Where heritage and future come together.
History: About the Schoolhouse
The Hopkins Schoolhouse, located off of 170th St N. and Highway 61, was constructed in 1928 and served as an “ungraded Elementary school" until 1962.
Students in grades 1- 8 attended Hopkins school until the mid-1940s. From then on, and until the school was closed in the spring of 1962, the school served grades 1-6 .
In 1965, the property was purchased for $3,500 by Oneka Township from the Forest Lake School District. The structure was used by Oneka Township as their Town Hall until 1972, when Oneka Township was incorporated into the Village of Hugo; forming the City of Hugo. It was then that the City acquired the building.
The building was briefly used as a youth center and a meeting place for Hugo Boy Scouts. However, the building has remained vacant since the early 2000's. In February 2023, the Hugo City Council gave the go-ahead for the HSHC project to move forward considering the substantial support from the community. Progress must be ongoing and specific milestones must be met annually to ensure ongoing support from the Council.
Source: A brief history of Hugo's one room schoolhouse. City of Hugo. https://www.ci.hugo.mn.us/hopkins. Accessed 16 Oct. 2022.
Future
A new non-profit:
Hopkins Schoolhouse & Heritage Center
Mission: Promoting community engagement and leadership by honoring the heritage of Hugo, Forest Lake, and the surrounding area; highlighting historic examples of citizens who made a difference in the community; and offering a place for community members to gather.
HSHC Programs
Historic Schoolhouse
A point of interest where visitors can experience a one-room schoolhouse; learn about the schoolhouse history and architecture; and hear stories of teachers, students, and others who passed through its doors.
Historical Displays
A new home for the Hugo Historical Commission and the Forest Lake Historical Society to showcase rotating displays telling the stories of community leaders, businesses, and citizens who drove progress to make our community what it is today.
Educational Experiences
A place where community members and businesses can offer interactive educational experiences that highlight cultural aspects that have been significant in shaping our heritage – connecting the past with the present and challenging visitors to consider their role in shaping the future.
Meeting Space
A new meeting place where community members can gather and collaborate to build on the work of those who came before us and continue advancing progress in our community.
Trail Stop
Just a short walk from the Hardwood Creek Regional Trail, the schoolhouse grounds offer a welcoming place for visitors to rest, recharge, and learn about our history and programs offered by the HSHC.
Leadership
Forest Lake Historical Society
The Forest Lake Historical Society is a 501c-3 non-profit. Its mission is to collect, preserve, and disseminate historical knowledge about the Forest Lake area. The Society is serving as the temporary fiscal and operational host for the project as a new non-profit is formed. The Society will then transition to a lead partner role, consistent with the Hugo Historical Commission's role.
Hugo Historical Commmission
The Hugo Historical Commission was established by the City of Hugo in 2002, and is a lead partner on the project. A representative of the Commission serves as ex-officio voting member on the Hopkins Schoolhouse and Heritage Center board of directors.
Hopkins Schoolhouse
& Heritage Center
The new nonprofit, Hopkins Schoolhouse and Heritage Center, will be responsible for long-term management, preservation, and sustainability of the Hopkins Schoolhouse and programs offered through the Heritage Center. It will be governed by a board that includes representation from the two lead partners in addition to area residents, educators, and business leaders.
Sponsor and Donor Opportunities
The Hugo City Council has approved the project to move forward and the official agreement is expected to be complete in spring 2023. All community members are invited to get involved with the efforts to create the Hopkins Schoolhouse and Heritage Center.
Business sponsors receive recognition based on their level of sponsorship. These levels will be applied to both cash and in-kind support. Fair market value will be used to assess the value of donated materials and in-kind services. Please see pledge form for details on recognition packages.
Individual donors receive recognition on the Hopkins Schoolhouse and Heritage Center website, in the annual report, and on signage in the Heritage Center.
Business Sponsors
- $25,000 Diamond
- $10,000 Platinum
- $5,000 Gold
- $2,500 Silver
- $1,000 Bronze
Individual Donors
- $5,000 Founder
- $2,000 Benefactor
- $1,000 Promoter
- $500 Advocate
- $100 Partner
- $1-$99 Friend
Volunteer Opportunities
General Volunteer Sign Up
Thank you for your interest in volunteering to help make the vision for the Hopkins Schoolhouse and Heritage Center a reality. Please use the form below to tell us how you would like to contribute to the project. As the project advances, we will need volunteers with a variety of skillsets and we welcome your involvement.
Grounds Cleanup Day
The next grounds cleanup
day will be scheduled in October - following the completion of Phase 1 restoration.
Please watch for an announcement on
Facebook and our email distribution list.
Coming soon!
Thank you for your support of the
Hopkins Schoolhouse and Heritage Center!
Heritage News
In May 2023, Heritage News was launched to bring the community the latest updates on the efforts to restore the Hopkins Schoolhouse and transform it into the Hopkins Schoolhouse and Heritage Center.
Please subscribe to our email list to receive Heritage News in your inbox, and access past editions below.