School children from Diagonal attended Spencer School, Washington Township #3, which was located south of town and across the river. To get to the school from town, the school children walked across a swinging bridge. Early school teachers were Henry RUBY and Stella BUSBY.

Every year there was an election on a proposal to move the school into town. With the county voters outnumbering town voters, the proposal always failed. By getting the women out to vote on the proposal in 1892, the proposal passed. When the proposal passed, the district with approximately five sections of land was organized and a new schoolhouse was built in town.

In an article written by J. J. ZARUBA, he said that the school building pictured above was moved from Goshen in sections. The new schoolhouse was located on the present-day school site but on the south portion of the schoolgrounds. The schoolhouse was a two-story, four-room frame building, sometimes called "College Hill" by the locals. Classes were held for eight months out of the year with three teachers. Classes did not extend beyond the 10th grade. 99 students enrolled for the first term in 1892. Robert BUCK of Mount Ayr was one of the first principals of the school. Mollie E. JARVIS was Diagonal's first town school teacher.

Six students graduated in 1896, Diagonal's first graduates.

S. J. GARD & Son were contracted to build an addition to the school in 1897. The school year was extended to 9 months of the year in 1900. A third-year high school course was adopted in 1905, offering classes through the 11th grade. In 1913, a fourth- year course (12th grade) was added with two students, G. A. GRANT and Merle WILLIAMS.

A second addition to the school was added in 1910 and the fire escape was added in 1911.

In 1914 a school bond of $20,000 passed by a vote of 178 to 32 for the construction of a new brick schoolhouse. The women cast separate ballots. Clyde BEATTY bought the frame schoolhouse for $650 and removed it by January 8th of 1915.

Twice-A-Week News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, January 26 & January 29, 1915

DIAGONAL -- The new schoolhouse was dedicated January 26. J.C. McGlade, state inspector of schools, delivered the address of the evening, and others who appeared on the program were Reta JOHNSON, Asa BAILEY, president of the school board, D.V. FERRIS and Jessie N. TALLEY.

The new schoolhouse was arranged so that light came from the left side and back of the classrooms once the students were seated. Each classroom had a ventilator with a fresh air intake on the opposite side which provided a fresh supply of air.

In September of 1915, a booster meeting proposed to floor the gymasium. Previously the gym floor was a dirt floor to save money. Work began in October with Professor MOUNTS doing the shoveling and mixing. Horace HEALY and Ward BROWN hauled in sand. The school was wired for electricity in 1917 and, in 1918 fully accredited.

The school nearly burned down in August of 1918 when sixty tons of coal which had been stored in the basement spontaneously combusted. Every available man and boy helped remove smoldering coal. Al JONES stood guard all night long to assure the danger had passed.

The school bell was removed from the belfry and placed on the schoolhouse roof in 1925. This enabled it to be heard from a greater distance.. The graduating class of 1982 asked that the bell be placed on a cement pedestal in front of the new gymnasium. It is often rung, proclaiming a victory for Diagonal's team.

The new gymnasium was built in 1926 with the first game on January 6, 1927, which was played against Benton High School.

The first Diagonal Band Boosters was organized on November 2nd of 1939.

Outside fire escapes were placed in 1951.

During the second decade of the 1900's, several school districts in Ringgold County considered consolidation. Although the citizens of Redding School District voted in favor of consolidation in 1913, the vote was cast out on a technicality. The following year, a new school was erected in Redding. In 1915, another election was held in Redding and the citizens again voted to consolidate. In 1917, a large addition was constructed to accomondate an increase in pupils attending the Redding School. In 1915, the residents of Delphos voted to consolidate; Maloy residents voted for consolidation in 1917; and the Beconsfield residents cast their vote for consolidation in 1920. Although the residents of Ellston voted to consolidate, it was annulled on a technicality when the bonding company realized that the election notice had been advertised solely by public notices and not published in the newspaper. A second vote was called which resulted in a vote against consolidation.

