Maple Grove, Pilot #1

Located at the SE corner of U.S. Route 6 and County Route V66 on the south side of Marengo.  Preserved and used for storage on private property.  This school was originally located about 8 miles south in Pilot Township, on 230th St and L Ave.

Photographs taken on 5/8/11

Richland #5, Haven School

From Tama, go south on U.S. Route 63 about 1.5 miles to County Route E64 and go east 7.4 miles to P Ave.  There is a community called Haven, and the school is next to the Haven Community Church at the NE corner of P Ave.  Being restored.  From the east, either via Chelsea or Brooklyn, use  County Route V18 to E64, and the school is about 3 miles from the junction.

This next photo shows the playground equipment and an out-building.

Built in 1872, closed in 1968 as last operational one-room school in Tama County.  Flood in nearby Chelsea in 2008 caused 20 students, pre-school through 5th grade, to be displaced.  This school was then used for two weeks by these students, using the old desks still mounted to the floor, as well as the old chalkboard and the playground.  (This information came from an article in the Cedar Rapids Gazette on 9/12/11)

Photographs taken 5/8/11

Otter Creek Township #6, Pleasant Hill School

From Toledo, proceed east out of town on Old Cedar Rapids Rd and turn north on K Ave.  Go north to 300th Street and turn east.  About 5 miles east on 300th is P Avenue, and the school sits on the NW corner, about 500 feet NW of the corner.  Private residence.  If coming from the east one can use County Route V18 from the north approaching from Traer or Clutier) or south (Belle Plaine and U.S. Route 30) until reaching 300th, and then proceeding west about 3.5 miles to P Ave.

This last photo was taken from the road south of the school, 300th Ave.

Photos taken on 5/8/11

Jackson #7, Waggoner School

This school was moved to its current location from a couple miles north.  It is currently behind a house at 18216 State Highway 64, 2.3 miles east of US151.  And it is only a mile west of the preserved Antioch #6!
As you can see, this school is now used as a garage.  The east side has doors cut into it, and there is an addition in the back, but on the west side you can readily see the old school structure.

Photos taken on 5/1/11

UPDATE: on 9/10/20 a derecho knocked a tree down into the school. It most likely won't be saved.

Jackson #1, Midland School

This school is in its original location south of Amber on 170th Avenue, between 120th and 130th Streets, address being 12517.  It is on the west side of the road.  This school is now a residence and has been highly modified.  I believe the front window is where the door used to be.  The first shot is taken approaching from the north.

This photo taken from the southeast side shows an entry door where a window used to be.

Photos taken 5/1/11

Old Sutton, Clay Center School

This school was built 1856-1857 and is one of the oldest (if not the oldest) surviving schools in Iowa.  It was originally located 3 miles west of Canton.  In September 1981 it was moved about 8 miles to the Edinburg historical settlement, about two miles east of Amber on County Route E23, where it has been restored.

Wayne Township #7, Amber

This first shot here is from a book, and if you don't look at this first you will not recognize the school!  Its address is 13515 Sanford Rd in Amber.  The front of the school faces south.

We photographed this school on 5/1/11.  This first shot is looking at the school's northeast corner.  Compare the east side of the house with the east side of the school and you can see much has been altered. The east door has a garage built over it!

For the next two shots we had to go a block away to an alley where we could get a view of the house, what little view could be had.  These are of the south side of the building.  You can see the little dormer window still, and the west entrance door to the school is still used as a back door.

John Gingery Cabin

This cabin was built in 1863 by John Gingery about two miles northeast of Atlantic, IA, on what is now the Gipple Farm.  John was a school teacher, and this cabin served as the school from 1865 until a new school was built in 1868.  The cabin was relocated to the center of Atlantic in the town park in 1976.   These photos were taken on 4/28/11.

Bear Grove #5, Center School

This school is in the southwest side of the town of Atlantic.  It is on Sunnyside Lane in Sunnyside Park, where it was relocated in 1960.  Built ca.1870.  Photographed on 4/28/11

Fairview #2, Corley

South of Harlan, on US59, is the Harlan Municipal Airport.  At the south side of this airport is County Route F58.  About 1/10 mile east of US59 is this school, now used as a house.

There is actually a little community called Corely.  The school was built ca.1880 and used until 1958.  The first photo is as seen from the Harlan Airport.

Photographed 4/28/11

Johnson School, Dubuque County

This school is located on Old Highway Road (old US20) between Epworth and Centralia, 1.6 miles west of Y21.  It is at the SE corner of the junction with Dutch Lane Road.  There is a cemetery to the south of the building which appears to be much older than the school.  The inside has been trashed.  You can see that electricity had been brought in at some time, with one old fluorescent fixture remaining.

Looking in the front door towards the back.  Noticed the raised platform for the teacher; the blackboard would have been between the two windows.

This next photo is looking in the SE window towards the door.

Photographed 4/1/11

UPDATE 10/13/21: I learned that this school was torn down in 2015 and a memorial was built there with bricks from the building. When I get a chance I will drive up to the Dubuque area and photograph it, including close-ups of the main section with the stories, but for now I was given permission from a photographer to post this photo of the memorial.

Update 11/5/21: We took these photos on 10/30/21 but the sun was almost down by the time we got there so these shots aren’t as sharp as they should be—we will have to drive up there again during the day time!!!