Lessons Learned from the District 6 Schoolhouse

photo of the District 6 School in section 14 of New Sweden Township — *Photo of the District 6 School in section 14 of New Sweden Township*

The one-room schoolhouse may no longer be in its heyday, but remnants of the brick and clapboard structures that once educated our state’s youth can still be found. One such example is the District #6 schoolhouse, which is situated on a 1.1-acre plot in Section 14 of New Sweden Township. It was one of the 68 rural school districts established in Nicollet County.

Teacher with students inside a rural schoolhouse. — *Inez Peterson with her students inside schoolhouse District 6, New Sweden, Minnesota, c. 1904.*

The first school building on this site was constructed in the early 1860s, and in 1863, Johanna Peterson became the first teacher in the schoolhouse. The present building, which is the third schoolhouse, was built in 1929. However, in 1957, the State ordered all school districts to be reassigned new numbers, and District #6 was renamed #1273. Classes were eventually discontinued after the 1957-1958 year.

In 1963, the site was transferred to New Sweden Township and was subsequently used as a town hall for voting and community events until 2003. The property was later transferred to the Friends of District 6 Association in 2011, with the aim of utilizing it for educational and community purposes.

The Friends of District 6, which includes past students and descendants of some of the original pupils, have been working tirelessly to preserve and restore the schoolhouse for many years. They began restoration work in 2012 when they replaced the basement and roof. The ultimate goal was to restore the schoolhouse to its former glory and reopen it to the public. This would allow area children to visit it for field trips, attend re-enactments, and learn about the students who once attended country schools.

White building on a grass. — *The New Sweden Township Hall, formerly the District 6 School, taken in 1985.*

Group of people standing in front of a building. — Gathering of former teachers and students of the New Sweden Twp District 6 School posing in front of the deteriorating school for the school’s 2004 Reunion. The names of the members are L to R: Front in the wheelchair – Florence Wright Peterson, former teacher; Kneeling in front – Roger Rodning, Gordon Bjorklund; 1st row – Delores (Meyer) Rathman (teacher in the early 1942-45), Florence Peterson’s son, wife and daughter; Mayme Renneke, Erwood Jonason, Ordella Heidemann (former teacher), Laura (Bohlen) Reid (teacher in 1939), Eunice Bjorklund (behind Laura); Ramona, Diane and Marlys Peterson, Robert Johnson; 2nd row – Robert Eckberg, Willard Bjorklund, Lois Johnson, Emilie Johnson; Ardella and Louise Bjorklund, Margaret Johnson; 3rd row – Dennis Rodning, Dorothy Rodning, Dorothy Freitag, Kay Sjostrom (back), Carl Johnson, Shirley Nelson, Karen Sjostrom; 4th row – Leland Jonason, Arlene Renneke, Marie Bjorklund, Garfield Eckberg, Winnis Renneke and husband (behind her); back row – Charles Johnson, Lloyd Zimmerman, Paul Bjorklund, Gerald Johnson, Marjorie Eckberg.

After World War II, many of the smaller rural schools merged with larger schools in St. Peter, Mankato, and Courtland. As a result, the unused one-room schoolhouses were either repurposed, torn down, or left to deteriorate. It is the dedication of the former students of District 6 that has kept their one-room schoolhouse alive while many others have disappeared. It is an important piece of history that deserves to be preserved for future generations.

Today, thanks to the tireless work of the Friends of District 6, the schoolhouse has been fully restored to its former glory and is ready to welcome visitors. This historic site stands as a testament to the dedication of past students and community members who recognized the importance of preserving a part of their heritage. The restored schoolhouse is now a valuable resource for educating future generations about the rural school experience and the importance of preserving our history. Visitors are invited to come and explore this unique piece of history, learn about its storied past, and gain a better appreciation for the challenges and triumphs of early education in rural America