Country School: One Room - One Nation

Print of Boone School Sold to Raise Funds

At the Iowa Country School Conference in October, Iowa artist JD Speltz from Armstrong, presented a fundraiser idea for one-room schools and Cole School supporters took him up on it.  That idea was to sell an art print of the schoolhouse painted by JD, and use the proceeds for renovations. 

The Cole School, a country school, was built in 1888 in Boone, IA with walls of three layers of brick. Citizens were determined their school would last, and so will its legacy if this fundraiser is a success!

The Boone school is featured in the opening frames of the documentary feature film Country School: One Room - One Nation.

According to Bill Sherman, coordinator of the conference, this is only one of three brick schoolhouses left in Iowa and volunteers have been working since 2006 to restore it.  Up to now,  all the brick has been repaired and re-pointed, the limestone foundation resurfaced, a new cedar-shingle roof has been installed, windowsills and a door step set in place, and electricity run to the building. Still in need of replacement are the six windows and door, the building of a vestibule inside, and the laying of a new floor.

The remaining work will certainly get a boost if the prints sell. According to Barb MacDougall, "We will be selling these prints for the next 10 days until Christmas Eve. You'll find that the colors of the print are more vibrant than a digital image here can portray."

You can buy just the print for $40 ($35 plus $5 for foam core board and shrink wrap, which is required, and add an additional $5 if you want it shipped).

There are options for matting and framing and personalizing. $117.00 includes matting, framing and sweatshirt with the print on it. Contact Barb for framing options.

With your order, you'll get a Christmas card now with the same image, and the actual print will be ready Feb. 29th.  Barb MacDougall can hold the print for you until the CSAA Conference in June, if you're planning to attend, or she will mail it for additional postage and handling. Or, if you can get close to Boone, she can meet you!

For every print sold, $15 will go toward restoration of Cole School.

It really is a beautiful print!  Let Barb know if you would like to order one or more!    

Barb MacDougall

Chairman, Cole School Restoration Project

Daughters of the American Revolution &

Boone Community Schools 

Barb MacDougall

Boone Community Schools

K-6 TAG

bmacdougall@boone.k12.ia.us

"Country School: One Room - One Nation" DVD Released Nationally

The documentary Country School: One Room - One Nation goes national December 13, 2011.

December 13, 2011 marks the national release date of the award-winning documentary Country School: One Room - One Nation, produced by Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films.  The DVD, which is distributed through Passion River Films, is available at Barnes and Noble, Amazon.com and virtually all major online retail outlets. 

"If you don't see Country School on the shelf at your video or book store, request it!  It can be ordered in at most retail stores, or purchased online," said director Kelly Rundle.  "It is also available through our website at www.CountrySchoolMovie.com."

The December DVD release date is a good fit for Country School, especially for those still searching for the perfect holiday gift for the history buff, the educator, and for the many former one-room school students and teachers living throughout the United States.

"We are very proud of Country School: One Room - One Nation," producer Tammy Rundle said.  "It was a challenging, heart-warming and rewarding story to preserve, and it is exciting to know that our documentary is now available on DVD all over the country!"