Election held June 3, 1913 with 47 votes for and none against. On July 2, 1913 bids were opened for a new building and heating plant. J.A. Trembley bid of $7,965 for frame construction was accepted. No bids accepted for heating plant and bids again called and opened October 2, 1913 at which time F.L. Spencer secured the bid at $1,290. On July 14, 1914 bids were called for completion of second floor and again J.A. Trembley secured the bid at $2,000. Bids for basement opened February 1917 went to Andrew Arnston, $192.
School was held in the church basement until mid term when they moved into the new school. Violet Stedman Topp and Marie Kistler Stedman Pfeifer still live here. Dan Flatters and Joe Sandvol were first school bus drivers. Driving with horses, one wonders at the time students put in on buses in those days.
The first school graduates were Constance Potter, Raymond and Alice Trembley.
In the spring of 1948 a special election was called for the purpose of bonding for $16,000 to erect a gymnasium adjacent to the school building. Up to this time programs and basketball games were held in the hall uptown.
For many years the Christmas programs, graduations and declamation contests were held in the Methodist church. This election was held June 29, 1948 and failed by 18 votes of having the necessary 2/3 majority.
In November 1948 the P.T.A. requested the school board to again call for election for the gymnasium vote.
This was held in January of 1949 and this vote failed by 27 votes. In January of 1951 the school board called a meeting of taxpayers and school patrons, including those who had pupils attending this school on a tuition basis. Purpose of meeting was to discuss building plans and methods of financing. Owner of hall uptown had refused the hall for another year.
Orin Topp had a plan for a Rilso Rafter building and stated that Thompson yards of New Rockford gave a proposed estimate of $8,268 and Schultz Lumber of Carrington of $10,000.
Again an election was called February 5, 1951 for a bond of $14,000 to build a gymnasium. This vote carried 95 to 13.
Bids were called for sale of bonds and the Bank of North Dakota bought them for 2 1/2% interest for a term covering 14 years. Building material bids went to Thompson yards for $10,175; to Odin Topp Hardware for plumbing and heating $1,492 and for wiring, $299.54.
Volunteers turned out in record numbers. The first rafters were raised on Thursday a.m. and by Saturday evening the building was enclosed and shingled. There were 60 men working that day of the rafter raising and shingling. The shell of the building, foundation and floor were completed between May 15 and June 18, the interior not worked on until after harvest.
In 1965 after several informational meetings and bus trips to Guelph, North Dakota to view the new school there, an election was held to vote on a $155,000 bond issue for a new school building. 85% of the voters turned out and the issue carried the first time with 82% in favor.
Reorganization of the school was in 1959 when areas of Columbia, Cherry Lake, Haven, Florence, Rolling Prairie, and Nordmore united. The school board membership was changed from a three member board to a five member board.
The new school was dedicated May 1, 1966.
Financial Report
| General contract | $93,748.00 |
| Electrical contract | 13,305.00 |
| Architectural contract | 9,080.00 |
| Plumbing contract | 35,226.00 |
| Cost of new desks | 725.00 |
| Attorney's fees: | 1,002.00 |
| Advertising bonding | 846.54 |
| $15,732.54 |
Grace City School held an all year reunion June 25, 26, 27, 1976 which for these days greatly increased the population of Grace City as former students came back to their alma mater along with friends and interested persons.
A parade of 40 units wound through the streets coming to a conclusion at the school. Attendance at the banquet was 438 and at the picnic 625. One family, the Russell Ottos, were unique in that both Russell and Donna and their children, Kent, Terry, and Kathy had all spent their entire school career here , all graduating. Cleole Ridgeway Bonderud of St. Paul, Minnesota, being the oldest teacher coming. She taught here in 1911-1912. Sunday morning June 27, a large crowd attended a combined church service with a mass choir of 35 people. Serving as minister, a former Grace City graduate, was Rev. Arthur Scanson of Minot, North Dakota '
Grace City School students have always taken part in play days. One year it was held at Juanita Lake Park. There were declamation contests, County play contests. In 1934 "Grace City Won County Play Honors" with a cast of four characters. Fern Willoughby, who took the part of the grandmother in the play, "The Old Fashioned Way" was chosen the best actress. Grace City has had a basketball (boys) team which was started in 1927. In 1931 both boys and girls won the county tournament. Around 1940 the boys had a good six-man football team. They defeated Tuttle 54 to 12 in the regional tournament. Then they played West Fargo at Hannaford in the state class C tournament. Players were Dwight Wright, Russell Otto, Tommy House, Bob Melgard, Jr. Topp, L. Swart, Myles Anderson, and Harland House.
At present the high school has a speech team. They won two speech tournaments. Those taking part were: Joan Ellingson, Peggy Jensen, Kelly Bjornson, Tim Tag, Mary Fast, Shannon Topp, Teresa Topp, Paula Topp, Camelle Kulsrud, Leanne Lindstrom, Karol Bjornson, and Cindy Tag. Their coach is JoAnn Spickler. The school also takes part in music festivals. At one time they had a band but not at present.
I nearly forgot. Does any one remember the old school fence? It was a wooden fence and a favorite pastime was balancing or fence walking. Guess it was a way of practicing for the balance board, a contest for girls on Play Day. By the way, the boys had chinning as one of their contests.
Some of our early athletes were Merle Stedman, who one year practically brought home the top trophy himself. Boys basketball players were Ernest Scanson, Dale Flatters, Roy Brown, Lyle Baker, Harold and Lloyd Burk, Coach Morris Sweeney.
First six-man football team: John Flatters, Glen Lindstrom, Norvin Black, Frederick House, Russell Otto, Harland House and Dwight Wright, coached by Hans Rosvold.
Girls Basketball organized by Merle Thompson, 1929 players were Alice and Mary Huiting, Myrtle Topp, Irene Johnson, June Trembley, Billie Goddard.
List of early teachers but the children of Mrs. Larrabee told us that their grandmother taught school and also Mrs. Grace Austin said that her grandmother, Mrs. Hiram Warren taught school in a log building on what is now the Spickler ranch.
Source: A History of Foster County 1983 Page 324