Lost Hutchinson: Pendergast Academy

Following is info about schools in Hutch before Pendergast Academy. It is from my 2005 paper, "The Early History of Hutchinson, Minnesota, 1855-1860". The numbers in parentheses are for references, which I will be glad to provide. Butch Pendergast

Mrs. William Todd was the first teacher in Hutchinson. She taught a class of eleven students in her home in the fall of 1856 (601, 1223.05, 1329.70, 1329.79, 1458.05, 1477).

An official public school district- McLeod County no 2- was started in Hutchinson in 1857. WW Pendergast was the teacher. The classroom was in the log tavern/hotel. There were seventeen students. Many were adults; some older than the teacher. (601, 631, 1329.70, 1458.05, 1477)

The school was later moved to WW’s log home. The house burned down in March, 1858. He then built a two-story frame house, apparently at the same location as the earlier log house, north of the river. (631, 1438.06, 1477)

During the 1858-59 school year, Pendergast taught in a vacant store building (700, 1477).

The next year was bleak for education in Hutchinson. “There was not school the next winter, 1859-60, due to no money, no suitable location, and lack of students” (700, 1477).

The school scene brightened in the Spring and summer of 1860. Voters of the school district raised money to build a stand-alone school building, Pendergast Academy.. “William W. Pendergast built the first school house, 24 by 40 feet in area and two stories high. It stood on the hill, north of the main street bridge. It had a belfry and a fine-toned bell. The school conducted here was practically an academy and Prof. Pendergast was its principal for the first two years”. It was burned down in the Sioux Uprising of 1862 (601, 631, 700, 1223.05, 1329.67, 1477).