Built as a schoolhouse, its halls once rang with the sounds of students who were on their way to classrooms, eager to learn the lessons of the day.

The Arnegard School has always been easy to spot when driving by the town of Arnegard, ND, because it is the largest building in the community. However, it has sat vacant for several years just waiting for the day when someone would give it a new purpose.

That day has finally arrived! In the near future the Arnegard School will once again ring with the sounds of children and adults, but they won’t be sitting at desks or standing in front of the classroom blackboard. Instead they will be enjoying the comforts of a relaxing bed and breakfast facility.

In February, Milt and Leann Hanson of Lexington, SC, acquired the Arnegard School from the Friends and Alumni Association of the Arnegard School in order to turn it into the tentatively named, Old School Bed and Breakfast.

Milt graduated from Watford City High School in 1978 and Leann’s parents, Swede Ericson and Della Mae Olson of Keene, are originally from Watford City.

Two years ago, when the Hansons were home for Christmas, Milt drove by the school and thought it would make a great home.

"When I was in high school I spent my junior and senior proms playing basketball there," he noted. "I spent a lot of time there and have always thought it was a neat building."

He visited with the former owners, the Friends and Alumni of the Arnegard School Association, and came up with the idea for the bed and breakfast.

The Hansons have never managed a bed and breakfast before, so they plan to do a lot of research before opening for business.

"One of the draws is that it is a unique building," noted Milt. "A lot of the bed and breakfasts in the south are old mansions of the plantation homes, not run-of-the-mill homes."

A lot of the artifacts and school memorabilia, like old pictures and trophies, have been left in the building and the Hansons plan to display them.

The Arnegard School consists of four levels - basement, two main floors and an attic. Tentative plans are to turn the basement into Milt’s repair shop for his band instrument repair business. The first level will be renovated into four suites and a great hall for the bed and breakfast. The second level will be the Hansons’ private residence consisting of a formal dining room and living room, a master suite, a suite for their daughter, a guest bedroom and a gourmet kitchen.

"We have a lot of options, but we need to see how much money we can come up with so we know how extensive the extra decorating can be," noted Milt.

Before all of that can be accomplished the building needs to be renovated. The building is structurally sound, but because of the era that it was built in, asbestos needs to be removed. A warped floor needs to be replaced, and walls and floors need to be stripped, refinished and repainted. The bathrooms also need to be changed from institutional facilities to residential restrooms.

"No work will be done to change the exterior of the building," said Milt. Part of the reason it was sold to us was our promise to preserve it. The building needs some obvious repair because if it is not being used, it will have to be bulldozed."

Both of the gymnasiums will be available for public use -like family and class reunions, and for the Fourth of July celebration if it is forced indoors due to inclement weather.

They would also like to turn the large gym into a multi-use facility including basketball, volleyball and tennis courts.

"I’m an avid tennis player and the nearest indoor court is in Minot," commented Milt. "I would like to continue to play, and this will give others something to do in the winter."

The little gym, possibly, will be used as a health facility with weight equipment and walking areas. The stage may also be used for possible concerts, recitals or plays.

"I don’t know that that idea will fly, but it would be nice to have," added Milt.

The Hansons are hoping to be able to at least have part of the bed and breakfast open for business by the summer of 1999 for the Lewis & Clark Expedition Bicentennial. The bed and breakfast will be centrally located between Fort Buford, the North Unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park and the Tobacco Gardens Recreation Area.

"We hope to offer gourmet breakfasts that are not just eggs and bacon," commented Milt. "I will be doing the cooking."

The Hansons are looking forward to meeting a variety of interesting people from all over the world once their bed and breakfast is open. According to Milt, the people who stay at bed and breakfasts are not the type who drive until 6 p.m. and then stop at the first hotel they see.

"They search out a place to stay," he explained. "A bed and breakfast is laid-back. It’s not sterile, because your’re staying in someone’s home."

In addition to housing the bed and breakfast, Hanson’s business, Uncle Milty’s Band Instrument Repair will also be located there.

Milt has been in the instrument repair business for 11 years. He used to be a band director, but decided teaching wasn’t for him. He went back to school and graduated with a degree in instrument repair.

"I’ve always been good with my hands and make a good combination of mechanic and musician," he noted.

He plans to serve local schools and musicians with his repair business, as well as bring in mail-order customers. A fair number of professional musicians use his services, and Milt is confident that they will continue to do so after he has relocated.

He and Leann spent a lot of hours thinking about the pros and cons of this business venture. They also asked the people of Arnegard what they think about it. According to Milt, most of them think it sounds like a good idea, but feel it will take a lot of work.

"A lot of elbow grease will be needed," admitted Milt. "If local residents would like to volunteer their time or resources to the project, they would be appreciated and publicly recognized by us."

Milt also stressed that if anyone has questions, comments or suggestions they can write to him at 120 D Ellis Avenue, Lexington, SC 29072 or contact him via e-mail at uncmilt@alltel.net.