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One of the ideals of the newly developed communities of Iowa (as was true throughout the country) was not only to develop a school system as quickly as possible, but also to encourage and sponsor an academy or college. Bentonsport's Academy building is a simple two-story brick structure covered by a steeply pitched gable roof. The flavor of the building is Italianate in its vertical proportions, but all of the windows and the entrance with transom are late Federal. A belfry, no longer in existence, added much to the building's public presence.