Restoration Updates on Coin and Whittier Schools
COIN SCHOOL TO RE-OPEN IT'S DOORS IN 2027?
The Coin School has been closed to the public for 10+ years. Unfortunately, over time and with several water/moisture issues in its history, the floor beams and supports finally gave out. The beams broke sending the floors down to the crawlspace below. The Kanabec History Center, then also experiencing financial problems, followed by failed tax levy attempts, and the Covid-19 years, KHC questioned how they were going to be able to save the beloved school. The KHC Board members made a decision in 2022, to try to move forward and seek any available funds/grants to use towards the school's rehabilitation.
Through much paperwork, private donations, small grants, booklet sales, etc., we have made much progress towards the Coin Rehabilitation Project. We were able to get the MN State Historic Preservation Office's stamp of approval and nomination to move forward to the National Registry level. In September of 2025, the Coin School was officially added to the National Registry List of Historic Places. Not only would this designation help in the historic preservation, but it would allow for the History Center to apply for grant funding to cover the additional and final costs of re-constructing and repairing the school. It is anticipated that if the grant funds are awarded to KHC, the restoration/construction work will begin in the summer of 2027.
*(All of the pictures and valuable items have been removed from the Coin school. KHC has put together a booklet on the Coin School that includes the class photos that were hung in the school. Proceeds from the booklet sales will go towards the Coin School Project.)
HISTORY OF COIN SCHOOL:
Kanabec County Historical Society/History Center is the home of the Coin School - District 8 (Consolidated District #734). The original name of the school was Calhone, and it was located near the rural town of Coin. Records indicate a school system was in place in the Coin community as early as 1881, where classes were first held in a log schoolhouse in 1895. A one room frame school was constructed in 1898 with first classes beginning in 1899. Increased student enrollments necessitated a second classroom in 1911. In 1913, the school name was changed from Calhone to Coin. In 1937, a basement was added as a WPA project (Works Project Administration - during WWII to help Americans find work) for intended additional space for the school. The basement became too damp to be an asset. The Coin school was the last rural school to consolidate in Kanabec County. Students were then merged into the Mora and Braham School Districts, and the Coin School closed its doors in 1970.
In 1975, Robert Blase purchased the Coin School, and in the early 1980's had the school completely refurbished inside and out, and the basement was filled in to alleviate water issues. Mr. Blase had wished to turn the school building into a museum for his collection of mechanical musical instruments. The rather remote location made it impractical, and the school was left as simply a well-preserved monument to rural education and days gone by. Mr. Blase passed away in 1993.
The Coin School, now belonging to John Blase (Robert's son), once again found the basement had caused problems...the basement walls began to cave in due to frost. Faced with the prospect of lifting the building to install new foundation/walls, Blase decided moving the school to the Kanabec County Historical Society's grounds would be more beneficial to the public and offered to move the school to the Kanabec County History Center grounds paying for all moving and renovation costs.
The Coin School finally rested at its new home in August of 1995 with the help from the Blase family, many, many volunteers and community members. Once again, the epic flooding of 2016 took a major toll on the school as high water reached the buildings on the History Center's grounds. Throughout nature's weather, etc., the Coin School is the only two-room school in Kanabec County that has survived.
Historic Whittier School:
The historic Whittier School held classes from1904 -1963. In 1964, the schoolhouse was moved to the Kanabec County Fairgrounds to be used as an exhibit building. Due to vandalism, age, weather, etc., the school fell into disrepair over time. It was then donated to the Kanabec History Center in 1987. The Kanabec History Center began restoring the Whittier School in early 1988 and was able to re-open the school as an exhibit to the public that same year. The one room school is furnished with student desks and furnishings.
The History Center had offered Old Tyme Country School classes each summer until the year 2025. While inspecting the chimney supports/foundation, it was found the old original weathered beams were in dire disrepair. The KHC Board made the decision to close the building to the public and to the students of Old Tyme Country School for safety reasons. Classes were held in the Webster School until the work was performed.
Recently, with the help of private donations, a grant from First Citizens, and donations from the Mora and Ogilvie Lions, the History Center has been able to complete phase 1 in the re-construction. New beams and floor joists will be installed, vents for airflow will be added, the interior entry floor and walls will also be repaired. Eventually, we hope to raise additional funds to finish the front porch, add additional roof trusses, and paint the exterior. The History Center will re-open the Whittier School for classes and to the public for the 2026 summer season.
