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PO Box 5 • Nemaha, IA 50567 Phone: 712 636-4461 • Email: • Website: crestlandreunion.com |
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Early Iowa School History Rural schools were here before the town of Early, IA was built. These schools were located at four-mile intervals so that no child would have more than two miles to go to school. In the Early area, the closest school was the one on the corner where Reis Bros.' station now stands. Shortly after the town was established, a new and larger school was established.
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 This larger school (1909 view on left) was the first Early, IA Public School building erected in 1883. It was a two-story wooden building with two rooms on the first floor. When the attendance grew to 45 students the upper rooms were finished. It was located at the corner of Walnut and Third Streets. Mabel Allen was the teacher in the group photo (above).By the turn of the century the community was faced with the need for a larger, better equipped school. In 1915, a consolidation with nearby districts was effected. In 1916, the board of directors called a bond election for $75,000 to build a new school. It was passed March 28, 1916. A contract for the building was awarded June 14, 1916, and work on the building started two weeks later. |
 The northwest corner of town was chosen as the site for the new brick building. The cornerstone was laid October 24, 1916. The new building was finished and ready for use in the 1917-18 school year with a Superintendent and teaching staff of 14. |
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In the year 1919 adjoining properties were bought. With the removal of buildings from those lots the school grounds were substantially increased. |
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Earl Hiersche, father of Jeanette Kenzy, was on the Early, Iowa school board when the "new" school, (the one built in 1916), was planned. The reason for the thick brick walls was that with the anticipated growth of the community, and subsequent need for school facilities, it was built with a third story in mind. (As told to Richard Hartsell '62) |
 With consolidation came transportation of rural students. The first buses were horse drawn and factory made. This one was used in 1916.
Alumni Richard Hartsell '62 recalls his father, Don, telling of driving a horse drawn bus, when going to school. The bus body was placed on a bobsled when snow covered the roads. He talked about cracking the whip, and when the horses took off - the bus unloaded from the sled. Thus making the riders reload the bus on the sled. Even back then, "Boys must have been boys". |
 When the roads were improved, motor driven buses took over the routes. |
 In May, 1951, a bond issue of $125,000 was approved for the construction of an addition to the school. This addition is a separate building housing offices, auditorium-gymnasium, a large music room, shop room, and dressing rooms for athletic teams. It was open for use in the 1952-53 school year. An enclosed hall connects the two buildings.
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In 1950 the school district built a three-apartment building near the school as an accomodation for teachers. The building is still standing but is now privately owned. In 1958, Early and Nemaha merged and the one system was called Crestland Community School.
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 The original brick structure exploded in the evening of November 13, 1982 from a natural gas leak. Flames could be seen from miles around and all firetrucks from neighboring towns came to help fight the blaze which was feeding itself from the incoming gas. The gymnasium was spared major damage except for the hallway that connected it to the main building. Once the gas was shut off, the fire was able to be put out. School records were salvaged from a portion of the building that was still standing. No one was hurt in the explosion.
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 Classes were held in the Methodist church until a new building could be built. This is the Early school building as it looks today. It now houses the Schaller-Crestland High School classes.
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 This view shows the United Methodist Church behind the school where the classes were held while the new school was being built with the overflow using the Lutheran Church classrooms.
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 This is the school sign at the southeast corner of the Schaller-Crestland school grounds in Early, IA as it looks today. |
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