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 Alberton School - Alberton, MT Posted by:  T0SHEA
N 47° 00.266 W 114° 28.883
11T E 691458 N 5208734
Still in use as a school after 98 years, the Alberton School was built out of necessity at an inopportune time.
Waymark Code: WMWPA7
Location: Montana, United States
Date Posted: 09/25/2017
Views: 1
The town's school, built in 1910 when Alberton was two years old, burned in 1916. Given that the town felt quite secure in its position as a division point on the Milwaukee Road, with all the employment that goes with the position, the citizens of Alberton immediately elected to rebuild, bigger and better, with an architect designed school to satisfy the needs of the town for many years to come. Unfortunately, before the school was completed "In 1917, railroad officials cast a pall over Alberton when electrification of the line between Harlowton and Avery made this and other division points like it obsolete". This left the quickly shrinking town, now with substantial unemployment, with a $70,000 school to pay for.
On the other hand, given that the town did, eventually, manage to pay for its fancy new 2½ storey brick school, if they had known beforehand of the impending removal of the railway shops from the town, they might have opted for a smaller, cheaper, wood frame building. Today, however, they still have a quite serviceable building, long ago paid for. Since the town lost the employment associated with the railway it has not grown much, meaning that the school was able to fulfill the educational needs of the town. The only addition made to the school through the years was a gymnasium, added to the rear of the building in 1957. A new high school has been built, though, leaving this as an elementary school.
ALBERTON SCHOOL
Alberton came to life when the tracks of the Milwaukee Road were laid through this valley in 1908. Soon in need of a school, the town built its first frame schoolhouse in 1910. Fire claimed the wooden structure in 1916. As classes were held in private homes scattered around town in 1917, the student population of Alberton School District #2 grew to the largest in Mineral County. The community rallied, laying plans for a new facility. Just before completion, the Chicago, Milwaukee and St Paul Railway discontinued its division point facilities at Alberton. Residents, however, realized the importance of a safe and adequate school for their town and vicinity. Despite the town’s hard hit economy, the $70,000 brick school opened in 1919, symbolizing Alberton’s transition from railroad boom town to permanent community. Completion in the wake of financial hardship demonstrates the solid commitment to education and faith in the town’s future that kept Alberton viable through adversity. The school, designed by acclaimed Montana architect Ole Bakke, reflects the Collegiate Classical Revival style. This substantial brick building dominates the landscape with its fine detailing, classical proportions, and pleasing symmetry. Kalispell architects Fred Brinkman and Percy Lenon designed the visually separate gymnasium addition, built in 1957. From 1919 to 1960, Alberton School was the only high school in forty square miles. It continues to serve local children today. While few of Montana’s vintage schools have escaped remodeling, this outstanding community landmark survives virtually unchanged from its original period design.
From the NRHP plaque at the building Visit Instructions:
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