The Forest Grove Schoolhouse in rural Scott County, Iowa, was erected in 1873 withconstruction and furnishings cost of $1,500. It was one of five schools in Pleasant Valley Township which had the honor of having the first schools in Scott County. Forest Grove School closed its doors for the final time in 1957. Today, the weathered gray, one-room school building surrounded by farm fields sits vacant next to a silent swing set. What stories could this building tell?
The Forest Grove School Preservation project has begun its efforts to preserve this wonderful piece of Scott County history. The building bows in the middle and is missing much of its foundation. The windows are long ago broken by vandals and walls are near collapsing.
The current plan to to restore the schoolhouse to how it looked in the 1940′s. If the restoration effort is successful, plans are to open the building to schoolchildren as a kind of re-enactment history lesson. It also could also be reserved and used by the community for various functions.
Oral histories about life in a one room school have been collected and can be viewed on our School Life page.