…Owatonna offered the choice of two sites, the fair grounds and buildings, embracing 155 acres of land, and a tract west of the village, 160 acres, known as the Abbott-Rawson-Fisher tract. …It is understood, that in addition to the site, the City is to provide transportation of the material for the building from any point within the State to Owatonna; also, to guarantee them a sufficient supply of good water. After the decision in favor of Owatonna was reached, Commissioner Crandall telegraphed to Mayor McLaughlin: “Owatonna took the plum.” Immediately there was great rejoicing in Owatonna. The people of our beautiful city had felt that all the State Institutions so far located in different parts of the State had given our beautiful city the go-by and it was feared that this might be the last opportunity of obtaining a State Institution. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, July 3, 1885, Page 4)
The commissioners to locate a state school for indigent children have decided by a practically unanimous vote upon Owatonna as the location. Although Owatonna has been the successful town in the competition, the commissioners have not decided which of the two sites offered by that city is the most advantageous and available for a location for the school. Site No. 1 offered by Owatonna consists of three adjoining tracts – the old Rawson place (eighty acres) and the Abbott and Fisher tracts (forty acres each), making one hundred and sixty acres in all. The site is located about half a mile from the depot, on the west side of the city, commanding a fine view of the city and of the Straight river, which runs by it. The old Rawson place has upon it a residence and a barn, and the Abbott place two residences. One of the houses is worth $3,000 and the other two $1,500 each. Site No. 2 is on the east side of the town, and consists of 155 acres, including a part of the fair grounds and all the fair buildings. It is within two blocks of the public high school building, and the grounds of the Baptist academy adjoin it at the northwest corner. Besides the fair grounds it embraces the Wilcox tract, seventy acres, the Brennan tract, forty acres, and the Aiken tract, ten acres. The Winona & St. Peter and Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul railroads run along the northeastern corner of the grounds. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, July 10, 1885, Page 3)
The commissioners appointed to locate and establish a state school for indigent children, at a meeting held at the governor’s office, at the capitol, yesterday afternoon, made their final selections from the tracts of land offered at Owatonna, of one to be occupied as a site for the school. The tract chosen is not either of the two tracts between which it was formerly understood the choice lay, but is a third piece of land, offered when the others were offered, but rejected originally as the least desirable of any of the sites. This third piece of land comprises 160 acres, is exactly square, and is located about three-quarters of a mile from the railway station in Owatonna. It was selected, to the exclusion of the other two tracts, chiefly in consequence of advice given by Superintendent Foster and Commissioner Crandall, of the Michigan School for Indigent Children. The objection of these gentlemen to the other two tracts was that neither of them lay properly for good drainage. This third 160 acres, however, may be drained without difficulty. The land is undulating and embraces a high ridge, upon which the school buildings will be located. The Winona & St. Peter railway passes almost directly through the middle of the tract from east to west, through a valley that divides the tract into two equal parts. This vale may be bridged over above the railroad tracks if bridging be deemed necessary. The exact site upon the tract chosen for the buildings is high and commanding, overlooking Straight river and the town. …There is a street running by the ground upon which there are several elegant residences located. It will be observed by the diagram that the cottage plan has been adopted for the school. This plan seems to the commissioners to be the best that can be devised. The system works to perfection in Michigan, and is approved by all eminent authorities in such matters. Messrs. B. B. Herbert and Anthony Kelly visited the Michigan school last week, and were charmed by the system, as they saw it there excellently exemplified. The cottage system therefore having been decided upon for Minnesota, at yesterday’s meeting it was decided to build three cottages at once, one to be used temporarily as the superintendent’s headquarters, and the other two for the children in the school. These three cottages, it is calculated, will accommodate 100 children, and by building them before erecting the main building the commissioners will be able to keep within the $20,000 appropriated last year for their use. W. B. Dunnell, son of Hon. Mark H. Dunnell, of Owatonna, was elected architect for the commission, and will proceed to prepare plans for the cottages at once. Commissioner Anthony Kelly, moreover, was authorized to procure the services of a landscape gardener to advise with the commission relative to the laying out of the grounds. The foundations for the cottages will be laid this fall and the superstructures will be erected in the spring and completed in time for occupancy during the summer. Nothing can be done on the main building, of course, until another appropriation is made; but in the meantime the commissioners will have a good opportunity to see just what the needs of the institution will be. The Michigan Plan. The cottages will be built upon very nearly the same plan, as those connected with the Michigan institution. These cottages are of brick, two stories in height, and thirty by forty feet ground dimensions. A main hall runs through each building on each of the two floors. On the first floor, to the right of the hall, are the manager’s sitting room and bedroom, while at the rear is a room for children. On the left of the hallway, on the first floor, are a clothes room, bath room and childrens’ room. Up stairs, on both sides of the hallway, are the children’s sleeping rooms, fifteen by thirty feet each. Such will be the general plan of the Minnesota school buildings. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, August 28, 1885, Page 4)
