Humboldt County
Historical Association
PO Box 162
Humboldt, Iowa
50548
Back to HOME
Back to list of
MUSEUM
buildings
WILLOW
SCHOOL
(NORWAY NO. 6)
This
one-room country school, donated by Dr. Clifford Mickelson of Webster
City, was built by Ole
J. Biondahl in Norway Township in 1866. On the first day of school,
December 18, 1883, there were three pupils in attendance. By the end of
the term twenty-nine pupils attended. The last day school was in session
was May 26, 1955. The school was moved to the museum grounds in 1966.
Today, it is like
stepping into the pages of a history book to walk into Willow School.
There are records of some fifty former teachers, records of all former
pupils, copies of teacher contracts, pictures of former teachers, old
books and maps.
The building
has been
restored to depict a typical rural school of the 1890's, with painted
blackboards, desks, textbooks, and a recitation bench for separate
classes to use when it is their turn to be instructed. On the
teacher's desk are lesson plans and attendance records from the school.
There is also a diary that was kept by Mr. Biondahl while he was
building the schoolhouse.
Some of the double
desks come from Indian Mound School, attended by Frank Gotch as a child.
One desk has the name Frank carved into it and this may be the mark left
by the world famous wrestler-to-be.
“SCHOOL DAYS, SCHOOL DAYS, DEAR OLD GOLDEN RULE DAYS”
The words of this
old song go on . . . “reading and writing and ‘rithmatic, taught to the
tune of the hickory stick!”
There is no
old school day’s hickory stick in Willow School (Norway No. 6) at the
Humboldt County Museum. There is just about everything else, however.
Double desks, globe, blackboard, slates, potbelly stove, books, ink pots
in the desks, and the familiar portrait of George Washington with the
fog rising across his chest. Above the painted blackboard, the Parker
Penmanship cursive alphabet slants gracefully across the room.
Mrs.
Norman Kirchhoff was a member of the Willow School Restoration Committee
and wrote in her letter to the editor in 1968, “Norway No. 6 School was
built by Ole Blondahl in 1883 in section 13 of Norway Township. At that
time there were 79 rural schools in the county.” Mr. Blondahl kept a
diary as he built the school so we know quite a bit about it.
“Classes were first held in the building on December 18, 1883,” Mrs.
Kirchhoff continued. “There have been 58 teachers that have taught in
the school until it closed on May 26, 1955, with Dorothy Mickelson as
teacher. There have been 136 known boys and girls in attendance, with
forty-five pupils the largest enrollment and seven pupils being the
smallest group.” All eight grades were taught in the one room, which
meant that the teacher had to keep good order and the older students had
to help the younger ones. According to former country school students,
it all worked out extremely well and everyone got a good education.
The school
was donated by Dorothy Mickelson’s brother, Dr. Clifford Mickelson,
veterinary, of Webster City and made its journey of twelve miles to the
Museum grounds on September 21, 1966.
Many people
donated items to ensure that the school portrayed education as it was in
the 1880’s. The school bell in the belfry was given by Miss Leva Johnson
of Eagle Grove as a memorial to her brother, Lars R. Johns. The story is
told that one teacher rang the bell only to be attacked by a swarm of
angry bees, who considered the belfry their home.
During
a recent visit by fifth grade students from Taft School, Marilyn Hinners
acted as their guide into the “good ole golden rule days.” The students
sat in the desks, leafed through the books, wrote on the slates, and for
a very brief moment, were back in the 1880’s. As they left the school,
Marilyn rang the bell. There were no bees, of course—just the loud
clanging of the old school bell.
Special
tours for groups can be arranged at the Humboldt County Museum—such as a
group interested in the school. Contact the Director, Connie Overby on
her cell phone (515) 890-9652 or by e-mail
c.overby@mchsi.com.
The
Willow School is
open May through September on
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday
10:00 - 4:00
Sunday 1:30 - 4:30
SPECIAL TOURS AND DEMONSTRATION CLASSES
MAY BE ARRANGED BY CALLING
Museum Director: Connie Overby (515) 890 9652
c.overby@mchsi.com