The Ward County Historical Society's museum and village on the North Dakota State Fairgrounds continues to be repaired following the Souris River flood of 2011, and the arrival of an old red school house will make a welcome addition to the already popular attraction.
The former country school house was donated to the society by Robert Sandstrom. The building was formerly the Graham No. 1 school, and was located six miles southeast of Foxholm back in its day. Sandstrom's father, John, bought the building in 1960 and restored it and its contents. The school opened in 1887, served as the Kirkelie Township polling place and church services as well as being a school.
One of the village's two school houses was destroyed by the flood, so the donated structure will be its replacement. The structure is set to be moved onto a foundation at the village in the next couple of weeks. Society officials said the school will get a new coat of red paint, but is otherwise in great shape.
Historical Society members and volunteers have done a lot of work to get the village and all its buildings back in shape after the flood inundated the fairgrounds. The village is a popular attraction during big events at the fairgrounds, like the North Dakota State Fair and Norsk Hstfest. Adding another historical and local building will help the society's ongoing effort to return the village and museum to their former glory. We look forward to its installation.