FULTON COUNTY INDIANA
HANDBOOK
Schools P-Z
By
Wendell C. and John B. Tombaugh
Limited Printing
Copy No.____of 6
TOMBAUGH HOUSE
700 Pontiac Street
Rochester, Indiana
46975-1538
2001
This book cannot be reproduced without the express permission of Wendell C. Tombaugh, John B. Tombaugh, their heirs or assigns.
Made in the United States of America.
Fulton County Indiana Handbook
SCHOOLS
* * * * *
PAW PAW SCHOOL [Aubbeenaubbee Township]
Located in Section 21, NW corner 1000W [SR-17] and 400N, on same road as church
known as Pumpkin Head Church.
__________
[photo] Paw-Paw School in Aubbeenaubbee Township 1908-09. Also known as Small
Pox, this school stood at the corner of 1000W and 400N on the north side of the
road. Front Row: Ray Lewis, Walter Johnson, Geneva Van Kirk, Mabel Johnson,
Esther McClain, Joe Shidaker, Everett Young, Ray Ginther, Joe Denny behind Bert
Mahler, Esther Owen, Bertha Shidaker. Row 2, Oren Seeley, Walter McClain, S. O.
Daugherty, Scott McClain, Omer Pickens, Rufus Shidaker, William Owen, Clyde
Denny, Hazel Rerrick, L. C. Daugherty. Row 3: Mary Owen, Dessie Young, Lorraine
Seeley, Leone Pickens, Mary Daugherty, Bertha McClain, Ola Shidaker. Row 4:
Clarence Young, Ralph Daugherty, Ernest Pickens, Lorie Tharp, Rueben Daugherty,
Howard Gillespie - teacher. (Photo from Bertha McClain Tash's scrapbook)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 48, p.30]
[photo, cover] Paw Paw (also known as Small Pox) School in the fall of 1912.
Everett Young pitches to batter William Owens, while Walter McClain serves as
catcher. Out front to the right is Scott McClain. Walter Johnson stands in the
doorway. Teacher (tall man in back row) is Omer Reichard. Row 1: Cecil Young,
Bert Mahler, Gerald Feece, Everett Overmyer, Ray Ginther, Lucille Hammond, Mabel
Seeley, Vera McClain, Grace McClain, Ethel Johnson, Lyvel Mahler, Florence
Lewis, Ethel Overmyer. Row 2: Emmit McClain, teacher, Esther McClain, Mabel
Johnson, Esther Owens, Geneva Van Kirk. (Photo: Mrs. Harold E. (Ethel Overmyer)
Harding)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 17, cover]
__________
Paw Paw School had an outbreak of small pox, and the school became known as
Small Pox School.
Paw Paw school (section 21) stood at the [NE] corner of 1000W and 400N. . . It
was named originally for the paw paws which were plentiful in the woods around
the school. Then it was nicknamed Small Pox school in about 1900. Teachers were
Mattie Stubbs 1891-2; Martha Cook; Solomon Shadel 1900; Wes Kaley; Paul Guise
1909; George Kaley 1910-11; Omer Reichard 1912-13 (he received $44.20 a month to
teach). Patrons included Jones, Plantz, Ginther, and Shidaker families. It was
closed about 1918 and is now used as a barn on Fred Ditmire's farm.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 17, p. 7]
MEMORIAL TO LEITERS FORD MUSEUM
Bertha McClain attended the Pawpaw School beginning in September 1906 as a
student in the fifth grade. The teacher was Frank King. Succeeding teachers were
Howard Dickie, 1907-08; Howard Gillespie, 1908-09; and Martha Cook 1909-10.
Bertha attended Leiters Ford High School, graduating in 1914.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 48, p. 29]
PERRY SCHOOL [#3] [Liberty Township]
Located S side of 950S approximately 250E.
Built before 1876; abandoned between 1883 and 1907.
Another school same name, located N side of 950S approximately 250E.
Built between 1883 and 1907.
__________
[photo] Perry school 1918-19. Row 1: Emerson and Glen Ward, unknown. Row 2:
Fern Miller, Dorothy Dague, Marie Cornell Crippen, Ruth Cornell Mean, Robert
Ward, Charlie Werner. Row 3: Mildred Miller Stingley, Ida Ludwig Pownall, Mary
Ward Smith, Mae Cornell Preble, Claude Cornell, George Books. (Photo: taken by
teacher, Esther Green Tanner).
[FCHS Quarterly No. 22, p. 11]
__________
PERRY SCHOOL
By Lois Wagoner:
The first Perry school, District No. 3, was built before 1876 on the south side
of 950S, half way between 200E and 300E. The second schoolhouse was built after
1883 across the road.
Mrs. Creatie Ausman Emery gave me this information:
I attended Perry school from 1903 'till 1910. My first three years were spent in
Reed school west of Fulton.
Teachers were Kerch Robbins 1903, Arthur Fry 1904, Grace Anglemeyer Bookwalter
1905, Elmer Reed 1906, Myrtle Morts Bevelheimer 1907-08 and Thomas Enyart 1909.
Pupils I remember were the Whybrew family, James, Frank, Chester and Grace
Whybrew Zartman; Frances Heyde, Cora Brown Knauff, Luther Wylie, Argos and Ivy
Brown, Carl Emery, Mabel Emery Vernon; Esther, Edna, Elizabeth and Paul Emery;
Hazel and Ralph Edgerton, Ruth Krathwohl Sutton, Esther and Bernice Krathwohl,
and Kenneth Miller.
Between 20 and 25 attended with all eight grades represented. We studied
reading, writing, history, grammar, arithmetic and spelling.
I remember one day I was helping Mabel Emery with an arithmetic problem at the
blackboard. I had my arm around her, so the teacher made us stand in the corner
with our arms around each other.
Recollections by Mary Ward Smith:
I went to Perry school in 1914 to 1919. Teachers were Ray Bish, Beatrice Olmsted
Hendershot, Truman Ward and Esther Green Tanner.
We used to play Dog and Deer in the snow and go ice skating on a pond. Charlie
Warner always brought a hard-boiled egg for lunch, which he would crack on his
head. One day the boys substituted a fresh egg, and they had a good laugh when
it ran down his face. When we played tag George Books, a big boy, would grab me
and hold me. It made me so mad.
Recollections by Esther Green Tanner, a teacher:
I graduated from Fulton High School in May 1918. I went to Indiana Central
College at Indianapolis for 12 weeks course that summer. I received my permit to
teach and my first school was Perry. Sept. 1918 I drove a horse and buggy about
five miles and put the horse in the barn at Jim Whybrew's.
There were 14 pupils; four were in the 8th grade. That winter the flu epidemic
was bad and school was closed for a while. The Ward children brought me a note
from their mother one day asking me to stop at the house as she wanted to talk
to me. I worried all day what I had done or not done. When I stopped, she asked
me to stay overnight with them some night. Henry Becker was county
superintendent and he visited one afternoon.
Carol Baldwin Black writes that Joe Musselman bought the Perry school building
and moved it to his farm. He used it to store hog feed. He would buy cookie
crumbs and floor sweepings from a bakery for feed. When he got a load he would
call the Baldwin children to come. They had a feast on cookie pieces and
sometimes whole cookies and chunks of pure milk chocolate.
Mrs. Ross Baldwin has a picture of 15 or 16 pupils, one holding a basketball
with Perry 1923 printed on it. That was probably the last year for school there,
and the pupils were taken to Fulton.
The school stood on the Whybrew farm now owned by Ralph Swank.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 22, pp 11-12]
__________
The schools in this township are all supplied with teachers. . . .Miss Leffel
at the Perry district. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, October 18, 1878]
Rev. R. J. Smith delivered a very impressive sermon, last Sunday evening, at
Perry's school house.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 20, 1879]
PIN-HOOK SCHOOL [ - - - - - ]
The Pin-Hook school is progressing finely. Miss Sarah Carter, teacher.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, October 1, 1875]
M. S. Weills, who taught the north Pin-Hook school last winter, was elected
to teach it again this winter. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, October 29, 1875]
PLEASANT GROVE ACADEMY [Kewanna, Indiana]
Pleasant Grove Academy, at Kewanna, will open Monday, August 31, 1874, and
continue twelve weeks - - - common branches and algebra. A normal class will be
formed for the benefit of those who expect to teach. Good boarding can be had at
reasonable prices. Rooms for self-boarding can be rented. An examination for
teachers' license will be held in our school building, by the county
superintendent, Oct. 31, 1874 . . . call and see us, and, or address S. M.
Kitrick, Kewanna, Fulton county, Indiana. Dr. J. Q. Howell, H. Phillips, Dr.
Thompson, Trustees.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, August 6, 1874]
Pleasant Grove Academy at Kewanna will open Monday, August 31, and continue
twelve weeks . . . call and see us, or address S. McKitrick, Kewanna, Fulton
Co., Ind. Dr. J. Q. Howell, Hickman Phillips, Dr. Thompson, Trustees.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, August 8, 1874]
PLEASANT HILL SCHOOL [#12] [Liberty Township]
Located SW corner of Meridian and 900S.
Designated as School #8.
Built between 1876 and 1883.
__________
[photo] Pleasant Hill school 1913. Row 1: Lyman Dawald, Harold Fry, Helen
Fry, Cyrus Durbin, Anna Belle Durbin (Knepp), Ronald Shaw, Faye Durbin. Row 2:
Opal Teel, Louise Nellans, Walter Teal, Hubert Doud, Merl Durbin, Dessie
Buchanan - teacher. (Photo: Dessie Buchana Rentschler).
__________
PLEASANT HILL SCHOOL
By Lois Wagoner and Shirley Willard:
Pleasant Hill one-room school was located on the south side of the road west of
Andy Rentschler's house on the southwest corner of [900S] and 100E in Liberty
Township. It was a wood building built between 1876 and 1883.
Teachers were Edward Doud 1903-05, Minnie Wagoner 1906-09, Angie Conn Enyart
1909-10, Ray Bish 1910-12, and Dessie Buchanan Rentschler 1912-13, which was the
last year.
Charles Olmsted recalls the following pupils: Meda Overmeyer, Ethel Fry Rans,
Ray Overmeyer, Ralph Goss, Rosie Heine, Blanche Cole, Hazen Miller, Archie Doud,
Charles Olmsted, Roy Overmeyer, Beatrice Olmsted Hendershot, Ollie Miller, Loyd
Smith, Anna Belcher, Clara Lowman, James Sparks, Clarence Phillips, Lena Merrit
Hoover, Laura Phillips, Opal Durbin Sherrard.
Opal Durbin Sherrard started school at the age of six in Rossville, Ill. She
took graades 2 and 3 in one year and entered fourth grade at the age of 8. Her
teacher said this was the youngest pupil she had ever had in the fourth grade.
In those days pupils could go as fast as they wanted and advanced to the next
grade whenever they finished the books. Opal was kept home to avoid scarlet
fever and her family moved to Indiana. In the fall of 1908 Opal entered fourth
grade at Pleasant Hill school. Minnie Wagoner was her teacher 1908-09 and Angie
Conn Enyart 1909-10. Ray Bish was her teacher in the eighth grade Opal took the
eighth grade exams and was the third highest in the county. Mr.Bish tried to
talk Opal's parents into sending her to high school, but at that time high
school students were not allowed to ride the hack so it would mean walking or
staying in a room in town (Fulton). So Opal and Rosie Heine took the eighth
grade over again the next year. Mr. Bish taught them Latin, algebra, parsing
(now called diagraming) of sentences, and many other high school subjects. Mrs.
Heine wouldn't let Rosie go to high school because she thought the girl knew
enough to get along.
The next year (1912) the trustee Edgar McCarter said that high school kids could
ride the hacks if it was all right with the driver and if they paid (something
like 50 cents a month) to ride.
Opal entered Fulton high in 1912 and stayed in a room with Crettie Ausmun
(Emory) in the big white house of Mrs. John Hanson that stood on the corner
south of where the new Fulton Medical Center is being built. (The Medical Center
is being built on the south side of Ditmire-Zimmerman funeral home. Rickett's
tin shop stood where the Medical Center is now.) Opal paid 50 cents a week for
her room and provided her own food from the farm such as ham, eggs, and
potatoes. She and Crettie often did the cooking, but Mrs. Hanson usually cooked
the noon meal so they could eat and hurry back to school.
Dave Poorman was the first hack driver, then Willard Williams, later Elmer
Eytcheson was the hack driver for many years. Opal's father, Amos Durbin, drove
the hack for one year 1914-15 so Opal rode with him. The next year she stayed in
town with Mrs. Hanson again and graduated in the spring of 1916 at the age of
16.
Opal became good at elocution in high school and gave programs for Teacher's
Institute held upstairs at Fulton high school. She also did substitute teaching
in the grade school downstairs. Teachers she met at the Teacher's Institute were
Vernie Bowen, Verna Hazlett, Beatrice Olmsted, Ray Bish, Angie Conn, many
others. Opal gave a program in October on James Whitcomb Riley's poems:
"Little Thomas Tailholt", "I Was Born in Indiana", "New
Year's Day at Willards", and of course, "Little Orphan Annie"
with its famous line, "The goblins well get you if you don't watch
out!" She can still recite some of the poems from memory nearly 60 years
later.
Pleasant Hill was a wooden building. They carried water from the Andy Rentschler
farm (John Myers lived there then) as the school had no well. There were trees
back of the school and the children liked to play there. After it closed, Andy
Rentschler bought the school, tore it down, and put a corn-drying bin there.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 22, pp 9-10]
PLUNK SCHOOL [Liberty Township]
POLECAT/JUBILEE SCHOOL [#1] [Union Township]
Located E side of 600W at approximately 150S.
Built before 1876; abandoned between 1883 and 1907.
__________
From the Herald.
The sale of the Pole Cat school building, and ground on which it stands, took
place at Trustee Russell's office Saturday afternoon as advertised. The building
was sold to Elias Miller for $15.00 and the ground (1/2 acre) to Capt. Jackson
for $5.00.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, April 22, 1899]
__________
[photo] Pole Cat School 1895 last day of school. This one-room school was
located on the John Hartman farm (later Ralph Johnston's farm, now Virgil
Jana's), on the west side of 600W halfway between 100S and 200S. It was closed
in 1898, replaced by Jubilee School. Front Row: Clyde Collins, Hugh Sparks, Vere
Calvin's place (he did not like the photographer and left the group, left his
hat on the ground), Arthur Collins, Frank Hudkins, John Hudkins, Lloyd Collins,
Roscoe Collins, Jennie Engle. Row 2: Teacher - Mary Costello, William Barger,
Glen Barger, Grace Slick, Exie Slick, Elra Hogan, Charley Engle, Lela
Slick,George Collins or Jessie Felty, Homer Collins. Row 3: Lena Copeland or
Martha Long, John Hilflicker, Peter Engle, Guy Barger, Frank Collins, Lewis
Engle. Row 4: Stella Barger, Altha Hilflicker, Charles Collins, Ella Gohl,
George Felder, Melissa Collins, Bert Gorsline. (Photo: Clyde Collins scrapbook)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 48, p. 66]
__________
Polecat School stood on the east side of 600W one-half mile south of the
present Jubilee School. Polecat School was built before 1876 and was abandoned
between 1883 and 1907, according to the atlases of those dates.
Jubilee School still stands on the northeast corner of 100S and 600W south of
Cowles' gravel pit.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 44, pp 60-61]
Reuben Minton [has charge of] Barretts schoolhouse, or "Polecat".
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 6, 1873]
POLLEY SCHOOL [#2] [Aubbeenaubbee Township]
Located in Section 14, N side 500N, at approximately 735W.
Also called Gamby.
Built before 1876; abandoned 1883 and 1907.
[photo] Polley School (building at right) in Aubbeenaubbee Township 1904. This
one-room school was located on the north side of 500N halfway between 750W and
675W. This is the only known photo that exists of this school as it burned about
1905. It closed about 1900 and was moved a half mile north to the corner of 550N
and 750W on the north side of the road. There it was used as a residence for the
George Polley family, then Robert Yelton, later Charlie Coughenour's widow.
Originally the school was located on Levi Gamby's farm and was also called
Gamby's school. It was called Polley School because Oliver Cromwell Polley lived
just east of the school. Teachers were Mary Shadle 1883, Frank Beery 1885,
Bessie Curtis, Carrie Marbaugh 1890, Bertha Kline 1900. (Photo lent by Everett
Murhling, copied by DeBruler Studio)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 43, p. 37]
__________
Polley School was located on 500N halfway between 750W and 675W on the north
side of the road. It closed before 1890 and was moved a half mile north to the
corner of 550N and 750W on the north side of the road. There it was used as a
residence for the George Polley family, then Robert Yelton, later Charlie
Coughenour's widow. It burned probably between 1900 and 1905. Originally the
school was located on Levi Gamby's farm, but it was called Polley School because
Oliver Cromwell Polley lived just east of the school. Patrons included Polley,
Smith, Barger, Murling, Crabbs, John Jacob Wagoner and Bess families. No one
remembers any of the teachers as it was too long ago.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 17, p. 4]
PONTIOUS SCHOOL [Henry Township]
POSSUM HOLLOW SCHOOL [#6] [Newcastle Township]
Also called Barkman School.
Located three miles north of Athens.
Located SW corner of 650E and 300N.
Built before 1876; abandoned between 1876 and 1883.
Another school, same name, located NE corner of 650E and 300N.
Built between 1876 and 1883.
__________
[photo] Possum Hollow school built in 1894, pictured above in 1904-05. Row 1:
Sam Shobe, Jim Hutchinson, Robert Russell, John Shobe, Carrie Zolman, Ella
Emmons, Fred Russell, Vida Walburn, Willie Doukin, Kline Smith, Beulah Russell,
Roy Rhodes, Agnes Rhodes, Effie Bussard, Scott Bowen, Eunice Barkman, Delta
Barkman, Glen Russell, Mildred Rhodes, Orvan Heighway, Sumner Rhodes, Mina
Barkman, Maggie Heighway, Washington Hamlet and Norman Emmons. Row 2: Perry
Jefferies, Court Rhodes, Laversa (Dal) Smith, Martha Bowen, Mary Heighway, Sadie
Kesler, Charley Heighway, Carrie Bussard, Leland Jefferies, Frank Emmons, Harley
Walburn. (Photo: Beulah Russell Peterson)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 25, p. 3]
POSSUM HOLLOW SCHOOL
By Herman Haines and Sandra Hartlerode
Possum Hollow school was first located on the southwest corner of 700E and 300N.
The ground was donated by John Barkman with the promise that when the land was
no longer used for a school it would go back to the farm, which it did. The
frame schoolhouse was abandoned in 1894 when a new brick building was built on
the northeast corner of the same intersection. The brick building was then
abandoned about 1925 when the students from Lakeview and Possum Hollow were all
taken to Talma where they had a three-year high school. Before the transfer to
Talma, Lakeview and Possum Hollow schools were consolidated at Possum Hollow.
Teachers at Possum Hollow were Jerry Byers, John Haimbaugh, Tom Haimbaugh, Clyde
Fish, George Deamer, Sr., Linnie Tippy, Dessa Thompson, Cleo Hatfield (1912-13),
Zora Coplen, Loren Bryant, Elma Barr, Lena Barkman, Vance Fenstermaker, Harley
Anderson (1916-17), Hobart Rogers, Boyd Peterson (1917-18), J. D. Finney
(1920-22), Rudy Bybee, Blanche Bacon (1918-19), Marie Ewing (1919-20) and the
last teacher, Cleo Teeter Nye (1922-24).
Mrs. Clarence Peterson (Beulah Russell) remembers that all students who lived
within 1-1/2 miles of the school walked to and from the building and carried
their dinners. Sometimes in bad weather the parents would take the children to
school by carriage, stopping along the way to get other pupils who lived enroute.
There was one teacher for all grades from chart class (now called kindergarden)
through eighth grade. The older boys didn't start school until the corn was
cribbed and the winter supply of wood was cut and they left school when spring
work began. Because of the shortness of time spent in school many of them
attended until they were 21 years old to finish the eight grades.
Mrs. Peterson also recalled, "The pump was located quite a distance from
the schoolhouse which made fetching water in the wintertime an inconvenience. I
don't recall the children in my family ever having overshoes and I remember that
we got wet as we walked to school through the snow. Many times we would sit on
block of wood and logs around the large stove in the midde of the room. I can
remember that it became very cold in the schoolhouse at times. There was a
square opening in the ceiling above the stove and much of the heat was lost.
"The boys usually played ball during recess time. Zolman's woods was
located across the road from the schoolhouse. Sometimes some of the pupils would
go there to play hide-the-stick or to gather thorn apples and beechnuts. Around
Christmas the students would begin to talk of locking the teacher out if a treat
wasn't given. As long as I was in school I can't remember a teacher being locked
out. They always gave a treat," concluded Beulah Peterson.
Vance Fenstermaker taught at Possum Hollow in 1913-14. He adds the following
comments. "The year I finished high school, 1913, the principal asked me if
I would like to become a teacher as he thought I could get an assignment. I
thought about it and decided to attend normal school. At that time a teacher was
required to finish 12 weeks of normal school and pass a county examination. I
attended the school at Winona Lake passed the exam and was assigned to Possum
Hollow school that fall term (1913). I believe Frank Coplen was trustee at that
time.
"My family lived on the county line road about eight miles from Possum
Hollow, too far from home for it to be practical to travel each day, so I
boarded with the Frank Mickey family (first house south of Bethlehem Baptist
Church). My mother took me to Possum Hollow each Monday morning by horse and
buggy and returned to fetch me on Friday night so I could be home on weekends. I
had to sleep in the same bed with Porter Mickey, Frank's son. The boarding cost
me 18 cents a meal; 54 cents a day with bed. That was considered a reasonable
amount at the time. My pay was $45 monthly; computed at 20 days per month, it
came to $2.25 per day. It was considered very good pay as a man shoveling gravel
made only $1.50 per day for 10 hours of work. (I did some shoveling myself for a
while). I was able to save enough money that first year I taught to buy a horse
and buggy of my own.
"As I remember the kids in those days were better behaved than kids of
today. If they got into trouble and were punished at school they could expect to
receive a second punishment when they got home to their parents. Parents
expected their children to obey the schoolteacher and they usually obeyed, which
was surprising as I was barely any older than some of the pupils that first year
I taught at age 18.
"I had all eight grades to teach at Possum Hollow but the school only
totaled 31 pupils that year. I remember that only two were graduated from eighth
grade that year: Lucy Coplen and Fanny Krathwald. The kids played the usual
games at recess; ball, blackman base, hide and seek. On the last day of school
that year they surprised me with a huge picnic lunch.The people just started to
arrive and they constructed a table by putting long planks across the tops of a
couple of desks and then proceeded to fill the table with food. I was really
surprised and we all had a good time that day. They wanted me to come back the
next year but I thought I could get another school assignment closer to my home.
I was able to get assigned to a school in Marshall County the next year, which
was located just one mile from my family home. I remember Possum Hollow well and
with fondness," Mr.Fenstermaker concluded.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 25, pp 3-5]
The Sunday school at Possum Hollow school house is getting along pretty well,
with M. L. Kesler as superintendent.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 2, 1877]
Teachers:
John Haimbaugh
1904-05: Dessie Thompson
1915-16: Harley Anderson
1923 (ca): Cleo (Teeter) Nye
Martha Mathews married Lavoy Hoffman and lives in a new house where the old
Possum Hollow one-room school was in Henry Township. [?]
[William Dudgeon Family, Malcolm Miller, Fulton Co Folks, Vol. 2, Willard]
PRAIRIE GROVE SCHOOL[#9] [Union Township]
Located SW corner of 600W and 300S.
Built between 1876 and 1883.
__________
[photo] Prairie Grove School 1908-09. Front Row: Freda Phebus, Frances Evans,
Bessie Van Cleve, Aletha McCay, Lee Mullins. Row 2: Alice McCay, Hortie Finney,
Florence McCay, Wilbie Evans, Leo Steinke. Row 3: Grace Collins, Verla
Grandstaff, Myrtle Curtis, Jesse Van Cleve, Eldon Walters. Back Row: Pearl
Mutchler (later Mrs. Milton Hiland) - teacher, Schuyler Grandstaff. (Photo:
Pearl Hiland) Prairie Grove one-room school stood on the southwest corner of
300S and 600W about two miles east of Kewanna. It was across the road from the
Prairie Grove Church.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 46, p.42]
[photo] Prairie Grove School 1916-17, located a mile and a half southeast of
Kewanna. Front Row: Clifford Moore, Lawrence Holland, Catherine Herr, Francis
Leap, Rannie Roberts, Richard Short. Row 2: Mabel Rankin, Vera McClain, Kathryn
Moore, Merle Fall, Grace McClain, Geneva Fall. Back Row: Carl Steinke in front
of Emmit McClain, Clara Raymond, Chloe Ewing - teacher, Paul Herr, Cyril Herr,
Beulah Leap, Florence Steinke. (Photo: Chloe Ewing Johnson)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 49, p. 73]
[photo] Prairie Grove School 1922. Front Row: Grace Woods, Helen Hilflicker,
Marion Lamb, Helen Woods, Loretta McLaughlin, probably McLaughlin or Starbuck
girl, Esther Wharton, Isabel Mutchler, Doroth Lamb Chizum, Lois Starbuck. Row 2:
George Starbuck, Harlen Wharton, Bernice Lamb Falcon, James Woods, Lewis Woods,
Wilma Starbuck, George Hilflicker, Josephine Mutchler, Hugh Woods, Lewis Starr -
teacher. (Photo: Lorena Starr Sheridan Johnson)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 49, p. 80]
[photo] Teacher at Prairie Grove and Bruce Lake Schools. Lewis Starr poses by
his first new car, a 1924 Ford Roadster. Buildings in background are on Main
Street, Kewanna. (Photo: Lorena Starr Sheridan Johnson)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 44, p. 53]
[photo] Prairie Grove school on left and church on right. The church was built
in 1925 and the school was built in 1875. (Photo: from a Christmas card
belonging to Dorothy Chizum, sent to her from Ferd and Stella Grube.)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 49, p. 79]
[photo] Prairie Grove School 1927. Albert McLochlin Jr. is on the steps. His
aunt, Gertrude McLochlin, was the teacher. This was taken at Christmas. Junior's
father played Santa Claus at the school that year. Junior was killed in the
South Pacific in World War II. (Photo: A. C. McLochlin)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 44, p. 52]
[photo] This is the Model A Ford won by Gertrude McLochlin in 1928 by selling
subscriptions to a Logansport newspaper. Here it is in front of the McLochlin
home in Kewanna on the southeast corner of Logan and Elm streets. Gertrude
McLochlin and Dorothy Smiley are posing by the door. The license is for 1931.
(Photo: Gertrude McLochlin Holland)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 49, p. 75]
PRAIRIE GROVE SCHOOL
By Shirley Willard
Ruth Pownall (Mrs. Loyd) Rouch stated that Prairie Grove School was started by
her grandfather, Matthew Hale Walters, about 1870 and he taught the first year
free. He taught at Dewey one-room school in Wayne Township, riding horseback to
school. He quit teaching at Dewey in order to start Prairie Grove. His little
daughters, Emma and Mary, would have had to go to Scotland School, and Walters
considered that too far for them to walk. So he went around to the other parents
and got them to donate money to start a school. He named it Prairie Grove for
the grove of trees standing on the flat prairie. At first they held school in an
existing building; later they built a school.
The 1876 atlas does not show Prairie Grove School, but the 1883 atlas does, so
this indicates it was erected between 1876 and 1883. The school stood on the
southwest corner of 600W and 300S.
Matthew's father, Rev. Henry Walters, organized the Prairie Grove Church in
Polecat School in 1874 and the Blue Grass United Brethren Church in Feidner
School in 1875. The church at Polecat moved south a mile and a half to Prairie
Grove School and then built a church across the road from the school. (Polecat
School closed when they built the new Jubilee School in 1898.)
Teachers up to 1921 were listed in Quarterly 44. Teachers from then until
Prairie Grove closed: Nellie Reimenschneider 1920-23, Lewis Starr 1923-24,
Herbert Montgomery 1924-25, Albert McLochlin 1925-26, Tom Reed 1926-27, and
Gertrude McLochlin 1927-28. Prairie Grove School closed in the spring of 1928,
and the pupils were bussed to Kewanna that fall.
The Prairie Grove schoolhouse was sold by public auction c. 1937, and Howard
Mutchler bought it. He moved it a half mile south to his farm, put it up on
cement blocks eight feet off the ground and used the school for a hay loft above
a sheep shed. The old school was pushed off its cement block foundation by the
big tornado April 3, 1974, but it was repaired and continued in use. After
Howard's death the farm was sold to Dr. Kenneth Hoff, who had the old Prairie
Grove school-shed torn down c. 1978-79.
Vachel Walters, Kewanna, attended school at Prairie Grove two terms: 1926-27 and
1927-28, being in the sixth and seventh grades. Thomas E. Reed was the teacher
1926-27, and Gertrude McLochlin was the teacher 1927-28. There was no roof on
the porch at Prairie Grove by this time. Perhaps the whole school roof had
leaked and been repaired and the porch roof was not deemed worth replacing so
was removed.
In the spring of 1928 while teaching at Prairie Grove School, Gertrude McLochlin
won a new Model A Ford car by selling subscriptions (at $3 a year) to the
Logansport Morning Press. She worked for about two months selling subscriptions
after school. Her older brother, Albert McLochlin, substituted for her at
Prairie Grove School sometimes so she could sell more. And her brother Leo
helped her by selling about a hundred subscriptions.The new car was worth $800
and that's how much she had to sell in subscriptions, at least. What a happy day
when she got the new car, a brand new Model A that Ford had just designed to
replace the Model T. She took her pupils for rides in the rumble seat. Vachel
Walters still remembers the thrilling day when the teacher won a new car!
In 1928 a new high school and gymnasium was constructed in Kewanna. The
remaining one-room schools in Union Township, except Bruce Lake Station, were
consolidated into the Kewanna School. The Bruce Lake Station School was closed
in 1929, thus ending the era of one-room schools in Union Township, Fulton
County, Indiana.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 49, pp 72-75]
PRAIRIE GROVE SCHOOL
By Vera McClain Matthewman
Prairie Grove School was located on the southwest corner of two country roads
(300S and 600W) south across the road from the Prairie Grove Church. The
building was located in the eastern side of the school yard with entrance facing
east. The school yard was large, level, and covered with grass with several
large trees. There was ample space for baseball games and running games. We had
no playground equipment. A driven well with a hand pump stood to the south of
the entrance. The usual two small buildings were near the south line of the
school yard west of the school house.
The building had three windows on each side (north and south). There was a small
entry room. Along the east wall extending from the outside wall to the entry
room wall on each side of the room was a shelf about five feet from the floor.
This was for our dinner pails. Below the shelf were hooks for the coats and
caps, overshoes (galashes) were set on the floor. At the front of the room (the
entrance was known as the back of the room), the floor was raised about six
inches for a space of about eight feet: the teacher's desk and chair occupied
the center of this raised platform. A slate blackboard was across the front
wall. There was an organ and one book case with three sections for the library
books. A map rack hung above the blackboard.
A large stove stood near the middle of the room with the long stove pipe
extending to the chimney on the front wall (west) of the building. This pipe was
held in place by wires attached to the ceiling. There was also a circular lamp
fixture extending from the ceiling that held four kerosene lamps. This fixture
could be lowered and raised. It was seldom used during school hours but was
invaluable for lighting during school functions at night, such as box socials,
spelling bees and ciphering matches.
On each side of the stove were two rows of seats (nailed to the floor) of
varying sizes - the small ones at the front. The inner rows of seats were double
seats. There never was any mixing of the sexes in seating in the double seats.
In fact one form of discipline was to make a boy and girl share a double seat.
A long recitation bench was placed just below the raised platform between the
rows of seats. Pupils came to the front and sat on this bench plus any seats on
the front desks as were needed for class recitation.
The enrollment while I attended the school was about 20. It varied a bit from
year to year. Class size was one to five or six. For many classes a combination
of grades was made such as spelling grades 4 and 5 or grades 7 and 8.
It was customary every Friday to have "exercises" from the last recess
to the close of school. For exercises we chose sides with every pupil being
chosen. There were ciphering matches, spell downs, reading contests, charades,
map locations and scrambled words. Everything had an educational basis.
We had little need for physical education as we know it today. For recess-time
activities we jumped the rope, had running races, jumping contests, even some
marble playing. The younger girls sometimes brought their dolls and had a
modified version of playing house.
Among the games we played were baseball - also a midified form called
"cross out," "Blackman" "dare base," "red
light," and hide and go seek.
There was wrestling for the boys and a bit of boxing if some boy received boxing
gloves for Christmas. With the coming of snow we added the game of fox and
geese.
The younger children played "the Farmer in the Dell", "Charlie
over the Water", various forms of tag, "Mulberry Bush", and
"Statue".
In inclement weather we often had singing, quiet games such as "fruit
basket", "tic tac toe", or blackboard games. Sometimes the girls
did crocheting or knitting.
In addition to socializing at a box social, the profit earned was used to buy
baseballs, mitts, bats, jump ropes and some library books.
I shall always be grateful to Mrs. John Barnett, the Kewanna librarian, who
supervised the construction of wooden boxes that would hold approximately 50
books - one for each rural school in the township. She selected the books for
each box, each one being different, and had these boxes rotated each month among
the schools. She did a wonderful job of selecting the books so as to include
books for various grade levels and a variety of content such as fiction,
science, adventure, travel, historical, and mystery. This was my doorway to the
world beyond my community. When I read of foreign countries and their people, I
vowed I'd see some of these when I grew up. Fortune has been good to me as I've
realized my childhood promise to myself in traveling to many of the places I
read about as an elementary pupil in a one-room school.
In 1915-16 the teacher was Aileen Wittenberg. Enrollment: Clara Raymond, Dessie
Zimpleman, Ralph Falls, Merle Falls, Geneva Falls, Beulah Leap, Florence Steinke,
Carl Steinke, Kathryn Moore, Clifford Moore, Cyril Herr, Paul Herr, Catherine
Herr, Lawrence Holland, Mabel Rankin, Emmet McClain, Grace McClain and Vera
McClain. I'm not sure I've named everyone.
In 1916-17 Albert McLochlin was the teacher. Pupils: Geneva Falls, Merle Falls,
Florence Steinke, Carl Steinke, Beulah Leap, Frances Leap, Kathryn and Clifford
Moore - part of the year, Cyril Herr, Paul Herr, Catherine Herr, Mabel Rankin,
Lola Walters - part of the year, Herman Davis, Raymond Davis, Hazel Lamb,
Berniece Lamb, Marion Wharton, Ruth Wharton, Richard Short - part of the year,
Emmet McClain, Grace McClain, Vera McClain, and Lawrence Holland.
In 1917-18 Chloe Ewing (now Mrs. Alvin Johnson) was teacher. Pupils: Geneva
Falls, Merle Falls, Carl Steinke, Beulah Leap, Frances Leap, Mabel Rankin,
Herman Davis, Raymond Davis, Lawrence Holland, Hazel Lamb, Berniece Lamb, Marion
Wharton, Ruth Wharton, Ranna Roberts, Emmet McClain, Grace McClain, and Vera
McClain. Ralph Falls, Scott and Walter McClain attended from January to
mid-March. Nellie Hendrickson Riemenschneider was the teacher (I believe)
1918-19 and maybe 1919-20. In 1920-21 Mildred Pownall Diveley was the teacher.
She lives now in Grass Creek.
A. C. McLochlin adds the following. I will try to name the families that made up
the Prairie Grove district: Samuel Lamb's children - Marion, Hazel and Berniece,
Bob Falls - Merle (my janitor) and sister Ruth, Charles Steinke - one boy - Carl
Steinke, Howard Mutchler - Gene, Vince Little - Bertha and Fred, Mr. Davis -
Herman - another boy in the first grade - also Mrs. Davis' children - a boy
Clifford and a girl Katherine of a different last name, Mr. Herr - Paul and
Catherine.
Bert Gorsline was the trustee and I remember he said the pupils about ran the
lady teacher out the year before, but I never had a bit of trouble. The building
was wood and we had a wood-burning stove. There was a bullet hole in the wall
just above the teacher's desk, which was put there by a pupil who shot at the
teacher, but I don't remember who but I think itt was Elmer Cook. Barkers also
lived in the house nearby when I taught there. That is the winter of the big
snow and I walked four miles for a week, then I bought a sleigh and drove it to
school for four weeks (1918). I also taught at Bruce Lake Station in 1919-20.
George Garman was the trustee and Thomas Berry the county superintendent. We had
a baseball team and also a basketball team and we won 13 out of 15 games in
both. I am glad to see somebody trying to get the records recorded for the
future. The rest of the time I taught in Wayne Township.
Mrs. Frank Greer recalls that the old Prairie Grove schoolhouse was moved a half
mile south by Howard Mutchler and converted into a sheep shed, where it is still
standing. The Prairie Grove Church was torn down and a new church built about
1954 but the church was closed in 1966. Frank and Delia Greer bought the church
in 1969 but it was destroyed by the big tornado Apr. 3, 1974. Greers built a new
house on the church site in 1975 there they live now.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 44, pp 52-56]
SCHOOL DAYS AT PRAIRIE UNION, LUCERNE KEWANNA, SCOTLAND
AND PRAIRIE GROVE
By Pearl Mutchler Hiland
PRAIRIE GROVE
In the fall of 1907, my parents had moved to their farm in the Prairie Grove
neighborhood and I was assigned to that school by Mr. John Gorsline. There I
taught all eight grades. Three pupils were in the eighth who had to be prepared
to pass the state examination for graduation. So their recitation time needed 20
minutes each subject, but not all subjects every day. My two little boys in the
primer class received five minutes of my attention first thing in the morning,
five minutes after first recess, and five minutes after noon recess. That was my
attention for the day, except to give them some "busy work" on their
own. But they learned to read, or so I thought. I discovered one little fellow
was memorizing the sentences under each picture, but did not recognize the same
words if under another picture. The first graders were Donald Anderson, and Leo
Steinke. Other pupils were Schuyler Grandstaff, his sisters Verla and Mabel;
Grace Collins; Myrtle, Chloe and Howard Curtis; Alice, Aletha and Florence McCay;
Hortie Finney, Frieda Phebus; Lee Mullin; Bessie and Jesse Van Cleve, Eldon
Walters; Frances and Welby Evans.
In FCHS Quarterly No. 44, Vera McClain Matthewman gave an accurate description
of the building and ground in 1907 and 08 except a porch with roof had been
added, also there was no well, no organ, but a library of about 20 books. Water
was carried in a tin bucket from the house of a widow, Mrs Hipp (later she
married Wm. Barker). Her property joined the school grounds on the west. The
bucket sat on a chair with sawed off legs, so small children could use the tin
dipper that hung on the wall.
This chair was used the few times I used corporeal punishment which was then
expected of a teacher. Often children received a second whipping at home if he
had one at school! I used a paddle - 18 inches long, the blade 12 inches and a
nice round smooth handle of 6 inches. It was made for me by my fiance, Milt
Hiland, of apple wood and finished beautifully. My foster brother and brother
used it on me once and I can verify it did sting! I remember well one time I
used it. Jesse Van Cleve was the only seventh grader and sort of a dreamer. His
arithmetic assignment was two pages of written problems. He was to solve part of
them on Monday, but didn't. Neither did he do them and a few more on Tuesday or
Wednesday so I said, "Jesse, I want this whole list handed in Friday
evening before you go home." Then I added and I'll never know why, "If
you don't, I will use my paddle on you." Well, he handed me the paper and I
glanced at all the right answers. But while the children were putting on their
wraps I gave the problems a close look. The answers had nothing to do with the
problems. He had copied them from the back of the book. I had him remain in his
seat after the children had gone, and I sat on the desk and gave him a sermon on
how wrong cheating was, the same as stealing, trying to fool me was like lying
and was disrespectful of me. "Jesse, I said I'd paddle you so get the
little chair and put it in the center aisle." He hesitated but did it,
hesitated longer when I ordered him to lie on his stomach on the chair and I
gave him five or six swats. If he had defied me, I don't know what I would have
done for he was almost as tall as I. Later he became a minister and served
churches in Illinois and was YMCA executive at Great Lakes Naval Station during
the second World War. I'd like to think I had a bit of influence. I know he did
not hold it against me for he came to see me after I was married and living in
Kewanna.
The County Superintendent visited each school once a year to evaluate one's
teaching on which a grade was received. Supt. Werner visited the Prairie Grove
School and made only one suggestion. He noticed the children called me
"Pearl." (Why not? I was their neighbor.) I explained to the pupils
Mr. Werner thought calling me "Pearl" was too familiar. I thought
"Miss Mutchler" too formal so we'd compromise and they should call me
"Miss Pearl" which they did with a few lapses.
In those years married women were not hired as teachers. I think Indiana had no
law against it but trustees would not hire them. I was engaged to Milton Hiland
Jr., so my teaching in Union Township ended with the second year at Prairie
Grove.
I enjoyed the children, the teaching and the institutes. Indiana had a system of
what is now called "Continuing Education". All township teachers met
one Saturday a month in the high school study and work shop. For the latter a
teacher would bring some of his pupils and demonstrate his method of teaching an
assigned subject. I remember two of our study books - The Bible as Literature,
and Van Dyke's Essays in Application. We were paid a day's wages, but attendance
was mandatory. I think we all enjoyed the all-day sessions. The teachers in
1906-09 were Misses Blanch Baldwin, Jessie Rogers, Edna Talbott and Pearl
Mutchler; the men were Elmer Cook, Clyde Henderson, Ray Cannon, Howard Conn and
an older man from Delong - Mr. King.
There was a sort of kinship between the teachers of our own township as well as
a rivalry between the other groups. There was one between Wayne and Union
townships also. I do not remember whose idea was a debate on the subject of our
study book that year, English government. Resolved: "England has a better
form of government than the United States." Though Union Township had the
unpopular side and the affirmative, always more difficult, I allowed Elmer Cook
to persuade me that I'd be doing it for the glory of Union Township. I was the
lone girl with seven men to debate, and we won at Grass Creek High School at an
evening public meeting.
Twenty-two years later when our son Robert began his teaching career, I was able
to give him some good advice, for I had learned a lot as well as the pupils. I
am happy that at the age of 96, I am still learning and hope I always will.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 46, pp 41-44]
Don Wilson, Fulton, says he attended Prairie Grove School 1925-26 and that
Herbert Montgomery was the teacher.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 45, Corrections, p. 51]
PRAIRIE UNION SCHOOL [#16] [Henry Township]
Located NE corner 1075E and approximately 280S.
In 1874 Arnold and Sarah Cutshall sold one-fourth acre of land to Henry Township
trustee for $10 for the Prairie Union one-room school.
Built between 1876 and 1883.
