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HILLCREST SCHOOL
Hillcrest- Riley, District 2
This school district was established by an act of the Town Board on December
4,
1847.   The first school was of log construction and was located on the John
Nelson farm. Water was carried from a spring northwest of the school.
The second school was erected at a site purchased in 1862 from Christian
Christianson. This building was called the Riley School.      It cost, with
site,
about $200. School was taught tn three sessions. The older children and adults,
including immigrants, found the winter sessions convenient because the field
work
was finished. This session was taught by a male teacher at a salary of $26
per
month.   Fall and summer sessions were usually taught by a female teacher
who
received a salary of $18 per month. At that time, a school month consisted
of
22 weekdays and every other Saturday.
In 1880, the Canada thistle must have been a problem as the district paid
$1.00
to have the "Kanady Tisle" cut on the school grounds.
In 1884, the term of the school year was changed to 8 months; 5 months in
the
winter and three months in the summer. By 1889, the teachers salary had reached
$35 and the tax levied was $125.
The third school building, which is still standing, was built in 1915. This
building , of brick construction, cost $2,450. In 1918, the name of the school
was changed to the Hillcrest School. The old wooden structure was moved and
is
still in use as a garage on the Alton Hansen farm.
At a special meeting on September 24, 1928, the voters turned down a proposal
to
install electricity, but four years later approved a similar measure.
In 1960, the district voted to send the seventh and eighth graders to the
Waterford Junior High in Rochester. (formerly the old Agricultural School)
After defeating an attempt by Waterford to dissolve Hillcrest district and
attach
it to Waterford, the District voted to consolidate with Apple School effective
July 1, 1963. The Hillcrest School has since been sold for use as a residence.
It is located at the northwest corner of the intersection of County Highway
K and
Larson Road.
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