This former school is among one of the rare two-story, two-room country schoolhouses built in Iowa, few of which are still standing. It was built in 1899 by local citizens who determined the need for a area high school so local students would not have to travel to Iowa City or Kalona. A corporation was formed by community member stockholders to build the balloon-framed building for a two-year high school housing a first-floor classroom and second floor auditorium. In addition to housing the school, the building served as a community center for the Sharon Township area, hosting community, entertainment, and church-related events.
By 1918, the number of students had significantly dwindled and in 1918 the Frank Pierce (now Frytown) Masonic Lodge No. 549 purchased the building. The upper floor of the building continues to be used today as the Fellowship Lodge No. 549.
In the 1920s, when local interest in a community high school resurged, the Masons rented the first story of the building back to the high school. The building’s basement was renovated to accommodate new manual training and domestic sciences curricula. A four-year high school was held in the lower levels of this building until 1931, at which time a larger building and gymnasium were built in response to growing enrollment and curriculum needs.
Today, the first floor classroom has remained largely intact since 1931, with the exception of added indoor plumbing, a forced air furnace, and a small kitchen to accommodate community events. The first floor classroom retains its original wood plank floor, plaster and lathe walls, wood trim, painted chalkboards and chalk trays, and pendant light fixtures. The upstairs maintains the original woodwork, trim, stairs, fixtures, and doors.
Modifications to the exterior have included replacing the original entry’s wood stairs and double doors / transom with an enclosed stoop and concrete steps. At some point, a metal roof was installed and the original wood clapboard siding was covered with vinyl siding now deteriorating.
The building has suffered from deferred maintenance, including water incursion from roof leaks and insufficient drainage causing bowing foundation walls and cracks and breaks in the block wall masonry which have allowed pest infiltration. In addition, the first floor has evidence of plaster damage from prior window and/or siding leaks, the stairwell to the second story has cracked and ceiling plaster has fallen due to prior roof leaks and broken windows. In the attic, broken rafters are likely contributing to the visibly sagging roofline.
A group of Sharon Township residents interested in preserving and bringing this building back into use as a community center have recently organized and are holding events in the building to draw the community’s attention to the historic property. The Friends of Historic Sharon Community Center have also begun prioritizing assessments for building needs so the group can seek grants, private donor support, and technical assistance.
