Dahlonega #1

Located northeast of Ottumwa, this is the third building at this location, beginning with a log cabin in the early 1800s.  According to the book, “Iowa’s Country Schools: Landmarks of Learning,” edited by William L. Sherman, “The town of Dahlonega grew up around the school and was once bigger than Ottumwa.  Now the only structure remaining in this once thriving community is the school…”  Address is 10937 Dahlonega Rd.  From US63 NE of Ottumwa, take exit 36 to Dahlonega Rd and proceed north to Angle Rd and turn west into the community.  As Angle Rd bends north the school will be on the NW corner.

Photographed on 8 November 2016

Clay #? Greenvale School

Located on north side of SR78 about 2.5 miles west of Brighton, on the west side of the entrance to Lake Darling Park.  Used as a bait shop/grocery store.

Photographed 8 November 2016

Lafayette Township, Unknown

Located on CR X52 about 5.5 miles north of Harpers Ferry on the east side of the highway, north side of Red Oak Rd.  Front porch addition, used as a house but looks abandoned.

Photographed on 10/22/16

This next photo was taken on 5/22/21, just to show from the back; otherwise it still looks the same.

Taylor #?, Oil Spring School

This school is on County Highway X52 about 2 miles north of town, on the north side of Oil Spring Creek.  To be moved in November to the town of Harpers Ferry for preservation.  Original outhouse remains.

Photographed 10/22/16

The following photos were taken 5/22/21 at Harper's Ferry where the school is preserved as a museum.

Musfeldt School

Located at the Plagman’s Barn Museum on CR C7X east of Garber, at the intersection of Ironwood Rd.  No information as to where it was located from.

Photographed 10/22/16

Elk Township #?

This stone school is SW of Elkport on county route C7X, on the SW corner of Hawk Ave.  The address is 34557 Hawk Ave, and it is used as a home.

Photographed 10/22/16

Sheridan #9

Another one we learned about while attending the country school conference.  Located at the NW corner of W. 90th St. and 130th Ave, north of Davenport.  Access from I-80 would be to exit NW on SR130/Northwest Blvd, and then proceed west on W. 90th St to 130th Ave. Converted to home.

First photo is of the west and south sides, other one is south and east sides.

Photographed 10/20/16

Fairview #3 Independent School

We learned about this school while attending a country school conference 14 and 15 October.  It was part of an independent district in Hickory Grove Township.

At the NE corner of W. 90th St and Maysville Rd.  Access from I-80 would be to exit NW on SR130/Northwest Blvd, and then proceed west on W. 90th St to Maysville Rd.  Converted to home.

The first photo is of the west side of the building.

Photographed 10/20/16

Wilton #5, Rainbow School

Southeast of Wilton, Address is 1414 Trail Ave.  Best way to find it is from Wilton proceed east on US6 to Taylor Ave, then turn south.  Continue to 130th St. and turn east, proceed to Trail Ave and turn south.  This house is just south of 140th St on the west side of the road.

Former owner William McClean provided the following information:

It had originally sat 1 mile to the south but when the township lines were redrawn the location was now in Sweetland Township.  The local farmers realized that they would have to build another one.  So they gathered on an appointed day with their teams, jacked the building up and set it on logs, rolled it northward.  The one dissenting voice from Sweetland said, “Hey, you can’t do that!”  “No? Just sit there and watch us.”  “I’ll get the Sheriff!”  “Go ahead.”  7 miles to Muscatine by horse, found the Sheriff and 7 miles back.  By that time it had been moved to an acre of ground donated by my GGGrandfather JF McClean “for the benefit of the public education,” and the teams were all dispersed quickly over the horizon.  The Sheriff said to Grandpa, “You can’t do that.”  Grandpa said, “No?  You can take it back, then.”  There it still sits.  It is no longer in the family.

There have been several additions done over the years and there is small resemblance to the old 1-room schoolhouse.  We put on a garage to the West, then added 2 rooms above the garage and a large picture window facing the road on the East where there had been 2 anti-rooms for girls and boys coats and lunch pails.  Probably the best view left wold be from the South side.  We had replaced the Easternmost of the original 3 windows by a doorway entrance.  Subsequent owners added a large addition on the North side which really obscures the old 1-Room appearance.   There is/was a pump at the driveway entrance

The first photo was taken on 5 September 2016, and after verifying this was the school, we returned on 15 September to shoot in late evening.

This photo is of the north and east sides.

This photo is of the east and south sides.

Independent School #28, Probstei

Built 1879.  In Davenport at 5323 W Kimberly Rd (US6), SW corner of Kimberly Rd and Wisconsin Ave.  Has an addition on the back that looks like a whole house.

Photographed 9/1/16

Wilton Township #3, Prospect Hill

On 110th St, 1/2 mile east of Turner Ave.  From Durant, proceed south on Underwood Ave to 110th and turn west about 1/2 mile.  North Side of the street.  Poor condition.

Photographed on 9/1/16

Davenport #6

Now used by the Vietnamese American New Life Church, highly modified.  Previously used by Calvary Bible Church.  Located at the SE Corner of W. Locust St and Wisconsin Ave.  Another school identified in Bill Sherman's book.

Photographed 8/18/16