School History

SCHOOL HISTORY

The new school at Lyons was built about 1920-1921 and the move into the new brick building was made after the Christmas holidays in 1922. The old building was sold to Finkle Bunde for use on his farm located just northwest of the school yard. All twelve grades were taught in the new building.

Previous to this, the Lyons school occupied the old school building which was located at the site of the new building. In addition, some of the grades were housed in what was known as the Larson building on the main street. The old school was a one-room building and was about 18’ x 24’ in size, built in 1879 or 1880. It had home-made seats and desks, and a blackboard was painted on one end of the room. A full set of maps, a historical map, a Manikin reading chart, a globe, and a lamp were gradually added as funds became available. An entry was built the entire length of the building.

Because the old building had to be moved out of the way in order to build the new school, school was temporarily held in the Larson building downtown and also at the house where Sam Wickre’s and Andy Lemme’s lived in later years. They also had school upstairs in a building east of Carlberg’s grocery store. Hilda Jacobson Dubbe, Selma Thompson Eitrheim, Marion Bowen Nelson, Nora Thompson Baalson, Miss Goshaw, Martha Almos, Christie Berdahl, and Lulu Barber Anderson were some of the new teachers then. The first high school principal was Frank Wagner. Later on, Art Baalson was superintendent, and he married Nora Thompson who was a grade school teacher. Some other high school teachers during those first years included Mary Geigh and Sophia Fanebust.

Previous to the consolidation, there were a number of school districts: District #53 which was the old Lyons school district; District #135 known as the Winter School; and District #66. Among the pioneer teachers of these we find the names of Harriet Fuller, Lincoln Disbrow, Jennie Raymond, Maggie Nicholson, Mr. Williams, Austin C. Risty, Adolph Hamre, and Lucinda Kolaas. Some of the pioneer students were John Sherry; Mamie Sherry; Alice Fuller; Susie Fuller; Oscar and Gust Carlberg; Gunder and Annie Bunde; Annie, Carl and Anton Anderson; and Mills Fuller.

In order to have Christmas programs, operettas, plays, etc., a large temporary stage was built on the east end of the gym, with a curtain that could be pulled between acts of the play. It had to be taken down so basketball could be played. People watching games had to sit on benches along the sides, or stood or sat on chairs up in the hallway on the west end. Some sat on the stairways. Finally, in 1936, with the help of WPA workers, a stage area plus 6 feet was added to the east end of the gym. Then the pep band and cheering squad could sit on stage at ball games.

The number of high school students increased. Crooks High School had classes for only two years at a time, so they came to Lyons for the last two years. Eventually, in 1937, the Crooks School closed. They then had to travel to Lyons for their four years of high school or go elsewhere. Eighth grade graduates from country schools became freshmen in Lyons. Busses were run to the outlying homes in the school district. It was necessary for some students to walk a long distance to catch the bus, or they had to have their own transportation. Lincoln Brendtro started to drive a bus from Crooks while he was still a student. Heat in the busses during winter months was provided by an exhaust pipe running under the seats, which were benches along the sides. Some students had to stand in the aisle, while most of the older high school kids held the smaller ones on their lap. Usually the last ones on had to stand.

In 1937 Lyons won their first District basketball tournament, and the team was honored with a banquet. They sat at a table on the stage, while other people were in the gym area. Esther Warwick and Madeline Larson were the waitresses. Colton High School was the main opponent on the basketball court during those years of the 1930’s.

In the early 1930’s, an orchestra was formed with Mr. Lee as director, and later, at times it performed as a band, without the string instruments,

The last indebtedness bonds of the school were burned in 1945. Remodeling was done at different times to accommodate the number of students who attended. Manual training was held for a time in the attic. A small room above the office was used as a teacher retreat room. Most rooms were used for different classes as the students sat in the Assembly and went to other classrooms from there. Some classes were held in the Assembly also.

In 1960 a gymnasium was built behind (or east) of the original school building. It included a stage and restrooms. Later on a kitchen and a music room were added to the north end. Then the hot lunch program really “took off”. Wrestling also was held in the chorus/band/music room. After lunch, grade room children had physical education in this gym area.

On May 24, 1966 a special election created Tri-Valley Independent School District No. 153. In May of 1967 the last class graduated from Lyons High School after having graduated 45 classes and a total of about 751 students. On July 1, 1967 the new district went into effect, combining Colton, Lyons, Crooks and other small common school districts. School was then held at the three sites. All high school basketball games were held in the Lyons Gym until the gym was finished in the new Tri-Valley School . Construction began in 1998 of an addition to the new school, located west of Lyons, and in the fall of 1999 all formal education in the district was held at one site for the first time.

The history of Lyons High School is much more than written above. So much could be written about the sports, the music, the drama, the education, the bus rides, the friendships. Lyons High School was much more than just a building. It shaped our lives; it made us what we are today. Our roots will forever be with Lyons High!!