St. John's Lutheran School

Exiting US63 at Denver, IA, we had to stop at a farmers' market to ask where the village of Maxfield was because it isn't on the map.  Maxfield Township is shown, but no village.  We were directed north out of town on old US63 (business route) to 250th Street, and then went 1.7 miles east where we came to this school.

Built in 1881. Used as a school and church until the church was constructed.  School was restored in the early 1970s, rededicatd in 1976.  Now maintained as a museum and repository for the Church history.

An interesting thing about this site was the sidewalk and old street lamps that started just west of the school and continued east to the front of a church.  The church building was obiously new; a stone on it said 1856 to 1964, and the assumption we made was that this new building was probably built in 1964 next to the old one, and then the old one was torn down.  There is a cemetery behind the church.  Between the church and the school is a house which is no more than 100 years old, so it was probably built as a pastorate, and perhaps there was an older one there that it replaced.  But these buildings seem to be all that's left of the village.

Photographed 6/24/16

Tripoli, IA

Coming back from the North Shore of Lake Superior, we decided to detour off US63 for two other schools which were on the list I found on the 'net.

Heading south towards Waterloo, we left US63 at State route 93, eastbound to Tripoli.  This school is Warren #9, located in North Park. Right next to it is a really nice and new veterans memorial.  The school has been preserved very nicely and appears to be used for tours.

Photographed 6/24/10

Jacksonville #12

This is a school I read about on the 'net, so as we drove up US63 on our way to the North Shore of Lake Superior on 6/21, we detoured just a bit to see it. About 3 1/2 miles north of New Hampton, IA, we turned east on 170th Street and traveled 4 1/2 miles east to Adolph Munson Park, which is the site of a little village which no longer exists. This park still carries the name "Jacksonville," and has a couple old cabins moved here. The school was moved from 1/4 mile west so as to be part of the collection.

Gritter Creek School - English Township #8

North English, Gritter Creek School was used from 1874 until 1956 and is now used as a museum. Getting to it was odd, since the road on the map and in the directions from the web is now closed. However, there was a sign pointing the way on the west side of North English, on county highway F67. To find the school you must drive down gravel roads. Turn west on 336th Street at the west edge of town, and then go 2.1 miles to the intersection of J Avenue. Turn north on J Ave and follow it as it bends east for a total of .9 mile and there is the school on the south side of the road. J Ave used to continue another half-mile to join F67, but it is closed off now and dead-ends in a farm.

The front porch has been added since the original construction. This is one of few brick one-room schools in Iowa.