Early Marshalltown Schools

The first school in Marshalltown was a cabin located just west of the town site. This early school, taught by Neri Hoxie, was in use in 1853, just two years after the first settlement of the town in 1851. Later a frame building was erected on the corner of State and Second Streets. When these schools became too small to serve the growing student population, a two-story brick building was erected at North Center and State Streets--the site of the former city public library. Henry Anson, founder of Marshalltown, was instrumental in promoting the new school which served as a "juvenile", grammar, and high school. According to the Marshall County History, 1862, this "graded free School House is one of the largest and finest buildings in town, and adds materially to the appearance of the village". Thes new graded school was taught by three teachers.

As Marshalltown grew, there was need of additional elemntary schools; so the idea of "ward" schools was born. The first of the four original ward schools was built in the Fourth Ward in 1868 at Fourth Avenue and Linn Street. Soon afterwards, the other three ward schools were built: First Ward, at the corner of Grant and North First Avenue; Second Ward, at 313 North Third Street; and Third Ward, at the corner of Linn and South Third Street. For several years these schools were called by their ward names. As the community grew, however, the schools were enlarged, relocated, or replaced; and as that happened, they were renamed.

ROGERS: THE MAN; THE SCHOOL

The first Rogers School was erected in 1879 at North Fourth and Summit Streets and it replaced the original Second Ward School on Third Street. This two-story brick building  faced Fourth Street and was located just south of where the present flag pole stands. The new school was named for Mr. C.P. Rogers, who was then superintendent of schools in Marshalltown.

C.P. Rogers was Marshalltown's fourth superintendent of schools. He succeeded superintendents P.M. Sutton, who served from 1868 to 1870; Charles Robinson, 1870-1873; and W.P. Burdick, 1873-1874. Prior to the establishment of the position of superintendent, the Marshalltown Schools had been administered by principals. Two principals, T.W. Tucker, 1864-1866, and J.S. Mabie, 1866-1868, had preceded these three superintendents.

During the administration of C.P. Rogers, the first separate high school building was built in 1876. It was built two blocks north of Main Street between First and Second Avenues on a knoll that had been reserved for the state capitol. Within just a few years, however, this building burned; but a second high school was built on the same site in 1892. That new building took care of the elementary grades for the First Ward as well as the high school until 1914, when it became solely the high school for grades eight through twelve. It continued to serve as the high school until 1927. After that time, it served as a junior high school and came to be known as "Old Central". When the present high school was built and occupied in 1965, the Central Junior High School students were moved to the former high school on South Eleventh Street. Old Central then served as the community college building and later as a county office building when the local court house was being remodeled. The old Central building was razed in 1980.

Since Mr. Rogers' death in 1896, Rogers School has been under the administration of seven succeeding superintendents: F.W. Willard, who served from 1896 to 1902; W.I. Crane, 1902-1905; E.L. Coffeen, 1905-1907; Aaron Palmer, 1907-1921; William F. Shirley, 1921-1946; John C. Hoglan, 1946-1968; and Robert A. McFarland, since 1968.

The original Rogers School served the boys and girls of the Second Ward for 74 years. The new Rogers School was constructed on the old site with additional ground purchased in order to extend the school grounds to Fifth Street. This building, facing Summit Street, was built in 1953 and the major portion was ready for occupancy in January, 1954. The remaining part--consisting of the office area and the gymnasium--was completed and occupied the next year in January, 1955. Mr. Hoglan was superintendent when the present building was constructed.

During the thirty years that have passed since its opening, the "new" Rogers School has been served by only three principals: Charles W. Polk, who had served the old school and who continued to serve until 1958; Russell Adams, 1958-1962; and Gilbert F. Demry, since 1962. During his tenure at Rogers, Mr. Polk also served as principal of Franklin School for four years, 1950-1954; so he served the district a total of eight years, 1950-1958. During the last two years of Mr. Adams' tenure, he also served as principal of the Van Cleve attendance center (which had become a part of the Marshalltown School District through reorganization). During the last 21 years, Rogers has had a full-time principal except for a three-year period, 1978-1981, when Mr. Demry also served the Williams School.

