I don't believe this school is older than 1890-91, From the Monticello Express March 5, 1891:"It seems there are a good many children in the neighborhood of Berlin's Mill without convenient school privileges, consequently the district township board organized a new district and appointed Elmer Noble and C.T. Berlin a committee to rent a room and employ a teacher. The committee rented a room in the residence of Mr. C. Seibenthial preparatory to opening a school." The location of the mill would have been on the creek that runs just west of the school and likely near where the current bridge is located, less than 1/4 of a mile to the south of the school. I also have no indications Indians ever were educated at this school, where that information comes from is certainly in question, as there were no Indian children in the area in that time frame.
I got my information from the book,"Iowa's Country Schools: Landmarks of Learning," edited by William L. Sherman. The individual who compiled the data for the Jones County schools was Mrs. Wilma Merfeld of Monticello. I see I did make an error in copying; I have it used from 1870 where the book says it began operating in the early 1870s.
One would have to believe the Monticello Express when it says they rented a room for a school in that neighborhood in the 1890's preparatory to opening a school. That would suggest the school building was built after that point. By the 1890's to my knowledge there were no Indians in the neighborhood. Wilma doesn't always get things right, she is in her 80's or 90's.
For now, I'll just leave your comments as additional information. When I get a chance, I'll have to really investigate this to get the complete story.
It wouldn't be the first time someone fed be wrong information!
July 7, 2015 at 8:35 AM
Yesterday when we went to look for this one we discovered just how inaccurate directions can be! Information we had was from a university study, but their directions led us on a 40 min goose-chase until we accidentally came across Hardscrabble Road (not even mentioned in the directions) and assumed it would lead to the school. ARGH!
So if you're looking for this one, from Monticello, IA you must head west on D62 for 4.3 miles to 205th Avenue and turn north. After traveling .7 mile you will intersect Hardscrabble Road and continue north for another 1.5 miles to the school. If you miss 205th Ave, the next road you will come to on the right is Hardscrabble, but I didn't get the distance (about a mile, though).
This school was used from early 1870s until 1959 and is now a private residence. The greater percentage of its students were Indians.
Not being able to get on the property, all these were photographed with a telephoto lens.
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posted by Glenn E. Chatfield at 10:39 AM on Oct 18, 2010
4 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formI don't believe this school is older than 1890-91, From the Monticello Express March 5, 1891:"It seems there are a good many children in the neighborhood of Berlin's Mill without convenient school privileges, consequently the district township board organized a new district and appointed Elmer Noble and C.T. Berlin a committee to rent a room and employ a teacher. The committee rented a room in the residence of Mr. C. Seibenthial preparatory to opening a school."
The location of the mill would have been on the creek that runs just west of the school and likely near where the current bridge is located, less than 1/4 of a mile to the south of the school.
I also have no indications Indians ever were educated at this school, where that information comes from is certainly in question, as there were no Indian children in the area in that time frame.
July 5, 2015 at 4:39 PM
Hi Steve,
I got my information from the book,"Iowa's Country Schools: Landmarks of Learning," edited by William L. Sherman. The individual who compiled the data for the Jones County schools was Mrs. Wilma Merfeld of Monticello. I see I did make an error in copying; I have it used from 1870 where the book says it began operating in the early 1870s.
July 6, 2015 at 10:58 AM
One would have to believe the Monticello Express when it says they rented a room for a school in that neighborhood in the 1890's preparatory to opening a school. That would suggest the school building was built after that point. By the 1890's to my knowledge there were no Indians in the neighborhood. Wilma doesn't always get things right, she is in her 80's or 90's.
July 7, 2015 at 5:48 AM
Thanks for your information, Steve.
For now, I'll just leave your comments as additional information. When I get a chance, I'll have to really investigate this to get the complete story.
It wouldn't be the first time someone fed be wrong information!
July 7, 2015 at 8:35 AM