May 23, 1973

 

Ms. Elizabeth Foxley

Architectural Historian

Department of Anthropology

The University of Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa  52242

 

Dear Ms. Foxley:

 

            Now that you have requested I answer five additional questions, you are forcing me to become an extremely amateur architectural historian, and the Old Stone School Building is becoming more interesting than ever.

 

            Originally, the two-storied stone school structure looked like this:

                    ___________________

                    |       58;        |

                    |                  |

                    |                  | 40’

                    |                  |

                    |                  |

                    |_____        _____|

                          |       | 14’

                          |       | 14’

                          |_______|

                             30’

 

            This was build by Gottleib Englehorn and Valentine Beissell and was occupied in 1864.

 

            Almost immediately, it was judged to be too small, so a two-storied addition was built as of 3-18-1867.  Then the building looked like this:

 

                          ________

                          |  30’ |

                          |      | 30’

                     _____|      |_____

                    |                  |

                    |                  |

                    |                  |

                    |                  |

                    |                  |

                    |_____        _____|

                          |       |

                          |       |

                          |_______|

                           

 

            On 8-9-1892, another addition for “100 pupils” was authorized.  This was slightly larger and overlapped part of the original structure to provide for the second upstairs staircase.  This is the structure as it exists today, and the floor plan looks like this:

 

                          ________________________

                          |      |      38’       |

                          |      |                |  

                          |      |                |

                          |      |                | 38’

                     _____|      |_____           |

                    |                  |          |

                    |                  |__________|

                    |                  |    24’

                    |                  |

                    |                  |

                    |_____        _____|

                          |       |

                          |       |

                          |_______|

 

            In this, its present form, the building has five (5) gables.

           

It is interesting to note that approximately six miles west of here, there is another old two-storied stone schoolhouse (now a private residence) of the basic rectangular design (without the fancy entrance addition).

           

Before the enlargements, there were four rooms in the original buiding, then six, now eight.

           

The original for rooms were iniform in size, approximately 36’ x 26’, but throughout the entire building, the downstairs ceilings are 11’ 8” high and the upstairs 14’ 8” high.

 

            The first addition has a 26’ x 23’ downstairs room, but the upstairs is 26’ x 26’, and no hall is needed.

 

            The 1892 addition has first and second floor rooms sized 34’ x 25’.

 

            As stated before, all ceilings remain the same height, but the original door frames are 100” high and the additions 88”.

 

            The wrought iron tie ends you see in the picture are S and reverse S design, whereas those on the additions are of a five star design.  The difference in the rock cutting styles and mortar is apparent.  The original wood shutters disintegrated years ago.  The original building interior is finished in the narrow style wainscoting, while a flat board type appears in the ceiling of the addition.

 

            Although I know little or nothing about architecture, one of the most interesting aspects in the main entry is the double staircase and second story balcony effect.

 

            I do not know what you mean about the original condition information except to say the building is fundamentally in its original condition except for the bathroom made by taking a few feet from each of the additions downstairs rooms, the woodwork is painted, some patch work has been done, and it has been the victim of hard use and natural aging process.

 

            The two major sources Mr. Larry Hammell used in his thesis are Board of Directors of the Independent School District No. 1 of Lansing Iowa, Proceedings of the District Board 1865 – 1916 and The Weekly Union (Lansing, Iowa) 1862 – October 1866.  The first record is in possession of the secretary of the board of directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District, Lansing, Iowa.  To the best of my knowledge, the latter is in possession of the Iowa Historical Society.

 

            You ask, “Is the building the oldest?”  We don’t believe it is the oldest school building in the state, but it is the oldest school building of an Independent School District which has been in continuous use as a school.  I don’t know how to prove it, but thought it possible you might have these records.  I have written to Dr. Robert Benton, Superintendent of the Department of Public Instruction inquiring about his knowledge in relation to this.  I know of no other school making this claim.

 

            I hope the above information will answer the questions asked by the State Review Committee.  If not, please contact me again, and I will try to secure the right answers.

 

            Thank you very much for your cooperation.

 

 

                                                                                    Sincerely yours,

 

 

                                                                                    Sara K. Smerud

                                                                                    School Social Worker

 

SKS/lf