Off the Editor’s Desk 3-23-2022

Old Glenwood City School, a history!

As demolition crews dismantle the old school in Glenwood City, many memories come up about the days that many of us spent attending classes on what we called the school hill.

The site was chosen early on in the history of Glenwood City and a single room wood structure was the first school being build as just an elementary school in 1885. But over the next six years, three more wood structures were built and the school building formed a Greek cross. 

In 1891, a two story brick structure was constructed and in 1907 that building was enlarged and the wood structure school rooms were removed. This building was destroyed by fire on July 30, 1958.

The present structure which is being razed now was constructed at three different times, starting with the gym which was the center of the complex. It was built in 1937 at a cost of $39,000. The addition to the west of the gym, containing six classrooms, boys and girls showers, lunch room and offices was built in 1954.

Class rooms and an agriculture shop were constructed in 1958 to the east of the gym and that was finished just in time to house high school students after the fire.

After the fire a new high school was constructed on the east side of the community and the elementary was housed in this building, and it was used as a school until 1991.

Thanks for reading!   ~Carlton