Victory School

Now a home, located at 1139 State Highway 2.  It’s on the north side of the road about 7 miles west of Donnellson, just over a mile east of the county line.

Photographed 9/23/17

Maple Grove School

Used ca.1849 to 1955.  From SR2 west of Ft. Madison, go north on Golden Rd about 1.7 miles.  It is just north of 235th Ave on the west side of Golden Rd.  Information I was given shows it as having been a German School.  New chimney on the north side.

Photographed 9/23/17

White Oak School

Located west of Ft. Madison, at 2460 State Highway 2.  It’s on the south side of the highway across the street from Appleberry Orchard.  Converted into a 1.5 story home with additions.

Photographed 9/23/17

Van Buren Township, Harmony School

This school was originally located 3 miles east of Croton.  It is now in Montrose Township directly across the street from the Summitville School on 243rd Ave.  It has been added on to as a residence.

Photographed 9/26/15

Montrose Township, Summitville School

Located at 3324 243rd Ave (Old US61/218), just south of 330th St., or about 3/4 mile north of County J82.  Has been added on to so much that it no longer looks like a school.

Photographed 9/26/15

Cedar Township, Bayles School

Also known as Pleasant Grove, used 1837 to 1913 (including earlier log building).  NW corner of the county at the NE corner of State Hwy 16 and 110th St, about 5 miles from Houghton on Hwy 16.  Has garage door on east side.

Photographed 9/26/15

Harrison Township, Saxe School

At 1678 130th Ave. Moved short distance after sold at auction.  A former student owns it now. It has several original pieces in it.  From junction of US218 and County Hwy J40, proceed west on J40 5 miles to 130th Ave, then turn south on 130th and proceed .7 mile; school on the east side of the road.

Photographed 9/26/15

Van Buren Township, Columbia School

At 1500 245th St.  According to Val Root, it was a 1-room frame building with a bell tower, and was associated with the underground railroad.  From Donnellson, proceed west on State Hwy 2 to 150th Ave.  Proceed south on 150th for two miles and the school is on the NE corner of 245th.  Derelict.

South side of building

West side of building

East side of building

Photographed 9/26/15

For more information about this school, see this page.  And here are old photos from Val Root:

Jackson Township, Eagle School

At 3619 Johnson St. Rd.  From Keokuk, intersection US61 and Carbide Lane, proceed west on Carbide about 3.7 miles to join Johnson St. Rd, then another 1 1/4 mile Johnson turns 90 degrees north for about 3/4 mile before turning east for about 1/4 mile then back north.  At that last turn north is the school on the corner.  Residence.

First photo is approaching from the west

Photographed 9/26/15

The following photo is provided via Val Root, and shows the school in service.

Jackson #2, Valley School

Built 1873.  At 3876 Valley Rd.  Has a Maypole still in the yard on the south side of the school.  From Keokuk intersection US61 and Johnson St. Rd. proceed west about 1.5 miles to Valley Rd.  Turn south on Valley and proceed 3/4 mile and the school will be on the east side of the road.  Abandoned.

Photographed 9/26/15

The following photo provided via Val Root shows the front of the school when it was still being used as a residence.

Jackson Township, Wende School

At 2496 Johnson St. Rd.  The original school was a log building directly north across the street, and called Allyn school because that was the name of the man who donated the school.  A man named Wende donated the land where the new school stands.  Originally a 2-story, it is used as a 1-story, the top floor having been removed to make high ceilings.  From Keokuk intersection US61 and Johnson St. Rd, proceed west about 1/2 mile.

Photographed on 9/26/15

Cedar Township, Mt. Hamill School

Much larger than one room, probably a Consolidated School.  From US218, turn west on 130th St and proceed to 160th Ave/W55 and then turn south to 140th St, and then turn west. Go 1/2 mile to 155th Ave and turn south to Mt. Hamill.  First street on right/west is 142nd St; turn there and go one block to the school, which sits on 154th Ave just south of of 142nd.

This first shot is the south side of the school.

This shot is of the north side.

Photographed 9/14/13

The following photos were provided via Val Root

A good history of the school can be found at: http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~donnlibr/schools/mthamill.htm

Hazel Dell School, Houghton

Now a house with additions.  From US218, go west on State highway 16 to Houghton.  At 211 Main St., which is south side of road across from Catholic Church.  The school was moved here from its original location at the NE corner of 160th St (J40) and 170th Ave.

This first photo was taken approaching from the east.  You can see the original structure with the addition jutting out from the east side, as well as off the back.

Photographed 9/14/13

This photo of the original building is via Val Root