**Anyone who wishes to help out by means of donations on either project, please contact us at the Kanabec History Center.
The Coin School has been closed to the public for 10+ years. Unfortunately, over time and with several water/moisture issues in its history, the floor beams and supports finally gave out. The beams broke sending the floors down to the crawlspace below. The Kanabec History Center, then also experiencing financial problems, followed by failed tax levy attempts, and the Covid-19 years, KHC questioned how they were going to be able to save the beloved school. The KHC Board members made a decision in 2022, to try to move forward and seek any available funds/grants to use towards the school's rehabilitation.
Through much paperwork, private donations, small grants, booklet sales, etc., we have made much progress towards the Coin Rehabilitation Project. We were able to get the MN State Historic Preservation Office's stamp of approval and nomination to move forward to the National Registry level. In September of 2025, the Coin School was officially added to the National Registry List of Historic Places. Not only would this designation help in the historic preservation, but it would allow for the History Center to apply for grant funding to cover the additional and final costs of re-constructing and repairing the school. It is anticipated that if the grant funds are awarded to KHC, the restoration/construction work will begin in the summer of 2027.
*(All of the pictures and valuable items have been removed from the Coin school. KHC has put together a booklet on the Coin School that includes the class photos that were hung in the school. Proceeds from the booklet sales will go towards the Coin School Project.)
HISTORY OF COIN SCHOOL:
Kanabec County Historical Society/History Center is the home of the Coin School - District 8 (Consolidated District #734). The original name of the school was Calhone, and it was located near the rural town of Coin. Records indicate a school system was in place in the Coin community as early as 1881, where classes were first held in a log schoolhouse in 1895. A one room frame school was constructed in 1898 with first classes beginning in 1899. Increased student enrollments necessitated a second classroom in 1911. In 1913, the school name was changed from Calhone to Coin. In 1937, a basement was added as a WPA project (Works Project Administration - during WWII to help Americans find work) for intended additional space for the school. The basement became too damp to be an asset. The Coin school was the last rural school to consolidate in Kanabec County. Students were then merged into the Mora and Braham School Districts, and the Coin School closed its doors in 1970.
In 1975, Robert Blase purchased the Coin School, and in the early 1980's had the school completely refurbished inside and out, and the basement was filled in to alleviate water issues. Mr. Blase had wished to turn the school building into a museum for his collection of mechanical musical instruments. The rather remote location made it impractical, and the school was left as simply a well-preserved monument to rural education and days gone by. Mr. Blase passed away in 1993.
The Coin School, now belonging to John Blase (Robert's son), once again found the basement had caused problems...the basement walls began to cave in due to frost. Faced with the prospect of lifting the building to install new foundation/walls, Blase decided moving the school to the Kanabec County Historical Society's grounds would be more beneficial to the public and offered to move the school to the Kanabec County History Center grounds paying for all moving and renovation costs.
The Coin School finally rested at its new home in August of 1995 with the help from the Blase family, many, many volunteers and community members. Once again, the epic flooding of 2016 took a major toll on the school as high water reached the buildings on the History Center's grounds. Throughout nature's weather, etc., the Coin School is the only two-room school in Kanabec County that has survived.
Historic Whittier School:
The historic Whittier School held classes from1904 -1963. In 1964, the schoolhouse was moved to the Kanabec County Fairgrounds to be used as an exhibit building. Due to vandalism, age, weather, etc., the school fell into disrepair over time. It was then donated to the Kanabec History Center in 1987. The Kanabec History Center began restoring the Whittier School in early 1988 and was able to re-open the school as an exhibit to the public that same year. The one room school is furnished with student desks and furnishings.
The History Center had offered Old Tyme Country School classes each summer until the year 2025. While inspecting the chimney supports/foundation, it was found the old original weathered beams were in dire disrepair. The KHC Board made the decision to close the building to the public and to the students of Old Tyme Country School for safety reasons. Classes were held in the Webster School until the work was performed.
Recently, with the help of private donations, a grant from First Citizens, and donations from the Mora and Ogilvie Lions, the History Center has been able to complete phase 1 in the re-construction. New beams and floor joists will be installed, vents for airflow will be added, the interior entry floor and walls will also be repaired. Eventually, we hope to raise additional funds to finish the front porch, add additional roof trusses, and paint the exterior. The History Center will re-open the Whittier School for classes and to the public for the 2026 summer season.
**Anyone who wishes to help out by means of donations on either project, please contact us at the Kanabec History Center.
