Pipestone Indian School Superintendent's House
Courtesy of Lorraine Draper |
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The Pipestone Indian School Superintendent's residence, built in
1907, is significant in Minnesota history for its association with
federal policies towards American Indians, particularly the role
the United States' government played in attempting to assimilate
Indians through policies in education. This building is a rare remnant
from what was once a sprawling farm campus that had over 60 buildings
and a capacity for about 400 students. From 1886 to 1887 a dramatic
shift occurred in federal Indian policy. The Dawes Severalty Act
of 1887 emphasized assimilation of Indians into mainstream American
culture, and the educational system was an integral part of this
new policy. The federal government believed that boarding schools,
like that established in Pipestone in the 1890s, were advantageous
because the government could maintain greater control over the Indians
during their education. Boarding schools could also be more successful
in overcoming the Indian's cultural ties. Not surprisingly, many
parents of the Indian youth strongly objected to this new compulsory
educational policy that would take their children from them and
their culture. They resented the development of a school system
without their consent or advise, and the attempt to assimilate their
children at the cost of removing them from their traditional cultures.
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Historic images of the Indian School
from a distance and view of the Superintendent's House (house
on the left), c.1900
Courtesy of Pipestone County Museum and National Register
Collection |
In 1892, the first Pipestone Indian School building was finished.
Children began arriving from all over the Midwest from such tribes
as the Dakota, Oneida, Pottawatomie, Arickarree, Sac and Fox. As
was typical of federal Indian vocational schools, students usually
spent half their day in the classroom and the other half learning
occupations such as farming, blacksmithing, masonry, carpentry,
cooking, baking, and nursing. The training of students in these
industrial skills was resented by many Indians who saw this essentially
as menial chores.
As government programs changed, funding decreased, and the role
of the Indian school diminished until 1953 when the school was closed.
When Southwestern Vocational Technical Institute opened in 1976,
nearly all of the original Indian School buildings were removed
or destroyed. However, the Superintendent's Residence survived and
was used as a private residence until 1983. Since that time the
building has been the property of Minnesota West Community College
(although the name has been changed several times) and used for
storage.
The Superintendent's House is located on the campus of Minnesota
West Community College on N. Hiawatha Ave., Pipestone and is not
open to the public.
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