Located in the SW portion of Cedar Rapids, this school is on the west side of 21st St SW, just 3/10 mile south of 33rd Ave SW at the SW corner of 37th Ave SW. Now, when we first moved to the Cedar Rapids area back in December 1995, 33rd Ave SW stopped just east of 21st St, and then didn't begin again until about 10th St. We had actually driven down 21st St past this school about 1996 or 1997 while just poking around, but we weren't taking school photos until 2003, and probably didn't even notice this was a school back then.
About 3 years ago 33rd Ave was connected by a bridge over the railroad yards, and since then we have frequently driven on this road, never knowing that less than 1/2 mile south was this building!
The school was built ca. 1920, and used until possibly the mid-1950s.
Photographed 5/31/15
UPDATE: The following photos were taken on 1/6/23 and show what a wonderful restoration has taken place.
8 comments:
Glenn,
This one is Rose Hill School, and yes, it was College Township. Ushers Ferry was contacted about this one almost ten years ago, but did not have the funds to move it or a particular need for the building at that time either. Glad it is still standing, but would love to see it saved and adapted reused.
Thank you very much for that information!!!!
It would indeed be nice to see it saved. Do you know anything about it, when it was built and when it closed?
Closed about 1950. In 1947 state laws helped force the consolidation of Putnam, College and Fairfax into Prairie Community school district. By 1954 they were all pretty much on one campus.
Hi,
We are purchasing this school and property - closing tomorrow. Hoping to save the school, but it's in pretty bad shape now. My father-in-law attended this school as a child (we live right across the street from the school)
Deborah Williamson
Hi Deborah,
I certainly hope restoring it is feasible. You might want to check out those who restored Forest Grove School over in Bettendorf -- their school looked to me to be unsalvageable. They might be able to give you ideas.
Here's our entry on the school so you can see what it looked like and how it looked last time we photographed it. They just recently finished the floor on the inside.
http://schoolhouses.blogspot.com/2011/05/forest-grove-school-bettendorf.html
Here is Forest Grove's Facebook where they report on their progress:
https://www.facebook.com/ForestGroveSchoolPreservation/
If you do get to restore it, feel free to email me photos for posting here!
Hello!
Thank you for the information. My husband thinks the school can be restored - roof trusses in pretty good shape, most of floor is OK; stairs to basement pretty good, brick foundation is good too. There is a hole in the south wall all the way through. Daylight is visible through the roof. Lots of trespasser damage inside. Per my husband "looks like a bomb went off in there." Our first steps will be to take down a big dead dangerous tree, secure all windows and doors from those darn kids that keep trespassing, and put a new roof on the structure. I'll take some "before" photos of the interior and exterior to share.
Hi Deborah,
Well it sounds like you have a real task ahead of you!
I don't know why people have to go in to old buildings to cause damage; I just don't understand that mentality. And it just adds to restoration work.
I wish you all the best in your restoration efforts!
Deborah,
I was by there a week or two ago, you might have even seen me taking pictures of it. What you've done with the school is beautiful, and I'm so glad it's been saved. Great job!
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