Caroline Bredekamp joins Donald Wentworth and others for on-camera interviews.
June 11, 2009 (continued)
After shooting exteriors of the North Bend Community Center in Spragueville, Iowa--and a tasty meal at a local eatery in town--we met a former teacher and several former students at the school. We had planned on three or four interviews, so we weren't sure how to deal with so many people!
The North Bend School was orginally the Fairfield No. 2 school.
After everyone had signed their release forms, we began the on-camera interviews. The entire group sat quietly during the interviews (not easy to do!), and then politely applauded at the end of each. What were we worried about? Everything went great!
Former student Richard Ganzer was able to point out where he had carved his initials in a floor board years ago. His penance? He has coordinated much of the physical restoration of the building. Wow, that's way worse than having to stand at the blackboard with your nose in a chalk-drawn circle! : )
Richard also pointed out the unique and sturdy construction of the building. It was originally a church.
Jerome Thompson from the State Historical Society of Iowa is shown above with North Bend Community Center's Caroline Bredekamp during lunch. Thompson was on hand to present the Lauren Horton Community History Award to the North Bend Community Center Association, and the North Bend Writers Group, for their long-term efforts to preserve the North Bend One-Room School and their preservation of the history of Fairfield Township in Jackson County.
Caroline also showed us the Fairfield No. 4 school in Sprauegville (1867-1966). Geez, Iowa is crawling with country schools. : ) Today was a great start to our Country School: One Room - One Nation project! Now it's on to our first interview with a one-room school historian in Waterloo, Iowa.
Caroline chats with Tammy in Fairfield No. 4.
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