ABOVE: Central School, now known as SMEC, sometime around the 1950s.

FAIRMONT– The SMEC building, formerly known as Central School, was recently in the news as to whether or not the city of Fairmont would consider keeping it or selling it. In looking back as far as the 1970s, it appears that this is not the first conversation surrounding the potential sale, or purpose, of that facility.

In terms of the history of the facility, the current site was at one time the home of three school buildings, a high school, a junior high school, and a primary school, that being Central School. Actually, the first Central School was built on its current site in 1886 at a cost of $14,100 of which the contractors actually were said to have lost $276 on the job.

In the 1920s, Minnesota State School Inspectors found that the original Central School built in 1886 to be both unsanitary and unsafe. Consequently, in 1928, Fairmont voted to build a new grade school at an estimated cost of $295,000. It would be the only building on that block and was again named Central School. The rationale for it being the only building on that block at that time was to have space for a playground and so that future expansion would not have to be located in outlying areas of town. Included in that building was the Normal Training Department that was designed to train prospective teachers. That teacher training department was eventually discontinued in 1936.

Since 1928, Central School has evolved in a number of directions. Looking back through the museum’s digital newspaper files, the following represents a variety of Sentinel newspaper articles relating to Central School and the role it played in the community from 1976 forward.

A story from November 24, 1976, was headlined, “Central’s Closing.” This story reported that a joint recommendation by Superintendent James Mitchell, the elementary principals and a citizen’s advisory committee composed of 35 to 40 elementary school parents called for the closing of Central School due to fiscal considerations. The cost savings would result from staff and maintenance reductions.

Then, there was another story from December 10, 1976, entitled, “School board officially closes Central School.” It stated that financial reasons were the primary cause of the closure. The story also indicated that administrative offices would likely remain in Central for the next school year, but other rooms would be closed unless rented out.

A public hearing was to be held in which 600 plus was anticipated to attend. However, only 25 were present. Of the those 25 in attendance, the majority were either school board members or school personnel.

Other stories that followed from November of 1977 up to April of 2011 reported the following:

— A November 1977 story in the “Cardinal Corner” told of the conflicting concerns of selling the building or to “mothball” the building. In addition to those concerns, the question of what would happen if it was sold and enrollment increased?

— In May of 1978 the school board rejected a plan to rent a portion of the closed school to the Martin County Agriculture Extension Service.

— In December of 1984 a story reflecting the work of the “Task Force” in reviewing options for the school indicated that the city of Fairmont had expressed an interest in the facility for city hall offices. However, as a result of anticipated increases in enrollment, the task force had to also consider the placement of students as well. Finally, the option of moving students back into Central School was believed at that time to potentially create a number of problems, among which were to move other school related programs out of the building.

— Then in April of 1985 it was reported that the least popular option considered by the “Task Force” was putting students back in Central School. Also at that time the City Administrator, Gary Klaphake, stated that the city of Fairmont was unlikely to purchase Central School due to the cost of renovation.

— In March of 1989, a remodeling project included Central School. It involved relocating a program from Lincoln School and remodeling administrative offices and other areas of the school. The architect’s preliminary estimate for the first phase was in excess of $100,000.

— In May of 1991, it was reported that the Central School remodeling would involve the parking lot at a cost of $20,000, landscaping for $1,200, and other miscellaneous costs.

— In 1998 a $450,000 building addition for an elevator was undertaken. Concerns were expressed about such a costly addition to an old building. However, according to school administration, every room at Central School was then being used and that the expectations were for it to be used on a long-term basis.

— On November 11, 2010, a public notice was given that Central School would be closed due to declining enrollments and operating costs.

— However, an April 6, 2011, an editorial entitled “Presentation College partners with business” went on to commend Presentation College’s Fairmont campus for growth it has seen since opening in 2003.

Presentation College no longer has a presence in Central School and according to a Sentinel story on April 29, 2025, STEP and UHD are leaving while CER is currently located there.

In conclusion, simply from the direction of the preceding miscellaneous accounts surrounding the evolution of Central School’s presence in Fairmont, it seems that there has been no clear or consistent direction for the facility, but rather a variety of decisions over the years as to what should be the future of the building, if it was to have a future. From a historic perspective, however, it is a unique structure and a significant piece of local history.

For more information on this topic, or to become a member, visit the Pioneer Museum in Fairmont or its website at www.martincountymuseum.com