Schoolhouses on the Cave Creek Loop

The next group of schoolhouses were on what I call the Cave Creek Loop.  It’s the second to the last loop that we explored.  Let’s take a look…

Front Door Cave Creek School

This schoolhouse was used from 1881 to 1950.  In the early years, children rode horses, donkeys and mules to school.  Those animals would spend the time the children were in class grazing in the yard around the schoolhouse.  There’s a story that one of the donkeys would bray every day exactly at lunch time!  By the end of this school’s use, cars were much more the transportation of choice!

Deserted Schoolroom

As I peeked in the window, I saw this table and chair directly in front of the window opposite the one I was looking thru.  The combination of window and screen created the somewhat dreamy effect of taking a look at times past.

Nebgen Schoolhouse

The original schoolhouse was first built of logs in 1881 and this current building was built in 1936, and existed until the schools consolidated in 1949.  This school was one of four that had a pavilion and a stage, that were used to celebrate “school closings” which I believe were the end of the school year.  On those days, the morning was taken up by exams (both oral and written), then games in the afternoon, and in the evening, the adults put on a play and then a dance closed out the celebration.

Teacher’s Desk

Looking into the school, I was able to see what appeared to be an older teacher’s desk.  I couldn’t confirm, tho, that it was actually used when the school was open.

Double Reflection

One of the things I really liked at all these schools was the effect created when I looked thru the windows.  I always felt like I was catching a small glimpse of what life was like back when the schools were used.

Rheingold Schoolhouse

The original log schoolhouse was built in 1873, and this structure was built in 1900.  What isn’t apparent at this school (or at any of the others) was where the restrooms were.  At this school, outhouses were placed at opposite sides of the property, with the boys using one and girls the other.

Rheingold School Teacherage

This rather rickety looking building was where the teacher used to live, and it was directly behind the schoolhouse.  Jeff & I did walk up to it, and Jeff even looked inside, but said it just didn’t look stable enough to risk trying to explore inside.  I was actually they didn’t have the door locked somehow.  Still, it’s rather cool to look at!

Thu the Window

Here’s a slightly different take on looking in – and thru – the schoolhouse windows.  There was a lovely tree just outside one of the windows, and I purposefully chose to stand a bit back to capture the beautiful bend of the branch.  It has a very calm, peaceful feel to it.

Wrede School

 Clearly, this school building is not one of the original buildings.  Unfortunately, this was as close as we could get to the school – there was a locked gate keeping us out.  The school was used until 1960, one of the longest schools in use.  Interestingly, altho this area was settled by German immigrants, speaking German was not allowed on the school grounds by the children attending school.

Vereins Kirche

This school had a very interesting shape, and had an interesting multi-purpose. Yes it was a school.  However, it was also used as Lutheran and Catholic churches.  The building in this image is actually a replica, built in 1936, and now serves as a museum.

Enjoy!