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

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Iowa #7

South of Amana  From JCT US6 and US151 North, about 1/4 mile east of US151 is W Ave; turn south on W four miles to 210th St and turn east.  Proceed .6 miles east and the school will be on the north side, facing east.  It is now a residence with an addition on the south side.  Originally located .5 mile east at the NE corner of 210th St and Y Ave.  Fire number address is 3261.
Photographed 10/22/11

Iowa #5, Iowa Center School

South of Amana.  From JCT US6 and US151 South, proceed south on US151 2.5 miles to 190th St and turn east.  School will be .6 mile east of US151 on the north side facing west, now used as a machine shed.  Originally located .4 mile east at the NW corner of 190th St. and V Ave.  The school closed in 1924 and was used as a township hall and as a 4-H club meeting house.  In the late 1940s the township meeting place changed to Amana.  In 1960 the school was auctioned for $400 and moved to a new cement foundation, raised two feet and the floor removed.  A large door was installed on the west side.  The blackboard and chimney remain on the east side of the building.
Photographed 10/22/11

UPDATE 8/2/17:  This building was demolished by 2017.

Iowa #4, Conroy.

Conroy is a small village about 5 miles north of Williamsburg.  This school is located on the east side of Conroy on NE corner of D St (190th St) and 10th Ave, facing east.  Originally located three miles east at the NW corner of 190th St. and T Ave.  Residence, address is 1021 D St.  The school closed in 1932.
Photographed 10/22/11

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Millville School, Millville

Moved about .5 mile south of original location on US52, it is on the south side of town at the NW corner of US52 and Graham Rd.  Was used for a while by the AMVETS and American legion, and was also used as a town hall and polling place.  Now a honey sales office.
Photographed 10/10/11

Pleasant Ridge/WIllie School, Guttenberg

 Located on east side of CR X56 4-miles north of the Guttenberg city limit sign, 4.5 miles north of Marina Rd.  Faces south.   Built 1893, closed 1954.  Stone structure covered with pebble dash texture.  Has original furnishings and bell.  New roof.
Photographed 10/10/11

Clayton School, Clayton

Two-story stone structure built 1860, closed 1963.  K-8th grade used first floor, high school used second.  A wooden high school was later built in the lot immediately north, but is no longer extant.  In 2011 a new roof and windows were installed, paid for by the county gaming commission.  Clayton is east of County Road X56 on the Mississippi River, and the school is on the street along the river. 
Photographed 10/10/11

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.
This photo shows me leading the whole bridal party out of the school down to the side of the barn; the groom of course is awaiting in the barn.

Dover #? Northeast of West Union

From West Union, proceed east on US18 about 2 miles to Ironwood Road (first road past the road to the airport) and turn North.  Proceed about 1.5 miles (with twists and turns until it finally straightens north-bound) and the first turn east after the straight section will be Harness road.  Proceed east on Harness Rd for .5 mile and the school will be on the North side of the road.
Photographed 10/10/11

Summit School, Independence

About 1996 this school was moved from its original location nearby to the town of Rowley, and restored.  In 2006 it was again relocated, this time to the Heartland Acres Agribition Center on the west side of Independence, where these photographs were taken.  The school was built in 1869.
This photo was taken through the window on the left in the above shot.
Here's a shot from a side window.
Photographed 10/10/11

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Ludlow Township #4

From Waukon, proceed south on SR9, and then when SR9 turns west, proceed about 5.5 miles to Poleline Road (one mile west of SR51)(one mile east of the county line), and then turn south.  Proceed two miles to Countryside Road, and the school is on the NW corner of the intersection.  (A state patrolman told us about this school after we stopped to ask him for information about Lycurgus School.)
Photographed 10/3/11

Howard School

Built in 1896, this school is about three miles northeast of Waukon on SR9, one mile northeast of CR A44, at the intersection of Howard Road.  It sits on the SW corner. It is now being used as a garage, very nicely kept up.
Photographed 10/3/11

Lycurgus School

The little community of Lycurgus is about six miles northeast of Waukon on State Route 9.  There is a Catholic Church on that corner of Lycurgus Rd.  However, to find this school you need to drive about a mile to the next road, which is French Creek Rd.  The school sits back just a bit from the northeast corner, with an electric power station in front of it.  This huge stone structure has a second floor with another room.  The school was built ca.1870.  It was still in operation ca.1940 because I found information on the ‘net about someone attending there.
Photographed on 10/3/11

Franklin Township #?, The Red School

This school was built in 1874, and was painted red in 1883.  The school operated until 1967.  It was moved to the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in 1978.  The fairgrounds are located on the east side of SR9, on the north side of Waukon.
These next photos were taken by holding the camera above the the curtains in the back windows.  For a fairly short guy like me, it was a tip-toe operation!
Photographed on 10/3/11

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Round Prairie #4, Hanson School

On the south edge of Waukon, on SR9 among the collection of buildings, railroad cars and such next to the Sweeny House of Clocks Museum.  Built in 1886 and used until 1968.  No information as to where it was relocated from.
These next shots were taken by shooting between curtains on the only two windows with the curtains parted a bit!
Photographed on 10/3/11