LeGrand, Iowa, Palmer College, Students, Young Ladies

From www.legrand.lib.ia.us/community/schools/schoolshistory

With the establishment of the Christian Society in LeGrand, a school was erected in about 1866. With increased class size, a larger school was needed and in 1878 a 100 x 40 foot three story brick building with a basement was begun. It contained a 60 x 40-foot addition that held 56 student’s rooms. It was called the "LeGrand Christian Institute” and was located two blocks south of Main Street on the west side of Webster Street. Financial problems caused the school to close in 1885. It reopened in 1889, renamed the "LeGrand Christian College". Still suffering financial problems, a major benefactor, H.A. Palmer gave a magnificent sum to the endowment of the school which was renamed "Palmer College" in 1897.

Whether named the Christian College or Palmer College, the school provided a high standard of Christian education. The 1891 Catalogue shows an attendance of 70. Students came from LeGrand, other communities in Iowa such as Wiota, Marengo, Thayer, Marshalltown, Ames, Washington and even Dundee, Scotland. The Normal Course of Study offered classes in English, Mathematics, History, Grammar, Psychology, Geology, Zoology, Latin or German, Geometry and Astronomy. The Scientific Course of Study added History of Greece and Rome, Cicero, Physics, Virgil, Mineralogy, International Law, French, Logic and Ethics. There was a Business, Music and Biblical Departments. All this for a tuition of $7.75 or $10.00 a term with music and business courses costing an additional $1.00 to $10.00.
Palmer College was moved to Albany, Missouri in 1912. When the Missouri college closed, records were forwarded to Defiance College, Defiance, Ohio.

After Elizabeth Allman began teaching school in her home, increased class size resulted in a frame school house being built in 1857. In 1871 a two-story brick structure was erected in the northeast part of town (in what is now the City Park).
With the beginning consolidation of schools a larger school was built in 1916 at the site of present high school. Now the school had 8 classrooms, an assembly hall, domestic science and manual training room, eight teachers and n enrollment of over 200 students. Children walked or rode horses to school or rode the horse-drawn school hack. In 1921 eleven graduating seniors met the day after commencement at the home of Matilda Jordebrek and made a pact that they would meet every year for a reunion. This was the beginning of the LeGrand Alumni Association that still meets today.

By 1923 this school had burned and the present building was completed in 1924. While awaiting the new building, classes were held in the old Palmer College building. In 1925 cars were used to transport students, the forerunners of today’s school buses. In 1939 the high school graduation class numbered 12 and high school yearbooks began being published. This building was updated in 1950-51 and 1978 with the addition of the gymnasium and shop building and later a science and home economics addition. Initial consolidation resulted in LDF or LeGrand, Dunbar and Ferguson. A highlight of the school was in 1969 when Mrs. Fosness’ drama group were extras in the movie, “Cold Turkey” starring Dick Van Dyke and filmed in Corning, Iowa. With the addition of the SEMCO (South East Marshall County) schools the school district is now known as East Marshall and has schools in Laurel, Ferguson, Gilman and LeGrand.

Taken in: United States / Iowa / Le Grand Township / Le Grand (show map)

Taken on: January 1, 1910

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