I get a text from my brother last month saying they found a neat little one room schoolhouse for me to check out if I was ever in Clark County. I was like in Neillsville? We go by it all time when we go to Eau Claire but it's usually not open when we go by. Well this week it was going to be open and I told the hubby we were stopping.
The Reed School house is on the corner of US 10 and Cardinal Avenue just east of Reedsburg. It is open Saturdays and Sundays from Memorial Day Weekend to the last weekend in October 10-4. Admission is free. It is a Wisconsin Historical Society Site as well.
The Reed School was used from 1915 to 1951. One Room Schoolhouses were built about every four miles because it was thought children could walk 2 miles to school. After it closed it was many things including a storage shed until Gordon Smith bought it. Gordon Smith attended the Reed School for 6 weeks in 1939 and it had a impact on his life. Mr. Smith bought it, had it restored, and gifted it to the Wisconsin Historical Society.
The Reed School is the original floor, ceiling and windows. The ceiling is impressive.
The desks are period specific and from other one room school houses.
The bookcase is original. A public school teacher had it in her classroom and donated it back to the school.
The Reed School is unique as it has a basement. In the basement is the history of the Reed School along with county ledgers explaining the expenses of the school. Fascinating stuff..
The volunteer guide was amazing. She was a retired teacher for Loyal and gave us the history of the school, Mr. Smith, and some of the artifacts.
We even got to ring the bell. The was more difficult than it looked.
I would highly suggest if you passing through Clark County to stop at the Reed School. It is an amazing time capsule of days gone by. Then stop and see the Chatty Cow down the road.
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