801 Grant Ave History from Louisville Historian

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Close up of a boy from a photo of his class; the brick of the building is behind him. Circa 1900. The building is remarkable for all of the community groups that have used or cared about the building: school children and teachers, library users, youth sports teams, arts and crafts students, scout groups, clubs, seniors, artists, musicians, theater groups, and others. One resident has recalled that even municipal court has been held in the building. In terms of contributions by boards and commissions, members of the Louisville Historical Commission and Arts and Humanities Council (now the Cultural Council) were key advocates in urging that the building and its cupola be restored, and it was the Historic Preservation Commission that moved to place it on the Louisville Register of Historic Places. Teacher Virginia Hamilton with her class by the school, late 1890s or early 1900s. (E-K N-4) The following timeline shows how the building transitioned from being a school to a community building and shows how, after a period marked by some neglect and a lack of funding for its care, it has reemerged as a treasured landmark. 1878: Louisville is founded. Circa 1881: Following a few temporary locations for schools, a two story frame school building is constructed at the northwest corner of Spruce and Jefferson. June 1894: As the town grows, the three -person Louisville School Board decides to put to the voters the question of whether to approve a bond issue for $3,000 to erect a new school building. Voters approve it, 31 to 20. A week later, the school board begins to order school desks, a teacher desk, slate, and a "No. 20 Single Bell." Also in June 1894, there is a meeting to entertain bids for erecting the building. The contract is given to Owen Smith, who submits the middle bid of three, at $2,590. Later, more work and materials are added to the construction project. August 1894: The school board votes to order a furnace for the new building, with the meeting held "at the new school house." It appears that the new school building is built during the summer months of 1894. It is said to have two rooms. May 1895: Owen Smith, who was the contractor who built the brick school house, is elected President of the school board. March 1898: 100 shade trees are planted around both the brick school and the larger frame school. 1900: Louisville teachers, of whom there are six for all of the grades, are paid $55 per month. Photographer Ed Tangen captured an unusually candid moment of active children by the school in the early 1900s. (98-29-17B) 1903: Due to overcrowding, an election is held on the issue of whether to pass a bond issue for $8,000 to building another new school and purchase additional property for school grounds. A few months later, voters are asked to approve an additional $2,000, which they do. However, instead of a new building being constructed, the old frame building is substantially enlarged. 2