LOUISA COUNTY, IOWA

Photo of the former Wyman Consolidated School and photo of Keith and Patricia Jones, owner of Wyman Wearhouse

In the two classrooms, small putty-filled holes are still visible on the maple floors where the school desks were once anchored. The bell hangs in the tower. Blackboards push out from behind shelves of clothing.

These are reminders of the brick building that was once the heart of the Wyman community. The school lives on and has a new life as a popular clothing store.

On April 1, 1981, Keith and Patricia Jones (former Wyman School students) opened what is now Louisa County’s only full-line clothing store. Named Wyman Wearhouse. The store offers name brand casual wear for men, women and children, as well as a wide variety of work wear.

“People told us a clothing store in this location would never go, calling us crazy for trying it. So opening on April Fools Day seemed appropriate,” jokes Patricia. Fifteen years later, Wyman Wearhouse is still going strong, serving quite a long list of repeat customers.

Patricia feels that the friendly atmosphere, combined with the uniqueness of the building, is what keeps their customers coming back. “It’s come-as-you are with us,” she says. “Many folks stop by to browse, telling a story or two before they leave.”

First-time visitors may come just to see what’s been done with the old school. “People bring their out-of-town friends and relatives here to have a look. “it’s become a favorite stop of tourists,” says Patricia.

Wyman Consolidated School began in 1912. Three country schools – from Elm Grove, Hoosier Bend and Young America/Lone Star were moved in until the new building was completed. The project cost $15,000, which included three acres of land, the building, and the teachers’ salary for the first year. (Lois Cannon Kepper, one of the first teachers, taught for a salary of $37.50-$50.00/month.)

The gym was added in1923, at a cost of $27,000.

In the early days, Wyman was noted for its athletics, namely basketball and baseball. During the Depression the baseball diamond provided much-needed recreation-playing ball was economical and it gave players and spectators a time for fun forgetting the bugs, drought, and lack of money. In 1933 lights were added at the ball diamond, making it a very modern facility for that era.)

A total of 250 students graduated from Wyman School thought its existence. The last class graduated in 1956.

The structure was used a s a grad school for the Winfield-Mt. Union School District until its closure in 1978.

Local historian Dean H. Gipple wrote: “While searching for information on the school, I was told of a debate held shortly after the school was built. Charles Zickafoos stated that although proud of the building, he could foresee a time when the building would be inadequate and there would be pigeons roosting in the rafters. In making a personal search of the building in 1979, I could hear the eerie sound of pigeons in the roof. It was almost like a prophecy had come to pass. Such is life!”