Andrea Johnson/MDN The old Eureka School has been donated to the Ward County Historical Society and was moved onto the Pioneer Village grounds in Burlington on Thursday morning. The school closed about a decade ago. It has been split into two buildings, one of which has a bathroom that will provide restroom facilities at the museum.

BURLINGTON – The former rural Minot Eureka Elementary School has been donated to the Ward County Historical Society for its Pioneer Village Museum in Burlington and was moved onto the museum grounds on Thursday morning, said Dan Caswell, a historical society board member.

The rural Minot school was located north of Minot and closed about a decade ago.

It has been split into two separate buildings and was moved onto the museum grounds on Thursday morning. One of the buildings has a bathroom, which will provide restroom facilities for visitors to the museum. Board members plan to fix up the buildings. Board members have said in the past that they plan to put a military exhibit in one of the Eureka school buildings.

The museum buildings were moved to the land near Burlington, which is now owned by the historical society, from its old location on the North Dakota Fairgrounds last year. Over the last year, the historical society members have spent time preparing the land and the buildings for an eventual reopening. The coronavirus pandemic delayed their efforts, but the board still hopes to hold a “soft reopening” next month, according to a message on its website. They hope to hold a “Grand Opening Celebration on Aug. 1.

Historical society members are also keeping busy with other activities to give back to the community.

They are planning a highway cleanup day at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June, 6, starting from the Pioneer Village Museum in Burlington. The museum has adopted a three-mile stretch of U.S. Highway 2 and 52, encompassing about a mile and a half on either side of Burlington, according to information provided by board president David Leite.

“Now this might sound like a barrel of fun to some, but it is a good chance for some exercise while social distancing and giving back to the community,” Leite said in his newsletter. “This is also a good chance to get a look at what has been happening at the museum. We are required to have a quick orientation/safety meeting before starting off. Reflective vests, garbage bags and water will be provided. Come with your heavy gloves, substantial leather shoes or boots and sun protection as needed. In the event of rain, June 13th will be the backup day.”