North Bend School AKA: Fairfield #2 Schoolhouse

    North Bend and its surrounding community are historically significant in several ways.  It is the goal of the North Bend Community Center Association (NBCCA) to restore and preserve the history of this building and to promote it and the community surrounding it.

    The NBCAA has been established as a non-profit organization and it has been actively researching the former church, schoolhouse and area history, brainstorming and planning for its restoration, and promoting its historical significance through various fundraising events and grant writing.  The NBCC would be used to store and preserve the history of North Bend, the community and area, as well as educate its visitors on the history of one important aspect of American education.  This is reflected in the motto of the NBCCA:  Preserving the Past as a Bridge to the Future.

The NBCCA envisions a community center that can be used for each of the following purposes:

1.    As a historical museum and resource used for preserving and promoting the history of the building (church and schoolhouse), the cemetery on the property, and the unique history of the North Bend community (2 churches, 4 cemeteries, 7 schoolhouses, 2 bridges, and one existing village).

2.    As an educational center used to teach visitors and participating schools and classes about the history of and experiences in a one-room schoolhouse.

3.    As a community room used for meetings and historical presentations.

4.    As a main address and work area for the NBCCA membership.

    Each of these is a current long-term goal established by the North Bend Community Center Association but these goals are certainly not limited in nature or scope.  As work progresses on each of the listed goals and more funds become available the additional possible uses for the North Bend Community Center will be limited only by the imaginations of the association.    

    The mission of the North Bend Community Center Association is to collect and preserve the history and artifacts of the North Bend community, no matter their form or make up; to educate the public about this history, and to generally promote the area of North Bend and its residents.  It is also our mission to work for the common good of all people.

History of North Bend and the North Bend Community Center Association:

    North Bend was originally a Baptist Church, organized on February 14, 1859.  Members began construction on the North Bend building in 1861, and the first church meeting was held within on May 17, 1862.  The construction of the building was completed in July of 1864.

    On February 12, 1866 the building was sold and was then used as a schoolhouse.  The schoolhouse retained the name North Bend; though its official designation would be known as Fairfield District #2 school.  The North Bend Baptist Church held its last known meeting at North Bend Schoolhouse on July 7, 1877.

    At some point in its history, a small cemetery was created near the east side of the building, though there is no way to ascertain just neither when it occurred nor who was buried there.  There are two rows of unmarked graves located on the site.  It is believed the headstones were taken up sometime before 1940 and that they were used in the foundation of a barn on a neighboring farm.

    The schoolhouse remained in operation until closing in 1966.  Wanda (Stamp) Ganzer, a former North Bend student was the teacher at that time.   She is an active member of the NBCCA.

    The building and property were purchased and used as a storage area by a local individual.  In recent years the building and property was donated to the Jackson County Historical Society by Mrs. Leota Fowler of Spragueville.  The tax valuation of the property is $3,600, with a yearly tax of $48.00.  The building and North Bend community are historically significant in several ways so it is the goal of NBCCA to restore and preserve this unique building and to promote the building, community and area surrounding it.

    The NBCCA was established as a result of the building and property being donated to the Jackson County Historical Society. The North Bend Community Center Association was formed as a non-profit organization.  Its primary purpose is to promote, preserve and to protect the history of the North Bend School (official name- Fairfield #2), and the history of the North Bend Community.  The first organizational meeting was held on November 14, 2001