by Edward Lynn, Editor
There were five schoolhouses originally built in the Wall Lake area in the late 1800’s. Wall Lake Township Schoolhouse #5 was built in 1889, and restored in the 1960’s by the Wall Lake Monday Club. In time, the grand old little one room schoolhouse was moved to the Wright County Fairgrounds here in Eagle Grove.
Last year the Wright County Fair Board announced they had made the decision to demolish the schoolhouse, which had become too expensive for the board to maintain. But a public backlash against that decision led to citizens who value our history banding together in protest, and the Wright County Historical Society stepped in to save the old schoolhouse.
“Once these buildings are gone, they are gone, along with the History,” said Wright County Historical Society President Ron Mohr in an interview with Wright County Monitor Editor Amanda Rink.
Today the old Wall Lake #5 schoolhouse is one of just a scattered few which remain of the estimated 12,633 one room schoolhouses which once dotted the countryside of Iowa. And the building was in service more recently than many realize. Indeed, there are still people alive in our area today who were students at this school, and others like it. And many more who recollect stories told by departed loved ones of their days in such a schoolhouse.
A gofundme was launched on behalf of the Eagle Grove Chapter of the Wright County Historical Society to raise funds for the restoration of the schoolhouse, and to establish an interest bearing account which can fund ongoing maintenance for posterity. To date, $1,200 of the $25,000 goal has been raised, with $1,000 coming from a single anonymous donor. Also, several grants have been applied for, and some have been approved, according to Ron Mohr, President of the Eagle Grove chapter of the Wright County Historical Society.
What funds are already in hand are already being put to good use. And recently new windows were installed in the building. The old windows were an aluminum single pane style and bore all the hallmarks of the best available at the time of the schoolhouse’s 1960’s era renovation. And to try and reduce heating and cooling costs, they had been covered with acrylic siding. But today’s double pane vinyl clad windows offer much better energy efficiency than the old windows, even with the acrylic siding. And according to City Councilman Tony Axtel, who did the installation work, the new windows will dramatically cut down on the energy costs, which were a big part of the maintenance.
And, of course, the white framed windows will improve the look of the schoolhouse as well. Indeed, though they are newer, they more closely match the look of the original, wood framed windows.
The Gofundme page is still up and accepting donations, and you can still do your part to preserve local history with a donation made online at https://gofund.me/201bcf9b. Or, you could send a check made out to Eagle Grove Historical Society to:
Eagle Grove Historical Society
Scott Thompson, Treasurer
P.O. Box 272
Eagle Grove, Iowa 50533
Fundraising partners are also needed by The Historical Society. Local business owners and non-profit organization directors who want to help the Historical Society through a partnership, volunteerism, or a donation are encouraged to contact Thompson by phone at (515) 851-0037.