__________
[photo] Prairie Union School about 1909. Front row: Gail Sausaman, Fred Snoke,
Adie Sausaman, Theron Grogg, Cloyd Sriver, Dewey Snoke. Row 2: Grace Sausaman,
Nondes Sriver, Marie Shriver, Nina Miller, Vera Arter, Estel Sriver, Chester
Shriver, Walter Kreig. Row 3: Marie Whittenberger, Gladys Arter, Louisa Shriver,
Miles Sausaman, Ross Snoke, Ralph Whittenberger. Row 4: Cordie Sausaman, Ferol
King, Ruth Long, Daniel Slaybaugh - teacher, Edwin Sriver. (Photo: Ralph
Whittenberger)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 43, p. 46]
[photo] Prairie Union School, 1911. Back Row: Frank Sausaman, Corda Sausaman,
Ferol King, Edwin Sriver, Marie Whittenberger, Ruth Long, Daniel Slaybaugh -
teacher, Grace Pontius, Miles Sausaman, Ralph Whittenberger. Middle Row: Louisa
Shriver, Gladys Arter, Marie Shriver, Nondus Sriver, Nina Miller, Vera Arter,
Odie Sausaman, Fred Snoke. Front Row: Chester Shriver, Ross Snoke, Dewey Snoke,
Estel Sriver, Gail Sausaman, Therean Grogg, Walter Kreig.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August, 1969, No. 1, p. 19]
[photo] Prairie Union School 1920-21. Front row: Glen Ziebart - visitor, Bob
Sriver, Garland Sriver - visitor, Ralph Davis. Row 2: Lester Davis, Harold
Ziebart, Orville Sriver. Row 3: Forrest Grogg, Harry Sriver, Neva Cutshall was
the teacher. The children have pussy willows in their hands. (Photo: Orville
Sriver)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 43, p. 48]
District 16 - Prairie Union School
By Velma Bright
Prairie Union was located one mile west and one and one-half miles south of
Akron. On July 14, 1874, Trustee E. A. Arnold of Henry Township purchased
one-fourth acre of land from Arnold and Sarah Cutshall for ten dollars on which
to build the Prairie Union School. However, the school building was not yet
completed in 1876. School was in session there in 1920-21 for the last time. The
buuilding is still standing.
An earlier school once stood about one hundred rods west of this school. Ralph
Whittenberger states that his grandfather said that the first election in Henry
Township was held here.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August, 1969, No. 1, p. 19]
MEMORIES OF PRAIRIE UNION SCHOOL
By Ralph Whittenberger as told to Velma Bright
Prairie Union School was located one mile west and one-half mile south of Akron
and was known as District 16 School.
I attended this school for eight years and my father before me attended Prairie
Union. My grandfather always told me that the first election in Henry Township
was held in this schoolhouse.
When the second schoolhouse was built, all of the work was donated except the
actual building of the structure. The men of the community took their wagons and
hauled the bricks to the site. The first school stood about 100 rods west of the
second building which is still standing.
The families which made up the school community were those of Mason Grogg, Elmer
Heltzel, Philip Arter, Isaac Sriver, Elias Shriver, Peter Miller, John Davis,
Rueben Whittenberger, William Sausaman, Jacob Eshelman, Nathan Pontius, Aaron
Cutshall, Philip Kreig and Jacob King. Many times when the children married they
would settle in the same community or move in with the parents, thus, several
generations of one family would attend the school. Other families would at times
move into the community and their children would then attend the school. Some of
the boys in the family wouldn't get to go to school until all the wood was cut
for winter and the corn was husked so it would take them longer to get through
school.
The teachers that I remember or know to have taught at Prairie Union are Miller
Whittenberger, Dot Bowen, Earl Waite, Edith Stephy,. Leah Platt, Gladys Dawson,
Worthy Shewman, Dayton Swihart, William Shewman, Lola Judd, Daniel Slaybaugh,
Lucretia Nye, Vern Miller, Pearl Kessling, Neva Cutshall, Seth Carpenter and
Ruth Waechter.
When my father, Sam Whittenberger, attended Prairie Union, his brother Miller
Whittenberger was his teacher. One day Miller gave Sam a whipping and this
didn't set too well with Sam.
During the time that I was attending school, Worthy Shewman was the teacher and
was getting along quite well. He then quit in the middle of the year to take a
mail route. After that the teacher was more lax and we didn't have school about
half of the time.
An older boy was always janitor. They would come early before the teacher
arrived and loosen the stovepipes. Just about time for school to take up, the
stovepipes would fall down and smoke them all out. School would have to be
dismissed for the day.
The boys would sometimes ring the bell so hard that it would turn over and be
upside down. It wouldn't ring in this position so the teacher would send them to
a neighbor's home nearby to borrow a ladder. The boys would return with the
ladder, climb into the belfry and wouldn't come down until school was dismissed.
When Daniel Slaybaugh was teacher, he had to straighten out some of the big
boys. One day he shook one of them so hard it knocked the stovepipe down. The
stove sat in front of the door and the stove pipe went to the back of the
schoolhouse so there was a lot of stovepipe. It was quite a job to get it back
in place so the school trustees would have to come in and get it fixed up.
Usually there were two trustees for the school as I remember. If I remember
correctly, Milo Cuthsall and George Whittenberger were the trustees.
When Daniel Slaybaugh was teacher, he would play with the children. One time
Edwin Sriver and myself buried Dan in the snow. He buried my sock cap in the
snow one time and it took me two days to find it.
On nice days Dan would ride a motorcycle to school. This was one of the first
motorcycles in this community.
One of the highlights of the school year was the Christmas festivities. About
Christmas time one of the bigger boys would bring a bobsled to school and we
would all get to go and get the Christmas tree. One time that stands out in my
mind was when we went about two miles north to Charley Harter's farm. He gave us
a tree that year and it was a very large tree. All of the children made paper
rings and strung popcorn and we decorated the tree. If there were any lights on
the tree, it was lighted with candles.
Everyone brought money and a present was bought for the teacher. Most of the
time the Christmas program was given in the afternoon. The parents would come
and they would put a present under the tree for their child. The teacher always
gave all of the children a treat.
Later when Ruth Waechter was teaching at Prairie Union and I was going to high
school in Akron, she asked me to come to school and be Santa Claus at the
Christmas party. I drove to Mason Grogg's and left my horses there, then walked
over to the school. No one, not even my brother could recognize who was playing
Santa. However, the teacher dismissed school too quickly after I left and I
didn't have time enough to get back to Grogg's. The boys ran down the road and
found me and took my mask off so they could see who was playing Santa Claus.
We didn't have any well at the school until about 1909 or 1910. Everyone wanted
it to be his turn to go to William Arter's and get water. If it was your turn to
go, you would put it off until school would take up; then you would get out of
school for a little while.
In 1908 I was in fifth grade. Gladys Dawson was the teacher. I would take her
horse to Bill Arter's and get it in the evening. I would sweep the schoolhouse
every day after school and build the fires in the morning. I received five cents
per day and was janitor all of that year.
We had box socials every year. They were money raising events as well as
socials. One time we bought a second-hand organ for the school and another time
some new bookcases were secured. When events were held at the school at night,
kerosene lamps from the kitchens of the children's homes were borrowed and hung
on the wall.
When Lucretia Nye was teacher she was dating Arthur Kuhn, whom she later
married. Before the box social Bill Arter gave me some money so that I could bid
against Arthur for Lucretia's basket. However, Jack Morris came and bid on the
basket too. He paid $16 for her basket and Arthur didn't get to eat with her
because he didn't have that much money.
Another thing I remember is that the boys would go out into the cornfield and
hide in the corn shocks and smoke cornsilk. The smoke would curl up from the
shocks making it look like wigwams.
On cold days we would all sit on the chunks of wood around the stove to keep
warm.
The last day of school was always a big day. All of the parents would come and
if it was a nice day they would have a big dinner in the school yard. They
always had a program and every year Roscoe Davis would recite "The Raggedy
Raggedy Man."
I have two end-of-school souvenir booklets for Prairie Union School. The one for
1904 lists the following pupils: Ferol King, Ross Snoke, Ralph Whittenberger,
Walter Kreig, Jesse Shriver, Walter Shriver, Gertrude Shriver, Miles Sausaman,
Ray Sausaman, Ethel Templeton, Theresa Grogg, Abia Snoke, Rosco Davis, Chester
Shriver, Corda Sausaman, Fay Shriver, Amy Davis, Hazel Whittenberger, Fay King,
Ruth Long, Edwin Sriver, Willis Cutshall, Frank Sausaman, Clyde Davis, Harvey
Davis, and James Personett. Leah Platt was the teacher, Milo Cutshall, director;
B. F. Holloway, trustee.
Gladys Dawson was the teacher for 1908. Pupils: Eighth grade: Clyde Davis, Hazel
Whittenberger, Amy Davis. Seventh grade: Theresa Grogg, Jesse Shriver. Sixth
grade: Frank Sausaman. Fifth grade: Edwin Sriver, Alta Fay Shriver, Ralph
Whittenberger. Fourth grade: Ruth Long, Chester Shriver. 3-A grade: Ferol King,
Corda Sausaman, Marie Whittenberger. 3-B grade. Gladys Arter, Louisa Shriver,
Margaret Kline, Miles Sausaman, Estel Sriver, Cloid Sriver. First grade: Emmett
Eshelman, Charles Eshelman, Theresa Grogg, Gail Sausaman, Vera Arter.
Albert Cook was Henry Township trustee and J. C. Werner was Fulton County School
Superintendent in 1908.
The Akron News had the following notice in its "This Was News" column
Nov. 6, 1975, for 60 years ago (1915): "A good time was experienced at the
box supper at the Prairie Union school house last Friday evening. Nineteen
dollars were received, for which the teacher, Seth Carpenter, and his pupils
thank the public."
Editor's note: Prairie Union School was located two miles south of Akron on the
northeast corner of 300S and 1075E.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 43, pp 46-50]
__________
The school house in district No. 16, Henry township, is all that could be
desired. It is large and well arranged -- everything considered it is the best
we have seen in the county . . -E. Myers, County Sup't.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 30, 1876]
John Dickerhoff teaches at No. 16 and is giving general satisfaction. The
same may be said of Mr. I. L. Shipley, who teaches at No. 5.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, January 20, 1877]
Seth Carpenter taught at Prairie Union one-room school southwest of Akron
Teachers: Leah Platt 1904.
Lester Davis Writes the following: "I started to school in 1915 at a
small country school four miles southwest of Akron; namely, Prairie Union. It
was discontinued four years later, then I went to Akron Grade School."
"Clyde "Doc" Davis attended Prairie Union School. He recalls his
teachers even though it has been 75 to 80 years since he was under the tutelage
of Dot Bowen, Leo Platt, William Shuman and Dr. Waittee." [-- Rochester
Sentinel, Jan. 30, 1976]
[Davis & Wilhoit Families, Doshia A. Wilhoit Dearmin, Fulton Co Folks, Vol.
2, Willard]
__________
Teachers:
1896-97: Alice Dielman
1897-98: Earl Wait
1898-99: Dot Bowen
1899-00: Rose Anderson
1900-01: Dot Bowen
1901-02: [omitted]
1902-03: Edith Stephey
1903-04: Edith Stephey
1904-05: [not listed by schools]
1905-06: [not listed by schools]
1906-07: [omitted]
1907-08: Gladye Dawson
[FCHS Quarterly No. 41, pp 37-40]
PARTIAL LIST OF TEACHERS, DISTRICT 16, PRAIRIE UNION SCHOOL
Dot Bowen, Seth Carpenter, Neva Cutshall, Gladys Dawson, Pearl Kessling, Julia
Larue, Vern Miller, Nyle Noyer, Lucretia Nye, Lea Platt, Willie Shewman, Worthy
Shewman, Daniel Slaybaugh, Edith Stephy, Ruth Waechter, Earl Waite, Miller
Whittenberger.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August, 1969, No. 1, p 23]
PRAIRIE UNION SCHOOL [#14] [Rochester Township]
Located SE corner Meridian Road and 150N.
Built before 1876.
SCHOOL DAYS AT PRAIRIE UNION, LUCERNE, KEWANNA, SCOTLAND
and PRAIRIE GROVE
By Pearl Mutchler Hiland
PRAIRIE UNION SCHOOL
My school days began in the fall of 1889 in Prairie Union School in Rochester
Township. This one-room school was located on a north and south road two miles
west of the Rochester city park, between 50N and state road 14, My three big
cousins, DeForest (Forry), Ira and Mamie Mutchler were pupils and I begged to go
too. I was not quite five years old, but my mother got the consent of the
teacher, Miss Rhoda Delp (who later became the wife of Judge Harry Bernetha). I
thought her just beautiful with her long black curls tied at the nape with a big
ribbon bow.
I can still see the little school as it sat a way back off the road among a
grove of trees. It stood on Meridian Road but faced north, rather than west
toward the road. The big US-31 by-pass is on the old school site now.
Prairie Union was a wood frame building, painted white. The playground was
between the schoolhouse and the road, so the school stood back a ways from the
road with a large yard. There was a well for water, as my uncle Peter King
Mutchler, was a well driver and it was with his children (my cousins named
above) that I walked to school each day. I lived west on state road 14 and
walked to the corner to meet my cousins coming north on Meridian Road. They
lived in a big brick house which Peter Mutchler built before 1885. (Editor's
note: this big brick house burned in 1965. The Donald Hutchens family lives
there now and sells eggs and produce.) One time I was late and missed my
cousins, so I cut through the field - some cattle chased me and really scared
me. Remember I was not yet five years old.
Inside the school the seats faced south toward the blackboard. Coats were hung
on hooks at the back of the room. The teacher's desk sat in the southwest corner
and a big chart for teaching and alphabet and reading stood in the middle of the
front of the room. This chart was very unusual for a one-room school.
I sat in a double seat with Mamie, who was 10 years old, and went to the front
to recite from the big chart. It was secured to a metal standard and the leaves
turned back over the top. The leaves were two feet by three feet. On the first
page was the capital A and a small a and the picture of an apple. Under that was
a sentence, "A is for apple" then a picture of a ball and "B is
for ball", "C is for cat," etc. Other pupils were two Osborne
teenage girls and a girl named Talley; these are the only ones I remember.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 46, p. 28]
__________
I remember John Felder, my sixth grade teacher at Prairie Union, but others I
do not recall.
[Frederick Eherenman Family, Lloyd Eherenman, Fulton Co Folks, Vol. 2, Willard]
Notice to Builders. New School House, No. 14, Rochester twp (directly west of
Rochester). I. Walker, Trustee, Rochester twp.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 6, 1863]
Notice. Proposals to build a school house in Rochester Twp., Dist. 14, will
be received on Saturday, July 2d, 1864. C. H. Robbins, Trustee.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday June 24, 1864]
Maggie McBride is the name of the accomplished lady who successfully teaches
about 30 scholars of different ages, at the Prairie Union school house, a short
distance west from this place.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 27, 1871]
At a school meeting held last Saturday at the Prairie Union School House, about one mile and a half southwest of Rochester, Miss Henrietta Rebecca McBride was elected teacher. . [Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, April 11, 1872]
At the reorganization of the Sunday School at the Prairie Union School House,
last Sabbath, Mrs. Mary E. Pyle was elected Superintendent.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, April 18, 1872]
The Prairie Union School, Miss H. R. McBride teacher, will close next
Saturday.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, July 18, 1872]
The Sunday School at the Prairie Union Schol House has been discontinued on
account of a lack of interest in its proceedings. This looks like progressing
backwards.
--- At a spelling school held at the Prairie Union School House, last Friday
night . . . Miss Sarah E. Lawrence won the laurels . . .
--- Ed. Horton is teaching . . . at the Prairie Union School House. Besides
being a good teacher, there is a fund of good humor and pleasantry in Ed. that
makes him a favorite with his scholars.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, December 19, 1872]
At a spelling school held at the Prairie Union School House, last Friday
night, Miss Ada Merrick won the belt . . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, January 2, 1873]
The Ellsworth and Orr Schools pitted themselves against the Prairie Union
school in a spelling match, last Tuesday night, but came off second best. Miss
Sarah Lawrence, of the former school, was again declared the best speller.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, January 9, 1873]
The Literary Society at the Prairie Union school house was well attended last
Saturday night.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, January 16, 1873]
The "Literary" at the Prairie Union school house last Saturday
night was a magnificent failure.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, March 6, 1873]
The Prairie Union school, Edward Horton, teacher will close its session next
Wednesday. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, March 6, 1873]
The spring term of school commenced at Prairie Union school house on Monday
last. Miss Sarah Lawrence is teaching. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, April 17, 1873]
Prairie Union School, over which Miss Sarah Lawrence presides as teacher,
closes tomorrow . . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, July 17, 1873]
Prairie Union school house is to have a new floor, and will be replastered
and otherwise fixed up. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, July 24, 1873]
Mr. J. Q. Henry has charge of the Prairie Union school.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, December 4, 1873]
Miss Ella Barb, of Rochester, is teaching the "young idea how to
shoot" at Prairie Union school house west of town. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 15, 1875]
Miss Ella Barb, who has so acceptably filled the position of teacher at
Prairie Union school house, will close her school next Saturday, 3d day of July,
with literary exercises and a picnic dinner. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 26, 1875]
Prairie Union school house has long been celebrated for its big dinners and
good cheer, and last Saturday was no exception to the rule. . . The occasion was
the closing day of Miss Barb's school. . . The following is the programme of the
closing exercises: [names mentioned] Jessie McBride, Annie Onstott, Charlie
Pyle, Lee Montgomery, Minnie Lawrence, Lela Osborn, Charlie Lawrence, Jane
Lawrence, Sammie White, Lee Pyle, W. Merrick, Emma Onstott, Leney Lawrence,
Susie Miller, Minnie Lawrence. . . . the teacher, Miss Ella Barb. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, July 10, 1875]
The services of Miss Ella Barb, a very popular teacher, have been secured by the
Priarie Union district, for the summer term.
[Around-About by Gate Keeper (J. N. Orr), Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, April 23,
1875]
Several persons will attend the closing exercises of Miss Ella Barb's school,
at Prairie Union, to-morrow (Saturday) afternoon.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, July 2, 1875]
The summer term of school taught by Miss Ella Kewney, at the saw mill, one
mile south of town, closed last Friday with a grand dinner in the grove. The
school of Ella Barb, at Prairie Union, closed last Saturday with like
ceremonies.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, July 9, 1875]
Charley Plank will "teach the young ideas" where, when and how to
shoot at the Saw Mill School; Curg. Rannells swings the birch at Mt. Zion; Ches.
Chinn manipulates the rod away down in Wayne; Frank Dawson will "walk their
chunk" at Prairie Union -- and Able Bowers will introduce the apple-eating
system at Millark.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 25, 1876]
B. F. Dawson has been engaged to teach the Prairie Union school.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, October 27, 1876]
B. F. Dawson, teacher of Prairie Union school, will hold a spelling school
next Wednesday evening.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, December 8, 1876]
Prairie Union school, Mr. B. F. Dawson teacher, will close Friday next.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 10, 1877]
There will be an election held at Prairie Union school house this afternoon
for the purpose of selecting a teacher for the spring and summer term of school.
Among the applicants for the school are Miss Dora Pyle, Miss Emma Onstott and
Miss Olive Davis.
---A good many years ago Miss Maggie McClung, now Mrs. Jesse Shields,
established the custom of giving a sumptuous dinner on the closing day at
Prairie Union, as did Miss "Dot" Ernsperger, now Mrs. Bates, at the
saw mill school house south of town. . . Our young friend, B. F. Dawson, was the
teacher at Prairie Union during the past winter. . . . Programme: . . . . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 17, 1877]
The literary Society at Prairie Union will close next Friday night with an
exhibition.
--- We understad that the Grange who have been holding their meetings at Prairie
Union, are about to dispose of their "traps" and are talking of
disbanding.
--- The election at Prairie Union school house last Saturday, held for the
purpose of selecting a teacher for the spring and summer school, resulted in
favor of Miss Emma Onstott by a majority of one vote.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 24, 1877]
School will commence at Prairie Union next Monday, Miss Emma Onstott,
teacher.
--- The Sunday school at Prairie Union school house was reorganized last Sabbath
with the following officers: Elijah Miller, Superintendent; Valentine Lawrence,
Assistant Superintendent; A. McBride, Secretary; "Doc" Osborne,
Librarian; Chas. H. Smith, Treasurer. . . . Mr. Miller was Superintendent of the
same school last summer and gave general satisfaction.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, April 14, 1877]
Sidney R. Moon opened the prayer meeting at Prairie Union last Wednesday
night. .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 26, 1877]
The following is the programme of the closing exercises of Prairie Union
school, kindly furnished us by the teacher, Miss Emma Onstott. . . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, July 14, 1877]
William Lane, of Rochester, is teaching Prairie Union Sunday school how to
sing.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, August18, 1877]
At a school meeting held a few nights ago, Joseph Ault, of Rochester, was
chosen to teach the winter term of school at Prairie Union. He is a young man of
much promise, is of studious habits and is a good scholar. . .
--- Through some disatisfaction, Mr. Elijah Miller, who has for some time filled
the position of Superintendent of the Prairie Union Sunday School, resigned his
office last Sabbath. . . . Mr. Charles Stradley of Rochester, has consented to
take the superintendency. .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, October 20, 1877]
The school at Prairie Union is presided over by C. W. Montgomery.
[Rochester Independent, Saturday, December 15, 1877]
While playing base-ball at Prairie Union school house last Saturday, A. F.
Bowers collided with another player and received a broken proboscis. . .
[Sprinkleburg Items, Rochester Union Spy, Friday, February 1, 1878]
Miss Emma Onstott [will teach a term of school] at Prairie school house. . .
[Rochester Union Spy, Friday, April 12, 1878]
There will be a Sunday school concert given at Prairie Union school house two
weeks from to-morrow night, Aug. 25th.
[Rochester Republican, Saturday, August 10, 1878]
B. F. Dawson is arranging for a grand Sunday school concert at Prairie Union,
on the 25th.
[Rochester Republican, Saturday, August 17, 1878]
Prairie Union school, Miss Mary Sperry teacher, will close next Friday.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 28, 1879]
The Literary Society at Prairie Union is now in full blast. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, January 10, 1879]
Teachers: Ruth Tracy Richardson, 1910-12
PRATT SCHOOL [Aubbeenaubbee Township]
First schoolhouse in Aubbeenaubbee township erected on farm of Lewis PRATT.
Located in the north part of the township, about a quarter of a mile west of
where Hay's School was later constructed.
PRILL SCHOOL [#3] [Henry Township]
Located NE corner of 700E and 150N.
Built before 1876
[photo] Prill's School - October 19, 1910. Back row: Orville Smith, Roscoe
Barnett, [ - - - - ] Shively, Edwin Barnett, Colfax Rhodes, Robert Utter, Devon
Shively, Walter Sriver, [ - - - - ] Bryant, Russell Bryant; Second row: Chester
Utter, Darwin Heeter, Lester Bryant, Gladys Rhodes, Ruth Bryant, Fred Rowe -
teacher, Emma Utter, Unice Bryant, Dewey Zolman, Pearl Freels, Lena Bryant.
First row: Lucile Heighway, Edith Bryant, Edith Mikesell, unknown, [- - - - ]
Shireman, [ - - - - ] Shireman, Selena Utter, unknown, unknown, Dean Barnett,
Ralph Bryant.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August 1969, No. 1, p. 7]
[photo] Prill School as it looked in the 1920's, probably while it was still
being used for school. Notice the water pump in front. (Photo: Mrs. Norman
Dickson)
[FCHS Quarterly, Vol. 9, February, 1973, No. 1, p. 26]
[photo] Prill School before Dewey Zolman began restoring it in 1971. Notice
the windows are broken out and it has been used to store old boards, grain and
farm equipment. Still the building was basically like it was years ago and
Zolman decided it was possible to restore it "good as new."
[FCHS Quarterly No. 66, p. 111]
[photo] Prill School after being restored by Dewey Zolman, with the help of
many others. The windows are replaced, blinds have been installed, a railing by
the steps and a big dinner bell erected, and the outdoor privy is ready for
business. Prill School became a museum in 1971 for the first Round Barn
Festival.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 66, p. 113]
[photo] Prill School, Oct. 19, 1910. Front row: Lucille Heighway, Edith
Bryant, Edith Mikesell, Belle Smith, Mary Shireman, Bertha Shireman, Selena
Utter, Deverle Peterson, Dean Barnette, Ralph Bryant, Raymond Shively. Row 2:
Chester Utter, Darwin Heeter, Lester Bryant, Gladys Rhodes, Ruth Bryant, Fred
Rowe - teacher, Emma Utter, Eunice Bryant, Dewey Zolman, Pearl Freels, Lena
Bryant. Back row: Orville Smith, Roscoe Barnett, Lester Shively, Edwin Barnett,
Colfx Rhodes, Robert Utter, Devon Shively, Walter Sriver, Stella Bryant, Russel
Bryant. (Photo: Mary Zolman)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 66, p. 114]
PRILL SCHOOL
By Prill School Museum Association
Prill School was built in 1876 on land donated by Mr. and Mrs. John Prill. The
school, which was District No. 3 in Henry Township was located northeast of
Athens on the northeast corner of 700E and the Fort Wayne road. One teacher
taught all eight grades. The students ranged in age from six to eighteen.
When the school opened there was no plumbing - water had to be carried in wooden
buckets by the pupils from the John Prill residence. Later a well was drilled
and two brick outhouses built, one for the girls and one for the boys.
The school was heated by a wood-burning stove. The wood was contracted from
local farmers during the summer. The older boys were often called on to carry
wood in and help fire the stove.
A water bucket, dipper and wash basin were kept at the back of the room and were
used by everyone. However, the boys had a mirror and comb on one side of the
room and the girls had one on the other side.
The children walked to school, sometimes as far as a mile and a half. They
carried their lunch to school. Lunches were kept in the cloak room and during
the winter their lunch would be frozen by noon.
The nearest high schools were in Rochester and Akron, about six miles either
way. Some of the pupils were able to commute to high school by a milk train that
stopped in Athens. As it was comulsory to attend school until age 16, some
pupils had to remain in the eighth grade several years even though they passed
because they were too young to quit and had no transportation into Rochester or
Akron.
The curriculum at that time consisted of reading (The McGuffy Reader), spelling,
writng, arithmetic, history, geograhy, physiology, and health. Games played by
the children were Farmer in the Dell, Blind Man's Bluff, Drop the Handkerchief,
and baseball. A nearby pond served as an ice skating rink during the winter. At
Christmas the school was decorated with pine boughs and trees. The tree was
decorated with strings of popcorn and cranberries. The students also made
ornaments to hang on the tree. The teacher would treat the pupils with candy,
apples and oranges. Usually there was a Christmas program held at the school and
the parents were invited.
The last school year was 1924-25. Fred Rowe was the last teacher. Other teachers
were Ernest Lamar, Emma Nicodemus, Charles Byer, Charles Daniels, Frank Dillman,
Edith Heeter, Ray Hoover, Ethel Kuhn, Mary Krom, Estil Sheetz, Mrs. Arch
Stinson, Jessie Bonnell, Julie Hoover, May Woods, Lee Marshall, Clyde
Richardson, John Craig, Grace Fall, Joy Hammond, Lucille Heighway, Estil
McIntyre, Lincoln Kuhn, Worthy Shewman, Nobby True, and Ray Miller. . . .
Entertainment at Prill School Museum Association meetings has been kept as close
as possible to the type that prevailed when the school was in use. The programs
have been recitations by former pupils, cake walks, spelling bees, puppet shows,
skits by the children, harvest suppers, sing-alongs, Halloween parties Christmas
parties, and patriotic programs.
At Christmas some of the adult members, accompanied by the children in the
community, hunt and cut a tree. The school is then decorated as it was 50 years
ago. A christmas party is then held at the school. The public is always welcome
at these events. The highlight of the party is a visit from Santa Claus with a
bagful of treats for everyone.
A Junior Auxiliary was formed by the youngsters. They meet once a month at the
homes of their members. The purpose of this group is to work with the adult
group in restoring the school. The auxiliary has helped with painting, yard
work, fund raising projects, entertainment at the association meetings. This
group along with the adults goes Christmas Caroling each year at some of the
local nursing homes, hospital and for shut-ins.
In 1972 Mr. and Mrs. Jim Welling and Miss Martha Lasher, graduate students from
Indiana University at South Bend, as a project for graduate study used Prill
School. The study is American Heritage on Education with an emphasis on the
influence of one-room school. Slides were taken of the school grounds, and using
two young girls as students, a school day was re-enacted. A voice recording on
the activities of the day was made. The recording to be used in coordination
with the slides was made by a retired school teacher who had taught in a
one-room school.
During 1973 $1,302.05 was spent for repair and upkeep of the Prill School
building.
A popular place for student tours, pupils from Riddle and Columbia, Mexico and
Leiters Ford schools have visited Prill School. Rochester High School
photography class visits yearly for a picture-snapping session. Some of their
photos have been displayed in art shows.
In March a kite flying contest is held. In August a corn cook has become an
annual event. Corn is cooked in old iron and copper kettles on wood fires
outdoors.
In 1975 these additions and repairs were made: school bell installed in front,
flag pole in yard, wrought iron railing around stove and front steps, re-painted
inside, also outside trim painted and repaired, another toilet installed,
closets re-plastered, world globe and stand purchased at Rochester Middle School
sale, chimney repaired, organ donated, lights in both toilets and closets, two
fire extinguishers. Catherine Miert donated a slide projector and screen.
In 1976 Prill School celebrated its centennial. Activities of the afternoon were
in keeping with the by-gone era of the one-room school. Mr. and Mrs. Don Van
Duyne brought their horse and surrey and delighted young and old alike by giving
rides. Don, who has been shoeing horses for 60 years, demonstrated his
techniques by shoeing his horse and explaining as he worked. He is still using
his father's and grandfather's blacksmith tools.
Ned Smith, who owns the land on which Prill stands, introduced his horse
"Silky Sue". He discussed the harness and its functions. Craig Denny
of Valparaiso rode the sulky and trotted the horse around the track showing the
fine points of harness racing. "Silky Sue' has won several trophies and
blankets.
Many antiques and collectables were on idsplay, several owned by Mr. and Mrs.
Walter Safford, others displayed by association members.
Mrs. Vada Quackenbush, local schoolteacher and president of the Prill
Association, held a mock school session which was enjoyed by the many visitors.
A horse shoe pitching contest was held and the team of Doug and Denny Sweaney
were the winners.
The event was attended by around 200 people. Bruce Hess and the Civil Defence
directed parking.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 28, pp 33-36]
HISTORY OF PRILL SCHOOL
Prill School, now a restored one room schoolhouse, is located on the Old Fort
Wayne Road and 700 East in Henry Township.
The land on which this historic structure was built in 1876 was formerly owned
by Mr. and Mrs. John Prill.
One teacher taught all eight grades and the ages of the pupils ranged from six
to eighteen.
The school had no plumbing facilities and drinking water had to be carried in
wooden buckets by the pupils from the John Prill residence. Later a well was
drilled and two brick toilets were built.
A wood-burning stove was used to heat the school. Local farmers supplied the
wood and some of the older students carried in the wood and fired the stove.
Every pupil used the same water bucket, dipper and wash basins which were placed
at the back of the room.
However, the boys had a mirror and comb on one side of the room and the girls
had one on the other side.
The children walked as far as a mile and a half to school, regardless of the
weather. They carried their lunches in pails or lard buckets. These lunches were
kept in the cloak room and during the winter the lunches would be frozen by
noon.
The school curriculum consisted of reading (The McGuffy Reader), spelling,
penmanship, arithmetic, history, geography, physiology and health. Daily oral
recitations were routine. During recesses the children enjoyed such games as
Farmer in the Dell, Blind Man's Bluff, Drop the Handkerchief and baseball. A
pond nearby served as an ice skating rink during the winter. Many times a daring
skater would have to be pulled from the pond after the ice had broken.
At Christmas time the entire school was fragrant with the aroma of pine. Pine
bows and trees decorated the entire school. The tree was decorated with strings
of popcorn and cranberries. Student-made ornaments were hung on the tree. The
pupils' treats consisted of candy, apples and oranges. usually, there was a
Christmas program held at the school and the parents were invited.
The last school year was 1924-25.
For many years the building was used for grain storage. In the spring of 1971
some former students had a vision of a reconstructed one-room rural school of
the 19th century.
Fulton County's first annual Round Barn Festival was held July 16, 17, 18, 1971.
One of the most popular stops of the county tour was the restored one-room Prill
School. Visiting the school is like taking a step back in time.
Much work went into the reconstruction in 1971. The boarded windows gave way to
plastic screen and blinds. The weed-choked lawn was cut, raked and trimmed.
Maple trees, green and scarlet adorned the lawn. Inside an even greater change
took place. Grain storage supports were removed and the walls and ceiling were
replastered and painted. Some of the original desks, well-chewed by rodents and
dulled with age, were brought down from the attic of the school. They were
cleaned and returned to their original locations. Other seats were acquired to
completely furnish the room. A pot-bellied stove with a safety railing is in the
center of the room.
The Prill School Museum Association, twenty in number, was formed in the fall of
1971. The association has as its purpose the preservation of the 95-year-old
building, a landmark of Fulton County's pioneer heritage.
The association, now registering over 300 families as members, has accomplished
much toward the restoration and preservation of Prill School. The slate roof has
been repaired, custom made windows have been installed and floor repairs have
been made. The well was redrilled and a pump installed, dry wall was put in the
closets, wainscoting was varnished and a hitching rack for horses has been
installed in the yard. The association provided liability insurance, added
electrical wiring, electrified the lanterns to meet safety standards for inside
lighting and installed an outside security light. The labor and materials for
many of these accomplishments were donated by dedicated and interested persons.
Since the Prill School was opened in 1971 to the public, many hundreds of
visitors have registered from almost all of the fifty states.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 66, pp 115-118]
DISTRICT 3, PRILL'S SCHOOL
By Velma Bright
Prill's School, in existence in 1876, was located in the northwest corner of
Henry Township. The last school year was 1923-24. This building is still
standing.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August 1969, No. 1, p. 7]
HISTORY OF PRILL SCHOOL
By Dewey Zolman, Pupil of Prill School
Mr. and Mrs. John Prill donated the ground for the Prill School to the county in
the year 1876. In that year the school was built and named after the donors,
Prill School-1876-District No. 2 [or 3?].
The school had an average of forty pupils per term. There were eight grades with
one teacher for all grades. The school hours were from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. We all
walked to and from school - some from as far as a mile away. Students ranged in
age from six to eighteen years.
We had no electricity and our heat was from an old box stove. It was about three
and a half feet long with a hearth and door at one end. Our water was at the
pump which was out in the school yard. There were two tin cups at the pump and
we all drank from them. There were two brick toilets located on each side and to
the rear of the school - the one on the east side for the girls and the west
side for the boys. Inside the school as you came in the door to your right and
left were two cloak rooms - one for girls and one for boys. There were shelves
at the end of each room for our lunch buckets and strips nailed to the sides of
the wall with nails in it to hang our hats and coats. On each outside cloakroom
there were two small mirrors each with a tin comb case with a comb in each.
On the left wall as you go in, there is a list of the pupils that went to Prill
School and on the right side are the original desks that are 95 years old. The
desks had been stored in the attic since the school closed in 1927.
It might be interesting to note also that Fred Rowe, father of the late Dr.
Howard Rowe of Rochester, taught several years here and also Clyde Richardson,
brother of the late Dr. Charles Richardson.
School was for grades first to eighth and it was compulsory for children to go
to school until they were sixteen, unless they had graduated before. In the
winter the school was closed early sometimes due to darkness and sometimes the
snow drifts were as high as the rail fences. Children's shoes were greased with
tallow to make them as water-proof as possible. The children all wore long
underwear and the girls wore long black stockings and plaid dresses over them.
The boys wore overalls and shirts. The teacher kept the children in line with a
slender whip for the boys - the girls were seldom punished this way. The old
story of the pigtails in the ink-wells - this happened at Prill too.
We had one hour for lunch and a fifteen minute recess in the morning and
afternoon. Children usually spent their time playing blind-man's bluff and such
games as were popular then. They gathered beech-nuts in near-by woods at noon
time or slid down straw stacks that stood across the road. In the winter, there
was a pond near by to skate on.
We had a big school bell on a high post outside by the steps. Each morning,
fifteen minutes before nine, the teacher would ring the bell for three or four
minutes. That was a warning that we had just so much time to get to school or be
tardy. On a clear day you could hear the bell as far as a mile away. Coats and
lunch buckets were stored in the cloak rooms and at noon the children ate lunch
at their desks. In the evening the children took turns passing out the coats and
lunch buckets - a boy and a girl each evening.
The school was not as cold as one might think, as there was a good fire going in
the center of the room in our iron stove. At this time I will mention how the
fuel was obtained for the school. The trustees would advertise for bids to the
farmers for so many cords of wood for the school and the farmer with the lowest
prices got the job. They would cut it and haul it in the summer and cord it in a
straight line from the fence back of the school to the road on the east side of
the school. That much would last the winter. The teacher would usually carry the
wood into the school.
At Christmas time the children would string cranberries and popcorn and hang
foot after foot around the school in a decorative fashion. One time we had a big
arch instead of a Christmas tree. It was made of evergreen limbs and we
decorated it with the strings of popcorn and cranberries and a silver star that
we made. We always had our Christmas entertainment on Friday afternoon and then
we were dismissed for our Christmas vacation. Usually some of our parents would
come to see our exercises.
School would begin in October, then end in April.
The teacher was strict, lessons were long and there was little quarrelling or
problems among the students.
[FCHS Quarterly, Vol. 9, February, 1973, No. 1, pp 27-28]
HISTORY OF PRILL SCHOOL
Prill School, now a restored one room schoolhouse, is located on the [NE corner]
Old Fort Wayne Road and 700 East in Henry Township.
__________
Abe Bowers will teach at Millark, John Rouch at Prill's and John Davidson at
Bloomingsburg.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, November 3, 1876]
J. A. Rouch is engaged at No. 3 and is evidently doing a splendid work. . .
The only thing we noticed in connection with this school worthy of criticism was
the untidiness of the room.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 16, 1876]
Our first Township Institute was held at the Prill school house on last
Saturday. . .
[Letter From Akron, Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, December 27, 1878]
I attended Prills three years. Then they closed the school and bussed us to
Athens, where we graduated from the eighth grade. In my first grades at Prills I
had as teacher Mary Krom.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 54, p. 49]
Teachers:
1896-97: Jessie Bonnell
1897-98: J. W. Bonnell
1898-99: Estil Gast
1899-00: Charles A. Daniels
1900-01: Emma Nicodemus
1901-02: [omitted]
1902-03: Ray W. Hoover
1903-04: Ernest Lamar
1904-05: [not listed by school]
1905-06: [not listed by school]
1906-07: [omitted]
1907-08: Fred Rowe
Clyde Richardson
[FCHS Quarterly No. 41, pp 37-39]
PARTIAL LIST OF TEACHERS, DISTRICT 3, PRILL'S SCHOOL
Charles Byer, John Craig, Charles Daniels, Frank Dillman, Joy Hammond, Edith
Heeter, Lucille Heighway, Ray Hoover, Ethel Kuhn, Lincoln Kuhn, Ernest Lamar,
Lee Marshall, Emma Nicodemus, Clyde Richardson, Fred Rowe, Estil Sheetz, Worthy
Shewman, Mrs. Arch Stinson, Nobby True.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August, 1969, No. 1, p 21]
See Prill School Association
PRILL SCHOOL ASSOCIATION [Henry Township]
Thelma Sanders Safford, historian.
DEWEY ZOLMAN
By Shirley Willard
In 1971 Dewey [Zolman] was instrumental in starting the Prill School Museum for
the first Round Barn Festival. He did most of the restoration and acquiring of
furniture for it. When they began planning the first Round Barn Festival, Dewey
attended one of the committee meetings and offered to spearhead the renovation
of Prill School. It had been used for grain storage and needed lots of work.
He wrote to all the Prill School alumni and asked them to donate money to help
restore the old building. They donated over $113. He contacted businesses and
got them to donate paint (Bailey Hardware) and lumber (Spud McGee). Garret Ginn
donated doors, and Amos Foor donated lumber and windows from an old house. He
found 15 of the original desks in the attic of Prill School. Other desks were
donated from other one-room schools. Dewey built the teacher's desk. He restored
an organ, donated by Wenzel Wright. He got Prill School placed on the National
Register of Historic Sites and Structures in 1979. He did research in the
courthouse and discovered that the land for Prill School was purchased for $30
by Henry Township and therefore did not revert back to the land owner, as it
would have if the land had been donated by John Prill. Lawyers then concluded
the Prill School was the property of Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation, as
all Henry Township school property went into the conslidation. TVSC leased Prill
School to the Prill School Museum Association. Up until that time the
Association had leased the school and land from Ned Smith, assuming that it was
part of his farm.
In 1980 Dewey made a list of the donated items in Prill School, so that the
people who donated them would be remembered:
Claude Irwin - Piano case (in which organ is now).
Dorothy Bixler - eight window blinds.
Elizabeth Prill Lindsey - Pot-bellied stove.
Mentone School - 15 desks (transported by Chester Utter and Dewey Zolman).
Oliver Bryant - 48 star flag.
Don McIntire - mirrors.
Map case with five maps (original to Prill School).
Jerry Baker - globe.
Some Rochester people - large dictionary.
Harold Mattox - two comb cases to hang on wall by door.
Blackboards across north end of building were paid for with donations from
former
pupils of Prill School.
Library books were given by the public.
Bench made like original one by Dewey Zolman, also a granite bucket and dipper
and
tin wash pan to go with this bench placed by the door.
Pump given by Chester Utter and installed by him and D. Zolman.
Small mirror (like the original one remembered by pupils).
Straight chair to go with teacher's desk - Dewey Zolman.
Shelf for dictionary - Lena Bowen.
Stove pipe paid for with donated money.
After the Prill School Museum Association was organized, the following items
were
acquired:
Teacher's desk made by Dewey Zolman.
Ten desks.
Framed names of all pupils of Prill School, hung on west wall.
Eight lanterns, donated.
Two 8-foot long folding tables.
Bell given by Thelma Safford.
Mrs. Zolman knew Mr. Wright had an old pump organ in his garage. She called him
and asked if he would sell the organ to her husband so he could see if he could
restore it for Prill School. He said, "I won't sell it to you but I will
give it to Prill School in me and my children's names if Mr. Zolman can fix
it."
When the organ was donated, it was missing all the black keys, paint spilled on
half of the ivory keys, music rack gone, half of the valves knocked down,
bellows rotted out, sound board on each side gone. Dewey used parts of the organ
given by Mr. Irwin and also found parts of the original organ in Prill School.
It took him five weeks to restore the old organ but it plays beautifully and is
still in use at Prill School today.
Prill School Museum is a memorial to Dewey Zolman and all the other people of
his generation who attended and loved the one-room schools in Fulton County.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 66, pp 109-112]
RESTORATION OF THE PRILL SCHOOL
In Fulton County
By Ann Kindig Sheetz
(South Bend Tribune, Michiana Sunday magazine, 1973)
"I sat here in the first grade and a girl sat across the aisle. We
whispered back and forth all the time until the teacher picked me up and sat me
down in the seat with the girl. We both cried until recess, but we never
whispered again." This was Dewey Zolman, talking to a group of visitors at
Prill School.
In the last two years more than 3,500 persons from 20 states have visited the
restored one-room school northeast of Athens, about halfway between Akron and
Rochester in Fulton County, Indiana.
Operated as a grade school in the Henry Township school district from 1876 until
1925, Prill School educated 540 students, ranging in ages from six to 21. After
the school was closed, its students sent to either Akron or Athens, the building
was converted for grain stoarge. A hole was cut in the roof and through the
ceiling to permit access by grain elevators, and the windows were boarded. Where
once Dewey Zolman and his friends had studied, rates and mice now played.
Prill's destiny seemed to be that of other one-room school houses in the area -
to be used for storage until time and age took their toll and the building
collapsed. No one considered restoring the old school until Zolman decided that
a one-room school would complement Fulton County's Round Barn Festival, an
annual event in which tours of farms on which round barns, instead of the
traditional square or rectangular-type barns, have been erected. There are at
least 17 of these unusual barns in that area.
