FARRAR HISTORY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS BELOW
RECENT HISTORY
After sitting abandoned for five years, Jim and Nancy Oliver purchased the building in 2006. It quickly became apparent they were not alone. Voices, shadow people and orbs were common. Nancy became unsteady on the stairs when a hand on her shoulder helped her catch her balance. She turned to thank her husband for the help only to find no one there. The dark distinct outline of a small boy was sighted on the well lit stairway descending into the gymnasium. The boy appeared to be about 3' 6" tall with one foot on each step and holding onto the handrail. The figure stayed motionless for almost 2 seconds before disappearing . . .
The large 17,000 square foot schoolhouse looks out of place in the small town of Farrar, Iowa. Farrar’s population of no more than 30 people has been slowly shrinking for many years. The only growing population is in the 150 year-old cemetery across from the schoolhouse. Built on six acres of rural farmland, it's old walls are beginning to crumble. Over the decades employees and students reported hearing voices, slamming doors and sightings of unnatural figures walking the halls. Adults and children have passed on and have returned and re-live their experiences, good and bad, in the old school.
Internationally known psychic Jacqui Carpenter conducted the first paranormal investigation in 2007 and quickly confirmed the owner’s suspicions. Since then many visitors and paranormal groups have witnessed and documented evidence of ghostly activity at Farrar including: Discovery Channels "My Ghost Story" and "Ghost Stalkers", Fox news, Lazor 103.3 Radio, Des Moines Register, author Steven LaChance, Villisca's Johnny Houser, Brad and Barry Klinge, Chris Dedman, John Tenney, Chad Lindberg, David Rountree, Rosalyn Bown, Dakota Laden, Jodie Parks, Mike Holeman, Tim Dwight, Jacqui Carpenter, Chad and Brian Calek, Christopher Booth, SlipKnot's Corey Taylor and more.
Are you brave enough to stay the night? Keep your cameras ready, your mind open and be prepared for anything!
PAST HISTORY
In 1919, C.G. Geddes agreed to donate 6 acres of his farm to merge the area’s one-room country schoolhouses. The school boards voted and created the Washington Township Consolidated School District. The cornerstone inscribed with the year 1921 was set and the dedication ceremony commenced on April 1 1922. The schoolhouse filled with citizens from miles around. An orchestra played on stage in the auditorium as a banquet served the hundreds in attendance. Not all citizens were behind the new building with its $100,000 price tag. One disgruntled citizen refused to attend the celebration calling it a “monument to the arrogance and vanity of the school board,” with its boiler heating, electric lights, and indoor bathroom facilities. On May 3 2002, once again, the band played, a banquet served the hundreds in attendance and sadly, the 80-year-old schoolhouse closed its doors for the last time.
