Douglas School
The elementary school , which was located on West Second Street , was the second public school building erected following the first Adams School . In 1875 , it became the Douglas School , and it underwent at least two expansions to increase size , but suffered a fire and was demolished in 1979 .
Children and staff gather around the Douglas School , which was built in 1875 on West Second Street . It was the second public school built in Ottumwa . The Lemberger Collection
Fairview School
The elementary school was built just after the turn of the last century , in 1905 , on the west end of the city to accommodate a growing population . For a dozen years it was a single-story school and didn ’ t add a second story until 1917 . It expanded again in 1938 , and was torn down in 2007 . The building was located at 123 Fairview Ave .
A 1975 aerial photo of Fairview School , which was built in 1905 and underwent two big expansions leading up to World War II . It was torn down in 2007 . The Lemberger Collection
8 We Are Ottumwa would come out the front door , stand at the top of the front steps and hand-ring a bell ,” she said . “ That makes me feel really , really , really old .”
Naumann believed Lincoln ’ s area , which served many northside neighborhoods , was its biggest strength .
“ We had this gigantic area and it was one of the most diverse school districts , in terms of different socio-economic groups ,” she said . “ We had everything from the very , very poor that were living in houses with hard-earth yards , no screens , and chickens wandering in the front yards , to the children of doctors and lawyers .
“ Education was so much different than it is now . There were things you were to learn at each grade , and then you moved on ,” Naumann said . “ And there was more flexibility . The teachers could put their own spin on what they were teaching , especially if it was their favorite