Zolman interested Chester Utter, also a Prill alumnus, in the restoration
project. Ned Smith, owner of the farm once occupied by Mr. and Mrs. John Prill,
donors of the land on which the school was built, gave his permission to proceed
with the restoration.
Lacking funds and help, Zolman and Utter tackled the huge task alone. They began
by moving 250 bushels of partially spoiled grain from the building. "If
Dewey hadn't been so excited about the idea, I don't think we could have done
it," Utter now recalls. Together, they patched the hole in the ceiling,
restored Cloak rooms and located the original desks, many of which had been
stored in the attic. Generations of rats had gnawed at them and rust had taken
its toll.
The whole building was filthy.Broken windows and gaping holes in the floor
seemed to defy repair.
A few donations trickled in. This money was used to buy slate blackboards to
replace the original ones. A pot-bellied stove was located. Zolman found comb
cases and mirrors to hang outside each of the cloak rooms. He even located a
dinner pail similar to the one he had carried to school.
Gradually the building began to gain a new lease on life. Round Barn Festival
visitors, amazed at the amount of work that had been done, were fascinated with
the stories Zolman told of school life before consolidations and dress code
squabbles. It was an era of strict, often harsh, discipline.
"I remember a 17-year-old girl who sat in this seat," he said.
"She was in the eighth grade. One day she fell asleep and the teacher
struck her across the shoulders. She just got up, gathered her books and
belongings and walked out. She never came back."
Youngsters had their day of attending a one-room school when Vada (Mrs. Charles)
Quackenbush, a Rochester teacher, "instructed" a class of 18 students
in special Saturday classes during the Round Barn Festival.
The restored school attracted so much interest that the Prill School Museum
Assn. was formed. Now boasting a membership of 221, the non-profit organization
has officers and a board of directors of which Utter is chairman, Zolman
recently resigned from the board, and Mrs. Quackenbush has become president. She
continues to conduct special school sessions for the barn festival. Her husband
now is treasurer of the association.
Members conduct monthly meetings at the school. In the winter heat is provided
by a faithful pot-bellied stove. Entertainment takes the form of spelling bees,
taffy pulls, puppet shows and book reviews.
Not content with opening the building only for meetings and a few days during
the Round Barn Festival, Association members last year maintained regular Sunday
afternoon open houses.
No admission is charged. Members stage fish fries and other fund-making
events to finance major repairs. The broken windows, first repaired with plastic
coated wire, have since been replaced with glass. The slate roof has been
repaired and electrified lanterns have been added inside the school, their
wiring carefully concealed to preserve the turn-of-the-century coaloil look.
Association members recently completed their largest fund-raising campaign in
order to finance reconstruction - with used bricks to preserve the authenticity
of the building - of one corner of the school. Now supported with temporary
props, that corner is a grim reminder of the aging process that destroyed other
schools of the same era.
With an eye towards the third Round Barn Festival members are working hard not
only to stay the aging process but also to continue to take visitors a step back
in time with the nostalgic charm that is Prill School.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 66, pp 112-115]
See Prill School.
PUCKEY HUDDLE SCHOOL [Rochester Township]
Located S side of Old Fort Wayne Road, at approximately 125N and 350E.
Built between 1883 and 1907. Now the George Thompson home on the Fort Wayne
Road.
__________
[photo] Pucky Huddle one-room school was converted in a house by Samuel Horn.
It still stands on the south sice of the Fort Wayne Road and George Thompson
lives there now. Horn added the porch on the side and other rooms were added to
the back. (Photo: Mable Anderson)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 62-63, p. 74]
McKINLEY COMMUNITY ONE-ROOM SCHOOLS
PUCKY HUDDLE, WHITE WALNUT, BLACK WALNUT [sic], LITTLE EGYPT
By Shirley Willard
Before McKinley School was built in 1901, there were four one-room schools
serving the community northeast of Rochester.
Pucky Huddle School was located on the south side of the Fort Wayne Road about
three-quarters of a mile east of Indiana 25. It was a wooden schoolhouse and was
built after 1883 because it is not shown in the 1883 atlas. There do not seem to
be any photos of it in existence, although Lillian Lavengood thought she used to
have a photo of it. It was closed in 1901 when McKinley was opened. The school
was converted into a house by Samuel Horn, who bought it from the trustee. He
added a summer kitchen and root cellar on the south and two bedrooms on the
east, and a porch on the west side of the building. The house faces north toward
the road. When Horn died, it was sold to Steele Ewing. Ewing sold it to George
Thompson in 1939. Thompson still lives there. He said that down through the
years many former Pucky Huddle pupils stopped in to see the old school. Charlie
and Newt Darr used to make hay with George and they would tell about walking
across the fields on a path to the school from their house toward the north.
Ezra Jones, George's mail carrier, said he used to teach there. Cora Pownall
Finney, Helen Barkman's mother, was the last teacher at Pucky Huddle, 1900-01.
When George remodeled the house, he found that his living room had the
blackboard across the south end. He still has some of the heavy slate he found.
The teacher's platform was across the south end too. George closed off the north
door, which had been the schoolhouse door.
Mabel Anderson, Race Street [Rochester, Indiana], is the granddaughter of Samuel
Horn. She used to visit and stay with her grandparents in the summer. She had
photos of the house when her grandparents lived there, but so far no photo of
the school when it was used as a school has turned up.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 62-63, pp 73-75]
Teachers: Cora Pownall, 1901-02.
PUGH SCHOOL [#6] [Wayne Township]
Located SW corner 800W and 850S.
Originally a log cabin, the first school in Wayne Township. It was a log cabin
left by men who were surveying and cutting rtrees to build the Michigan Road in
1838. It was in the corner of M. E. "Dick" Wills farm on the northeast
corner.
A newer school was built between 1883 and 1907.
__________
Wayne Tp. Teacher's Institute. School House, No. 6, Dec. 15, 1877. . .
[Rochester, Sentinel, Saturday, December 29, 1877]
Miss Mary Maud Murray, daughter of Archimulus and Hannah (Dively) Murray, was
born Dec. 23, 1880. She attended and graduated from common school in 1899 from
the Feidner one-room school, which was located on her parents' farm. During the
summer of 1899, she went to Angola Normal School for eight weeks, was hired by
trustee, R. O. Murray, and W. S. Gibbons, county superintendent. She lived two
miles north of Liberty, her father taking her to and from Liberty via horse and
buggy. She only taught one year at Liberty, 1899-1900, then taught two years at
the Pugh school (1900-1902).
[FCHS Quarterly No. 52, p. 55]
RABBITS GLORY SCHOOL [Allen Township, Miami Co]
One-room school northeast of Macy, Indiana.
REAMS SCHOOL [Henry Township]
RED BRUSH SCHOOL [#9] [Richland Township
Located SW corner of 250E and 550N.
Built before 1876.
[photo] Red Brush school in 1911-12. Row 1: Ella Riddle, Jessie Wright, Ona
Anderson. Row 2: Bertha Riddle, Charles Riddle, Mildred Eash, Carl Day, Helen
Rush, teacher Hazel Rush. Row 3: Geneva Logan, Bessie Riddle, Ralph Arnold, Dora
Caslow, Edna Wright. Edna lost all her hair and wore a bonnet all the time. She
later married Ona Anderson's brother Harley but she never got her hair to grow
back very good. (Hazel Rush Cessna's photo)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 20, p. 19]
RED BRUSH SCHOOL
By Shirley Willard
Red Brush School was built before 1876 because it is on the map of Richland
Township in the 1876 Atlas. It was located on the southwest corner of county
roads 250E and 550N, about 2 miles east of Old US-31. Nobody knows where the
name came from as there is no prevalence of red-colored bushes around now. It
was a wood frame school with a wood-burning stove.
Hazel Rush taught at Red Brush 1911-12. There came a big snow that winter that
snowed them in so some of the students could not get home. They had outdoor
toilets, one for girls and one for boys. When the big snow came, Miss Rush sent
a big boy, Ralph Arnold, to go with the little children to the door of the
toilet so they would not get lost in the blizzard. She brought her sister Helen
Rush and foster brother Carl Day to school with her each day. They could not get
home and had to spend the night with parents of some pupils who lived near-by.
Their father, Frank Rush, and a neighbor came the next day to take them home
with a team of horses hitched to an old sled. He led Hazel's horse and buggy
home.
Hazel Rush taught at Delong the next year. She married John Cessna Dec. 25,
1912, and had to quit teaching because they did not allow married women to teach
in those days.
Ona Anderson Hedrick recalls the big snow too. She was a pupil at Red Brush that
year and rode to school on Daniel Caslow's hack. The horse couldn't pull the
hack through the snow at the foot of the hill south of Red Brush going home, so
the kids got out to walk through. Ralph Arnold carried both Ella Riddle and Ona,
one under each arm, across the drift of snow. Then they got back in the hack and
got home safe.
Ona also remembers that she and Ella couldn't reach the shelf that held the
dinner buckets at the back of the room, so they had to ask the bigger girls to
get their lunch buckets down for them. The bigger girls weren't very
enthusiastic about this "chore." The lunch buckets were round tin
buckets with lids. In winter the children skated on the pond in a near-by field.
In warm weather they climbed a tree back of the school and would swing down by
bending the top.
Ona's brother, Harley Anderson, attended Red Brush and had teachers Charles
Maple 1907-08 and Fred Umbaugh 1908-09. Harley later became a teacher at Pucky
Huddle 1915-16 and Whippoorwill 1916-17.
Oswald Palmer attended Red Brush and had Jessie Dickey and Georgia Anderson
before Charles Maple came. It is also thought that Allen Umbaugh and Billy
Foster taught there.
Charles Riddle writes: "Much water has gone down the Tippecanoe River since
I took up residency on its bank 75 years ago. But I well recall my first year of
school with Charles Maple as teacher. He had eyes in the back of his head
because we never got by with anything. On bad days as a passtime some of us
played Pick or Poe with pins. With the ends covered we would say "Pick or
Poe". If you missed, you gave one; if right, you received the pin. Cecil
Palmer and I tried it during class period while the teacher was giving attention
to another student with his back turned to us. But he caught us so we had to sit
on his desk facing the rest of the pupils until recess.
"In those days the teacher taught all 8 grades, did janitoring and ran the
entire school.
"I well remember Hazel Rush as a teacher. I'm not sure of the date of the
big snow but it must have been about 1911. There were only two houses near the
school. Some of us older ones made it home. By morning it was drifted so that
there was no traffic or school for three days until roads were opened with man
power and scoop shovels.
"My brother Ed Riddle (deceased in 1916) taught two terms at Red Brush in
1909 and 1910. Another brother George Riddle (deceased this past year) went to
grade school at Red Brush and taught his first year in 1914 at Whippoorwill and
1916-18 at the new Tiosa school." He served in World War I in 1918. In 1919
he want to Columbia school in Rochester to teach arithmetic. He became principal
of Lincoln School in 1924 and also taught arithmetic until 1949. The new
elementary school at northwest side of Rochester built in 1957 was named Riddle
school in his honor.
Red Brush school closed in 1912 and was made into a residence by Alva Kale and
is now being lived in by Ernest Hart. Walter Kale and his sisters (children of
Alva Kale) were living in this house when they got the flu during the epidemic
of 1918.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 20, pp 17-19]
A new school house is soon to be built at Surguy's cross roads, one-half mile
north of Sturgeon.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 27, 1871]
Teachers: William Foster
REED SCHOOL [#9] [Liberty Township]
Located NW corner 300W and 800S
Built before 1876; abandoned between 1883 and 1907.
__________
[photo] Reed School, 3 miles west of Fulton, Feb. 24, 1905. Front row: Mary
Dill - teacher, Emmor Reed, Clarence Reed, Dana Biggs, Norvanah Alber, Dewey
Biggs, Evie House, Fanny Beatty, Agnes Hendrickson, Jennie Cooper, Florence
Alber.
Row 2: Florence Lear, Ora Fisher, Mathew Beatty, Lydia Reed, Lulu Biggs, Della
Cooper, Edna Miller, Fern Lear, Lee Reed, Roscoe Miller.
Row 3: Wesley Beatty, Bill Patton, Floyd Williams, Mable Pownall, Fred Fisher,
Myrtle Pownall, Ethel Miller, Omar Cline or Myers, and Fern Biggs. (Photo
donated to FCHS by Lydia Reed Rans Easterday)
[FCHS Images No. 1, p. 57]
[photo] Written on the blackboard: Reed's school, No. 9, Nov. 24, 1905. Row
1: Mary Dill - teacher, Emmor Reed, Clarence Reed, Dana Biggs, Nowannah Alber,
Dewey Biggs, Evie House, Fannie Beatty, Agnes Hendrickson, Jennie Cooper,
Florence Alber. Row 2: Florence Ora Fisher, Wesley Beatty, Lydia Reed, Lulu
Biggs, Della Cooper, Edna Miller, Fern Lear, Lee Reed, Roscoe Miller. Row 3:
Matthew Beatty, Bill Paton, Floyd Williams, Mabel Pownall, Fred Fisher, Myrtle
Pownall, Ethel Miller, Omer Myers, Fern Biggs. (Photo: Lydia Reed Easterday).
[FCHS Quarterly No. 22, p. 15]
[photo] Reed School 1908, teacher Thomas E. Reed standing in the door. Row 1:
Georgie Cooper, Paul Julian, Glen Williams, Arthur Cooper, William Messinger,
Doris Cooper, Ruby Pownall, Rose Spencer, Marie Aaron, Goldie Aaron, Clarence
Reed, Howard Reed, Russell Cooper. Row 2: Emma Reed, Carmen Gibbs, Ivan Pownall,
Roscoe Miller, Ruth M. Pownall, Agnes Hendrickson, Ora Fisher, Floyd Williams,
Ruth E. Pownall, Eva House. Row 3: Jennie Cooper, Fern Lear, Delta Cooper, Ethel
Miller, Mabel Pownall, Fred Fisher, Blanche Martin, Florence Lear, Lydia Reed,
Eva Messinger, Edna Miller, Oma Williams (Photo: Thelma Reed Johnston).
[FCHS Quarterly No. 22, p. 16]
__________
REED SCHOOL
By Bertha Waltz
The Reed School (District No. 9) was a frame structure, located in Liberty
Township southwest of Fulton on the northeast corner at what is now identified
as county roads 800 south and 350 west; the Ralph Gunter residence. It must have
been built about 1895. Before the school was built there, a cemetery for the
community had been started. The few bodies buried were removed to what is known
as the Reed Cemetery on road 114, between Fulton and Grass Creek. The old log
cabin school, also called Reed School, was built in 1851, first in the Olive
Branch Community west and north of that location approximately one-half mile.
Lydia Reed Rans Easterday remembers that her father, Jim Reed, went to school
there in 1873.
A story worth repeating was related by Mary Dill Garrity in 1956. It concerned
her mother's sister, Sarah Jane (Sally) Walters, who taught in the old log cabin
school. "Sally had left a book she prized on the last day of school. In her
sleep she walked to the school building, went in, recovered the book then walked
home one-half mile, went to bed, and did not waken until the mother saw muddy
tracks on her clean kitchen floor. She went upstairs, awakened Sarah Jane. It
was a night to remember; yet she was asleep, as she strolled through the
mud." Sally was the mother of Charles and Lulu Cline Pownall, to be
mentioned later.
The families settling in the Olive Branch community from Ohio in 1845 were the
Van Blaricoms, Reeds, Pownalls, and Barkers, according to the church history
going back to 1849. Presumably, those were the names of the first Reed School
students. Later, came the Walters, Dills, Clines, Williams, Martins, Vanattas,
Robinsons, Lears, Catons, Baileys, Albers, Biggs, Millers, Beaty (Beatty),
Fishers.
Teachers down through the years whom we have knowledge of were Vachel Pownall,
1900-01, Anna Dill 1901-02, Frank Reed, Mary Dill 1904-05, Fanny Walters
1905-06, Charles Cline 1911-12, Gertrude Reed, Thomas E. Reed 1910-11, Minnie
Reed, Dessie Robinson, Ray Stingley, Ruth Krathwohl 1915, Otto Reed, and Frank
Graham.
As was the custom in most one-room schools, the teacher conducted opening
exercises usually consisting of singing, physical exercises, and drills,
possibly marching to warm the feet on cold mornings. Charles Cline is remembered
as playing the organ for such singing. Otto Reed brought his small daughter to
recite poetry.
The school was heated by a wood-burning stove; and toilets were the outdoor
style. Drinking water was carried from the Adam Kline's farm several rods west
of the school (now Aline Frederick farm) on the south side of the road. At first
it was drunk from a tin cup directly fro the bucket. Later an earthen jug held
the water and each child had his or her own folding cup. Box socials were
community social fare; also a means of raising money for library and song books.
Box lunches were eaten on the creek bank west of the school in nice weather.
Recesses were mostly spent playing baseball, fox and goose, drop the
handkerchief, andy andy over, and like games. Students were "kids" in
those days, too. Some remember locking Tom Reed out of the building at Christmas
time because he refused to treat them. He put a block on the chimney and went
home, smoking the children out. His daughter, Thelma Reed Johnston, recalls that
gypsies camped at the school grounds overnight. Reeds lived in a house directly
north of the school and would walk to school down the ditch. Gypsy women would
be hiding in the willows and would slip up behind them and try to pick their
pockets. Mr. Reed made them walk in front of him so they could not get to his
pockets. Several horse-drawn covered-wagon type vans of gypsies would be camped
there. The gypsies wore ear rings, bracelets, bright colors, cloth wrapped
around their heads. They spoke in broken English. The children were very afraid
of the gypsies. In Mr. Walter's house west of the school, gypsies went in the
house while the family was out and poured milk on the floor in order to soak
their bread. Sometimes they had to call the sheriff to get the gypsied to move
on.
The school was closed after the 1926 term. Children of that part of Liberty
township were transported to school in Fulton. A motor-driven bus was used first
that year. Otho Insley was the driver. The building was used for school bus body
storage several years before being auctioned. It was bought by Walker Casper and
town down to build Gunter's house.
The last day of school was a celebration. Parents brought loaded picnic baskets
and participated in the dinner with the teacher and students. The spirit
remains. Each year former students and teachers gather at the Olive Branch
Church for singing, reminiscing, prayers, and a good, old-time basket lunch.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 22, pp 15-17]
__________
Spelling school at Reed's school house last Tuesday evening was a failure;
rain and mud was the cause.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, February 12, 1874]
Miss Allie Weary teaches the Reid school, which is sufficient to insure its
success. .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, January 27, 1877]
Our friend A. G. Murden was unanimously chosen to teach school at the Reid
school house, district No. 9.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, November 28, 1878]
REITER SCHOOL [Rochester Township]
Located on the South side of 200S at approximately 150W.
Closed in 1960.
__________
REITER SCHOOL
C. V. Kindig and Sons, local contractors, were awarded the general building
contract for the new Rochester township consolidated school to be located five
miles southwest of Rochester on the John Gottschalk farm, where three acres of
land were recently acquired by Trustee Marion Reiter, in whose offices bids were
received Thursday afternoon for the contracts.
The bid offered by Kindig was for $32,000, while the highest of the 10 other
bidders reached $47,000. Other local bidders for the general contract were John
Shields and I. J. Waltz, Stephen Parcell and Milo Cutshall.
The plumbing contract was awarded to James J. Darrah for $3,900 while the
heating system contract went to the Lige Heating and Ventilating Co., of Auburn,
for $8,700. The Electric Wiring and Sales company, at Rochester, was awarded the
lighting contract for $986, making a total in all of $42,676 for the building.
Contracts for the awarding of the fixtures, which with the price of the land,
$300, and the architects fee for the building are expected to bring the total
cost to $50,000, are to be let at a later date.
With the establishment of this school, Rochester township will have done away
entirely with the small schools of the past. The new school alone does away with
four schools, the Antioch, Orr, Screetch Owl and Oak Grove schools.
There are in the neighborhood of 100 pupils for the new school, which has not
yet been named. There are four class rooms, accomodating 40 pupils each, a
domestic science room, a manual training room and a gymnasium, 38x58 feet.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, April 4, 1924]
LOCAL BANK AWARDED SCHOOL BOND ISSUE
The First National Bank of Rochester was the successful bidder on the $56,000
bond issue for Rochester township's new consolidated school building to be
erected this summer. The local bank's premium bid was $1,417. . . . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 31, 1924]
REITER SCHOOL IS FORMALLY OPENED
The Reiter consolidated school, located five miles southwest of this city on the
John Werner road, was formally opened Monday. The building, which was
constructed during the past year at a cost of $50,000, was built by Contractor
C. V. Kindig of this city. Freyermuth and Maurer of South Bend were the
architects.
The school, which was named in honor of Trustee Marion Reiter, will supplant
four one-room school houses -- Antioch, Oak Grove, Orr and Screech Owl. The new
structure contains four class rooms, a manual training room, a domestic science
room and a gymnasium. The building is modern in every respect, being equipped
with electric lights, furnace and sanitary fixtures.
The building of the Reiter school completes a plan started some years ago by a
former trustee of Rochester, that of a consolidated school in all four corners
of the township to take the place of 21 one-room school houses. The others are
the Woodrow in the southeast section, McKinley in the northeastern sector, and
Burton in the northwest portion of the township.
The teachers at the Reiters school are John DuBois, Clifford Baggerly, Vern
Carey and Alice Black.
[News-Sentinel, Monday, January 5, 1925]
CROWD ATTENDS OPENING OF NEW REITER SCHOOL
Approximately 500 persons attended the formal dedication of the recently opened
Reiter consolidated grade school, 5 miles southwest of Rochester, the fourth one
for Rochester township, the erection of which completed a plan formed some time
before for a school at each corner of the township.
McKinley, Woodrow and Burton, the other consolidated schools in the township
were dismissed at noon so that teachers and pupils could attend the Reiter
exercises. A community dinner was held at noon, at which two 20-foot tables and
two 12-foot tables, besides numerous small tables, were laden with food.
Visitors Present
H. M. Sherwood, state superintendent of public instruction was unable to be
present, but a representative of the state board spoke in his stead. Levi Leiter
of South Bend, on the Rochester township advisory board, D. M. Whitcomb, former
trustee of Henry township, and William McLaughlin, trustee of Wayne township,
were among those present.
An interesting program was prepared on which Abe Bowers appeared in several
impromptu readings. The Rochester high school orchestra played. The invocation
was given by the Rev. McCormick of the Antioch church, "America" was
sung by the congregation, and a recitation, "Our Flag," was given.
Mable Gordon sang, room one a recitation and County Superintendent Berry,
Trustee Reiter, and City Superintendent A. L. Whitmer spoke briefly.
The Reiter school has 87 pupils and four instructors. It was named after Trustee
Reiter who showed much interest in getting the building built. It is located
five miles southwest of Rochester, and absorbed four small schools, Antioch,
Screech Owl, Oak Grove and Orr.
[The News-Sentinel, Saturday, February 7, 1925]
HOT LUNCHES SERVED THE PUPILS AT REITER SCHOOL
Hot lunches, which are being served pupils of the Reiter school are proving to
be most populr and other schools in the county are planning to start serving
them it was learned today. Grass Creek schools will be the next to take up the
project and it is expected that others will follow. The Reiter school has the
distinction of being the first in Fulton County to serve hot lunches to its
pupils.
John Braman, Rochester township trustee, exlained that the luncheon project is
sponsored by the Parent-Teachers Association in cooperation with the U. S. Pure
Food Administration. The government pays 9c of the cost of each lunch while the
pupil pays 1c. The government requires that each child must drink one-half pint
of milk which is pasteurized, daily and this is very carfully carried out. Mr.
Braman says that there is no difficulty in enforcing this rule and that the
majority of children would drink twice that much milk if it could be furnished.
Mothers Volunteer Aid
Mrs. Sue Carter is in charge of the kitchen and dining room and she is assisted
each day by a PTA mother who volunteers her services. They serve 73 lunches at
the noon hour, all with a well-balanced ration and all are "hot off the
stove." The plates are well filled and each child takes his to a table in
the domestic science rooms and enjoys the meal with his companions. The children
pay for the meals once a week giving 75c to the cateress each Friday. The PTA
furnishes a buyer for the food who looks after all these details in a
business-like way.
Mr. Braman says the project has been very successful, that the children enjoy
the warm food much more than the old-fashioned lunch. It has also done away with
the task of mothers packing one or several lunch boxes each morning.
[The News-Sentinel, Saturday, September 15, 1945]
[photo] Reiter School cost $50,000 to build in 1924 and was designed way
ahead of its time. A school today would be built just the same way, almost
exactly. This phot is from the Reiter Community Club scrapbook and shows a view
of the gym on the left. The camera is facing northwest. The Reiter Community
Club was started in 1929 and continues active today.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, cover p. 1]
[photo] Reiter School. (Photo: Fred Van Duyne)
FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 3]
[photo] The new Reiter School 1925-26. Identified in three sections divided
by the cement slabs.
LEFT SECTION, Front row (sitting on ground): Lowell Swearer, Carl Stanley,
Ronnie Walters, Fredrick Felty, Boyd Kersey. Row 2: Edith Barker, Norine
Skidmore, Donald Werner, Katherine Richardson, Lester Gordon. Row 3: Clyde
Thorndike, Floyd Bixler, Eva Souder, Albert Flora, Lucile Hoffman. Back row:
Mabel Gordon, Lemon Whisman, Dorothy Bixler, Ruth Eber, Etta Wagoner, Harold
Kline. Teachers: Esther Inquest - grades 1 and 2, Clifford Baggerly - grades 7
and 8 and principal.
MIDDLE SECTION in the entrance way, Front row: Elnora Showley, Russel Wagoner,
Lewis Cleland, Devereaux Cessna, Iola Thorndike, Alice Tetzlaff, Ross Pickens,
Eugene Nickles, Irene Kissinger or Evelon Zellers:, Margaret Wagoner. Row 2:
Vernon Barker, Merle Blacketor, Ulrich Woodcox, Ernest Stanley, Dorothy Greer,
Harlin Showley, Francis Blacketor, Mary Edington, George Cleland, Clurel Hunter.
Row 3: Beatrice Cranmer, Ruth Tetzlaff, Forest Skidmore, Kline Blacketor, Jessie
May Pickens, Belva Cleland, Arthur Gordon, Gadys Edington, Carl Thornsteson.
Back row: Annabelle Woodcox, Porter Whisman, Lucile Funk, Vic Skidmore, Charles
Werner, Helen Eber, Ruth Werner.
RIGHT SECTION in front of windows, Front row: Eldon Cessna, Joe Cleland, Raymond
Blacketor, Bill Skidmore, Arthur Weber. Row 2: Bobby Wagoner, Ray Pickens,
Chester Bixler, Matthew Zartman, Michael Zartman. Row 3: Margaret Weber, Frances
Neff, Estella Bixler, Agnes Zartman, Marietta Kline, Marjory Braman. Back row:
Maurice Bixler, Milo Ault, Melvin Hunter, Nettie Wagoner, Dorothy Pickens, Grace
Souder. Teachers: Vera Carey - grades 3 and 4, Fred Van Duyne - grades 5 and 6.
(Photo: Ruth and Alice Tetzlaff)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 4]
[photo] Reiter School's first basketball team, January to April 1925. Front
row: Porter Whisman, Frank Greer, Omer Stanley, Vic Skidmore. Back: Bud Braman
Guy Ault, Clifford Babberly - coach and principal. (Photo: Marjory Braman
Phillips)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 6]
[photo] Reiter grades 3 and 4, 1925-26. Front row: Eldon Cessna, Arthur
Weber, Carl Stanley, George Cleland, Edith Barker, Richard Crause, William
Skidmore. Middle row: Matthew Zartman, Floyd Bixler, Marietta Kline, Lester
Gordon, Frances Neff, Ray Pickens, Michael Zartman. Back row: Vera Carey -
teacher, Marjory Braman, Albert Flora, Rollie Walters Agnes Zartman, Clurel
Hunter, Estella Bixler. (Photo: Marjory Braman Phillips)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 7]
[photo] Reiter Girls basketball team 1928-29. Front row: Grace Souder,
Marjory Braman (Phillips), Dorothy Bailey (Phebus), Norine Skidmore (Bailey).
Back row: Odessa Greer - coach, Lucile Hoffman, Margaret Weber (Toomire), Esther
Herrell, Viola Eisenman, Dorothy Pickens, Eva Souder (Holloway). Their mothers
made their uniforms so they weren't all exactly alike. The girls team rode on
the team bus and took the place of the boys B team. They played against Argos,
Woodrow, Richland Center, Burton, and the girl graduates each year. Burton and
Reiter were fierce rivals. (Photo: Odessa Greer)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 8]
[photo] Reiter School 1st and 2nd grade 1928-29, Odessa Greer - teacher. Back
row: Bobby Cessna, Ova Huff, Frederick Wagoner, Edgar Herrell, Franklin Webb,
William Huff, Junior Cooper. Front row: Louise Woodcox, Kathryn Kissinger, Wilma
Alberta Friday, Betty Zellars, Norma Mae Kissinger, Marie Kathryn Richardson.
(Photo: Odessa Greer)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 11]
[photo] Reiter Girls basketball team 1930-31. Front row: Nina Faye Ysberg,
Norine Skidmore, Marjory Braman, Evelyn Lewis, Evelyn Zellers. Back row: Estella
Bixler, Lavonna Stretch, Catherine Reed, Eva Souder, Margaret Wagoner. Coach -
Carol Biddinger. (Photo: Marjory Braman Phillips)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 13]
[photo] Reiter School, 1933. (Photo donated to FCHS by John and Mary Hiatt.)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 17]
[photo] Reiters basketball team 1934-35 won 11, lost 6. Front row: John
Jones, Jimmy Tobey, John Hays, Edgar Herrell, Fred Wagoner. Back Row: Bob
Cessna, Paul Walters, Dick Tobey, Fred Zellers. Coach - John Hiatt. (Photo
donated to FCHS by John and Mary Hiatt)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 18]
[photo] Reiter 7th and 8th grades, 1931-32. Front row: Evelyn Zellers,
Phyllis Mitchell, Norine Skidmore, Prewit Ewen, Louis Stretch, Raymond Blacketor,
Billie DuBois, Ralph Curtis, Chester Burnett. Row 2: Margaret Wagoner, Eva
Souder, Ruby Adams, Raymond Walters, Arthur Weber, Chester Bixler, Billie
Gilliland, Raymond Enyart, John Bigler, Joe Cleland. Back row: Ross Pickens,
Donald Werner, Wilson Enyart, Raymond Herrel, Virgil Parker, George Cleland,
Lonnie Ewen, Fred Van Duyne - coach and principal and teacher of 7th and 8th
grades, Devane Ballenger. (Photo: Fred Van Duyne)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p.20]
[photo] Reiter School 1939-40, grades 1-8. Front row: Pierce boy, Charles
Denton, Charles Helt, Billy Laymon, unknown, Jim Gohn, Dale Bryant, David
Wagoner. Row 2: Richard Laymon, Dickie Greer, Robert Gagnon, Jim Henriott, Fred
McGlothlin, Carl Grube, unknown, Robert Hartman, Harvey Funk, Don Helt. Row 3:
Shirley Hartman, Betty Burns, Belva Burns, Betty Grube, Ruth Bechtol, Donna
Pickens, Dorothy Grube, Ann Cessna, Joretta Ranz, Isabelle Funk, Barbara Bechtol,
Phyllis Neff, Thelma Howard, Betty Howard. Row 4: Carl Howard, Doris Bechtol,
Marjorie Denton, Joan Burns, Doris Pierce, Alma Funk, Joanne Miller, Betty
Woodcox, Bertha McGlothlin, Miloa Ault, Shelly Baker, Joyce McGlothlin, Harley
Ault. Row 5: Fred Van Duyne - teacher of 7th and 8th and principal, Gene
Pickens, Harry Webb, Walter Grube, Gerald Neff, Rex Grube, Floyd Stahler, Howard
Burns, Gene Bryant, Russel Gohn, Bobby Helt, Eva Nellans- teacher of grades 1,
2, 3. Row 6: Florence Moore - teacher of grades 4, 5, 6; Ella McGlothlin,
Beverly Burns, Virginia Best, Maxine Enyart, Bonnie Stretch, Catherine Henriott,
Janice Bechtol, Lois Baker, Belva Burns. Back row: John Helt, Harvey Nickell,
Harold Burns, Max Grube, Paul Henriott, Carl Westwood, Harley Denton, Bill
Cessna, Tom Westwood - janitor. (Photo: Fred Van Duyne)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 21]
[photo] Reiter Basketball team 1941-42. Left to right: Gene Pickens, Jim
Henriott, Gerald Neff, Walter Grube, Lester Holloway, Carl Grube, Russell Gohn.
Coach - Fred Van Duyne. (Photo: Fred Van Duyne)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 22]
[photo] Reiter School lunch room 1946-47. Susie Carter, cook and manager, is
in the foreground dipping out food. (Photo: F. Van Duyne)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 26]
[photo] Reiter School 1946-47, grades 1-8. Front row: Lyle Gohn, Alan Craig, Jim
Bick, Doyne Wheadon, Philip Ginther, Bobby Wagoner, Byron Thomas, Larry Cripe,
William Hatt, Harold Howard, Gene Pierce, Fred Ginther, Richard Allen, Eldon
Grube, Roger Neff, Eldon Gohn, Bernard Holloway, Billie Korbe. Row 2: Joyce
Thorrington, Donna Sue Hall, Etta Brown, Nancy Hall, Janet Gohn, Sandra Shriver,
Patricia Cripe, Diana Wagoner, Juanita Thomas, Carolyn Showley, Martha Funk,
Donna Townsend, Laura Curtis, S. E. Hall, Bill Hall, Gresham Bearss, Marlory
Siegman. Row 3: Bobbie Greer, Larry Osborn, Larry Ault, Arthur Funk, Calal Ann
Deterich, Janice Wagoner, Marilyn Osborn, Laura Rhinehart, Sarah Eber, Janice
Bearss, Charles Greer, Norma Townsend, Eileen Thomas, David Wagoner, Susie
Carter - cook. Row 4: Mrs.Edith Bailey - teacher of 3-4-5, Mrs. Naomi Whitcomb -
teacher of 1-2-3, Paul Howard, Dale Felts, Joan Showley, Shirley Bowen, Marlen
Hanger, Patsy Wagoner, Gerald Holloway, Jack Bick, Betty Lou Howard, Gene
Woodcox, Marvin Holloway, Richard Siegman. Back row: Fred Van Duyne - teacher of
7-8 and principal, Allen Grube, Richard Carlson, Charles Siegman, Jimmy
Thorrington, Elsie Mathias, Doris Neff, Carolyn Smith, Betty Hall, Betty Grube,
Alma Rhinehart, Isabelle Funk, Louis Zellers, Duke Carter - cook. (Photo: Fred
Van Duyne)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 29]
[photo] Reiter had the Champion team of Fulton County 1930-31; they won 15
and lost only 2. Seated: John Bigler, Lindsy Ewen, Bill Skidmore, Raymond
Walters, Carl Stanley. Back row: Lonnie Ewen, George Cleland, Clurel Hunter,
Seth Carpenter - coach and principal. (Photo: Lindsy Ewen)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 39]
[photo] Winners of the 4-Way Tourney 1954-55. Reiter beat Rochester 24-21,
then Reiter beat Bremen 43-16. Front row: Karen Craig, Karen Dooley, Nancy Ewen,
Ginny Swisher. Row 2: Nils Musselman, Carl Edington, Richard Wagoner, Phil
Zellers, Roger Wagoner, Jim Vigar. Back row: Phil Eber, Larry McConkey, Richard
McLochlin, Eddie Fansler, John Skidmore, Fred Van Duyne - coach. (Photo: F. Van
Duyne)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 41]
[photo] Reiter basketball team 1949-50 won 18 and lost only 1 game. Seated:
David Upp, Allen Grube, Joe Kirk, Tom Rose. Standing: Joan Showley, Janice
Bearss, Ellen Werner, Harold Howard, Carl Howard, Bernie Holloway, Billie Korbe,
S. E. Hall, Bud Bearss. Coach - Fred Fan Duyne. (Photo: F. Van Duyne)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 42]
[photo] Reiter grades 7-8 1953-54. Seated: Byron Thomas, James Carpenter, Ray
House, Jim Bick, Bill Duncan, DeVarrel Koger, Gene Pierce, Charles Barron. Row
2: Fred Van Duyne - teacher and principal, Noelle Musselman, Sandra Van Lue,
Marilyn Leaky, Wanda Hopkins, Paula Rockwell, Donna Drudge, Betty Ann Wagoner,
Wilma Picklesimer, Diana Wagoner. Row 3: Bill Babcock, George Vorac, Jim
Carlson, John Skidmore, Nancy Ewen, June Enyart, Patty Showley, Larry Cripe,
Phil Eber, Joe Leaky. Back row: Lyle Gohn, Phil Zellers, Doug Coursey, James
Blackwell, Eddie Fansler, Robert Warner, Richard McLochlin, Steve Striggle,
Robert Wagoner. (Photo: F. Van Duyne)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 43]
__________
In 1924 it was decided to consolidate Antioch and three other one-room schools:
Screech Owl, Orr, and Oak Grove, and build a new school house, Reiter.
I was in the seventh grade at Antioch when we went into the new Reiter School in
January of 1925. We were all thrilled and excited to go to a brand new school.
It seemed so big with four classrooms and a gym. The classrooms were on the
north side and the gym on the south. There was also a domestic science room on
the west and a manual training room on the east for the seventh and eighth
graders. I don't remember using the domestic science room in my seventh grade,
but we had sewing when I was in the eighth. There was a stage on the south side
of the gym, and inside toilets on the north side of the gym which could be
entered from the hall or from the gym. It was marvelous There was no hot lunch
program yet; that came later after I graduated.
That first year at Reiter was the first time we had school hacks. Dave Carey,
father of Vida and Vera Carey, was my bus driver. The Antioch teacher, Clifford
Baggerley, became the first principal at Reiter and taught 7th and 8th grades.
John DuBois taught 5th and 6th, Vera Carey taught 3rd and 4th, while Alice Black
taught first and second.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 37, p. 44]
REITER SCHOOL 1924-1960
By Odessa Greer
The last consolidated school built in Rochester Township was Reiter. It stood on
road 200 South on the south side of the road about halfway between 125 West and
200 West in the southwest part of the township. Jim McKinney, a bachelor in the
community, opposed the building of Reiter, saying there would never be enough
kids to fill it.
It was named for Marion Reiter, who was trustee of Rochester Township from
1919-1926.
C. V. Kindig and Sons, who built many round barns, were the builders. It was a
one-story brick building containing six classrooms, an office, and a gym with a
stage. The furnace room was under the stage. Reiter had its own light plant for
a number of years. A gasoline engine produced electricity stored in batteries.
Before a basketball game was over, they usually had to start the engine because
the lights were geting low. The water pump was a gasoline engine and it couldn't
keep the water pressure up when the kids all used the restrooms. In the 1930's
Northern Indiana Power (now Public Service Indiana) built a line from 11th
Street road south, providing electricity for all farms it passed.
Reiter School took the place of four one-room schools: Orr, Oak Grove, Antioch
and Screech Owl. In January of 1925 pupils and teachers of these four schools
moved into their new school building, Reiter.
The first teachers were Alice Black from Orr School, grades one and two; Vera
Carey Pendleton from Screech Owl, grades three and four; John DuBois from Oak
Grove, grades five and six; and Clifford Baggerly from Antioch School, grades
seven and eight and principal.
At the time Reiter was built, it was necessary to fill in quite a large hole in
the front yard. When that first spring came, the ground was soft especially that
over the filled hole. Norine Skidmore (Bailey) dashed toward the front door of
the school by the shortest route which was across the filled hole. Screams
filled the air as Norine sank almost to her knees in the soft ground. Big
brother Vic Skidmore rescued her.
Reiter had a basketball team. The community was very proud of their team. A
girls team was organized in 1928. Mothers made their first suits. Odessa Greer
was first coach. She also taught cooking and Carol Biddinger taught sewing.
Seth Carpenter, principal 1927-31 wrote: "At Reiter we did nore than play
basketball. We started Visual Education by renting slides from Indiana
University. Since Reiter was a farming community, our agriculture class tested
seed corn each year for the farmers.
"Each spring the four Rochester Township schools (Reiter, Burton, Woodrow,
and McKinley) held a track and field meet. John Bigler set a record in the pole
vault and Lewis Cleland set a record in the broad jump. The Reiter girls had a
good basketball team.The boys had a good basketball team. They had a good
baseball team also."
(Editor's note: While Carpenter was principal, a building was built behind
Reiter School to store bus bodies in summer so the bus drivers could use the
trucks. This building was half of the barn that stood behind Burton School. It
was a red barn with an A-shaped roof and held all four buses. It was located in
the southeast corner of the schoolyard. Later the Reiter Conservation Club
stored pheasant cages in the barn. The club got pheasant chicks and local
farmers raised them.)
The Reiter Student was a school newspaper published by the 8th grade class once
a month during the school year. The price was 2 cents a copy. It was published
from Nov. 28, 1929, until Feb. 1933. I have most of the issues and plan to place
them in the FCHS museum. The first editor was Lemon Whisman. Other editors were
Viola Eisenman, Marjorie Braman (Phillips), Norine Skidmore (Bailey) and Phyllis
Mitchell.
Some news items from The Reiter Student follow: "A Township spelling match
was held March 29, 1929. County Superintendent Mr. Roy Jones presented books to
all the winners. Those at Reiter were Albert Flora, 7th grade, and Grace Souder,
8th grade."
"Circus held December 1929. We made $75.10. We paid off all our debt
including the basketball suits for the boys. We have $27 left for the school
treasury."
September 1929. "Playground equipment was put up by the big boys and the
teacher. Now we are enjoying some fast slides and rides on our big slide and on
our ocean wave."
October 1929. "We have a music instructor for the township, Mr. Ernest
Fisher."
"Last year we won the attendance cup given by Mr. William Foster, our
trustee, to the school in the township with the highest percent of
attendance."
"We made enough money at our 1930 circus to have a new paper cutter and
printing outfit. Ticket sales were $86.75."
January 1931. "We have had several cases of smallpox in the community but
all are back in school now."
"Our trustee has supplied us with some very much needed maps. These maps
put our school in first class condition in this department."
1932 and 32. "Spelling and Ciphering match at Burton. The Township
Orchestra played at the Spelling and Ciphering match."
November 1930. "The girls have new basketball suits of Romper Style and
cardinal in color with white letters and numbers."
"Rating of Reiter School for 1931 and 32 is a continuous commission. The
inspector remarked that good attention was being given to the special subjects
and that the active P.T.A. was an asset to the school."
At P.T.A. meeting January 1933, Miss Rena Wright of Rochester gave a book review
on a new book called "Only Yesterday."
"We sure welcome the soup served to us on Tuesdays and Thursdays."
"Mr. Bert Meyers, school trustee, has purchased a new cabinet for our
Domestic Science room and a new Excelloscope for use with our school paper. We
appreciate this new equipment very much."
"The big snow of December 1929 (just two days before Christmas vacation)
will be remembered a long time. Some of us rode horses, others on bob sleds and
in wagons. Many of us didn't get home until the next day after staying all night
with friends or neighbors.
The Big Snow Storm - Dec. 1929
"We have some stories from pupils, one from each hack (bus), about how they
got home when we had the big snow storm.
"From Cessna's Hack by Eldon Cessna:
"When the high school hack got to Reiter, our hack started home. We got on
the road and then we got stuck in a snowdrift right in front of the school
house. They had to do a little shoveling to get out of the snow but finally did.
