Draft:Tuttle School



Tuttle School is a historic building in the Como neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

History and Architecture
Constructed in 1910 and opened for use the following year, the Tuttle building was built to serve the expanding population of Como neighborhood, recently added to Southeast Minneapolis by James Elwell. Como neighborhood residents, during the Industrial Expansion period in the city, included a significant immigrant population, and were commonly employed with Como's adjacent two major rail lines serving the American West and Northwest (the Northern Pacific and the Great Northern), and the numerous large railside elevators, milling and manufacturing industries in Como.

REF school demographics study 1930s

Tuttle was built from a design by architect E. S. Stebbins [first name], the official architect of the Minneapolis Board of Education. Architecturally, the Tuttle building reflected several new ideas in early twentieth century school design, such as expanded fenestration, a low and flat roof line, restrained ornamentation, improved natural ventilation, and fire safety. The building name honors Calvin Tuttle, an early 19th century settler and mill operator in Saint Anthony (later annexed into Minneapolis). Tuttle School replaced earlier same-named buildings (1883 and 1890) adjacent in Como, and also the nearby Columbus School.

REE Stebbins arch archive ref, and other work REF https://mpshistory.mpls.k12.mn.us/uploads/mplspublicschoolstdy_2005.pdf

Tuttle operated as an elementary school until 2007, receiving renovations in the 1920s and 1980s, after which it housed several charter schools by lease.

REF mpshistory.mpls.k12.mn.us/tuttle

Street address ? Located at 1042 18th Ave SE

Status and Plans
In 2023, Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS) listed the building for sale as surplus property. Under MPS policy for surplus buildings, community input is a factor around the property sale and future use. Como neighbors have presented ideas for a community-oriented future use of the building.

REF to SECIA page

Add references - Public Schools history page

- Como History page

- Educational program offerings (innovations, "open" school)

- peak or other school child attendance count

- playground and significance

- Closing newspaper article

- items of significance from HCL Tuttle list