Construction in process on east wall of Locust School

The Winneshiek Historical Society is in the midst on rebuilding the east wall of the Locust School.

The Locust School was built in 1854 and was in operation as a school until 1962, when it was converted to a historic site over a period of a few years. Both the east and north walls were replaced between the 1980s and early 2000s. A basement that was dug out in early 1920 led to increasing weakness in the building foundation and required all of the walls to be replaced eventually.

That is also the cause for the current reconstruction, according to Scott Hawthorne, the contractor who is doing the work.

"It's funny because the school probably would have stood strong had they not built (the basement)." Hawthorne said.

Workers have built internal framing to hold up the building while they remove the east wall's masonry, reinforce the structural supports, and replace it.

According to Hawthorne, it is essential to preserve this piece of Winneshiek County history.

"It's a great building to keep up. and the historical society has done a great job preserving it," Hawthorne said. "A lot of these old schools became tractor sheds."

Hawthorne also notes how the community has played a role in the preservation of this school.

"We have gotten donations" Hawthorne said. "East Side Schools have donated lumber and Glenn Larson donated recycled stone from a school on his own property."

The Winnesheik County Historical Society has been working hard to get the funding for the rest of the project.

"We got a grant from the Historical Society in Des Moines," Board Member Paul Hexom said. "We've raised about half I think but not sure, because it could take more or less than our estimates."

According to the Historical Society, the project is planned to be done by Nordic Fest but it depends highly on weather and resources.

To donate to the repair effort of The Locust School, mail information to Winneshiek County Historical Society at P.O. Box 63, Decorah IA, 52101-0063 or visit the Facebook page. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.