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

Brick Schoolhouse

Photographed by McGhiever, October 4, 2025

1. Brick Schoolhouse Marker

Inscription.

The second schoolhouse for children from Forestville and Carimona was built in 1857 out of locally made bricks.

The brick schoolhouse cost $500 ($18,000 today) to build. It replaced a log building located in south Forestville. Milton Benhem, who moved to Forestville from nearby Muscatine, Iowa, was the first teacher at the new schoolhouse.

Thomas Meighen at the brick schoolhouse, about 1895

The schoolhouse was no longer in use when Meighen posed in front of it. In fact, it burned down shortly after this photo was taken.

The hillside in the background is now within Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park.

MNHS collections

Erected by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

Location. 43° 38.678′ N, 92° 12.843′ W. Marker is near Preston, Minnesota, in Fillmore County. It is in Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park. It is on County Road 118, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Preston MN 55965, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

this marker 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: Robert Foster House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Meighen Store (about 700 feet away); South Branch of the Root River (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bridges at Forestville (approx. 0.2 miles away); Historic Forestville (approx. 0.2 miles away); Meighen Icehouse (approx. 0.2 miles away); Bridges (approx. 0.2 miles away); Forestville Sawmill (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Preston.

Brick Schoolhouse site and marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by McGhiever, October 4, 2025

2. Brick Schoolhouse site and marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 19, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota. This page has been viewed 53 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 19, 2025, by McGhiever of Minneapolis, Minnesota.