. 3 was located on the NW corner of Section
29, or about 3 1/2 miles northwest of Hampden, believed to have been
built in 1903. The first teacher was John Egge. This school
was discontinued in the early teens, and sold to L.O. Flott and made
into a granary. It is still in use on the Flott farm.
Storlie No. 4 had its beginning about 1902 in a small
unfinished building with Emily Ackre as its first teacher. Jon M.
Egge the next. It was located on a big hill about one half mile
north of the Elias Hasby farm and on the land belonging to Nels Pearson,
now owned by Frank Damschen. School was held for just a few months
in the summer.
In 1904 it was decided to build a regular school
building and to place it in a more central location. Land was
donated by Martin Mortenson, which is now known as the Elling Digerness
farm, located two miles north and 1 1/2 miles east of Hampden.
School officially opened in April 1905. (The
first records found in the Cavalier County Superintendent's Office.)
As many as 33 pupils attended this school with a teacher having all
eight grades in one term. Double seats were the thing in the early
years, which contributed to a great deal of whispering.
School was held continuously throughout the years with
eight month terms until 1950 when that portion of Storlie Township was
annexed into the Hampden School District #34. It was used for a
Township Hall for several years and finally in 1976, it was moved to the
city park of Hampden to be restored as a part of our early heritage.
The teachers from 1905 to 1950 were John I. Egge,
Oscar Olson, Annie Mikkleson, Emma Wendt, Flora Walsh, Mae Gerke,
Charles Gunderson, Ida L. Haibeck, Bertha Freeman, Johanna Overby, Hilda
Norum, Emma Smith, Minnie Smith, Ella M. Campbell, Lydia Crockett, Laura
Lund, Aileen More, Faye Bently, Ruby Walden, Carl Skjerva, Marie Amoth,
Ingred Midtmoen, Roger Furbur, Meta Bruers, Mildred Storlie, and Meta
Bruers Hasby, the last teacher.
A number of people who at one time attended Storlie
No. 4 still reside in the Hampden area: Carl and Mildred (Dahl)
Mortenson, Nora (Miller) Anderson, Glora (Thorson) Logie, Mildred (Storlie)
Flott, Arthur Thorson, Carrie (Larson) Pederson, Myrtle (Larson) Evans,
Emma (Hasby) Dahl, Halvor Hasby, Duane Dahl, Clarence Hermanson, Olga
(Christianson) Clock, Inez (Elftman) Wolf, Odin Christianson, and Melvin
Larson.
from Ramsey County History: vol 2, p 598; published 1983
The petition to organize the first school in the township (158-62)
was granted January 9, 1901 and was given the number District #34.
In a letter written January 2, 1900 and signed by L.B. Fancher, County Superintendent
of Schools, he urged that such a a district be organized according to
the petition he had received since there were more than ten children of
schol age resideing in the township. Those signing the petition to
organize were: Wm. Goldsbury, W.M. Pitt, Pearl Vanderhoef, H.F.
Shipley, Geo. H. Clace, Orrin Atkinson, O.O. Knudson, B. Klesclan, G.F.
Hawthorne, W. Sadlemeyer, J.W. Stoneman, Ole Iverson and A.C.
Davis. The first school was located in Northwest Quarter Section
21. Later a second school was built to the east on the homestead
of Mrs. Annie Lee. The first school board members in 1901 were
J.W. Stoneman, Walter Sadlemeyer and Andrew Haugen. A.C. Davis was
clerk and Ole Iverson was treasurer. Mrs. A.C. Davis was the first
teacher. The next year Mary A. Goldsbury joined her. These
schools continued until the district was consolidated and the school was
built at its present location in the year 1907. The school opened in
1908 as a grade school and although the town of Hampden was organized in
1903, the school district was called Northfield until 1908 when the name
was changed to the Hampden Public School District #34. It was not
until that year or 1912 that two years of high school were added and in
1922 all 12 grades were taught. There have been 369 graduates of
Hampden High School since the first class in 1924 through 1980 when
Hampden closed its doors for the last time. The largest graduating
class had 19 members. It was the class of 1933. The first Parent
Teacher Organization was organzied in 1939. There were 45
members. The first officers were Fritz Skaar, President; Carl
Mortenson, Vice-president; Peter Woken , Secretary; and Mrs. Torgerson,
Treasurer. The first annual "The Hampden Highlite" was also
published in 1942. At this time there were 45 students in grades
1-8, and 38 students in grades 9-12. The first graduates from Hampden
were Edna Rudser, Now Mrs. Arthur Myhre of Munich, and her brother,
Peter Rudser, in 1924. We have one family with three generations of
graduates. They are Earl and Nora Anderson, their son, Richard,
and his children. All live in the Hampden community at this time. Two
additions have been added to the original building over the years.
The gymnasium was built in 1952 and four new high school rooms were
added in 1960. The first hot lunch program was started in 1942 for the
country children. Inez Lommen was in charge of this and soup was
the menu. The present hot lunch room was officially opened in the fall
of 1953. An open house was held October 11, 1953. Mrs. Henry
(Verna) Peters and Mrs. Alber (Roberta) Werner were the first cooks. 1950-1951
was the first year Hampden had a band. The band was organized and
directed by Melvin Anda. A Band Mothers Organization was also
started at this time. Their purpose was to raise money to help
support the band with its needs in music instruments, etc.
from the 1979 All-Class Reunion book, published June 30, 1979
Two schools were organized in the early 1900's - one to the south of
Hampden on land now owned by Richard Anderson and one to the east on the
homestead of Mrs. Annie Lee.
These schools continued until the district was consolidated and the
school was built at its present location in the year 1907.
The school opened in 1908 as a grade school and although the town of
Hampden was organized in 1903, the school district was called Northfield
until 1958 when the name was changed to the Hampden Public School
District #34.
The first school board members (in 1901) were J.W. Stoneman, Walter
Sedlemyer, Andrew Haugen, A.C. Davis and Ole Iverson. It was not
until the year of the 1912 that two years of high school were added and
in 1922, all 12 grades were taught.
There have been 365 graduates of Hampden High School since the first
class in 1924 through the senior class of 1979. The largest
graduating class had 19 members. It was the class of 1933.
The first Parent Teacher Organization was organized in 1939.
there were 45 members. The first officers were Fritz Skaar,
president; Carl Mortenson, vice presiden; Peter Woken, secretary; and
Mrs. Torgerson, treasurer.
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