The Cedar City School of Independent District No. 1 was built around 1857. The school had two rooms, one room for the classroom and one room for storage of the coal bin, wood and extra materials. It also had an entry hall with shelves. There was a platform the full length of the room, which served as both the teacher's desk and also as a stage for plays.

Before World War I, the school was used by the Iowa State Teacher's College as a demonstration rural school and placed student teachers there. In 1927 a new fire-proof school was built soon after the original school was torn down. The school district disbanded in 1947, and students were bused elsewhere for education. An attempt to keep the building for the community failed and the school was sold and converted into a private residence.