Information sought on ?Little Brick? school

RICHLAND ? Dixie Richardson of Richland is seeking information about Richland Township 1 country school, known as ?Little Brick? school.

Richardson explained she was recently contacted by the children of a former student of the school who wanted information and copies of any photos of the school.

Richardson also said a process is under way to obtain a marker for the school site and compile memories, photos and other information about the school.

The Little Brick school sat on an acre of ground 1.5 miles east of Richland on 325th Street just east of the Nicholas and Dixie Richardson home in a field on the north side of the road.

?The only information I have is what was given to me by my grandmother Gertrude Hinshaw,? said Richardson. That information is from the years 1888-1933.

According to Richardson, Sept. 25, 1855, a warranty deed for the consideration of $5 was written by William and Phoebe Bristow, owners of the land, to School District No. 1, Richland Township, Keokuk County. Iowa. The warranty deed was filed  Nov. 17, 1855. The deed was conveyed with the stipulation that this one acre of land was to be kept and used for school purposes. If at any time  the district  decided to close the school the ground would revert back to the Bristows. The deed was acknowledged by John Wasson, justice of the peace.

A school building was erected on the site, and school was held there until the end of the spring 1943 when it was closed and students began attending Richland school. March 31, 1951, the school district directors decided to set a value of the schoolhouse site with the landowners W. R. ?Dick? Gingles and his sister Julia Gingles Elmore. A sum of $55 was agreed upon, and the school board passed a resolution approving the amount and authorized the president and secretary to issue and deliver the deed to Gingles and Elmore. The directors held an auction disposing of the contents Sept. 10, 1951.

Dick and Leona Gingles lived in the schoolhouse after a fire destroyed their home just east of the school until a house was moved to the site of their former home. After the Gingles moved out the school, it was dismantled.

Richardson has a list of Little Brick teachers and students from 1888 through 1933, although there are gaps in the records.

Anyone who can share any information or photos is asked to send items to Richardson at 32721 325th St., Richland 52585 or lblkhawk@windstream.net.