Emerson Elementary, named for writer Ralph Waldo Emerson, was completed in 1956 at a cost of $163,043. It has grown into an important part of the community.
"For fifty years, Emerson has been the school home for many Riverside families...Looking back at old school photos, it is first apparent that clothing and hair styles have changed. But looking at the smiles, the eyes and excitement of the children throughout the decades, it is evident that the excitement for learning has not changed," former Principal John McCombs said.
"Regularly, neighbors and friends from our community stop in to tell us stories about family members who have attended the school. And regularly, we are reminded that with children and families, very little changes. They keep coming to Emerson, full of hope and ready to learn."