report to the state superintendent of schools stated that Calamus had one male and two female teachers and an attendance of 78. In 1919, it was voted to consolidate with several country school districts, and school buses were purchased. They were Model T Fords with no heat and the seats were lengthwise on both sides of the bus. The upstairs of the McCarthy building was used for the High School and the grades were housed in the old school. During the school year of 1920–21, a classroom was located in the Methodist Church and on the stage of the Auditorium. On May 17, 1921, the first graduation exercises were held in the new school, which was nearing completion, and on the same day dedication of the school was held. The next fall, school was held in the new building. The building is located at the south end of 2nd St. and was erected at a cost of $100,000. The school board members at that time were C. A. Blake, President; Hans Johnson; Wm. F. Siegmund; Jonathan Hayes, Jr. and Eli Olson. The district was known as the Calamus Consolidated School. On May 3, 1946, marking the end of the 27 yr. period of indebtedness, the mortgage deed of the Calamus Consolidated School was burned at a ceremony in the school auditorium. In 1950, six rooms and a large gymnasium were added at a cost of $125,000. In 1964, another six rooms were added at a cost of $196,000. The vote on the bond issue for the construction of this addition carried by 92.8%, an all-time high in the state of Iowa. Media Calamus has not had many home printed newspapers. The first paper that was issued in Calamus was established by H. L. Barter and was called the Free Press. After some time, F. L. Sunderlin, later of the Delmar Journal, associated himself with Barter and the paper was continued under the name of Barter and Sunderlin. It did not have a very long existence and for various reasons it suspended publication. Whip and Cook printed a newspaper here in the 1880s. It also had a very brief existence. The Calamus Record was the latest newspaper venture for Calamus. It was established in 1901 by A. J. Gault and enjoyed a longer existence than the other newspapers. Parks and recreation Calamus has 4 county parks: Sherman Park Syracuse Wildlife area