We didn't have any more trouble until we got about a mile from the school house.
Then our hack stopped and we couldn't get it started. The driver and Guy Ault,
who was along, walked on to Cleland's and brought a team of horses back with
them. Mr. Cleland was with them. The team pulled the hack to Clelands' where we
stayed all night. When we got there we all got warm and then supper was ready.
"A great number of people called up about their children. Kline Blacketor
tried to come down that night for his children. He got as far as Woodcox's where
they put four horses on the wagon, but when they got about a quarter of a mile
from Cleland's, they couldn't go any farther, so they unhitched the horses and
went home.
"Then it was time to go to bed. Most of us got to sleep on a bed but some
didn't. The boys who did, had to sleep crossways of the beds. We didn't go to
bed very early but we got up about 3:30 a.m. After part of us had breakfast,
Clurel, Joe, George, Taylor and I went out and did the chores.
"About 9:30 Mr. Woodcox and a couple of boys came in a wagon. They took the
Zartman, Pieratt and Woodcox children home.
"About 10 o'clock Mr. Blacketor came on horseback leading another horse and
took his children home. A half hour later Melvin Hunter came on horseback,
leading another horse which Clurel rode home.
"That left the Smythe children, the Webb children and my sister and I. Mr.
Webb came over on the tractor and broke a track for us to go home. We got to our
house where Webbs got out and went home, but my sister and I decided to go on to
the Smythe's. We got about half way there when we had to stop on account of a
big snow drift. My father walked to their place by cutting through the fields.
When he got there he got a horse and brought it back for the Smythe children to
ride home. They got home all right and then we turned around and after some
shoveling we got home all right.
"From Zegafuse Hack by Viola Eisenman:
"When we left the school house we got stuck before we got to Ott Cessna's.
Those who returned to the school house were Ruth and Evelyn Westwood, Marjorie
Braman, Margaret Wagoner and I.
"Mr. Bailey and Mrs. DuBois had a wagon and took Frederick Wagoner, Don,
Dean, Dale, Ruth and John Smiley, Raymond Walters, Billie DuBois, Catherine and
Charles Keesey, Arthur Weber, Nina Faye Ysberg, Donald Werner and Dorothy
Bailey.
"Mr. DuBois took the Smiley children and Raymond Walters home with him and
Frederick Wagoner went with Mr. Bailey. All of the others were taken home.
"Of those that went to the school house, Ruth and Evelyn Westwood and I
were taken to Skidmore's to stay the night. My father came after us the next
day.
"That night Marjorie Braman and Margaret Wagoner had to ride a pony from
the school house and stay all night at Werner's.
"From Pickens Hack by Ray Pickens:
"The hack left the school house about 2:30. We got Norine and Bill Skidmore
home all right. When we got about a mile from the school house we got stuck in a
snow drift. We got a team and pulled the hack to Ziem's. We all got out and
warmed and while we were there Mr. Paschall and Mr. Simonin came in search of
us.
"We got in the wagon and went to Greer's. It was about five o'clock when we
got there. Albert Flora and Rollie Walters went on home and the rest of us
stayed there. About 6:30 Mr. Bigler, Mr. Denton, Mr Clark came to Greer's in a
wagon. They took John, Tom and Bobby Bigler, Elnora Showley, Evelyn, Fred and
Betty Zellars and Marie Richardson to Zellars where they left all but the Bibler
children who went home. Mr. Richardson and Mr. Showley came and got Marie and
Elnora.
"Forrest and Donald Roberts, Ross Pickens and myself stayed at Greer's that
night where we were very welcome. The next morning about ten o'clock Mr.
Charters, Mr. Pickens and Mr. Richardson came after the rest of us in a wagon.
"Mr. Barker came after Edith at the school house in the afternoon and got
home all right.
"From the Neff Hack by Lester Gordon:
"Our hack did not get very far from the school house when it got stuck and
the children walked back to the school and were going to stay at the school
house al night.
"John Souder, Willa and Martha Stretch were taken to Skidmore's where they
stayed all night. Mr. Ewen brought horses for Pruitt, Lonnie and Lindsey to ride
home. Paul Rice's brother came after him on a horse.
'Mr. Herrell, Mr. Friday and Mr. Gordon came in a sled after Dick and Jimmy
Tobey, Edgar and Raymond Herrell, Alberta Friday and myself.
"Lewis and LaVonne Stretch and Eva Souder had to ride a horse from the
school house and stayed at Werner's and Ysberg's that first night and got home
the next day."
March 1930. "Visitors at Reiter were Miss Garett, attendance officer; Mr.
E. L. Powell county superintendant; and Miss Kugle, county nurse."
"Plans are being made for our Annual Agriculture Exhibit. Any Reiter
student may enter as many classes as he wishes to compete in. Besides money
prizes, ribbons will also be given to the winners. There will be 20 classes.
Prizes: first $1, second 50 cents, third 25 cents."
In 1928 a group of 31 mothers formed a Mother's Club. They held an exchange and
food sale in Rochester and made $25.47. They planned to use the money to serve
some kind of warm food, probably soup, to Reiter pupils during cold months.
The club soon changed its name to Reiter Community Club. Sometime later the
members were responsible for the soup served on Tuesdays and Thursdays during
the four cold months of winter.
They continued to do other things for the school also, such as getting a piano
bench and making money for prizes for the agriculture exhibits. One time they
made a quilt for the P.T.A. to raffle off. Another thing they did was entertain
the basketball teams at the close of the season.
When the seating space in the gym became inadequate, the Reiter Community Club
helped again. The trustee and men of the community decided that a balcony across
the north side and bleachers for the stage would increase the seating space to
meet present needs. A Carpenter was hired and some men of the community
volunteered their help. The Reiter Community Club made the money to pay the
carpenter.
The Reiter Community Club continued to do things for the school until it was
consolidated with Rochester Community Schools in 1960. The club is still in
existence today.
Some of the early "hack" or bus drivers were John Cessna, M. F.
Whisman, W. C. Pickens, and Dave Carey. Later bus drivers were John Braman, Jack
Charters, Albert Skidmore, Vic Skidmore, Francis Zegafuse, and Clyde Neff.
Eric Ysburg was the first caretaker or janitor.
Trustees other than Mr Reiter were William Foster 1927-30, Bert Myers, 1931-34,
Alf Carter 1935-42 (a fire on Feb 5, 1936 destroyed township records in Alf
Carter's Book Store at 812 Main Street), John Braman 1943-50, Kenneth Taylor
1951-54, and Henry Skidmore 1955-62.
Elections were held on whether to consolidate city and township schools during
both Taylor's and Skidmore's terms. The consolidation was defeated both times.
Because trustees and advisory board and school board had the power to
consolidate and form a new corporation, pressure was brought on them by State
Schoolhouse Planning Commission to go ahead and conslidate. Burton School was
closed in 1957, Woodrow School in 1959, and Reiter in 1960.
When Burton was closed, some of the children went to Reiter and some went to
Rochester city schools. When Woodrow closed, many of them went to Reiter and the
four Woodrow teachers went to Reiter to teach: David Boyd, Jane Kemper, Esther
Thrush and Hazel Chaney. Reiter had only grades 1-6 in 1958-60.
William Biddinger wrote in Fulton County Folks Vo. 2: "Commuting to
Manchester College, I graduated in 1960 and began my teaching career at Reiter
School that fall. Reiter was in the process of being consolidated with Riddle
School in Rochester and we only had the 5th and 6th grades there at that time.
The children enjoyed a very unusual privilege for two months - lots of space for
a few kids. In October the addition to Riddle School was completed. We closed
the doors at Reiter for the last time, loaded the children on the bus and joined
the staff and students at Riddle. The students were thrilled at the welcome the
people had prepared for us at Riddle, but it wasn't long until these country
kids were yearning for the country school."
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, pp 3-12]
Since Riddle School addition was not finished in time for Reiter pupils to
move in when school started in September, they continued until Oct. 26, 1960 at
Reiter. On that day they loaded on buses and closed Reiter School forever.
Reiter School was sold to Horace Isbel in 1964 for $3,500. The Isbels tore the
school building down during the next five or six years, built a garage of some
of the materials, sold some bricks and still have a lot of bricks. Some of the
materials were buried in a hole including the cement sign "Reiter
School" which was above the door. Isbels live there now, their mobile home
and two built-on rooms standing in front of the former school site.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 16]
REITER SCHOOL 1931-1939
By John and Mary (Launer) Hiatt
Our connections with Reiter began when Mary Launer started teaching there in
1931 and ended with my resignation in 1939 to go into business.
Another man's bad luck was my good fortune. Fred Van Duyne's illness kept him
from coming back to school for the second semester. I was offered the job of
principal and I accepted it. The first day on duty was Jan. 2 1933, and how well
I remember it. I knew one pupil and had met one teacher. At noon a lady entered
the room carrying a tray of cups filled with soup and set one down on my desk,
introduced herself and told me that I was the first one to get a free cup of
soup. The soup program began in 1933 and was continued for years, until a hot
lunch program was established with paid and volunteer cooks. Poor families thus
received better food than they otherwise would have gotten. Each fall it was
quite a sight to see the women of the school area come to the school and can
vegetables for the winter supply.
Another well-remembered thing happened that night. We had a basketball game at
Richland Center. Three bus loads of fans showed up and really cheered us to
victory.
P.T.A. meetings were community affairs coming on the third Wednesday night of
every school month. Just about everybody in the Reiter area attended. They
accomplished many good things for the school. Among them: sent all seventh and
eighth graders to the State Fair and on alternate years to the Brookfield Zoo,
sponsored home talent shows, sponsored the agriculture exhibit and supplied the
school with athletic equipment.
There was a bright-eyed smiling first grade girl that carried around with her a
note pad and a well-sharpened pencil. She drew many pictures that seemed to tell
stories. As she grew her talents became many. While she was attending Indiana
University just about everybody in the United States heard her name. She became
first runner-up in the Miss America Contest in 1951. Her name was Carol
Mitchell.
Basketball was a very important part of Reiter. Reiter usually won their games,
but win or lose, the fans stayed very loyal. Back to my first week at Reiter, I
mentioned the first game which was on Tuesday night. On Thursday we were to play
at Argos. We had some large boys and one who could always be depended on to get
the top off the center. We learned just one tip off play and worked it many
times at Argos. Argos got the first three points and then Reiter ran up 65
straight points in the first three quarters. Considering six-minute quarters,
the boys had done well. Reiter was the Fulton County champion in 1935. Boys
graduating from Reiter went to Rochester High School and many of them made the
team. Sometimes unusual things happened at ball games. One night a dark-complected
chubby young man showed up and asked if he could help referee that night. After
consulting the opposing coach it was agreed to let him help. He ran up and down
the floor blowing his whistle very loudly as the occasion demanded. The game
soon became one sided and a bit boring. I decided to do something about the
situation and began coaching from the sidelines and questioning the new
referee's decisions which was against the rules. He blew his whistle extra loud,
pointed at me and called, "Technical Foul" which I deserved. I asked
him, "What for?" His answer was, "I don't know but you deserved
it." Another time probably in 1936, we had a boy who was able to get the
ball off the backboards and make long passes down the floor to his teammates but
the ball didn't always hit the mark. He would swing his arm around to the side
like a boxer using a "Haymaker". I often reminded him of it in
practice and warned him that it might be embarrassing sometime if the ball went
into the crowd. Sure enough it happened, and was more embarrassing since the
ball went flying right over my head. His face got very red, everybody laughed
but I never saw him throw another "Haymaker".
Our classroom doors had several small glass panes in them. One morning when I
passed our room, I noticed a 2 x 4 board across the inside of the door and a
heavy rope attached to it and the door knob, thus keeping everybody out. Rather
than trying to open the door it was better to play a waiting game By the process
of elimination it was apparent that thee larger boys must be inside the room.
Without going to the room at school time, we went to the gym and began playing.
After about 15 minutes of missing fun in the gym, the boys opened the door and
came rushing into the gym to join us. It was too late; play time just ended.
Bill Tyler and Tom Westwood were our janitors. In cold weather Tom would come to
school and start heavy firing of the furnace to have things warm by eight
o'clock. Tom's children would bring him a two quart can of hot coffee when they
came on the bus. The bus drivers would loaf around the furnace room. One day
they approached me and asked me to get Tom out of the furnace room while they
drank some of his coffee and then replaced it with hot water. This went on for
several days and they drank more from the can of coffee. Tom became disgusted
with his coffee and complained to his wife and even to his grocer about how
little flavor was in his coffee. It was a long time before Tom found out about
the prank pulled on him.
Bus drivers we recall were John Cessna, Francis Zegafuse, Stacy Tobey, Albert
Skidmore, John Braman and Clyde Neff.
When we were married, the P.T.A. gave us a Telechron clock; when we started
housekeeping it was a food shower; when our twins were born they gave us baby
sweaters; and when I resigned it was a large tablecloth and napkins. These gifts
have been very appreciated. With the exception of a new cord no other repairs
have been made to the clock in the past 40 years.
No school is better than the people of its community. Reiter had many very good
citizens, therefore a good school community. It was a privilege to have been a
teacher at Reiter.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, pp 16-19]
REITER SCHOOL
By Fred Van Duyne
Reiter School was so located because it was near the center point of the four
schools it replaced. Several locations for the new school were suggested by the
school board trustee, and patrons of the new school community. Finally all
locations were listed and the people of the community scratched what they
considered undesirable sites. The location decided upon was at the cross-roads
near the Werner Carlson (presently Francis Carlson) farm.
Upon testing the types of soil, depth, etc., this location also was eliminated.
A small gravel pit was located approximately 1/4 mile east of that cross-road on
the south side of the road. Soil tests made this location favorable for building
construction. Only a few knew of the selected location until the morning that
construction work really started.
The first thing after construction of the building was the improvement of the
township roads. It wasn't long, however, until the county took over the roads
and further improvement was made.
The school was a large one-floor brick building, trimmed with Bedford limestone.
Two steps up took you to the main corridor of the classroom level; six steps
down took you to the boiler room, furnace level. Four large classrooms, each
with floor area and ceiling hight sufficient to accommodate 40 pupils according
to state regulations, were located on the north side of the building, with an
outside entrance way in the center. Entrance ways were also at the west and east
corridors and also to the stage and boiler room. A large home economics room was
to the west and the industrial arts room to the east. Later some of these rooms
were changed around. On the south side of the main corridor were the two rest
rooms with the office between them, which was directly in line with the front
entrance, then to the south was a standard size junior high basketball floor;
adjoining the gymnasium was the stage and storage space the full length of the
gym. Underneath the stage and side rooms was the boiler room far away from the
classrooms.
A Johnson air-ventilation system was installed when the building was
constructed. No doubt the architectural plans and construction work of this
building were years ahead of its time. The majority felt that slightly over 35
years of use was a short duration for such a structure.
The greatest improvement in the school was when the Public Service constructed a
power line to provide electricity to certain farmers southwest of Rochester and
this also included Reiter School. What a change that was from the old Delco
light system and the gasoline engine to pump water. Then too, the change over
from burning old Indiana block coal to the stoker system for the furnace was a
blessing to the janitor.
The building became the center of activity for the community and other outside
organizations. The janitor's life was a busy one, as the school building was
made available for the Community Club, Conservation Club, Boys and Girls 4-H
Clubs, County Rural Youth meetings, County and Township Farm Bureau monthly
meetings, boys with their independent basketball teams and many others.
Following the fire which burned out the Circus quarters in Rochester many of the
aerial acts were perfected in the Reiter gym by the performers as the big
"I" beams which were exposed in the gym made the set-up of their
equipment easy. Needless to say, the performers put on a free show to the Reiter
students before they left on their summer tour.
Dedication Day of the Reiter School was a happy occasion for the community.
Marion Reiter, trustee, closed the other schools of the township, McKinley,
Burton and Woodrow and the two remaining one-room schools, Mt. Zion and
Sprinkleberg, so all teachers could attend.
Talks were given by the architect, the builder Mr. Kindig, the trustee Marion
Reiter, and school board members Bill Ross and Bill Keim. It was the beginning
of many happy observances.
The school always held a continuous first grade rating commission with the
state.
Enrollment at one dime, dropped to 55 with only ten students in grades 7th and
8th, during the 1940-41 term. There were only three teachers then.
The two remaining one-room schools were soon closed with Mt. Zion students
attending Woodrow and Sprinkleberg students going to McKinley. McKinley School
was condemned during the summer of 1931 and the student body transferred to
Rochester. Rochester Schools became crowded so all students on the north side of
the lake and along state road 14 east were sent to Reiter. It was at this time
that enrollment reached 140 students. Even the stage had to be used part time as
a class room.
When the policy of hauling high school students was adopted the school day
became somewhat longer. Children would arrive at school as early as 7:45 -
necessary because the high school students had to arrive at high school on time
and several stops were made on the way. Dismissal didn't come until 3:55 or
later, just whenever the high school bus arrived.
A full-time music teacher was first employed in 1928. He served all four
township grade schools, teaching music in each class room and instrumental to
those who so desired in the upper grades. He organized a school band in each
shool and a joint Township Band for special occasions. The first music teacher
was Ernest Fisher; others through the years were Mrs. Onis Hartman, Bertha Cole,
Audrey Kassabaum, Ida Kathryn (Moore) Burwell, Margaret (Myers) Connell,
Gertrude Klingaman, Carl Daugherty, Mildred Van Lue, Wilma (Byfield) Murphy,
Esther (Shaffer) Lyle, Edith Carlson, Mary Ginn and Donna Dawald.
Reiter School was fortunate in always having good janitors who were congenial,
cooperative and took pride in their work. They all seemingly, enjoyed the noise,
confusion and laughter of the younger generation. Not only was the janitor
always busy, but his wife was usually on the job, doing a lot of work always
willingly without any pay. The janitor was also "handy-man" for the
farmers of the community and chief mechanic for those with stalled cars in the
winter. He was also always taxi driver when a sick child had to go home.
The first janitor was Eric "Mike" Ysberg; others were his
brother-in-law, Bill Tyler, Tom Westwood, Cecil Pickens and Ruth, Francis
Zegafuse and Nellie.
The youngsters are Reiter always fared will at Christmas time with treats from
the teachers, janitor, P.T.A., bus drivers and we must not forget, Harry
Current, who was always at the door with his baskets of big apples to pass out
as they went to the bus.
Reiter was proud of its Parent-Teachers Association and Community Club. Not only
did parents and teachers meet to discuss school problems, but also nearly
everyone in the community attended. One meeting seemed most outstanding to me.
The gynasium and balcony were taxed to capacity to hear the lecture of Dr. John
Holland, WLS Radio lecturer from Chicago and also author of a column in the
Pairie Farmer magazine. John and Carrie McKinney made most gracious hosts for
this occasion.
P.T.A. meetings didn't always turn out as planned. At one Christmas time, Santa
Clause got stuck in a snow drift 1-1/4 miles east and never did appear.
On another occasion, on Oct. 18, 1949, the seventh and eighth grades, under the
supervision of Mrs. Carlson, presented a mock wedding. All went well until the
honored couple was called forward to receive the beautiful silver sugar and
creamer set. Fred came forward, but Mildred was absent. Mildred who rarely
missed a school activity had remained at home to entertain a club meeting. She,
to, appreciated the thoughtfulness and nice gift.
Many people were recognized and honored throughout the years. At a gathering in
May of 1959, Fred and Mildred Van Duyne were presented with a beautiful writing
desk, matching chair, table lamp and pen set. Incidentally Fred also received a
"fancy fishing tackle outfit".
Three meetings were of special significance during the school year: September
meeting - when the Reiter 4-H Boys and Girls Clubs had charge of the program,
November - Agricultural Exhibit Night, and March - Athletic Banquet and
Recognition Night
The Agricultural Exhibit Night always brought forth a great deal of interest
with anyone enrolled in Reiter School bringing all kinds of vegetables, small
grains, flowers and even hay for exhibit. The judging was usually done by the
Fulton County Agent and Whit Gast from Akron. The judging was done after school
and had to be completed before the doors opened in the evening. Mrs. John Werner
usually provided lunch for the judges, the principal and Mr. Werner during the
judging.
The judges usually served as speakers of the evening discussing the exhibits and
giving the young exhibitors many good pointers on selection and preparation of
their exhibits. Then the principal presented the cash awards and ribbons to the
winners - all sponsored by the P.T.A. and Community Club.
The Athletic Banquet was a carry-in provided by all mothers of the community.
Recognition was given to various teams and individuals with a resume of records,
etc. Usually the speaker was the high school principal or coach. Sometimes for a
change a magician would be scheduled for entertainment.
The P.T.A. sponsored and chaperoned the annual seventh and eighth grade trips.
One year the group would attend the State Far for a day - the next year a trip
to Chicago to Brookfield Zoo, Field Museum and other places of interest.
The P.T.A. and Reiter Mothers Club (later - Community Club) sponsored and
financed the Hot Soup Project starting in 1933 and later the Hot Lunch Program.
Just before frosts and while sweet corn was still available, on an appointed day
women would come to school early prepared to work. The men would carry into the
kitchen kettles, pans, tubs, boilers and other equipment. Soon they were busy
preparing sweet corn, cabbage, tomatoes lima beans, green beans, carrots and any
other vegetable available for canning - all donated. Tubs and tubs of mixed
vegetables were prepared and packed into 1/2 gallon glass cans. By noon or soon
after the cookers and wash boilers were filled with cans and the processing of
the vegatables was under way. It lasted far into the night until all cans were
processed, cooled and stored in a nice cool, dark place underneath the office.
This was the ground work for the Hot Soup which would be served to every student
and teacher at Reiter all winter long at no charge at all. You had to be an
observer to appreciate the cooperaiton, good will and fellowship which radiated
and was all a part of that day
Then on Tuesday and Thursday all winter long, two or three ladies would arrive,
bringing with them the proper kind and amount of beef to prepare the hot soup.
The janitor always had the 1/2 gallon cans of mixed vegetables ready for them.
The P.T.A. and Community Club financed the purchase of beef and also crackers.
The mothers and others needed no "thank you". It was sufficient for
them to just see how heartily those boys and girls consumed that hot soup along
with their cold lunch..
Then came the Hot Lunch Program - Cecile Carruthers, working out of the County
Extension Office, met with a group and considered the Hot Lunch Program. She had
selected Reiter School because of the success it had with the Hot Soup Project.
A trip was made to Gilead in Miami County to see how their program worked and
then a trip to the office in Indianapolis for further information by the
committee. Reiter soon was in the Hot Lunch Program - the first school in Fulton
County.
The P.T.A. borrowed money at the bank for supplies, equipment and materials to
make tables. The men responded by coming in at night and constructing the
tables.
Another stove, large freezer and a refrigerator were purchased. Reiter, for a
long time had 100% participation by the student body.
Changes came rapidly, the glass bottles of milk were delivered by Gordon Graham
in an open pick-up truck. Only a card board cap covered the bottle. Many times
the bottles would have mud on them. This made extra work for the cooks. Soon he
covered the trays of milk with a canvas for delivery.The next year plastic
wrapping covered the top of the bottle as well as the coarboard cap. Next change
came, before too long, the introduction of 1/2 pint cartons - then came
pasteurized milk for the first time and many had to become accustomed to a
different taste. Thursday was always chocolate milk day and Friday ice cream
day. One of the favorite meals was ham and beans with home made cornbread. There
was plenty of butter for the cornbread. Seconds were always available to anyone
who so desired at any meal.
One morning John Werner stopped at school. He had the field across the road in
front of the school building in sweet corn for the canning factory. He said,
"Sweet corn is ready; let the boys get all you need for the lunch program
tomorrow." Of course, the next morning the boys got the corn and helped the
cooks get it ready. The menu, naturally, was changed for that day. A lot of
"roasting ears", with plenty of free government butter, was consumed
by the student body and teachers as well.
Special meals were prepared at Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Cooks, and they were all good, through the years were: Mrs. Stretch and Marilyn,
Ruth Pickens, and "Duke" and Susie Carter.
Another P.T.A.-sponsored project was the Fall Festival. How the men and women
would respond in the afternoon to set up booths and prepare for the evening.
With as many as 30 cakes for the cake walks as the finale of the evening, you
had a variety of entertainment. The men managed the booths, the ladies the eats
and cold drink stand.
Every room in the building was in use, even the stage with a bowling alley. You
could win a fish bowl including gold fish if you could knock down the milk
bottles. You could have your fortune told or you cold go to the "Fun
House". Novelties of all kinds from stuffed monkeys to balloons were
available at Prewit Ewen's Novelty Stand, even to bags of confetti. You could
even ring a duck in the water tank or you could play Bingo under the supervision
of the Bests and Pickenses. The "Ring a Duck" tank gave way, later, to
the "Dunking Tank". The cotton candy and pop corn machines operated at
nearly full capacity all evening long.
Little wonder, everyone had a good time, as I observed one father, one year, as
he entered the gym, hand his youngsters a ten dollar bill and say, "Have
fun, spend all of it."
Needless to say the Fall Festival was really a money maker, but most of all what
a spirit of good will, cooperation and harmony permeated from all around.
Reiter had a school paper - "The Reiter Student". It originated with
the eighth grade English class when Seth Carpenter was principal. It was
continued for several years after he left.The paper was printed monthly and
copies were run off at school on a mimeograph with the "School Paper
Staff" doing the folding. It was the source of information for school
activities - P.T.A., Reiter Conservation Club meetings, 4-H Club meetings, Rural
Youth meetings and others.
"Fun Night" was always something that all looked forward to. Following
the basketball season one last night of basketball and other activities was
enjoyed. Basketball games between the first and second grades, the third and
fourth, the fifth and sixth playing the seventh, the girls playing the home high
school girls the eighth grade boys playing their Dads and finally the big boys
of the community choosing teams and playing each other. Incidentally, some
outsiders would appear on that night.
Prior to the basketball games, the boys and girls physical education classes
would put on demonstrations, stunts and relay contests. Then came the basketball
and anytime you had enough of it you could go home - if you could get the rest
of your family to go too.
Reiter was always proud of its sports records in basketball, baseball and track.
Suffice to say they usually won more than they lost. Quite a rivalry existed
with Burton, Richland Center and Woodrow. To win those games meant a successful
season. Home and away games were usually scheduled.
Basketball interest was at such a high pitch in the first years of Reiter that
the bus drivers would make their regular routes in the evenings to pick up
patrons and fans and return them home after the games.
A happy but unusual experience was carried on with Argos. The host team would
provide sandwiches, cookies and "pop", as it was called then, and
entertained the visiting team after the game. New friends were made and fun was
enjoyed by all. Dean Mow was principal and coach at Argos at that time.
It was an exciting night the first time the new electric score board was put in
operation. It was usually a run, to see who was going to operate it during the
game, between Cecil Pickens, Lindsy Ewen and Earl Fansler.
At least one certified referee was used to officiate the games. Officials used
were Ned Hart, Cecil Fenstermaker, "Spud" Eaton, Fred Zellers, Dale
Douglass and Tom Winks.
Some of the outstanding basketball names familiar to Reiter, as well as
Rochester High School fans were: Bick, Bigler, Braman, Carlson, Cessna, Cleland,
Craig, Denton, Fansler, Gordon, Grube, Helt, Henriott, Holloway, Howard,
McConkey, Parker, Rockwell, Rose, Skidmore, Smiley, Weber, Whisman, Zellers.
No doubt, the agriculture classes remember in the 1940's when they went to the
Corn Husking Contests on the M. E. Zellers farm and also the year they rode the
special train which stopped in Rochester to attend the International Harvester
Show at Soldiers Field, Chicago.
During the first years of the school a good sized flock of prairie chickens
would come out of the surrounding corn field and feed on he west side of the
school yard.
An exciting incident happened one afternoon just before school dismissed. A
terrible noise and roar was heard just overhead, then again and again - an
airplane was flying very low and buzzing the building. It wasn't but a few
minutes until we knew who the pilot was. It never happened again.
Another airplane incident had happened in October, 1932, which in later years
had a tragic ending. During the last recess of the day, a plane passed over,
circled several times and finally landed in the 60-acre field in front of the
Gresham Bearss home. When classes resumed after recess two boys did not appear,
Billie Gilliland (son of Mrs. John Inman) and Ralph Curtis. Upon inquiry it was
learned that they had sneaked away and gone over to the airplane. They did not
return to school for the school bus but went on home. The next morning at a
little conference in the office they were given their choice of working so many
arithmetic problems or taking so many smacks. Ralph took the former; Billie took
the latter.
Not too many years later, in World War II, while piloting a plane "over the
Hump" in China, loaded with war supplies, Billie's plane lost contact with
the Home Base; the plane never returned.
For many years "Home Talent" and Minstrel Shows were presented by the
adults. Talent was discovered that no one ever knew existed. Edith Carlson
usually served as director of the Minstrel Shows.
Yes, there were a lot of extra-curricular activities, but there was also a lot
of hard work done in the class room. Reiter usually had its share on the high
school honor roll.
Bus drivers that I recall were: M. F. Whisman, Jack Charters, John Cessna, John
Braman, Dave Carey, W. C. Pickens, Stace Tobey, Francis Zegafuse, Albert
Skidmore, Vic Skidmore, O. C. Howard, Clyde Neff, Lloyd Craig, Kenny Hall, Joe
Baker, Ted Merley and Vern Noyes.
Principals were: Clifford Baggerly, 1924-29; Seth Carpenter, 1929-31; John
Hiatt, 1933-39; Fred Van Duyne, 1931-33 and 1939-57; and E. L. Mitchell,
1957-59.
Teachers that I recall were: Esther Enquest, Alice Black, Mary (Launer) Hiatt,
Edgar Baney, Vera Carey, Rolland Meiser, Edith Brown, Annabelle Burkett, John
DuBois, Dorothy Smiley, Carol Biddinger, Mary Tobey, Mary Jane [Hood] Van Duyne,
Florence Moore, Eva Nellans, Ida Kathryn Moore Burwell, Lloyd Swick, Maleta
Snyder, Odessa Greer, Ruth Keebler, Estella Clemans, Mabel Gaumer, Alice
Hendrickson, June Robinson, Maude Sturken, Edith Bailey, Jane Kemper, Esther
Thrush, David Boyd, Florence Schaefer, Helen Shadel, Naomi Whitcomb, Dora Jane
Riley, Bertha Cole, Bertha Lynn, Martha Hoge, Olive Julian, Alberta Davis, Hazel
Chaney, Bernice Watson, Rex Friedline, Margaret Myers, Isabelle Grove, Gladys
Whittkamper and Mrs. Floyd [Dorothy] Kindig.
Many familiar faces are missing, but there are certain family names, which will
always be associated with the Reiter community, such as: Adams, Ault, Bearss,
Braman, Carlson, Cessna, Charters, Cripe, Denton, Eber, Ewen, Fear, Gohn,
Gordon, Greer, Grube, Hall, Henriott, Hunter, Kern, McKinney, McLochlin,
Mitchell, Neff, Pickens, Ranz, Showley, Skidmore, Smiley, Stahler, Stretch,
Tobey, Wagoner, Walters, Weber, Warner, Werner, Wheadon, Zartman, Zegafuse and
Zellers.
The Community Club remains with only a few of the oldest left. The recent
passing of Gresham Bearss, leaves only Ralph Weber, a patriarch of the community
who still lives on his farm, to bear witness of life in a prosperous and
exciting community.
Not only did the ladies assume a lot of responsibility at school, but the men
did too. They came in at night and constructed the balcony along the north wall
of the gym and also built the stage. The state fire marshal recommended that
they both be torn down, but after some persuasive arguments they relented and
balcony and stage remained to the end.
Two big boys were made responsible for the display of the flag each day. They
considered it an honor. They were taught how to carry the flag, place it on the
flag pole, when to fly it at halfmast, how to fold it, etc. They enjoyed too,
the privilege of going out five minutes before school dismissal to bring the
flag in. Only a few drops of rain had to fall during the day when they would
hurry out to get the flag.
Also one eighth grade girl was designated to answer the telephone in the office.
She would become so efficient that when the County Superintendent made his
regular visits, he would sometimes ask to see the young lady who answered the
telephone.
The playground was planned in this way - little folks, south of the building;
intermediate ball diamond in front at the flag pole; big girls ball diamond
southwest corner and big boys ball diamond to the northwest. The principal was
always out with the big boys and one lady teacher was requested to be on the
playground daily with the rest.The lady teachers alternated.
Chapel Services were held monthly on a Friday morning. The Rochester Ministerial
Association would set up a schedule and a minister would come from one of six
Rochester churches. This was carried out throughout the township. He would
usually have a devotional period presenting an object lesson. All would gather
in the gymnasium and sit on the bleachers for the service. It was a worth while
period as the minister could present a message and make impressions that the
teacher could not. How proud this student or that student would be when he or
she could get up before the whole school and introduce the speaker and say,
"This is my minister, where I go to church and Sunday School."
When Billie Foster was trustee, he originated the idea of a Township Track and
Field Meet. About two weeks before school dismissal for summer the meet was held
at the city park with all four township schools - Burton, McKinley, Reiter and
Woodrow participating.
They gathered soon after dinner from all schools with all grades taking part in
relays, races, rope skipping, games and all track and field events. McKinley was
usually the favorite, since they had no gym and practiced during the winther and
early spring while the others were still playing basketball.
One near tragedy occurred when Mr. Foster thought it would be exciting to have a
Bus Drivers 100 yard Dash. This was the last event. As they neared the finish
line John Cessna fell and everyone was scared. That was the end of 100 yeard
dashes for men 35-55 years old.
What a sight it was when 16 township buses loaded with tired and excited
children made their way around the 1/2 mile race track as they started for home.
Needless to say a great many spectators - dads, mothers, grandparents and
friends were on hand to offer an encouraging word to all the contestants.
Rivalry - yes - but friendly rivalry - a lot of pleasant experiences and a lot
of friendships made and renewed.
Also Spelling and Ciphering Matches were held between the schools during the
winter and one Joint Parent-Teachers Meeting was held each year.
During the last week of school a Joint Commencement Exercise was always held in
the Whitmer Gym for the six schools, Columbia and Lincoln of Rochester, Burton,
McKinley Reiter and Woodrow. The speaker was usually a Rochester minister with
the grade school principals alternating by years as leaders. The diplomas were
then presented by the various grade schol principals.
Later when Columbia and Lincoln 7th and 8th became Middle School, the
commencement was held at Burton with Burton, Reiter and Woodrow. (McKinley had
been absorbed by Rochester).
Last Day of School was always a "Big Dinner" Day at noon followed by
the school program. In later years the school program was given on the last
Parent-Teachers Night.
A lot of guests would usually appear on "last day" for dinner and most
of the afternoon would hold forth a lot of good fellowship and maybe a baseball
game.
Trustees during the "Days of Reiter" were - Marion Reiter (1924),
Billie Foster, Bert Myers, Alf Carter, John Braman, Kenny Taylor, Henry
Skidmore, Robert Keim, Arthur Weaver and Bob Gottschalk.
SCHOOL OFFICIALS STUDY REITER HOT LUNCH PROGRAM
[Newspaper clipping: Rochester News-Sentinel, not dated]
"Approximately 40 state and county officials met at Reiter today to study
the grade school's hot lunch program and to compare notes on operating
techniques.
"The lunch workshop, the first ever held in Fulton County, was sponsored by
the State Department of Public Instruction.
"The program got underway at 10:45 o'clock this morning with cooks from
other county schools, principals, trustees and others being registered. They
reviewed the lunch line at 11:15 a.m. and lunch for guests was served at noon.
"Three speeches followed the luncheon. Miss Margaret Dunham, of the State
Board of Health, spoke to the group on 'Type A' lunch; 'Nutrition and Food
Needs'.
"She was followed by a 30-minute speech concerning the distribution and
utilization of surplus commodities given by Richard Schweitzer, of the State
Department of Public Welfare, and R. G. Culhan, of the State Department of
Public Instruction addressed the group on records and reports. Following the
speeches, the group compared operation notes and lecturers answered questions
from the audience.
'Hosts for the affair were Reiter School Principal, Fred Van Duyne, County
Superintendent of Schools, S. Earl Rouch and cooks Mr. and Mrs. Estil Carter.
"The Reiter hot lunch program serves almost 98% of the enrollment of
students, 141 out of 144 students eating lunch there. Cooks "Duke" and
Susie Carter are both experienced restaurant managers. Low cost for individual
pupils is brought about partially through the federal surplus commodity and
subsidization program.
"At present food is served in two separate rooms with specially-prepared
meals waiting for them as they come from class. Because of lack of space, part
of the student body picks up their plates and eats in a nearby room.
"The charge was 15 cents a meal with seconds if desired. Some meals were
served free as required by federal regulations."
EXCERPTS FROM THE REITER STUDENT
September 16, 1929
More Seating Room -- We would like to have our gym arranged so that we could
take care of large crowds at basketball games. We expect to have good games this
year and need more seats. We would appreciate the help of our trustee and the
patrons of Reiter School in this matter.
Who's Who at Reiter School: Seth Carpenter 7-8 Prin., Alice Hendrickson 5-6,
Carol Biddinger 3-4, Odessa Greer 1-2. Eric Ysberg - caretaker. John Cessna, W.
C. Pickens, M. F. Whisman, Dave, Carey - bus drivers.
October 16, 1929
The Gym - Mr. Foster was at our school this week and was making plans to
increase the seating capacity of the gym, which all of us would appreciate very
much.
February 14, 1930
The New Seats - We sure appreciate the new seats in the gym. Everybody seems to
be fond of the balcony because it is filled first. We got the new seats through
the co-operation of Mr. Foster, Trustee, the patrons and friends of Reiter
School and the Community Club. The men from Reiter showed their interest in
doing the work. There was one carpenter hired and the Community Club took charge
of an independent basketball game and made enough money to pay the bills.
Everyone at Reiter wants to express his thanks. We are sure everybody is
satisfied. That increases our seating capacity another 200.
Oct. 4, 1929
McKinley won the Township Track Meet this fall, which was the most interesting
one yet. The boys half-mile relay was the most exciting event. Reiter led Burton
nearly all the way, but both boys stopped before the end, because of the crowd,
which caused much excitement. Finally the Burton boy crossed the finish line
first.
The Meet included Grades 1-2-3-4 and 5 in the Junior Meet and Grades 6-7-8 in
the Senior Meet.
McKinley won the Junior Meet - no scores given.
Senior Meet scores:
McKinley 76; Reiter 46; Burton 36; Woodrow 20.
Participants - McKinley - Girls: Nixon, VanLue, Carr; Boys: Bick, Davidson,
Barkman.
Reiter - Girls: Bailey; Boys: Cleland, Smiley, Bigler.
Burton - Girls: Cooper, Foster; Boys: Jones, Good, Taylor.
Woodrow - Girls: Brown, Tobey.
April 15, 1929
Improvements: Part of the hack barns at Burton have been torn down and brought
to Reiter. The hack drivers, janitors and several other men of the community
tore it down and brought it over in trucks. It is being built now.
The playground equipment is to be put up by the same men.
Ivy vines have been planted around the school building, which will make the
building more beautiful.
Mr. Phillips, Prin. Rochester High School, visited Reiter last Wednesday. He
gave a short talk and then gave out cards to enroll for high school next fall.
He also gave us a list of subjects to take. The following pupils are eligible to
graduate: Robert Wagoner, Etta Wagoner, Esther Herrell, Margaret Weber, Dorothy
Pickens, Lucille Hoffman, Robert Smiley, Grace Souder, Lemon Whisman, Howard
Ewen.
Music Instructor for Township this Year: Rochester Township has a Music
Instructor this year, Mr. Ernest Fisher, who will alternate in the four schools
and also organize an orchestra.
Mayme Hobbs Wins Spelling Contest for Woodrow: Mayme Hobbs of Woodrow School won
the Township Spelling Contest held at Reiter on March 29, 1929. Albert Flora of
Reiter missed the word "salad" when Woodrow still had two contestants
and Burton one.
The pronouncers and judges were: Co Supt. Roy Jones; Columbia School Principal
K. V. Jones; and Co. Agent Harry Rosenbury.
Roy Jones presented the award books to the best spellers. Those receiving books
were: Helen Sausaman and Mayme Hobbs - Woodrow; Selena Rhodes and Paul Ducker -
McKinley; Marjorie Vanata and Edith Singer - Burton; Albert Flora and Grace
Souder - Reiter.
Other contestants were: Woodrow: Myra Alspach, Helen Carrithers, Mary Frances
Sturken, Mildred Craig, John Keim, Ethel Blacketor; McKinley: Nina Rhodes, Ruth
Rush, Andrew Bick, Geneva Fitzell, Harry Fitzell, Ferne Drudge; Burton: Madge
Gaumer, Catherine Foster, Florence Moore, Gail Moore, Zana Steininger, Hugh
Taylor; Reiter: Lester Gordon, Edith Barker, Margaret Weber, Robert Smiley and
Eldon Cessna.
Records of Reiter Basketball 1928-29:
Reiter 14 - R. Center 10 Reiter 18 - Kewanna 13
Reiter 31 - Burton 2 Reiter 26 - Grass Creek 6
Reiter 33 - R. Center 10 Reiter 19 - Kewanna 16
Reiter 40 - Burton 3 Reiter 56 - Grass Creek 9
Reiter 41 - Argos 25 Reiter 33 - Argos 13
Reiter 19 - graduates 8
November 24, 1930
The Reiter Student Staff:
Editor-in-Chief Marjory Braman
Business Manager William Skidmore
Room News Agnes Zartman
Current News Floyd Bixler
Jokes Lonnie Ewen, Clurel Hunter
Literary Carl Stanley, Michael Zartman
Calendar Irene Pieratt
Holidays Estella Bixler
Club News LaVonne Stretch
Advertisements Matthew Zartman
Reiter Beats McKinley 22-5:
On October 31 we played McKinley on their outside diamond. It snowed part of the
time, but we did not mind.
Summary: Reiter - Walters, Skidmore 6, G. Cleland 14, L. Ewen, Stanley , DuBois,
Bigler, Smiley 2, Hunter, J. Cleland, Zartman, Blacketer, Lonnie Ewen. McKinley
- Barkman 3, Kochenderfer, Parker 2, Davidson, Spurlock, Carr.
January 15, 1930
This monthly Student contained stories of "How they got home on the day of
the Big Snow Storm". They left school about 2:30. Some parents came to
school after their children - some walked - some on horseback - some big wagons
- some didn't get home.
Details in stories by pupils on various buses - - Mr. Cessna bus - Eldon Cessna;
Mr. Neff bus - Lester Gordon; Mr. Zegafuse bus - Viola Eisenman; Mr. Pickens bus
- Ray Pickens.
Orchestra Meets on January 10, 1930.
Last Friday afternoon the orchestras from the four schools met at Reiter under
the direction of Music Instructor - Mr. Fisher.
There are 57 members: Burton 13; McKinley 14; Reiter 15; Woodrow 15.
Each school played three selections and then all played together. Also some
special numbers were presented. Another joint meeting will be held in the
spring.
January 2, 1930
(Taken from Burton Echos school paper)
"Our New Gym.
"They let us in our new gym at noon today - Nov. 20, 1929 -- for the first
time. The goals did not come until last Saturday so we did not have a chance to
practice much. The Bridge Factory made the goals and put them up last Thursday
night."
Honor Roll for November:
Room one - First Grade. Dale Smiley, Bobby Bigler.
Second Grade: Franklin Webb, Martha Stretch, Louise Woodcox.
