Minnereka School & the 1897 Tornado
Click for larger photo Photo of Minnereka Grove, Lyle Twp., 1897 Cyclone.
Below is an article about the new Minnereka School. The old School stood in this grove.
THE NEW SCHOOL-HOUSE AT MINNEREKA
The Austin Daily Herald yesterday contained the following well written description of the school house at Minnereka:
"Minnereka school building is completed and the school opened Monday mroning with Miss Parmenter as teacher. Minnereka was the second school building destroyed by the Lyle cyclose last June. The building erected in place of the old one is neat, modern and commodious and a credit to any district. It is 36x22, with entry and cyclone cellar. From the outside it presents an attractive appearance; with the doors at the corners it differs somewhat from th econventional country school house style. It has a seating capacity for about fifty pupils and all the furniture is new and of the best material. The cost of the building is about $700. Minnereka neighborhood is to be congratulated on the beauty as well as the comfort of its new school house. The beautiful oak grove in which the old building stood is demolished and time only can repair the ravages of the elements. A few simple exercises for the opening of the building were planned by Miss Parmenter, and successfully carried out."
The plans for this building were drawn and the building erected by Mr. Tom Severson of this city.
[ Article from the Lyle Tribune, November 19,1897. Obtained from Sue Doocy, Mower Co. Historical Society ]
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