Aurora County, SD Schools This list compiled by Barbara Pierce, The following is an index of early Aurora County Schools. Information was compiled from historical books (1983/1990) and published homestead maps. A list of other Aurora County schools are at the end of the index. TOWNSHIP TWP # RANGE SECTION LOCATION SCHOOL OR HOMESTEAD [DATE] DATE COMMENTS ======================================================================================================================================================== Aurora 101N 63W 1 SW 1/4 Pete Nicholson homestead [1884] Aurora 101N 63W 6 SE 1/4 Kluthe School -Chas. Kluthe Homestead (1899). School was also used as the township hall. Sold to Fred Bruinsma. It is on the original site as a landmark building. Shown on 1990 map. Aurora 101N 63W 14 SE 1/4 Johnnie Burns homestead [1893] Aurora 101N 63W 16 NE 1/4 School Section Aurora 101N 63W 20 NW 1/4 Sylvester Miller homestead [1888] Aurora 101N 63W 26 SW 1/4 Bert Reeves homestead [1883] Aurora 101N 63W 28 SE 1/4 Gat Reeves homestead [1882] Aurora 101N 63W 31 NE 1/4 Charlie Johnson homestead [1883] 1897 -Chas. Johnson homestead (1883). Later moved west of Dean Hughes home and renames Hughes School. NOTE: Early schools in the township were the Sperlich & Long (1884), Nolder, Toft, Kluthe, Charlie Johnson (moved & renamed Hughes). All of these schools except Kluthe have been torn down or moved to other locations. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Belford 105N 63W 6 SE 1/4 (unknown) 1884 Belford 105N 63W 9 NE 1/4 Cahill School 1884 -Mike Cahill homestead Belford 105N 63W 11 SE 1/4 (unknown) 1884 Belford 105N 63W 14 SE 1/4 Oska Thompson homestead [1898] Belford 105N 63W 25 SW 1/4 A. B. Fisher homestead [1883] Belford 105N 63W 28 SE 1/4 Peterson School 1884 -Andrew Peterson homestead. School closed in the fall of 1915, reopened in the fall of 1917. Belford 105N 63W 30 NE 1/4 (unknown) NOTE: Early schools were the Cahill, Elm Grove (also called Brown's School/1905), Jenkins, Heljeson, Scott (Lat 434630N/Long 0984629W), Peterson & Storla. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bristol 105N 64W 7 NW 1/4 (unknown) 1884 Bristol 105N 64W 9 NW 1/4 (unknown) 1884 Bristol 105N 64W 10 SE 1/4 C. L. Mott homestead [1883] 1884 Bristol 105N 64W 23 S 1/2 Nolan Grove School 1884 -James Nolan homestead (1881). Still standing, unused. Formerly called Finlayson School and was located 1 mile south of where it is. Shown on 1990 map. Bristol 105N 64W 29 SE 1/4 Union School -Still standing, unused. Lat 435151N/Long 0983148W Bristol 105N 64W Way School NOTE: Some of the early schools were the Union, Nolan Grove, and Stuck School later called Bristol Township School. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Center 101N 65W 5 SW 1/4 Albert Peterson homestead [1882] 1883 Center 101N 65W 10 SE 1/4 Oaks School 1889 -Pat Murphy homestead (1882) Center 101N 65W 14 SW 1/4 (unknown) 1884 Center 101N 65W 15 SE 1/4 Center also called Chestnut School 1885 Center 101N 65W 20 SW 1/4 Dunn School -S. O. Batchelder homestead (1889). Burned in early 1890's. Center 101N 65W 23 SW 1/4 (unknown) -shown on 1990 map Center 101N 65W 26 NE 1/4 Quaker/Donker/Fairview School 1896 -Wm. Matsch homestead (1884). Known as the Quaker School 1896, in 1900 it was called the Donker School and it became the Fairview School in 1924. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Cooper 104N 65W 5 SE 1/4 Edinger School Cooper 104N 65W 11 NE 1/4 (unknown) Cooper 104N 65W 15 SW 1/4 Cooper School -Built in 1950. Cooper 104N 65W 16 SE 1/4 Cooper School (township school) -shown on 1990 map Cooper 104N 65W 32 NW 1/4 Maggie & G.E. Nelson homestead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crystal Lake 102N 65W 8 NW 1/4 Sprick School Crystal Lake 102N 65W 14 NE 1/4 Flynn School Crystal Lake 102N 65W 15 SW 1/4 (unknown) Crystal Lake 102N 65W 33 NE 1/4 Carber School -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dudley 102N 63W 3 SE 1/4 Teesdale School -Land homesteaded by George Teesdale (1883) Dudley 102N 63W 14 SE 1/4 Jones School -Land homesteaded by Wm. C. Field (1883) Dudley 102N 63W 18 NE 1/4 Hughes School 1883 -Land owned by Hugh Hughes (1882) Dudley 102N 63W 29 NW 1/4 Parry School -Land homesteaded by Ed Ruble (1884). School burned in 1913, new building erected. Shown on 1990 map. Dudley 102N 63W 35 NW 1/4 Page School -Land homesteaded by David Evan (1883). Moved to Section 34, NE 1/4. Dudley 102N 63W 34 NE 1/4 Page School -Land homesteaded by Robert Roberts (1883) Moved from Section 35, NW 1/4. Dudley 102N 63W Stickney School -Built 1907, rebuilt 1915. Burned on July 3, 1931, rebuilt Sept 10, 1931. NOTE: At one time the Page School was a mile east and 1/2 mile north of the present location (Section 34, NE 1/4). Next it was moved on the Ern Page land. A tornado destroyed the school and a new school was built across the road in 1902. