Decorah in Winneshiek County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Locust School

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, Sept 2018

1. Locust School Marker

Inscription.

The Locust School was built in 1854 from rock quarried on the Ruffridge farm. The school was in use every year from 1854 to 1960, or 106 years, an Iowa record for continuous service in the same building and location. Several church groups used the school for a meeting place before building their churches. "Locust Lane" post office was west across the road from the school.

Erected by Winneshiek County Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.

Location. 43° 25.308′ N, 91° 43.33′ W. Marker is in Decorah, Iowa, in Winneshiek County. It is on Big Canoe Road when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1640 Big Canoe Rd, Decorah IA 52101, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northeast Iowa — the Driftless Area

and in Eastern Iowa. It is also in the American Midwest,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Driftless Area — Bluff Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western

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Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 9 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Hesper Community (approx. 5.1 miles away); Decorah: A Walk into the Past (approx. 8.7 miles away); a different marker also named Decorah: A Walk into the Past (approx. 8.7 miles away); a different marker also named Decorah: A Walk into the Past (approx. 8.7 miles away); a different marker also named Decorah: A Walk into the Past (approx. 8.7 miles away); a different marker also named Decorah: A Walk into the Past (approx. 8.8 miles away); Painter-Bernatz Mill (approx. 8.8 miles away); Conservation (approx. 8.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Decorah.

Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, Sept 2018

2. Locust School & Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on April 8, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 4, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on April 4, 2026, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.