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The Lyon County School District #80 schoolhouse was built on section 8 of Westerheim Township, along the Yellow Medicine River, year unknown. The front entry on the building was added at some point. Lyon County School District #80 consolidated with Lyon County Joint Independent Consolidated School District #20, Minnesota in 1953 (after 1957, Independent School District #414, Minnesota).
Jennie Frost, who was the Lyon County Superintendent of Schools from 1927 to 1959, once taught in this schoolhouse. Jennie graduated with the first class of Minneota High School in 1904. In the fall of 1904, Jennie taught in this schoolhouse. She had 12 students and her starting salary was $30 a month.
The schoolhouse was donated to the Lyon County Historical Society in 1970 by George and Beatrice Buysse. At the time, the building was painted white and was later painted red by the Historical Society. The schoolhouse was moved to the Lyon County Fairgrounds where it resided until October of 1994, when it was moved to the West Side Elementary School playground. Lyon County donated the moving cost and concrete foundation.
In August of 2021, the schoolhouse was moved back to the Lyon County Fairgrounds due to the demolition of West Side Elementary School and the opening of Southview Elementary. Lyon County donated the moving cost and concrete foundation.
Visit the schoolhouse this weekend during the Lyon County Fair. The building is open on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The photograph featured this week from the Lyon County Museum's collection shows the interior of the Lyon County School District #80 schoolhouse.
The Lyon County Historical Society (LCHS) is a nonprofit, member-supported organization. LCHS operates the Lyon County Museum at 301 West Lyon Street in Marshall. The Lyon County Museum is open year-round to visitors. To contact us, visit our website: www.lyoncomuseum.org, call: 507-537-6580, email: director@lyoncomuseum.org, or on our Facebook page.