The Schoolhouse sits at the entrance to Freedom Farm. It is well known in the local community as the ‘Lake Ida Schoolhouse’ and was in use from 1860 through 1972, educating children for 112 years!
The ‘Freedom Farm Schoolhouse’ serves as a weekly meeting place our veterans and at-risk youth programs. As we continue to grow, this schoolhouse provides a peaceful spot to rest, a confidential space for sharing, a classroom for team building and learning and an afterschool quiet spot to get homework done.
After almost 40 years of minimal use, the Schoolhouse is active again. We are so grateful for the support we have received so far. Look at the businesses and individuals below. These businesses and individuals have gone above and beyond. As you enter the building, you can feel the love they poured into this project. We are excited to see how God will reveal the plans for this building.
THANK YOU to our generous donors for making this dream possible.
The future is exciting as God has blessed this building and all who enter it. A Special Thank You to ALL for your Love, Sweat and Prayers; Linda Berg, Sue Clausen, Margaret Courtney, Debra J Designs, PJ Frauendienst, Jayne Gassen, Todd Hoefling, Paul Hoiland, Nate and Steph Keim, Gaston Raimondo, Kurt Rischmiller, Nikki Rischmiller, Kylie Schultz, Brendan Stevens, Corrie Stevens, Sue Wandersee and Jessica Zeug.
UPDATES:
Summer 2016
July Thanks to Aqua Pro Sprinkler Systems and Matt Derner
for donating and installing an irrigation system.
Spring 2016
May Painting has begun. Thanks Jayne, Victoria and Kayla for helping pick the paint color for inside the schoolhouse.
April Freedom Farm Schoolhouse made the local newspaper. Thanks Herald Journal for the wonderful write up and spreading the word about the Freedom Farm Schoolhouse. Click HERE to read the article.
March We love John Kraemer and Sons! Jeremy, our project supervisor, is outstanding! The Schoolhouse project is running smoothly because of his dedication and attention to every detail.
March Thanks Joel and Derek, from Preferred Tile and Stone, for starting to tile our Schoolhouse today!
Winter 2016
March Check out the progress on the Schoolhouse.
We have drywall and siding!
For many decades these lights hung in the Schoolhouse. Thanks, Nate Keim, for helping us fix them up!
February The Freedom Farm Schoolhouse is moving along nicely.
We are excited to be adding more space for our programming needs. Students like Jessica have benefited from attending our ‘Hope with Horses’ program, which is just one of the programs that will benefit from the Schoolhouse.
A very special THANK YOU to Linda Berg and Jayne Gasson for helping us pick out the AWESOME tile for the Schoolhouse. We are blessed to have Linda and Jayne’s interior design expertise.
Fall 2015
October The Schoolhouse renovation project has begun! On October 19th, we broke ground on the Freedom Farm Schoolhouse project because of generous donations we received from John Kraemer & Sons, Ryan Gilbertson and Berg Family Foundation.
Summer 2014
August The old outhouse has been taken down. Thank you Kurt & Nikki Rischmiller!!
Mary Judd has generously volunteered her Garden Design services to the Freedom Farm Schoolhouse Project!
“There is no greater expression of art than creating a beautiful garden or more rewarding joy than sharing it’s delights with others.” -Gretchen Harshbarger
Spring 2014
Joe Fake wanted to take a moment to let Susie know why he is donating JLF Homes:
“I personally have had an opportunity to witness the smiles put on the faces of those who visit Freedom Farm. Over the last 6 years that JLF has been involved it has been fun to watch you grow! It is my honor to donate my time and effort to such a wonderful organization where visitors, volunteers and staff all love what they do.
Your upcoming Lake Ida Schoolhouse Project is exciting to me and our staff. JLF Homes is honored to know we were a part of creating something that will continue to change lives and put smiles on faces for years to come!”
May 24, 2011 The survey work, donated by Westwood Professionals, has been completed. The renovation design, donated by McMonigal Architects, is underway.
“The renovation and addition to the Schoolhouse is being designed by architect Rosemary McMonigal, of McMonigal Architects, LLC with structural engineering services provided by Krech, O’Brien, Mueller & Associates INC. McMonigal Architects collaborates with clients to create buildings individually tailored to their clients’ needs, while paying careful attention to the unique aspects of each site. The goal is to create an inviting and meaningful sense of place.
“Westwood Professional Services has provided the survey work.