Pisek, North Dakota was established by Czechoslovakian and Moravian families in 1882, many who were poor and came to America with the hope of improving their living conditions and securing a better future. Named after their hometown in Czechoslovakia, Pisek means “sand” in their native language and the North Dakota settlement was built near a sand ridge in the Red River Valley. In 1885, the Great Northern Railroad built a line here from Grand Forks, which only increased traffic to the young town. It quickly became a trading center, especially for the farmers who lived nearby.

The first school was built shortly after the town was established, a one-room wood-frame building that also doubled as a church for several years. In 1886, the church was built, only to be replaced by a larger church six years later. The original church building was converted to use as the school. Within a couple years, the residents of Pisek recognized that the school facilities were inadequate and that an updated building was desperately needed. In October of 1913, the new school opened, welcoming 103 students through its doors.

The four-story school was designed by well-known Grand Forks architect, John W. Ross. The building is red-pressed brick with Bedford limestone trim, designed in the Classical Revival style. Its’ classrooms are organized around a central stair hall, creating a symmetrical appearance. Initially, the gymnasium was located on the school’s top floor, though the space was eventually subdivided into classrooms. A large tower with four arched openings was home to the school bell, its sound carried by the wind through Pisek, signaling the beginning and end of the school days.

Between 1932 and 1941, St. Francis Sisters served as teachers at this public school. The cause of this unique arrangement is unknown, but it might have been related to a lack of funds during the Great Depression. In 1986, after serving the community for 73 years, the bell rang one final time, when the last class graduated, a class made up of one lone senior. Today, while the school building's exterior has seen little change, the Pisek school is now a private residence. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.