Harper School is a one room building located at the Junction of 82 and U Highways in St. Clair County. The only information found as to the original establishment of the school is that it is mentioned in the Harper Primitive Baptist Church Minutes dated April 1875 as "the new school house on Harper Prairie in St. Clair Co Mo". This was prior to the church being built for the Primitive Baptist Church and meetings were held in the school.

The school is located on private property approximately 10 miles East of Osceola, Missouri in St. Clair County. On February 20, 1892 land was deeded to the Directors of School District No. 2, Township 38, Range 24 by John M. Harper and Martha D. Harper to be used for school purposes.

In 1891, Harper had a band consisting of members of the community. There is a picture dated January 12, 1891 which was taken at the school. Some members of the band have been identified as: George Westerfield, his sons: James McCalfrey, John Wesley and George Thomas Harper; Harvey Green Murray, Robert E. Lee Harper and Robert Martin McMillan (who was the youngest member of the band.

Harper School was actively holding school until the Fall of 1952, when the children of the community were transported to Bear Creek School. On April 12, 1961, Harper School, as well as some of the other small schools in the Community, was annexed to the Osceola Independent School District.

There is a picture showing the building with the two front doors (with Harper School on the sign over the doors) - one for the boys and one for the girls. In this picture, the boys are all on one side with the girls all on the other side. This picture does not show a front porch on the school, and we are unable to determine a date. Later in the early 1930s, there is a picture with a group of children out front of the school and there is a porch.

The building was purchased from the school district by the Harper Homemakers Club and used for community activities. Ladies in the neighborhood would meet on Wednesday and Friday nights to quilt. On Friday nights the men would join them to visit, play cards and enjoy an evening meal. During the days of Church Association Meetings at the neighboring Goshen Primitive Baptist Church, meals were prepared and served at the school house. The school house was also used as the voting place for the Harper Community.

Heat is still provided by a wood stove located in the center of the school with the stove pipe running to the back of the building. The original blackboard covers the wall at the front of the school house. Above the blackboards are still the old pictures of Presidents Lincoln and Wilson, as well as a picture of the United States Flag.

At one time, Harper consisted of a blacksmith, a grocery store, a hotel, a church and several family homes all within a two mile radius. Time has taken its toll and the remaining brick store building (South side of 82
highway) has been converted into a residence. The original store burnt and another store was built on the opposite side of the road. It too burnt, then the existing store was built in the early 1950s. Although the congregation is small, the Goshen Primitive Baptist Church still holds services. On odd numbered years, a reunion of the Harper descendants is held at the Church with attendance of well over 100 and growing with each year.

With help from members of the Harper Homemakers Club, the community, descendents of former students, and an Amish family, the school house was straightened and the building painted inside and out. Restoration on the building was started in October 2005 and completed this Spring of 2006.

The building still contains old school desks, the outdoor facility is still located just Southeast of the building and an old hand pump is just a few short steps from the front doors. All these were renovated to add to the character of the old one room school house of the olden days. Within these walls one can still reminisce of how it was to attend a one room school.