A timeline for these Derby School buildings

Lucas County Historical Society/Virginia Mart Collection

I've been trying to develop a timeline for these photographs of Derby School buildings --- with mixed results. Coverage of Derby in the Chariton newspapers depended upon the enthusiasm of the Derby correspondents, not always consistent as decades passed. All three school photographs are from the Lucas County Historical Society collection.

The top photo, taken well before 1900 (donated by Virginia Mart), is of the school building in use as the 19th century turned to the 20th. I've heard (but cannot confirm) that it was built by the Derby I.O.O.F. lodge, which shared it with the school until the new Opera House/I.O.O.F. Hall (below) was constructed ca. 1900.

Grinnell College Digital Archive

The frame school building caught fire and burned during February of 1902. The Chariton Leader of Feb. 20, 1902, reported that, "The Derby school house caught fire last Friday and was damaged to such an extent that school has been dismissed for the remainder of the term. The Misses Tessie and Elsie Courter of this city (Chariton) were teachers at that place and are now at their home here."

The contract for a new two-story brick building to replace the frame school was let during July of 1902 to R.J. Osborne for $4,500. Work on the new building was reported to be progressing rapidly during October, but when classes commenced in it, I can't say.

That new building, however, lasted only 10 years --- and I've never seen a photograph of it. The fire that destroyed it was reported upon as follows in The Leader of Nov. 21, 1912:

"About 3 p.m. Saturday fire was discovered in the attic and on the roof of the Derby school house, by members of the teachers' reading circle which was holding a meeting at that time. The alarm was given and help arrived immediately but the fire had already gained such a headway that it could not be checked, Derby having no fire apparatus of any kind. Attention was then turned to the neighboring buildings and in that way the fire was kept from spreading. It is thought the fire was started by a spark from the flue. About all of the school and library books were saved. Also the clock, organ, bookcase and some seats and desks. There were between three and four hundred bushels of coal in the basement besides several loads of kindling which were all lost. Just the walls of the brick building are standing. There was quite a wind from the northwest but had it been very strong nothing could have saved the entire north side of our town. It would be well for Derby to have some kind of fire apparatus as it would save dollars for Derby and vicinity."

Lucas County Historical Society

This is a photograph of the building that replaced the 1902 school, completed during October of 1912. Here's a report about it, published in The Herald-Patriot of  Oct. 9, 1913:

"The new Derby school building is finished and school opened Monday. The people of Derby, with ample reason, are proud of this building, which is certainly modern and up to date in every respect. It is two stories high with basement. On the first floor are three class rooms. The second floor has a large assembly room and a recitation room. In the basement is a large lecture room and furnace, fuel and toilet rooms. The building has a foundation built of paving brick with concrete footing. The walls above the basement are of red pressed brick. The roof is of asbestos shingles. The interior is finished with yellow pine with Mission finish. It has a steam heating plant and a complete ventilating system. Geo. W. Allred, of Duluth, Minn., was the architect. Teas Bros. of Chariton were the contractors and builders."

This building was more or less doubled in size with an addition during 1922, shown in this aerial photograph (also given by Virginia Mart). It think this photograph dates from the 1930s, but can't be sure of that. Note the service station in the foreground and the Opera House at right, already shorn of its second floor.

Lucas County Historical Society/Virginia Mart Collection

No trace of this building remains now, although the school name-stones were brought to the historical society campus in Chariton when it was demolished and still are there.