Historical Architect evaluates Richland #1 School Building

(Article submitted by Carol Raasch)

Architect, Marie Sedlacek of Omaha, Nebraska took time on a very warm sunny morning to come to Odebolt to evaluate the Richland #1 school building. It is being restored as a rural school museum that will moved to downtown Odebolt. The museum is part of the Rural Legacy Project for preserving rural history of the area. Ms. Sedlacek is an architect who is familiar with the renovation and restoring of buildings of historical interest and importance. It is hoped the documentation will assist the school in being designated as an historical building.

In her opinion, the Richland #1 school, having been built in 1883, has qualities that distinguish buildings of the Victorian era, notably its fish scale treatment of the upper exterior wall of the entry and its gingerbread decorative work at the peak of the entry roofline.  She commented on the wonderful craftsmanship shown by the builders of the school, primarily Mr. Frederick  Petersmeyer.  The fact that it is in fairly good shape after 128 years of use is testimony to that.  She also pointed out the detail work around the windows and doorways and the quality of the lumber used. The roof has fluted leaded ridges ending in a fleur-de-lis design.

Another endeavor of the evaluation was to determine the likely colors of the original building by scraping away paint chips.  The author of the book, Iowa’s Rural Schools – A Lost Treasure, Sandra Kessler Host, remembers a totally white building when she attended the school. The earliest photo of the school was taken in 1920 and shows it all white, many years after 1883. In the 1990s, it was painted red and white. During the Victorian age it was probably painted using two colors. By the 1900s, nearly all of Iowa’s country schools were painted white.

When the new foundation is completed by Greg Neville Construction Company, the Hoefling Moving Company will move the school to its new location to be restored. Ms. Sedlacek says the original floor surface and floor joists may be strong enough to use. Since the school has not been on a foundation since 1959, it has been anticipated the floor would need to be replaced. Whether the floor is replaced or restored will only be known when the school is moved. As she said, “They really built strong buildings in the 1880s. This building survived a recent tornado when a nearby barn collapsed.” We are fortunate to have one of the original 132 rural schools built in Sac County starting in the 1870s to the 1900s available for restoration. Some rural school were rebuilt in the 1920s and 1930s to have basements and restrooms added if there was a source of water.

A copy of the book that gives the rural history of Iowa and the role and the history of the rural school system highlighting this school can be ordered with a check made out to the Rural Legacy Project- City of Odebolt, P.O. Box 235, Odebolt, IA. 51458 for $36 that includes tax, handling and postage or a copy can be picked up at the Odebolt Iowa State Bank for $30.