Freeman Public School
Freeman Public School District #41 was organized in 1880. A two room school operated from 1880 to 1881 with Rev John Wipf as the first teacher. A six room school was built around 1882 (in Lions Park). In 1900 a new Freeman Public School was built on Railway Street, opening in 1901. There were three classrooms on the first floor for the younger grades and three rooms on the second floor for the older grades. The high school became accredited in 1914.
In October 1923 a fire destroyed the public school.
In 1925 a new Public School was built on Wipf Street which later became a high school. In 1957 the gymnasium next to the school was built.
The “Fliers” was the name given to the 1935 High School basketball team meaning: dashing, lasting, and flying to victory every moment of the game. This corresponds with the 1918 naval and military flyers that would loop at altitudes of 4,000 feet, do nose dives, side slips, and other thrilling feats all learned in 8 hours.
In 1969, 43 acres of land were purchased from the Haar family for a new elementary school on the south end of town. In March 1975, the Boys Basketball Team won the State Title. 9,600 people attended the game as Freeman defeated Dell Rapids. In 1976 a new public high school was built on the south end of Wipf Street. In 1992 a new high school gym was added on. In 2009 on a new public elementary school was built. The old high school building on Wipf Street was torn down in 2009 and the gymnasium became the Freeman Community Center in 2012.
