URGENT UPDATE: Former students of Horace Mann Elementary School in Fargo, North Dakota, have the chance to reminisce during a self-guided tour just before the school faces demolition. This emotional event took place on Wednesday, November 26, and offers a final look at a beloved institution before it is replaced by a new facility expected to open in 2028.
The school, which has served the community for over 110 years, is set to be razed after the current school year. Attendees shared nostalgic stories while walking through the familiar hallways, recalling their early classroom experiences. Adam Korstad, a former student, highlighted changes such as the old computer lab, now repurposed for instructional use.
The adjacent library remains intact, featuring historical documents, including yearbooks from the 1960s and PTA records dating back to the 1930s.
Horace Mann-Roosevelt Principal Leandra Ostrom expressed the significance of the tour: “We all remember our elementary schools, and we remember the smell, we remember the activities, the teachers. Seeing the art on the walls and the ways our teachers are decorating their rooms now is just wonderful.”
The upcoming demolition marks the end of an era, but it also paves the way for a new beginning. Ostrom emphasized the importance of community memories, stating, “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.”
Three more tours are scheduled before the school year concludes, with the next event happening on December 29, 2023, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.. Additional tours will take place on April 11, 2024, from noon to 4 p.m., and May 13, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m..
This year-long celebration aims to honor what Horace Mann Elementary has meant to the Fargo community. As the tours continue, many hope to connect with their past before the school transitions into history. Make sure to participate and share your memories while you still can!
