MONROE - The sounds of children laughing, the songs of their Christmas concerts, and squeals of excitement as they left school for summer vacation can no longer be heard, but the memories of what the simple one-room school house in Clarno meant to the community have remained.
The congregation of Clarno Zion United Methodist Church want to remodel the building to make it useful once again for the church and the community. For Rev. Paul Gregersen, who loves history and appreciates the importance of what the school meant to the residents in the township, the school is an important part of the church's ministry.
The school, located on County P about a mile east of Clarno, was built in 1860. It continued to be used as a school until about 1961, when children left the area's rural schools to attend Monroe schools.
For a brief time, before the church was built in the mid-1870s, the United Methodist congregation used the school for its services.
Zion bought the building, which is next to the church, in either 1961 or 1963 for $1, said Gregersen, pastor of Clarno Zion United Methodist Church.
For several years, the church used the old school as a place to store things.
Memories of the building have always remained, however.
Some of the people who attend the church attended the school many years ago, and they can remember what it was like to attend a one-room school house.
"They can remember sitting around the wood-stove during the winter, listening to their teacher and doing their lessons. It was a good way to stay warm," Gregersen said.
Wood was carried into the building through a small opening in the wall, which has since been closed.
The windows and light fixtures used still light the building; the coat racks, where children would hang their coats remain unchanged; and the blackboard, used by children to compute a math problem or diagram a sentence, still hangs on the wall.
Even the floors, uneven in some spots, are original.
As the church began to run out of room, it seemed like a good solution to remodel the school, Gregersen said. The foundation is still solid and it was obviously well built, he added.
The church didn't enter into the project without serious consideration, however. There would be some cost to remodeling a 150-year-old building, including several thousands of dollars to put in a septic system.
"A lot of prayer went into this decision," he said.
In November the church held "a short sermon and a long meeting" to decide what to do with the building, Gregersen said.
It was decided to put the pastor's office in the school and remodel the building so it could be used by 4-H groups, the Boy Scouts or any other community group that needs a meeting place. It can also be a reference point for local history enthusiasts. Gregersen hopes people will send pictures or stories about the school to the church to be put into a booklet to be used by others.
Except for a wall put in for the pastor's study, the building's interior will remain as original as possible.
The only major change that will be made to the building is some additions to make it accessible for people who are physically challenged.
It will take a while to finish insulating the building, replace the old windows and make it ready for use, but Gregersen said the building could be ready by fall.
The church can use the building for classrooms or Vacation Bible School.
The sounds of children laughing and singing will once again be heard in the small school.
The congregation of Clarno Zion United Methodist Church want to remodel the building to make it useful once again for the church and the community. For Rev. Paul Gregersen, who loves history and appreciates the importance of what the school meant to the residents in the township, the school is an important part of the church's ministry.
The school, located on County P about a mile east of Clarno, was built in 1860. It continued to be used as a school until about 1961, when children left the area's rural schools to attend Monroe schools.
For a brief time, before the church was built in the mid-1870s, the United Methodist congregation used the school for its services.
Zion bought the building, which is next to the church, in either 1961 or 1963 for $1, said Gregersen, pastor of Clarno Zion United Methodist Church.
For several years, the church used the old school as a place to store things.
Memories of the building have always remained, however.
Some of the people who attend the church attended the school many years ago, and they can remember what it was like to attend a one-room school house.
"They can remember sitting around the wood-stove during the winter, listening to their teacher and doing their lessons. It was a good way to stay warm," Gregersen said.
Wood was carried into the building through a small opening in the wall, which has since been closed.
The windows and light fixtures used still light the building; the coat racks, where children would hang their coats remain unchanged; and the blackboard, used by children to compute a math problem or diagram a sentence, still hangs on the wall.
Even the floors, uneven in some spots, are original.
As the church began to run out of room, it seemed like a good solution to remodel the school, Gregersen said. The foundation is still solid and it was obviously well built, he added.
The church didn't enter into the project without serious consideration, however. There would be some cost to remodeling a 150-year-old building, including several thousands of dollars to put in a septic system.
"A lot of prayer went into this decision," he said.
In November the church held "a short sermon and a long meeting" to decide what to do with the building, Gregersen said.
It was decided to put the pastor's office in the school and remodel the building so it could be used by 4-H groups, the Boy Scouts or any other community group that needs a meeting place. It can also be a reference point for local history enthusiasts. Gregersen hopes people will send pictures or stories about the school to the church to be put into a booklet to be used by others.
Except for a wall put in for the pastor's study, the building's interior will remain as original as possible.
The only major change that will be made to the building is some additions to make it accessible for people who are physically challenged.
It will take a while to finish insulating the building, replace the old windows and make it ready for use, but Gregersen said the building could be ready by fall.
The church can use the building for classrooms or Vacation Bible School.
The sounds of children laughing and singing will once again be heard in the small school.