The little red schoolhouse was purchased in September of 1956. It was located on the northwest corner of the schoolgrounds and used as a kindergarten classroom until the school year of 1980 - 1981.

After several elections failed, in 1957 a special election (135 yes; 35 no) carried for the contruction of a new grade school addition which was completed in 1959. Diagonal's school was newly reorganized on July 1, 1959 as Diagonal Community School. Prior to this, the school was known as Diagonal Public School or Diagonal Independent School.

In 1962, the new shop and science building was completed along with a new parking lot. A new gymnasium was completed for the 1974 - 1975 school year.

Diagonal has three gyms: the one completed in 1974 where baketball games are currently being held. The tiny gymnasium built (1914) in the basement of the main school building has become the school's art room. The third gymnasium built in 1927 had two or three rows of bleachers along some of the sidewalls and an overhanging balcony with the stage on one side. This is the gymnasium where the state championship team of 1938 played their games. This gymnasium currently is in use as a daycare.

The main building has two enclosed 'slide' fire escapes on either side. The other two school buildings are adjacent to each other with the 1974 gym located a short walk away. The victory bell is located just outside the front doors of that gymnasium. This bell once was previously located in a belfry atop the main school building.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, September 28, 2006

New officers were elected, personnel items handled, appointments made and other reorganizational matters were handled when the Diagonal Community school board held its regular meeting. New board officers were elected at the meeting after the results of the election naming Phil Mason to the board again. Melinda England was named board president.

In 1938, Diagonal High School's speakers won three first-places in the four-school declamatory contest.

Elaine MORROW, Ringgold County's spelling-bee champion, accompanied her teacher, Miss Mabel BOYLES, to Des Moines and participated in Iowa State Spelling-Bee Finals in April of 1933.

The Diagonal High School commercial students won first in their division at the Iowa State Novice Typing Contest, held in Des Moines. The team, composed of Jessie CARSON, Maxine VANDERPLUYN, and Arden BONEBRAKE, typed 58.00 words per minute. (Remember, this would have been accomplished on manual typewritters.)

Diagonal's marching band received a 1 rating in the State Marching Bank Contest under the direction of Albert SANDSTROM in 1961.

Gail LEE was recognized as one of the six top English students in Iowa, 1972 - 1973.

Diagonal's D Club was organized in 1948 under the direction of Dale HERRINGTON. Members of the D Club had earned a letter from participation on an athletic team or a cheerleading squad.

Diagonal Jumperettes, a squad of girls doing difficult rope jumping under the direction of Coach Dale HERRINGTON, was organized in the 1950 - 1951 school year. The 5th and 6th grade girls were trained in trampoline and tumbling. The 5th through 8th grade girls were trained in intricate rope jumping.

1958 - 1959  Back Row, left to right: Twila MORROW, Sue OLSON, Linda STEWART, Ann BEYMER, Marjeanna REECE, Terri MORROW, Barbara TAYLOR, Jan YASHACK, Joan RYCHNOSKY, Patty HOGUE, Carolyn TRIDLE, Lila SWANK, Karen DeBOLT

Front Row, left to right: Coach "Cuz" OTTAVI, Kathy SOBOTKA, Toni STEPHENS, Donna RYCHNOVSKY, Teena MORROW, Monna RYCHNOVSKY, Janis PARKER, Dorothy GARRETT, Melody DAVENPORT, Twyla TAYLOR, Nancy STRANGE, Candy TINDLE

Diagonal's golf team was organized in the Spring of 1976 with team members Jodi SOBOTKA, Jacki TAYLOR, Sharla TAYLOR, Lesa BULLOCK, Janis SCHLAPIA, and Darla TAYLOR.

Diagonal's football team received new uniforms on September 18, 1919. They played their first game agains Creston, losing 86 to 0.

In 1922 three lots were purchased from G. E. GRACE for an athletic field.

