BURKE — Six years ago, the Education Committee at the Almanzo Wilder Farm in Burke began fundraising to build a replica 1860 one-room schoolhouse there.
The schoolhouse is an important part of "Farmer Boy," written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, Almanzo's wife, first published in 1933. The Burke property is where Almanzo and his family lived from 1840 to 1875, when they moved to Spring Valley, Minn.
Over the past six years, children were excited to know that their admission fee for touring the farm was going to the schoolhouse project; members also contributed donations.
The committee also wanted to keep the very popular site from becoming stagnant by adding something new.
"There is no one-room schoolhouse around that the children can visit when they come to Almanzo's home," said archivist Elizabeth Menke, who along with her husband, Bill, also serves on the farm's Board of Trustees. "You have to keep a site interesting and changing if you want people to come back again."
WORK STALLED
With $30,000 collected, the committee gave the go-ahead to the contractor and is finally seeing the fruit of its labors. The frame is up and closed in, the roof is on, and a handicapped ramp has been built.
But that's as far as they can go for now.
"The cost of everything has gone up since we first received an estimate for materials," said Mrs. Menke. "The members were so generous that we hate to have to start fundraising again, but it's necessary if we are going to finish the school."
Burke resident and master carpenter Mike Brand designed the 26-by-32-foot building, working closely with the Menkes for authenticity. Brand and his coworker, Doug Dumas, also of Burke, have given special attention to following the details shared in Wilder's book.
"In the book, when the students come in the front door, there's a front wall to hang coats," he said, pointing to where studs now stand. "The plan is to also use this space for artwork from the kids who visit here and special displays."
AUTHENTIC DESIGN
A doorway at one end of the wall will open into the main schoolroom, which will have one row of desks for girls and another for boys, as did the school Almanzo attended. There are plans for a wood stove, blackboard and teacher's desk at the front of the room. They have a school bell but will be looking for artifacts original to a one-room schoolhouse as the project nears completion.
Brand has also been busy building the door and window frames, and will work on constructing the windows and doors this winter.
Mrs. Menke said that no matter what stage the schoolhouse is in, the fourth-grade students who visit next spring will have an opportunity to walk through the building and have their imaginations tapped with how it will look when finished.
"I'm not sure exactly where we will go from here," Mrs. Menke said. "With the money running out, we will have to wait to finish the schoolhouse, but we are dedicated to finishing it as soon as possible."
Email Susan Tobias at:
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
Jimmy Carter Endorses Egypt's Election Results
Biden Addresses West Point Graduating Class
Dozens of Children Killed in New Syria Attack
Raw Video: Activists Allege Massacre in Syria
NJ Man Charged With Murder in Death of Patz
Support, Fun for Kids of Fallen Soldiers at Camp
Fugitive Penguin Caught, Returned to Aquarium
50 Years Later, Underground Fire Still Burning
Light Show Transforms Sydney Opera House
Raw Video: Unruly Passenger Restrained in Miami
Raw Video: Robber Uses Drive-thru Window
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Calif.'s Coronado Named Nation's Best Beach
CEO Salaries Become Sore Issue in Labor Disputes
