All-County Rural School Reunion being planned for this Sunday at Allamakee County Fairgrounds
Bear Creek School in Waterloo Township ... As part of the preparation for the All-County Rural School Reunion being planned for this Sunday, April 28, the Allamakee County Historical Society has been submitting photos to The Standard in an effort to gather information for a variety of rural schools in Allamakee County, such as the photo above of the Bear Creek School. According to information provided by the Allamakee County Historical Society, the Bear Creek School, pictured above in approximately 1932, was built near the current intersection of Willow Drive and Balsam Road in the southwest corner of Waterloo Township in the northwest corner of Allamakee County near its border with Winneshiek County, approximately a mile and a half southeast of the Quandahl area. A deed dated September 25, 1891 shows the Independent District of Bear Creek purchased “one acre of land for school house site” from Archibald and Anne Bryant, with the original school being constructed on that site initially referred to as Bryant School. Further documentation provides evidence of the name of the school being changed to Bear Creek School around the turn into the 20th century. Records indicate that the school was closed for a bit, likely due to low enrollment, from 1952 until opening again in 1955, but consolidation of rural schools in 1961 closed the Bear Creek School for good at its original location. Additional information suggests that the Bear Creek School building, along with another closed rural school building, was moved into Dorchester in 1963 to form a three-building education center in Dorchester. That information also indicates that those three buildings were later sold at auction with the whereabouts of the original Bear Creek School building never really documented after that. The original foundation of the Bear Creek School remains and is believed to have had a house placed on it that also still remains. Anyone who has additional information they would like to share about the Bear Creek School is asked to contact Carolyn Clark at 563-568-3807, Marcia (Moose) Rush at 563-880-3014 or email the Allamakee County Historical Society at info@allamakeehistory.org. The All-County Rural School Reunion is being planned for Sunday, April 28 from 1-4 p.m. at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon.
Little Red Schoolhouse to be open for tours during reunion
The Allamakee County Historical Society is planning an All-County Rural School Reunion for this Sunday, April 28. The reunion will be from 1-4 p.m. and held at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon. Treats, coffee and lemonade will be served.
It is hoped that those fortunate enough to have attended one of the county’s rural schools will come celebrate and share memories, stories and pictures of their educational years. The Historical Society will have equipment available to scan photographs of students and teachers even if they are not identified or not sure of the name of the school - no matter the condition, as well as poems, stories, school souvenirs, certificates for attendance, reading, spelling, or anything pertaining to the one-room schools in Allamakee County that those attending would like to have preserved to share with future generations.
Photographs and other miscellaneous items from the Allamakee County Historical Society and Genealogy Center will also be on display in the pavilion during the reunion. The reunion is being held in conjunction with the Allamakee County Historical Preservation Commission’s current project to locate and identify all of the rural country schools in the county.
This year seemed an appropriate time to hold the reunion as it marks the 145th birthday of the Little Red School. Originally known as Franklin #3, it is now located at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds in Waukon. The school house will be open for tours during the reunion.
For more information about the reunion, contact Carolyn Clark at 563-568-3807 or at forestmillsquilts@gmail.com, Marcia (Moose) Rush at 563-880-3014 or at mrush@acegroup.cc, or the Historical Society at info@allamakeehistory.org.