Room two - Third: Evelyn Westwood, Betty Zellers, Marie Richardson
Fourth: Carl Gordon, Nina Fay Ysberg, Ruth Smiley.
Room three - not listed.
Room four - Seventh: Marjory Braman, William Skidmore.
Eighth: Eldon Cessna, Lester Gordon, Edward Smelser.
February 14, 1930
Mr. Fisher, our MusicTeacher, has organized a Harmonica Club. We have had three
lessons and we like to practice very much. There are 20 members, Lester Gordon,
Ross Pickens, Joe Cleland, Raymond Herrell, Evelyn Zellers, Glen Cleland, Edgar
Herrell, Tommy Bigler, Nina Faye Ysberg, Jim Tobey, Ruth Smiley, Dean Smiley,
Don Smiley, Marie Richardson, Betty Zellers, Matther Zartman, Agnes Zartman,
Irene Pieratt and George Cleland.
March 17, 1930
Ad in Student:
Mr. Farmer - have your seed corn tested at Reiter School. We test it free of
charge for you. See us about it. Make a date to bring your seed corn to school.
It is dangerous to plant untested seed corn this year. Bring it to us.
Summary of Bastkeball Games 1939-30
FIRST TEAM
Reiter 36 - Graduates 4 Reiter 24 - Burton 5
Reiter 21 - Argos 4 Reiter 20 - Fulton 23
Reiter 40 - Richland Center 3 Reiter 19 - Beaver Dam 12
Reiter 24 - Rochester 10 Reiter 65 - Grass Creek 5
Reiter 45 - Burton 7 Reiter 26 - Rochester 13
Reiter 24- Talma 10 Reiter 35 - Talma 16
Reiter 41 - Richland Center 11 Reiter 18 - Fulton 21
Reiter 54 - Argos 5 Won 13 Lost 2
SECOND TEAM
Reiter 12 - Richland Center 8 Reiter 24 - Burton 5
Reiter 8 - Rochester 11 Reiter 27 - RHS Girls 11
Reiter 18 - Burton 5 Reiter 10 - Rochester 27
Reiter 12 - Talma 1 Won 5 Lost 3
Reiter 7 - Richland Center 8
GIRLS
Reiter 6 - Graduates 35 Reiter 8 - Burton 6
Reiter 16 - Argos 12 Reiter 18 - Richland Center 8
Reiter 24 - Richland Center 0 Reiter 10 - Argos 13
Reiter 40 - Burton 0 Won 5 Lost 3
Reiter 5 - Graduates 26
School to Close Saturday April 19
We are having school on several Saturdays to make up for time we lost during the
Snow Storm.
February 27, 1931
Honor Roll:
ROOM ONE: Dale Smiley, Fred Zellers, Bobby Bigler.
ROOM TWO: Franklin Webb, Martha Stretch, Betty Zellers, Marie Richardson.
ROOM THREE: Carl Gordon, Ruth Smiley, Nina Ysberg, Evelyn Zellers, Margaret
Wagoner, Donald Werner and Mabel Craig.
ROOM FOUR: Norine Skidmore, John Bigler, Marjory Braman, William Skidmore.
See Aaron Slick at Reiter March 11.
Buy your Garden Seeds from the School.
County Tourney January 31, 1931
The Fulton County Grade School Tournament was held in Whitmer Gym on January 31,
1931. A good sized and enthusiastic crowd attended the tournament. The total
receipts were $142.45. Reiter was given the new basketball for winning the
championship.
Fans and players got meals at the United Brethren Church Basement - meal 35
cents.
Burton School had the concessions at the games. The privilege was let to the
highest bidder.
Devane Felts and Cecil Fenstermaker were the referees.
Game 1 Woodrow
McKinley
McKinley
Reiter
Game 2 Reiter
Reiter
Akron
Reiter
Game 3 Rochester champion
Rochester
R. Center
Talma
Game 4 Talma
Talma
Burton
Fulton, Kewanna, Grass Creek and Leiters Ford did not participate.
[for further, see FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p.38]
Coming as a result of the McKinley-Reiter Game was the first replay game played
at the Historical Sociaty grounds on the final evening of the Fulton County
Round barn Festival by the "Has Beens" of the original game 44 years
later, July 13, 1975. [for further, see FCHS Quarterly No. 22, pp 29-31]
April 21, 1931
School to close April 22 with Community Dinner and Program. [program. . . . .]
Orchestra Meet.
The Rochester Township Orchestra Meet was held at Reiter, Friday, April 17th.
Those present were: Burton - Esther Foster, Eileen McQuiston, Mary Alice Leeds,
Ida Moore, Ruby Henderson, Leona Good, Cecil Hudkins, Tom Miller and George
Carr.
Woodrow - Lucille Wilson, Edna Tobey, Ivan Michaels, Vaughn Hinesley, Ralph
Madary and Robert Brown.
McKinley - Josephine Thompson, Byron Carr, Alvada Bick, Robert Davidson,
Marjorie Tomb, Cecil Moore, Earl Barkman and Kathryn Van Lue.
Reiter - Paul Rice, John Smiley, Norine Skidmore, John Bigler, Margaret Wagoner,
Estella Bixler, Donald Werner, Chester Bixler and Floyd Bixler.
First place was won by Burton - 40 points out of a possible 56 points; second -
Woodrow 24-1/2 points out of a possible 40; third - McKinley 33-1/2 points out
of a possible 50; fourth - Reiter 36 points out of a possible 56.
Burton Wins Attendance Cup
Burton won the attendance Cup for 1930-31 with an average daily attendance of
97.73%. Reiter was second - average daily attendance 96.92%. Woodrow was third -
average daily attendance 96.39%. McKinley was fourth - average daily attendance
94.46%.
McKinley and Reiter Win Track Meets
The Rochester township Track & Field Meet was held at City Park on April 16.
SENIOR MEET Grades 6-7-8 JUNIOR MEET Grades 1-2-3-4-5
1st McKinley 43-1/3 Reiter 40-1/2
2nd Reiter 17-1/3 McKinley 29-1/2
3rd Burton 10 Burton 26
4th Woodrow 2 Woodrow 12
The Junior Match was hotly contested; no winner was determined until the last
event - horse shoe pitching. A large crowd was in attendance.
4-Way Tourney at Rochester
In January of 1955 Reiter was invited to participate in the 4-Way Tourney at
Rochester. The Rochester basketball coach suggested Reiter as a
"fill-in" after Knox had cancelled out only two days before the
tournament. Consequently Reiter was the "dark horse" of the tourney.
The results were as follows: Bremen defeated Bourbon in the first game of the
morning. Reiter defeated Rochester by three points in the second game - which
was considered an upset. In the final game Reiter had no trouble defeating
Bremen - more than doubling the score to win the Championship.
Score of Games 1950-51 Schedule:
Reiter 26 - Grass Creek 25 Reiter 34 - R. Center 24
Reiter 43 - Woodrow 23 Reiter 48 - Burton 34
Reiter 26 - Burton 23 Reiter 33 - Kewanna 24
Reiter 34 - Macy 13 Reiter 27 - L. Ford 30
Reiter 26 - Rochester 25 Reiter 40 - Akron 35
Reiter 25 - Woodrow 7 Reiter 22 - Akron 35
Reiter 20 - Kewanna 23 Reiter 21 - Talma 24
Reiter 38 - Talma 22 Reiter 38 - Grass Creek 24
Reiter 45 - Leiters Ford 30 Reiter 33 - Kewanna 35 O.T.
Won 14 Lost 5
There was an activity among the adults, which must be mentioned further. Often
during the winter months they would get together, select a play, choose a cast,
all local people of the community, prepare and present it to the public when
perfected.
A director would be elected, always someone of the community.
Sometimes, for variation, the men would put on a "home talent"
Minstrel Show. Needless to say they played to a full capacity crowd the night of
presentation.
These activities, along with the P.T.A., the Men's Conservation Club, the
Women's Community Club, the Rural Youth organization and the Boys and Girls 4-H
Clubs did much to generate an atmosphere of friendliness, cooperation and
goodwill in a closely knitted community.
And now, no lights shine in the school house windows at night, because there is
no building there. No visible landmark is there to bear witness to so many happy
memories, which were nurtured on that spot.
But that is the price that we pay for progress as TIME marches on.
[Fred Van Duyne taught at Mt. Zion school in 1921, Sprinkleberg (one-room school
near Elks golf course) 1921-25, Reiter School 1925-27, principal of McKinley
School 1927-31, principal of Reiter 1931-33 and 1939-57 (six years ill with
tuberculosis 1933-39), and Fulton Elementary School 1957-64, making a total of
37 years teaching in Fulton County. Mr. Van Duyne also wrote History of Mt.
Zion, which was published in the FCHS Quarterly in June 1972, and the Van Duyne-Shelton
Families, which was printed in Fulton County Folks vol. 2.]
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, pp 19-43]
__________
1924-25: Clifford Baggerly 7, 8; John Dubois 5 6; Vera Carey Pendleton 3, 4;
Alice Black 1, 2.
1925-26: Clifford Baggerly 7, 8; Fred Van Duyne 5, 6; Esther Enquist 3, 4; Alice
Black 1, 2.
1926-27: Clifford Baggerly 7, 8; Fred Van Duyne 5, 6; Esther Enquist 3, 4; Vera
Carey Pendleton 1, 2.
1927-28: Seth Carpenter 7, 7; Annabelle Burkett Keel 5, 6; June Robinson
Carpenter 3, 4; Mabel Kelly Gaumer 1, 2.
1928-29: Seth Carpenter 7, 8; Alice Hendrickson 5, 6; Carol Biddinger 3, 4;
Odessa Greer 1, 2.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, pp 12-13]
1929-30: Enrol (1-8) 80. 8 mos. Seth Carpenter, 7, 8; Alice Hendrickson, 5, 6;
Carol Biddinger, 3, 4; Odessa Greer, 1, 2.
1930-31: (Com. 1-8) 84. Seth Carpenter 7, 8; Carol Biddinger, 5, 6; Mrs. June
Carpenter, 3 4; Odessa Greer, 1, 2; E. F. Fisher, Twp. Music Supervisor.
1931-32: (Cont. Com. (1-8) 83. Prin. Fred Van Duyne, 7-8; Carol Biddinger, 5-6;
Maude Sturken 3-4; Mary Launer, 1-2; E. F. Fisher, Music Supervisor.
1932-33: Cont. Com. 1-8, 84. Prin. Fred Fan Duyne, 7-8 first semester - John
Hiatt 7-8 second semester; Mary Tobey, 5-6; Dorothy Smiley, 3-4; Mary Launer,
1-2; Ernest Fisher, Twp. Mu. Supr.
1933-34: Cont. Com. 1-8, 63. Prin. Norman J. Hiatt, 7-8; Mary Tobey, 5-6;
Dorothy Smiley, 3-4; Mary Launer, 1-2; Ernest Fisher, Twp. Mu. Supr.; Martha
Hoge, Twp., H.E. Supr.
1934-35: Cont. Com. 1-8, 73. Prin. Norman J. Hiatt, 7-8; Rolland Meiser, 5-6;
Mary Tobey, 3-4; Dorothy Smiley, 1-2; Bertha Cole, Twp. Mu., H.E. Supv.
1935-36: Cont. Com. 1-8, 67. Prin. Norman J. Hiatt, 7-8; Rolland Meiser, 5-6;
Mary Tobey, 3-4; Edith Brown, 1-2; Bertha Cole, Twp. Mu., H.E. Supv.
1936-37: Cont. Com. 1-8. 85. Prin. J. N. Hiatt, 7-8; Rolland Meiser, 4-6; Edith
Brown, 1-3.
1937-38: Cont. Com. 1-8. 87. Prin. J. N. Hiatt, 7-8; Edgar J. Baney, 4-6; Dora
Jane Riley, 1-3.
1938-39: Cont. Com. 1-8. 71. Prin. J. N. Hiatt, 7-8; Florence Moore, 4-6; Eva
Louise Nellans, 1-3; Audrey Kassebaum, H. Ec., Mu., Orch.
1939-40: Cont. Com. 1-8. 69. Prin. Fred K. Van Duyne, 7-8; Florence Moore, 4-6;
Eva Louise Nellans, 1-3; Ida Kathryn Moore, H. Ec., Mu.
1940-41: Cont. Com. 1-8. 59. Prin. Fred K. Van Duyne, 7-8; Bertha Lynn, 4-6; Ida
Kathryn Moore, 1-3; Gertrude Klingaman, Mu.
1941-42: Cont. Com. 1-8. 65. Prin. Fred K. Van Duyne, 7-8; Bertha Lynn, 4-6; Ida
Kathryn Moore, 1-3; Gertrude M. Klingaman, Mu.
1942-43: Cont. Com. 1-8, 67. Prin. Fred K. Van Duyne, 7-8; Bertha Lynn, 4-6;
Naomi Whitcomb, 1-3; Gertrude Klingaman, Mu.
1943-44: Fred Van Duyne 7-8; Melita Snyder 4-6; Naomi Whitcomb 1-d.
1944-45: Cont. Com. 1-8, 57. Prin. Fred K. Van Duyne, 7-8; Melita Snyder, 4-6;
Naomi Whitcomb, 103; Edith M. Carlson, Mu.
1945-46: Fred Van Duyne 7-8; Edith W. Bailey 4-6; Naomi Whitcomb 1-3.
1946-47: Cont. Com. 1-8, 72 Prin. Fred K. Van Duyne, 7-8; Edith W. Bailey, 4-6;
Naomi Whitcomb, 1-2.
1947-48: Fred Van Duyne 7-8; Edith W. Bailey 4-6; Naomi Whitcomb 1-3.
1948-49: Cont. Com. 1-8, 130. Prin. Fred K. Van Duyne, 7-8; Melita K. Snyder,
5-6; Edith W. Bailey, 3-4; Naomi Whitcomb, 1-2; Esther S. Lyle, Mu., B.
1949-50: Cont. Com. 1-8, 138. Prin. Fred K. Van Duyne, 7-8; Melita K. Snyder,
5-6; Edith W. Bailey, 3-4; Mary Jane Van Duyne, 2; Naomi Whitcomb, 1; Edith M.
Carlson, Mu.
1950-51: Cont. Com. 1-8. Enrol. (1-6) 129, (7-8) 29. Prin. Fred K. Van Duyne,
7-8; Melita K. Snyder, 5-6; Estella Clemans, 3-4; Mary Jane Van Duyne, 2; Naomi
Whitcomb, 1; Edith M. Carlson, Mu.
1951-52: Cont. 1-8. Enrol. (1-6) 120, (7-8) 28. Prin. Fred K. Van Duyne, 7-8;
Melita K. Snyder, 5-6; Alberta Davis, 3-4; Mary Jane Van Duyne, 2; Naomi Cook
Whitcomb, 1; Edith Carlson, Mu.
1952-53: Fred Van Duyne 7-8; Lloyd Swick 5-6; Melita Snyder 3-4; Mabel Gaumer 2;
Naomi Whitcomb 1.
1953-54: Cont. 1-8. Enrol. (1-6) 116, (7-8) 36. Prin. Fred K. Van Duyne, 7-8;
Loyd Swick, 5-6; Melita K. Snyder, 4; Mable Gaumer, 2-3; Naomi Cook Whitcomb, 1.
Carl Doherty, Mu., B.
1954-55: Fred Van Duyne 7-8; Helen Shadel 5-6; Melita Snyder 3-4; Bernice Watson
2; Naomi Whitcomb 1.
1955-56: Cont. Com. 1-8. Enrol. (1-6) 104, (7-8) 34. Prin. Fred K. Van Duyne,
7-8; Ruth Keebler, 5-6; Melita Snyder, 3-4; Olive Julian, 2; Naomi Cook
Whitcomb, 1; Donna Lee Dawald, Mu., B.
1956-57: Fred Van Duyne 7-8; Ruth Keebler 5-6; Melita Snyder 3-4; Florence
Schaefer 2; Naomi Whitcomb 1.
1957-58: Cont. Com. 1-8. Enrol. (1-6) 77, (7-8) 12. Prin. L. E. Mitchell, 7-8;
Rex L. Freidline, 5-6; Isabelle Grove, 3-4; Gladys Wittkemper, 1-2; Donna Lee
Dawald, Mu., B.
1958-59: 7 & 8 went to Rochester. E. L. Mitchell 5-6; Dorothy Kindig 3-4;
Marleah Thompson 1-2.
[NOTE: Woodrow School closed in 1959 and the Woodrow teachers went to Reiter
1959-60]
1959-60: Cont. 1-6. Enrol. (1-6) 113. Prin. David Boyd, 5-6; Hazel Chaney, 1;
Esther Thrush, 4; Jane Kemper, 5-6.
1960 fall: Bill Biddinger 6; Jane Kemper 5; Esther Thrush Special Education.
[F.C.H.S. files]
Teachers: Carmen Palmer 1916-18; Seth Carpenter taught at Reiter 1927-31.
Mrs. Seth [June Lela Robinson] Carpenter taught at Reiter 1927-28 and 1930-31;
Mary Jane Hood Van Duyne, 2nd grade, 1949-52; Fred Van Duyne, 1925-27 and 7th
& 8th and principal 1931-33, out with tuberculosis 1933-39, taught again
1939-57
See McKinley School.
RICHLAND CENTER SCHOOL [Richland Township]
Located SE corner of 150W and 700N.
__________
[photo] Richland Center School 1903 and Charles Pendleton, Richland Township
Trustee who built the new school. Pendleton Bridge is named for him. (Photo:
Bailey Hardware)
[FCHS Images No. 1, p. 71]
[photo] Richland Center high school built in 1903. Picture is school in 1904.
(Spring) First horse and buggy to far left is Mike Burkett and Charley Maple,
next is Rev. Clyde R. Walters and Guy Babcock. Others are Lawrence Hackett,
Riddle boys, Dickey boys, Err Biddinger, Milo Winn. Forst horse and buggy in
doorway is Talmage Dillon. Last horse and buggy to far right are Charley and
Florence Meiser.The long school hack is Clint Alderfer.
[FCHS Quarterly, Vol. 8, September, 1972, No. 3, p. 1 - cover]
[photo] This is one of the oldest paperback photographs known in Richland
Township. This is the Richland Center School as it existed before the brick
model was built in 1904. No exact date has been placed on the picture for lack
of a positive identification of anyone in the picture. The dress of the people
in the picture suggest fashions of the early 1880's as they closely resemble the
fashions worn in the 1883 Atlas of Fulton county. (Picture compliments of Mrs.
Gresham Lough.)
[FCHS Quarterly, Vol. 8, September, 1972, No. 3, p. 12]
[photo] Richland Center High School, 1918. Back row, l-r: Dewey Dudgeon,
Bessie Overmyer, Zella Conrad, Dale Fletcher, Roy Kestner, Ed Eash, Dollie
Kesler, Blanch Wynn, Doris Palmer, Hazel O'Neal, Zella Sturgeon, Dee Fults, Otto
Beehler. Third row: Raymond Brugh, Ethel Foster, Vera Carey, Geneive Jackson,
Lavone Kindig, Maine Overmyer, Mary McPheron, Marie Barnhart, Lannie Beck, Vida
Carey, Fern Ritter, Mable Roher, Robert Reed. Second row: Clara Mae Robbins -
teacher, Mildred Wright, Fred Swihart, Mildred Miller, Russell Fisher, Clitas
Batz, Hazel Gaby, Cecil Palmer, Ruth Newcomb, Ray Hubbard, Charles Maple -
teacher. First row: Cleo Wynn, Eva Hubbard, Mildred Eash, Alpha Overmyer, Emil
McPheron, Charles Foster, Oren Leedy, Raymond Fisher, Lester Cooper, Dee Hiatt.
[FCHS Quarterly, Vol. 8, September, 1972, No. 3, p. 26]
[photo] Richland Center's 1950 basketball team posed for this official
semi-final photo. Front row (left to right): Bob Goodman, Dick Alber, Geroge
Halterman, Dave Kanouse, Larry Kanouse. Back row: Gerald West, Maurice O'Dell,
Ed Mercer, Bob Overmyer, Dick Gelbaugh, Dick Dawson. Members of this team played
members of the Leiters Ford team of 1950 in a basketball game as the closing
event of the Round Barn Festival. A rematch is scheduled for Oct. 22 in the
Aubbee gym at 8 p.m. to raise money to repair the Leiters Ford depot museum.
(Photo provided by Paul Rockwell, Richland Center coach.)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 29, p. 9]
[photo] Richland Center 1950 Wildcats Oct. 22, 1977: George Halterman, Dick
Gelbaugh Bob Overmyer, Larry Kanouse, and Dave Kanouse. (Photo by Allen Willard)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 30, p. 5]
[photo] Shirley Willard interviews Paul Rockwell, Richland Center 1950 coach.
When asked what his advice would be to a young man wanting to coach basketball
today, Rocky said, "Don't." (Photo by Allen Willard)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 30, p. 5]
[photo] Action during the Oct. 22, 1977, rematch between Richland Center in
white shirts and Leiters Ford in black shirts. From left: Richard Crull, Dick
Gelbaugh, Harry Hoover and Dan DeWitt jumping for the ball, Bob James, Ralph
Stayton. (Photo by Allen Willard)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 30, p. 6]
[photo] Richland Center Basketball Team of 1953-54. Left to right, front row:
Clem Williams, Marvin Sanders, Pat Hiatt, Milton Kistler, Dan DeWitt. Back row:
Lyman Cooper, Dale Foor, Phillip Mow, Monty Lough, Jack Town, Maxe Dunlap, Don
Hawk.
[Richland Center High School Alumni Directory Annual Update)
[photo] Richland Center Basketball Team of 1954-55. Left to Right, front row:
Lyman Cooper, Phil Mow, Dan DeWitt, Dale Foor, Marvin Sanders. Back row: Richard
Waltz, Ollie Garrison, Harold Young, Dick Partridge, John Kuhn, Jim Walters.
[Richland Center High School Alumni Directory Annual Update)
[photo] Richland Center Basketball Team of 1955-56. [no names]
[Richland Center High School Alumni Directory Annual Update)
[photo] Richland Center Basketball Team of 1956-57. Front row: Overmyer, Foor,
Campbell, Lewis, J. Walters, Kistler. Back row: Burnett, R. Walters, Stockberger,
Keele, Burkett. Coach Kistler.
[Richland Center High School Alumni Directory Annual Update)
[photo] Richland Center Basketball Team of 1957-58. Left to right, first row:
Mark Kistler, Jim Campbell and Jay Wilson; second row: Larry Burnett, Ron Keele,
Ron Walters and Don Foor; third row: Coach Delbert Kistler, Dean Stockberger,
Jim Kerr and Wayne Haney.
[Richland Center High School Alumni Directory Annual Update)
[photo] Richland Center Basketball Team of 1958-59. Left to right, front row:
Wayne Haney, Jim Kerr, Del Stockberger, Ron Walters and Don Foor. Second row: Ed
Norris, Larry Alber, Jim Keele, Ron Keele and Larry Burnett. Third row: Coach
Fritz Morgan, Tom Leavell, Dave Evans and Student Manager Paul Erdman.
[Richland Center High School Alumni Directory Annual Update)
[photo] Richland Center Basketball Team of 1959-60. First row, left to right:
Philip Alber, Ed Norris, David Evans, Jim Kerr, Larry Sanders. Second row, left
to right: Jim Keele, Lloyd Cook, John Keele, Wayne Haney, Larry Alber. Student
managers (not shown): Mike Partridge, Paul Myers, Jim Alderfer.
[Richland Center High School Alumni Directory Annual Update)
[photo] Richland Center Basketball Team of 1960-61. Front Row, Left to right:
Phil Alber, Larry Sanders, Dave Evans, John Keele, Bill Lewis. Back Row, Left to
right: Loyd Cook, John Dudgeon, Hugh Lewis, Jim Alderfer, Jerry Lewis. (Not
shown) Hugh Ressler, Coach; Student Managers: Bruce Hess, Kenny Kesler, and Mike
Partridge.
[Richland Center High School Alumni Directory Annual Update)
[photo] Richland Center Basketball Team of 1961-62. Standing, left to right:
Philip Hiatt, Jerry Lewis, Kip Kistler, Gary Nellans, David Burkett, Hugh Lewis,
John Keele, Phillip Alber, Gene Hiatt, and Walter Talbott. Student Managers:
Bruce Hess and Kenneth Kesler.
[Richland Center High School Alumni Directory Annual Update)
[photo] Richland Center Basketball Team of 1962-63. Front row: Hugh Lewis,
David Burkett and Hugh Ressler, Coach. Back row: Left to right: Steve Norris,
Ray Brockey, Kip Kistler, Noel Kamp, Larry Kuhn, Myron Foor, Bob Hisey, Richard
Keele and Kenny Kesler, student manager.
[Richland Center High School Alumni Directory Annual Update)
[photo] Richland Center Basketball Team of 1963-64. Front row: Charles
Wilson, Noel Kamp, Kip Kistler, Steve Norris, and Max Lytle. Back row: Keith
Boyd, manager, Ray Brockey, Myron Foor, Maynard Norris, Mick Evans, Bob Hisey,
Mick Walters and Hugh Ressler, coach.
[Richland Center High School Alumni Directory Annual Update)
[photo] Richland Center Basketball Team of 1964-65. Kneeling, Charles
Parsons, Steve Norris. Front row: Mickie Baker, Max Lytle, John Pratt, Noel Kamp.
Back row: Dale Overmyer, Charles Wilson, Mike Keele, Carl Overmyer.
[Richland Center High School Alumni Directory Annual Update)
__________
REV. CLYDE WALTERS WRITES
I grew up in Richland Township. I graduated from grade school at Richland Center
1903 teacher - Charley Emmons. In the fall of 1903 I started high school in the
County Line grade school building, located on the northeast corner of the
Nellans farm, then owned by Jacob Zerby. It was across the road from Garver
farm. We drove with horse and buggy to school, put our horses in Garver's barn.
In the fall of 1904 the high school building was ready for grades on the first
floor, taught by Billy Foster. Charley Emmons was the high school teacher
occupying the second floor.
The old school building was moved across the corner and became the
Martindale-Pendleton grocery store and post office. I believe Charley Pendleton
was trustee at this time and Sherman Gibbons was county school superintendent.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 20, p 12]
Wilma Mow Foltz discovered that her great-grandfather O'Blenis donated the land
for Richland Center school. April 4, 1859, Daniel and Catherine O'Blenis deeded
the land for Richland Center school to the township trustees, David Mow,
Benjamin C. Wilson, and William Sturgeon. The deed describes the land as
follows: "one-half of land in northwest quarter of northwest quarter of
Section #23 in Township N 31 north of Range 2 East containing 44 acres for sume
of $1, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged for a schoolhouse lot and is
conveyed only so long as the same shall be used and occupied by the several
authorities of said township of Richland as a public house lot."
[FCHS Quarterly No. 20, p. 17]
MORE ON WHIPPOORWILL AND TIOSA SCHOOLS
Dennis Foor recalls that in 1916 Sand Hill, Red Brush and Tiosa one-room schools
all consolidated into a new Tiosa School on a five acre lot. This was such a big
playground that the kids playing in the northwest corner could not hear the bell
but would see the other children going in the school and thus knew the bell had
rung. The bell was a large brass round alarm bell about 12 inches diameter. It
was struck by a metal arm that hit the outside of the bell and would go
"clack clack clack." The bell was in the hallway by the drinking
fountain. There was a pile of rails on the northwest corner of the school yard
and the kids would build a house of them and cover it with grass.
Dennis attended Sand Hill School and was sent to Tiosa after the consolidation.
Several people opposed building the new school at Tiosa. Parlee Foor (Dennis'
father), Orville Miller, John Beck and others went to Indianapolis to try to get
the new school built closer to Sand Hill where they wanted the new school. Still
others wanted to keep the old Tiosa School, such as Harrison Wynn and Dr. L. C.
Meek.
In the fall of 1923 pupils from Germany School and all those living west of 50W
(west of Sand Hill) went to Whippoorwill School. So Dennis was consolidated into
a different school again. He only attended old Whippoorwill School three months
and the new Whippoorwill School opened Dec. 1, 1923, so he went to yet another
school. The new Whippoorwill School cost $20,000 to build but was used only
seven years.
Why was a new Whippoorwill School built and used for only seven years? There
were several prominent and influential people who wanted a new school at
Whippoorwill, including Bill Miller, Harry Overmyer, and Chancey Hiatt. The
trustee, Howard Reed, wanted to wait a couple of years and put all the children
in Richland Center School. Several people opposed building a new Whippoorwill
School. But those who wanted a new school won out and the new Whippoorwill was
built.
Dennis remembers attending a meeting at the new Whippoorwill School around 1930
in which Richland Township trustee, Oscar Scott, pointed out the defects of the
school, though it was only a seven-year-old building. There was mortar coming
out from between the bricks. It was said that this was the fault of the
architect who insisted that they use the mortar that had sat and dried out over
noon hour instead of making a new batch. And the flat roof leaked because the
drain holes had filled with leaves and then formed a lake on the roof and froze
and pushed the roof away from the wall and split the roof. J. Howard Reed, the
trustee who had built the school, had Dave Beehler the janitor clean the leaves
out. But the new trustee, Oscar Scott, hired a new janitor, George Morris, and
he did not clean out the leaves so the roof began to leak.
In 1926 the Richland Township trustee moved the Whippoorwill and Tiosa 7th and
8th grades to Richland Center School. Their desks were moved too. Dead Man's
College was closed then too. That was the first year that high school students
were allowed to ride the school buses. Chancey Hiatt and Bill Miller were the
bus drivers for Whippoorwill, while Jess Waltz and Frank Ball drove buses for
Tiosa area.
Thus Dennis Foor was consolidated out of three schools. He attended Sand Hill
for one year, then went to Tiosa six years 1917-23, then attended old
Whippoorwill three months, then new Whippoorwill the rest of the year, then went
to Richland Center High School.
When they remodeled Richland Center School in 1923, the bell was removed from
the tower. The bell was a huge "dinner bell" with a clapper inside. It
was so heavy it would take three or four men to move it. It was placed outside
the janitor's room above the entrance. Some high school boys stole it and buried
it in a field, where it lay until it was plowed up by Charlie Morgan. His plow
caught the edge of the bell and it ruined his plow.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 51, pp 40-42]
Originally called County Line School.
School built before 1876.
The Tiosa High School was moved to the County Line School in 1904, and the name
was changed to Richland Center High School, and completed in 1905, graduating
its first class in 1906. It was a three-year high school. Harry E. Biddinger was
the first principal in 1905 in the new building.
School closed. Part of building still standing, now occupied by Richland Center
I.O.O.F. lodge.
Some of the teachers were Dewey Dudgeon, Charles Maple, Harry E. Biddinger,
John Plaster, Duard Conrad and wife Alice Conrad, Dale Harbaugh, Mrs. Margaret
Mulligan, Mr. T. J. Crownover, Clara May Robbins, Mr. Shepherd, and Mildred Nafe.
When the gym at Center was built, it left just one county school without a gym,
Grass Creek. Center would go there to play basketball outside on a dirt floor
with the game being in the afternoon.
The girls basketball team was organized soon after the gym was built. They would
have three games a night, the girls and the A and B boy's teams. Some of the
girls were Edna McGriff, Pauline Hubbard, Marjorie Stockberger, Irene Sander,
Eleanor Overmeyer, Mildred Rogers, Evadean Halterman, Edith and Bernice Walters
of the 1925 girls team.
The school hack which I rode in was pulled by two horses or mules and was owned
by William Burkett. It had a stove underneath with the stovepipe upon one side.
It burned coal, cobs or wood. It would be a five or six mile drive each way with
only the grade school children getting to ride. Lee Mow was also a hack driver.
In later years the Model T Ford truck came into use and the high school students
could ride. Herman Weir and Walter Burkett drove Model T Fords. The Tiosa and
Whippoorwill school students came to Richland Center in 1933. The Tiosa bus
drivers were Vern Scott and Harry Osborne. Clinton Alderfer drove a hack from
Whippoorwill. The drivers from the western part of Richland Township were Frank
Ritter and Arley Dudgeon. Some of the janitors at Richland Center were Harry
Felts, Delbert Stockberger, Frank Ritter and Arley Dudgeon.
[Richland Center School, Biddinger Family, Fulton Co Folks Vol. 1, Willard]
We rode the hack to school at Richland Center. Some of the hack drivers were
Frank Ritter, Oliver Fisher and Bert Bunn. There were no windows in the hack
except at the back. If one lived within two miles, he always walked to school.
Some of the teachers in grade school were Gladys Babcock Maple, Lea Fish, Marie
Turner, William Overmyer, Herbert Foster and Milo Winn. Some of the teachers I
recall in high school were Mildred Nafe Wakefield, Frank Shipley and Ruth
Shipley, and a Miss Jones.
Henry Burkett Family, Bessie Burkett Good, Fulton Co Folks, Vol. 2, Willard.
Lloyd Beehler taught a total of 41 years, 35 of those years at Richland
Center in the same 5th and 6th grade room, then six years in the Rochester
Middle School until his retirement in 1973.
[Louis J. Beehler, William Amel Sausaman, Fulton Co Folks, Vol. 2, Willard]
Lucille (Mrs. Clyde) Beehler taught home economics and commerce at Richland Center 1945-46 and 1951-56. Lloyd Beehler taught grades five and six at Richland Center 1935-1964, was acting principal at Richland Center 1964-67 while the school had only grades one through six, and then taught at Rochester Middle School until his retirement in 1973.
The Center school opened the 1st of December with David Mackey as teacher.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, December 11, 1873]
Teachers:William Foster; Dewey Dudgeon was principal 1932-35, and returned
after his father's death Oct. 2, 1950, as a teacher; Russell Walters, principal
1941-42, and 1955-59; Mildred Nafe, 1918-20; Mary Louisa Nafe Mullican, 1928-29;
Mildred J. Corn Nellans; Charles Bernhardt; Robert Cox; Mildred Nellans; Roland
Stellhorn; Hugh Ressler; Frances Bright; Ruth Stellhorn; Ellis Powell
Bus drivers: William C. Miller; Cliff McGee; Walter Burkett; Chauncey Hiatt;
Harry Halterman; Frank Ritter, Oliver Fisher; Bert Bunn.
__________
The debating society at Center will meet on Friday evening, March 7 . . .
[Richland Locals, Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, February 27, 1873]
L. Lewellyn McClure got the job of building Center and Eidson school houses -
Center at $980, and Eidson at $650. Worley got the Whippoorwill at $680.
-- Miss Maggie Miller has had no trouble with her school since she put a tin ear
on some of the boys. She is well liked by all, both as a teacher and a lady.
[QUERY: is Richland Center School the correct school? - WCT]
[Richland Locals, Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, May 29, 1873]
Spelling at Center went off quietly. Mary Newcomb was the one that took her
seat last. Miss Newcob is twelve years of age, or there abouts. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, January 15, 1874]
Miss Maggie Oneth is engaged in teaching the Center school. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, October 2, 1875]
On next Saturday the citizens of Richland township will meet at Center school
house for the purpose of organizing an anti-horse thief company. The number of
horses now being stolen all over the country makes it an absolute necessity for
the people to organize for protection.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 3, 1876]
Center School House, Richland Tp., Dec. 23, 1876. The institute was called to
order . . . by the Trustee, Wm. Newcomb; J. L. Martindale was chosen Secretary
and C. S. Knott appointed critic . . . [names mentioned]: E. T. Henderson, E. C.
Martindale, W. H. Riley. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, January 6, 1877]
Mr. E. T. Henderson at Center. . . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, January 20, 1877]
Mr. Martindale, the able teacher at the Center school is giving satisfaction.
[Rochester, Sentinel, Saturday, March 2, 1878]
RICHLAND CENTER TEACHERS
1897-98: Prin. Arthur Deemer
1903-04: Chas. Emmons, P.; Milo Mehling, Asst.
1906: Louise Cummings, 1-2-3.
1913: 7-8 before 1913
1915-16: Chas. G. Maple, Prin., Math., Sc., Latin, 3; Clara Mae Robbins, Eng.,
Hist.; Milo Wynn, Ind. Arts; Fern Zerbe, Supervisor, Dom. Sc.
1916-18: Carmen Palmer Kath, 1-2-3
1917-19: Vida Carey Nichols, 1-2-3
1917-18: E. D. Gordon, Prin.; Mae Robbins; Herbert Foster, Supervisor, Man.
Train.
1918-19: T. J. Crownover, Prin., Eng. Hist, Ag.; 3, Mildred Nafe, Latin, French,
Eng., Dom. Sc.; Milo Wynn, Man. Train.
1922-23: Ruth Newcomb Overmyer Walters, 1-2-3.
1923-24: Annabelle Viers, 1-2-3.
1924-25: Bessie Burkett Good 1-2-3.
1926-27: Yetta Entsminger, grade 5.
1928-29: Clifford Koch, 7-8.
1929-30: Donald Kanouse 7-8.
1929-30: Enrol. (1-8) 175, (9-12) 49. 8 mos. Prin. Duard Conrad, Hist. Agri.;
Alice Conrad., H. E., Eng., Phys. Ed.; Dale Harbaugh, Latin, Sc., Phys. Ed;
Margaret Mullican, Math., Eng.; Clifford Koch, 7-8; Mildred Koblentz, 4, 5, 6;
Evadean Halterman, 1, 2, 3.
1930-31: (Comb. 8-4) (1-8) 88, (9-12) 54. Prin. Dale Harbaugh, Sc., Lat, Phys.
Ed.; Flossie Moody, Math., Music; Martha Hensley H.E., Eng.; Marion Ginke, Hist.,
Agri., Coach; W. Everett Juillerat, 7,8; Mildred Koblentz, 4, 5, 6.
1931-32: (8-4) Cont. Com. 1-12. (1-8) ??, (9-12) 55. Prin. Dale Harbaugh, Sc.
Lat., Phys. Ed.; Flossie Moody, Math, Music; Ruth Stine, Eng., H.E., Phys. Ed.;
Marion Linke, Coach, Hist., Agri.; W. Everett Juillerat, 7, 8; Thelma Sanders,
4-6, Zulah B. Long 1-3.
1932-33: (8-4) Cont. Com. 1-12. (1-8) 160, (9-12) 59. Prin. Dewey Dudgeon, Sci.,
Math.; Ora E. Lemert, Eng., Math., Soc. St., Paul Rockwell, Phy. Ed., Soc. St.,
Lat.; Ruth Ober, H.E., Mu., Lat; Everett Juillerat, 7-8; Lloyd Beehler, 5-6;
Nellie Newhouse, 3-4; Mary Lenore Smith, 1-2.
1933-34: (8-4), Cont. Com. 1-12. (1-8) 164, (9-12) 56. Prin. Dewey Dudgeon,
Math., Sci., Ag.; Ora E. Lemert, Eng., Math., Com.; Ruth Ober, Latin, H.E., Mu.;
Paul Rockwell, Soc. St., Phy. Ed., H.; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Lloyd Beehler, 5-6;
Nellie Newhouse, 3-4; Lenora Smith, 1-2
1934-35: (8-4) Cont. Com. 1-12. (1-8) 169, (9-12) 65. Prin. Dewey Dudgeon,
Math., Sci., Ag.; Ora E. Lemert, Eng., Math., Com.; Ruth Ober, Lat., H.E., Mu.;
Paul Rockwell, Soc. St., Phy. Ed., H.; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Lloyd Beehler, 5-6;
Nellie Newhouse, 3-4; Lenora Smith, 1-2.
1935-36: (8-4). Cont. Com. 1-12. (1-8) 159, (9-12) 69. Prin. Floyd E. White,
Math., Sci., Ag.; Ora E. Lemert, Eng., Math.; Ruth Ober, Lat., H.E., Mu.; Paul
Rockwell, Soc. St., Phy. Ed., Sci., H.; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Lloyd Beehler, 5-6;
Marjorie Hiatt, 3-4; Margaret E. Halterman, 1-2.
1936-37: (8-4). Cont. Com. 1-12. (1-8) 149, (9-12) 70. Prin. Floyd E. White, Sci.,
Math., Ag.; Mildred Janette Corn, Eng., Math., Phy. Ed.; Ruth M. Ober, Lat., H.E.,
Mu.; Paul Rockwell, Soc. St., Sci., Phy. Ed.; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Lloyd Beehler,
5-6; Marjorie Hiatt, 3-4; Margaret E. Haltrman, 1-2.
1937-38: (8-4). Cont. Com. 1-12. (1-8) 150, (9-12) 70. Prin. Elmer E. Beadles,
Sci., Ag., Math.; Grace E. Martin, Eng., H. Ec., Mu, Orch.; Mildred Corn Nellans,
Eng., Lat., Math., Phys Ed.; Paul Rockwell, Soc. St., Sci., Phys Ed.; Donald
Kanouse, 7-8; Lloyd Beehler, 5-6; Marjorie Hiatt, 3-4; Margaret E. Halterman,
1-2.
1938-39: (8-4) Com. 1-12. (1-8) 162, (9-12) 66. Prin. Elmer E. Beadles, Math.,
Sci., Ag., Grace E. Martin, Eng., H. Ec., Mu., Orch.; Helen Parker, Com., Lat.,
Eng.; Paul Rockwell, Soc. St, Sci., Phys. Ed.; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Lloyd
Beehler, 5-6; Marjorie Hiatt, 3-4; Margaret E. Halterman, 1-2.
1939-40: (8--4) Com. 1-12 (1-8) 145, (9-12) 70. Prin. Elmer E. Beadles, Math.,
Ag.; Grace E. Martin, Eng., H. Ec, Mu., Orch.; Helen L. Parker, Eng., Com.,
Lat.; Paul Rockwell, Soc. St., Sci., H., Phys. Ed.; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Lloyd
L. Beehler, 5-6; Virginia Riley, 3-4; Margaret E. Halterman, 1-2.
1940-41: (8-4) Com. 1-12 (1-8) 142, (9-12) 68. Prin. Elmer E. Beadles, Math.,
Sci., Ag.; Grace E. Martin, Eng., H. Ec., Mu., Orch.; Helen E. Parker, Com.,
Eng., Lat.; Paul Rockwell, Soc. St., Sci., Phys. Ed.; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Lloyd
Beehler, 5-6; Virginia Riley, 3-4; Margaret E. Halterman, 1-2.
1941-42: (8-4) Com. 1-12. (1-8) 139, (9-12) 70. Prin. Russell D. Walters, Sci.,
Ind. A.; John Dickey, Soc. St., Math., Sci.; Dorcas M. Showalter, Com., H. Ec.,
H., S.; Harriett Wilkins, Eng., Mu., B.; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Lloyd Beehler,
5-6; Evelyn Mow Cox, 3-4; Margaret E. Newman, 1-2.
1942-43: (8-4) Com. 1-12. (1-8) 140, (9-12) 71. Prin. John R. Wagoner, Com.,
Soc. St.; Gwendolyn Anderson, Eng., Soc. St.; Frances Nellans, H. Ec., Sci., Mu.;
Ellis C. Powell, Ind. A., Math., Sci.; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Lloyd Beehler, 5-6;
Virginia L. Rose, 3-4; Margaret E. Newman, 1-2.
1944-45: (8-4). Com. 1-12. (1-8) 155, (9-12) 72. Prin. Ellis C. Powell, Math.,
Ind. A.; Lucille Z. Flaugh, Com., H. Ec.; Paul Rogers, Soc. St., Sci., P.E.;
Mary Jane Weathers, Eng., Mu., B., Art; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Lloyd L. Beehler,
5-6; Virginia Rose, 3-4; Margaret E. Newman, 1-2.
