According to Arthur P. Rose’s 1912 “History of Lyon County,” the first school in Tracy opened in the summer of 1875, and it was conducted in a small frame structure that housed the Presbyterian church. Miss Stella Cleveland was the first teacher and the first pupils were Mary Starr, Fred Starr, Sanford Joy, Sherman Joy, and John Craig. The school was conducted in the Presbyterian church until 1880, and the teachers during that time were Hannah Evans, Harriet E. Tucker, and C.W. Candee.

In 1880, a four-room, two-story brick veneer school house was built at the cost of $6,000. The building was located at Second and Rowland Streets. In 1887, two additional rooms were added to the building to take care of the growing school population. In 1888, reorganization was completed under the Independent District plan and a high school was established. The first high school class graduated in 1890.

In time, the school population rapidly increased that added facilities were demanded. In the spring of 1895, the people of Tracy decided to build another school. By a majority of 257, at an election held April 23, the voters authorized the issuance of bonds to the amount of $30,000. The bonds were sold, the brick building was built, and it formally opened on Jan. 7, 1896. The lower grades occupied the old 1880 building and the high school occupied the new building. Later on, the new building served as the grade school (this building was destroyed by the June 13, 1968, tornado).

The 1880 building was destroyed by a fire on Feb. 29, 1912, bringing a loss of $10,000, covered by $7,000 insurance. After the fire, students were taught at various sites across town as the Board of Education developed plans for a new school building. The Board decided that the new building would be for the high school. In March of 1913, the Board called for a vote to issue $29,000 in bonds to build a new high school. The bond issue was carried, and new building was erected in 1914.

The photograph featured this week from the museum’s collection was taken of the fire that destroyed the 1880 building on Feb. 29, 1912.

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!