In Fort Dodge that commitment emerged early.

The town was founded in 1854 and the first school opened a year later.

Here is a summary of Fort Dodge schools through the years, based largely on materials found in the archives of the Webster County Historical Society.

Early schools

-Photo courtesy of the Webster County Historical Society
This was the first purpose built high school in Fort Dodge. It was in use from 1897 to 1922.

The Fort Dodge Army post, which closed in 1853, was located on and around the spot where the old Wahknosa School sits today at 330 First Ave. N.

The town’s very first school opened in 1855 in one of the remaining fort buildings just west of the current Wahkonsa School.

It was open for only two months: January and February of 1855.

There were 20 students. Cyrus Carpenter was the teacher. Carpenter later served as governor of Iowa from 1872 to 1876.

In 1856, the community’s first true school building was constructed at Second Avenue South and Seventh Street. It was a two-story building often called Old Brick.

In the spring of 1857 following the attack by Native Americans known as the Spirit Lake Massacre, the school year was ended early and the building was used to house the refugees who streamed into Fort Dodge seeking safety.

In 1868, another school was built a block away at Second Avenue South and Eighth Street. It was only used for about two years until the Lincoln School was built.

Fort Dodge schools

Lincoln School — Lincoln School stood near 10th Street and Fourth Avenue North, where the St. Edmond Arena and practice field are now.

The first Lincoln School was built in 1868 and was destroyed by fire in 1870.

The replacement school was built in 1872. It was a three-story building with a cupola on its roof.

The school was named for D.K. Lincoln, who was the president of the school board.

This building was more than just a school. For several years it was the entire school system. Students went to class there from first grade through their senior year of high school.

The first class graduated from Lincoln School in 1875. It consisted of three students.

Arey School — The original Arey School was built in 1890 near First Avenue South and 17th Street. It was named after Melvin Arey, who was superintendent of schools.

Wahkonsa School — The first Wahkonsa School was built in 1891. It burned down on Feb. 2, 1912. The current building was constructed in 1913. It is now an office building for government human services agencies.

Senior High — A new high school building was constructed in 1897 at First Avenue North and 10th Street. At that time high school classes were moved out of Lincoln School. It was damaged by fire in June 1907, but was restored and remained in use until 1922.

In 1922, a new high school was constructed at 1015 Fifth Ave. N. It was replaced in 1958 by the current high school at 825 N. 25th St.

The 1922 building became North Junior High, then Phillips Middle School. Today, it is Phillips Luxury Apartments.

Butler School — The first Butler School was built in 1910 near Oleson Park. It was named after J.B. Butler, a member of the Board of Education.

Duncombe School — When the original Duncombe School was built in 1912 near what is now 16th Street and Sixth Avenue North, it was on the far east side of town. There were two houses to the north of it and none to the east.

It is named for C.F. Duncombe, who was president of the Board of Education. His father, John Duncombe, was an attorney, editor and businessman who was one of the most prominent figures in early Fort Dodge. John Duncombe served as a state legislator and member of the state Board of Regents.

Carpenter School — Opened in 1917, it was named after Gov. Cyrus Carpenter.

Hawley School — This school also opened in 1917 on the northwest side of town on a ridge called Round Prairie. Hawley-Lions Park now occupies the space where the school once stood.

First junior high school — Junior high students attended Lincoln School and then occupied part of the 1922 high school building. In 1931, a purpose-built junior high school was constructed near what is today 12th Street and Kenyon Road. It later became South Junior High and later Fair Oaks Middle School. It closed when the current middle school at 800 N. 32nd St. opened in about 2014, but was put back into use as a temporary Duncombe Elementary School while a new building was constructed.

Catholic schools

The first Catholic school in Fort Dodge opened in 1859, according to the book “150 Years of Faith: Catholic Team Parishes of Webster County.” It was a two-story frame structure with a cupola that stood on the north side of the Corpus Christi Church campus on what is now North Eighth Street.

In 1862, the Sisters of Charity began operating the school.

The school was destroyed by fire in December 1900. In 1902, it was replaced with the Corpus Christi Academy on the same site.That building would stand until 1975. But after World War II, it was gradually emptied of students.

A new Corpus Christi Elementary School was built nearby in 1949. It still stands and is used a s parish center. Then in 1955, St. Edmond High School opened at North 22nd Street and Sixth Avenue North.

Holy Rosary School on 9 1/2 Avenue South opened in 1952.

In 1962, a new Sacred Heart Elementary School was built on South 13th Street across from Sacred Heart Church. In 1981, that building became the Catholic middle school.

In 2002, all elementary and junior high classes were moved to the St. Edmond site, creating today’s St. Edmond Catholic School.

Tobin Business College

This institution was started in September 1892 by Thomas Tobin, an immigrant from Ireland.

It was located at the corner of First Avenue North and Seventh Street.

True to its name, the college taught bookkeeping, shorthand and other business skills to its students. But it also had a program of study that prepared people to be teachers.

In 1898, a music program was added to the college’s offerings.

The college was a co-ed institution from the day it opened.

The college’s building burned down on Nov. 25, 1929. The fire prompted a 1931 merger with Fort Dodge Business College.

Iowa Central Community College

There was a Fort Dodge Junior College operated by the school district for several years.

The modern community college system came about in 1966 as a result of legislation authored by then state Rep. Jack Kibbie, D-Emmetsburg. Kibbie later became a state senator and president of the senate.

Iowa Central Community College started that same year under the leadership of Ed Barbour, the superintendent of schools at Eagle Grove who became the first college president. Classes were held in various places around Fort Dodge until the first buildings on the current campus were ready.