Dan and Pat Kubik’s grandchildren, Felicity and Lucy, pictured with teacher Shelby Janssen, back right, during the Dysart Historical Society’s annual Country School Day which took place July 20 this year. The one-room schoolhouse in which the program is held was donated by the Kubiks to the historical society more than two decades ago. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

DYSART – The Dysart Historical Society’s annual Country School Day took place Monday, July 20, inside the organization’s well-preserved country school. This year’s closing program was particularly special for one rural Clutier couple.

“Our granddaughters attended the Country School Day. This is especially close to our hearts since we donated the school to Dysart over 20 years ago,” Pat Kubik told the newspaper on behalf of herself and her husband Dan. “The scrapbooks I put together are still sitting there for anyone to look at. Dan and I, along with Dan’s sister Chris, came to watch the program at the end of the day. It was a joy to hear the kids singing ‘This Land Is Your Land’ among other (patriotic songs).”

“Our country school was built in 1939 on the Kubik farm southwest of Traer. It was the last country school built in Tama County. When the school was no longer used, it was moved to the Kubik farmstead,” retired educator Catharine Wieck with the Dysart Historical Society told the newspaper when asked to share the history behind the school. “In 2003, the Dysart Historical Society was hoping to find a school to move next door to the historical museum. Society president Rich Havran located the Kubik school.”

As part of the donation, Wieck explained, the historical society was required to install the country school on a basement like it was when it was first built while also restoring and maintaining the building. The school was moved 17 miles to the new basement in 2003. Restoration was completed four years later and marked by a July 4 dedication ceremony. “A number of former students and some teachers were in attendance,” Wieck said. “It was a momentous day for the Dysart Historical Society!”

Since the school was moved to its new urban home, it has seen many classes and groups stop by for a look, including Scout troops, church groups and large bus tours.

“Many older folks also enjoy coming to reminisce about their time in a country school,” Wieck added.

During the 2011 derecho, most of the Kubik farmstead was destroyed, Wieck said. And although Dysart proper also experienced a great deal of damage, including to its tree canopy, the country school was spared.

The Dysart Historical Center is located at 612 Crisman Street and features a complex of four buildings, including a historical museum, the Kubik one-room country school, an agricultural museum and an interpretive center. Tours and visits are by appointment only from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily or in the evening. Appointments may be made by calling 319-476-7345, 319-476-5715 or 319-476-3549.