Public School, Postville, Iowa
photo postcard postmarked 1908, contributed by Errin Wilker

This early Postville school house was located on the lot where the high school was built. Past & Present of Allamakee County; Ellery M. Hancock, 1913, Chapter 22, probably describes this old school: "In 1871 a two-story and basement brick building was erected on block 29 of Lawler's addition, which has been improved from time to time, and now is steam heated and equipped with modern school conveniences, including laboratory and library. In or about 1882 increased room for the growing attendance was provided by the purchase of the old Free Baptist church. The school now (1913) has six departments, and an enrollment of 270." The photo below, is undated, but was taken in front of this school. The children are posed on bleachers under the windows.

Written on this photo: "3rd & 4th grade Postville"

The photo was contributed by R. Mealer. He says it was in his grandmothers estate, and that that one of his ancestors is probably in the photo, but doesn't know which child or which ancestor. The clothing of the children suggests that the photo was taken ca1895-1905. In February 1914, when Postville was getting ready to build a new school, this article was published in the Postville Review:

Former residents here, scarcely without exception, always have a warm spot in their hearts for Postville. No matter how long they may have been gone, or how well they have prospered, they retain a friendly feeling for the "old home town," and note with real pleasure every stride forward to newer and better things. Among the many who have gone out fro here to other fields, none have remained more loyal to Postville than has John E. (alias Dutch) Sheehy, of Grand Forks, N.D., and he is very much interested now in our getting a new school house, and in a letter of recent date has the following pertinent thereto:

"I do not know what improvements have been made in the Old Red Brick since I helped in wearing out it's floors, but if there has not been great improvements made, especially in a sanitary way, the humane society ought to have all you Postville taxpayers doing time. I have noticed your school levy under the present situation and what it will be by having the building you desire and have compared it to what we are paying here in Grand Forks. ...."

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Postville High School, ca1915

The new school was built in 1914, on the knoll where the Old Red Brick School stood nearly in the center of Postville. The school consisted of two stories of class-rooms and a basement gym. In 1984 the decision was made to raze the school.... a bad decision that still brings tears to the eyes of many former PHS graduates, because the old building was structurally sound ...
.....but memories can't be razed or replaced. Many footsteps were heard at good 'ole PHS over the 70 years that the building stood & many memories were made.

Postville HS, ca 1930's

Postville HS, ca 1940's after the 'new' gymnasium was added on.

~page compiled by Sharyl Ferrall, 1968 graduate of PHS

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