Iowa One Room Schools: Hickory Grove School, Keokuk

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

Monday, July 25, 2011

Hickory Grove School, Keokuk

This is a nicely restored school near the Keokuk airport. It is just west of US218 on Iowa SR960/243rd Ave (old US218) at the junction with Walker Lane, about 1/2 mile south of county J82. The plaque above the door says, "The Hickory Grove School, Dist. No. 3, 1870." Apparently, this school may have also been used as a church - it sits next to the Hickory Grove Cemetery. The pump still works but there is a sign on it which says to not drink the water.

Photos taken 7/23/11

5 comments:

Glenn E. Chatfield said...: The following was in an e-mail to me:

"I grew up just outside of Keokuk, IA. I attended Hickory Grove school for eight years. There were a maximum of 22 kids in all eight grades with only two in my class."

Jim Platte, Naperville, IL; May 29, 2012 at 2:26 PM
Anonymous said...: The annual board meeting is held the 3rd saturday in may. Maps are available for the cemetery. We have names of teachers in the 30's, 40's &50's. More info call 319-524-2336 please leave message. Thanks Sue Dickson Secretary; June 12, 2012 at 11:31 PM
Anonymous said...: Does the Hickory Grove school accept other country school memorabilia?
My sisters and I attended Summitville school, which is a few miles from HG school. We have some items from the country school which need to be preserved and perhaps could be gifted to HG. Thank you.; June 21, 2018 at 8:27 AM
Glenn E. Chatfield said...: I don't know, but I wouldn't be surprised if they would be happy to receive them. You should try to contact someone there. Here is a link to contacts:
http://www.preservationiowa.org/initiatives/country-schools/eastern-touring-area/hickory-grove-school-3/; June 21, 2018 at 6:16 PM
Anonymous said...: My name is Susan Kerr. My husband is Bob Kerr (Robert L. Kerr, Jr). His dad is still alive. (Robert L Kerr, Sr.) I knew his grandfather,Donald Kerr. Donald's dad was Robert, who's dad was Alexander.I think Alexander was the man that built the coffin for the little girl. I taught in the Keokuk School district.I would love to come to a meeting. I saw that it was postponed from. May to sometime in September. Can someone e mail me the date at susankerr968@gmail.com; September 15, 2019 at 3:31 PM