In 1886, a new school was built in Marshall on Lyon Street at a cost of $15,000. The building contained seven school rooms, two large recitation rooms, cloak rooms, and the basement contained the Ruttan system of heating and ventilating.

Later, extensive improvements were made due to increasing attendance. The third story attic was converted into a class room, laboratory, superintendent’s office and supply rooms. The class of 1888 was the first Marshall High School graduating class. The graduates were: Edith Addison, Harry W. Addison, Minnie E. Andrew, William D. Frost, Nette Jackson, S. Sigvaldson, Mille Whitney, and Grace Watson.

On Thursday, Dec. 8, 1898, the school was completely destroyed by a fire.

“The fine high school building, one of the prides of Marshall and a handsome and well built edifice occupying the most sightly and prominent block in town, lies this morning in ruins. Only the four brick walls, sooted with smoke and covered with ice, are standing, and the smoking ruins present a desolate contrast to what was twenty-four hours ago a busy hive of educational industry, filled with more than three hundred pupil bees eagerly building a foundation of learning. Nearly 350 pupils are this morning taking an enforced vacation, but it is not a happy holiday for them, for even the children feel something of the sense of loss which everyone in Marshall keenly appreciates.” The News-Messenger of Lyon County on Dec.9, 1898.

The fire was discovered in the building at around 11:05 p.m. The fire was discovered by people coming from an evening party at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Baker. As the people walked past the school house on Lyon Street, they observed that the windows in the center of the building on the second floor were lighted, but it was initially thought that someone was in the building and had lamps lit.

One of the observers was Fred Healy, who was on the fire department. He thought he smelled smoke and after passing the building he turned back to investigate. As he approached the building, the smell of wood was very strong, and going to the Redwood Street side of the school, he could see light which he was certain was from a fire and he quickly gave the alarm.

According to the newspaper article on Dec. 9, it was believed that the fire originated either in the laboratory on the third story due to chemicals or combustible supplies or originated in the superintendent’s office on the third story due to a stove.

The building had been heated with furnaces, but a part of the third story was heated with a stove, which had been in use for the past year. The fire department was unable to check the flames on account of the dense smoke which prevented them from carrying their hose into the third story. They fought the fire from the outside and from the second floor. Within three hours of giving of the alarm, only the brick walls marked the building.

During the months following the fire, classes were held in churches and other locations throughout Marshall. The school board wasted no time in making plans for a new building to be constructed on the original foundation.

In January 1899, the plans were drawn by W.B. Dunnell and the contract for construction was awarded to Angus McLeod and Co. of Minneapolis. The total cost including the heating, plumbing, ventilation, and furnishings was around $60,000.

The new building was completed at the end of November 1899 and occupied in early December. The school served as the grade school, junior high school, and high school at various times for nearly 80 years. By the time the building was demolished in 1979, two new high schools, (N. 4th St in 1931 and Saratoga St. 1968) and two grade schools (East Side in 1952 and West Side in 1955) were built.

The photograph featured this week is a sketch of the Marshall High School that was built in 1886 and destroyed by the fire on Dec. 8, 1898. The sketch is on the cover of a commencement program in the Lyon County Museum’s collection. The commencement program is for the class of 1893. Commencement exercises were held at the M.E. Church in Marshall on June 9 at 8 p.m. The graduates were: Addie B. Pierce, Frank W. Case, Mame L. Madison, Bertha L. Snyder, Gunerius C. Lee, and Robert M. Neill.

The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a non-profit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 W Lyon St in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.