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

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

Giard #5, Froelich

This little town is on US18 between McGregor and Monona, a bit over a half-mile west of the junction with US52.  The school was built in 1866 and was originally on a knoll nearby, and then moved not far to a local farm at the end of the 1953-1954 school year.  Years later it was moved into Froelich to be part of a historical collection.  There is still writing on the blackboard from the last day of school, and the original furnishings are still inside.

The following photos were posted on the wall of the school to show how it was moved to its present location.  I thought they were quite interesting so I am posting them here.  I believe the first shot was at its original location on the knoll, while the rest are of it being moved from the farm.

School photographed 10/3/11

Unknown Schools, Spook Cave

From Monona, proceed east on US18 about .5 mile east of the junction with US52 to Spook Cave Road, and follow that road north to the campground.  The store is two schools attached, one perpendicular to the other.  The sales person said one school came from nearby while the other came from several miles away, and they were moved to this location about 1955.  It appears that the end of the school on the right side in the photo below is actually the front, since it looks like a central door with windows on each side.  It also appears as if that roof has been lowered to better join the other building.

This next photo is slightly blurred - I really need to watch that auto-focus!  It is as you walk in the door, looking to the back of the first school.  you can see where the chimney was, and there is the dais for the teacher's desk.  Another door has been cut into the side.  Also, as you walk in the door, you can easily see on the floor where a wall was removed; it was the small coat room between the front door and the class room, and had a door on each side.

This shot is looking into the other school where the gift shop is located.

Photographed 10/3/11

Clayton Center School

This school was brick (William Sherman’s book, Iowa's Country Schools: Landmarks of Learning, has a photo of kids standing outside of it), so the building has been sided.  It is now a radio station and has additions on the north and west sides.  From Elkader, proceed north on SR13 about 2 miles to SR 128, and go east about 3 miles.  The school is on the north side of the road.

Photographed 10/3/11

Littleport School

From Elkader, proceed south on SR13 about 2 miles to County Road X3C and turn east.  Proceed about 2 miles to CR X21 and proceed south to Littleport.  This school, at 155 W. Main, was used a the public library for a while, but is now trashed and full of all sorts of junk.

Photographed 10/3/11

UPDATE 11/13/16:  This school was burned for firefighter training in the summer of 2016.

Catechism Confirmation School

Built in 1908 for St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Garnavillo (about 13 miles northeast), it was relocated to the Iowa Welcome Center complex about five miles south of Elkader on SR13, having been donated in 1989. 

Photographed 10/3/11

Cox Creek School

Built ca. 1872, last class was 1952 and then it became the township hall. Located on east side State Highway 13, just north of Emblem Rd (CR C5X), about 6 miles south of Elkader. Faces south.  Has dais and chalkboard still.

Photographed 10/3/11

Hilton #3, Fairview School

Built in 1883, about one mile southeast of town. Abandoned in 1949.  The building and land was purchased by the farmer on the adjacent land and he remodeled it into a house.

To remodel into a house, they turned it 90 degrees away from its north/south orientation.  Then they cut the studs by four feet to give the house eight-foot walls, which required the roof to be rebuilt at a lower pitch.  The foundation walls were raised 18 inches and excavation was done to provide a basement garage, and three rooms downstairs.  They kept the original flooring over the 10-inch joists; over the years three different layers of flooring had been laid!

From Marengo, proceed south on CR V66 to 160th St, then turn east.  The house is just a short distance on the south side of 160th St. 

Information about the house, and the photos of the original school and the floor plan for the house are scanned from Owen Jones' book, One-Room School Houses: Iowa County, Iowa, 1844-1966.

This photo is of the west end of the house, which is an addition to the original building.

In the following photo of the house, the original school section is to the left of the chimney, as seen from the above floor plan.

Photographed on 10/1/11