From left, stone school, brick school and Lutheran Church. Photo from about 1895.
1870: Lanesboro’s first public school, a stone building with four classrooms, is built on Church Hill between the Lutheran and Catholic churches.
1891: A second, larger brick school is built next to the stone school.
1903: The brick school, for upper grades, is expanded to double its size.
1912: Another addition is made to the 1891 brick building.
March 23, 1917 fire
1917: Fire destroys both schools when lightning ignites the Lutheran Church and the blaze spreads.
What was left of the brick school. Gutted church in background.
1917-1918: A new, three-story school is completed on the site of the old schools; the church is also rebuilt.
Lutheran Church, left, and Church Hill School during reconstruction.
Church Hill School in 1918
1919: New school's top floor is damaged by fire. During rebuilding, a curved roofline is added.
1919-1959: Church Hill School houses all 12 grades, and graduates generations of Lanesboro students.
Pink panels were a mid-century "improvement."
1960: After 42 years with one school, Lanesboro opens a new high school at Kirkwood St. and Parkway Ave. Church Hill School becomes an elementary school.
1990: School district closes elementary school and combines all grades at the Kirkwood St. school.
A glimpse of the original interior, much of which was damaged and had to be torn out.
1990-1993: The building sits empty, unheated and slowly deteriorates.
1993: School district sells the building to Lanesboro residents Dan and Maureen Anderson.
1994: Local governments support the preservation effort by authorizing tax-increment financing.
1994-2004: The Andersons replace the leaky roof and demolish and dispose of almost the entire interior.
A skid steer, operated by Dan Anderson, navigated through doors and up stairwells to clear out the interior.
All interior walls are gone, leaving open floors, in the early 2000s.
2006: People interested in restoring and living in Church Hill School join with the Andersons to develop a 15-unit residence.
Pink-paneled windows are replaced with modern reproductions of the original windows.
2009: The first two condominium units are occupied.
2017: The last two condo units are sold to private owners.
Church Hill School Condominiums today.
Photo sources: Lanesboro Historical Museum Don Ward collection (historical photos); Church Hill School Condominiums archive (demolition), Woody Roland (contemporary building).
Timeline sources: Lanesboro Historical Museum files, Church Hill School Condominium records, "Lanesboro Minnesota Historic Destination," by Don Ward and Ted St. Mane, Dan Anderson personal communication.