Iowa One Room Schools: Decorah Township #2, Guttormson 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

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Decorah Township #2, Guttormson School

From junction of US52 and SR9, go north on US52 about .5 mile and turn west on Madison Road. Proceed 1.3 miles and the school will be on the south side of the road, facing west. It appears to have been raised on a new foundation.

Photographed 10/10/11

UPDATE 7/20/17. This school has been moved NW across the road and up a long driveway to better preserve it.

The following photographs were taken on 3/17/18. The school's current owners are the ones who restored it to the condition when we photographed in 2011. They moved it to their property (2214 Madison Rd) where they built "De Novo Barn" wedding and event center and put it on a new foundation with a great basement. I was there to play my bagpipes for a wedding. The bridesmaids and bride were getting dressed in the basement, so I didn't get to see it, but there is a walkout in the back. I did go inside the main floor so as to talk with the bride coordinating what my instructions were; fabulously restored inside! The school is directly across the narrow drive from the barn.