ETHEL BASTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
3200 Highway 100 So.

Ethel Baston Elementary School was built in 1955 for $700,000 and named for the Brookside teacher who served the school district so well. The Village condemned land owned by a Mr. Furber (paid $7,000) and Iverson Inc. (paid $10,000). Architects were Bissell and Belair of Minneapolis. The initial building had 20 rooms.

The school was named for longtime Park teacher Ethel Maud Baston, who taught for 43 years. She also served as supervisor of elementary education for the entire village. Ethel Baston School was dedicated shortly after she passed away, on October 9, 1955. 600 people attended.

1955-56

The school’s first principal was Raymond R. Newberg, who went on to marry Cedar Manor principal Helen Hansen in 1961. Census: 672 students and 21 teachers.

1956-57

Leo C. Siegel became principal. Census: 730 students, 22 teachers. Mr. Siegel recalls that several teachers took their students to Lilac Park, the roadside park across Highway 100, for picnics and special events.

1957-58

Census: 644 students, 20 teachers

1958-59

Census: 582 students, 21 teachers.

1959-60

A stuffed lamb was the prize for the classroom with the highest percentage of PTA membership. To appeal to the boys, they added a space ship. Census: 608 students, 21 teachers.

1960-61

Census: 568 students, 21 teachers.

1960


1961-62

The PTA sponsored a Drive-In Theater Party at the 7-Hi Drive In in Hopkins. The movie was the utterly wholesome “Trapp Family.” Census: 625 students, 22 teachers. Leo Siegel became principal at Cedar Manor.

1973-74

Mr. Ardelle Athman was principal.

In 1975, it was proposed that the school be converted to an alternative school, but only four of the needed 12 teachers volunteered so the idea was dropped.

In 1982 the school was closed and sold to Groves Learning Center.

The Historical Society has the following materials from Ethel Baston School:

PTA SCRAPBOOKS

1955-62, 1973-74

CLASS PICTURES

1956-57, 1958-59, 1960-61, 1962-63, 1964-65, 1966-67, 1968-69, 1970-71, 1971-72, 1972-73, 1976-77, 1979-80, 1980-81

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This information comes from a variety of sources: newspapers, books, yearbooks, phone directories, interviews, etc. Given the varied sources, we cannot guarantee that all of this information is correct, and welcome any additions and corrections. Please contact us with your contributions and comments.