Abandoned rural school in South Dakota

Vale High School, Vale South Dakota

Date added: February 10, 2023 Categories: South Dakota School

Vale, a pioneering community in the east end of Butte County, acquired a post office in 1883. After the coming of the railroad and an important irrigation project of 1909, Vale became a thriving agricultural town. Stephen Berry was hired to design a school for the growing community and it was built in 1914 by Guy Kingsbury of Vale. A two-year curriculum was offered in the structure until 1927 when it became a four-year accredited high school. Shortly after this time, a gymnasium was constructed to the west of the older building. Hundreds of school and public events went on in the school during its heyday. It continued to serve the area as an operating high school until August 26, 1967.

Although now abandoned, the school is one of the few older buildings still standing in Vale. The citizens of this community of 150 people believe that no where in South Dakota has a high school been so important to the local surrounding area than the Vale School. Its closing was an unhappy occurance for many.

Building Description

Located on a country road in a small rural community, the Vale School is a square, two-story frame building with a hip roof, two brick chimneys and long rectangular windows with four over four sash.

Designed by Stephen Berry, the school was built in 1914 by Guy Kingsbury of Vale. Now that the building has been vacated, the upper level windows have been boarded up. A small vestibule with double doors (topped with transoms) is centrally located on the front (south) facade. Entrance into the cellar on the east facade is via an exterior bulkhead. The rear side is windowless and has only a wood staircase leading to the second floor. To the north of the building is a privy.

Another building, constructed around 1929 and used for both an auditorium and gymnasium, is adjacent to the main school (to the west). Topped with a clipped gable (or Jerkin Head) roof, this newer frame building is a long rectangular structure with rectangular windows and lean-tos extending on the east and west sides. A centrally located vestibule has a clipped gable roof that culminates in a return cornice. Four over four sash sidelights flank the double doors of the vestibule. The building has a brick chimney projecting from the roof.