Remember when you used to have to walk one mile to school, uphill both ways, through three feet of snow? And remember when the only air conditioning to be found was an open window, and your word processor required chalk and an eraser?

Well, if you don’t quite remember these things, the Ames Historical Society has helped create a museum to educate visitors about what life was like when amenities such as computers and cars didn’t exist.

The Hoggatt School recently opened to help the community get a glimpse into a Civil War era one-room school. It is located at 18th Street and Burnett Avenue, on the grounds of Meeker Elementary School, 300 20th St. Hoggatt School features authentic furnishings and reproductions to give visitors a taste of school life in the past.

Hoggatt School was built in 1862, two years prior to the establishment of the city of Ames. The name of the school comes from the family that gave its land for the construction of the school.

“In the beginning, there were children from three families attending the school,” says Kathy Svec, president of the Ames Historical Society. “The first teacher was a young woman, 18 to 19 years old.”

Svec says as Ames expanded, the community outgrew the school.

“The school was unable to support the increasing number of students,” Svec says. “It was in operation from 1862-1868 and then moved to another location. An addition was built onto the school around this time.”

Later, Ames historian Farwell Brown rediscovered the school.

“It was in the late 1970s,” Svec says. “There was a property owner who was tearing down buildings on Second Street. Farwell Brown discovered an old building he thought might be the old Hoggatt School.”

Professionals were brought in to determine the authenticity of the building. It was confirmed to be an authentic Civil War era school by the correct configuration of the windows and doors, Svec says.

“The school was moved to the grounds of Meeker,” Svec says. “The addition to the school was torn down, and from 1980-1981, there was a restoration project with the school.”

Throughout the restoration, careful steps were taken to keep the school as close to its original form as possible.

“The siding additions were replaced. The floor was sanded down to remove wear from before,” Svec says. “Also, the ceiling and walls were replastered and the roof was reshingled with wooden shingles just like it had been in the past.”

Svec says equal attention was placed on the authenticity of the furnishings.

“A Smithsonian woodburning stove was purchased. We made sure it was as close from the era of the school as possible,” Svec says.

“The student desks are accurate reproductions and the slates are genuine, along with the school teacher’s desk.”

Svec says the reason great lengths were taken to preserve the authenticity of the school was so visitors can get an accurate impression on what school was like at the time.

“Hoggatt School is a faithful reproduction. It is also a hands-on museum,” Svec says.

“I think that gives visitors the actual feeling of attending a school in the past.”

Svec says one of the important reasons for preserving Hoggatt School is that it shows the progress and change, as well as the value, of things today.

The school will be open 2-4:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from June 5 to Aug. 29.