1946-47: (8-4). Com. 1-12. (1-8) 137, (9-12) 61. Prin. Ellis C. Powell, Math.,
Ind. A., Lucile Beehler, Com., H. Ec.; Mary Alice Harris, Eng., Sci., Soc. St.;
Kenneth R. Overstreet, Soc. St., P.E.; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Lloyd Beehler, 5-6;
Wreatha Swanson, 3-4; Margaret E. Newman, 1-2.
1948-49: (8-4) Com. 1-12. 198. Prin. Ellis C. Powell, Math., Ind. A.; Mary A.
Harris, Eng., Soc. St., Sci.; Dixie Lattimer, Com., H. Ec.; Paul Rockwell, Soc.
St., P.E.; John M. Crabbs, 7-8; Lloyd Beehler, l5-6; Ruth Bowen, 3-4; Margaret
E. Newman, 1-2.
1949-50: Cert. 1-12. (1-6) 102 (7-8) 40, (9-12) 62. Prin. E. E. Beadles, Math.,
Ag.; Mary A. Harris,Eng., Sci.; James Osmun, Mu., B.; Ruth Paul, Com., H. Ec.,
P.E.; Paul Rockwell, Soc. St., P.E., Sci.; John M. Crabbs, 7-8; Lloyd Beehler,
5-6; Treva Klein, 3-4; Margaret E. Newman, 1-2.
1940-51: Cert. 1-12. Enrol. (1-6) 118 (7-8) 35, (9-12) 74. Prin. E. E. Beadles,
Math.; Mary A. Harris, Eng., Sci.; Dorothy Lynch, Com., P.E.; James Osmun, Mu.,
B.; Paul Rockwell, Soc. St., P.E., H.S.; John M. Crabbs, 7-8; Lloyd Beehler,
5-6; Treva Klein, 3-4; Margaret E. Newman, 1-2.
1951-52: Cert. 1-12. Enrol. (1-6) 126, (7-8) 27, (9-12) 77. Prin. D. G. Dudgeon,
Math., Ag.; Frances Baxter, Com., Math., P.E.; Lucile Beehler, H. Ec.; James K.
Greiner, Mu., B.; Mary Alice Harris, Eng., Sci.; Paul Rockwell, Soc. St., H.S.,
P.E.; John Crabbs, 7-8; Lloyd Beehler, 5-6; Edith Grosvenor, 3-4; Trave Klein,
2-3; Margaret E. Newman, 1.
1953-54: Cert. 1-12. Enrol. (1-6) 136, (7-8) 38, (9-12) 70. Prin. D. G. Dudgeon,
Math.; Lucille, Beehler, Eng., H. Ec.; Charles W. Bernhart, Soc. St., Ind. A.;
John M. Crabbs, Eng., Sci., Math., P.E; Glen D. Law, Com., Soc. St., Math; Mario
Lombardo, Mu., B.; Mildred Nellans, Eng., Lat., P.E; Paul Rockwell, Soc. St.,
Sci., H.S., P. E.; Lloyd Beehler, 5-6; Mary Match, 4-5; Treva Klein, 2-3;
Margaret E. Newman, 1-2.
1955-56: Cert. 1-12. Enrol. (1-6) 128, (7-8) 53, (9-12) 60. Prin. D. G. Dudgeon
Math.; Lucille Beehler, H. Ec.; Charles W. Bernhardt, Soc. St., Ind. A.; John M.
Crabbs, Eng., Math. P.E.; Glen D. Law, Com., Soc. St., Math.; Mildred Nellans,
Eng., Lang., P.E.; Paul Rockwell, Soc. St., Sci., P.E., H.S.; Ronald Stellhorn,
Mu., B.; Lloyd Beehler, 5-6; Mary Hatch, 4-5; Virginia Law, 2-3; Margaret E.
Newman, 1-2.
1957-58: Cert. 1-12. Enrol. (1-6) 111, (7-8) 43, (9-12) 75. Prin. D. G. Dudgeon,
Math., Sci.; Charles W. Bernhardt, Soc. St., Ind. A.; Frances Bright, H. Ec.;
Delbert Kistler, Math., H.S. P.E.; Frederic Lee Morgan, Bus., Chem., P.E.;
Mildred J. Nellans, Eng., Lat., P.E.; E. Wayne Speicher, Eng., Soc. St.; Roland
Stellhorn, B.; Ruth Ann Stellhorn, Mu., Lloyd L. Beehler, 5-6; Mary M. Hatch,
4-5; Bonnie Kistler, 2-3; Margaret E. Newman.
1959-60: Cert. 1-12. Enrol. (1-6) 100, (7-8) 40, (9-12) 78. Prin. D. G. Dudgeon,
Sci. H., Charles W. Bernhardt, Soc. St., Ind. A.; Frances Bright, H. Ec.; Robert
Cox, Chem., Math, Biol.; Hugh Ressler, Com., P.E., Dr. Ed., Mildred Nellans,
Eng., Lat.; Roland Stellhorn 7-8, B., Soc. St.; Ruth Ann Stellhorn, 7-8, Mu.,
P.E., Eng.; Lloyd Beehler, 5-6; Florence Rupley 3-5; Margaret E. Newman, 1-2.
1961-62: Cert. 1-12. Enrol. (1-6) 107, (7-8) 28, (9-12) 67. Prin. D. G. Dudgeon,
Sci., Math.; Robert Cox, Chem., Math., Biol.; Hugh Ressler, Comm., P.E., Dr.
Ed.; Frances Bright, H. Ec., Eng.; Mildred Nellans, Eng., Arith; Catherine
Ressler, Soc. St., P.E.; Raymond Stokes, Band, Chorus, Mu.; Henry Stephan, Ind.
A., H., P.E.; Lloyd Beehler, 5-6; Mary Hatch, 4-6; Vera Conn, 2-3; Margaret E.
Newman, 1.
1963-64: Cert. 1-12. Enrol. (1-6) 112, (7-8) 30, (9-12) 57. Prin. Charles
Bernhardt, Soc. St., Ruth Ann Blacker, Band, Chorus, Mu.; Frances Bright, H. Ec.,
Eng.; Thomas Brovont, Ind. A., P.E.; Robert Cox, Chem., Math., Biol.; Milton
Kistler, Eng., Soc. St., Asst. Coarh Guid.; Mildred Nellans, Eng., Arith.; Hugh
Ressler, Comm., P.E., Coach; Loyd Beehler, 5-6; Donna Kuehl, 3-4; Isabelle
Grove, 2-3; Margaret E. Newman, 1.
1965-66: Cert. Kdg.-6. Enrol (Kdg.) 32 (1-6) 123. Prin. Lloyd Beehler, 5-6;
Margaret Newman, 1-2; Martha Neff, 2-3; Janice McDugle, 4-5; Jacqueline Milbour,
Kdg.
(F.C.H.S. files]
RICHLAND CENTER ALUMNI DIRECTORY
Following is the directory of the Richland Center High School Alumni members.
First is the name of the graduate; second: if married to whom; third: address;
and fourth: occupation.
1902
ANDERSON, Raymond - 537 Commerce St., Hawkinsville, Ga.
BIDDINGER, Harry - Thelma Leon, 38 Wyoming Ave., Billings, Montana, Retired.
CARITHERS Albert - Altha Wilson, Argos, Ind., Farmer & Carpenter.
KENLEY, Metta - Cummings, 805 Calhoun St., Houston, Texas, Housewife.
MEHLING, Milo - Effie Overmyer, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
MOW, Clarence - Deceased.
PALMER, Salene - Oscar Scott, 322 W. 8th St., Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
SMITH, Otto - Nellie Bryant, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
WRIGHT, Faye - 1025 Madison St., Rochester, Ind., Secretary.
1903
GORDON, Faye - Smith, Granger, Ind., Housewife.
PACKER, Gertrude - Guy Stevens, 428 So. Main St., Culver, Ind., Practical Nurse.
WRIGHT, Lefa - 1025 Madison St., Rochester, Ind.
1904
BIDDINGER, Err - Estella Walters, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
DICKEY, Howard - No information.
1905
DICKEY, Jesse - No information
WYNN, Milo - Deceased.
1906
BABCOCK, Guy - Waterman, Illinois.
MAPLE, Charles - Waterman, Illinois.
MEISER, Charles - Etta Overmyer, R. No. 1, Rocheter, Ind., Farmer.
MOORE, Edgar - Deceased.
OSBORN, Harry - Edna Mechling, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
OVERMYER, Etta - Meiser, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
WALTERS, Clyde - Box 103, Lakeville, Ind., Minister.
WEIR, Harold - Anna Kerler, R. No. 3, Rochester, Indiana, Farmer.
1907
BABCOCK, Gladys - Maple, Waterman, Ill.
BEEHLER, Lee - Elvira Lillibridge, 932 W. Main, Logansport, Ind., Electrical
Service.
BIDDINGER, Albert - Susie May Foltz, 130 Jefferson St., Rochester, Ind., Barber.
DICKEY, Orville - No information.
DILLON, Talmage - Alice Anderson, 707 Lafayette, Valparaiso, Ind., Insurance
Agent.
MEISER, Florence - [Francis Ginther].
MORGAN, Maude - No information
RIDDLE, Edd - Deceased.
1908
EMMONS, Etta - George Haldy, Van Hotel, Princeton, Ind., Hotel Owner.
FRY, Myrtle - Earl Blye, Visilia, Calif.
WYNN, Arlie - 707 N. Park Ave., Warsaw, Ind., Secretary.
RIDDLE, Earl - Besse Whitmore, 186 Spring St., Johnstown, Pa., Minister.
1909
BABCOCK, Otto - Sophie Lamb, Box 254, Waterman, Ill., Retired.
OVERMYER, Harry - Grace Myers, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
STAUFFER, C. O. - Married, 123 Strathmon St., Mishawaka, Ind., Branch Manager
Home
Furnace Co.
1910
WALLACE, Madge - Charles Myers, 1215 Jefferson, Rochester, Ind., Cashier &
Sec., Times
Theatre.
1911
FOSTER, Ora - Deceased
MOW, Dean - Grethel Rogers, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Trustee Richland Twp.,
and Farmer.
RALSTON, Guy - 272 W. 5th, St., Peru, Ind.
1912
BABCOCK, Dean - Waterman Illinois.
EMMONS, Aubra - Deceased.
FOOR, Osa - Deceased.
PALMER, Carmen - Otto Kath, 2111 N. Sunset, Phoenix, Arizona Housewife.
WARNER, Emil - 918 20th St., South Bend, Ind.
[No Class in 1913]
1914
FOSTER, Herbert - Beda Vantilbury, 422 Fairmount, Mishawaka, Ind., Cost
Accountant.
OVERMYER, William - Grace Johnson, Laketon, Ind., Grain Elevator.
RIDDLE, George - Jessie Long, 329 W. 7th St., Rochester, Ind., School Principal.
1915
ANDERSON, Harley - Martha Bauer, 402 E. Woodside, South Bend, Ind., Machinist.
BOWEN, Vernie - Pearl Wright, Leiters Ford, Indiana, Teacher.
BURKETT, Esther - Leo Mow, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
COOPER, Harley - Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
CONAWAY, Bertha - A. C. Kelly, 554 Hoke Ave., Frankfort, Ind., Housewife.
MARSHALL, Claude - Deceased.
1916
BEEHLER, Earl - Margaret Yeakley, 417 Brown, Logansport, Ind., Supervisor of
Accounting.
CLYMER, Claude - Deceased.
FOSTER, Ruth - Branstrator, 1007 Woodlawn Ave., Waukegan, Ill., Housewife.
FULTZ, Rhea - Kenneth Thompson, R. No. 1, Rochester, Indiana, Housewife.
MARSHALL, Lee - Florence Edgington, 513 E. Calvert, South Bend, Ind., Gas Man
for
N.I.P.S.Co.
MEEK, Dorothy - Savage - Deceased.
MOW, Dewey - Eda Wiseman, 704 N. Sycamore, North Manchester, Ind., Freight Agent
for
Penn. R. R. at Roann.
STURGEON, Orland - Frances Krathwohl, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind. Truck Driver.
SWIHART, Melvin - Grace Mourey, 807 W. Walnut, Kokomo, Ind., School Supt.,
Kokomo,
Indiana.
1917
BEEHLER, Otto - Bessie Overmyer, Decatur, Ind.
FLETCHER, Dale - Deceased
FULTZ, Dee - Rochester, Ind., Boston Store.
KESTNER, Roy - Florence Mullican, 148 E. Paris St., South Bend, Ind.,
Electrician at
Studebakers.
REED, Robert - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
WYNN, Bertha - Lloyd Fletcher, 707 N. Park Ave., Warsaw, Ind., Housewife.
1918
CARY, Vida - Rochester, Ind., Kroger Store.
CLEVENGER, Edith - No information.
EASH, Ed - Deceased.
FOSTER, Ethel - Leroy Kirkpatrick, Rochester Ind., Teacher.
KERLER, Dollie - Mow, Moses Lake, Box 31, Washington.
McPHERON, Mary - Armen Warnock, Converse, Ind., Housewife.
OVERMYER, Bessie - Otto Beehler, Decatur, Indiana.
O'NEIL, Hazel - Howard Overmyer, Leiters Ford, Ind., Lunch Room Operator.
PALMER, Cecil - Fern McFeely, 7162 Kuhl Drive, Bell Gardens, Calif., Malt
Worker.
STURGEON, Zella - Reish, Caledonia, Ohio, Housewife.
SWIHART, Fred - Deceased.
1919
BARNHART, Marie - N. M. Alber, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
CONRAD, Zella - Robert Drudge, Akron, Ind., Housewife.
EASH, Mildred - Jones, Deceased.
HUBBARD, Eva - Dr. Middleton, Argos, Ind., Housewife.
WYNN, Cleo - June Smith, Culver, Ind., Engineer.
1920
CAREY, Vera - Arthur Pendleton, R. No. 5, Plymouth, Ind., Housewife.
FOSTER, Charles - Deceased.
JACKSON, Geneive - Howard Weir, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
LEEDY, Oren - Geneva Baldwin, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
MILLER, Mildred - 1624 Sunnymeade Ave., South Bend, Ind.
MILLER Ruth - Ralph Elliott, 3650 N. Hermitage, Chicago, Ill., Housewife.
NEWCOMB, Ruth - Alpha Overmyer, R. No. 3, Argos, Ind., Housewife.
PALMER, Doris - Orville Long, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
WRIGHT, Mildred - Vanatta - Deceased.
1921
BURKETT, Walter - Mildred Haggerty, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
BURKETT, Ledolia - Earl Ridout, 3712 E. New York St., Indianapolis, Ind.
Housewife.
MOW, Helen - Whitledge, 1258 N. Wells St., Chicago, Ill.
RINKER, Bessie - Chester Weimer, 12825 Dixie Drive, Detroit 23, Mich.,
Housewife, Teacher.
WALTERS, Robert - Ethel Rhodes, R. No. l3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
1922
BRINEY, Mary - Rochester, Ind.
BUNN, Frances - Donald Hendrickson, 39 N. Webster Ave., Indianapolis, Ind.,
Housewife.
DUDGEON Arlie - Ellen Boots, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Carpenter.
FOSTER, Mabel - John Drew, Carpito, Venezuela, South America, Housewife.
HASSENPLUG, Mabel - Stanley Brown, 213 Shalley Dr., Plymouth, Ind., Housewife.
ROGERS, Crystal - Phillips, Argos, Ind., Housewife.
SHERTZ, Irma - Charles Riddle, R. No. 3, Argos, Indiana, Housewife.
WRIGHT, Mabel - Ray Hahn, 903 - 170 St., Hammond, Ind., Housewife.
1923
BOTT, Freda - Wilbert Irvine, 3140 W. Haven Park, El Monte, Calif., Housewife.
BURKETT, Bessie - Dell Good, Leiters Ford, Ind., Housewife.
HIATT, Florence - L. W. Kenyon, P. O. Box 89, 871 S. Logan, Littleton, Ohio,
Accountant.
OVERMYER, Hazel - Lyman Morris, Culver, Ind., Housewife.
ROHRER - Glenn - Roy Coplen Carmel, Ind., Housewife.
SHEETZ, Carl - Argos, Ind., Dealing in Electric Appliances.
WOLFORD, Fay - Lowell Fishburn, 502 Ash Ave., Littleton, Colo., Housewife.
[No Classes in 1924 and 1925]
1926
HALTERMAN Evadean - Harold Deardorff, Roann, Ind., Housewife.
HASSENPLUG, Obed - Dorothy Erainaker, 430 S. Asbin, Arzusa, Calif., Grocery
Store Clerk.
HIATT, John - Mary Launer, 1500 S. Main, Rochester, Ind., Monument Retailer.
KANOUSE, Donald - Mary Ruth Meek, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Painter.
MEEK, Mary Ruth - Donald Kanouse, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
MILLER, Albert - 1304 N. Jackson St., Muncie, Ind.
OVERMYER, Nelson - Olene Brodt, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Factory Worker.
ROGERS, Mildred - Calfin Kuhn, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
SANDERS, Lloyd - Montague, Mich.
SHEETS, Donna - Gerald Martin, Box 262, R. R. No. 18, Indianapolis, Ind.
STOCKBERGER, Kenneth - Anna J. Wallace, Argos, Ind.
WALTERS, Edith - Pat Overmyer, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
1927
BEEHLER, Ruby - Peter Nemeth, Box 209, R. No. 5, Laurel Rd., South Bend, Ind.,
Bookkeeper.
FISHER, Ruth - Clark, 47 Yarmouth, Pittsfield, Mass.
OVERMYER, Arthur - R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
STOCKBERGER, Marjorie - Oren Conrad, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
STRONG, Byron - R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Store Manager.
1928
BRINEY, Paul - Rochester, Ind.
BURKETT, Ralph - Frances Rhodes, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
FOOR, Dennis - Mary Barker, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
GRAVES, Leroy - Opal Miller, 119 E. Brick Rd., South Bend, Ind. Assoc. Prof.,
Civil
Engineering, N. D.
HIATT, Clarence - Charlotte McMillen, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
McGRIFF, Irene - Harold Walters, Akron, Ind., Housewife.
MOW, Herschel - Bernice Walters, 1845 N. 15th St., Lafayette, Ind., Indiana
State Police.
OVERMYER, Eddie - Muriel Champ, R. No. 1, Leesburg, Ind., Supt. Epworth Forest.
RHOADES, Beecher - Lucerne, Ind., Farmer.
RHOADES, Dean - Tippecanoe, Ind., Farmer.
SANDERS, Irene - Clifford McGee, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
WALTERS, Bernice - Herschel Mow, 1845 N. 15th St., Lafayette, Ind., Housewife.
1929
BEEHLER, Lllyd - Florence Overmkyer, R. No. 3, Argos, Ind., Teacher.
CURRY, Juanite - Lewis Carswell, R. No. 2, Endicott, New York, Housewife.
FLETCHER, Ruth - Arthur Durkes, R. No. 1, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
HASSENPLUG, Aleta - LaVerne Beach, 823 E. Broadway, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.,
Minister's wife.
KUHN, Gladys - Jones, 1289 N. Cornwell St., Fling, Mich.
LEEDY, Margaret - Leslie Andrews, Chicago, Ill., Housewife.
NEWCOMB, Ruby - Rex Halterman, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
STONE, Adra - Paul Keel, Roann, Ind., Housewife.
WALTERS, Russell - Bonnie Duffey, Fulton, Ind., Principal High School.
1930
BATZ, Lorene - Raymond Hunter, R. No. 2, Edwardsburg, Mich., Housewife.
BEEHLER, Lester - R. No. 3 Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
FISHER, Ethel - John Fisher, 910 Wood St., Valparaiso, Ind., Housewife.
FLETCHER, June - Edward Polley, R. No. 1, Macy, Ind., Housewife.
HALTERMAN, Margaret - Reardon Newman, 130 E. 5th St., Rochester, Ind., Teacher.
HARRIS, Francis - 521 S. 3rd St., Logansport, Ind.
LEWIS Robert - Catherine Osborn, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
McPHERON, Harry - Hope Titz, R. No. 2, Tippecanoe, Ind., Farmer.
MECHLING, Thelma - Dean Kanouse, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
POLLEY, Edward - June Fletcher, R. No. 1, Macy, Ind., Farmer.
SISSEL, Joe - Kathryn Feece, Rochester, Ind.
TOWN, Demoine - Irene Briney, R. No. 3, Argos, Ind., Farmer.
1931
HALTERMAN, Mary - Arnie Fry, R. No. 1, Monticello, Ind., Housewife.
McGRIFF, Lois - Ermal McKee, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
McPHERON, Edwin - Jean Allen, Bloomington, Ind., Prof., Ind. University.
MORGAN, Charles - Lura Warner, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
ROHRER, Vera - Paul Partridge, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
1932
BEEHLER, Floyd - Alice Kerr, Culver, Ind., Farmer.
BRINEY, Lorene - Don Morgan, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
COOK, Eldrith - Eloise Mow, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer & Studebakers.
COOL, Elmer - Ruth Mow, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
FISHER, Albert - Muriel Peebles, 658 Shannon St., Mobile, Ala., Captain Army.
KALE, Charles - 1540 E. Jefferson Blvd., Mishawaka, Ind.
MOW, Eloise - Eldrith Cook, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
OVERMYER, Robert - Dorothy Roudebush, R. No. 2, North Liberty, Ind., Bank
Cashier.
ROSE, Murphy - Betty Towne, N. Main St., Rochester, Ind.
WALTERS, Ernest - Dorothy Batchelor, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
1933
ANDERSON, Marcille - Eli Nan, 2400 S. St. S.E., Washington 20, D.C.
BERKHEISER, Velma - Theodore Stickler, 208 S. Michigan St., Argos, Ind.,
Housewife.
FLETCHER, Erma - Donald O'Dell, R. R., Argos, Ind., Housewife.
HIATT, Marjorie - Nelson Mosher, 918 Belleville Ave., South Bend, Ind.,
Housewife.
LEWIS, Joe - Beatrice Briney, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Electrical Contractor
& Farmer.
MATTHEWS, Ernest - Elkhart, Ind., Studebakers.
McNEIL, Donald - John Camblin, Post Office Sniders Trailer Court, Indio Calif.
NORRIS, Wendell - Helen Parker, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
OVERMYER, Arlene - Dubois, Orlando, Fla.
SANDERS, Irvin - Josephine Utter, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
STRONG, Winifred - R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind.
1934
ABERNATHY, Ruth - no information.
ALDERFER, Mabel - Dean Army, 178 S. Southland Ave., South Bend, Ind., Housewife.
COOK, Edith - Edgar Haney, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
DILLMAN, Jesse - Ann Rapp, W. 3rd St., Rochester, Ind., Beall Tire Shop.
HALTERMAN, Harrison - Eileen Waltz, 218 W. 4th St., Rochester, Ind., Merchant.
OSBORN, Catherine - Robert Lewis, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
OVERMYER, Ernest - Margaret Imhoof, 252 Jackson Circle, Ft. Lee, Va., Soldier.
SCOTT, Basil - Martha Lewis, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer
SMITH, James - Rochester, Ind., Attorney for State Inheritance Tax.
STICKLER, Theodore - Velma Berkheiser, 208 S. Mich., Argos, Ind., Supt. of Light
and Water
Works.
WARNER, Lura - Charles Morgan, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
ZUMBAUGH, Herschel - R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind.
1935
BARKMAN, Merriem - 1111 E. Broadway, So Bend, Ind., Indiana Bell Telephone Co.
BASS, Harold - Moody Texas.
BEEHLER, Leonard - Mary Wagoner, Kewanna, Ind., Farmer.
BORDEN, Charles - Meleta Barkman, R. No. 2, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
LEWIS, Richard - Rose Herschberger, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Carpenter.
MOW, Jane - Paul Barts, 305 N. Main St., Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
MOW, Ruth - Elmer Cook, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
NEWHOUSE, Virginia - Ward Redinger, Argos, Ind., Housewife.
PALMER, Jane - Chapman, 510 W. Marion St., Mishawaka, Ind.
REID, Rita - Breahurst, 943 W. 64th St., Chicago, Ill.
RITENOUR, Mildred - Cecil Davis, Leiters Ford, Ind., Housewife.
STOCKBERGER, Harold - Lucy, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Truck Driver.
TOWNE, Herschel - Eagleberger, Argos, Ind., School Teacher.
TOWNE, Mildred - Ned Smith, Akron, Ind.
1936
BARKMAN, Esther - Marion Buck, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
BATZ, Robert - 853 S. Clinton St., South Bend, Ind.
BENEDICT, Clinton - Eva Nellans, Argos, Ind., Clerk - Bendix.
BRINEY, Beatrice - Joe Lewis, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
CRABBS, John - Bernice Biddinger, 421 W. 7th St., Rochester, Ind., Teacher.
DILLMAN, Doris - Harold Duff, R. No. 1, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
LEFFERT, Leon - Jeanette McGriff, Argos, Ind., Farmer.
NELLANS, Dee - Mildred Corn, R. No. 3, Argos, Ind., Farmer.
NELLANS, Eva - Clinton Benedict, 330 W. Walnut St., Argos Ind., Housewife.
SANDERS, Delta - Brockey, 728 Cleveland Ave., South Bend, Ind.
SIMPSON, Shirley - Herman Barkman, 1221 Okema St., Elkhart, Ind., Housewife.
SMITH, Nellie Mae - Hooker, 4693 Millerville Rd., Indianapolis, Ind.
STEININGER, Kenneth - Phyllis Butler, 14309 S. Waverly, Midlothian, Ill.
STONE, Arthur - Married, 622 N. Sherwood Ave., Clarksville, Ind.
ZUMBAUGH, Margaret - Edward Mow, R. No 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
1937
BERKHEISER, Devoe - Hildegard, Argos, Ind.
BOWEN, John, Akron, Ind., Farmer.
CALVERT, William - Marjorie Carithers, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind.
HALTERMAN, Josephine - Lewis Mason, 2349 N. LaSalle St., Indianapolis, Ind.
LANTZ, Franklin - Ethel Hisey, 4618 E. Burns St., Tucson, Ariz., Sales Supt. for
Rainbo Bread.
LEEDY, Donald - Imogene Anderson, 3117 165th, Hammond, Ind., Electronic Tech.
MOW, Charles - Mary Jo Thompson, 2000 Frances Ave., Elkhart, Ind., Principal
Lincoln School.
MOW, Edward - Margaret Zumbaugh, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Factory worker.
NELLANS, Frances - Richard Bright, R. No. 3, Argos, Ind., Housewife.
OVERMYER, Richard - Married, Monterey, Ind.
POLLEY, Richard - Betty Perry, 1538 E. Third St., Mishawaka, Ind., Mishawaka
City Fireman.
SCOTT, Paul - Marietta Green, 2026 W. 27th Pl., Phoenix, Ariz., Factory worker.
STICKLER, Margaret - Hugh E. Steininger, Box 615, R. No. 4, South Bend, Ind.,
Ceramic
Artist.
WALTZ, Eileen - Harrison Halterman, 218 W. 4th St., Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
1938
BARKER, Robert - 9401 McVicker Ave., Oaklawn, Ill.
BASS, Jessie - McCormick, R. No. 6, Crawfordsville, Ind.
BECK, John - Audrie Vickery, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Factory worker.
BIDDINGER, Bernice - John Crabbs, 421 W. 7th St., Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
CARSWELL, Lewis - Juanite Curry Palmer, R. No. 2, Endicott, N. Y., Seminary
Student.
CHAPMAN, Darrell - Charlotte Murfitt, Brook, Ind., Farmer.
GRAHAM, Harriet - Helms, no more information.
OVERMYER, Helen - Josoeph Cumings, Rochester, Ind., Auditor's Office.
REED, Jr., Robert - married, Calif., Doctor.
REID, Geraldine - Blatz, 5921 S. Morgan St., Chicago 21, Ill.
SIMMERMAN, Glen - 1925 A. W. McKinley, Milwaukee, Wisc.
SMITH, Edith - Lilby, 1218 W. 8th St., Mishawaka, Ind., Box 165.
WALTERS Elmer - married, 1505 Alma, So. Bend, Ind., Salesman for Hoover Vacuum
Cleaner
Co.
1939
ANDERSON, Donald - 40 Vine St., Dayton, O.
ANDERSON, Imogene - Donald Leedy, 3116 - 165th, Hammond, Ind., Housewife.
BAIR, Mary Louise - 135 S. LaSalle St., Chicago 3, Ill.
BATZ, Max - 1219 Whiteman Court, South Bend, Ind.
BIDDINGER, William - Rosalie Carpenter, Akron, Ind., Farmer.
HIATT, Lulu - Orie Pitchford, 1811 Roxella St., Houston 16, Texas, Housewife.
McNEIL, Royal - Ethel DeMont, Catalpa Ave., R. No. 2, Mishawaka, Ind.
MILLER, Harold - Betty Anderson, Rochester, Ind., Salesman.
MOW, Helen - Roy McGriff, 120 W. 5th St., Rochester, Ind., Stenographer.
MOW, Wilma - Chester Burnett, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
NORRIS, James - Deceased.
OVERMYER, Paul - Norma Wood, 397 S. Calhoun Ave., Aurora, Ill., Yardman in Grain
Co.
PALMER, Norene - Thomas Billisitz, 312 W. Brick Rd., South Bend, Ind.,
Housewife.
SMITH, Joe - married, W. 3rd St., Rochester, Ind., Insurance Salesman, School
teacher.
1940
BARKMAN, Ruth - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind.
BRINEY Harold - married, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
CAMPBELL, Barbara - Endress, 517 Rush St., South Bend, Ind.
CAUFFMAN, Russell - Marjorie Alber, R.R. No. 2, New Carlisle, Ind., Cutter in
Plastics.
DIXON, Dorothy - no information.
HITTLE, Gerald - Mary Smith, Rochester, Ind., Sales Mgr., Ford Dealership.
MILLER, Ruth - Arthur Zentz, Argos, Ind., Housewife.
MOW, Geraldine - George Koontz, R. No. 1, Montpelier, Ind.
OVERMYER, Donald - Marjorie Hatten, 603 Clement St., LaPorte, Ind., Ass't to
Production
Manager.
PALMER, Norman - 1517 Empire St., Fairfield, Calif., Soldier.
SIMPSON, Betty - John A. Fay, 5053 Fauntlery Ave., Seattle, Washington,
Housewife.
STURGEON, Jane - Houston, Texas, Private Secretary.
SWIHART, William - Janice Walters, 1817 S 10th St., Elkhart, Ind., Yard
Conductor, New York
Central R. R.
UMBAUGH, Hugh - Julia Hanes, Argos, Ind., Farmer.
1941
ALBER, Marjorie - Russell Cauffman, R. No. 2, New Carlisle, Ind., Housewife.
COOK, Kenneth - Martha Urbin, Kewanna, Ind., Bookkeeper.
CRABBS, Leo - Beverly Lepley, North Liberty, Ind., Teacher.
CRABBS, Paul - Deloris Rupert, 150 E. Brick Road, South Bend, Ind.
DeMont, Richard - Evelyn Overmyer, 1664 Stone Lake Dr., LaPorte, Ind.
LANTZ, Everett - R. No. 1, Rochester, Ind.
NORRIS, Betty - Robert Miller, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
OVERMYER, Dora Mae - Amberg Mishawaka, Ind., Housewife.
OVERMYER, Gerald - Mary Sturgeon, Navy Air Force.
OVERMYER, Jr., Harry - Mary Girer, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
ROMAN, Margaret - Jacob Miller, Park St., Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
SHEETS, Josephine - Berham, W. Jefferson St., Plymouth, Ind.
STEININGER, Ida Mae - Steve Huggy, 7030 S. Green St., Chicago, Ill.
SIMPSON, Neil, Box 25, Omak, Washington.
STONE, Ellsworth - Catherine Freehauf, Box 180, R. No. 2., Bremen, Ind., Farmer.
WALTERS, Anna - Tony DeMarco, R. No. 2., Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
WEIR, Ronald - Mary Miller, 1337 College Ave., Huntington, Ind.
1942
AULT, Olive - McVay, Knox, Ind.
COOPER, Raymond - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
DeMONT, Ethel - Royal McNeil, R. No. 2, Catalpa Ave, Mishawaka, Ind.
GIBBONS, Harold - Marjorie Waltz, Rochester, Ind.
GIBBONS, Kathryn - Harold Hatten, 521 S. Main St., Culver, Ind., Housewife.
HITTLE, Wayne - Ida Young, Rochester, Ind.
MOW, Josephine - Robert Kindig, 2005 Lane Ave., Elkhart, Ind., Housewife.
OVERMYER, Jean - Carl Shaffer, R. No. 4, Plymouth, Ind., Housewife.
PALMER, Lois - Bob Burns, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
PFEIFFER, Betty - L. M. Thornburg, Box 109, Walkerton, Ind., Housewife.
SHAUER, Arthur - Married, Argos, Ind.
TOWNE, Betty - Murphy Rose, N. Main, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
1943
CRABBS, Maxine - James Scott, 2622 Normandy Dr., Mishawaka, Ind., Housewife.
GRAHAM Bob - Erma Jean Overmyer, Rochester, Ind.
HITTLE, Raymond - Married, Bunker Hill, Ind.
MOW, Bill - R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Factory worker.
MOW, Bob - Virginia Goss, R. No. 2, Rochester, Ind., Factory worker.
NORRIS, Manford - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Student Manchester College.
O'DELL, Bill - R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Disabled Veteran.
OVERMYER, Erma Jean - Bob Graham, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
OVERMYER, Evelyn, Richard DeMont, 501 Jefferson St., LaPoret, Ind., Housewife.
ROMAN, Mary Ann - Thomas Stanford, Mentone, Ind., Housewife.
SHIVELY, Nina - Fred Hubbard, 117 W. 2nd St., Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
SIMPSON, Barbara - Roy F. Davidson, Jr., 398 McCleary, Washington, Housewife.
STURGEON, Mary - Gerald Overmyer, Housewife.
UMBAUGH, Donald - Marjorie Scott, Argos, Ind., Farmer.
1944
BARKER, Mary - Dennie Foor, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
BIDDINGER, Bety - George Rouch, R. No. 2, Kewanna, Ind., Housewife.
BURKETT, Dick - Margaret Clay, R. No. 3 Rochester, Ind., Factory worker.
CAMPBELL, Jane - Ken Buckles, Bell, Calif., Housewife.
CLAY, Margaret - Dick Burkett, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
GABY, Waldo - Donnabelle Mast, 755 W. Market St, nappanee, Ind., Mechanic.
KALE, Robert - Mary Louise Green, Plymouth, Ind.
LESSING, Calvin - Marjorie Kruzan, Geneva, Ind., Teacher.
PARSON, John - Columbia, Mo.
ROCKHILL, LaVerne - Carnell, 2710 Milburn Blvd., Mishawaka, Ind.
SCHWENK, Glen - Soldier.
SCOTT, Marjorie - Donald Umbaugh, Argos Ind., Housewife
1945
ALBER, Addison - Juanite Markley, 662 N. Wash., Changler, Ariz., Residential
Salesman.
BAIR, Richard - Jeannette Schlunz, 8821 N. W. 7th Ave., Miami Fla., Marine.
BAKER, Eugene - Mary Ruth Kuhn, Rochester, Ind.
BEEHLER, Mayzanna - Dale Peterson, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
CRUNDWELL, Robert - 7434 Madison Ave., Hammond, Ind.
GIBBONS, Roy - Nancy Mow, Rochester, Ind., Construction worker.
HITTLE, John - Margaret Ault, Leiters Ford, Ind., Tank Wagon Driver - Farm
Bureau.
LEEDY, Eldon - Married, Rochester, Ind.
OVERMYER, Joan - Rochester, Ind.
PALMER, Esther - Dale Walsh, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
RIDDLE, Dorcas - Fredrick Van Duyne, R. No. 3, Argos, Ind., Housewife.
RIDDLE, Charles Lee - Lola Pierce, R. No. 3, Argos, Ind., Farmer.
ZARTMAN, Dorothy - Deceased.
1946
BIDDINGER, Willodena - John Hoesel, Kewanna, Ind., Housewife.
BITTERLING, Kenneth - Bernice Rookstool, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
CALAHAN, Bernadine - Kewanna, Ind., Topps Mfg. Co.
CLAY, Max - Joyce Bros, Rochester, Ind., Boston Store.
DeMONT, Clarabelle - John Kistler, 716 W. Jefferson St., Mishawaka, Ind., Box
57, Housewife.
FIFE, Charleen - R. No. 3, Argos, Ind., Indiana Metal Products Corp.
FISHER, Gene - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Truck Driver for Bakery.
MILLER, Edna - Lessar, 1715 E. Market St., San Diego, Calif.
ROOKSTOOL, Berniece - Kenneth Bitterling, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
WALTZ, Irene - Adrion Conover, 4322 Columbia Ave., Hammond, Ind., Housewife.
1947
BRINEY, Geraldine - Brown, Macy, Ind., Housewife.
CAMPBELL, Joan - Jim Miller, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
CONRAD, Helen - Clyde Bick, 512 Pine St., Morris, Ill., Housewife.
DeWITT, Clyde - Marion Payne, R. No. 5, Plymouth, Ind.
EVANS, Gerald - Juanita Rose, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Studebakers.
EVANS, Robert - Norma Bitterling, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Factory worker.
GIBBONS, Robert - in Air Force.
HITTLE, Alice - Albert Shorts Rochester Ind., Housewife.
KALE, Florence - R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Boston Store.
KUHN, Don - Wanda in Marines.
LEEDY, Irene - R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Clerk-typist.
LESSING, Richard - in Navy
PALMER, James - Deceased.
SCHWENK, George - Liale Wolford, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
WALTZ, Betty - Apt. No. 4, 713 Main, Rochester, Ind., Public Service Company of
Indiana.
WARNER, Keith - Barbara Shumaker in Army Fort Jackson, Columbia, South Caroline.
1948
ALBER, Wayne - U. S. Navy.
BARKER, Edith - P. A. Harper, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
BURKETT, Don - Jackie Couse, in Air Force.
BROWN, Dorothy - Bixler, Athens, Ind., Housewife & Topps Mfg. Co.
BITTERLING, Norma - Robert Evans, R. No. l3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
DeWITT, Edgar - Imogene Hartle, Leiters Ford, Ind., Factory Worker.
GELBAUGH, Annabell - Glenn Hart, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
GIBBONS, Eugene - In U. S. Navy.
HITTLE, Alta - Rock, R. No. 1, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
McGEE, Charles - In U. S. Army.
REED, Virginia - 7-2 N. Carol Ave., Michigan City, Ind.
WOLFORD, Liale - George Schwenk, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
1949
BUNN, Donna Mae - Don Hart, Housewife.
BUTLER, Phyllis - Kenneth Steininger, 14309 S. Waverly Ave., Midlothian, Ill.,
Housewife.
CAMPBELL, Fred - Deceased.
CAMPBELL, Ruth - Office Work, South Bend, Ind
CRABBS, Lois - Richard Crull, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
EVANS, Gene - Air Force, HQ. Sq. Section A.F.F.T.C. Edwards Ariforce Base,
Edwards, Calif.
LESSING, Robert - R. No. E., Rochester, Ind., Factory worker.
McKEE, Marcella - Office employee, Bendix Home Appliance, South Bend, Ind.
OVERMYER, Virginia - Office work, Kingsbury, LaPorte, Ind.
PALMER, Floyd - in Air force.
SCOTT, Rosemary - John DePue, R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
SMITH, LeRoy - in Air Force.
1950
ALBER, Richard - Shirley Clay, in U. S. Navy.
DAWSON, Richard - in Air Force.
GOODMAN, Robert - in U. S. Navy.
HALTERMAN, George - Det. 14 T'try D, 33rd Gun Bn., Fort Bliss, Texas.
KANOUSE, David - U. S. Navy.
OVERMYER, Robert - Phyllis Smith, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
SCHWENK, Gertrude - Sister at Holy Cross St. Mary's, South Bend, Ind.
WALTERS, Kathryn - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Clerk-typist.
WEST, Gerald - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmer.
1951
CLAY, Shirley - Richard Alber, Housewife.
CAMPBELL, Tom - Rochester, Ind.
FISHER, Roy - U. S. Army.
GELBAUGH, Richard - R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Factory worker.
HALTERMAN, Sue - Robert Tillman, File clerk.
HOLLAND, Mary - Tom Hart, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
KANOUSE, Larry - R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind.
KUHN, Jean - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmers and Merchants Bank.
MERCER, Edwin, R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Rochester Telephone Co.
OVERMYER, Marvin - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Student Purdue University.
WILLIAMS, Carl - R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Factory worker.
WOLFORD, Roy - R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Factory worker.
1952
BURKETT, Maryanna - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Student Purdue University.
BUTLER Marjorie - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Topps Mfg. Co.
CALVERT, Mary - Ivan Rock, Rochester, Ind., Housewife.
DeMONTE, Robert - LaPorte, Ind.
DeREITER, Orien - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind, Factory worker.
EADS, Bill - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Factory worker.
EVANS, Larry - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Barber.
HAWK, Robert - Esther Waltz, R. No. 2, Rochester, Ind.
HITTLE, James - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Service Station Attendant.
LOUGH, Betty - R. No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Farmers & Merchants Bank.
O'DELL, Maurice - R. No. 5, Rochester, Ind., Factory worker.
WALTERS, Bill - R No. 3, Rochester, Ind., Student Manchester College.
WALTZ, Esther - Bob Hawk, R. No. 2, Rochester, Ind., News-Sentinel.
[Richland Center High School Alumni News, 1953]
1953
BUTLER, Donna - Ralph Garver, 2102 Vance Ave., Chattanooga, Tenn., Housewife.
CAMPBELL, Mike - R.R. 3, Rochester, Ind.
CHAPMAN, Clara - Allan Kitson, Rochester, Ind., Shultz Bros. Dime Store.
CONRAD, Howard - Student, Hanover College.
DeWitt, Anita - Raymond Cooper, 3010 W. lincoln St., Phoenix, Arizona
EADS, Barbara - R.R. 3, Rochester Ind., Farmers & Merchants Bank.
HALTERMAN, Ned - R R. 5, Rochester, Ind.
HIBNER, Dan - Student, Indiana University, Bloomington, Ind.
HOUNSHELL, Dee - Rochester, Ind., Armour Creameries.
KISTLER, Susie - R. R. 3, Rochester, Ind. Topps Mfg. Co.
McKEE, Larry - R. R. 5, Rochester, Ind.
MORGAN, Fritz - Student, Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind.
O'BLENIS - R. R. 3, Rochester Ind.
O'DELL, Richard - R.R. 5, Rochester, Ind. Forest Farms Products, Bob Moore.
RIETVELD, Warren, - South Bend, Ind., Filling Station Attendant.
STILWELL, Harry - Remidgi, Minnisota.
SUTTON, Grace - R. R. 5, Rochester, Ind., Gast Furniture Center.
SWANSON, Tom - Student Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind.
1954
COOK, Anne
DAWSON, Marcia
DUNLAP, Maxe
FIFE, Sandra
HART, Dale
HAWK, Don
HIATT, Everett
HOLLAND, Jean
KISTLER, Milton
KUHN, Esther
LOUGH, Monty
LOUGH, Patsy
MYERS, Marilyn
RYNEARSON, Betty
SHOEMAKER, Don
STILWELL, Mervin
TOWN, Jack
WILLIAMS, Clem
1955
CAMPBELL, Mary Ann
COOPER, Lyman Ora
DeWITT, Daniel Virgil
FIFE, Dee L.
