Forest Grove School No. 5 Now Open for Tours

 

The newly restored 1873 Forest Grove School No. 5 opens its doors to the public for Saturday morning tours beginning May 22 from 9 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. The one-room school is located at 24040 Forest Grove Drive, Bettendorf, Iowa and is FREE to visitors of all ages, with donations welcome.

Docents will guide visitors through the one-room school’s fun exhibits and share details about the country school experience. A newly installed kiosk allows guests to view the short museum film “Remembering Forest Grove” by award-winning filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Fourth Wall Films. The 10-minute documentary gives a quick overview of the history of one-room schools in Iowa, the people who attended Forest Grove No. 5, and a look at the actual restoration work that took place at the schoolhouse over a seven-year period.

Multiple shorter films about farming, history, and former students and teachers of Forest Grove School, are also accessible by using an interactive touchscreen on the kiosk.

Forest Grove School is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Forest Grove School Preservation is a 501©3 charitable organization dedicated to preserving and telling the history of rural education through the historic rehabilitation of Forest Grove Schoolhouse No. 5. Visit ForestGroveSchool.org for more information

Forest Grove Museum Film Special Screening for Donors

Tammy and I were thrilled to present a special sneak preview of the new 10-minute museum film "Remembering Forest Grove" to an exclusive group of donors who funded the documentary project. It was a wonderful evening and our gratitude to these extremely generous contributors is beyond measure. 

The film will screen during tours in Forest Grove School No. 5's new interactive kiosk. Viewers will also have the opportunity to watch other short clips about farming, history, and former students and teachers of Forest Grove School.

Forest Grove School is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Forest Grove School Preservation is a 501©3 charitable organization dedicated to preserving and telling the history of rural education through the historic rehabilitation of Forest Grove Schoolhouse No. 5. Visit ForestGroveSchool.org for more information. 

We feel so fortunate to have been part of this amazing project since 2012! We encourage the young and young at heart to take a tour of this beautifully restored historic schoolhouse. Tours are available on Saturdays 9-11:30 a.m. Free admission. Donations are welcome.

Fourth Wall Films is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated independent film and video production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in Moline, Illinois.

 

Forest Grove No. 5 story featured on Paul Sands Live May 4th

 

KWQC-6's Paula Sands Live! will have guests Kelly Rundle from Fourth Wall Films, and Sharon Andresen, Project Coordinator for Forest Grove School Preservation, on the show Tuesday, May 4 at 3:00 p.m. to  talk with Paula about the 7+ years of restoration work on Forest Grove No. 5, the official opening to the public later this month, and the new 10-minute museum film produced by the Rundles which debuts at the schoolhouse May 22.

 

Paula Sands Live! is featured weekdays on KWQC TV6 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

 

"Five very generous donors made the museum film "Remembering Forest Grove" possible," said producer Kelly Rundle.  "We are grateful to each of them and excited to share the film with them and with the public May 22 at Forest Grove School."

 

The historic 1873 schoolhouse features fun exhibits, docent tours, an interactive film viewing, and plenty of history. Forest Grove School No. 5 will officially open to the public  Saturdays 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. beginning May 22, 2021. Admission is free for all ages. Donations are welcomed!

 

Kelly & Tammy Rundle, Fourth Wall Films, shoot interior footage at Forest Grove No. 5.

The Rundles are also working on a feature-length documentary entitled Resurrecting Forest Grove. The film will cinematically tell the dramatic true story behind the seemingly-impossible task of restoring a vintage one-room school to its 1920s appearance. Footage and interviews gathered over a seven-year period depict the problems they faced and the solutions they employed as they attempted to bring this rural icon back to life. The surprises and successes of this challenging restoration project are intercut with a vivid historical portrait of the 'Roaring 20s' in rural America.

 

Resurrecting Forest Grove is partially funded by a grant from Humanities Iowa, and the The National Endowment for the Humanities. The fiscal sponsor for the documentary project is The Moline Foundation. Resurrecting Forest Grove is slated for release in early 2022.

 

Fourth Wall Films is an award-winning and Emmy-nominated independent film and video production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in Moline, Illinois.

 

Here is how you can help support work on the documentary project, RESURRECTING FOREST GROVE:

To contribute, check out the cool "perks"offered, read up on details about the film project and campaign updates, click HERE. We accept donations of all levels, starting at $5!  

Thank you for considering supporting Resurrecting Forest Grove!  We are very grateful to all of our generous Sponsors & Supporters! 

Forest Grove No. 5 Opens for Tours Beginning May 22, New Museum Film Debuts

The following story was written by reporter Jonathan Turner for QuadCities.com.

Following the meticulous, painstaking preservation of a former one-room school in Bettendorf — completed in September 2019, after more than seven years — the project supporters envisioned reopening as a museum in early 2020. Then Covid happened.

The 1873 Forest Grove No. 5 School – refurbished to its 1920s appearance at a cost of $250,000 — is scheduled to reopen on Saturday, May 22, from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Regular hours beyond Saturday mornings will be expanded as docents become trained.

Volunteer docent training will be taking place on Monday, May 3 at 10 a.m. at the schoolhouse, 24040 Forest Grove Drive, Bettendorf. The school will be open for free to the public, with donations welcome.

Kelly & Tammy Rundle, producers of  the museum center film "Remembering Forest Grove".

The highlight of reopening Forest Grove (including faithful re-creation of its interior) will be the newly completed museum film, “Remembering Forest Grove,” by award-winning and Emmy-nominated filmmakers Tammy and Kelly Rundle of Moline-based Fourth Wall Films. The 10-minute documentary was supported by five donors whose names appear in the opening credits.

More of the story at QuadCities.com by clicking HERE!

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Here is how you can help support work on the documentary project, RESURRECTING FOREST GROVE:

To contribute, check out the cool "perks"offered, read up on details about the film project and campaign updates, click HERE. We accept donations of all levels, starting at $5!  

Thank you for considering supporting Resurrecting Forest Grove!  We are very grateful to all of our generous Sponsors & Supporters!