Special to Dallas County News and Perry Chief
The original survey of Dallas Township was made in 1849-1851. It showed two families residing in the area. When the town of Dawson began in section 10 of Dallas Township in 1884, there were close to 100 families in the area. “Past and Present of Dallas County, Iowa: Primary Source Edition,” written by R. F. Wood in 1869, states, “a school house was already built on the present site and had been used some time before the town started.” This school was known as Tolle School. It burned down and was rebuilt. This was the site where the Dawson School once stood.
Although we tend to think of all one room schools looking alike, there were some variations. In fact, Steve Johnson uncovered 18 styles that were common throughout Iowa in his article “Architectural Styles of Iowa’s One Room Schools.” The earliest schools were patterned after the homes in the communities and were made of logs. Since there was no electricity, two to four sets of windows were installed on opposing walls to supply lighting. This was followed by the clapboard style depicted by Alton School at Forest Park Museum in Perry. Most of the early schools were built without basements. However, by the turn of the century, a basement was needed to house the furnaces that were replacing the wood or coal stoves that were a central part of the schools. An entryway was a later addition to the design as well. Some schools had an outbuilding to store wood or coal, as well as a shelter for horses the students may ride to school. In later years, the teacher could use it as a garage. And, of course, there were the outhouses for the boys and girls.