HIBNER, Donald Ray
KUHN, John Edward
McGEE, Aletha Marie
McGRIFF, John Dee
MINARIK, Ella Antonia
MORGAN, Sonja Lu
RIDDLE, Norita Marie
RYNEARSON, Paul
STEININGER, Kenneth Leroy
STILWELL, Raymond David
TOWNE, Donna Jean
WALTERS, Eddie Joe
WALTZ, Richard Lee
YOUNG, Harold
1956
DAWSON, Darlene Carol
FOOR, Dale Eugene
GARRISON, Ollie
MOORE, Cecil Voris
MOW, Phillip Lee
OVERMEYER Myron Ralph
PARTRIDGE, Richard Francis
PONTIUS, Bertha Lou
RANSTEAD, Richard Lee
SANDERS, Marvin Jay
1957
BURKETT, Jerry Lee
CARRICO, Lawrence Eugene
COOK, Janet Sue
DAWSON, Carolyn Sue
DRAPER, Adele Beth
GROGG, Melinda Jane
HAWK, Carol Beth
HOLLAND, Margaret Ann
KANOUSE, Carolyn Jean
KANOUSE, Marilyn Joan
KESLER, Barbara Jean
LEWIS, Edward Joe
LINN, Shirley Louise
OVERMYER, James Lee
SAINE, Patsy Joan
TOWN, Janet Ellen
WALTERS, Jimmie Lee
1958
CAMPBELL, Jim
COOK, Helen
CUSICK, Dyann
ERDMAN, Linda
HALTERMAN, Judy
HIATT, Kathryn
KISTLER Mark
LEWIS, Jim
LONG, Margaret
RANSTEAD Carolyn
RYNEARSON, Francis
STOCKBERGER, Joyce
WILSON, Jay
1959
BEEHLER, Beverly Lou
BURNETT, Larry Lee
DAVIDSON, Marie Ann
ERDMANN, Paul Reid
FOOR, Donald Lee
HANEY, Louedva Loraine
KEELE, Ronald Charles
HART, Barbara Joanne
HIBNER, Carol Rose
KESLER, James Edward
RUSSELL, Barbara Ann
FRANKLIN, Dean
STOCKBERGER, Delbert John
SANDERS, Connie Jo
THIEM, Judith Darlene
WALTERS, Ronnie Earl
1960
ALBER, Larry
BECK, Terri
BURNETT, Carole
CARRICO, Xavier
CONRAD, Bonnie
DAMRON, Dottie
HANEY, Wayne
HISEY, Beaverly
HOLLAND, Rosalee
KEELE, Jim
KERR, Jim
KLINE, Jim
LEAVELL, Tom
LEWIS, Sharon
MOW, Sheri
MYERS, Paul
NELLANS, Bob
NORRIS, Edward
RYNEARSON, Larry
TALBOTT, Eve
1961
ALDERFER, Jim
ALDERFER, Sara
BROCKEY, Carol
COOK, Loyd
DAVIDSON, Dick
DUDGEON, Mike
EVANS, Dave
GOODMAN, Vernon
HART, Jane
HIBNER, Bob
HOLLAND, Linda
LEWIS, Bill
NORRIS, Dave
OVERMYER, Clair
PARTRIDGE, Mike
PFEIFFER, Lewis
RANSTEAD Marilyn
STEININGER, Richard
STOCKBERGER, Mary
1962
ALBER, Phillip S.
CARRICO, Bethany A. R.
DAMRON, Lottie
HESS, Bruce
HIATT, Nelson Gene
HIATT, Philip L.
HISEY, Larry
KEELE, John
KERR, Judith L.
LEWIS, Jerry E.
MORGAN, Patricia Sue
NELLANS, Gary Dee
TALBOTT, Walter
TOWN, Juanita Irene
YOUNG, Judy
1963
BEEHLER, Jane Ann
BOYD, Kenneth
BURKETT, David
BYERLINE, John
DRAPER, Jolinda
KEELE, Richard
KUHN, Larry
LEWIS, Hough Bryon
LOUGH, Marilyn Diane
MOORE, Terry Jane
MORONI, Marcella
NELLANS, Betty Ann
PARSONS, David Michael
SUDDITH, Robert Louis
SUDDITH, Roberta Lucille
SUTTON, John Forest
1964
BOYD, Keith Warren
BROCKEY, Ray Norman
BROWN, Joan Catherine
DILLMAN, Johnny Joe
EVANS, Charles Michael
FOOR, Myron Earl
HAWK, Terry Lynn
HISEY, Robert Lee
KESLER, Kenneth Lee
KISTLER, Maurice Kip
LINN, Janice Marie
MINARIK, Steve Walter
MORGAN, Marcia Kay
NORRIS, Maynard Ray
OVERMYER, Sharon Ann
PETERSON, Marlene Ann
SPEAR, Denise Raye
TOWN, Judith Diane
WALTERS, Mickie Lee
WEAKMAN, June Marie
1965
The Last Graduating Class at Richland Center
BILTZ, Terry Wayne
BRIGHT, Steven Richard
COOPER, Judy Ann
HARRISON, Deborah Kay
HIBNER, Cheryl Lynn
KAMP, Noel Dewayne
KEELE, Alan Micheal
KLINE, Linda Kay
LYTLE, Max
OVERMYER, Carl William
PARSONS Phyllis Doreen
STRONG, Karn Sue
WILSON, Charles Devon
{Richland Center High School Alumni Directory Annual Update)
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
[photo] Richland Township 8th grade graduating class of 1920. Front row: Evadean
Leedy, Effie Borden Suddith, Clara Beehler Overmyer, Thelma Miller Richards,
Medrith Wright, Lucille Fisher. Row 2: Gilford Towns, James Palmer, John Drew,
Clarence Fletcher, Donald Tharp, Floyd Batz. Row 3: Harold Walters, Leo Beehler,
Darsey Wright, Chris Halterman, Clifford Sult, Eldon Ault. (Photo donated bo
FCHS by Clarence Fletcher)
__________
Richland Township Institute. Held in District No. 9, on Saturday 12th. . .
[names mentioned] Supt. Myers, Trustee Newcomb, J. Martindale, C. Chinn, Mr.
Newton, A. F. Bowers, Wm. Dillon, S. R. Moon, E. T. Henderson, William Newcomb,
Ches. Chinn.
[Rochester, Sentinel, Saturday, January 12, 1878]
Miss Ella Barb is teaching a No. 1 school, at the new school house on H.
Ferry's farm.
[Rochester Independent, Saturday, January 12, 1878]
Ches. Chinn, the ex-Deputy postmaster will "teach" the big girls
and small boys in a Richland Township school house, somewhere near Center.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 30, 1878]
We learn . . . that Ches. Chinn, who is engaged in Richland Township, is
conducting his school in a masterly manner, and is giving general satisfaction.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 21, 1878]
RICHLAND TOWNSHIP 1833-1933
by Bruce Hess
Education
The educational history of Richland Township starts in the winter of 1836-37,
when David Shore, son of Michael Shore, gave instruction to those able to reach
his home on the Michigan Road. From that small beginning, a log schoolhouse was
built on the Abail Bush farm in 1837. This building would continue to be used
for a number of years. When the next school term began in the winter of 1838,
the school was host to at least 31 students between the ages of 5-21. Soon after
the formation of Newcastle Township in 1839, a log school was constructed on the
eastern side of Richland Township so the students in that area would not need to
cross township lines to attend school. By the end of that decade (1840), the two
schools were serving 43 students. In 1842 a schoolhouse was built west of the
Michigan Road and was called "Cross Roads Schoolhouse," so named for
its location at two intersecting roads. Fragments of old school recordsreflect
the growth of population in the township. In 1845 the school attendance had
almost doubled from the number five years before, then being a total of 70
students.
To pay for an education, an agreement of remuneration was worked out with the
teacher. The story of one of these agreements has been preserved concerning
George Perschbacher and his teacher David Shore. John Perschbacher, George's
father, was short of funds at the time George wished to start his education.
George displayed his future skill as a businessman by making an agreement with
David Shore. The agreement was that for the sum of $2.50, George would sell Mr.
Shore a "fine hat . . that was of little use in the woods." The offer
was made on the basis that Shore was running for the office of Sheriff of Fulton
County at the time, and George believed that a candidate should have a campaign
hat. George Perschbacher was given thirty days schooling for the sale of the
hat, even though David Shore lost the election.
Educations were made more available when the sale of public lands in each school
section created a school fund to help meet the costs of building or repairing
schools and employing teachers. The funds often ran out before the expiration of
the school term and donations were taken among the township residents to meet
the emergency. This local method of providing funds ended with the encatment of
the 1851 Revised Constitution of Indiana. This provided through taxation, a
dependable source of funds to maintain regular school terms and provide a solid
base for expansion.
Before the advent of the State funds, the log schoolhouses were small and the
curriculum uncertain. The early buildings varied from 12 by 18-20 feet, and were
heated by a fireplace. The study habits were directed by what books were
available. In addition the the "3 R's," geography, spelling, and
sometimes grammar, were taught. Teachers often gave instruction with the minimum
of qualifications. George Perschbacher, whose story was told earlier, taught
school for several terms on his limited education. Becoming aware of his
limitations in the teaching field, he left the profession and the township to
pursue a highly successful career in farming and business. Examinations to teach
were given by the County Auditor and depending on his schedule, the degree of
testing varied. There were occasions when permits to teach were granted on the
qualifications of good penmanship. The creation of a County School
Superintendent required a more substantial background for the permission to
teach.
Over the years, more subjects were added, giving the student a more substantial
background in his educational endeavors. A great majority of the teachers in the
township came from within the township. Many of these teachers were men; there
were lady schoolteachers, but they were of exceptional character. The reason why
lady teachers were unuaual in the early school was because of the student
population. In the winter months when there was little farming to do, many of
the older boys would attend school to occupy their time. Much of the time spent
there was in making life difficult for the women teachers. The teacher who did
not establish order "with an iron hand," often did not last in the
profession for any length of time. Not only did teachers face static but also
the trustee. As an attempt to make an election issue out of improvements in the
school administration, the editor of the Democratic Rochester Sentinel accused
the Richland Township Trustee of a "crawfish" issue. The fomentative
1880 editorial stemmed over Trustee Dillon's "wanting to consolidate the
summer and winter schools into one term."
Over the years new schools were built and older ones renovated. By the year of
1883 there were nine frame schools in the township. The names of these schools
were Bidwell, Dead Man's College, Mount Nebo, Red Brush, Richland Center, Tiosa,
Sand Hill, South Germany, and Whippoorwill. In 1889, County Line School was
built, making a total of ten frame schools. These schools arrived at their names
through a number of reasons. Bidwell School was named either for a trustee of
the township, or the person who donated the land upon which the building sat.
County Line was named for its proximiity to the Fulton-Marshall county line.
Dead Man's College was so named from the legend of a man being killed and buried
on the spot where the school was later built. In due course other graves were
located near the school. To the delight of the schoolboys, several of the
headstones were loose and subsequently used as bases when the boys were playing
baseball. For some reason a hole was left in the foundation wall of the school.
One of the more mischievous students attached a cowbell to one of the floor
beams and ran a wire to his desk. To harass the teacher, the wire would be
pulled and the explanation would be that the noise was from the spirit of the
person buried beneath the school. Mount Nebo derived its name from the hill
nearby, said to be one of the higher elevations in this portion of Indiana. The
history of how Red Brush was named is a mystery, but if not for the local
vegitation someone certainly possessed a fertile imagination. Richland Center
comes from the store, blacksmith shop, and church that were in the vicinity of
the intersection by that name. Tiosa School bore the name of the town that it
sat on the outskirts of. Sand Hill school was also named for the hill that it
sat upon. South Germany or Germany School was located in the southern portion of
the German-speaking section of the township. Whippoorwill School was so named
for the bird of that name which lit upon the framework of the partially
completed school and sang to the men who were assembled there, shortly after
they had completed that day's labors.
At the time of this writing, two of the mentioned schools are at their original
sites and resemble the original forms. They are Dead Man's College and Richland
Center. Bidwell was moved and converted into a home. County Line and Red Brush
were converted into houses after they had fulfilled their use as schools. Sand
Hill was torn down and the lumber used to build a restaurant and small poultry
house. Tiosa School was dismanteled to build a locker plant. Whippoorwill was
also taken apart and was sold to private individuals for the useable material.
The others, Mount Nebo and South Germany, have disappeared without recall. As
transportation facilities began to appear, schools that were placed within
walking distance of the students began to close. The first to close were Bidwell,
Mt. Nebo, and Sand Hill in 1905. In 1914 County Line School ceased operation.
1922 marked the closing of South Germany's door; two years later Red Brush
closed. So ended the operation of the township's wooden frame schools. By 1926,
Dead Man's College was the first brick building to stop being a school and to
later become a grain storage building. In 1933 the cutting off point of this
history, Tiosa and Whippoorwill closed and Richland Center assumed the
educational responsibilities of the township's 252 students.
The business of transporting students in the township had its beginning when a
mother of a crippled boy drove her son to school. Along the way, she would offer
rides to the other students she would meet. Before this start, "it was
everyone for himself." School hacks (canvas-covered wagons) were first used
to take the students that lived more than two miles from a school. Students that
lived within two miles of a school were required to walk or secure other means
of conveyance, as horses or bicycles. The school hacks had two wood burning
heaters. The students riding on them were asked to bring a piece of wood to keep
the fire going. The fires were guaranteed to keep only the lunches from
freezing. These hacks had wooden benches for seats and were arranged lengthwise
with the passengers facing each other. With the narrow wheels and a full load,
the hacks easily got stuck. To traverse a ten mile route, the drivers figured on
taking two hours. This time segment included waiting on late students for no
more than three minutes. The horse-drawn hacks were phased out in favor of motor
buses when Richland Center became the only school in the township in 1933.
Richland Center School since its earliest recorded instance has always sat on
the southeast corner of the intersection of the Richland Center community.
Before the present brick structure was built, a frame structure which the former
replaced was purchased by Charles Pendleton, local store owner and township
trustee. The wooden building was moved to the northwest corner of the
intersection as a replacement for the old store building which was no longer
useable.
The brick school when completed in early 1904 was an impressive structure having
a high steepled bell tower, a balcony, and arched entranceway. On Arbor day
1904, several young maple trees were planted to provide future shade for the new
school. The school operated as a consolidated grade and high school offering 11
grades. The last grade if desired, was taken at Rochester College or other
nearby college. The first graduating class from the new school building numbered
nine students, who completed their studies in April 1904. Scholastic progress
came quickly and by 1916 all 12 grades were being offered to all qualified
students in the township.
In 1917, to keep in step with the township's sporting interests, a wooden gym
was built. This replaced an outside basketball court which was at times rendered
useable by scattering sawdust from Dave Fry's sawmill. Using lumber donated by
local citizens, the gym was located near the southeast corner of the school
building. The building was described as resembling "a large barn."
Insulation was tarpaper, lighting was by gaslight, and two small stoves located
at the corners of the building provided some heat. To reach the gym, players
came from the dressing rooms in the school building then crossed outside to
reach the gym. No doubt the basketball games and spectator participation was
quite active in order to compensate for the meager heating facilities. The gym
served its purpose 'till a more substantial structure was built in later years.
During the mid twenties, the school building lost some of the style with which
it started. The steeple was replaced with a flat roof, for fear the weight of
the large bell might cause the timbers to collapse. The second story balcony was
replaced with windows and brick. The massive arched entranceway was filled in,
leaving a double-door entrance.
When Richland Center became the only township school in 1933, eight motor buses
were used to transport 252 students over a total of 204 route miles, no ride
lasting over an hour. To accommodate the students, 13 classrooms were utilized.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 8, September, 1972, No. 3, pp 25-30]
RIDDLE SCHOOL [Rochester, Indiana]
Located on SW corner of Third and Clay streets.
Built to replace Lincoln School which was discontinued.
Named in honor of George M. Riddle who taught at and was principal of Lincoln
School 1923-57. He then was principal of Riddle School 1957-66.
__________
1957-58: New School. Kdg.-6. Enrol (Kdg) 41, (1-6) 376. Prin. George M.
Riddle; Mary Bowen, 1; Mary Elizabeth Lukens, 1; Odessa Greer, 2; Esther Jane
Means, 2; Mary Louise Goodner, 3; Bernice Eash, 3; Mable Gaumer, 4; Narcissus
Sowers, 4; Nadine Sriver, 5; Scott Savage, 5; Hubert Latham, 6, Irene Paltz, 6;
Edith Thomson Mu.; Sandra Dillman, Kdg.; Audrey Myers Art.
1958-59: George Riddle, Prin.; Mary Bowen, 1; Mary Lukens, 1; Odessa Greer, 2;
Esther Jane Means, 2; Bernice Eash, 3; Mary Goodner, 3; Mable Gaumer, 4;
Narcissus Sowers, 4; Scott Savage, 5; Nadine Sriver, 5; Irene Paltz, 6; Hubert
Latham, 6; Edith Thomson Music; Sondra Goble, Kdg.; Marion Rieger, Phys. Ed.;
Audry Myers, Art.
1959-60: Unc. K-6. New School. Enrol (Kdg) 62, l(1-6) 451. Prin. George M.
Riddle; Secy. Mary Helen Ault; Mary Bowen, 1; Mary Elizabeth Lukens, 1; Odessa
Greer, 2; Esther Jane Means, 2; Mary Louise Goodner, 3; Bernice Eash, 3; Mable
Gaumer, 4; Narcissus Sowers, 4; Nadine Sriver, 5; Scott Savage, 5; Hubert Lathan,
6; Irene Paltz, 6; Ida Kathryn Burwell, Kdg.
1960-61: George Riddle, Prin.; Mary Bowen, 1; Hazel Chaney, 1; Vada Barts, 1;
Mary Lukens, 1; Odessa Greer, 2; Esther Means, 2; Bernice Eash, 3; Mary Goodner,
3; Mable Gaumer, 4; Narcissus Sowers, 4; Jane Kemper, 5; Scott Savage, 5; Nadine
Sriver, 5; Irene Paltz, 6; Gladys Brandt, 6; Wm. Biddinger, 6; Ida Kathryn
Burwell, Kdg.; Mary Helen Ault, Secy., Carol Shigley, Music; Kay Harvey, Psy. Gd.;
Esther Thrush, Sp. Ed.; Don Kumler, Custodian.
1961-62: Enrol. (Kdg.) 78, (1-6) 466, (Sp. Ed.) 21. Prin. George Riddle; Mary
Helen Ault Secy.; Vada Barts, 1; William Biddinger 6; Mary Bowen, 1; Gladys
Brandt, 5-6; Ida Kathryn Burwell, Kdg.; Hazel Chaney, 2; Bernice Eash, 3; Mable
Gaumer, 4; Mary Goodner, 3; Odessa Greer, 2; Mary Lukens, 1; Esther Means, 2;
Irene Paltz, 5-6; Scott Savage, 5-6; Narcissus Sowers, 4; Nadine Sriver, 5.
1962-63: Geo. M. Riddle, Prin.; Mary Helen Ault, Sec.; Ida K. Burwell, Kdg.;
Linda Barkman, 1; Vada Barts, 1; Dorothy Jean Richter, 1; Mary Bowen, 1; Odessa
Greer, 2; Linda Louderback, 2; Esther Jean Means, 2; Bernice Eash, 3; Mary
Goodner, 3; Esther Thrush, 3; Mable Gaumer, 4; Narcissus Sowers, 4; Gladys
Brandt, 5, Sc., Health; Nadine Sriver, 5; Wm. Biddinger, 6; Irene Paltz, 6;
Scott Savage, 5-6; Marcella Boswell, Speech, Hg.; Robt. Bowen, Spec. Ed.; Marie
Farnsworth, Sp. Ed.; Kay Horn, Phys. Ed.; Kathleen Latier, Art; Edw. Niles,
Music (left Sept 28, 1962); Don Kumler, Custodian; Robt. Harbett, Helper; Mary
Briney, Matron.
1963-64: Cont. Enr. (Kdg.) 82, (1-6) 501, (Sp. Ed.) 21. Prin. George Riddle;
Mary Helen Ault Secy., Mary Bowen, 1; Vada Barts, 1; Dorothy Richter, 1; Esther
Means, 2; Odessa Greer, 2; Lana Louderback, 2; Pauline Scholer, 2; Mary Goodner,
3; Esther Thrush, 3; Bernice Eash, 3; Narcissus Sowers 4; Mable Gaumer, 4;
Nadine Sriver, 5; Scott Savage, 5; Gladys Brandt, 5; William Biddinger, 6; Irene
Paltz, 67; Ida Kathryn Burwell, Kdg.
1964-65: Geo. M. Riddle, Prin.; Mary Helen Ault, Sec.; Ida K. Burwell, Kdg.;
Linda Barkman, 1; Vada Barts, 1; Dorothy Jean Richter, 1; Mary Bowen, 1; Odessa
Greer, 2; Linda Louderback, 2; Esther Jean Means, 2; Bernice Eash, 3; Mary
Goodner, 3; Esther Thrush, 3; Mable Gaumer, 4; Narcissus Sowers, 4; Edna
Davisson, 4; Gladys Brandt, 5, Sc., Health; Nadine Sriver, 5; Wm. Biddinger, 6;
Irene Paltz, 6; Scott Savage, 5-6; Marcella Boswell, Speech & Hg.; Robt.
Bowen, Spec. Ed..; Marie Farnsworth, Spec. Ed.; Kay Horn, Phys. Ed.; Kathleen
Latier, Art.; Linda Greuf, Elem Music; Don Kumler, Custodian; Mary Briney,
Matron.
1965-66: First Class Kdg-6. Enrol. (Kdg.) 75, (1-6) 529, (Sp. Ed) 15. Prin.
George Riddle; Mary Helen Ault, Secy.; Mary Bowen, 1; Vada Barts 1; Dorothy
Richter, 1; Esther Means, 2; Odessa Greer, 2; Evelyn Cox, 2; Mary Goodner, 2;
Esther Thrush, 3; Bernice Eash, 3; Narcissus Sowers, 4; Mable Gaumer, 4; Edna
Davisson, 4; Nadine Sriver, 5; W. Scott Savage, 5; Gladys Brandt, 5; William
Biddinger, 6; Irene Paltz, 6; Russel Walters 6; Ida Kathryn Burwell, Kdg.
[F.C.H.S. files]
Teachers: Mary Lukens grade 1, 1962-81; Russell Walters, 6th grade, 1965-66, and principal, 1966-78; Cheryl Hibner Bright; Carol Ann Powell Hurst, art, grades 1, 2 and 3
ROCHESTER COLLEGE [Rochester, Indiana]
See: Hutton, J. T.
See: Rochester Normal University
See: Rochester High School Basketball
__________
NORMAL SCHOOL OFFER
The proposed Normal University for Rochester is growing more promising for the
city and county every day.The Mackey farm, of thirty-five acres, in the
Southeast part of the city has been purchased by Dr. W. S. Shafer and he makes
the following proposal to build a fifteen thousand dollar college building and
equip it with library and laboratory.
It being the wish of many of the citizens of Rochester, Indiana, as expressed at
various meetings, to establish a College at said town, and desiring to respond
to that wish, and fully believing in the enterprise of the Citizens of Fulton
County, and the future of Rochester, I purchased thirty-four and fifty-two
hundredths acres of land of Horace Mackey, which lies at the South end of town,
but within the corporate limits thereof. The sole purpose of the purchase being
to put on foot a practical plan by which said College may be established. I now
propose to the Citizens of said County, the following:
First. That the four and fifty-two hundredths acres be reserved as grounds for
the College.
Second. The remaining thirty acres be platted into one hundred and fifty lots,
that responsible parties subscribe for them at Two Hundrd dollars per lot, to be
paid for, one-half, March 1, 1895, and the remainder, September 1, 1895, or on
the completion of the building, and the furnishing of the equipment herein after
mentioned.
There is upon said ground to be platted a dwelling house and barn, and other
buildings connected therewith, worth not less than One Thousand Dollars. Now
upon the completion of the subscription, I will have said thirty acres properly
platted, and recorded at my expense, with streets and alleys properly located
therein, and all lots numbered. That upon the completion and recording of said
plat, the subscribers for the lots, shall determine in their own way, the manner
of selecting lots, except that the purchaser getting the lot on which said
buildings are located, shall be entitled to said buildings.
Third. I agree that upon said lots being subscribed for as above stipulated, to
commence at once preparing for the erection of a College Building on said four
and fifty-two hundredths acres tract, to cost not less than Fifteen thousand
dollars, and will commence its building at the earliest opportune time in the
spring of 1895, and push it to completion as speedily as practicable, and have
it ready for opening in the fall of 1895. And in addition, on its completion, to
furnish the same, and place therein a College Library to cost not less than
three thousand dollars, and a Laboratory, at a cost of not less than two
thousand dollars, and on its completion, and after its equipment as above
stipulated, to turn the same over to a Board of Trustees or managers, to consist
of competent and worthy businessmen and educators, who shall direct its policy
and mange its affairs for a period of five years. Said board to be composed of
seven, and to be residents and citizens of Fulton County. They to hold the same
free from any rent or taxes for said period, and put forth every reasonable
effort to build up the institution during said period.
The aim of the institution will be no common-place standing in the educational
circles of the country. The faculty will be selected from the very best colleges
of the country and the following courses will be established: preparatory
teachers common English, teachers professional, commercial, musical both vocal
and instrumental, and scientific and classical. Special attention will be given
to the pedagogical work to be done in the Model Training School course, in which
a specialist will take public school pupils of any grade and give them practical
training for the teachers profession. The management proposes to make the school
one which will merit an attendance of a thousand students and the necessary
effort will be made to get them here. Now let Rochester take hold in earnest.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, December 7, 1894]
JUST AS YOU LIKE IT
The normal college enterprise is moving right along. Dr. Shafer's first proposal
met with some opposition from enterprisers who seldom enterprise and so he
revised it and makes it broad enough that if Rochester does not help to build
the College she doesn't want it. In his second proposition he says:
There seems to be a disposition on the part of some individuals to oppose the
college enterprise upon the ground of a pecuniary gain upon my part. To all such
objections I wish to offer a few explanations, not that I am anxious for the
citizens to accept my proposition any more than to see the college a success. My
first conception of the plan was that there was sufficient in it to insure me
against any loss whatever, which my business man would look after, but the more
careful consideration of the proposition is that I am taking a great risk, more
so than I now court, save as I said before, the success of the college. When we
first began to consider the enterprise it seemed there was no one who could
suggest a tangible plan to operate upon, consequently I undertook to develop the
same through plans which might prove successful. Now to the proposition.
1st. We have a purchase price of $6,000; 2d. Erection price, $15,000; 3d,
Equipment price $5,000, Total, $26,000.
Now the selling price of 150 lots is $30,000. This leaves a balance of $4,000.
Then we have the platting of property, grading, excavating, and general
preparation of grounds which any person who knows anything of said work, will
consume at least another $1,500 or $2,000. Then we have $2,000 left for the
equipments of said buildings, which consists of the furniture, blackbords,
&c., which are too numerous to mention. But all you have to do is to
consider what a school equipment consists of. Now the very lowest estimate which
I can place upon said furnishings is $3,500, which put us in debt over the
selling price of the lots $1,000 or $1,500. For the maintaining of said
buildings which consists of taxes, insurance, all repairs, which will be many,
it is not necessary for me to try to estimate. Go to our school board and find
out what it costs for maintaining of our school property, and you have a
disinterested estimate. And the maintenance of college property is greatly more
which I could explain, but do not consider it necessary.
All of this I propose, besides insuring all risks and spending my time, which is
of vastly more importance in a pecuniary way than giving it to the enterprise.
The pecuniary side of it to me is this which I will gladly propose and will be
more than willing to accept. Let the citizens execute to me a sufficient
indemnifying bond against all risks, repay me the money expended for all over
the $30,000, pay me something for my time spent in the work, and at the end of
five years I will gladly turn the building over to any person or body of men you
may name.
This is fair enough for the most exacting. The Doctor prposes to build, equip
and run the college for five years if those interested will indemnify him for
the outlay he makes, or he agrees to take all chances and shoulder the
institution alone if the people will buy the lots at the very reasonable price
of two hundred dollars each.
The subscription papers are ready for circulation, the ground is being platted
to show just how it will be located and thirty-seven lots have already been
taken by voluntary subscribers.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, December 14, 1894]
THAT COLLEGE OFFER
Now that the holiday busy season is over what are we going to do about that
Normal University? It has been at a standstill for two weeks because everybody
has been busy and now is the time to do something and the way to do something is
to put your shoulder to the wheel and push.
In his contract with lot buyers Dr. Shafer sets out the following liberal
conditions:
1st. Four acres of said land, as shown upon a preliminary plat thereof, now in
my ofice in Rochester, shall be reserved as college grounds and on which the
building will be erected. The remaining land will be platted into one hundred
and fifty lots with streets and alleys as shown on said preliminary plat.
2nd. I ask that responsible persons subscribe for all of said lots - one hundred
and fifty - at two hundred dollars per lot, to be paid for, one-half March 1st,
1895, and the remainder November 1st, 1895, or upon the completion of the
College as hereinafter provided.
3rd. When all the lots shall have been taken by subscription, I will at my own
expense cause a final survey to be made, a plat to be made, lots properly
numbered and the plat recorded as required by law.
4th. The subscribers may then determine in their own way the manner of selecting
lots, provided, that, it is understood in subscribing, that the purchaser, or
purchasers, who may in such division get the lot or lots on which the buildings
now on said ground may stand, the value of which is estimated at one thousand
dollars, shall be entitled to possession of the same.
5th. I agree that upon full payment being made, as required herein, for any lot
or lots, I will execute, or cause to be executed to the person entitled thereto,
a warranty deed, conveying a perfect title to such lot or lots free from all
incumbrance.
6th. All payments on said lots shall be made at the Rochester Bank or the
Citizens' State Bank of Rochester, Indiana, a receipt therefor to be given by
the cashier of the bank where the payment shall be made, such receipt or
receipts, when full payment shall have been made, shall entitle the holder
thereof or his legal representatives, to a deed as herein provided.
7th. A committee of five persons consisting of W. J. Leiter, Jonathan Dawson,
Dr. V. Gould, J. E. Beyer and Daniel Agnew, shall have exclusive control of the
payments to me of money so deposited in the banks as purchase money on lots, and
the money shall be paid to me only on the order of said committee.
If at any time, for any reason, any one of the above named committee shall fail
or decline to serve, the remaining members shall select another person who shall
be a lot owner to fill the vacancy.
8th. It is expresly agreed and understood, and is a part of this contract that
the college shall be non-sectarian.
9th. I agree that upon said lots being subscribed for, as above stipulated, to
commence at once, preparation for the erection of a College building on said
four acre tract, to cost no less than fifteen thousand dollars, and will
commence its building at the earliest opportune time in the Spring of 1895, and
push it to completion as speedily as practicabe, and have it in readiness for
opening in the fall of 1896. And in addition, on its completion, to furnish the
same and place therein a College library to cost not less than three thousand
dollars, and a laboratory at a cost not less than two thousand dollars, and on
its completion, and after its equipment as above stipulated, to turn the same
over to a Board of Trustees, or managers to consist of competent and worthy
business men and educators, who shall direct its policy and manage its affairs
for a period of five years. Said Board to be composed of seven, and to be
residents and citizens of Fulton County, Indiana. They to hold the same free
from any rent, taxes, insurance or repairs which I agree to pay for said period.
Said Board must put forth every effort reasonable to build up the institution
during the time which it may be under its control.
Rochester, Ind., Dec.s 17th, '94.
Winfield Shafer.
The proposal fully explains itself and there is now an opportunity to build the
college or to let it pass as another one of Rochester's "foot slipped"
efforts to progress in an attractive and profitable way. The lots are well worth
the price asked for them and if the college is built it must be done through the
liberality of our property owners and neighboring farmers to take hold and help
by buying one or more of the lots.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, January 4, 1895]
THE NORMAL IS GROWING
New pupils are being enrolled every day in the business department of the
Rochester Normal University, and the work done is of a very satisfactory kind.
Classes have been organized in shorthand, book keeping, commercial arithmetic,
language and commercial law.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, January 11, 1895]
COLLEGE MASS MEETING
Large bills distributed about town and country announce a Normal College Mass
Meeting for tomorrow afternoon at the Armory Hall, at 1:30 o'clock, when final
action will be taken on the question whether or not Rochester and vicinity wants
the College. Prof Banta, of Valparaiso Normal, will be present and explain the
benefits of a Normal University to town and country. Other speakers will also
deliver addresses. Farmers and business men are especially invited to come out
to this meeting and manifest their interest in the welfare of Rochester.
The SENTINEL insists that there ought to be a more active interest in this
important proposition for a Normal College. The best talent in the country
stands ready to take hold of the institution and make it a success from the very
start. A neighboring college offers to come here and combine with us and one of
the managers of the institution will be here this afternoon and tomorrow to
confer with the promoters of the enterprise. Prof. Krebel, of North Manchester,
who represents a million dollar endowment proposition will also be here to make
a proposition.
Let farmers and business men turn out an enthusiastic crowd. They ought to do it
in justice to their own interests.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, February 8, 1895]
ONE MILLION DOLLARS
A dozen representative business men met at Shafer & Rannells office Friday,
to hear a proposition of a million dollar endowment for the proposed Normal
University. The colossal proportions of the gift made it an interesting story
and the earnestness and eloquence of the representative of the endowment added a
wealth of captivation.
Prof. Kreibel, of North Manchester, was the gentleman who had the story and the
money at his command but the name of the philanthropist who is to furnish the
cash is withheld for the reason that the publicity of his name would subject him
to the annoyance of beggars for every benevolent or charitable enterprise in the
land. At least this was the reason given by the Professor and that was all
right.
The plan of endowment, however, is constructed on a very uncertain foundation.
The proposition embraces an obligation to build and equip some very expensive
college buildings before any part of the endowment is available. Then an offer
will be made to furnish free scholarships to young men or women who will canvass
their county and secure a certain number of students for the University, the
tuition and school expenses of the solicitors to be paid from the million dollar
endowment.
So far the proposition was reasonable but it here developed that there was no
means of fastening this endowment and it might leave the county institution to
take care of itself at any moment.
In addition to this million dollar donation the Professor has a two hundred
thousand dollar endowment at his disposal to encourage an Arnold Tompkin's
school of pedagogy in connection with the University, and another twenty-five
thousand to endow a library. None of these are in a form that their true
inwardness may be investigated and all are void of any provision which will
fasten them anywhere.
However, the Professor gives private assurance that these endowments may be
permanently secured and when he gives positive assurance of that Rochester can
well afford to investigate the stability of his proposition.
The College Mass Meeting
The court room was filled with friends of the proposed Normal University
Saturday afternoon, when Hon. M. L. Essick was called to preside with P. H.
Grelle, Secretary. The object of the meeting was briefly stated by Dr. Shafer
and then Prof. Banta, of Valparaiso, addressed the meeting on the benefits of a
good college to a town and its community. He explained how the thousands of
dollars are poured into the marts of trade in Valparaiso and other college towns
every week, the educational advantages to town and county of a college in their
midst, and the social comforts of having the most cultured entertainments of the
country visit your town, and the elevating influences of ambitious young
students in your community.
Prof. Banta's talk was heartily applauded and then Mr. Essick took the floor and
delivered a ringing address on the moral, social and financial duty of Rochester
in promoting the college enterprise. He was followed by Attorney George W.
Holman, George Fish and several others when the subscription paper was presented
and fourteen new names were added to the list.
Since Saturday nineteen more lots have been sold and if the enthusiasm keeps up
a few weeks longer we will get the college sure.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, February 15, 1895]
ONLY TWELVE MORE LOTS
The Normal University promoters are very much encouraged this week, and yet they
have but one week more to raise the necessary number of lot subscribers and
after all this hard work the college may fail. They have now secured
subscriptions for the College lots within twelve of the required number but the
very men who could well afford to help secure the college are holding back to
let somebody else do it until it is possible that the worthy undertaking may
fail just as success is within easy reach of those who could take hold and help
just a little.
All winter long a half dozen enterprising citizens have planned and coaxed and
figured with men to get them to help secure an institution which everybody
concedes will be a great help for Rochester and vicinity. Public and committee
meetings have been held week after week and the liberality of the terms of
founding the school has been broadened until there can be no possible objection
to the terms proposed, and the only remaining obstacle is the committee's
inability to sell twelve more lots.
Will the business men and property owners of Rochester allow such a desirable
enterprise to fail for want of a dozen subscriptions for lots which will be
worth their face value when the college buildings are ready for occupancy? It
will be another mistake for the future welfare of our city if they do.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, March 22, 1895]
UP GOES THE COLLEGE
The Normal University is now assured for Rochester. All of the one hundred and
fifty lots have not yet been subscribed but so nearly all have been taken that
the few others are guaranteed sold to men who have been holding back to see the
enterprise well backed by the people before taking hold.
The college building will be located on the Mackey farm in the southeast part of
the city. It will be a two story and basement structure, built of brick and
stone, and will cost, ready for occupancy, from $15,000 to $20,000. In addition
to this the library and laboratory will cost eight or ten thousand dollars, and
all of the modern conveniences will be arranged to make it a "right up to
date" educational institution.
Plans and specifications will be adopted at a meeting of the committee next
Monday evening, and bids will then be received for the construction of the
building which will be hurried along so that it may be completed in time for the
opening of the regular fall term in September.
A summer Normal beginning in June will be initiatory to the regular opening
which will occur the first Monday in September. The school year will be divided
into five terms of ten weeks each, and it is confidently believed that there
will be a reasonably good attendance from the first. None but first class
teachers will be employed, because the projectors of the enterprise realize
fully that merit alone will win in the school field in these days of close
competition.
With a first class library and two thoroughly equipped laboratories for the best
work in biology, physics and chemistry, with a course of study adapted to the
needs of every student from the district school graduate to the teachers in
every department of instruction, with a first rate commercial college, and a
musical department that shall be second to none, it does not require an
enthusiast to see success for our educational venture.
It now remains for every citizen of Rochester and Fulton county to immediately
become an agent for the school, and soon all will be proud of our educational
advantages. Talk about it, write about it to your distant friends, and thus help
to make it a success from the beginning.
[Rochester Sentine, Friday, April 5, 1895]
CORNER STONE LAYING
The first public exercises at our new Normal University will be an honorary
event - the formal laying of the corner stone. Next Thursday afternoon, June
27th, is the date fixed and the ceremonies proper will be performed by by
Masonic Fraternity.
At 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the civic and military societies of the city will
fall in line on Main street and the Citizens and Masonic bands will escort the
procession to the college site in the southeast part of the city. Here the
corner stone, containing simply a charter of the institution, will be formally
laid by Grand Master Ed. O'Rourke, after which the audience will adjourn to the
grove, adjoining, for the literary and musical exercises. A grand chorus of
fifty voices under direction of Prof. Wm. Rannells, with organ and orchestra
accompaniment, will furnish the music and there will be addresses by Mr. Thayer,
President Parsons, of the State Normal School, Prof. Smart, of Purdue
University, and other well known speakers.
In the evening there will be a grand benefit concert given at the Academy of
Music and Rochester and vicinity is earnestly requested to turn out and assist
in making the demonstration a grand forerunner of the enthusiasm which will push
the University into meritorious prominence right from the beginning.
What of the Normal University?
Our new Normal College will open for regular work September 10, 1895, and it is
time our local public should know something more of the objects, aims and hopes
of its promoters. The institution will emphasize the professional training of
teachers and will do work that shall run parallel to that done at the State
Normal School. The latest and best work in pedagogy and psychology made
efficient by actual study of the child both in and out of the class room, will
characterize the course. The instructors will be those who have had years of
experience in the school room and know the difference between theory and
practice. The time has come when the demand for trained teachers is greater than
the supply. This demand the Rochester Normal College hopes to assist in
supplying and to that end has arranged a course of study and training second to
none in the state. It is believed that teachers from this department of our
school will find places awaiting them in the best towns and cities in the land,
as well as in the best district systems. The general course of study will
embrace a preparatory course exactly adapted to the wants of those who have
completed the course in the district schools, a scientific, a literary and a
classic course corresponding to the usual College and University work.
Next week the scientific and literary departments will receive some notice, this
to be followed by something of detail as to other departments of the school.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, June 21, 1895]
IMPOSING CEREMONIES
THE CORNER-STONE OF THE NEW NORMAL UNIVERSITY
IS FORMALLY LAID
The first public step in the direction of success for the Rochester Normal
University was taken yesterday by the presence of two thousand people at the
formal corner-stone laying. It was a glorious day for Rochester and a joy
forever for Dr. Shafer the tireless and determined promoter of the college
undertaking.
Early in the day the sidewalks presented a busy scene and when the procession of
military and civic societies formed at one o'clock, fully three hundred Masons,
Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Militiamen were in line. Both of the
Rochester Bands were out and the procession, when ready to move was the most
elaborate and beautiful display of uniformed men ever seen in the city. The
whole plumes of the Knights Templar were especially conspicuous and they
contrasted beautifully with the purple plumes of the Patriarchs Militant and the
red plumes of the Knights. In addition there were long lines of subordinate
lodge men and Co. B of the State Militia led the way to the college site in the
southeast part of the city, familiarly known as the Mackey farm. Here the Corner
Stone was officially laid by Grand Master O'Rourke, of the F. and A. M., after
which the great gathering adjourned to the grove near by for the musical and
oratorical exercises. Prof. Rannells' chorus of fifty voices sang two beautiful
selections with delightful effect and addresses were delivered by Judge
O'Rourke, of Ft. Wayne, Hon. H.G. Thayer, of Plymouth, and Hon. M. L. Essick, of
this city. Each eloquently eulogized the enterprise of the promoters of the
splendid undertaking and Rochester beauty, hospitality, morality and generosity,
were not omitted by the speakers and Profs. Banta and Suman were encouraged by
numerous references to their ability as educators and the bright prospects of
the institution they are about to assume the management of.
Of the visiting Masons present about seventy came from Huntington, twenty-five
from Macy, twenty-five from Roann, thirty-five from Plymouth, twenty-five from
Blooingsburg, fifteen from Kewanna, fifteen from Mentone, ten from Argos and
fifteen from Akron. John R. Stallard was Marshal of the day and every feature of
the occasion was a splendid success.
The Building
The building is to be a three story brick and stone structure of modern
architectural beauty, with special designed basement and floor plans, suited to
the requirements of such institutions. The basement is a 10 ft. story, extending
five feet above the grade line and including the entire area of building, walled
with solid masonry of Indiana Blue Lime Stone and cement the full height of
story. This floor is provided with separate inside and outside stairways for
both ladies and gentlemen.This floor space, while largely devoted to the Kruse
& Dewenter's elaborate warm air heating, requiring four mammoth furnaces,
and sanitary dry closets, has the following accommodations: Janitors quarters of
five rooms, parlor, sitting room, kitchen and two bed rooms, a chemical
laboratory, 24x38 feet; ladies exercise room, 19x22 feet; gent's exercise room,
40x48 feet; dust proof, full room, 18x19 feet; and fresh air supplies, corridors
and toilet rooms.
The upper structure of brick with Bedford Buff stone trimmings, interior or
partition walls built sold of brick. The height of stories as follows First
floor, 13 feet in clear. Second story, 12 feet in clear. Third story, 16 feet
with arched ceiling. The accommodations of the different floors are: For first
floor, two vestibules entered on a level with ground, with wide, easy flight of
9 stpes up to commodious hall of first floor on which is located the private
office, 12x15 feet, general office, 13x15 feet, library, 23x25 class room, 20x22
and Chapel with elevated stage and dressing rooms, and a seating capacity for
600 people. On this floor are located conveniences of grates, registers, toilet
rooms, emergency exits, etc.
