Miss Emerson’s 2nd Grade Class at Lincoln School, 1923
Lincoln School was built in 1873 for all grades and was the first high school in Stillwater, Minnesota. The school had modern amenities like running water and steam heat. It was located on the North Hill on the block between Laurel and School Streets and between 3rd and 4th Streets. The main entrance was across 4th Street from the William Sauntry Mansion. The note below the photo points out that Earl Runk, a cousin or nephew of John Runk, is pictured somewhere in the middle of the photograph.
Lincoln School was called the Government Hill Building until 1888, when the Board of Education renamed it Lincoln School. The school was razed in 1939 -1940, and its bell is located at Stillwater Area High School.
This photo of Miss Emerson’s students is part of the John Runk Historical Photo Collection in the St. Croix Collection at Stillwater Public Library. You can view it anytime the library is open. To see additional photos of Lincoln School, visit Lens Flare Stillwater or Washington County Historical Society.