UPDATE: A wave of nostalgia swept through Fargo as former students embarked on a self-guided tour of Horace Mann Elementary School on November 26, 2023, just months before the building’s demolition. This emotional event allowed attendees to reconnect with their childhood memories in a school that has stood for 110 years.
As the school prepares to close its doors for good, the atmosphere was filled with reminiscences. Attendees, including Adam Korstad, pointed out changes to familiar spaces, such as an old computer lab now repurposed for instructional use. The library still houses treasures from the past, like yearbooks from the 1960s and PTA records dating back to the 1930s.
“This is an opportunity to check in on an old friend,” said Leandra Ostrom, Principal of Horace Mann-Roosevelt. “We all remember our elementary schools, the smell, the activities, the teachers. Seeing it come to life again is just wonderful.”
The tours are a part of a year-long celebration recognizing the school’s significance in the community before its impending demolition next summer. A new Horace Mann Elementary is set to rise in its place, expected to open in 2028.
Ostrom emphasized the importance of the memories attached to the building: “The people make the building. It’s about the families, the students, and the legacies built in these hallways.”
Three more tours are scheduled, with the next taking place on December 29, 2023, from 5 to 8 p.m.. Additional tours will happen on April 11, 2024, from noon to 4 p.m., and on May 13, 2024, from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
This final opportunity to explore Horace Mann Elementary has drawn a heartfelt response from the community, making it a must-see for those looking to relive their formative years. Share your memories and join the celebration as the community bids farewell to this historic landmark.
