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

Friday, May 27, 2011

Pleasant Hill School, Le Claire

Located 1/2 mile west of US67 on county road F51 (Territorial Road), on the north side of town.  This school was originally about five miles north of it's present location, moved here about 30 years ago.  This school was built in 1877, closed in 1960.  The front has new vinyl siding and a new door.  It is used for tours, apparently, since you can get an appointment to see the inside (which we did not).  On the right side of the last photo you can see the pole for a piece of playground equipment, some chains still attached.
Photographs taken 5/26/11

On 10/15/16 we toured the school during a 1-room school conference, and took the following photos.  Notice how much work has been done.  The round white sign originally hung outside above the door.

Pleasant Valley #5, Forest Grove School, Bettendorf

At the junction of Forest Grove Road and Criswell Street, on the north side of the road just east of Criswell.  Built in 1873 and closed in 1957, this school is in very sad shape.  Many cement blocks have been removed from the site, which leaves the sides with no foundation.  The interior has been intentionally destroyed and trashed.  But the architecture is still interesting, especially in the school sign above the door.  Both swing sets are still there, although minus the swings.
Photographs taken on 5/26/11

Update, 8/30/12.  The Cedar Rapids Gazette, 8/26/12, reported that efforts are underway to stabilize the foundation of this school before winter, as the beginning of a restoration project.

Update, 4/1/14.  Photos taken today to show progress being made in restoration.  A new foundation was built after lifting the school, and then the school was set back down on it.  Restoration efforts ceased for the winter.

UPDATE 12/1/15:  Here's an article discussing the restoration, and letting us know that the school is "buttoned up" for the winter.

UPDATE 1/16/16:  The following photographs were taken today.

UPDATE 10/16/16:  The following photos were taken on 10/15/16 during a tour with a 1-room school conference group.  The interior has a long way to go.
UPDATE 10/13/20: Today we took the following photographs. Restoration appears to be complete. We looked in the windows and the inside is completely outfitted with desks, etc. An architect drew the new bell tower using the original bell tower in a 1923 photo. The original bell was donated back to the school by the school’s former owner.
2/14/22. We were in the area so we took some photos. These are winter shots so they show the shutters closed. Also notice replica outhouses (although modernized) have been built and a pump (non-working) has been placed next to the front sidewalk. Both swing sets have been restored. We also photographed the information which is posted at the new parking lot. One photo (reflecting the cameraman) shows the edge of the old outbuilding on the left side of the photo, which has been removed during restoration.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Greene #3, Boyle School

This was the last rural school in Iowa County, closing its doors on 19 May 1966.  These photos, taken during a rain shower on 14 May 2011, show the school without its bell tower, moved back from the road to a field a short distance from where it was located.  The school is on County Route F52 on the east side of Holbrook.  The school was built ca. 1890.

New photos taken on a sunshiny day, 9/21/13.

Monday, May 9, 2011

Oak Grove School, Sumner Township

This school was built in 1871.  From Marengo on U.S. Route 6, proceed west of town about a mile to L Ave and go south to 160th Street and turn west.  As 160th junctions with KK Ave, turn south on KK.  At 168th Ave turn west again.  Total distance from L Ave is 1.5 miles.  If coming from south of Marengo on V66, turn west on 160th for 1.1 miles until L Ave, where there is a slight jog to the north as you continue with directions from L.
The school is located in a grove of Oak trees - I guess that's where it got its name.  It is the first school we've seen with a tornado shelter (we could not get on the property - fenced off with warning signs).  You can see the brick door arch.
Photographs taken on 5/9/11
On July 8, 2012, we attended the meeting of the Iowa County Historical Society held here at Oak Grove School, and were allowed to go inside.  The original desks are still mounted on the floor, but newer desks have also been placed inside.  Much work is needed to restore this building.