Bloomfield Schoolhouse
The earliest record of the Bloomfield School in Nodaway County (district number 1, township 65 range 35 and later changed to district number 63) was 1872, though it is known that there was school as early as 1867, and the first written records begin in 1891. The school house at that time was a large frame building located on the southeast corner of the T. L. McClurg Sr. farm. There was 75 to 80 students from the age of 5 to 20 attending, although in the fall the older boys were kept home from school to help harvest the crops and would go during the winter terms and early spring. When the older boys did attend, there were many interesting incidents, such as fights between pupils and teachers, sometimes even being the cause of the teacher resigning. The school went through a series of rehiring, often times young women, but there was occasionally male teachers. ​​
Photo Courtesy of the Nodaway County Historical Society
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Farmers using the former Bloomfield Schoolhouse for a public meeting
Photo from The Maryville Daily Forum
Records show in 1894 the district voted a bond to build a new building on the McClurg farm site, the contract for the building was given to Alfred and Frank Green for $290 dollars. In 1904 the building was moved one half mile east of Canal Branch Bridge on Highway 27 (later 148) to make it more in the center of the township. It was then moved to a site bought from George Ingerson for $50 dollars with the option of buying the land back by whoever the owner might be if the school was moved or closed and in 1905 T.L. McClurg Sr. bought the old site back on his farm for $56.00 dollars. In 1950 when the district was consolidated with Maryville, the farm site was bought back by the Maryville school board for $25 to serve as a community building. In 1950 the district had only 4 students in school and were sent to Horace Mann School, and the building was then used for community affairs. Community meetings were held the third Friday night of each month with a program and refreshments, Christmas programs, Thanksgiving Turkey suppers, and basket dinners for the last day of school. Other meetings held there were 4-H, getting dinners for neighbors who need help, club meetings, club work projects, committee meetings, family reunions, and family Christmas dinners.
The teacher pay evolved like so: in 1892 Genivieve Bovard was paid a total of $191.15 for the entire year; in 1893 Fannie Neal was paid $20 per month for three months; in 1897 Edith Stride was paid $32.50 a month; Josie McCaffery taught the first term in 1898 and was paid $25 per month; in 1899 Leila McVey was paid $30 per month; in 1907 May Aley was paid $30 per month. Additionally, the student enrollment evolved like so: in 1913-1913 Laura Walton had 30 students enrolled; in 1915-1916 Ida M. Wolf had 29 students enrolled; in 1916-1917 Leota Turner had 22 students; in 1917-1918 Huldah Lunte had 40 students enrolled; in 1920-1921 Bessie Brewer had 31 students, but 9 moved away during term; in 1921-1922 Elna Scott had 24 students and in 1922-1923 had 22 students; in 1923-1924 Hazel Hilsenbeck had 27 students; in 1935-36 Buster King had 18 students.
After the 1930s, other activities than reading, writing and arithmetic were added to the curriculum. Among these were woodwork, dramatics, and basketball (the trophies they won were encased in the building). A report card from November 17, 1882 lists the subjects of deportment (etiquette), arithmetic, geography, grammar, reading, spelling, and mental arithmetic. The school served as the heart of the community, with many students being second and generations students in their family due to how many families stayed in Bloomfield. The school was ultimately consolidated into the Maryville school district in 1950.
Students participate in a mock wedding at Bloomfield Schoolhouse
Photo courtesy of Nodaway County Historical Society
