Ondossagon History
The Early Years
From the 1990 Beacon Yearbook:
On May 5, 1917, it is recorded that the Board purchased five acres of land from Mrs. Fred Buss for a school site and contracted Barney Huff to clear the land, removing all brush and stumps.

Ondossagon School, circa 1918-1919
Two and one half months later, bids were opened for the general contract on building. There were five bids, $69,200, $65,900, $59,400, $54,900 and one for cost plus 10%. After due consideration, the contract was awarded to Tomlinson and Egan on the cost plus 10% basis. In the minutes of Sept 1, 1917, first comment regarding the teacherage appears. The director was instructed to confer with Mr. Beers, manager of E.I. Dupont as to building a teacherage with the understanding that the school district take it over after completion. This was done and has been in use since its construction. Though it is hear-say, the Ondossagon Teacherage had the distinction of being the first one built in the state. The dwelling for the janitor was built although it was voted on June 8 and rejected July 1, 1918. |
Building was begun in the late summer of 1917 and was not ready for occupancy until the school year of 1918-19. Instruction began with the school year of 1917-18 and school was held in the Barksdale Town Hall across from the school. The first freshman class consisted of eight grade graduates from Nash, Cherryville, Enterprise and Tokay Schools - all from the Barksdale Grade District No. 1 and the graduate students from that portion of the Town of Eileen, which was included in the new high school district. A horse-drawn bus driven by Mrs. Jack Gordon brought the Eileen students, the others walked or furnished their own transportation. The first graduating class was in 1919 when three graduated: Hester Peterson, Myrtle Raarup and Lea Schutt.
Thank you to Mark Osmak for sharing the above photo and information. |

Ondossagon union free High School and Grade School 1919 -1921.
Before any exterior additions.
Thank you to Donald Sampson for sharing this photo.