Denmark Township Historical Society invites community to visit Valley School this Sunday

Former students at the historic Valley School in Denmark Township will greet guests at a special “School Daze” event Sunday, Sept. 30.

Richard Hullander will be joined by Carroll Fuhr and Gordon Whitaker at the school from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to share stories about the one-room school, built in 1852 and still on its original site at 13728 St. Croix Trail S. at the southern tip of Washington County. Teacher Darlene Hallberg will also be present, in addition to President Wayne Boyd, who will explain the significance of the school and the village of Point Douglas.

The school closed in 1946 when schools were consolidated and students began attending school in Hastings.

Guests will park at nearby Carpenter Nature Center, 12805 St. Trail S., and ride a school bus to visit the Valley School from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. During that time, activities at Carpenter Nature Center will include rides in a horse-drawn wagon provided by Gordy Herman, a song fest of old songs led by Society member Bill Kruschel, a power-point presentation about the ghost town of Point Douglas and refreshments, including apples donated by Denmark Township orchards.

At 3 p.m. guests will gather at Carpenter Nature Center’s new pavilion for a short program led by former student Richard Hullander and featuring greetings from special guests.

At 3:30 p.m. society member Lyla Davies will hold a drawing for raffle prizes, an activity she has organized for many years. Tickets will be available at the event.

Anyone interested in helping to restore the school is invited to attend. Let the Society know you are coming by e-mailing Valda and Oliver Van Alstine at valdavan@msn

.com or calling Mavis and Bob Voigt at 612-823-4934.

The Denmark Township Historical Society organized the “School Daze” event to thank donors for helping to save the Valley School and to give supporters and interested people a chance to see the old schoolhouse. The Society became the owners of the school May 1 when it made the first payment of $40,000, made possible by generous donors in the community. Now members are in Phase II with the goal of raising another $40,000 to complete the purchase. At the same time, Society members are working on nominating the school to the National Register of Historic Places and funding a historic structures report to ensure that the building is restored properly. Located at the confluence of the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, the historic school is a survivor in what once was the thriving village of Point Douglas.

For more information about the SOS: Save Our School project, contact Society President Wayne Boyd and campaign co-chair Jean Boyd at jeanmboyd@msn.

com 651-436-8031; or co-chair Sharon Lewandowski at lewan009@umn.edu 651-436-5664.

Tags: area family events, events, entertainment