Because Diagonal did not have a ball diamond, boys' baseball was dropped in 1932. During June of 1940, the school purchased land south of the schoolgrounds and a ball diamond was located here. The boys' baseball team resumed play on October 30, 1940.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, July 23, 1959

The Diagonal girls softball team tallied a decisive 26-10 victory over the Mount Ayr team Monday night at the Diagonal diamond. Mount Ayr scored the first run but trailed throughout the remainder of the game. Joyce DUKES was on the mound for Diagonal and Joan STEPHENS did the receiving. Mary Ann WOOD pitched for the losers and Janet WOOD and Martha LAMB shared catching duties. Other Mount Ayr players were Louise BURCHETT, Kay JARVIS, Judy BLACK, Sheryl CAMPBELL, Harla STEPHENS, Mary Sue BASTOW, Mary Evelyn CANNON and Connie SANDAGE. Included among the Diagonal players were Dixie RAMSBOTTOM, Dixie TAYLOR, Kay WATSON, Diana TAYLOR, Judy TAYLOR, Jinny TRIDLE, Ann WATSON and Carol HAYWORTH.

In 1977 JoAnn HUTCHINSON was elected to the Pitchers Hall of Fame, a circle of 100-game victory pitchers.

The boys' ball team came within one game of going on to State Tournaments in 1986, falling to United Communtiy of Boone.

Lindy OVERHOLSTER and Bill STAATS went to the Iowa State Track Meet, held at Drake University, Des Moines, in the spring of 1951 when Diagonal's track team was formed.

Marilyn YASHACK qualified for the State Track Meet in four consecutive years. Jim GOINS qualified for competition at the State Track Meet in 1969. In 1971 John STEPHENS went to the State Track Meet for his 3rd year.

When Carol JOHNSTON, pictured at right, was a member of Diagonal's high school track team, he excelled in the pole vault. However, Carol's career did not end with his graduation in 1929. He continued to be a leader in the pole vault. Carol, at age 74, won his age division with a mark of 9-6 at the 1986 TAC National Masters Track and Field Championships which were held in New York. He set a world record of 10' in the 70 - 74 age division in 1985.

Dale HERRINGTON coached the girls' basketball team, called the Redettes. Although the team had many good players, they weren't very successful.

Back Row, left to right: Coach Dale HERRINGTON, Bessie (OVERHOLSER) AUSTIN, Patty (DOWELL) SOBOTKA, Mrs. F. E. MELOY, Barbara (OVERHOLSER) TJADEN, Peggy MAHONEY, F. E. MELOY

Front Row, left to right: Charlene (LINKVIS) BROTT, Norma TEPLY, Phyllis (THARP) SMITH, Evelyn (PINE) RICKER, Barbara (KELLER) WALTERS, Norma Jean (SOBOTKA) LUMBARD, Bernadine (LINKVIS) SOBOTKA, Reva (BATA) SHIFLETT

Diagonal's girls' basketball team was resumed in 1959 under the direction of "Cuz" OTTAVI.

Back Row,left to right: Carole Ann HAYWORTH, Dixie RAMSBOTTOM, Peggy (FLETCHER) OLSON, Liz (PINE) WILEY, Deanna (TAYLOR) WARIN, Coach "Cuz" OTTAVI

Middle Row, left to right: Joyce (DUKES) ENGLAND, Connie MOORE, May CAMPBELL, Eleanore (PRICE) ROSE

Front Row, left to right: Kay (WATSON) PRATT, Karen FLETCHER, Martha HAYWORTH, Ginny (TRIDLE) CARSON

During the 1984 - 1985 season, the Maroonettes made it within one game of capturing the Iowa State Championship during the final game of the tournament.

The first Ringgold County Boys' Basketball Tournament was held February 28 - March 1st, 1919, at the Mount Ayr high school gymnasium. Diagonal lost the first championship game to Ellson, 62-19.

At the 1921 tournament, Diagonal defeated Maloy 110-4 to claim the championship.

The following year, the tournament was moved to Arispe in Union County due to severe winter weather, bad roads, and a small pox epidemic which swept through western Ringgold County. Diagonal defeated Ellston, claiming the championship with a 38-35 win. Diagonal forwards L. SIMPSON and EASTON, along with guard TAYLOR were named to the all-county first team.

