Member School Spotlight is the State High School League’s feature series that showcases the academic and co-curricular excellence in member schools.
On the north end of Ely, Minn., a bustling town of just more than 3,200 residents, rests 140-acre Miners Lake. The lake, with a maximum depth of about 140 feet, is a former iron ore mine that symbolizes a vast historical testament that spans nearly 125 years. Iron ore was first discovered in 1883.
Immigrants from Finland and Slovenia were among the primary residents in the early 1900s. A still sizeable population of Slovenian descendants remain long after that mine closed in the 1960s.
After long days of hard work then, recreational pursuits included hiking among the tall pines, picnics along the many miles of shoreline, fishing in the deep surrounding lakes and celebrating Ely as the entryway to wilderness adventures.
The same is true today. “Our town is so unique,” said Tom Coombe, the longtime activities director at Ely Memorial High School. “The tradition and heritage here have connected us for more than a century. From the number of activities we offer to the great number of students that are engaged, we have so much to celebrate.”
Ely Memorial High School, a stately building dedicated to the soldiers that served in World War I, is a source of community energy.
Pioneer School was the first high school in Ely, opening in 1899. The first graduating class was in 1904. It is commonly referred to as “Old High.” A new building followed with a dedication on Oct. 3, 1924. A year ago, the school celebrated its 100th anniversary in that space.
“What we do starts with great community support,” Coombe said. “That plays a key role in everything we do. We never forget that and are grateful to all that are behind these students.”
The Ely School District is investing $5.25 million in its athletic facilities, which will include upgrades earmarked for football, track and field, baseball and softball fields and a hockey rink.
In 2020, the district passed a referendum for a commons area to connect Washington Elementary School with Memorial High School.
Coombe said that in 2007, because of budget challenges, there was limited funding available for the Boys and Girls Track and Field teams as well as the Nordic Skiing teams. The community stepped forward to fund those activities. As a fundraiser, the ski teams annually sell parking space during Ely’s famed Blueberry Arts Festival.
“Our community is willing to help out in so many different ways,” Coombe said. “If you live here and must pick up something supplementally, residents will do so. With multi-purpose kids, you need that kind of commitment.”
Ely Memorial High School, with a current MSHSL enrollment of 162 students, consistently had graduating classes in the 100- to 110-student range. Now there are annually 4045 graduates.
Did you know?
Ely Memorial, a member of Administrative Region 7A, is nicknamed the Timberwolves. The International Wolf Center is just east of town on U.S. Highway 169.
Ely Memorial’s school colors are red and white.
Nearby Shagawa Lake is a body of water that spans 2,344 acres and features more than 20 miles of shoreline.
E ly has been host to hundreds of summer Legion Baseball games, Including the Division II playoffs.
Leonard Klun was a three-time diving state champion before graduating in 1935. He was then a nationally-ranked diver for the University of Minnesota. After serving in World War II, he taught at Ely Memorial and coached Boys Swimming and Diving.
In the late 1940s, Robert Gawboy set state and national records in Boys Swimming while a student representing Ely Memorial. He is a member of the American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame in Kansas.
In 2019, Ely Memorial’s Luke Olson was the Class A 800-meter champion during the Track and Field State Meet.
Zoe Devine won the Girls Nordic Skiing Pursuit Championship in 2023 and Erin Bianco did the same in 2017. Bianco’s finish powered the Timberwolves to the team title.
In 2010, the Timberwolves’ Boys Nordic Skiing team captured the state championship.
Coombe said Ely Memorial is the second or third smallest Member School to offer a Boys Hockey program.
The Girls Volleyball Team made three consecutive trips to the state tournament from 2022-2024.
During the 2023-2024 school year, Ely Memorial was the only Member School in Minnesota to be granted the rights to produce “Frozen.” It had a seven-day/night run in the school’s 800-seat auditorium.
The Ely Educational Foundation supports numerous school projects and grants hundreds of scholarships to students.
The artwork of David Tice Workman, which were nearly lost in 1975 during a renovation project, are now on display in the school’s library.
Ely Memorial offers career and technical education through the Applied Learning Institute.
The town was originally called Florence, but was renamed after mining executive Samuel B. Ely.
In 2010, Frommer’s Magazine dubbed Ely as “Coolest Small Town in America.”
Dignitaries from Ely include “Root Bear Lady” Dorothy Molter, photographer Jim Brandenburg, actor Guy Pearce and activist Jerry Berrigan.
While not from Ely, national radio news icon Charles Kuralt was an avid supporter of the region.
Tom McDonald, a member of Minnesota’s First Family of Basketball, is the longtime Ely Boys Basketball coach.
Ely native Will Steger, along with resident Paul Schurke, completed a 57-day exploration to the North Pole in 1986.
