Back to School with the Country Schools of North Dakota Survey (Part 2)

By Jen Wilkie - Director, PND

I've been blogging and promoting the latest survey project being conducted under the direction of the State Historical Society of North Dakota because we really need people to come out in support of this work for it to be successful. If you haven't already, check out the SHSND website for more information about how to volunteer for this exciting project!

This is Part 2 in the series about surveying schools in Traill County, so if you're just joining me, you may also want to read Part 1.

Our second trip took us across the central and northern townships in Traill County, as well as revisiting a southern township to document a school we had missed. Here's a photo tour of our site visits:



Kelso #1 has been moved a short distance from it's original site and converted into a home. The owner, a former school teacher herself, has photos and other school ephemera in the entryway to commemorate its life as a school.



Bloomfield #3 has been moved onto private property and re-purposed as (what appears to be) a storage shed of some kind.

We believe this former school is Buxton #2, and as you can see, it has been moved onto private property and is currently used as a garage.

Hillsboro #4 is on its original site and appears to be in fair condition. The back of the school is charred from fire and some modifications were made as the school had been converted to a home before being vacated.

Wold #3 is still in its original location and is in good condition as well. With its gable roof and lack of significant architectural detail, we believe this may be one of the older schools in the county. It would have been nice to go inside, but a rather large nest of crabby wasps above the door didn't care to let us in!



Kelso #3 is still in its original location. This school was used for migrant laborers after it closed, and, unfortunately, the interior has been infested with various wild animals. Check back for more info as we finish the survey forms and add more info about Traill County country schools...