Iowa One Room Schools: Newton Township #9, Holman School

ORIGINS

I grew up in a small Ohio town and I rode the school bus from 1st through 12th grades. My bus ride always included a country road on which every school day we saw a one-room brick school house. (SW corner of Stine Rd and Enon-Xenia Pike). As the years went by I watched this wonderful, familiar friend fall apart. After I married the school really began to deteriorate. Every time we visited the area I would want to take a photo of the school but never did. Finally, when we went specifically for the task, the school was gone. It was a huge loss for me and, since that time, whenever we pass a one-room school it is a joy to stop to take a picture or two. Thus, our collection here and the blog with schools in other states. Jill :oD

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Newton Township #9, Holman School

A friend lived in Troy Mills for a while and told us about this school downtown. So on April 1, 2006, when we went to visit we made sure we had our camera with us. It was built in 1883. Located at 5912 Troy Mills Rd, just north of Coggon Rd, west side.

On 24 February 2016, Mr. Ken Frasher, with The Forgotten Iowa Historical Society, provided me the following information:

Originally this school was located in section 29 of Newton township Buchanan County with the ground being owned by C.W. Butterfield. The school was moved to Troy Mills in probably the early to mid 50's and became the carpenter shop of Virgil Chester for years. After that I believe it sat empty for several years and then became a dance studio. The name Holman probably comes from the early families that lived in the area with many being buried either in Troy Mills or Upper Spring Grove.”

The western section of the school, behind the three windows and with the side door, looks to have been added after the move to Troy Mills.

The following photos were taken on 23 February 2016: