registered historic place illinois county seat oregon illinois oregon sites listed register school oddly shaped room moved original location joined register education museum built village illinois elimination school abandoned 1960s restoration effort undertaken late 1990s ending refurbishment building stands public park oregon illinois interior features architectural elements set apart typical 19th century distance building dominated bell tower history founded operated school retired wooden room built area classrooms students lower grades older students eighth grade late early 1950s classroom additional space storage early years village founded half mile northwest built early settlers sent children eighth grade abandoned built park white oak building storage barn hay fire destroyed second classroom added existing structure teacher oregon illinois resident late 19th century saw individuals teach different times ready address question build high school students attended high school oregon question brought vote failed students continued oregon schools eighth grade closing school closed larger original room converted bus garage large garage door cut building floor completely removed smaller room storage area ran room building overflow classroom mid-1960s district folded absorbed residents allowed remove items school district shut restoration property sold nearly demolished citizens formed save building relocated city park east oregon illinois volunteers began process building august years later september school grand opening operated museum help illustrate 1880s education united_states moving restoration facilitated grant grant intended help restore building original state restore sand hill prairie site develop museum exhibit space establish learning links museums support rural education focus curriculum architecture hand typical rural roof trademark bell tower hand building unique 19th century stylistic elements style examples include window pronounced openings architectural difference lies design floor plan exterior building designed style specialty demanded facade faces southwest today adorned left right center span porch beneath bell tower school open use doors restricted left right doors boys eighth grades middle door entry girls ages doors feature topped bell tower rises feet halfway length large round sign sign denotes school district year school foundation originally sign exterior wall larger rooms tower rises roof feet arches wooden construction found tower arches rest save limestone cement foundation arches decorated inside tower school bell bell house topped multi roof roof overall covered cedar features chimneys rising classrooms building southern facade original room features windows room rear windows style windows double hung design interior south entrance larger room original portion floor original closet built water stand pressed tin ceiling original features found portion building interior bell tower adorned coat hooks exits smaller classroom semi circular walls coat room bell rope hangs feet ceiling interior room restored original appearance red oak floor trimmed inches board quarter round curved semi circular walls mark coat rooms original room building rounded walls hold chair rail cover available space north east south walls pressed tin extends ceiling crown room walls ceiling second newer room fully restored currently museum rectangular room features half chimney partial original oak floors original set lower smaller children unique features building time period 1880s unique ways feature sets structure apart rural day building design started simple run mill room years later addition building attached second smaller classroom perpendicular original bell tower constructed connect rooms result unique layout resembling corner shaved inside building unique feature time coat rooms surrounded semi circular walls original wing building buildings site located rear school building non functional display models original 1870s structure transported site copy built salvaged materials school restoration historically associated considered non contributing factors national_register_of_historic_places listing significance added national_register_of_historic_places december original nomination form cited significant inclusion register criteria states property distinctive characteristics type period method construction represent work master possess high artistic values represent significant distinguishable entity components lack individual distinction addition school subject considerations register allowed inclusion despite general policy encourage nomination properties moved original location
Chana School