Diagonal failed to retain the championship in 1923, losing to Mount Ayr 18-14. Named to the all-county first team were Diagonal forwards YOUNG and L. SIMPSON.

The 1927 Ringgold County Basketball Tournament was held in Diagonal's new $35,000 gymnasium which had plenty of standing room and a seating capacity of 800. This tournament grossed well over $1,100. Diagonal also hosted the 1928 and 1929 tournament games. Diagonal lost the 1930 championship to Maloy, 37-27. Diagonal forward PRICE and guard HUKILL were named to the all-county first team. The following year, on February 21, 1931, Diagonal claimed the championship, defeating Redding 46-21. Referee Jake LUKE named Diagonal's forward VARNER and guard OSMAN to the all-tournament first team.

Diagonal claimed the 1932 county championship in 1932, defeating Kellerton 38-17; the 1933 county championship over Mount Ayr, 16-15. By winning the 1933 championship, Diagonal was the first team to permanently possess the three-year traveling trophy cup. A new trophy cup was introduced to continue the tradition. Diagonal claimed the new tropy in 1934 by defeating Mount Ayr 23-20. Referee BOYER selected Diagonal's VARNER to the all-tournament first team.

Diagonal barely defeated Maloy in the first round, 29-27. Diagonal won their fifth consecutive county championship, defeating Redding in the finals, 32-25.

The 1936 Ringgold County Tournament was delayed a week due to cold weather and bad roads. During the first round, Diagonal won over Beaconsfield, 92-9. In the finals, Diagonal Maroons claimed the championship over Kellerton, 45-18.

The 1937 Ringgold County Tournament was moved from Diagonal to Mount Ayr's new gymnasium. Maloy defeated Diagonal, 40-17. A blizzard blew in, forcing the teams and the spectators to stay over in Mount Ayr until Sunday.

During the 1938 Ringgold County Tournament, Diagonal's Maroons defeated by Kellerton's Tigers during the first round, 37-26. In the second round, Diagonal suffered defeat from Mount Ayr, 34-31. Five weeks later, Diagonal, under the direction of Coach "Pop" VARNER, defeated Rolfe 21-19 in overtime play to capture the Iowa State Class B Championship. This was Diagonal's sixth appearance at the Iowa State Boys' Basketball Tournament. The team members of 1938 were Max IVES, Claire BROWN, Marshall DAVENPORT, Miles NICHOLS, Eugene PINE, Raymond SLAVIK, Bud BEYMER, Cletus TINDEL, James DICKENS, and Lewis RICE.

Diagonal lost the county championship game of 1939 to Creston during the final game. The team did go on to to the Iowa State Boys' Basketball Tournament, representing the section for the 7th time out of eight years. Diagonal placed second in the state championship games of 1939.

Diagonal Maroons lost the 1941 county tournament to Mount Ayr's Raiders, 30-28. Diagonal's team included DAVIS, IVES, DAVENPORT, HOGUE, and RICHARDS.

The 1942 Ringgold County Tournament was held at Diagonal, the first time since 1936. JOHNSON led Diagonal Maroons with 15 points, helping the team to win the championship over Maloy, 35-23. Diagonal won the 1943 county championship title over Mount Ayr, 51-32. Dick IVES scored 25 of the total points for Diagonal's Maroons. Mount Ayr's Raiders came back in the 1944 Ringgold County Tournament, defeating Diagonal 43-23 for the championship title. Diagonal's SOBOTKA was the shining star for Diagonal.

Diagonal claimed the 1946 county championship title, defeating Maloy 40-26 with Bill GOODALE leading the Maroons to a victory.

The 1947 Ringgold County Tournament was hosted by Diagonal. G. Dale HERRINGTON, once a former student of Coach "POP" VARNER, coached Diagonal's Maroons into a victory for the championship over Mount Ayr's Raiders, 34-33. The Raiders at this time were coached by "Pop" VARNER. Mount Ayr ralled the following year, claiming the 1947 championship title over Diagonal, 28-31. Diagonal's RICKER and CHILDERS were the stars for the Maroons. Diagonal barely made it to the finals with a win over Maloy, 29-28 in overtime play.

