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Harmony Area Schools

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Harmony Area Historical Society
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Photograph of Harmony School

Description: First frame structure built in 1897 to house Harmony Elementary and High School students in Harmony, Fillmore County. Used with the permission of the Harmony Area Historical Society.

Harmony’s first school, nicknamed the Little Red Schoolhouse, was a one-room structure built in 1864 in the village of Greenfield Prairie, a mile south of where Harmony would later be incorporated. The modest school, built by some of the area’s earliest immigrants, provided the foundation for what would become a thriving independent school district, a source of great pride, and a sign of prosperity for those living in and around Harmony for almost a century.

For two decades, Harmony area students attended classes at the Little Red Schoolhouse, but it was decided in 1884 that a larger school was needed to accommodate a growing population. A two-story frame structure went up along Main Street, with one spacious classroom on each floor. Because of the busy spring planting and lucrative fall harvest seasons, enrollment during the first few years fluctuated between 88 and 143 students.

When a larger four-classroom school was constructed in 1897, the first two-story school was converted into the Arlington Hotel, which operated for almost four decades. By 1900, Harmony’s school had 205 students. It was still considered an elementary school, but it no longer fit that definition because high school courses were being taught. Voters approved a bond, and Harmony Independent School District #228 was born.

In the spring of 1905, Harmony High School held its first graduation ceremony for four young men and five young women. The class flower was a white rose, and its colors were maroon and gold. “No Victory Without Labor” was the school’s original motto.

The white frame school was remodeled during the summer of 1902. The first floor went from two to four classrooms, accommodating the first through seventh grades; the second floor’s two rooms were opened up into one larger room for the eighth grade. A library boasting 700 books, science classrooms, and a recitation room were also added. Students participated in spelling bees, literary societies, and debate. Due to the school’s lack of a gymnasium or stage, spring graduation ceremonies and class plays were held in the Harmony Opera House.

By 1905, sports at Harmony High were already underway, with the most popular being baseball and basketball. The Harmony High School baseball team won the state championship in 1905 and the next four consecutive seasons. The school’s mascot was a red cardinal and its school song was a rendition of the University of Minnesota’s Rouser. Over time, Harmony’s sporting teams would win several conference and district titles, including Minnesota’s Class “C” Football Championship in 1984.

In 1910 yet another new school was built on the south side of the white frame school to house the growing student body, at a cost of $12,500. Upon its completion, the red brick building became the high school while the white frame structure housed the younger students.

In 1935, Harmony voters approved $142,756 for construction of a new building, which included a gymnasium with a stage. Graduation ceremonies and plays were no longer held at the Harmony Opera House. The white frame school was demolished and the new school dedicated December 4, 1936. Lower grades moved into the 1910 red brick school. Harmony High School’s first Junior-Senior Prom was held on June 3, 1937 and its first band was organized in 1940.

In 1959, the remaining one-room country schools in the surrounding area voted to merge with the Harmony School District. To meet this increased demand, a one-story fourteen-classroom elementary school was completed in 1960. By the fall of 1962, the high school had 839 students. Harmony voters passed bonding in 1966 for construction of a high school addition, which included new administrative offices, a kitchen and lunchroom, classrooms and a new gymnasium with upgraded locker rooms. The project was completed in 1968 at a cost of $945,000.

In the May 1993, the last Harmony High School graduation was held. In September, the Harmony High Independent School District #228 ceased to be upon consolidation with nearby Preston-Fountain Independent School District #233.

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© Minnesota Historical Society
  • Bibliography

Hahn, Amy Jo. “Isabel Daniels Paolini.” Transcript of an oral history conducted on January 13, 2016. “Oral History Project: Voices of Harmony,” Harmony Area Historical Society.
http://www.harmonymnhistory.org/uploads/IsabelDanielsPaolini_Transcript_2016_web.pdf

Jacobson, Anna Aaberg. “Memories of Early Years of Harmony.” Harmony Area Historical Society archives, 1956.

Johnson, Milicent Yates. Let’s Have Harmony: A Centennial History. Harmony Centennial Committee. Rochester, MN: Davies Printing, 1996.

“Let’s Have “Harmony”: The Biggest Little Town in Southern Minnesota.” City of Harmony Historic Educational Panels. Harmony Area Historical Society, 2017.

Related Images

Photograph of Harmony School
Photograph of Harmony School
Photograph of the first Harmony High School
Photograph of the first Harmony High School
Photograph of Harmony High School, 1910
Photograph of Harmony High School, 1910
Photograph of students in Harmony's frame school, 1900
Photograph of students in Harmony's frame school, 1900
Photograph of Harmony High School, 1936
Photograph of Harmony High School, 1936
Photograph of Harmony High School, 1941
Photograph of Harmony High School, 1941
Photograph of Harmony High School and Elementary School, 1941
Photograph of Harmony High School and Elementary School, 1941
Harmony High School, 1945
Harmony High School, 1945

Turning Point

In the fall of 1993, Harmony Independent School District #228 ceases to exist when it consolidates with nearby Preston-Fountain Independent School District #223 to form Fillmore Central Independent School District #2198.

Chronology

1864

A one-room building, nicknamed the Little Red Schoolhouse, is constructed in Greenfield Prairie, a village a mile south of where Harmony now sits.

1884

A two-story school is built in Harmony to accommodate the growing student population, replacing the Little Red Schoolhouse.

1897

A four-room two-story Harmony School is built in Harmony; the previous school building becomes the Arlington Hotel.

1900

There are 205 students enrolled in Harmony School.

1901

Harmony School upgrades from a graded elementary school to Harmony Independent School District #228.

1905

The first Harmony High School class, consisting of five girls and four boys. Graduates.

1910

A new two-story brick school is constructed at a cost of $12,500.

1911

The 1897 two-story white frame school building is torn down

1936

A larger brick high school building is built. It includes a gym and, to the relief of young athletes, locker rooms with showers and washrooms.

1960

A new elementary school building is constructed west of the 1936 high school building at a cost of $945,000.

1967

The 1910 brick school building is demolished.

1968

A new addition is made to the North side of the high school, including classrooms, schools offices, a lunchroom, a new gym and upgraded locker rooms.

1993

The last Harmony High School class graduates thirty-nine students in the spring. Harmony Independent School District #228 consolidates with nearby Preston-Fountain Independent School District #233 in the fall.