The first teaching staff in the new building moved from the old school in midyear and consisted of eight classroom teachers: Bonnie Tucker, kindergarten; Harriet Jakeman, first grade; Ruth Smith, first-second grades; Ethel Kindig, second grade; Kathryn Johnson, third grade; Margaret Ringold, fourth grade; Ruth Thompson, fifth grade; and Mae McKibben, sexth grade. Two of these teachers continued to serve Rogers until their retirement: Miss McKibben in 1959, and Miss Jakeman, in 1979. Miss McKibben died on May 27, 1980, in Marshalltown. Miss Jakeman now resides in Sun City, California.

Walter Phillips, custodian, also moved from the old school to the new one. He continued to serve Rogers and took great pride in its appearance and maintenance until his retirement in 1972. Walter died on March 15, 1977, in Marshalltown.

The building enrollment in 1953-1954 was 237. Mr. E.C. Glans was president of the board of education at that time and Mrs. E.W. Irvine was president of the Rogers P.T.A.

OTHER SCHOOLS - COMMUNITY GROWTH

As the schools were built or re-modeled, they were re-named. The first ward school to be re-named was the one in the Fourth Ward. It was enlarged and named for A.C. Abbott who had served on the local school board. Abbott School served this area of town for 85 years.

It was during Mr. Rogers' administration, however, that Marshalltown received some of its greatest educational impetus. In addition to Rogers, two other new elementary schools were built: Arnold and Woodbury.

Arnold, named for Seth and Delos Arnold--prominent merchants in the community--was built in 1883 at the corner of South Seventh and Linn Streets to accommodate the children of the Third Ward. This school was in operation for 66 years--1883-1949.

The original Woodbury School was built between East Main and State Streets at Sixth Avenue in 1889. It was named for Greenleaf M. Woodbury, industrialist and banker. This school served that area of town for 64 years before it was replaced by the "new" Woodbury School in 1953 at Seventh Avenue and East Main Street.

After Superintendent Willard took office, further school building took place. In 1900, Anson School was built on Third Avenue south of Anson Street to serve children of the Fifth Ward. The original Anson building remained in use for 75 years--1900-1975.

In 1902 the Glick School was constructed on the corner of South Third and Linn Streets replacing the old Third Ward school. This school was named for Dr. George Glick, who had served as the treasurer of the first Marshalltown school board. That first board was elected in 1864 when the Marshalltown Independent School District was formed.

Further school construction took place during the superintendency of Aaron Palmer; the first high school athletic building (now the gymnasium of the Palmer School complex), in 1907; Franklin School, in 1913; and the John Childs building in 1914. The Franklin School was built on West Main Street west of 13th Street and was to accommodate the elementary children of the Sixth Ward. The John Childs building, built on the old high school site and named for an early citizen who had donated land to the school district, was first used as an elementary school for the First Ward.

The Aaron Palmer School was built in 1922 in the first years of Mr. Shirley's administration. It was built on the north side of the high school block facing Webster Street. This school was to serve elementary children of the First Ward; and with its opening, the John Childs school building was turned over to the high school.

It was also during Mr. Shirley's tenure that a new high school was built in 1927. That school, located on South 11th Street, is now Miller Junior High School--named for Byron R. Miller, long-time high school principal.

Because of the aging of some of the buildings, the rapidly growing number of students, and the increase in district size due to school district reorganization, a number of building changes took place during Mr. Hoglan's administration. Glick School was remodeled and an addition was added in 1950. Franklin was remodeled in 1951. The new Woodbury School was completed in 1953 to accommodate those children who attended the old Woodbury and Abbott Schools. The new Rogers School was completed in 1955. Arnold School was razed in 1954 and those students were divided between Glick and Franklin Schools. The old Rogers, Abbott and Woodbury Schools were then razed.

The new primary schools were built in 1954: Norris, on the east edge of town and Hansen in the west part of town. The Norris School was named for D.W. Norris, an active community citizen and industrialist; Robert Hansen School was named in memory of the son of Dr. and Mrs. R.R. Hansen, who lost his life as a result of an accident.

The first portion of the Fisher School, located on South Fourth Street just south of Meadow Lane, was constructed in 1959, and was named for William Fisher, civic leader and industrialist. Additions have been subsequently added to the original structure and it is now one of the two largest elementary schools in the district.

The first part of the Williams School was constructed in 1961 and opened in mid-year, 1961-1962. It was built in the northeast part of town at 502 North 12th Avenue and was named for George Williams, a former school board member who had given the land to the school district. Williams, which first served as a primary school, had additions built in 1965 and 1968--thus becoming a full one-section K-6 school.