UPDATE: Former students gathered in Fargo, North Dakota, on November 26, 2023, for a heartwarming self-guided tour of the iconic Horace Mann Elementary School before it faces demolition. The event sparked nostalgia as attendees reminisced about their childhood experiences within the school’s walls, which have stood for 110 years.
With the demolition scheduled for next summer, this tour served as a poignant farewell. Visitors walked the halls, recalling vivid memories of their first classrooms and the school’s transformation over the years. One former student, Adam Korstad, highlighted an old computer lab that has now been repurposed as additional instructional space, showing how the school has adapted over time.
The adjacent library still houses historic documents, including yearbooks from the 1960s and PTA records dating back to the 1930s. Attendees were overwhelmed by a wave of emotions as they revisited cherished moments.
“We all remember our elementary schools… seeing the art on the walls, it’s just wonderful,”
said Leandra Ostrom, Principal of Horace Mann-Roosevelt.
The school will be replaced by a new Horace Mann Elementary, slated to open in 2028. These tours are part of a year-long celebration honoring the school’s legacy and its impact on the community. Ostrom emphasized,
“The people make the building… it’s about the families, it’s about the students, it’s about the legacies that were built in these hallways.”
As the school gears up for its final months, three more tours are scheduled: the next one on December 29, 2023, from 5 to 8 p.m., followed by tours on April 11, 2024, from noon to 4 p.m. and May 13, 2024, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.. This is a critical opportunity for alumni and community members to reconnect with a significant part of their history before the next chapter begins.
As the countdown to demolition begins, the emotional weight of these tours cannot be overstated. Each visit is a reminder of the memories forged and the community spirit that will continue to thrive in the new facility. Don’t miss the chance to revisit this beloved landmark before it disappears for good.