Active work commences at once. The foundations of three cottages will be put in this fall. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, September 11, 1885, Page 1)
Messrs. Anderson and Hammel have taken the contract for building three cottages for the State School for Indigent Children in Owatonna for $15,600. They have already purchased their stone in Kasota and the cement and other first class material will soon be on the ground. The Chicago & North-western R. R. Company have put in a side track promptly so that the material will be unloaded on the ground. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, October 2, 1885, Page 8)
Mr. Silas Anderson is pushing the work on the stone foundations for the cottages for the State School for Indigent Children rapidly. The excavating is about completed, only a little trench work remaining. Mr. Anderson has had over thirty men at work. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, October 23, 1885, Page 8)
Contractors are building the new state school for indigent children at this place, which will give employment to many for the next two years. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, January 29, 1886, Page 1)
Under the provisions of chapter 146 of the General Laws of 1885, which provides for the establishing and conducting of a state school for neglected and dependent children, there has been established and recently set in operation in the city of Owatonna, an institution of the character contemplated. An eligible site including 160 acres of land was donated by the city, upon which have been erected three cottages, furnishing accommodations for about sixty pupils. The school is in charge of Prof. G. A. Merrill as superintendent, a gentleman of peculiar qualifications for the duty, who has had much experience in the same line of duty in connection with the state public school of Michigan. While the buildings were constructed at a cost within the appropriation of $20,000, that sum was insufficient to furnish them and provide for current expenses of the institution until such time when the legislature could make further appropriations for its use. The deficiency has been supplied, however, by the citizens of Owatonna, who generously advanced $5,000 for the purpose indicated. An early appropriation will be asked for their reimbursement. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, January 7, 1887, Page 2)
The Board also agreed to build a barn and stable combined, size 60x42 feet and to have begun on same within two weeks. Cost of barn about $1,500. The Board determined to put in a system of water works, steam heating plant and to light the building with electricity. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, April 8, 1887, Page 8)
The bids were so far below those expected that the board of control find they will have sufficient funds on hand to build a fourth cottage the present summer, and architect W. B. Dunnell, of Minneapolis, has been instructed to draw the plans forthwith. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, June 3, 1887, Page 8)
Messrs. Gilbert & Arnold, of Minneapolis, to whom was awarded the contract of the mason work on the main building for the State School for Indigent children, having failed to sign contract, this work has since been let to Simmons & Jamison, of Red Wing, for $21,000. They are the same parties who built Pillsbury Hall and are reliable men. They will commence excavating this week and are to have the walls completed by October 1st. Mr. W. B. Dunnell, the architect, informs us that it is the intention to have the roof on the Main Building before winter. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, June 10, 1887, Page 4)
The work on the different buildings on the State Public School grounds is progressing nicely. The new school house is up one story, the steam plant has the roof on and the chimney and water tower are completed. The foundation walls of the main building are also completed. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, August 5, 1887, Page 1)
Last Tuesday afternoon the Corner Stone of the State Public School at Owatonna was laid with appropriate ceremonies by the Masonic Fraternity of the State of Minnesota. Broadway, Cedar and Bridge streets were handsomely decorated with evergreens reaching across them and attached to these were flags and banners. A mammoth United States flag about forty feet long and nearly twenty feet broad was hung over the street in front of Masonic Hall and was greatly admired. National and fraternal flags bedecked nearly all the business places of this city and quite a number of private residences were decorated. The city swarmed with people from the surrounding country and visiting delegations from the neighboring cities. Every incoming train brought large delegations to the throng. The Owatonna Knights Templar accompanied with the Owatonna Cornet Band, one of the best musical organizations in the State, marched to the depot and escorted the Austin Masonic Commandery to their Lodge Room, the Masonic brethren from Mantorville, Kasson and Dodge Center, who came together were received with like honors, as were those from St. Paul, Minneapolis, Northfield, Stillwater and other points. The visitors were taken to the rink on Broadway where ladies of the city served a bounteous dinner to all. There was enough to spare. At 2 o’clock the grand procession formed at the Park in the following order: Order of Procession: City Police, Mounted. Owatonna Drum Corps. Marshal of the Day, Grand Army of the Republic. Owatonna Fire Department. Waseca Fire Department. Minnesota Lodge No. 67, C. S. P. S. Odd-Fellows. Band. Master Masons. Knights Templar. Grand Officers. State Officers. Mayor and City Council. County Officers. Citizens. Hon. W. R. Kinyon was President of the