The old Emerson was considered one of the finest school houses in the city when it was opened, according to Mrs. Stockwell, who taught at the Emerson in 1885 and 1886. “I had been teaching at the old Jefferson,” ‘she said Saturday. “And I remember that we thought the new Emerson was a fine building when it opened.” “I remember particularly. Mrs. Giffin, who had charge of the kindergarten class. She was a splendid teacher and introduced many of the teaching methods used in the schools today.” The old Emerson school was built in 1885. The school board purchased the site for $12,500. In 18899 a three-story addition was erected, and again, in 1915, another addition, costing $25,483.86 was built.
The project for the new Emerson took form two years ago after a prolonged agitation for new building in the neighborhood. The new structure was built in two units, the first housing the primary grades and the second containing the administration suite, hygiene room and class room for upper grades. The old Emerson was a gloomy building. When the sky was overcast by clouds It seemed a labyrinth of dark and narrow passageways. And during the fire drill there were at least 260 children on the third floor who had to wait approximately two minutes while the children of the second and first floors made their way out. The hallways mere too narrow to accommodate all the marchers,
Minneapolis Morning Tribune- December 5th, 1926