The first school house was completed in January, 1857, and in this building Asa B. Fitch taught the first term of school in the township. The Congregational Church of Stacyville was organized in the school house on January 18 1857 by Rev. William L. Coleman. In 1857 the Stacy Bros. donated twenty-five acreas of land adjoining the village for an academy; but failing to establish the same, the land reverted back to them and was then donated to the Stacyville independent school district, on which land the present high school building now stands. This fine building was erected in 1869 at a cost of over $4,000. In 1883, there were four school districts in the township, each provided with a building, also the high school building at Stacyville.
The first parochial school was erected in Stacyville in 1877. At that time, Reverend Joseph Hellregel, the first resident priest (1878-1883) boarded and roomed with Math Durben, a school teacher in the second story of the school building. During the tenure of Father John Anler (1887-1889) two Sisters from the Order of St. Francis of Assisi (Dubuque, Iowa) arrived to assist Father Anler with the education of the youth.When Father Albers came (1889-1894) he added a send addition of two stoy winds to the church, with the second floor used for school purposes.
In 1922, work began on a new school building at the cost of $44,000.. It was completed in November of 1923. The school housed 8 grades and 4 years of high school plus music.At the time of the centennial, faculty numbered 12 with an enrollment of 290 students. The 110X68 gymnasium, built at a cost of $80,000 was completed under Father Hintgen's pastorate (1943-1954).
The last class to graduate from Marion High School was the Class of 1968. (Thanks for Sam Schmidt of Washington, DC for sending corrected date - his mother was in class of '68). In the years following, most students completed high school at St. Ansgar, some at Osage.
Photographs of the graduating class members are on display in the church basement.
The decision was made to close Visitation school at the end of the 2002-03 school year. Information and news releases relating to the decision:
