One-Room, Country, & Historic Schools of Clay County

Broughton School

This old one-story, two-room school was built in the Vernacular style in 1937. After it closed, it was converted into a residence. It is located at 1835 Broughton Road, six miles southeast of Clay Center, Kansas.

Fairview

This wood-frame building with a gable front entry has its original double-hung wood windows and chimney, as well as a new tin roof and brick chimney. However, the original building was outgrown in early consolidation, and a new, larger building replaced it. The building was purchased and moved to a nearby farm. It is on the north side of the road across from 2226 Highway (18th Road) in a wooded area. It stands near Clay Center.

Fairview School

The second Fairview School is an L-shaped Queen Anne-style wood frame building. The school was originally the Riley County Fairview School, purchased by the Clay County District #92 in 1955, and moved on a new foundation at the original Clay County Fairview School site. The district consolidated with Green School in 1968, and the land and school were sold at auction. The school was then moved to its current location and remodeled into a home. It is located at 1825 Valley View Road, Clay Center, Kansas.

Gatesville School

This old wood frame with a hip-enclosed front entry porch has a gable roof. This deteriorated building is located about seven miles south of Highway 24 on Thunder Road in Clay County, Kansas. The school sits in front (east) of a large chicken house; a long metal shed is across the road to the east.

Green School

Built as a High School in Green, Kansas, in 1930. When the High School closed in consolidation in 1960), it became an Elementary School and continued that function until 2005, when it closed. The old public school closed in 2005 and is now utilized as the Green Christian School, a satellite of the Flint Hills Christian School of Manhattan, Kansas. It serves students from kindergarten through the eighth grade at 501 N. Street.

Idana School

The one-story concrete Idana School was built in the Modern Movement style. The first school on this site was built in 1888 and was replaced by this one in 1941. The Works Progress Administration built the school. After it was closed, it became a voting center. Now, in private ownership, it is used for storage. It is located at 303 Lincoln Street in Idana, Kansas.

Idlewild School

The square Vernacular-style wood-frame Idlewild School has an intersecting gable over the front entry and a basement. The school district was organized between 1872 and 1880. After the school closed, the building was donated to Goshen Township for Community Building and is used for family gatherings, community meetings, and a voting site. It is located 8.5 miles north of Highway 24 on Quail Road.

King School

This wood-frame vernacular-style rectangular school has its original wood floor, doors, and trim and is set up like one one-room schoolhouse for display. Located on-site with five relocated historic buildings north of the sports field on the south side of Highway 24. It is located adjacent to Sportsman Park in Clay Center.

Lincoln Creek School

Lincoln Creek (Lower Lincoln) School is a deteriorated native stone building with a collapsed roof and south wall. The district was organized in 1867, and the school was built on land donated by George Neil. It was also used for Sunday School. The District was disorganized in 1952. It is two miles east of County Road 396 and 16th Road near Clay Center.

Longford School

The old Longford Grade School is a Vernacular-style T-shaped brick building converted into a residence in the 1990s. It is located at 510 Kansas Avenue in Longford, Kansas.

Old Longford High School.

The old Longford High School at 322 Weda Street was built in 1929. The red brick building has a clay tile mansard roof. In 1949, a gym was added at the rear of the auditorium. The high school closed in 1970 due to declining enrollment. The last year the high school was open, only 36 students attended, and the graduating class had five students. Afterward, it was used as an elementary school. It closed in 2010 and is now vacant. The Clay County USD 379 public school district serves the Longford community.

Old McKinley School

This three-story rectangular brick building with stone detailing was converted into apartments in 2000. The first school built on this site in 1881 burned down in 1915. The building was built in 1916 as a grade school and high school. A Gym/Auditorium was added in 1950. The brick auditorium connected on the north side of the building burned in 2004 and was demolished. It now serves as McKinley Apartments at 731 Crawford Street in Clay Center, Kansas.

Morganville Grade School.

Morganville Gymnasium.

This old red brick school at 307 Main Street in Morganville was built in the Commercial style in 1927 to serve as both a high school and elementary. There is a large brick gym addition in the rear. The high school was closed after consolidation in 1966 and was then used as an elementary school. It closed in 2006. The Clay County USD 379 in Clay Center now serves the community. The building now serves as an event center hosting stage concerts, wedding receptions, class reunions, and other events.

Mt. Vernon School

The Mt. Vernon School, a rectangular one-story wood frame school, was built in the vernacular style with a shed enclosure at the front entry. Wood frame w/ shed enclosure at front entry. The interior is intact with wood wainscot, plaster walls, ceilings, chalkboards, light fixtures, etc. The first school at this location was built in 1873; this one in 1909. At some point, the belfry and bell were removed. When it closed in 1966, it was sold to Union Township. It is eight miles South of Clay Center on Highway 15.

Sunnyslope School

This one-story rectangular native stone building was built in the commercial style with a gable roof. There are two outhouses in the rear of the school and a merry-go-round east of the school. It is located one and a half miles east of Redwood on 9th Road near Wakefield, Kansas.

Thorton School

This one-story rectangular wood-frame building was designed in the vernacular style with a gable roof. It was built in 1880, replacing the 1873 structure lost to fire on land donated by Samuel and Ann Thornton. Often called the “Common School,” it closed in 1953 and was sold in 1955 to Hays Township for Township Hall. Vacant today, this deteriorating school is located at the corner of Quail Road and 20th Road near Clay Center, Kansas.