ROSLYN SCHOOL BUILDING
In order to induce Mr. Rosholt who was the Fairmont and Veblen Railroad company, to build a line to Roslyn a bonus of sixty thousand dollars was raised. This was done by apportioning an assessment of all the lands three miles either side of the proposed line, from one dollar to one fifty per acre. The town site being assured, N. 0. Monson moved his general store from Lynn Lake September 29, 1914. The building was left on main street for two weeks while the basement was being completed. About the same time Lars Fidsdal moved his old store building from Webster. This was the old John Norton store, the first general store built on the townsite of Webster. A. U. Granstrom moved his store building from old Roslyn October 15. This all took place about the same time. The nice fall weather followed by an open winter, allowed new buildings to go up rapidly. The first hardware was built by Gilbertson Brothers, the first blacksmith shop by Peter Johnson; the first lumber yard was established by Swanson and Bordahl. The McCaull Elevator, Miller Elevator Company and John Hawkinson Elevator Company were erected as named. A new depot was then built, the first restaurant by Ole N. Johnson, the first hotel by John Farman, the first drug store by Mrs. Goodwin and son Earl, the first opera house by 0. M. Stavig, the first pool hall by Ole and Fred Anderson, the first butcher shop by B. S. Salier, the first barber shop by M. Hauck, the first livery barn by Adolph and Fred Romerin, the first bank by Kopperud and Olsten, Jacob Boyd, cashier, the first postmaster was A. U. Grandstrom. The first residence was built by Jacob Boyd. The first regular train service began December 1, 1914. This town is the youngest in the county, yet, it has more nice resident homes in proportion to the population than many of the other towns in the county. Its population is composed mostly of retired farmers and approximately 95% are sons of Norway.
All lines of business are well represented, and competition is very keen as the merchants and professional men intend to hold the trade due them from the larger places. This community has one Lutheran church. Rev. B. O. Stefferson, the pastor conducts services in the English language. The population has grown to 275, and the town was incorporated in 1915. The first board of trustees was Henry Gilbertson, president; N. O. Munson, Andrew Swanson, trustees; Even Bordahl, clerk, and A. E. Schulian, treasurer. The present board consists of: Peter Johnson, president; N. O. Monson and Peter Ammerude, trustees; Andrew Johnson, clerk, and J. Schad, treasurer.
The town is provided with a water system, consisting of a sixteen thousand gallon cistern, a double action force pump; 85 pounds pressure forces the water through the pipes. Roslyn has a volunteer fire department equipped with a hook and ladder company and two chemical engines. A high line electric system, owned by the Ottertail Minnesota Power Company supplies light and power with double connection at Webster. There are long distance and farmers local company phone systems.
This is a consolidated school, taking in four districts, one each from Raritan, Grenville, Nutley, and Liberty townships. In 1916 the south half of the structure was built, and it was thought that this would answer all requirements for a number of years, but the attendance increased so rapidly that it was necessary in 1922, to double the size of the building. The basement has a gymnasium, manual training rooms, boiler and coal rooms, and toilets. On the first floor are the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth, and the domestic science rooms; on the second floor has the seventh and eighth grades, high school, four class rooms ind library for the high school.
On opening school year 1922-23, it became an Accredited school. Thirty-three students have graduated up to date. The children are brought by six school busses; the average cost of transportation per bus is $52.00 per month.
Faculty: 1 superintendent, 1 principal, 2 high school and four grade teachers.
Enrollment for 1925: 119 in grades, 43 in high school. The graduating class consisted of six boys and four girls.
Present board consists of, Gilbert Gilbertson, president and four other members, John Smith, Michael Stavig, Peter Lardy, John Hasseth. Other officers are 0. 0. Floren, clerk, (since school was first built) and N. 0. Monson, treasurer.
Courses and departments: General academic, commercial, home economics, agriculture, S. H., wood and machine shop, S. H., music, vocal and instrumental, athletics.
Roslyn's Athletics have put them on the map.
