The Foland School (Richland No. 7) was built in 1874 by Decatur County pioneer Michael Foland and named after the family name. When the school closed in 1958, it was sold to the Grand Valley Community school district and moved into Kellerton, Ringgold County, IA, to serve as a music room. The Grand Valley district closed in 1992 and the building was moved once again; this time into Kellerton's downtown area, right beside city hall. In 2009 signs were put up in the area to honor the original location of the township's rural schoolhouses, Foland included. In the same year, the town decided the building needed to either move or be torn down. Sharon R. Becker, descendant of the school's founder, raised funds and saved the school. In 2011 it was moved one final time back to the Grand Valley school's land to be used as a museum. As of 2024, it is open to the public as the Kellerton School Museum, located just beside the Kellerton Community Center.
For the full history the Foland family and the school (including lists of teachers and students), check out either the Decatur County's IAGenWeb sites or Ringgold County's "History of Foland School No. 7" IAGenWeb page; both written by Sharon R. Becker.
Photo credit: Photo #1: Google Maps, dated 2021. Photo #2: Taken by Norma G. (Foland) Becker, uploaded to IAGenWeb by Sharon R. Becker. Photo #3: From Vera Boles, uploaded to IAGenWeb by Sharon R. Becker.
| Official School Name | Richland No. 7 |
|---|---|
| Parochial School Name | Foland School |
| When Built | 1874 |
| When Closed | 1958 |
| Current Use | Museum |
| Materials Used For Construction |
