Reed School District No. 3 Records

Collection

Identifier: Mss 103

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Reed Township School District #3 Records consist of official records, correspondence, school census records, and teacher’s registers. Receipts include payment for items connected with the school including firewood, carpentry work, grounds work, and payment to teachers. Teacher’s registers are books that were used by teachers to record attendance and events that happened throughout the day.

Dates

1878-1919.

Creator

Reed School District No. 3 (Cass County, N.D.) (Organization)

Access

The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.

Copyrights

Copyrights to this collection are held by the NDSU Archives.

History

The township of Reed was named after an early landowner. On February 13, 1884, a number of residents petitioned the Cass County Commissioners to become an organized township. This was approved on February 15, 1884. The first township meeting was held on March 4, 1884 at the Whitman School. Elected officers were: J. Hannaher, A.B. Mauch, and W.S. Olvier, Supervisors; A. Smedstad, Clerk; P. Stewart, Treasurer; D.C. Taffts, Assessor; E. Snether and J. Carmine, Justices of the Peace; and T.B. Hannan and B. Spenser, Constables. Taxes levied were $750. The Township was divided into three road districts with an overseer in in charge of each district. Taxes were levied on owners of real and personal property. Tax payers had the choice of paying the taxes or working them off by contributing work on township roads and bridges. Poll taxes could be paid the same way. School District #3 was organized in 1875 by A. McHench, the superintendent of schools for Cass County. The first meeting of the district was held June 23, 1875 in the Alex Gamble Home. Officers were elected: E.A. Atkinson, Director; R.D. Nelson, Clerk; and D.P. Harris, Treasurer. On April 20, 1876 the school site was established at the northeast corner of the Whitman homestead. A small frame building was erected. The first teacher was Miss Mercy E. Nelson. On November 3, 1877 it was voted to change the location of the schoolhouse and a tax levy of $700 was voted for a new building. The new building was of brick. New furniture and equipment was purchased in 1879. It was remodeled in 1926. It was officially the Whitman School, but it was known throughout the neighborhood as the Little Red Schoolhouse. This building was used for over 60 years. It was destroyed by fire in 1948. In the early 1960s, District #3 was incorporated into the Fargo School District.

Extent

.4 Linear Feet (.4 linear ft.)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Reed Township School District #3 Records consist of official records, correspondence, school census records, and teacher’s registers. Receipts include payment for items connected with the school including firewood, carpentry work, grounds work, and payment to teachers. Teacher’s registers are books that were used by teachers to record attendance and events that happened throughout the day.