by Jim Boyle
Editor
Members of the Sandhill Photography Club, a local photo club, were recently asked by Handke Center’s 85th anniversary event planners to photograph the facility in preparation for the big celebration on Tuesday.
The Handke Center, formerly Elk River High School, opened its doors on Jan. 12, 1931. The event, featuring free food, fun and refreshments, will run from 4-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, at the Handke Center, 1170 Main St., Elk River.
“It was really exciting and interesting to create images of Handke Center because it is a fantastic historical building in Elk River and so well maintained,” Jay Grammond, the founder of the photography club, said. “There are so many architectural features inside and outside of this building that a person could really spend hours photographing it.”
Every age level has roamed the halls of the facility, whether it was original Elk River High School students who graduated in the 1930s, children at the turn of the century who came with their parents for early childhood special and regular education classes or seniors in their 90s taking a community education class to learn something new on computers or some topic of interest.
Grammond calls the building an amazing blend of old and new, from the old original boilers, pipes, coal storage rooms and controls in the infamous boiler room to the beautifully preserved main hallway and gymnasium in the original building to the fantastic year-old main entrance, offices and new classrooms in the newly constructed wing of the building.
He said his club members were honored to shoot the building and do something to give back to the community.
Among the photographers were Jay Grammond (http://www.jgrammondphotography.com), Patricia Nelson (http://www.nelson-arts.com) and Katie Raivala (http://raivala.com). Some of their photos of the education facility are featured here on this page.
“The work the club did in photographing the building adds to the historical legacy for future generations to celebrate this gem of a building,” Grammond said. “In 15 years, when people celebrate the 100th anniversary, people will be able to look at these images and see what things looked like, ‘back then.’”
In addition to club pictures that will be displayed, there will also be historic photos on display.
Event organizers also plan to “collect memories” at the event.
“Anyone who has a story to share of the their time at the Handke Center is invited to participate in a recording session,” event coordinator Erin Sweet said.
Grammond imagines many people will come to reminisce about their walks down the halls as students or teachers and the memories they made in classrooms while attending the school.
“Once the stroll down memory lane is done, a person could head down to the new Early Childhood Family Education wing to see all the wonderful changes that were made there to provide an even greater experience for our community’s youngest learners,” Grammond said.
