Columbus School was located north of E. Hennepin Ave. at Winter & "O" Sts NE.  By 1900, the area north of Division Street (now East Hennepin Ave.) had been platted for residential development, with Aurora Park, Carlisle Park, and the curving streets of Oakland Heights extending onto the high ground of the long ridge near the east limit of Minneapolis. The expected development, along with the existing families in east Como, justified the construction of an elementary school nearer to it than Tuttle School, which was then at 14th and Talmadge Aves. SE. Columbus School was built in 1907 on a 353’ by 300’ lot at Winter and “O” Streets (today’s Hoover St. NE). A brick building situated beyond the city’s water, sewer and electrical lines, Columbus never prospered (its peak enrollment only reached 139). In 1911, a new Tuttle School was built at 18th and Talmadge Aves. SE, and the 1913 city ordinance that created the Minneapolis Industrial Area (today’s Mid-City Industrial Area) promoted the construction of a line of the Minnesota Transfer Railway just North of East Hennepin Ave., and rail spurs to businesses and industry. By 1922 increased rail traffic meant that small children had to cross not simply East Hennepin Ave. but an active rail line twice a day to get to school. Columbus School was abandoned in 1931 and torn down in 1936. AccessAbility Inc. is located there now in a building that was constructed in 1966. "Another delegation wished a small school building provided within the triangle on the East Side formed by the St. Paul and Northern Pacific, the Great Northern and Duluth roads. There are only about 200 pupils resident there, but they have to cross tracks where much switching is done in whatever direction they go to attend school, at the Holland, Webster and Tuttle schools. The matter was referred to the building committee. A delegation was present desiring that a first grade school be provided for the little ones who live about 1 1/2 miles from the Tuttle school, for a large portion of which distance there are no walks. The matter was referred to the building committee and superintendent with power to act." from article titled "Jordon Re-elected", Minnepolis Tribune, January 30, 1895 "Columbus school will be the name of the new school to be erected on Winter street, between N and O streets. The deed to the property was given yesterday by Chute Bros. Co., and bids will be received for the construction of the school at the first meeting of the board next year." from article titled "Oppose Vaccination", Minneapolis Tribune, December 21, 1906 "The new Columbus school will be erected by R.J. Cheney, who was one of the five contractors to enter bids. His price was $19,063 and the other bids were as follows: E.J. Davis, $19,465; J.E. Pilgram, $20,495; F.H. Raidt, $19,494; Traluor Bros., $19,800." from article titled "Bintliff is Chosen President of Board", Minneapolis Tribune, January 8, 1907 “Columbus School, Once Pride of East Side, Now Resigned to Fate—the Wrecker’s Sledge” Minneapolis Tribune, May 12, 1936 |
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