The first schoolhouse in Red Oak was erected about 1859 and was located on West First Street near Nuckols Street  The first teacher of this school was Thomas Petty, and attendance averaged between twenty-five and thirty pupils.

   Lincoln school came into existence in the year of 1871. A bell for this school was purchased for the sum of $125. The Lincoln school was in use until 1952 when it was abandoned for school purposes and sold to the City.

   The North Ward, or Bancroft school was built in 1881. This building was used for years as an elementary school, but for the past few years was used as an industrial arts shop and is now to be razed to make room for a playground for the present new Bancroft school. The new Bancroft building was built in 1951-152. It includes four rooms.  

   The South Ward, or Jefferson school, was built in 1886. This building is still in use, but has been partly replaced by the new Jefferson, located on the east part of the same block and built in 1951-52. It includes five rooms.

   The West Ward, or Washington school, was built in 1892.  It is still in use as an elementary school, having been completely renovated and redecorated within the past few years.

   The High school, or Webster as it was later called, built in 1885, was used as a high school until 1898 when another building for the high school was erected on the corner of Corning and Third Street. The Webster school then accommodated four elementary classes until the summer of 1951 when it was razed to make room for the new Webster building.  This building includes seven rooms.

   The present Junior High school, the building erected as a high school in 1898 on Corning and Third Streets, now houses the seventh and eighth grades.

   The present High school was built in 1916. The high school has, therefore, been located in four different buildings: first in the Lincoln school in 1871 to 1885; second, at Webster school from 1885to 1898; third, in the present Junior High school from 1898 to 1915; and fourth, to its present location from 1916 to present time.

   A High school addition is in the process of completion at the present time and will house a gymnasium, industrial arts shop, agriculture room, vocal music room, and instrumental music quarters.

   The Red Oak School System has grown from one small frame schoolhouse in 1859 to a high school, junior high and four elementary schools.  

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Taught 97 Years Ago

Sophronia W. Shank

   Sophronia W. Shank, was 's first school teacher. She received her early schooling in Rhode Island, and came in a covered wagon in 1855. With her parents, she lived in a log cabin on land located in Pottawattamie county. In the next year, at fifteen, she opened her school in a private home near Climax in West township.

   She spent her last years in the first frame house built in Red Oak. The Baptist church, of which she was a member, honored her on her 90th birthday.

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   According to the report of the County Auditor in 1870 the county had increased in population from 1,256 in the year 1850 to 5,924 in the year 1870.

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Sanitarium Converted to Private School

   Hamilton White attempted to boom Red Oak by establishing a sanitarium hotel on a hill south of town. Just beside the sanitarium was a spring whose water was noted for its purity and curative powers. An analysis showed it to be just as good as that at the Hot Springs. The Medical and Surgical Sanitarium Co. conducted the hotel with flattering success. Patients suffering from all chronic diseases came from long distances to receive treatment. A swimming pool for guests only was operated in connection with the sanitarium.

   In the fall of 1903, Dr. Velurn Powell and her mother opened a private school for Retarded Children in the old Sanitarium. Dr. Powell bought up the lots surrounding the building so that the school had sixty-five acres.  The building was modernized with plumbing and steam heat.

   In 10-3 the school opened with just one pupil. In recent years enrollment has been from sixty to seventy, with pupils coming from the West Coast and as far east as Cleveland.

   After forty year of service with retarded children, and having placed Red Oak on the map in this field, Dr. Powell retired and sold the school to Mr. Riley Nelson.

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   The dead body of Brewer Steinbrecher was found hanging in a brewery in 1886.  He had claimed the prohibition law damaged him $32,000.

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R. O. Class of 1890