Richland #5, Haven School

From Tama, go south on U.S. Route 63 about 1.5 miles to County Route E64 and go east 7.4 miles to P Ave.  There is a community called Haven, and the school is next to the Haven Community Church at the NE corner of P Ave.  Being restored.  From the east, either via Chelsea or Brooklyn, use  County Route V18 to E64, and the school is about 3 miles from the junction.

This next photo shows the playground equipment and an out-building.

Built in 1872, closed in 1968 as last operational one-room school in Tama County.  Flood in nearby Chelsea in 2008 caused 20 students, pre-school through 5th grade, to be displaced.  This school was then used for two weeks by these students, using the old desks still mounted to the floor, as well as the old chalkboard and the playground.  (This information came from an article in the Cedar Rapids Gazette on 9/12/11)

Photographs taken 5/8/11

Otter Creek Township #6, Pleasant Hill School

From Toledo, proceed east out of town on Old Cedar Rapids Rd and turn north on K Ave.  Go north to 300th Street and turn east.  About 5 miles east on 300th is P Avenue, and the school sits on the NW corner, about 500 feet NW of the corner.  Private residence.  If coming from the east one can use County Route V18 from the north approaching from Traer or Clutier) or south (Belle Plaine and U.S. Route 30) until reaching 300th, and then proceeding west about 3.5 miles to P Ave.

This last photo was taken from the road south of the school, 300th Ave.

Photos taken on 5/8/11

Carroll Township #2, Iowa

Our last school of the day was the one preserved in Dysart.  It is located on Crisman Street just north of the city park, and behind an old church serving as the history society building.  This school is well preserved, but the windows had blinds so we couldn't get a shot inside.  Again, you can see the moon in a shot.  It was used from 1939 until 1961, and was moved here in October 2003.

Carroll Township #6, Iowa

Once we arrived in Clutier, we found the school with work being done on the front stoop and the bell tower.  Tom said this was exactly what #5 looked like before it was a barn, except that the one side has only one window; instead, the back has windows. (The cloak room on each side also had a window)  It had to do with which way faced the sun.  Since the back had windows, the class faced the virtually-windowless side which had blackboards.

Carroll Township #?, Iowa

After listening to the many stories about his life in the "country school," Tom and his wife Vickie departed while we were still taking photos.  When we finished our photography, we headed east on 245th Street towards Clutier.  About a mile and 1/2 west of town, where 245th stops as we turned south on R Ave we saw an old school sitting on the SE corner of R and 250th Street (which was the road to Clutier).  So we pulled up the hill on R Ave to get photos.  While there, Tom & Vickie showed up and Tom said they were heading over to Clutier to see the progress on the school, and he had forgotten all about this one.  Tom didn't know it's number, but it is still in Carroll Township.  Just before rejoining 250th eastbound, we stopped at the bottom of the hill so Jill could shoot the last one.  Notice the moon.

Carroll Township #5, Center School

Yesterday, 8/15/10, we decided to head over to Traer to see a school that was supposed to be there.  Arriving in town, I decided to ask a local for directions to the location, so I pulled over when I saw people outside a community center where a family reunion was just held.  I was told that school no longer existed.  Bummer.  Then I was questioned as to why I was looking for it, which led to the explanation of all this hobby stuff.  One gentleman, Tom Podhajsky, said there was a school down by his farm which is now used to store hay, but was the one he used to go to - Carroll #5.  Others in the the group began talking and we learned there was #6 about 1 1/2 miles from #5, but that it was moved to the nearby town of Clutier.  Another one, # 2, had been moved to Dysart.


Well, this was sort of exciting!  So Tom offered to lead us down to #5 since it was on his way home.  From   Traer we travelled south on US63 to PP Ave on our left, and headed south down that road until ended at 220th St.  We turned west a short distance to P Ave and then headed south again.  About 1/4 mile south of 245th we pulled up to the school.

As you can see, the south wall with the door is missing.  There is a lean-too on each side, and the east side is for the cattle to come into some shelter.

UPDATE 10/14/15:   We learned at a country school conference this past weekend that this school has been torn down.

Poweshiek County Madison #1

Relocated to Tama County for use as a home.  This school was having some restoration work done when we saw it.  It is on US 30, 1.6 miles west of Iowa State Route 21, on the north side.  Photographed October 2003.