Mellette County, South Dakota
County & Town History - Schools, Wood School District
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Wood School District
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book, published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
Wood School District No. 1 was the first school district to be organized in Mellette County.
This was in 1912. School first opened in September of that year in the Talbott Building on Main
Street. This building was built for a law office for Talbott and Doherty of Winner, but was not
used by them. It was later owned and occupied by the Abourezk Store for many years. The first
teacher in Wood School was Miss Clara Renwick, whose father had Homestead No. 1 in the land
drawing when Mellette County was opened for settlement.
In 1913 the district built a two room building, and later another classroom was added. The site
was donated to the district by the Wood Townsite Company. The building has been remodeled
and is now used as a teacherage.
According to county records, some of the early schools outside the town of Wood, but located
in the district, were known as the Satrae, Pleasantview, Riverview, Union, Downs, and Marion
Schools. Some of the early teachers were George Grimes, Clarence McDonald, Matilda
Hellickson, Fern Krieger, and J. Leeland St. Clair.
The first year of high school was added in 1918, and a two-year high school was provided for
the first time in 1920. The third year was added in 1923. As the enrollment grew, other buildings
were used for high school purposes. These included the Masonic Hall, Congregational Church,
and the Indian School building just south of town.
When the town of Wood was incorporated in 1929, the school district automatically became
an independent district, and the law provided for a full four-year high school. The first graduating
class consisted of three members. They were Mabel Wheeler, Charles Sinclair, and Charles Abourezk, Jr., who finished in May 1930.
The large building owned by the Fullerton Lumber Company, on the site where the dormitory is now located, housed the high school from 1934 until February 1939. At that time the high school and grades moved into a new building. In the fall of 1960 the gym and shower rooms of the school building were remodeled for additional classrooms. More subjects are now being offered in high school and extra rooms are badly needed at this time.
(transcribed from the Mellette County 1911-1961 book, published August 15, 1961 by the Mellette County Centennial Committee)
Wood School District No. 1 was the first school district to be organized in Mellette County.
This was in 1912. School first opened in September of that year in the Talbott Building on Main
Street. This building was built for a law office for Talbott and Doherty of Winner, but was not
used by them. It was later owned and occupied by the Abourezk Store for many years. The first
teacher in Wood School was Miss Clara Renwick, whose father had Homestead No. 1 in the land
drawing when Mellette County was opened for settlement.
In 1913 the district built a two room building, and later another classroom was added. The site
was donated to the district by the Wood Townsite Company. The building has been remodeled
and is now used as a teacherage.
According to county records, some of the early schools outside the town of Wood, but located
in the district, were known as the Satrae, Pleasantview, Riverview, Union, Downs, and Marion
Schools. Some of the early teachers were George Grimes, Clarence McDonald, Matilda
Hellickson, Fern Krieger, and J. Leeland St. Clair.
The first year of high school was added in 1918, and a two-year high school was provided for
the first time in 1920. The third year was added in 1923. As the enrollment grew, other buildings
were used for high school purposes. These included the Masonic Hall, Congregational Church,
and the Indian School building just south of town.
When the town of Wood was incorporated in 1929, the school district automatically became
an independent district, and the law provided for a full four-year high school. The first graduating
class consisted of three members. They were Mabel Wheeler, Charles Sinclair, and Charles Abourezk, Jr., who finished in May 1930.
The large building owned by the Fullerton Lumber Company, on the site where the dormitory is now located, housed the high school from 1934 until February 1939. At that time the high school and grades moved into a new building. In the fall of 1960 the gym and shower rooms of the school building were remodeled for additional classrooms. More subjects are now being offered in high school and extra rooms are badly needed at this time.
Attending a school picnic which climaxed the 1911-12 school year at Wood we see this happy group. School at that time was held in the Episcopal Church about a mile south of the present town of Wood. Left to right are Mary Murther, teacher; Mrs. J. A. Siegmund, the woman holding the little girl and also the little boy are unidentified, Mrs. Henry Kaufman, Mrs. Bunja, field nurse; two little daughters of A. K. Wood, Arthur Siegmund, Helen Siegmund and the little girl on the end is unidentified.
The first grade school building which was constructed at Wood in 1913 is shown here. Pictured back row (left to right) are Dallas Moore, Fern Krieger, teacher; and Allis Moore. In the second row are Mary Wood, Winifred Hocking, Virginia Wood and Minnie McKee. Pupils in the front row are Vivene Tisdale, Ike One Feather, R o y McKee, Clair Richardson, Fanny One Feather, Dale Richardson, Harry McKee, Pearl McKee and Anna McKee.
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