Davenport School Museum

10/23/2026

J.B. Young
The original school address for J.B. Young was 1709 N. Harrison. After the facility was repurposed the address changed to 1702 N. Main.
The school’s namesake, J. B. Young, served as principal of the Davenport High School from 1868 through 1878. He succeeded Phebe Sudlow as superintendent of the Davenport Public Schools, remaining in that position until retirement from 1878 through 1907.
He saw completion of the new high school we now call Davenport Central, but retired shortly thereafter. He died Feb. 7, 1917, at the age of 83, and not long afterwards had a new Intermediate School named in his honor.

10/21/2026

Lincoln Elementary School, at 318 E. 7th, opened in 1940 and closed in 2014. The federal government contributed 45% of the costs as part of the Public Works Administration. It became a “fundamental” school. It now houses community organizations.

10/20/2026

Johnson Elementary School, 1730 Wilkes Ave., opened in 1910 and closed in 2002. It was listed on the Davenport Register of Historic Properties on November 30, 2004.
It was built as an elementary school in 1910 for the Davenport Community School District and ceased functioning as a school in 2002, when Grant Elementary School also closed. Controversy surrounded the school board's decision to close both schools.
The building was purchased, shortly after it closed, for $165,000 by Dan and Bonita Howes, whose Institute of Therapeutic Massage, is the largest tenant. There are several other businesses located there now.

10/18/2026

Grant opened in 1912 at 216 W. Hayes St. It closed in 2002 amid great controversy, along with Johnson Elementary. The building was sold to the Living Hope Church, which has invested generously to retain and restore the building's original structure and design. The church is preserving the school and has built a small library of books left behind, added books and other artifacts. The building has changed hands again. The Catholic Diocese is said to be the new owner.

10/18/2026

10/17/2026

Longtime Blue Grass Elementary music teacher, Myron E. “Gene” Jebsen passed away May 31st, 2026 following a long illness. He was 82. Prior to his retirement in 2004, Gene had taught elementary vocal music at various schools in the DCSD including Johnson, Buffalo-Perry, Walcott and most significantly Blue Grass, where he devoted the last 20+ years of his teaching career. Music was his passion, and it was with this passion that he lovingly spent decades encouraging and inspiring students to love and appreciate all that music had to offer.
Please join the family for a memorial service at 11am November 7th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Pleasant Valley, Iowa. (Luncheon following) We look forward to sharing memories and remembering the good times.

Gene was my father and if there's any way you could please post this information for anyone who would be interested there at the school or within the district I'd very much appreciate it. Thank you!
Submitted by Julie Spurgeon

10/17/2026

H.M. Perry was a grade school, and began life in the Rockingham School District. It opened around 1954 and closed in 2000. It was located at 5121 Wapello Ave. and was replaced by the Victory Store when the address changed to 5200 30th St. SW.

When Perry School opened in 1953, it replaced three smaller county schools located in the Rockingham Township School District: Walnut Hill School eventually became the Lulac Club building; Harbor Road School became a private residence; and Fairview School was removed to make way for the widening of Highway 22.

Perry contained classes from kindergarten through 8th grade and was completely full when it opened with almost 300 students. The school was named (voted by a majority of the students) in honor of Hartsel M. Perry, Scott County School Superintendent from 1951 to 1957.

H. M. Perry School became part of the Davenport Community School District in 1959. A new addition containing a gymnasium was constructed in 1961. H.M. Perry closed after the 1999-2000 school year. Most students then began attending Buffalo School.

10/17/2026

Roosevelt Elementary, also known as Rockingham was built in 1925 and closed in 1998. It was located at 1220 Minnie Avenue in southwest Davenport. After closing, it continued to serve as a community center.

The village of Rockingham was annexed to the city of Davenport in 1926 and the village school, Rockingham, became part of the Davenport School District.

Rockingham operated as a K-6 school until the close of the 1939-1940 school year. The school was closed and the students were sent to Hayes school; at the start of the 1945-1946 school year the school reopened as a K-3 school.

In 1955 the Board gave it a presidential name, Roosevelt and that year three rooms were added to the building. At the close of the 1997-1998 school year Roosevelt was closed and the students were sent to Hayes. The building was sold to the City of Davenport and it has been converted to a Community Center to serve that part of the city.

10/16/2026

Eight Davenport schools have closed since 1998; seven elementary and one middle school. Washington and Monroe were demolished and the rest were repurposed.
Hoover was the first of these to close as an elementary school, but is still open as an early childhood center. Located at 1002 Spring St. Hoover opened as a K-3 school in 1956. It was built to alleviate congestion at both McKinley and Lincoln Schools. Also, it was considered a safer location, so that children wouldn’t have to cross busy E. Locust St. to Washington School.

10/15/2026

Our museum got its start in 1960 with Superintendent Anthony Marinaccio urging Mary A. Baker and some other fellow teacher retirees to form an association to include the preservation of school history and changes. This was the start of what is now DARSPA, Davenport Area Retired School Personnel Association.

A teacher for 42 years, Mary began collecting artifacts for a museum and storing them in her attic. Fifteen years later, plans were made to establish a school district museum with the support of Superintendent Lee Grebner and the school board. No permanent location for the museum was found and the collections were passed from place to place. The museum found a home in 2002 at 1606 North Brady It is now located at 1702 N. Main St., the former J.B. Young Middle school.