| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA |  |
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| LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA | |
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As this project drew near the end, the frustration heightened. We had a lot of information, but we all kept seeing more dates, more names, more pictures. We say thanks to the people who provided us with their memories, their treasured pictures and souvenirs, and their time—sharing a part of their heritage that is becoming harder to preserve.
We ask your forgiveness if we misspelled a family name, or incorrectly identified a classmate or listed the wrong years, we tried to be as accurate as the records would allow us to be. The hours we spent interviewing former teachers and students, traveling to the Davenport A.E.A. and Burlington A.E.A, searching records in the courthouse, calling and writing letters, and then compiling the information were a labor of love.
When the Louisa County Historical Society gave its approval for this project, we agreed to be on the committee. Leonard attended rural schools, Helen and Amy taught in rural schools and Mary Beth was eager to learn more about rural schools in Louisa County. The project “ballooned”—researching eighty-four rural schools became our life for several months. We hope you enjoy and treasure this compilation of our work. We have enjoyed the visits, the help and the support of many, many people. If you wish to order a book, copies are available from any of these committee members.
Picture - THE RURAL SCHOOL COMMITTEE:
Leonard Kerr and Amy Shutt, sitting; Helen Clark and Mary Beth Carey, standing.
Once again, we thank you and hope you enjoy this book, Move Into The Future By Saving The Past, Rural Schools of Louisa County.
First we thank all the people who gave us information, shared pictures, wrote stories, and provided us with leads to find this material.
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To Florence Potter, we say “You have no idea how valuable those teacher lists were. You provided us with the stimuli to do this project.” We thank her for having the forethought that this could someday be valuable information.
We also thank Tom Schoenenberger for the use of the plat maps.
We thank Valeen Ziegenhorn for her essential photography skills. We appreciate her energy level and the enthusiasm throughout this project.
Bernard Gajewski gave us hope that we would find pictures and information about all these schools. Thanks for your pictures and map!
Thanks to Treva Beard for her typing and for Xeroxing numerous pages of information. Also thanks to Carol Schafer for typing lists and stories.
We thank Marjorie Heindel and Norma Schweitzer for their assistance in locating schools serving as references and being “go-fers.”
We appreciate Ron Clark and Jody Hovland’s suggestions and support; special thanks to Jody for editing the manuscript.
The support from Larry and Bar Kerr was very important. Thanks to Barb for her typing skills and to Larry for—well, in his own way he was helpful!
To Stanley Shutt and Jim Carey, we say thanks for all you’ve done to assist in gathering and assembling this information.
To our family members, we thank you for putting up with our dining room tables being piled high with “stuff,” for enduring the numerous meetings and the lack of interest in anything else but rural schools for the last several months.
And last, but by no means least, we thank Leonard Kerr for his motivation and interest in this project. His blue notebook, his map, and his unending knowledge of people and place “drove us” to complete this proje ct! We dedicate this book to him.
On behalf of the Louise County Historical Society, I express our thanks and appreciation to the Rural School Committee consisting of Leonard Kerr, Amy Shutt, Helen Clark, and Mary Beth Carey. Along with them, we say thanks to many people who have contributed to this book.
I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to become a part of our Louisa County Historical Society. Our Society is 23 years old, and we have a membership of 311 people. We purchased the building at 819 Townsend Avenue in 1981 and most recently purchased the two lots north of our Heritage Center.
Our officers and Board of Directors meet monthly. Our general membership meets several times a year—usually in February and November. Travelogues are held during the winter months, and ice cream socials and other social gatherings are scheduled throughout the year. We hold an annual Country School Picnic the second Sunday in August and have a large Fall Festival the third Saturday of September.
We are looking for people who are interested in the past, as well as the future, of Louisa County. Please contact any Board member or officer if you have questions.
1988 dues are $5 per person and should be sent to Norma Schweitzer, R.R.3, Box 225, Columbus Junction, Iowa 52738.
We’re looking forward to the future by saving our past!
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| Through 1988 | ||
| Doris Clark | Charlene James | Velma Stout |
| Mary Beth Carey | Helen Morrison | Bill Yakle |
| Raymond Fisher | Crystalle Schmeiser | Valeen Ziegenhorn |
| Phyllis Houtz | Orval Schmeiser | |
| Through 1989 | ||
| Glenn Beard | Gloria Hafner | Oleta Schaper |
| Charles Beck | Marjorie Heindel | Amy Shutt |
| Freeda Beck | Darlene Hupp | Stanley Shutt |
| Phyllis Connolly | Phyllis McKinney | |
| Through 1990 | ||
| Helen Clark | John Hupp | Norma Schweitzer |
| Dell Farrier | Leonard Kerr | Edwin Wiederrecht |
| Lois Farrier | Larry Lihs | Mary Wiederrecht |
| Bonnie Frisk | Kay Perkins |
| Publicity | Mary Widerrecht |
| Museum Curator | Wiliam H. Matthews, Bill Yakle, Valeen Ziegenhorn |
| Exterior Maintenance | Glenn Beard, Orval Schmeiser, Keith Ziegenhorn |
| Interior Maintenance | Raymond Fisher, Larry Lihs, Stanley Shutt |
| Cemetery Records | Lois Farrier, Darlene Hupp, Amy Shutt, Gloria Hafner |
| Kitchen | Helen Clark Phyllis Connolly, Oleta Schaper |
| Spelling Bee | Mary Beth Carey, Helen Clark, Marie Murry, Norma Schweitzer |
| Pleasant View School | Doris & Keith Clark, Bonnie Frisk, Robert & Gladys Hedermann |
| Future Direction | Mary Beth Carey, Dell Farrier, Raymond Fisher, Larry Lihs, Wm H. Matthews |
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| President | Raymond Fisher, 12 S. 4th Street, Wapello, Iowa 52653 |
| Vice President | Valeen Ziegenhorn, R.R.2, Box 235, Wapello Iowa 52653 |
| Treasurer | Lois Farrier, R.R.1, Box 109, Ainsworth, Iowa 52201 |
| Correspondence Secretary | Phyllis Houtz, Box 84, Grandview Iowa 52752 |
| Records Secretary | Norma Schweitzer, R.R.3, Box 225, Columbus Jct., Iowa 52738 |
| Historian | Oleta Schaper, 515 N Prairie, Wapello, Iowa 52653 |
| Tour Director | Mary Beth Carey, 129 Hickory Dr. Columbusd Jct., Iwoa 52738 |
| Chaplain | Orval Schmeiser, R.R. 2, Box 273, Wapello, Iowa 52653 |
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The Heritage Center is open the first Sunday each month from 2-5 p.m. and on the 3rd Thursday evening each month from 5-7 p.m. It is also open by appointment at other times for 5 or more persons by calling Wm. H. Matthews.
Picture: Leonard Kerr’s Map of Louisa County Rural Schools
Full size map may be viewed at the Louisa County Historical Society's Musuem