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Eureka 103N 65W 5 SW 1/4 (unknown) after 1884 Eureka 103N 65W 8 NE 1/4 (unknown) 1884 Eureka 103N 65W 15 SW 1/4 (unknown) 1884 Eureka 103N 65W 18 SE 1/4 Hoffman School 1884 -shown on 1990 map Eureka 103N 65W 26 SE 1/4 B. H. Sullivan homestead 1884 Eureka 103N 65W 29 SW 1/4 Martin School after 1884 Eureka 103N 65W 34 NW 1/4 Gardner School after 1884 -Charles Lasch homestead -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Firesteel 104N 64W 8 NE 1/4 Monitor School 1884 -Still standing as of 1983, unused. Lat 434955N/Long 0983129W Firesteel 104N 64W 11 NE 1/4 Grambihler School 1909 Firesteel 104N 64W 17 SW 1/4 Willowbend School 1884 -Lat 434813N/Long 0983241W Firesteel 104N 64W 24 NW 1/4 Bell School 1884 Firesteel 104N 64W 28 SW 1/4 Turner School 1909 -Lat 434629N/Long 0983127W Firesteel 104N 64W 34 NE 1/4 Buckeye School 1909 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gales 102N 66W 1 SW 1/4 Tripp School -Burned down. In 1960 a central school was built near the center of the township. Gales 102N 66W 9 NW 1/4 Gillen School 1880's -The school was built in the late 1880's, was located on the corner west of the Wayne Tatro farm/1982. It was sold to Matt Mohnen in 1965. He moved it one mile south of town. It was replaced by a new school in 1963. In 1970/72, Cliff Jennings bought the school and moved it to his home in White Lake. At his sale in 1981, Mike Kieffer bought it. Gales 102N 66W 10 SE 1/4 Kirsch School Gales 102N 66W 17 SW 1/4 Gales School 1884 -Moved to Section 9, NW 1/4, renamed Gillen School. The Gales School replaced the old Gillen School, which was sold in 1965. The Gales School was built in 1963 on Gilbertz land, six miles south and one mile west of White Lake. In 1972, the building was moved to town behind White Lake School and now (1983) accommodates the band and music departments. Gales 102N 66W 27 SW 1/4 Steffen School 1884 -Moved to Section 32, NE 1/4. Gales 102N 66W 32 NE 1/4 Steffen School 1884 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hopper 103N 63W 2 SW 1/4 Mary Holt homestead Hopper 103N 63W 9 NW 1/4 W. S. Brady homestead Hopper 103N 63W 11 NE 1/4 Lars Gjesda homestead Hopper 103N 63W 13 SE 1/4 W. M. Baker homestead Hopper 103N 63W 16 SE 1/4 (unknown) -shown on 1990 map Hopper 103N 63W 26 NE 1/4 Chas. Mabbott homestead 1884 Hopper 103N 63W 28 NE 1/4 Henry Gardner homestead Hopper 103N 63W 31 NE 1/4 P. Ridinge homestead Hopper 103N 63W Hopper Consolidated School 1925 -High School graduates 1925-1944. Grade classes continued after 1944, closed 1975. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lake 104N 66W 3 SE 1/4 C. L. Board homestead Lake 104N 66W 8 NW 1/4 Francis McGivern homestead Lake 104N 66W 14 SE 1/4 Dodd's School 1884 -Later moved to White Lake, SD. Lat 434812N/Long 0984455W Lake 104N 66W 28 SW 1/4 Hay's School -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Palatine 104N 63W 2 SE 1/4 Mary Tuffy homestead 1883 Palatine 104N 63W 8 NW 1/4 W. Kennedy homestead 1884 Palatine 104N 63W 9 NE 1/4 J. D. Fraser homestead 1883 Palatine 104N 63W 17 SW 1/4 Whitakers homestead 1884 Palatine 104N 63W 27 SW 1/4 Jacob Weick homestead 1884 Palatine 104N 63W 32 NW 1/4 Jacobson School -In 1929, moved to Section 26 SE 1/4. In 1936, moved to Jacobson property in Blendon Township. NOTE: Early schools were the Gibbs, Webster, Stemler, Schuckman, & Heintz. