Harrison Township, Little Rock School.

German School, built 1889, for the Zion Evangelical German Church; faces south.  Was use at least as late as 1959.  Current owner, who did restoration, says his grandfather and grandfather’s two sisters attended there in 1903.  After use as a school it was built into a kitchen and had other building attached for use as community center.  Later went to a Saddle Club. From US218, turn west on County J56 to the small village of Primrose.  Turn south on 143rd Ave, and go a couple blocks south to the end at 197th Street; the school is on the NW corner.  Externally restored except west side has garage door installed.

Photographed 9/14/13

The following photos are provided via Val Root.  The first one is ca.1950, while the second one shows the state it was in prior to restoration.

Montrose Township, Ambrosia School

Not at its original location - apparently it was moved twice for use as a home.  It is now at 2906 U.S. Highway 218, NW of the junction with US61.  From Montrose one could travel west on Peach Orchard Road to US218, and then turn south a very short distance.  House is on east side of the road.  Looks like the south part is the original structure.

This view is approaching from the south.

This south end looks to be the beginning of the original structure.

Seen from just NW of the house from the highway.

Photographed 9/14/13

The following photos from Val Root were taken on the property and give a much better view:

Montrose Township, Nashville School

From Montrose go south on 270th Ave to 3102 270th.  From Keokuk, one could also come up Middle Road (270th Ave) or via the Mississippi River Road to 320th St and then west to 270th Ave and then go north.  The school was a single-story frame house, but had a basement and second story added to make a house.  It sits back a bit from the road as 270th turns 90 degrees from the south to the west, and it is in the NE corner.  Bad shape.
Students from the Galland School were transferred here.

The first shot gives an idea of the view from the road.

Photographed 9/14/13

The following photo by Val Root shows an unobstructed view:

Montrose Township, Galland School replica.

On Mississippi River Road/Great River Road south of Montrose, north of 320th St, just at the curve at the river.  It was Iowa’s first school house, built in 1830. Very small.  The original was cut up for firewood, and a replica was built in 1940 but which is now about 20ft under water due to the dam at Keokuk.  This replica was built in 1977.

Photographed 9/14/13

The following photo, via Val Root, shows what the original looked like.

Jackson Township, Sandusky School

Built about 1875, used as Indian School for 70 years.  At 3416 Mississippi River Road (SE corner of 341st St) in Sandusky, south of town on east side of road.  Faced north.  Made into home, with addition on the north side, and doubled to the east side.  Bell tower still in yard.

This photo comes from the owner via Val Root's Facebook schools posts.  It is of the school before converted to a home.

These first photos are of the flag pole with a stone at its base, and the stone has an "Iowa Standard School" plaque.  Then there is the bell tower in the yard.

This photo is of the entire house.  The section which was the school is on the south/right side of the photo.  The owner said the original section starts right between the two small windows where the electric meter is.

This end is the original school structure, although it has been widened to the east side.  The chimney appears to be in the original location.

This is a close-up of the original section converted.

Photographed 9/14/13

Franklin Independent School

This school is found in Franklin, on the northeast corner of Main Street and 204th Street (Franklin Eighth Street).  It is not a one-room school, but it is very interesting nevertheless.  It was built in 1873, closed in 1961,  and is now the city hall.  We photographed this school on 7/23/11.

The following photo taken when the school was being used is provided via Val Root:

Franklin Township District No. 2, Donnellson

On old US218, about 1/2 mile north of Donnellson, at the "Evangelical Cemetery."  The stone above the door reads: "District No. 2, 1874."  It was closed in 1934.

At the rear of the school a door has been cut into the stone and a pit-toilet restroom has been walled off from the rest of the building.  It looks like it was probably done in the past 30-40 years.  The blackboard still exists on the back wall of this closet-sized room.

Another door has been carved into the south side at the front of the building.  This one goes through where a window used to be, and the top of the window with a ratty blind is still above the door.  This door gives access to the inside of the building, which is used for storage.  Two driving mowers are stored there, as well as lots of junk.  The old electric furnace is there, as is a radiator from previous boiler heat, which itself replaced a wood-burning unit.

Photographed on 7/23/11

Viele School, Donnellson

This school has been moved to its present location at the Lee County Fairgrounds.  I was unable to learn where it was originally located.  The fairgrounds are on the north side of Donnellson, and the school is easily seen from the highway (old US218).

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

Franklin #3 Union School, Donnellson

On 1/21/06, while coming back from Eagle Days in Keokuk, IA, we were heading up US218 as usual when Jill spotted this school about a mile west of the highway on 190th St, about three miles north of Donnellson.  Normally, in the summer, trees would have blocked the view from the highway, but this winter drive let us see it.  So we drove down and shot it - and I told Jill she had the "eagle eye."

On 7/23/11 we re-photographed this school, and you can see how it looks behind all the weeds in the summertime.  Also notice the chimney is missing and the roof painted.

On 6/29/12 I was e-mailed the following information:

" This school, 3 miles north and 1 mile west of Donnellsonn in Section 17, is thought to have been built in the 1840's. It was damaged by fire in the 1880's or '90's. It was rebuilt perhaps within the original walls. The school closed in 1941 and the building still stands, used for storage."

Dover School, Donnellson

This is a school we have passed dozens of times over the years.  It is on US 218 4 miles north of Donnelson and 2 miles north of County Road J56, on the NE corner of 180th St.  When we first saw it in 1996, US218 was a 2-lane highway in that area.  A few years ago they began widening it and the new construction got nearer to the school building.  We also watched the building's condition deteriorate.  It is still there, but the new highway has cut lower so the school is on more of a hill.  These photos were taken during the time the construction had cut away part of the hill, in April 2004 when we were on our way to St. Louis.

On 7/23/11 we came by this school and decided to stop at the antique store which was built on the south side of it to see if we could get on the property to photograph it.  The antique store is "Apple Tree Antiques."  We talked to the property owners' daughter who gave us the school's name and said it was built by the 1870s.

8/17/12 update.  The school was used from 1867 until 1941.  Thanks to Val Root for this info.

10/17/14 update.  The Des Moines Register shows this school as being built in 1865.

The following photo was provided via Val Root