Country School: One Room - One Nation

"Country School: One Room - One Nation" Showing Capped by Tornado

Country School stars Lorraine Mushinske and Dr. Jerry Bower chat with the audience following
a crowded showing in Merrill, Wisconsin.

Nearly 200 gathered in a church basement in Merrill, Wisconsin on Sunday, April 10, 2011 for a standing-room-only screening of Country School: One Room - One Nation sponsored by the Merrill County Historical Society.  Filmmakers Tammy and Kelly Rundle were joined in the discussion that followed by Country School film stars Lorraine Mushinske of Merril and Dr. Jerry Bower of Richland Center, Wisconsin.

Country School film attendees were invited to an open house at the Brickyard School.

The historical societies Brickyard school is featured in the film.  Lorraine is a former teacher there and Jerry a former student.  The school is currently located at the Merrill County Fair Grounds and a tour was available following the screening program.

Tornado sirens went off during the Brickyard school tour.  The Rundles took cover in their hotel while other one-room school visitors returned to their homes.  About 40 minutes later a tornado ripped through the north side of Merrill damaging homes and farms, and injuring several people.

The photos below were taken the following day:

"Country School: One Room - One Nation" Draw Crowds in DeWitt & Ankeny

Filmmaker Tammy Rundle greets screening attendees in DeWitt.

Nearly 200 gathered at the DeWitt, Iowa Operahouse and over 70 at the Des Moines Area Community College Campus library in Ankeny over the weekend to see Country School: One Room - One Nation.  Preservationist Bill Sherman joined in the discussion following the film in Ankeny, and Country School "stars" Donald Wentworth and Caroline Bredekamp participated in DeWitt.

Showings of Country School: One Room - One Nation are now being scheduled for the balance of 2011.  Contact filmmakers Kelly or Tammy Rundle at FourthWallFilms@aol.com for details.

Viewers gather in the auditorium at DMACC to see Country School: One Room - One Nation.

 

"Country School" Comes to DMACC-Ankeny April 16 and De Witt, Iowa April 17

 
Operahouse Theatre, DeWitt, IA. (Photo by: Quad City Times)

Large crowds continue to turn out to see Tammy and Kelly Rundle's documentary feature film "Country School: One Room - One Nation" and the DVD version of the popular film was released on April 12, 2011 (Click here to order). 

The critically-acclaimed and award-winning film examines the dramatic story of one-room schools in Iowa and the Upper Midwest and their role in education and nation-building.

The film's most recent showing in Merrill, Wisconsin drew a standing room only crowd of nearly 200.  The Davenport, Iowa showing, the largest single event so far, drew over 400 viewers.  Showings in Maquoketa, Iowa and Richland Center, Wisconsin each had nearly 250 in attendance. 

"Country School" will be featured on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Des Moines Area Community College Ankeny Campus, Building 6 Auditorium, 2006 S. Ankeny Blvd., in Ankeny, IA, 2pm-4pm. Q&A with the filmmakers and preservationist Bill Sherman will follow the film.  The event is free to the public and is sponsored by DMACC and the Kirkendall Public Library.

The film will be showcased at the Operahouse Theater in DeWitt, Iowa on Sunday, April 17, 2011 at 2pm.  Q&A with the filmmakers and film participants will follow the screening. Tickets are $5/per person.  The Operahouse Theatre is located at 712 6th Avenue in DeWitt.

Additional public showings of the film are scheduled through the end of 2011 throughout the Midwest and as far away as New York state.

"Country School" to Screen in Merrill, Wisconsin April 10

 

The Merrill Historical Society will present the award-winning Country School: One Room - One Nation on Sunday, April 10, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Saint Stephen's United Church, 903 E. 2nd Street, Merrill, Wisconsin.

Q&A with filmmakers Tammy and Kelly Rundle and film participants Lorraine Muschinske (a former one-room teacher) and historian Jerry Bower will follow the screening. The event is free to the public ($2 donation suggested). An Open House reception will take place at the Brickyard Schoolhouse, 804 E. 3rd St., following the program.  The newly released Country School DVD will be available to purchase at the event.