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1926: New $230,000 school lauded as 'the most practicable and satisfactory for the money'

Subhead
Bits By Betty
Lead Summary
By
Betty Mann, President, Rock County Historical Society

The following appeared in the Rock County Herald on November 5, 1926:
 
SCHOOL BUILDING IS FORMALLY DEDICATED
 
Large Throng Attends Exercises and Inspects Luverne’s New High School Friday Evening.
 
DESIGNERS AND BUILDERS ARE WARMLY PRAISED
 
Splendid Value and many Merits of New Structure Are Outlined by Different Speakers.
 
About seven hundred and fifty or eight hundred patrons and taxpayers of this city and community attended the exercises for the formal dedication of Luverne’s splendid new high school building, which were held Friday evening, commencing at 8:00 o’clock, at the high school auditorium.
Every seat in the large auditorium, which has a capacity of almost six hundred people, was occupied, while a large number of people who were unable to be seated, and could not get within audible distance of the speakers, had resorted to an inspection of the building. It is thought that this was the largest crowd that has ever turned out for any school activity of this nature for a number of years and it shows that the public is interested in what the school board and their subordinates are doing to further the education of the younger generation.
This new building represents an expenditure of approximately $230,000, of which $200,000 is the cost of the structure and permanent equipment, and $30,000 the cost of furnishings. It is conceded by disinterested out-of-town architects, contractors and school superintendents familiar with the costs of such school buildings, who have inspected the new building, to be one of the greatest values for the money to be found in the Northwest.
The opening number of the evening included several selections by the Luverne high school orchestra, of which H. L. Nowka is director, after which W. E. E. Greene, of The Architectural company, architects and supervisors of the construction of the building, was introduced by Supt. H. C. Bell, who presided. Mr. Greene gave a very interesting talk in which he explained the main features of the building, perhaps the most important of which was the fact that the new building is absolutely fireproof from the ground floor up as far as the roof, which is of wood construction. There is a layer of sheet metal constructed in the roof, however, which together with the metal lath that was used, makes the entire building practically fireproof. All the electrical wiring for every purpose throughout the building has been run through conduits to give further protection from fire. He also showed by actual figures and comparison that the cost of this new building was not as costly in proportion to size and cost of construction as was the old high school building on the hill and that the difference in the conveniences and general layout of the two buildings could not be compared.
President O. E. Ferguson, of the school board, then formally accepted the structure and complimented the Messrs. Greene and Oscar Rosin, of The Architectural company, for the diligent efforts that they had extended in making the new building the success that it is. He also lauded Supt. Bell for his untiring efforts, both in giving suggestions for the betterment of the building itself, and for the knowledge and good judgment used in choosing and purchasing the equipment, which is conceded to be the most practicable and satisfactory for the money of that in any school in this section of the country.
A short talk by Supt. Bell followed. He stated that the new building did not belong to the school board, the faculty and the students, but that the building belonged to the taxpayers and citizens of this community and that it was open to the public at any reasonable time, whenever the occasion warranted. He explained how the school district secured their funds with which to finance such an institution and showed how the taxes were divided so as to allow the right apportionment to the public schools throughout the state.
After a few selections were sung by the audience, two motion picture reels were shown, one of which was a comedy and the other made up of educational news films. An inspection of the building was permitted after the motion pictures had been shown. The entire building was opened up and the attendants permitted to wander around at their own leisure and view the various rooms.
A dance was also staged in the gymnasium, but due to the fact that no wax could be put on the floor because of rendering it too slippery for basketball and other gymnastics, not a very large number of people participated in this part of the program. The music for the dance was furnished by a phonograph, by the courtesy of the Myhre Studio, and a radio, by the courtesy of J. E. Treat.
Donations to the Rock County Historical Society can be sent to the Rock County Historical Society, 312 E. Main Street, Luverne, MN 56156.
Mann welcomes correspondence sent to mannmade@iw.net.

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