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Patten 105N 66W 12 SW 1/4 (unknown) 1886 Patten 105N 66W 15 SE 1/4 A. H. J. George homestead 1886 Patten 105N 66W 16 SE 1/4 Patten Consolidated School 1914-1964 -In 1983, it became a private residence. Lat 435333N/Long 0984455W Patten 105N 66W 19 NE 1/4 (unknown) 1886 Patten 105N 66W 33 NE 1/4 W. T. Breeding homestead 1886 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Plankinton 103N 64W 1 SE 1/4 (unknown) 1882 Plankinton 103N 64W 7 NE 1/4 (unknown) Plankinton 103N 64W 11 NE 1/4 (unknown) Plankinton 103N 64W 29 N 1/2 Gus Steinfeldt homestead Plankinton 103N 64W 14 State Training School est 1886 -First building constructed in 1887. NOTE: Sections 16 & 36 were reserved as school land & rural schools were established in Sections 7, 11, 22 & 29. Plankinton School believed to be located on lots now occupied by St. John's Catholic Church. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pleasant Lake 102N 64W 11 NE 1/4 John Caesar homestead 1909 Pleasant Lake 102N 64W 16 SE 1/4 Pleasant Lake Consolidated School 1916-1967 -shown on 1990 map Pleasant Lake 102N 64W 20 SE 1/4 W. D. Woodford homestead 1909 Pleasant Lake 102N 64W 26 NE 1/4 Martha Bakewell homestead 1884 Pleasant Lake 102N 64W 33 SW 1/4 Seth Noble homestead 1884 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Pleasant Valley 105N 65W 8 NE 1/4 Woodyear School -Renamed Cudmore School. Shown on 1990 map. Pleasant Valley 105N 65W 14 NE 1/4 Pleasant Hill School -As of 1983, still standing - unused. Lat 435424N/Long 0983531W Pleasant Valley 105N 65W 25 SW 1/4 Cole School 1884 -Moved to Section 26, SE 1/4, renamed Wilmarth School. Pleasant Valley 105N 65W 26 SE 1/4 Wilmarth School 1888 -Formerly Cole School, moved from Section 25, SW 1/4. Pleasant Valley 105N 65W 29 NW 1/4 Longfellow School -Lat 435149N/Long 0984016W -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Truro 101N 64W 1 SW 1/4 Bohr School 1909 -Closed. Shown on 1990 map. Truro 101N 64W 3 Furchner School 1908 -Formerly Artz School, moved from Section 10, NW 1/4. Truro 101N 64W 6 SE 1/4 Weis School before 1884 -Shown on 1990 map Truro 101N 64W 10 NW 1/4 Artz School 1883 -In 1908, moved to Section 3, 1 mile north of Section 10, renamed Furchner School. Truro 101N 64W 14 SE 1/4 Wilson School before 1884 -Original school burned down. Shown on 1990 map. Truro 101N 64W 17 SW 1/4 Parker School/McCord School before 1884 -Renamed McCord School Truro 101N 64W 27 SW 1/4 Ketel School 1909 -Closed and removed. Truro 101N 64W 29 SW 1/4 Gardner School 1909 -Closed. Shown on 1990 map. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Washington 101N 66W 5 SW 1/4 Close School/Backes School -Formerly Robey School, moved from Section 8, SW 1/4. Moved around 1900. Also called Backes School. Washington 101N 66W 8 NW 1/4 (unknown) -Shown on 1990 map Washington 101N 66W 8 SE 1/4 Robey School -Moved to Section 5, SW 1/4, renamed Close School. Washington 101N 66W 10 SE 1/4 Helling School -Shown on 1990 map Washington 101N 66W 11 NE 1/4 Rebensdorf School -Sold and new school was built Section 10, SE 1/4, called the Helling School. Washington 101N 66W 14 SE 1/4 Hettinger School 1884 Washington 101N 66W 20 NE 1/4 Dockendorf School Washington 101N 66W 30 SE 1/4 (unknown) -Shown on 1990 map Washington 101N 66W 34 NW 1/4 (unknown) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- White Lake 103N 66W 9 SE 1/4 Anton Hettinger homestead White Lake 103N 66W 18 SE 1/4 Geo. Mason homestead 1884 White Lake 103N 66W 26 SE 1/4 Pete Dondelinger homestead 1884 White Lake 103N 66W 27 SE 1/4 G. C. Highten homestead 1884 White Lake 103N 66W 29 NW 1/4 F. S. Booth homestead NOTE: The White Lake School was built in 1884. New brick building in 1939. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ADDITIONAL AURORA COUNTY SCHOOLS: SCHOOL LATITUDE/LONGITUDE Beadle School 435454N 0983302W Belford School 435342N 0982140W Cruthoff School 434954N 0983505W Gunther School 434958N 0984253W Hopen School 434215N 0982310W Maher School 434628N 0983723W Pleasant Lake School 433860N 0983950W Sims School 434906N 0984629W White Lake Public School 434330N 0984150W -Two former country schools are used as additions to White Lake Public School. The former Crystal Lake School, now (1983) kindergarten and second grade classes. The former Gales School, serves as music and art classrooms (as of 1983). High School section of the White Lake Public School was built in 1939. Whittier School 435513N 0983904W ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~