Hartford #7, Paeper School

This school closed in 1951 and has been moved from its original location to about .2 mile east, and is being used as a storage shed.  To find this school, travel south out of Victor on County V38 to 210th Street, then proceed east to D Avenue.  The school was originally on the northeast corner of this intersection.  We also photographed this one today, and it can be reached from the previous school (Hartford #6) by driving southbound on D Avenue to 210th Street.

Hartford #6, Hartford Central

From Victor, travel east on Old Highway 6 to D Avenue, and this school will be a short distance south of Old US6, at the northeast corner of D and 190th St (mud road).  This school closed in the early 1940s, and was purchased in 1948 to be converted into this house.  A garage has been added on the north side, and the west side has an addition built extending out the side of the school.  We photographed this school originally on 6/11/11, but rephotographed it on 12/17/11 when the foliage was gone, so as to get better views.

Hartford #2, Hickory Grove School

To find this school you need to leave Victor, IA northbound on A Avenue, and at the corner where it joins 170th Street you will see a farmstead.  This school used to be about .2 mile east at the intersection of 170th and B Avenue, but was moved to this farmstead belonging to John Van Otegham, where it is now used as a feed shed and cattle shelter.  In this photo it is the section on the left side.  This school closed in 1938.  Thanks to Owen R. Jones and his book, One-Room School Houses: Iowa County Iowa 1844-1966, for the location of this school.  According to his book, the south side (left side of the photo) still has the entrance door and blackboard, but Jill and I did not go onto the property for our photograph, taken today.

Greene #3, Boyle School

This was the last rural school in Iowa County, closing its doors on 19 May 1966.  These photos, taken during a rain shower on 14 May 2011, show the school without its bell tower, moved back from the road to a field a short distance from where it was located.  The school is on County Route F52 on the east side of Holbrook.  The school was built ca. 1890.

New photos taken on a sunshiny day, 9/21/13.

Oak Grove School, Sumner Township

This school was built in 1871.  From Marengo on U.S. Route 6, proceed west of town about a mile to L Ave and go south to 160th Street and turn west.  As 160th junctions with KK Ave, turn south on KK.  At 168th Ave turn west again.  Total distance from L Ave is 1.5 miles.  If coming from south of Marengo on V66, turn west on 160th for 1.1 miles until L Ave, where there is a slight jog to the north as you continue with directions from L.

The school is located in a grove of Oak trees - I guess that's where it got its name.  It is the first school we've seen with a tornado shelter (we could not get on the property - fenced off with warning signs).  You can see the brick door arch.

Photographs taken on 5/9/11

On July 8, 2012, we attended the meeting of the Iowa County Historical Society held here at Oak Grove School, and were allowed to go inside.  The original desks are still mounted on the floor, but newer desks have also been placed inside.  Much work is needed to restore this building.

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

Kinderschule - Middle Amana, IA

This is a pre-school in Middle Amana, one of the Amana Society towns.  It is east/behind the Middle Amana Church, and behind another stone building, north of 220th Trail on 26th Ave.

Gritter Creek School - English Township #8

North English, Gritter Creek School was used from 1874 until 1956 and is now used as a museum. Getting to it was odd, since the road on the map and in the directions from the web is now closed. However, there was a sign pointing the way on the west side of North English, on county highway F67. To find the school you must drive down gravel roads. Turn west on 336th Street at the west edge of town, and then go 2.1 miles to the intersection of J Avenue. Turn north on J Ave and follow it as it bends east for a total of .9 mile and there is the school on the south side of the road. J Ave used to continue another half-mile to join F67, but it is closed off now and dead-ends in a farm.

The front porch has been added since the original construction. This is one of few brick one-room schools in Iowa.

Pilot Grove, Pilot Township #6

This school is located north of Williamsburg on SR149 and is in front of BJ Wrecker Service being used for storage.  It was originally located in Pilot Township, about 4.5 miles WSW of its current location, at L Ave and 247th St.  Built in 1874, it was active until 1949.  In 1954 it was moved to Williamsburg for use as a meeting place for the local VFW post, and years later moved to its current location.

UPDATE 11/10/15:  Today while on a trip to Williamsburg, I noticed this building was being disassembled, so I stopped to inquire as to what was taking place.  The building has been purchased by Ron Holden and is scheduled to be moved to a new foundation on Maple St, about three blocks east of SR149, to be restored to it's school days, and next to one of the original houses in town, also being restored by the same owner.  The floor and walls are still fairly well preserved as can be seen by the one photo I was able to shoot through a window:

UPDATE 1/18/16:  Today we photographed the school on its new site.

On 11/12/16 we were in Williamsburg and decided to check on the progress of the preservation:

And here are shots of the house next to it, also being worked on:

UPDATE 11/2/18:  School preservation is complete!  I saw on the 'net that it was even furnished inside.

A replica train depot has also been built here, immediately to the west of this school.