Whiteley Creek Homestead

LIFE AT THE END OF A DIRT ROAD IN CENTRAL MINNESOTA

organically grown triticale in our field

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roosevelt school riverton minnesota

September 8, 2013

A handful of residents inhabit the former mining town of Riverton (Minnesota), which is located between Brainerd and Crosby-Ironton on Highway 210. Although the iron ore mining industry ceased operation years ago, this proud community celebrated their town's centennial milestone on Saturday, September 7 with festivities that rivaled towns much larger than their population of 117 (2010 census). Dick and I ate lunch in the park, listened to live music, enjoyed an old-fashioned ice cream social, and drove a 1934 Chevy Coupe in the parade. (Photo source: Crosby-Ironton Courier Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013)

Hanging on the wall in Riverton's city hall, was a display of old photos chronicaling the community's history. Among the photos hung images of Riverton's Roosevelt School.

Dick lived in Ironton until his family moved east of Brainerd on the property where our bed and breakfast is located. At the time of his move, he was assigned to Roosevelt School in Riverton where he attended fourth through eighth grade. Dick said the school's first floor had a gymnasium with an adjacent boiler room, a lunchroom, an industrial arts shop, and regular classrooms. A huge auditorium with a stage was on the second floor directly above the gymnasium. The second floor also included a library, the principal/superintendent's office, and more classrooms. All of the hallways had terrazzo floors with hardwood floors in the classrooms. During the timespan that Dick attended the school, new blackboards and cabinets were installed. "If the desks were orange, then the cabinets were orange. If the desks were blue, the cabinets were blue. The school's original windows were replaced with aluminum frame, hinged windows that "opened outward with a screen on the inside. The windows' upper portion was replaced with foggy-looking glass block that had intermittent orange, turquoise, yellow, and green (or blue) glass blocks to accent the classrooms' decor." It has 1960s vibes, don't you think? (I included detailed descriptions in this post because I was having great fun listening to Dick describe the images embedded in his memory. It's amazing what our minds remember so vividly.) New lighting and lowered ceilings completed the remodel.

This photo shows the school's ornate entrance.

Classes were held at the school from 1916 through 1975-76. The school was then abandoned and steadily deteriorated due to neglect and vandals. It was torn down in 2003. That always makes me sad. It brutally finalizes a chapter that is important in the lives of so many… like Dick.

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9 responses to “roosevelt school riverton minnesota”

steve

January 16, 2014

I have been looking for a school like this to turn into a Bed and breakfast/ Castle. I heard about this school in 2013. 10 years after it was destroyed for NO REASON. I would love to hear the reasons they would give on why they probably spent 50k to tear her down. Let me guess, Vandals were wrecking it so we decided to COMPLETLY DESTROY IT. The people in this town that decided to do this are worse than vandals. I have been looking for this exact building style and size in a more rural small town but still not that far away from a larger city(Brainerd) It makes me physically ill to think that they destroyed a building that I would have probably bought for a buck and Riverton would have had the greatest wedding/ bed and breakfast place in the state.

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Adrienne Cahoon

January 16, 2014

Yes, Steve, it was a sad day when the Roosevelt School in Riverton was destroyed. I have lived long enough to see similar scenarios played out. Some businesses demolished that immediately come to mind… railroad depot that was located across from the present watertower by the Brainerd Chamber of Commerce 1968, two downtown movie theaters (Paramount Theater 1995 and Brainerd Theater 1999), and the Brainerd Regional Human Services Center which was a 127 acre complex of buildings opened in 1958 that housed 1,500 mentally retarded at its peak…moving the residents into more home-like community-based treatment facilities was a very good decision, but the buildings were leveled in 2011/12 despite the drafting of a comprehensive plan to halt destruction. On the flipside, there are many buildings that have been salvaged. The Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railroad Shops (formerly Northern Pacific prior to merger in 1970) is a beautiful example. The complex encompasses a large expanse of land within Brainerd’s city limits. The numerous, large buildings hold significant historical value because the railroad industry played a huge role in the area. Rather than being torn down, the buildings are being renovated to accommodate individual businesses while maintaining the buildings’ historical authenticity. There are other examples of buildings retaining their original architecture in Brainerd. Since 1920, the Crow Wing County Courthouse still conducts business in its original location. The former county jail and sheriff’s residence opened as a museum (Crow Wing County Historical Society) in 1983. When a new public library was built in 1986, the old building, that sits next to The Barn Restaurant on Washington St. in Brainerd, was used as a law office. We have a dedicated group of people in the Brainerd area that are working diligently to save landmarks from destruction. Sometimes their efforts are successful. Sometimes not. But, they recognize the importance of saving history. We owe our gratitude to them for preserving the memory of those who toiled before us.

