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Picture of Lincoln Elementary Center, Mechanicsville, 1975 and
The old high school building, erected in 1875-76 looked like this in 1909

That Old School Bell

Didn’t like to hear that bell ring.

Calling children in to do their thing—

Once inside hustled to our seats,

And our lessons we would repeat.

Here knowledge was ours to gain,

Perhaps send us on the road to fame.

The years passed and the bell called us no longer,

But somehow because of that toll we are stronger.

On our own with the call of the bell no more,

We faced the world’s wide open door.

The security of school days gone,

We found of that bell we were really fond.

The memories are many of school days,

As time and progress brings new ways.

But the toll of that school bell,

In our hearts will always dwell. – G. Rife

    The first independent school district for Mechanicsville was set aside in 1853. The one room school was built at what is now the west edge of town by John Onstott. George Whistler was the first public instructor in this school.

     In 1866, a lawsuit settled a dispute and the first board of education was elected for Mechanicsville’s first independent school district. E. J. Rigby was selected as principal and Ellen Culver as a teacher in the intermediate department. There was no instruction above the 8th grade. The old Presbyterian church standing just north of the present school was used for additional classrooms.

     Mechanicsville’s next school was a two story frame structure which faced south on the present school site. This building now stands on the Forest Johnson farm east of Mechanicsville. The bell was not placed on the building but was situated in a wooden tower near the building with the rope run through the second story windows making it handy for ringing.

     During 1850-1875 the population increased to such an extent that a new and larger facility was needed. A 3 story . . .

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Picture “This is how part of the present elementary center looked when it was constructed as a high school in 1908.”

. . . brick building was erected at a cost of $10,000. The cornerstone from this building was saved and placed in the lower entrance of the present structure. In 1875 the bell was moved from its separate tower and placed in a tower on the roof of this new 3 story building. An interesting feature in the construction of this building was the Mansard roof.

    In 1907 the district purchased for playgrounds all ground lying immediately south of the schoolhouse to the railroad for $1,200. In March of 1908 the voters cast their ballots for a new building. Construction began in the spring of 1908 and was ready for use in the fall of that same year. Until the building was ready, primary classes were held in the Methodist church, the city hall housed the elementary and upper grades and the high school used rooms over Cranford’s furniture store.

    The new building was designed for elementary and high school and did not have a gym or auditorium.

    In 1917 a petition was signed by 174 voters stating that territory surrounding the town should be incorporated with the present district. The proposed consolidation was defeated. Three years later the matter was proposed again with territory covered about ½ as large. This measure passed and the district was consolidated in 1920.

     In 1915 domestic science and manual training rooms were equipped, the library was improved and new bleachers were placed on the athletic field at their present site.

     Consolidation brought with it crowded conditions and the 1908 building was no longer adequate. In 1926 an addition was voted at a cost of $64,000. The new addition would contain the gym, auditorium, classrooms and superintendent’s office. The gym is recognized as having a unique floor and in 1925 was one of the best in the state.

     In 1952 an additional building was added. This was built across the street east of the regular school building. This housed the vocational agricultural, home economics and music department and provided garage space for the buses.

     In 1959 the state department warned that all small schools must increase their enrollment and curriculum or lose their state aid. A steering committee was organized and reorganization plans were studied.

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Picture: Mechanicsville High School’s 1909 track team included, front row, Foster Farout, Everett Ferguson, Leo Miller and Ray Echternacht. Second row, Ralph Inks, Homer Melton, Art Heston, John Heston, Ed Beck and Rex Taylor. Back, Coach McConkie.
Picture: This school addition built in 1952 houses the bus garage and several classrooms.

     In 1961 it was decided that the most feasible plan would be to combine the Mechanicsville and Stanwood schools into one district. This was voted on and passed thus forming the new Lincoln school district. The Mechanicsville center would house grade K through 6th and Stanwood would have grades 7 through 12. Nineteen sixty-one was the last class to graduate from the Mechanicsville school and the beginning of the Lincoln Elementary Center in Mechanicsville.

     In 1968 a new art room, library and offices were added to the entrance of the old buildings of 1908 and 1926, with the corner stones of both buildings left in the walls of the offices on the first floor.

     In 1974 it was decided that the tower holding the bell was no longer repairable and this was removed. At present the bell is stored in the school basement. The Alumni Association has appointed a committee to work out a plan to display the bell as a memoriam to the Mechanicsville Education System. The bell has called many of us, our children and grandchildren into the halls of the Mechanicsville school.

     Records show that track was the earliest form of competitive school sport. Our school history records many outstanding athletes: Jack Kohl, 1904, broad jump and sprints events; David Walshire, discus throw, hammer throw, shot put and high jump; Carl Thomas, weight and discus throwing; Leo Miller, 440 and 880 yard dash and mile run; Herbert Andre, pole vault.

     Jack Kohl, Clement Wilson, Leo Miller and Carl Thomas were known as the best relay team in this section.

     In 1907 Clement Wilson and Everett Ferguson attended the National Meet in Chicago. Clement placed first in the 221 yard dash, Everett third in the mile run. In 1912 Clement Wilson was chosen as one of the members of the Olympic team to represent the U.S. in Stockholm, Sweden.

     Baseball was on schedule with the 1912-13 team winning a state championship.

     Football was played from 1922 until 1932 with the team of 1923 being the most outstanding.

     Basketball was first played outdoors, later moved to the Sturges’ Opera house and then to the new gym in 1926. Competitive basketball for girls started in 1938.

     Don Gemberling, coach and high school principal, founded the “M” relays, which drew large crowds from many areas in eastern Iowa each spring. Because of the World War II situation it was dropped in 1942.