Departed school on minds of Cathay grads

It's gone now. The site is now a leveled patch that will someday just grow grass. It used to grow minds. It's the city block that once was the home to the two-story solid brick school in Cathay, N.D.

That brick building of knowledge was built to be indestructible. On January 31, 1919, the first two-story brick Cathay school burned to the ground. In March the town had a mass meeting to discuss a new building. The superintendent of schools recommended building a new modern, 10-room building. It would be both a grade and high school and the initial projected cost was $45,000. In May, an election was to decide whether the building should cost over $35,000. The result was 67-2 votes in favor.

The plans were completed in ten days for a building with two stories, a full basement, and "of the latest design and perfectly modern in every respect. It will have a large gymnasium, lockers and toilets for the basement. The building will be steam heated and fully fire-proof with the upper rooms arranged for the best convenience of both faculty and pupils." The contract was let on May 20.

In September the Carson crew of brick layers came to Cathay to do the brick work. Less than one year after the fire, in January 1920, the new school building was occupied for the first time with the opening of the winter term.

The description was printed in the Carrington Record on Feb. 19, 1920:

"The Cathay schools are now housed in their elegant new school building. The building is of brick and of the Gillespian style and sixty-six by eight-four feet costing about $47,000. The first floor is composed of a fine gymnasium with maple floor, a large domestic science room, manual training room and toilet and bath for boys and girls. The second floor has a large assembly, four classrooms, library and office. The entire building is fitted with electric lights and electric schoolroom bells. The building is well-built and compact structure and present a fine appearance. The Cathay school is in line for classification as a consolidated graded school. Six teachers are employed and the enrollment is one hundred."

In 1959 that fine gymnasium was converted to a lunchroom and kitchen. A new gym with a 42x73-foot court, costing $75,000, was added onto the school.

That school saw 59 graduating classes pass through its doors...the first in 1920 and the last in 1979. But it held so much more than students and teachers in classrooms. It was more than the pile of bricks strewn about as neglect and mother nature took hold, leaving holes in the roof, rotting wood, and broken windows.

No bulldozer can remove the memories held within those walls. Who can forget those "mountainous" steps to upstairs, that "huge" assembly room, the steam radiators, the cloak closets, or the "long" walk down the hallway to the office? Do you think those mustard stains on the ceiling in the lunchroom were still there when it came down? How many bags of popcorn or pies do you think were sold out of that kitchen during ball games? Who can forget those cheers, concerts, graduations, and basketball games that were heard and attended in that gymnasium?

Not all the memories within those walls are good or cherished ones, but they are memories, none-the-less. As we have said our final good-byes to that brick building, we will still gather to reminiscence. Every two years, those who spent time in that building meet for a reunion on the first weekend of August. Join us at our next one in 2026.

(Editor's Note: Susan (Schramm) Wold is a 1977 graduate of Cathay High School, and lives in Watford City. Her sisters, Jill and Peggy, also graduated from CHS, and five younger siblings attended school in Cathay as well. Susan is the daughter of Melvin and Mary Schramm, who live in Carrington.)