Franklin Township, Abbe Creek School

Abbe Creek School is a restored school between Cedar Rapids and Mt. Vernon, on Mt. Vernon Road, which used to be the old Lincoln Highway.  It was built in 1856 to replace an 1844 wooden structure. It was also used as a meeting house for the settlers.  The school was closed in the 1930s, and in 1964 it was restored for use as a museum.  Schools take students on field trips to this old building, but it was closed up the day we shot it, 5/7/05.  The second shot shows the entrance to the tornado shelter.

Update 20 April 2014:  New photos with a digital camera, and you can see more of the building without the bushes.

UPDATE 3/4/16:  I found this article on Wikipedia which has some good information about the school.  Also, the Cedar Rapids Gazette had a good article.

Usher's Ferry collection, Cedar Rapids, IA

Usher's Ferry is a historical village/park on the northwest side of Cedar Rapids, IA.  They have a collection of several old houses, a church, schools, etc arranged in a little village with a large central park.  In the center of the park is a gazebo.  The park was under water in the great flood of 2008, and many buildings were severly damaged.

The first school below is the Cherry Valley School, built in 1878 on Cherry Valley Rd, SE of Fairfax in the College Township school district.  It was relocated to Usher's Ferry from Fairfax and restored.  It was restored again after the flood.  This school was photographed on 10/2/04.

The red one is Monroe #6, Pleasant Prairie, originally located on Blairs Ferry Rd.  It was converted to a house once it was no longer used as a school.   It was then relocated to Usher's Ferry and restored to represent a Grange Hall.  It was severely damaged in the flood and not currently restored (considered to be "in mothballs").  This photo was taken on 9/23/06. Destroyed by a derecho on 8/10/20.

This photo was posted on the Ushers Ferry Facebook page; it is of the Cherry Valley School in its original location ca 1900

Jackson #6, Antioch School

Built in 1872, the Antioch School is the first school Grant Wood attended, which is why it has been restored.  It is located on Iowa State Highway 64 east of Anamosa, 3.3 miles east of US151.  We took these photos on 5/1/11, replacing an older photo on this post.

Melpine School

On September 1, 2004, we drove down to Wildcat Den State park near Muscatine, so as to tour the area and hike the woods.  At the park was this school, the Melpine School, built in 1877.  It was moved to the park in 1969 and restored, but not open the day we were there.

The school was originally located about 4 miles north of its present location, on Martz Rd (Lane?), and closed in 1964.

The following photos were taken on 8/1/18:

Liberty #6, Round Grove School

One day in July 2004 we were coming home from Davenport and we decided to take a back road scenic tour.  We were on Iowa State Highway 130 when we came across this huge stone school at the NW corner 35th Avenue, east of New Liberty.  It was owned by a farmer, who stored hay and other stuff in it.

The following photos were taken on 11/27/13

UPDATE 6/6/15:  This school burned on 25 April 2014.  On 6/4/15, we drove past the site and this photo shows where this school stood.

Dover School, Donnellson

This is a school we have passed dozens of times over the years.  It is on US 218 4 miles north of Donnelson and 2 miles north of County Road J56, on the NE corner of 180th St.  When we first saw it in 1996, US218 was a 2-lane highway in that area.  A few years ago they began widening it and the new construction got nearer to the school building.  We also watched the building's condition deteriorate.  It is still there, but the new highway has cut lower so the school is on more of a hill.  These photos were taken during the time the construction had cut away part of the hill, in April 2004 when we were on our way to St. Louis.

On 7/23/11 we came by this school and decided to stop at the antique store which was built on the south side of it to see if we could get on the property to photograph it.  The antique store is "Apple Tree Antiques."  We talked to the property owners' daughter who gave us the school's name and said it was built by the 1870s.

8/17/12 update.  The school was used from 1867 until 1941.  Thanks to Val Root for this info.

10/17/14 update.  The Des Moines Register shows this school as being built in 1865.

The following photo was provided via Val Root

Poweshiek County Madison #1

Relocated to Tama County for use as a home.  This school was having some restoration work done when we saw it.  It is on US 30, 1.6 miles west of Iowa State Route 21, on the north side.  Photographed October 2003.

Grundy Center

Colfax #9, is preserved in Grudy Center, where it was moved from rural Grundy County.  It has been restored to it's 1870s appearance.  Photographed in October 2003.

Hardin County, IA

Photographed in October 2003, this school is on the north side of Iowa state highway 175, about 600 feet east of US 65.  This shot gave us the best view.

UPDATE: This school was gone by April 2020.

Summit School, Kalona, IA

Built ca.1850. Nicknamed “Straw College” because straw was stuffed behind the wainscoting during the winter for insulation.  Originally on the prairie south of Kalona.  Was part of the Mid-Prairie School district and was used as a typing room by them until they donated it to the Kalona Historical Village in 1972. It was restored in 1973.

Photographed 8/25/03

The following photos were taken on 10/10/14