Columbia Heights Schools history

When the State began to consider a tax-supported system of free schools in 1846, Chesterfield County was reluctant to take advantage of the opportunity because travel to distant centers made public schools impracticable.

The original farmhouse of John and Mary Sullivan, (built circa 1863) is still at 5037 Madison St and continues to be a single-family home.

While formal schools were few in 1865, in nearly every neighborhood there were men who had had the advantage of some of the best schools in Europe.

With 1696 acres, 100 citizens and 20 houses, paths became roads, traffic patterns emerged and a city began.In 1892, the Minneapolis Improvement Company Northeast held a naming contest with 2,281 names submitted.

Columbia School (shown below) was built in 1894 at 41st and Central.

The Village of Columbia Heights was formed on March 14, 1898, when it separated from Fridley township.

Also added were an elevator and council chambers on the west end of the existing building.Lincoln Funeral CarOne of Lowry's promotions for bringing people to Columbia Heights was his acquisition of the Abraham Lincoln funeral car in 1905.

In 1907, under the provisions of a Federal law, and with the aid of Federal funds, the Chester High School was organized to serve counties in the Third Congressional District on a tuition basis.

In 1911, the south portion of the school was built.

The original Fire department was built in 1919 on 40th Ave and 7th Street.

Through the efforts of the Community League, the Colonial Heights Elementary School was opened in 1921 as a Chesterfield County school.

The Church of the Immaculate Conception was founded in 1923.

Ava Ostrander, first woman elected to the council in 1924, also has a park named for her.

In December of 1926, Columbia Heights High School on 41st Ave between Jackson and Van Buren became the first high school in Anoka County.

1940 - City offices moved to the "field house" now known as Murzyn Hall.

A new home for the Sisters was built in 1949, and their residential area in the school was renovated into classrooms.

By 1950, the population of the city was over 6,000 and the school was having growing pains.

Fred D. Thompson who had served both Colonial Heights and Chesterfield County since February 1954.

The Jefferson pavilion building was constructed in 1959 on the eastern portion of Huset Park.Only 3.50 square miles, Columbia Heights is home to 14 parks.Schools

The population having reached 10,000 in 1960, Colonial Heights became a city of the first class.

The next few years saw the enrollment continue to grow, peaking at 1,223 students in 1961.

In 1962, Miss Hill wrote, A Brief History of Education in Colonial Heights, that gives us a wonderful historical summary from the years 1642-1962.

In 1965, Central Middle School, which is now known as Columbia Academy, was built on the south side of 49th Avenue near Jackson St as a Junior High school.

In 1978, a major expansion of City Hall gave the Fire department its current facilities.

But ultimately, MCIP's success is rooted in the vision first put forward by Marie Tukeva in 1979 that America's new immigrants have a right to a quality education and that their very diversity is one of this nation's great untapped strengths.

In 1989 the Sisters vacated the convent and the parish began leasing the building to ELIM - a residence for single mothers and their children.

Two years later, in 1991, Extended Day Care began operation in the school building.

In 1995, Extended Day moved its operation to the Rectory, as the priests no longer resided there.

In 2003 the convent was converted for parish use and offices formerly housed in the rectory moved to the convent.

A licensed pre-K opened in September of 2004 and was located on the first floor of the school.

In 2007, new standards were implemented for teacher and staff development, the curriculum was updated to be child-learning centered, and the Food Service Program was revamped and a new chef hired.

The Extended Day Program was re-named Pathways and Journeys in 2008.