West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
SCHOOL BUILDING BURNED

At 7 o'clock Monday morning, Jan. 17, 1916 following an explosion which occurred in the basement of the East school building, the building and contents were completely destroyed. The building was used by the primary and lower grades, and the early hour prevented any deaths.

Because of a frozen hydrant, there was a lack of water to fight the blaze, and after an hour, the brick walls fell in.

The primary room was directly over the furnace, and Miss. Mildred Luse, now Mrs. George Dalgety, Evanston, Ill., was instructor. She lost a large amount of manuscript music she had gathered while studying in Chicago, including the native melodies which she used in connection with her introduction of folk dances to her pupils. Piano and records were destroyed also along with kindergarten materials, many of which were impossible to replace. Miss Rufina Cook, Miss Mary Ball and Helen Swain were other instructors there that year.

The building was erected in 1877, and the heating plant was installed about 1886. There was a coverage of $8,000 insurance on the building and some on the boilers.

The children were housed in the churches and then in the Masonic and I. O. O. F. buildings for the remainder of the year.

The school board met with the superintendent, J. L. Paccker, and plans were carried forward for a new school. The result was the one we have today, used as the high school and junior high. The grade school was established in the west building, or what was the high school, up to that time.

The present building cost $120,000.

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