Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park near Preston in Fillmore County, Minnesota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Graded School

Photographed by McGhiever, October 4, 2025

1. Graded School Marker

Inscription.

The Forestville Graded School (as it was called locally) was built in 1879. It drew children from Forestville and the neighboring town of Carimona.

The first class was held here on January 14, 1880. The school stayed in use until the early 1950s, when school buses were available to drive students into Wykoff.

Forestville teacher Myrtle Cummings with students, 1894.
In 1898, Myrtle Cummings left Forestville to stake a claim on a 160-acre homestead near what is now Itasca State Park. Her memory lives on through Myrtle Lake, located within the state park.
MNHS collections

Erected by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Women. A significant historical year for this entry is 1879.

Location. 43° 38.993′ N, 92° 12.782′ W. Marker is near Preston, Minnesota, in Fillmore County. It is in Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park. It can be reached from County Road 118, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Preston MN 55965, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker

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is in Southeast Minnesota

and in Greater Rochester.

It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Forestville Brickyard (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Robert Foster House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Zumbro Hill Cemetery (approx. 0.4 miles away); Brick Schoolhouse (approx. 0.4 miles away); Meighen Store (approx. half a mile away); South Branch of the Root River (approx. half a mile away); Bridges at Forestville (approx. half a mile away); Historic Forestville (approx. half a mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Preston.

Graded School marker and foundation image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, October 4, 2025

2. Graded School marker and foundation

Credits. This page was last revised on November 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 29, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 42 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 29, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.