Country School House Project

In 2009, the theme of the ND Governor's History Conference was education. As part of that conference, the State Historical Society asked members of the public to help document the country school houses that remain on our landscape. Several individuals sent in information about schools, but one lady, now known in many parts of the state as "The School Lady," has compiled information on over 730 country schools. Kathy Wilner started with one school in particular, the Ingersoll School, and then decided to do some schools around her county. Over time, she partnered with County Historical Societies and won grants to continue documenting schools around the state. Ms. Wilner was awarded the Heritage Profile Honor Award in 2017.

Hard copies of all the information Ms. Wilner compiled are available for viewing at the County Historical Societies, and digital copies are available on this page. In some cases, the names and locations of schools have changed over time, and these records are based on the information available at the time the record was made. The State Historical Society will continue to add records about country schools as it receives them.

Name: Bridge School
ID: 32GG00238
County: Griggs     Township: 146     Range: 058     Section: 26
Geographic Location Key: 014605826GG
Name: COLGROVE SCHOOL #1; MAUZEY SCHOOL #3
ID: 32HT00080
County: Hettinger     Township: 136     Range: 093     Section: 25
Geographic Location Key: 013609325HT
Name: TIMBER CREEK SCHOOL
ID: 32HT00166
County: Hettinger     Township: 132     Range: 093     Section: 22
Geographic Location Key: 013209322HT
Name: CHERRY BUTTE SCHOOL
ID: 32HT00175
County: Hettinger     Township: 135     Range: 094     Section: 16
Geographic Location Key: 013509416HT
Name: BURT SCHOOL
ID: 32HT00179
County: Hettinger     Township: 133     Range: 091     Section: 06
Geographic Location Key: 013309106HT
Name: ENCHANTED CASTLE SCHOOL
ID: 32HT00181
County: Hettinger     Township: 134     Range: 095     Section: 13
Geographic Location Key: 013409513HT
Name: BLACK BUTTE SCHOOL #3
ID: 32HT00182
County: Hettinger     Township: 135     Range: 095     Section: 13
Geographic Location Key: 013509513HT
Name: MADISON SCHOOL #3
ID: 32HT00183
County: Hettinger     Township: 136     Range: 094     Section: 20
Geographic Location Key: 013609420HT
Name: MADISON TWP SCHOOL
ID: 32HT00184
County: Hettinger     Township: 136     Range: 094     Section: 24
Geographic Location Key: 013609424HT
Name: HIGHLAND TWP SCHOOL
ID: 32HT00185
County: Hettinger     Township: 136     Range: 092     Section: 16
Geographic Location Key: 013609216HT