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Valley School No. 3

The Valley No.3 country school, originally located in Sec. 16 of Chequest Twp., was built in 1928, replacing one destroyed by fire in the spring of 1928.
The school continued to function until 1966 when the last of Iowa's country schools were forced to close and consolidate with neighboring districts.
Students listed as attending school in 1928-29 were: Donna & Elizabeth Smith, Lewis Vineyard, Harold, Cleone & James Zeitler, Luzon & Russell Brooks, Grace Grubb, and Henry Hudson.
Following closure as a school, the Chequest Township Trustees assumed ownership of the building and it continued to be used as an election polling place until 1990.
Faced with deterioration and lack of need, the trustees, on Sept. 21, 1995, deeded the school to the Douds Historical Preservation Assn., Inc. The Association moved the structure 6 miles to land it had purchased in Memorial Park in Leando in the fall of 1995, preserving the structure for future generations to enjoy.
The new school's first teacher in 1928, Harold Harryman, Douds, and one of its first-grade pupils in 1928, James Zeitler, RR, Douds, were instrumental in saving this historic structure.

14779 Ferris St
Douds, IA 52551
(319) 293-3209