Keokuk County Iowa IAGenWeb - 1904 School Essay Contest

First the past, my schoolhouse was built in the year 1868 on the John Trotter farm. From here it was moved to where it now stands which is in the southeastern part of Van Buren Township. But trouble arose as to its position and it was moved back. Still the patrons were not satisfied and it was moved to its present location.

It used to be called “The Rowley School” and “Lick Skillet” but a few years ago the name Fairview was given to it which is a very appropriate name, for from here you can get a fair view of the country for a great distance.

Present – The Fairview school stands in the northwest part of a large and beautiful yard containing one hundred and sixty square rods. There is a grader shed in the northeast corner. Although this takes off part of the yard, there is still a large playground left.

Twelve trees adorn and add to the beauty of the yard. One large cottonwood stands in the southeastern part of the playground, while the others which are box elders and maples are arranged along the west side. The yard is enclosed by an iron rod fence which gives the place a neat appearance.

The schoolhouse is a frame structure twenty-seven long and twenty-three feet wide. It faces the south. There is a belfry on the south end of the roof. There is one outside door that leads into the hall and two doors that open from the hall into the room. There are six windows, three on each side, so that there is plenty of light and ways of ventilation. The outside is painted a dark green. On the inside the ceiling, wainscoting, and the woodwork are painted a light blue. The walls are decorated with paper chains which are draped across the windows and looped from the four corners to the middle of the ceiling.

We have several pictures on the wall including the portraits of such famous men as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Benjamin Franklin who, looking down from their lofty height, inspire us with good resolutions which may enable us to become great also.

Out stove is in the center of the room so that the room ought to be always well heated.

We have an excellent globe and as good a set of maps as you will see anywhere. We have a chart that is well adapted to the demands of the primary class. Our blackboard extends the entire length of the north side of the room and it isn’t very large it is plenty large enough for the number who go to use it.

We have a platform in our schoolhouse which enables the teacher to get a better view of the school. On this platform are recitation benches but they are not used anymore. The seats face the north and they are getting old and infirm with age but we expect to have some new ones before long. The desks, I am sorry to say, are badly marred and scratched, although the present pupils have done a part of it, the most was done by our fellow students who have come and gone before us. The teacher has a real nice desk and comfortable chair.

We have a bench to put the water bucket on and a place for the wash pan, soap box, and dinner buckets. There are no curtains for the windows, but shutters take the place of them. Although they are not as good as curtains would be, they will do for the present.

Our library though small is steadily increasing. It contains some very gook books some of which are Louisa May Alcott’s works on “My Girls” and “My Boys” and others written by Jane Andrews, W.H. Longfellow and Nathaniel Hawthorne.

There are nineteen pupils enrolled, but they do not come very regularly. Most of these are the small ones who live quite a distance from the schoolhouse. There are only two who have “Certificates of Award”. One is a boy ten years old and the other, a girl. There have been quite a number of visitors who show that they take an interest in the work that is being done.

Our present teacher is Miss Dora E. House.

Future – We would like to have a new schoolhouse, if we could have it furnished with the modern improvements. We would have an auditorium lighted with gas lights to hold our entertainment in, a room for the library, a study room with single seats, an upright piano would be very welcome also, but above all, we want a well with a pump in it so can have fresh water whenever we want it.

I hope that our school may always be blessed with good teachers and stand at the head of the list entitled – “A Model School.”