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On the Porch

The Taunton school district purchased land from the Winona & St. Peter Railroad Company for a school. The elementary school began in 1889. A four room school house was built in 1906 at a cost of $7,000. The building was located on block 13 of Main and 4th Street. A high school began in July 1922 and continued until May 1932. The school district was originally District 43 and later became District 977. The school district maintained the elementary school until 1970. After the school closed, students were enrolled at Minneota.

The Taunton Centennial book, which was published in 1986, includes memories from Clement Holland, who was superintendent of the Taunton School from 1926 to 1932. He was also one of five teachers at the school in 1926.

“In September of 1926 when I came to Taunton as Superintendent of Public Schools and teacher of high school social studies and science, the Lyon County 43 school district was made up of an eight grade elementary school of approximately 80 students and 3 teachers, and an unaccredited high school with 2 of us teaching subjects to approximately 40 students. Both units were housed in a square 2 story building containing 4 large classrooms. One room on the ground floor housed the 1st and 2nd grades taught by Miss Lucille Salmon of Minneota. The other one contained the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades taught by Miss Anna Dyvan of Annandale. Miss Bernice Finnegan of Minneota taught the 6th, 7th, and 8th grades in one of the second floor rooms. The remaining 2nd floor room had been portioned to make 2 smaller rooms, one in which Miss Estelle Wolhart of Brainerd taught English and Mathematics. Social Studies and Science class were taught in the other room.”

Clement Holland also wrote that during his time at the Taunton School, the unaccredited 3 year high school was raised to a 4 year accredited high school department by the state. Taunton High School also became a member of the State High School League. By 1932, the high school was eliminated. To maintain the school accreditment would have required an expansion of the district’s $225,000 assessed valuation and increased enrollment.

The photograph featured this week shows students in the Taunton Elementary School. The photograph was taken in November of the 1964-1965 school year.

The Lyon County Historical Society is a non-profit, member-supported organization. For more information on membership, research, volunteering, or the museum’s collection, please contact us at 537-6580 or director@lyoncomuseum.org. Like our page and follow us on Facebook.

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