SOS: Save Our School

For 94 years, from 1852 to 1946, children attended classes in the Valley School District #34 in the village of Point Douglas. When the school closed, the Point Douglas Women's Club bought the schoolhouse and held meetings and activities there until 1972, when they sold it to the Peterson family.

Now the Denmark Township Historical Society has made a commitment to save and restore the historic schoolhouse and grounds so that it once more can become an educational resource for the community. Members envision a time in the near future when children can attend classes there and gain understanding of what education was like in a one-room school. Located at the confluence of two great rivers, the Mississippi and the St. Croix, the schoolhouse might also serve as an interpretive center, welcoming visitors to the St. Croix Valley.

The schoolhouse is one of the oldest schools in Minnesota and one of the few still on its original site. It is truly a valuable historic treasure. It also is vulnerable, and it is vital that steps to save and restore it are taken soon, before further deterioration takes place.

Members of the Society have signed a purchase agreement with the Petersons and have launched a capital fundraising campaign to raise $125,000: $80,000 for the purchase of the building and land and $45,000 for restoration and other costs. We must raise $40,000 by May 1, 2012, the first deadline. The second payment of $40,000 is due a year from then, May 1, 2013. This is a big challenge for a small, nonprofit organization. We invite you to help reach these goals.

We hope you share our hope that we can Save Our School for future generations. The campaign steering committee, with Jean Boyd and Sharon Lewandowski as co-chairs, meets regularly and welcomes your participation. For more information on how you can help, please contact Jean at jeanmboyd@msn.com (651.436.8031) or Sharon at lewan009@umn.edu (651.436.5664). Thank you for your consideration and support.