With RICKER paving the way, Diagonal claimed the 1951 county championship over Mount Ayr, 49-47.

In March of 1955, the Diagonal Maroons advanced to sub-state play by edging Blockton, 54-52 Thursday night at Creston in a clean and nearly flawless game.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, March 15, 1956

Basketball fans are still wondering just what happened as the 140 point lead held by the Diagonal Maroons melted away to give Shelby a last minute 52-50 win in the district tournament finals Friday night at Red Oak. It was the second straight year that Diagonal suffered a heartbreaking defeat, having lost to Tracy last year in the sub-state meet in much the same manner as they lost to Shelby.

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, February 24, 1955

The Maroons, considered among the best basketball teams in Diagonal's history, this week are representing Ringgold county in the Class B division of the district tournament at Creston. Having already walloped Arispe by an impressive score of 89-45, the Maroons meet Blockton tonight in the finals. The team consists of Coach Dale HERRINGTON, Marion PRICE, Philip DUKES, Elvin JOHNSON, Dick TEPLY, Dick TAYLOR, Jack TAYLOR, Alvin SCHLAPIA, Bill JOHNSTON, Bob PINE, Carroll STRANGE, Larry MOTSINGER and Tommy AUSTIN.

Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, November of 2012

Diagonal's Maroons won their 15th county championship title by defeating Kellerton 68-53 with Tom AUSTIN as their high scorer during the 1956 Ringgold County Tournament. Diagonal lost the 1958 county championship, 47-42 to Tingley, a team that had never previously won a tournament.

During the 40 year history of Ringgold County's Tournament, Diagonal won 15 championship titles and 8 second-place spots. The most dominant player of Ringgold's tournaments probably was Dick IVES from Diagonal, averaging 18.2 points a game during his senior year. IVES continued his basketball career, setting college records and selected to two All-American teams.

In 1961, Diagonal's Maroons went undefeated during the regular season under the coaching of David WYCKOFF - the first time since 1932.

Diagonal Reporter, Diagonal, Iowa

David Wyckoff, originally of Bedford, has signed a contract for the position of boys coach and Social Studies teacher in the Diagonal School system.

Mr Wyckoff will graduate this spring from Northwest Missouri State Teachers College in Maryville and has been doing practice teaching at Bedford. He also was a high school graduate of the Bedford school.

Mr. Wyckoff is married and has a daughter about two years and a son four months old. The Wyckoffs will move June 1st into the Kokesh apartment. Mr. Wyckoff will have the summer program here this summer.

Superintendent and coach Dennis TASSELL coached the boys and girls basketball teams in the 1970's, 80's, and 90's. He earned the distinction of being one of 11 Iowa coaches who took both a girls and a boys basketball team to State Tournament.

Diagonal High School Teachers, 1948-49

 

Diagonal Marching Maroons, Labor Day 2001
Photograph courtesy of Sharon R. Becker

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, September 29, 2016, Page 18

 

 

Diagonal fundraiser

Steve Newton (left) and Nolan Newton man the grill during last weekend's golf tournament to benefit the Diagonal Community School Foundation. Over $1,700 was raised during the annual event.

 

 

Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, May 05, 2016, Page 6

  SOURCES:
Mount Ayr Record-News, Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa, February 10, 2007

Ringgold County History Compiled and written by the Iowa Writers' Program of the Work Projects Administration in the State of Iowa, Sponsored by Ringgold County Superintendent of Schools, Mount Ayr, Iowa. 1942.

Diagonal, Iowa Centennial History: 1888 - 1988 Pp. 183-205. 1988.

AVITT, Mike. Pages and Pictures from the Past. . .Ringgold County, Iowa 1855-2005 Pp. 17, 95. Paragon Publications, Inc. Mount Ayr. 2009.

Compilation by Sharon R. Becker, June of 2009; updated August of 2009; updated May of 2017