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Steve

January 17, 2014

I understand if a buildings foundation is compromised, but Roosevelt School I doubt was in bad structural shape. No doubt it was in terrible cosmetic shape. Big shards of pealing paint look bad but actually made it easy to peal off.
I visited where I believe it was (seamed to be the only open area big enough in Riverton). It was kind of tucked away so its hard to think it was tore down because it was an eyesore. I just wish the town would have left it until the brick was literally falling. What is very sad is that the town sat on it empty for 28 years and in year 38 there was a guy who would have turned it into the largest home/ B&B/ wedding facility in the area. What’s amazing is that I could now do it financially. Imagine a front put on this building like the White house with 4 huge columns and the Gym turned into a banquet hall. A roundabout driveway with a fountain and chapel area. I have found other schools in the past but they have been “in town” and land locked. I know we can’t save them all, I just wish we could have saved this one. If I had lived around here before I would have probably found it. Are there any other similar buildings within 30 Miles of Brainerd that you know of?

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gina

February 2, 2014

Burtrum, MN (In the lakes area near Upsala, MN/Grey Eagle, MN)…I don’t know the story on the school, it may be smaller than the Riverton school, and I have always thought these schools could make good apartments as they have made in Holdingford and St. Stephen. I still believe the remainder of the Holdingford school is not in as much disrepair as people claim. The Riverton school really looked new compared to most that I have seen. Good luck on your search, hope that you can save at least one of these beautiful buildings.

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Adrienne Cahoon

February 6, 2014

So kind of you, Gina. To suggest a school to Steve. I did a post about the school in St. Stephen that you mentioned in your comment. http://www.whiteleycreek.com/queen_of_the_meadow_bloom/2009/09/st-cloud-road-trip.html I wished I had been able to see inside a former classroom-turned-apartment, but there were no invitations extended. I wonder if they resemble their former life in some small way. That’s how I would have designed them. To preserve and honor the building that housed so many memories.

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Will

February 17, 2015

I was on the road and looking for a place to take a quick nap in 2000 or 2001. By total accident, I came across the skeleton of Roosevelt School and was saddened because it was the same era school where I went to elementary school (My school was originally Deephaven High). There is nothing sadder than seeing an old school abandoned and this one was in a place all by itself (I believe there was one house nearby).
In my travels, I have seen a number of schools abandoned as school districts conglomerated–Pipestone High, Morgan Park Duluth and Riverton. They all have a sadness to them not seeing them full of kids.
It is too bad Steve could not save it for his B and B– it would have been a great locale.

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john koons

February 23, 2015

The story of tearing down the old school in riverton is s long one. Too sum it up, there was enough asbestos in the building that it wasn’t remotely feasible or a party to undertake the task of removal. I grew up with it down the street and it saddens me that it no longer stands but I believe it is for the best.

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JoAnn {Doland} Miles

July 15, 2015

I went to this school from k thru 8th grade and have many wonderful memories of this time. sad to waste such a useful building. could have been a military style school or any private school. wish I could see some pictures of the interior but then I have lots locked away in my mind!

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bureaut@msn.com

October 8, 2017

I attended Roosevelt through fourth grade. Beautiful building. Nothing like recess overlooking Rabbit Lake just above the Mississippi river. Mr. Grittner was the principal. Student concerts in the evening. My dad drove the school bus.

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