Making A Difference

– Margie Thomas, Brick Schoolhouse, What Cheer, Iowa         

In 1965, What Cheer’s Centennial year, the What Cheer Patriot Chronicle was beginning to print pictures and historical write ups about the rich history of this area. An editorial was written in January posing the question of why it wouldn’t be possible to have a place available to display Museum type articles. At that time the idea was suggested that since the Corn Cob Jelly was being made in the kitchen of St. Joseph’s Hall, maybe the large front room could be used for display. In June of 1965 items being donated and loaned for the Centennial display could be brought to the What Cheer Community Center.

The East Brick School(Second Ward) was built in 1887. Built of red brick it was a beautiful building with a high tower. It was used to educate students from Kindergarten thru third grade. An article in the March 1887 newspaper tells of a request by the School Board to have an examination of the mining operations within the vicinity of the Second Ward School building. They were concerned about the safety of the school as mining had done within eighty feet of the building. According to the inspectors the building was found to be perfectly safe and a promise was made that no mining would be done any closer to the building.

The School was used until the consolidation of the What Cheer High School with Keswick, Gibson and Thornburg. This left four empty classrooms in the high school and the classes were moved there. The teachers in the building when it was closed were, Eleanor Rudd, Olive Puder, Phyllis Spears and Edna Fabritz. Other teachers who had taught there were, Anna Wilson, Lenora Hamilton, Marie Tresslar and Waneta McNabb. The building then set empty for a while and fell into disrepair.

In 1967 the What Cheer Centennial Committee had voted to give the old brick school to the What Cheer Opera House along with $800. The Museum remains a Subsidiary of the Opera House still today. Lee Coulon was the first chairman of the What Cheer Brick School Museum. By August of 1967 approximately fifty items had been loaned or donated to the Museum and more were being requested to make the project a success. Over the years since then many items have been donated to the Museum and many volunteers have worked to keep this ongoing project successful.

In 2005, close to fifty years from the Museums beginning and over one hundred years since the Brick School had been built the Keokuk County Community Endowment Committee was formed. It is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines. It was an organization formed with the vision to provide charitable grants in Keokuk County. This organization has become an invaluable asset to the What Cheer Brick School Museum. By 2006, the 1887 built schoolhouse had a roof that was leaking into the upstairs rooms and many other repairs becoming necessary. The first grant awarded to the Museum from KCCEF was in 2006 for the amount of $2000. That first grant was just the beginning of the support from KCCEF.  Thru the next eighteen years grants written on behalf of the Museum have been awarded for $36,100.

The Volunteers at the Museum have done many projects to restore and protect the building with these funds. From roof replacement to new steps and having the entire Museum interior repainted there has been a lot of work done to maintain the historical building and it’s collection of artifacts. Much of this work could not have been done without the support of the Keokuk County Community Endowment Fund and we are very grateful. This years grant award will complete a two year project to update the lighting and electrical in the building. Volunteers helping at the Museum have worked hard in conjunction with the KCCEF.  The painting of the complete interior of the building has taken a lot of hours of moving items, cleaning and reorganization. As we move forward with more projects we would like to thank everyone who has supported and donated to the What Cheer Brick School Museum. Thank you also to the Keokuk County Community Foundation Grant for their continued support. What Cheer, it’s surrounding communities and their rural areas have a rich history to preserve. 

2024 Keokuk County Endowment Recipients

• City of Hayesville: Insulation and steel  (converting old fire station into community center)  to be completed in 2024, $5,000
• City of Keota: Community Movie Theater (outdoor), $5,000
• City of Keswick: Street repairs, $5,000
• City of Martinsburg: Concrete pad (outside of new Hall), $5,000
• City of Sigourney: Public Safety Committee, digital speed sign, $5,000
• City of Thornburg: Street repairs, $5,000
• City of Webster: Street repairs, $5,000
• Delta Town & Country Center: Install insulation in the kitchen and dining areas (ceiling), $2,000.00
• Food Bank of Iowa: Food for Keokuk County, $5,000.00
• Hedrick Fire Department: Rescue raft, $3,395
• Hedrick Public Library: Bookshelves for the video section of the library, $1,260.00
• Keokuk County Senior Center: Commercial kitchen stove/oven, $5,000
• Keota Athletic Boosters: Keota School weight room improvements (weights and weight plates) ,$5,000
• Keota Eagle Advocates & Keota Community Schools: Playground equipment, $5,000
• Kiwanis Club of Sigourney: Community Pavilion on Courthouse Square, $5,000
• Knights of Columbus Windhorst Council: Refrigeration equipment, $1,997.00
• Richland Area Child Care Organization (RACCO): Child Care Center, $5,000
• Sigourney Fire Rescue Department: Mascot “Sparky” the fire dog, $3,285.00
• Sigourney Fireworks: Upgrade trailer and firing boards, $2,531.79
• Sigourney Ministerial Alliance / Community Outreach Center: New heating and cooling system, $5,000.00
• Sigourney Public Library: Technology updates (computer and laser printer), $2,000
• Tri  County Pantry: Food Pantry – food items, $5,000.00
• Unleashed: Air to air heat pump condenser, $5,000
• What Cheer Betterment Committee: Swingset replacement, $5,000
• What Cheer Brick School Museum: Replace outdated knob and tube wiring within the Museum, $5,000
• What Cheer Opera House Board: Electrical and lighting needs, 5,000
• What Cheer Public Library: New resources and equipment, $4,000

Total Distributed for 2024          $115,468.79