September 29, 2015: The large white doorway was the connector to the original Rake school building.
The gymnasium is all that remains of the former Rake school district. It merged with Buffalo Center in 1978 and the school was closed in 1984, with one building (the original school) demolished shortly thereafter. On the south roof (not pictured), the word RAKE is printed in large letters for identification by airplane, but it’s partially obscured by trees. Despite the deteriorating condition of the roof and the weeds in the gutters you can see here, the owner has taped papers saying “THIS BUILDING IS NOT ABANDONED” on various windows. (If you have to say it…)
Buffalo Center, where Rake students now go, stakes its claim to being the first consolidated school district west of the Mississippi. A full history of the district, now named North Iowa, is available via PDF.