Mrs. Langford |
The
district was also known as Progressive School District #561.
The schoolhouse was located at the S.E. 5-42-27-W4.
The district was formed around the year 1900. Iowalta was so named by
the King's and Zielie's. This occurred when the young men decided to form
a ball team and were in need of a name. Since there were a lot of people
living here who came from the state of Iowa, Iowa and Alta were put together
to make "IOWALTA".
The school was built in the summer of 1901. The logs were hewed, stripped
and filled with saw dust. It was shingled in the year of 1907. Many children
from outside the district came to Progressive School. Some came by foot
or on horseback from homes 5 or 6 miles away. The school had fifteen or
sixteen
double seats, a wood heater, a small five-octave "Davis" organ
- later a Dominion six-octave. There was a little corner cupboard to hold
library books. There were curtains, a few pretty pictures, and on the
platform was the teacher's table with a drawer to hold the register and
strap. On the table was the handbell used to summon students. Slates were
used and a bottle of water and two rags, to wash and dry the slate. Church
and Sunday School were also held at the schoolhouse.
In 1929 the district built a new schoolhouse and with the coming of the
larger school units, in 1956 the community bought the school to be used
as a centre. |
Miss Lillian
Schooley |