Day and announced the program. Mayor Pratt, ex-Mayor Birkett and President Albertus, of the City Council, were the City Committee, and Mr. F. F. Grant, a leading Knight Templar, contributed largely to the success of the ceremonies. The architect of the building, Mr. W. B. Dunnell, was also one of the moving spirits. The ceremonies at the grounds were begun by an address of welcome by Hon. M. H. Dunnell. Hon. W. H. Braden, State Auditor, represented Gov. McGill and spoke a few words appropriate to the occasion. Rev. Dr. Dana, of St. Paul, made a fine address. He was followed by Rev. H. H. Hart, Secretary of the State Board of Corrections and Charities. Ex-Gov. Barto, of Sauk Center, made a humorous speech and was followed by Hon. C. S. Crandall, of Owatonna, President of Board of Control of the State Public School for Indigent Children, who made a good speech showing the purposes and benefits to be derived from so beneficent a State Institution. Hon. B. B. Herbert, of Red Wing, followed by a few words from M. J. Daniels, of Rochester. Most worshipful of J. H. Brown, Grand Master of the State of Minnesota, A. F. & A. M., then proceeded with the Masonic Ceremonies of laying the Corner Stone. He was assisted by C. H. Benton, D. G. M.; Alphonzo Barto, G. S. W.; Ambrose La Due, G. J. W.; J. E. Getman acted as Grand Treas.; A. T. C. Pearson, G. S.; Thomas G. Crump, of Litchfield, Grand Orator, Rev. Geo. B. Whipple, acted as Grand Chaplain. Hon. J. M. Burlingame, of Owatonna, acted as Grand Marshal. After the stone was laid, corn, wine and oil were put on it. The building was then turned over to the Architect for completion who responded with a short well chosen speech. The procession was then reformed and returned to the city. The casket in the corner stone contained a Bible, the names of the State, County and City officers, a list of the officers of the Grand Lodge of Minnesota and of the Star of the East Lodge of Owatonna and copies of the constitution and by-laws of both, the charter of Owatonna, copies of the Globe, Pioneer Press, Minneapolis Tribune, the People’s Press and Journal and Herald. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, August 12, 1887, Page 1)
Work on the north wing of the State School building is progressing nicely. It is now enclosed and the slaters are busy at work on the slate roof. The inside work will be pushed in spite of the cold weather. Messrs. Hammel Bros. have charge of the carpenter work. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, November 11, 1892, Page 8)
The State Public School for Indigent Children, which is located in Owatonna, is an honor to the State of Minnesota. It is now regarded as one of the great beneficent charities of the State. The taking of young children who have lost their parents from our county poor houses and putting them in a school where they will be educated and in a cottage home where they are properly cared for and trained until a suitable home is found for each of them, is so Christian and philanthropic a work that it must meet the hearty approval of every honest thinking man. This is the work that is being most efficiently carried on in our State School for Indigent Children which is located in Owatonna, of which Mr. G. A. Merrill is the efficient Superintendent. Last Tuesday we had the pleasure of visiting this Institution and found that it was managed in every department in a most happy manner. The children were clean, healthy and contented, comfortably clad and well satisfied with their surroundings. The buildings consist of a main building, three cottages, a four-room school and a hospital, the latter now used as a cottage. There is also a steam heating and electric light plant, laundry, water works on the stand tower principle, good barns, outhouses, &c. Since the school was opened Dec. 3, 1886, 200 children have been received. Of these 64 have found homes in respectable families, 12 are now out on trial and there are 120 in the institution. A very complete history is kept of each child so that those who desire to adopt a child is furnished with full information. In the Main building are the children’s dining room, size 46x58 feet. It contains four tables, one for the children of each cottage. On a table in the dining room is a lever knife with which about 100 loaves of bread are cut up each day. It is nicely furnished with a sideboard and other conveniences. Thirty-one electric lights make it bright and pleasant. There are about twenty employees who are assisted with the work by some of the older boys. There is an oven and one large range on which all the cooking is done. In the Main building there is a large chimney 6x8 feet into which every room is ventilated. In the basement is the carpenter shop, bakery and vegetable cellar. All the buildings are comfortably heated by steam carried to them through underground pipes. The two boilers, which are of about 60 horse power each, furnish the steam. The engine which is of about 25 horse power, runs the pump, laundry machinery and electric dynamo. A well 348 feet deep furnishes an inexhaustible supply of pure water. Five horses do the work on the farm. There are nine milch cows, some purebred and all high grade. Of the 120 children present 98 are boys and 22 girls. The capacity of the school is now 100 but by using the hospital as a cottage 120 are accommodated. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, March 1, 1889, Page 1)
The chief work of the institution was field work and caring for the neglected and dependent children. The best methods were used in teaching and for the care of the children. Children under 15 years of age are admitted. They are kept here until a private home is found for them. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, March 24, 1899, Page 1)
G. H. Johnson and Dr. Finch, members of the board of education, were in Owatonna Tuesday looking at the sand mould Kelly brick in the new state school building. They were not favorably impressed with its appearance. They favor a red brick with proper stone trimmings. (The People’s Press, Owatonna, Friday, June 2, 1899, Page 5)