The second floor is reached by broad stairways of short flights with landings.
On this floor is a roomy cross hall commanding every apartment. The
accommodations of this floor consist of class room, 21x24 feet; class room,
15x25 feet; class room, 26x22 feet; class room, 36x40 feet; class room, 21x40
feet; and physical laboratory, 21x40 feet; toilet rooms; and open balcony.
Conveniently located is a 5 foot stairway to 15x40 hall on 3d floor, off of
which, on either side, open the two large society halls, 35x40 feet. Near the
landing of stairs is the entrance to floored attic of two story portion of
building, opening off of which is the 15 ft, curcular observatory in 3d floor of
tower. From this room runs a spiral stair to 25x50 feet open observatory located
on main deck of roof, which, being at a height of over 50 feet from base of
building, commands a view of the campus, city and surrounding country, unequaled
from any other point of observation. Every part of the building as abundantly
lighted and the roof substantially covered with best slating, the entire inside
to be finished in natural red oak, and with the workmanship and material of the
very best, both building and enterprise may well, and should command the
admiration and encouragement of every citizen of the county. Joseph F. Ault is
the architect and Joseph T. Hutton the builder and, as both are Rochester men of
enthusiastic ambition, their workmanship on this structure, which is of so much
public importance will receive the shrewdest skill of their talents.
What the School Will Be
The Rochester Normal University will be a most thorough training and calssical
institution. The Normal department will embrace a complete course in Pedagogies
and Training school work. The promoters believe that there is a growing demand
for trained teachers and will make great effort to assist in supplying this
demand. Kindergarten culture and every department of school work including grade
work in city school systems, school management, etc., will receive simple and
special attention and the best system of instruction the country affords.
In the college of the Sciences great stress will be placed upon their practical
application. Things here will have a deeper meaning than is commonly held where
mere mental discipline is the end sought. Theories may be very beautiful to the
mind, but that which can be utilized to speed the march of progress certainly is
more gratifying to the learner. When the student is set to work to demonstrate
the phenomena he has been conjecturing about, an entirely new world is revealed,
and the useful side of his philosophizing dawns. Here the learner will be
surrounded by a complete set of apparatus, such as few colleges equal, in fact,
quite sufficient to make prominent the underlying principles of all the
scientific studies. He will learn to do by doing, and the result will be a
special fitness to deal intelligently with great problems. The equipment enables
the school to give mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil
engineering, pharmacy, etc., on the actual demonstrative plan. In the College of
letters and literary studies, a large library of the best works published will
be no small factor in developing the mind. Here in the midst of the best
thoughts of the world's greatest thinkers, the student can not help imbibing a
richness of thought and spiritual unity. A classical mind must needs be a great
reader of such works as those that draw out the universal principle of a strong
intellectual life. In this beautiful library then, will be found many eager
minds catching inspiration that will electrify the daily work in the several
departments. Stress can not be placed too heavily upon the study of the
languages and their rich literatures. The ever swelling tide of civilization but
demonstrates the fact that that life is best which emulates best the lives of
men of great achievements in the social, political and intellectual world.
The business college, complete in its equipments, will not be slow in answering
the demands for more competent business factors. Perhaps nearly all business
calamities and financial deluges that sweep down the energies of a people are
the results of incompetent men at the head of financial departments. Efficiency
in this line can be had only by a broad knowledge of the science of business.
This will comprehend more than a few weeks of college life, as thorough
education is the foundation upon which we build practical business principles.
The musical department will fill a place in touch with the soul of all the other
departments, and recognizing the refining influences of music, great care is
being taken to establish one of the best institutions in this line in the land.
As a good library and music is the life of any home, it is not strange that they
will vitalize the University in this way; and to establish it so that all the
departments drink the richness of music and literature.
While students will be permitted to take such studies as they may desire, all
those who are candidates for graduation will need to pursue a prescribed course.
Those who give evidence either by examination or by presenting these on certain
subjects will be given due credit on the records of the school, and although the
work may extend over a series of years, whenever a course of study shall have
been properly completed, a diploma will be given.This arrangement will enable
many who are compelled to teach or do other work during part of the year, to
continue their study with a definite end in view. In the preparatory department,
graduates from the district schools will be given such instructions as will
enable them to go on with their studies without a break. Work exactly adapted to
advancement is never harmful. Graduates from High Schools will be able to
complete the Professional Course in teaching and training in one year.
A diploma from an accredited High School may admit the berarer either to the
Professional, Scientific or Classic courses.
The institution is chartered and will therefore confer degrees upon those of its
students who shall be entitled to receive them. The "university idea"
simply means that each department will be a complete school within itself, but
the work done will be so correlated as that credits from any one department will
be recognized in any other department.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, June 28, 1895]
NO HALT IN ROCHESTER
The council moved up another good, strong lap, Tuesday evening, and thereby a
good street and solid sidewalks are to be constructed to the new college. The
order embraces the building of sidewalks along both sides of Perry street,
running east from Capt. Rader's residence, and the grading of College avenue,
and building of sidewalks for the same from the east terminus of Perry to the
college door. This will give a continuous brick or stone sidewalk from the
college to the court house, and normal students will have a splendid
thoroughfare between town and college.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, August 30, 1895]
TWO HUNDRED ARE HERE
The spring term of the Rochester Normal University opened last week and the roll
of attendants swelled like that of a hotel register in a convention date in the
town. Pupils came swarming in from home and abroad until more than two hundred
pupils are enrolled in the several departments and more are arriving every
succeeding day.
"It looks like Valparaiso out at the College today," said Dr. Shafer
very happily, Friday, as he returned from the College, "and this is but the
beginning of the second half of the first year. If anybody has doubts about the
favorable impression our school is creating a visit to the college will convince
them that our work has already effected grand results and we have but just
begun."
The condition of the school is on a firm footing, the course of instruction is
as broad and thorough as that afforded by any institution of normal training and
the continued good will and enthusiasm of Rochester will make the institution
the pride and glory of Fulton county.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, April 10, 1896]
FIRST COLLEGE YEAR
The first year of the Rochester Normal University is ended and the result is
quite satisfactory to all concerned. Four pupils, whose scholarship entitled
them to enter the senior year completed the course and received their diplomas
Wednesday evening, in the presence of a large audience. They were Miss Della
Hisey and Messrs. Clarence Rannells, Maurice Shelton and [Martin] Clay. The
stage of College Hall was beautifully decorated and the class occupied seats
thereon, flanked on either side by the faculty of the institution. Following was
the program:
Invocation Rev. Brooke
Selection Williamson's Orchestra
Oration - "The Relation of a Commercial or Business Course on Daily
Life"
Maurice Shelton
Vocal Solo Lulu Miller
Oration - "Homes are the Hope of our Country"
Martin Clay
Selection R. N. U. Glee Club
Oration - "Dreaming" Clarence Rannells
Piano Solo Edna Hall
Presentation of Class Prof. Suman
Selection Williamson's Orchestra
Benediction Rev. Kenney
The members of the class delivered their orations without manuscript and they
acquitted themselves with great credit to themselves and honor to the
institution. The musical features were delightfully rendered and the speeches in
class presentation and diploma gifts to Profs Banta and Suman, respectively,
were eloquent and appropriate.
It was a proud event for the Rochester Normal University and it is the wish of
every progressive and patriotic man and woman in the city and county that we may
have many more of them.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, August 7, 1896]
A COLLEGE YELL
An enthusiastic meeting of students and faculty was held last evening at the
college for the purpose of adopting college colors and reorganizing the Athenia
Literary society. Prof. G. L. Best and Miss Grace Lease acted as President and
Secretary, respectively, for the evening and the following officers were elected
for the ensuing year: President, Hugh Miller; Secretary, Miss Maud Myers;
Critic, Miss Mabel Banta; Attorney, Chas. L. Hunley; Vice Pres., Miss Chloe
Merchant; Treas., R. B. Miller; Chaplain, Frank Neff; Musical Director, Mrs. C.
L. Hunley; Sergeant-at-arms, J. L. Best; Ushers, Ralph Miller and F. W.
Hendrickson. Misses Mabel Banta and Glen Myers and Mr. Frank Neff were appointed
as a committee for the drafting of a new constitution. Volunteer members were
then called for and about twenty-five placed their names on the roll. Much
interest was shown in the preliminary arrangements and if the opening session
can be taken as indicative of future spirit in literary matters, the society is
surely entering upon a prosperous winter campaign. Regular programs will be
presented each Friday evening at 7 o'clock.
The subject of colors and yells was then taken up, gold and blue meeting with
popular approval as suitable shades for the college emblem, and the same will be
in evidence in the future in flags and decorations. The classic walls were then
made to re-echo for several minutes with some forceful products from the boom of
the yell maker, the following one seeming to meet the requirements fully:
R.N.U! Yip! Yip!
R.N.C! Euro!
Boomerang! Boomerang! Hoangho!
Eureka! Ah! Boom! Boom! Bah!
Rochester Normal! Rah! Rah! Rah!
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 11, 1899]
THE COLLEGE TROUBLE
The difficulty between Joe Hefflefinger and the boys who stoned and egged his
home has not yet been settled, and nothing will be done until Monday. Prof.
Banta stated this morning that, although he feels confident college boys were
the perpetrators of the stoning business, he has not been able to find out one
of their names. The college management does not want any trouble brought in
court, and Mr. Banta asked Mr. Hefflefinger, yesterday evening, upon what terms
he would settle the difficulty immediately. The latter will be satisfied if the
boys will make a public apology with their names attached through all the
newspapers in which his name has appeared; pay whatever damages he decides has
been done his name; and be expelled from the college. To what extent his name
has been damaged Hefflefinger has not said. A refusal to comply with this
ultimatum by Monday, Hefflefinger says will result in prosecution.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, April 20, 1901]
LOCAL NEWS
The trial of the six college boys charged with riot will be called by Judge
Troutman tomorrow at 10 o'clock, but will probably be continued till after the
court term, as the attorneys are busily engaged there.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, May 3, 1901]
LOCAL NEWS
Somebody sent a much exagerated report of the trouble between the College boys
and Joe Hefflefinger to the Chicago American, Saturday. It says: Six students of
the Normal University in which horses will head the most unique procession ever
seen in this or any other city today when they ride to the court room, followed
by a band of twenty-five pieces and 800 college girls and boys for their trial
on the charge of throwing eggs and stones at the house of Joseph Hefflefinger,
suspected of putting tacks on the sidewalks to puncture bicycle tires.
[Rochester Sentinel, Monday, May 6, 1901]
COLLEGE GROWTH
The Rochester Normal University is in the midst of the greatest success in its
history. The enrollment for the present school year will pass the three hundred
point, and of these, twenty-five will receive their graduation diplomas at the
college commencement in August.
And the faculty of the college is preparing for greater achievements next year.
The new catalog, now in press, is to be one of the most attractive ever issued.
It will contain list of insructors, course of study, names of all pupils,
description of Rochester and vicinity, and be illustrated with numerous
photogravures of views of classes, apparatus, the band, ball team, etc. etc.
The college never was as strong in faculty, attendance and general interest as
now. The students are all gentlemanly and ladylike people and representatives of
the best families in northern Indiana. Rochester is proud of the institution and
is cheerfully helping to make it one of the most popular and useful in the
state.
New Paper to Start
The college management have decided to begin the publication of a quarterly in
the interest of the college. It will be called the R. N. C. and will start with
a circulation of 25000. It will be printed on the SENTINEL'S new Pony cylinder
press, and the first edition will soon be issued. It will be printed on first
class book paper and will be a cut page quarto of pleasing appearance.
The management is as follows: R. B. Miller, editor-in-chief; Jos. A. Myers,
business manager; Hugh Miller, local editor; Miss Grace Lease, Alumni editor;
Aaron Kline, athletic editor.
[Rochester Sentinel, Wednesday, July 3, 1901]
LOCAL NEWS
The University Extension society had a very profitable meeting at the Court
House last night, and are making preparations for another interesting meeting at
the same place next Tuesday evening.
[Rochester Sentinel, Wednesday, September 18, 1901]
LOCAL NEWS
At the meeting of the University Association tomorrow evening, a well prepared
paper will be read by P. M. Buchanan on Aristotle's Politics. Interesting
questions in Political Science, such as the natural evolution of the State and
an argument for slavery will be indulged in and anyone who feels interested will
be welcome by the members. C. K. Bitters will lead in the discussion.
[Rochester Sentinel, Monday, September 23, 1901]
LOCAL NEWS
The Philomatheon society will give an entertainment at the College, Friday
evening, and the public is invited.
[Rochester Sentinel, Thursday, October 31, 1901]
LOCAL NEWS
The R. N. U. now has a foot ball eleven. Harry Knott is captain and coach and he
is spending much time getting his men in trim for a game here Thanksgiving day.
Kewanna or Tiosa will be the visiting team.
[Rochester Sentinel, Thursday, November 21, 1901
LOCAL NEWS
The Athena Literary society will give an entertainment at the College, tomorrow
evening. Miss Burkhart, the new instructor in elocution, will make her first
appearance before a Rochester audience, in a reading. Program will begin at 7:30
and the public is invited.
[Rochester Sentinel, Thursday, November 21, 1901
AN OPEN LETTER
To the Public:
We close the eighth year of R.N.U. history on the 31st day of next July.
That we have labored under serious difficulties from the very inception of the
enterprise need not be mentioned to the citizens of Rochester and Fulton county.
We began in the midst of the greatest financial stringency in the history of our
country. The sale of lots from the profit of which the College building was to
be erected and equipped was sufficient, had the lot purchasers been able to take
and pay for them according to contract. The sale amounted to some $26,400, but
the projectors realized less than $18,000. With this great shortage debts were
incurred at the very beginning which have constantly hindered the progress of
the school. Furthermore, under these circumstances, the equipment was not what
it ought to have been, and thus the efficiency of the school, at first, was not
up to the high standard intended by its founders.
Owing also to the fact that our town government failed to give the water
privileges promised, we were compelled to give up our department of Pharmacy
thus losing a large number of students who came to us for that work. We have
been greatly embarrassed also by a lack of boarding and rooming facilities in
the vicinity of the College. Even with our limited attendance we meet much
difficulty in finding acceptable rooms and board.
Other hindrances which I need not now mention, have harassed our efforts from
time to time, but these are trivial compared with our inability, on account of
lack of means, to bring properly before the public the merits of our school. We
have labored most earnestly and honestly to build up a reputation for
thoroughness and practicality in all our work and believe we have succeeded in
doing so.
Notwithstanding our unusual hindrances -- smallpox scare and financial failures
-- we have held to our course with a determination to merit success. From one
point of view our school has been a success from the very beginning. We have
prepared a large number of young people for intelligent, useful and happy
living. Many of our graduates are filling good positions as teachers, principals
and superintendents. Many are book keepers, stenographers or clerks. A large
number are completing their courses of study at universities and colleges of
higher grade. Many are in medical colleges and some in law schools. Many are in
business for themselves, and so far as I know, not one has disappointed the high
hopes of his friends.
While the attendance has not been as large as we believed it would be, there
never has been a time within the eight years of its existence that the college
has not had good classes of high grade students doing excellent work under first
class instructions.
What we have at the present time will give a good notion of the possibilities
for the future. Our total enrollment at the end of this year will be about 350.
Our cvurrent enrollment for this term will be about 200. This summer term may be
larger, but will likely be somewhat smaller. Our average term enrollment for the
year will be nearly 150. This is an attendance fully equal to that of Wabash
College, and since we are doing good work with first class students, we think it
is fair to say that we are doing as much for the uplift of mankind as that most
excellent institution is doing. We mention Wabash because the attendance there
approximates the attendance of our school.
That institution being well endowed is able to move on without embarassment and
is a power for good in the land.
We will graduate from the various departments of our school this year a class of
more than thirty young women and young men. Many of them have been with us three
or more years. Others but one year; but all have taken some drefinite course of
instruction. The best people of Rochester and of Fulton county have stood by us
and helped us in every way they could, and to them we express our gratitude, and
ask a continuance of their kindness while we pursue the battle that shall end in
success for the school, credit to Fulton county and profit to Rochester. We now
have in full operation Academic, Normal, Collegiate, Commercial, Stenographis,
and Musical departments, and in all these departments we guarantee to do work as
good as the best. The daily drill classes, free to all students, are Pedagogy,
Physical Culture, Penmanship, Free Hand Drawing, Vocal Music, and Military
Tactics (for young men). - - - W. H. BANTA.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, April 18, 1903]
NEW R. N. U. PLAN
As a result of the work of Prof. Banta of the R. N. U., during the past few
days, a meeting of the representative citizens and taxpayers of Rochester
township, living outside of Rochester, was held at the office of Holman &
Stephenson this afternoon for the purpose of considering the adoption of the
plan to utilize the Academic Department of the Rochester Normal University as
the Rochester Township High School.
It is claimed that there are many advantages offered by this course that would
be of great benefit to the township financially, and to the students in the
educational sense. The department would be open free to graduates of the common
schools of the township for forty-eight weeks in the year, so that those who
could not attend during the winter could do so during the fall or summer, or
both. Those wishing to do so could attend the entire forty-eight weeks without
any cost to them for tuition.
This plan would save the township the outlay of building and equipping a high
school, as the cost would be less than the hire of proper teachers for this
grade of work.
The people are enthusiastic over the promises of the plan, and the meeting this
afternoon was held to learn if there were any legal objections in the way of
accomplishing these purposes. After finding that the law fully authorized the
contemplated action it was decided to go farther with the matter, and solicit
the influence of others in a petition to the trustee to adopt the plan for the
coming year.
If the plan shall carry, Rochester students will secure a better provision for
instruction than could otherwise be provided, and at a very much less cost to
the taxpayers of the township. The college would also gain by reason of the
additional income, which would go far toward placing this desirable institution
where it should stand financially.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 16, 1903]
A COLLEGE CHANGE
Negotiations were closed, Saturday evening, whereby Prof. Wm. F. Strong, of
Dixon, (Ill.) College became a half owner with Prof. Banta, of a controlling
interest in the stock of the Rochester Normal University and the new management
will assume control about the first of May when Prof. Strong will move here.
However the present course of study and instructors will continue through to the
close of the College year, and then there will be a revision of catalog and many
improvements made to the college equipment.
Prof. Strong, known to many people in the vicinity of Akron where he grew up as
"Billy" Strong, has been connected with Dixon College for thirteen
years and comes to Rochester ripe in successful college experience, and well
equipped financially to make things go in enterprising and up-to-date methods.
He is a music teacher and will have charge of the music department and also be
the financial manager.
His coming however, will not change the township graduates Academic arrangement
now in effect. That will continue right along and will be a great help in making
the College a success as there are about seventy township graduates now taking
the Academic course at the College and it is proving a most popular and
successful plan for furnishing higher education for Rochester township pupils
who have finished the common school course and want more education.
Prof. Banta is delighted with the new arrangement and declares that R.N.C.
prospects were never so bright as today. And all of Rochester will rejoice with
him for he has worked heroically to make the College a success in an educational
way and a great help to Rochester.
[Rochester Sentinel, Monday, March 14, 1904]
NOW UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT
With the coming of April, Friday, the new owners of the Rochester Normal
University took possession and it is now started on the road of success if it
ever was.
Upon taking possession the directors, Daniel Agnew, Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Banta and
W. M. Strong, met and selected Mr. Banta as president, and Mr. Strong as
secretary and treasurer.
The intentions of the directors is to keep the present efficient corps of
teachers the remainder of this school year at least and possibly longer. They
propose to push the R.N.U. and with the plans they now have laid out, cannot
fail and become one of the greatest normal schools in the central states, upon
which road, the efficient work of Mr. Banta, it has already made so much headway
and established such a good foundation to build upon.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, April 1, 1904]
NEWS OF THE DAY
Jos. S. Vogelgesang, of Canton, O., who is the new student in the musical
department at the College, is organizing a band at the College. Already about
fifteen boys, more than half of whom are now able to play more or less, have
been secured and the first practice will be held the coming week. Mr.
Vogelgesang is an expert cornetist and will direct the band.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, February 11, 1905]
COLLEGE NEWS
The College Band is to be reorganized in the near future and will soon be able
to furnish music.
Miss Delp the stenographer is absent today she having gone to an annual Church
Homecoming held near Perrysburg.
The College base-ball team has a game with Macy at that place tomorrow.
The college has a challenge to play football, but we have no longhaired athletes
and will be obliged to refuse.
[Rochester Sentinel, Thursday, October 5, 1905]
COLLEGE NEWS
The water-pipes are being laid to the College, and thus is realized one of the
"pipe dreams" so long indulged. May many more of them become realities
in the near future.
[Rochester Sentinel, Wednesday, September 25, 1907]
COLLEGE VICTORY
These are happy times for President Banta and his faculty of Rochester College.
A letter from the State Board of Education received today says that Prof.
Banta's petition to the Board that Rochester College be made a state accredited
Normal for training teachers is granted on condition that $1,200 worth of
additional library, laboratory, and other equipment be put in and it is already
being done. Nearly $700 is already subscribed and Prof. Banta says if the
citizens will not raise the balance he will do so himself, some way, and thus
the success of the College will be assured.
This is a distinct victory for the College and an honor to its course of
training. Our College will now be authorized to give teachers state accredited
grades in A and B and C may be added by enlarging the course of study. This puts
Rochester College the equal of Valparaiso, Marion and Danville as a teachers'
training school and teachers will get the same grades here they can get at State
Normal.
Now let some men of means build a dormitory and boarding place near the College
and our school will soon be one of the most popular in the State.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, October 5, 1907]
THE FIRST DEFEAT
Notre Dame All Collegians Beat the College Five in Fast Game
Basket ball fans in the city were considerably surprised last night when the
fast College five went down to their first defeat at the hands of the All
Collegians by a score of 30 to 25. The local five was "doped" to win
although the visitors were known to be fast from the fact that they defeated the
Wabash R. A. Monday night by a score of 20-17.
The game was fast and well played. The college boys kept ahead until near the
end of the first half when the visitors made two field goals and the half ended
17 to 15 in favor of Notre Dame. In the second half the locals were considerably
weakened by the absence of Mow, the crack forward, but never-the-less put up a
good game. The visitors were too much however and the game ended with them five
points ahead. The College five played aggressive ball and reflected much credit
upon Coach Manse. Clinginpeal threw a beautiful goal from deep center. Notre
Dame used a style of play new to the home five and consequently had a decided
advantage. The teams however were about evenly matched.
[Rochester Sentinel, Wednesday, December 25, 1907]
OFFICIALLY RESIGNS
At the close of the last week, Prof. W. H. Banta, who has been connected with
the Rochester College since its establishment in 1895, handed in his resignation
to the board of control and retired from all active educational work. Since his
sickness recently, Prof. Banta has not enjoyed the best of health and his
physician has advised him to keep out of that kind of work and consequently he
has been compelled to turn down several offers of a flattering nature.
Mr. Banta does not know at present what he will do. The remainder of the summer
he will spend at his cottage, "The Oaks" on Round Island. It is to be
hoped that Rochester will not lose such a valuable citizen.
[Rochester Sentinel, Monday, August 10, 1908]
ROCHESTER COLLEGE PRAISED
Rochester College is a decided credit to this city in every respect, is the gist
of the statements made by Dr. Bryan of Indiana university, who visited that
institution Thursday.
Dr. Bryan, who is a noted educator, was very much pleased with the school in
general, and asserted the fact that it was indeed refreshing to visit a school
where the work is being done in such a complete and systematic manner. Dr. Bryan
selected each teacher singly and gave short talks in which he praised their
efforts and in the close told them they represented one of the best colleges in
Indiana.
That Rochester College should receive such high praise from Dr. Bryan is a sure
sign of its popularity.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, June 3, 1910]
SALE OF COLLEGE BUILDING
Editor Sentinel -- Regarding the present status of Rochester College, which the
Indiana Bank & Trust Company as trustee for bondholders bid in at sheriff's
sale last Saturday.
The property will be held in trust for said bondholders for one year before
further action will be had. The title will then be clear and unincumbered.
The court proceedings do not in the least affect the school work conducted by
Prof. Herrington, and he says the prospect for a large attendance and successful
school this year is, indeed, encouraging.
This statement is made to correct an erroneous impression that the sale of the
building closes the school. DANIEL AGNEW, Trustee, Rochester College. Jan. 7,
1911.
[Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, February 7, 1911]
[Adv] ROCHESTER COLLEGE Fall Term opens Sept 11. Courses: Reviews High
School, Agriculture, Normal College, Music, Commercial. Phone or Address JOHN C.
WERNER.
[Rochester Sentinel, Thursday, September 7, 1911]
FATE OF COLLEGE STILL IN DOUBT
The proposition of making Rochester College a county agricultural school, which
has been discussed at length during the past summer, has now reached a climax.
Unless some decisive action is taken between this time and Monday, when the
county commissioners meet, Rochester College will probably cease to be a
"going concern" and the splendid building, which represents an
investment of something like $30,000, will become a playground for rats and
mice.
Everybody admits that the idea of making a county school for agricultural and
domestic science training is a good one. The plan has received the enthusiastic
endorsement of President Stone and Prof. G. I. Christie of Purdue university,
who not only promise the co-operation of Purdue, but predict a brilliant future
for the school. Every indivdual who has been interviewed on the subject comments
on the excellent opportunity offered. All that is lacking is someone to take the
initiative and push the work to a successful finish.
The College building is in excellent repair as practically all of the money
received in trust has been applied toward maintaining the building. New furnaces
have been installed, and everything is in readiness to open the school without
additional expense. The building can be bought for considerably less than the
bonded indebtedness, which is less than $7,000, many of the bondholders having
generously agreed to donate a part of the money due them to the fund for the
purchase of the building.
The Commercial club endorsed the plan and promised to raise a fund for the
purchase of the building, but the Commercial club is a dead institution that
couldn't raise a flag on the iron flagstaff in front of the court house. And so
the matter hangs fire. One man, who has given the matter his time and attention,
started out with a paper to see what could be done toward raising funds and
secured five one hundred dollar subscriptions by calling on six men. Believing
that he had done his share, he handed the subscription paper to another man, and
further results have not been reported.
If Rochester College opens its doors to students this fall, it will open as a
county school, President J. C. Werner having decided that it would be impossible
to continue the school as an independent concern since the expiration of his
contract with the township trustees, which has enabled the school to run as a
township high school. It is up to public-spirited citizens generally to rally to
the support of Mr. Werner and others who have used their best efforts toward the
creation of a permanent educational institution, which has every promise of
instantaneous and continued succcss. To make the plan go a sum around $5,000
must be subscribed before Monday in order that the building and its equipment
may be purchased and presented to the county. This done, the law compels the
county commissioners to accept the gift and maintain the school as a county
institution, with free tuition for all students residing within the county.
[Rochester Sentinel, Thursday, August 1, 1912]
STILL WORKING ON COLLEGE PLAN
The work of soliciting funds for the purchase of Rochester College is
progressing nicely and will be pushed as rapidly during the next few days.
Practically $2,400 of the $5,000 required to assure the success of the venture
has already been subscribed and it is the hope of those who are working to bring
about the desired end that the public spirited citizens of Rochester and Fulton
county will not lose this opportunity of putting the college on a sound
financial basis. - - - - - - - -
[Rochester Sentinel, Monday, August 5, 1912]
COUNTY REJECTS COLLEGE OFFER
Those who attended the special meeting of the county commissioners, of which the
honorable board asked for more time to consider the acceptance of Rochester
College from the hands of the public-spirited citizens of the county, were not
in the least disappointed when, at the regular session today, the commissioners
refused to accept the building, grounds and equipment as a gift. So well did
those who have been interested in the matter know what to expect that not a
single "booster" was present when the decision was placed on file.
It is stated that the decision is based on the assumption of the commissioners
that the buildings, grounds and equipment is not worth the $30,000 specified by
law. Another contention of the commissioners is that the college, if accepted,
may not be maintained as an agricultural college.
It is more than likely that the commissioners acted according to their best
judgment in rendering the decision made today, and no one has any criticism to
offer at their action in this matter. However, those who have taken an active
interest in raising the fund and trying to bring about the establishment of a
county agricultural school do not hesitate to express their disgust at the
method of procrastination employed by the board. The college proposition has
been before the people of the county all summer; it has been discussed in the
newspaper; the commissioners have had the matter thoroughly explained to them
personally. Over 250 citizens representing every trade and calling and from
every section of the county, signed a petition and contributed of their private
means toward the purchase of the building. With all this agitation of the
subject it is felt that the commissioners were in position to render their
decision - favorable or unfavorable - at the special meeting rather than delay
the matter until this time. The unnecessary delay in rendering a decision, which
was apparent at the special meeting as it is now, is the cause of much
unfavorable comment among those who have worked hard to bring about this very
desirable school.
The matter is not ended by the action of the board of county commissioners. The
law, according to the best legal talent, is mandatory on the matter of accepting
the gift, and action will at once be taken to compel the board to accept the
gift and provide for the maintenance of the school as required by law.
[Rochester Sentinel, Thursday, September 5, 1912]
SHORT NEWS
The bill which would allow the county commissioners to accept the appropriation
to buy the Rochester College for an agricultural school has passed the house and
the senate and is now in the hands of the governor.
[Rochester Sentinel, Monday, March 10, 1913]
TO ACCEPT ROCHESTER COLLEGE
According to the law signed by the governor, the county commissioners will be
compelled to accept the Rochester College as a donation, the building to be used
as an agricultural school. - - - - - - - -
[Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, March 18, 1913]
PUBLIC MEETING AT COURT HOUSE
As a result of the meeting at the Christian Church Sunday afternoon when Rev. T.
H. Adams, secretary of the Christian Woman's National Benevolent association,
explained the need and purpose of a home for aged people in this city, a public
meeting will be held at the court house this evening when ways and means of
raising the necessary money will be considered.
The people at the meeting Sunday afternoon were much enthused over Mr. Adams'
address and all are of the opinion that the proposition will be carried. Mr.
Adams explained that $1,500 will have to be spent to shape the college building
for occupancy and after completed will accommodate 100 aged people and about 150
orphans.
The institution will be of some commercial benefit to the city as all of the
food and clothing needed will be purchased here. The upkeep of the home will be
met by the association which is located in St. Louis and Mr. Adams only asks the
local people to assist in buying the building.
Orphans and destitute people from all over the union will be sent here, but
those from this state and this county will be received first. Mr. Adams believes
that he will have little trouble in closing the deal and will report the results
of the meeting this evening to the organization headquarters in St. Louis.
The Christian Woman's National Benevolent Association has been in existence for
28 years and is well known for its work over the entire country.
[Rochester Sentinel, Monday, February 23, 1914]
COLLEGE BUILDING WILL BE PURCHASED
According to a telegram received this morning by Rev. F. Z. Burkett, the
National Women's Benevolent Association have made arrangements to buy the
college building here and will convert it into a home for orphans and aged
people.
The telegram was sent by the secretary of the association and reports the result
of a meeting held in St. Louis Monday evening. The president of the
organization, Mrs. T. J. Ayres, will be in Rochester Saturday and will speak at
the Christian church Sunday evening. Mrs. Ayres will tell about the purpose of
their work.
[Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, March 3, 1914]
COLLEGE SELLS FOR $5,000
A meeting will be held this afternoon (Monday), when an auxiliary branch of the
Christian Woman's National Benevolent Association will be incorporated for
purpose of taking complete charge of the local home for orphans and aged people.
The trustees will be local men and will hold the deed for the college building.
The home, when completed, will be free to all that are deserving regardless of
nationality and creed.
Definite arrangements were made Sunday night at the Christian church when Mrs.
T. J. Ayres, president of the national organization, delivered an address. She
announced the action of the national trustees, who decided to buy the college
building at a meeting held a week ago last Saturday. The structure which cost
$30,000 to build, will be sold for $5,000. Mr. Adams, secretary of the
organization, stated that they experct to spend $3,500 more to repair the
building and install a new heating plant. Local people will be expected to
contribute at least $3,000 toward the enterprise and it is thought that the
amount will be easily raised. A cash deposit of $1,000 was paid on the building
today, of which $500 was raised by local people and $500 was sent here by the
national organization.
T. H. Adams, national secretary, stated today that he was highly pleased with
the treatment that has been given him by the men who own the college building
and wanted the public to know that they never approached him with idea of
selling the structure. He said that on his visit here last summer, he saw the
building and made the remark to Rev. F. Z. Burkette that he wished his
organization could get hold of it. When told that it was for sale, he then made
up his mind to bring it before the trustees at St. Louis. The organization has
17 homes over the United States.
Mrs. Ayres left today for St. Louis and Mr. Adams left for Cincinnati, but he
expects to come back here to help in the organization.
[Rochester Sentinel, Monday, March 9, 1914]
MANY OFFER TO HELP NEW HOME
Rochester people have taken kindly to the proposition of converting the college
building into a home for orphans and aged people and already many offers to help
furnish the home have been redceived. Mrs. Cathern Capron, well known for her
work in the Baptist church, Monday signified her intention of contributing $100
toward furnishing one room at the new home.
The work of remodeling the building will begin shortly under the supervision of
a local architect and it is hoped that it will be ready for occupancy by the
middle of the summer. The new institution will be known as the Indiana Christian
Women's Home for Orphans and Aged People.
Late Monday afternoon the following men were selected as trustees of the
institution: B. F. Fretz, Daniel Agnew, L. E. Downey and A. J. Loughery of
Edinburg. The officers will have charge of the home. Mrs. F. Z. Burkette
presided; Tamer Baker, vice-president; Mrs. Flora Balzer, second vice-president;
Mrs. Delbert Ewing, secretary; Mrs. Archie Brown, recording secretary; and Mrs.
Thomas Shafer, treasurer. The following were appointed chairmen of the various
committees: Ike Wile, finance; Mrs. A. J. Barrett, admission and nrnrnrnrn [not
readable]; Mrs. Mark Wicks, supplies; Mrs. Sampson Clayton, home furnishings;
Mrs. B. F. Fretz, wardrobe, and Rev. F. Z. Burkette, building repairs.
[Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, March 10, 1914]
FORMER ROCHESTER MAN COLLEGE HEAD
The resignation of Dr. H. E. Thayer, president of the Fairmount college at
Wichita, Kan., according to the Eagle, has resulted in a former Rochester man
becoming head of the institution for a while. He is Arthur J. Hoare, formerly of
Rochester college, well remembered here.
At a meeting of the trustees it was decided to place Dean Hoare in charge during
the remainder of the term. Dean Hoare has been a teacher at the college for the
past nine years and the fullest reliance is placed in him by the trustees.
It was announced that the selection of a successor to Dr. Thayer would not be
made until next autumn, at which time the Congregational Educational society has
promised its assistance in choosing a president.
"I believe that Fairmount college is only beginning its real growth and
that its importance to Wichita as an educational institution will be doubled
soon," said Dr. Thayer, who retires to go on a ranch. "The people of
Wichita have appreciated the college and have responded loyally to our appeals
for funds and I know they will have more reason to appreciate the school and the
work it will do in the future."
It is not unreasonable to suppose that Dean Hoare may become the permanent head
of the college.
[Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, March 17, 1914]
COLLEGE SALE ON THURSDAY
The Indiana Bank and Trust Co., as trustee for the owners of the Rochester
college building, campus and surrounding lots, will offer for sale in parcels at
public outcry, Thursday morning at 10 o'clock, 16 lots of various sizes and the
building, on a 3-1/2 acre campus.
[Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, May 22, 1917]
DR. H. O. SHAFER BUYS OLD COLLEGE CAMPUS AND BLDG.
The Rochester college building, campus and 17 surrounding lots were sold
Thursday morning at public outcry by the Indiana Bank and Trust Co., trustees
for the owners, for a sum reaching a total of $1,132. This campus and building
were sold to Dr. H. O. Shafer for $600 and the highest price brot by one lot was
$110. Dr. Shafer thinks he can possibly sell the building for factory purposes.
If not, he will have it torn down.
[Rochester Sentinel, Thursday, May 24, 1917]
OLD COLLEGE TO BE TORN DOWN
After experiencing many ups and downs for the last number of years the old
college building, which stands at the southeastern edge of the city of
Rochester, is to be torn down, the contract having been let by the owner, Dr. H.
O. Shafer, to George Downs, a local wrecker.
Just what disposition will be made of the bricks and stone, as well as the large
quantity of perfectly preserved, quarter-sawed oak contained in the building has
not been announced by Dr. Shafer, but it is surmised they will be used in the
erection of some building in this city, the plans of which have not been given
out.
The dismanteling of this well known structure will end what for many years
promised to be one of the growing institutions of the city. When first opened as
the Rochester Normal University and later conducted as Rochester College,
students flocked here from far and near but for some reason interest dwindled
until it was a financial impossibility to longer carry on the educational work
and the doors wre closed. Then vandals got in their work and the beautiful
building of other days was a sorry sight with its many windows broken out and
the walls defaced. It was in this condition when Dr. Shafer bought the building
and later offered it to any factory that might care to locate in Rochester. Not
meeting with any response in this direction the owner decided to tear the
building down and save the material.
[Rochester Sentinel, Thursday, November 13, 1919]
ROCHESTER COLLEGE BUILDING IS SOLD
Workmen Saturday morning started to raze the old Rochester College building. The
same was purchased late Thursday afternoon from Dr. Howard Shafer by Charles
Robbins. He purchased the building because of his inability to get brick with
which to build his garage. All brick that he has ordered has been held up
because of the switchmen's strikc and the walkout of the brick makers. The
Rochester college was started and built about thirty years ago by Prof. Oram
Banta, who was associated with Dr. Brown in the founding of Valparaiso
University. The Rochester college, prospered for the first ten years of its
existence but after that it led a rather checkered career and finally about ten
years ago gave up the ghost.
Since that time the building has gradually gone to rack and ruin. Boy vandals
have broken nearly all of the windows and generally damaged the building. Doctor
Howard Shafer, whose father was the leader in founding the college had offered
it to several factory owners, but none seemed interested enough to take it over.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 22, 1920]
CORNER STONE BOX OF NORMAL SCHOOL HELD FALSE TEETH
False teeth! The butt of many a joke have come into their own, at last. A pair
of them were found reposing in state in the corner stone box of the Rochester
Normal College, when workmen broke the seal on the great granite block, in which
the box has reposed since July 9, 1895, on Monday, July 5.
The false teeth are in good condition and enclosed in the box with them is a
slip of paper which announces, "the artificial set of teeth herewith
enclosed, by the kind permission of Mr. Joe Hutton - the builder of this
beautiful structure - was manufactured by Dr. William Oakley Haines, Surgeon
Dentist, of Rochester, Indiana."
The box in which the teeth and other articles were found is made of zinc and is
nine and three-quarter inches long by four and one-quarter inches wide and three
and three-quarter inches deep.
Among other things in the box were several spears of wheat, barley, and rye, all
in a perfect state of preservation.
A copy of the Rochester Sentinel, Rochester Republican, articles of association
of the Rochester Normal School, history of the school to the date of the laying
of the corner stone, thirteenth annual report of the Public schools of
Rochester, list of members of the Masonic orders of this city, and the by laws
of the Masonic lodge.
The old newspapers are in a perfect state of preservation despite their 25 years
of internment. While there are many familiar names in both papers, there are
also the names of many persons who have long since died.
At that time the Sentinel was edited by H. A. Barnhart and the Republican by M.
Bitters and Son.
Old H. C. of L. who strolled into the office about the time we started going
over the paper was heard to chuckle in glee as we turned over pages and came to
the market report.
"Look at it! Look at it!" he cried as he jumped about in glee, and the
cause of merriment was the fact that in the days of the Rochester Normal
College, eggs sold at ten cents per dozen and butter at ten cents per pound.
Bacon and lard were quoted at eight cents per pound and chickens at 7 cents per
pound.
Wheat was selling at 75 cents per bushel and corn had reached a high mark of 45
cents.
After a few more bursts of merriment, Old H. C. of L. left the room still
dreaming on the old days when he was forced to get along with low prices and
before his name became so common that newspapers used it without the formality
of writing out the entire thing - High Cost of Living.
The list of teachers in the Rochester City schools in 1894, which was given in
the report of the public schools for 1894 follows: Emma L. Butler, principal of
the high school, Lida J. Meredith and Annette Keely, assistant principals. The
teachers at the central building were: George R. Fish, Edith H. Bennett, Nelle
Shoup, Lizzie Stanton, Belle Metsler, Mana McGraw and Alwilda Dillon. The
teachers at the south building were Alice Stahl, Alva D. Groby, Hattie D. Gordon
and Mae E. Downey.
The box and its contents will be on display in the Sentinel's office window.
[Rochester Sentinel, Wednesday, July 7, 1920]
STARTS POULTRY BUSINESS
Charles Taylor, who recently moved to this city from Kansas, has leased the site
of the old Rochester College and will go into the chicken raising business on a
large scale. During the past week he has built three large chicken houses with
runs. Mr. Taylor has ordered 2,500 baby chicks. The poultry raiser intends to
market his produce to Lake Manitou summer visitors.
[The News-Sentinel, Monday, March 15, 1926]
240 PEOPLE ATTEND THE 1ST ROCHESTER COLLEGE REUNION
The first Rochester College reunion held at Colonial Hotel grounds, Lake
Manitou, August 11th, 1929, was a decided success in every particular, with an
attendance of about 240. A community dinner was served at 1:30, followed by a
few informal speeches by former instructors and pupils. This was followed by a
business session with Lester Carvey in charge, when it was decided to make this
an annual reunion to be held at Colonial Hotel grounds, Lake Manitou, the next
one to be the second Sunday in August, 1930.
The following officers were elected for next year:
Lester Carvey, Pres., Macy; Flo Delp, Secretary, Rochester; Anna Myers,
Treasurer, Rochester.
Program Committee: Ray E. Myers, Rochester; Don O. Nafe, Kewanna; Mrs. May Hurst
Fowler, Macy.
A collection was taken to defray expenses amounting to about $25.00.
The following is a partial list of instructors and students present:
Miss Olive Gray, Chicago, Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Hall, Lansing, Mich.; Mr and
Mrs. H. S. Denison and two daughters, L'Anse, Mich.; Prof. W. F. Strong, Dixon,
Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Otto Babcock, Waterman, Ill.; Ray C. Faulstich, Oak Park,
Ill.; Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Adamson, Detroit, Mich.; Mrs. Iva Polley Hawkins,
Warren, Ohio; Mr. and Mrs. Chas. G. Maple, Waterman, Ill.; Mrs. Homer F. Wilson,
Aledo, Ill.; Mrs. Charlotte Mackey Palmer, Detroit, Mich.
Akron Ind.
H. L. Rogers, Earl Graham and mother, Mrs. Everett Graham, Mr. and Mrs. S. R.
Wildermuth, Mrs. Irene Helz-Haldeman, Mr. and Mrs.Alonzo Carr, Miss Minnie
Hoffman.
Tiosa, Ind.
Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Mathias, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Osborn and daughter.
Athens, Ind.
Dr. and Mrs. A. E. Stinson, Miss Blanche Swihart.
Logansport, Ind.
Mr. and Mrs. A. E. Conrad.
South Bend, Ind.
Dr. and Mrs. Earl C. Berry, Miss Eva Gohn, Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Knapp, Marjorie
Stinson Koffel and husband, Miss Clara F. Burkett, Miss Clara Moonshower, Harry
Hendrickson.
Macy, Ind.
Mrs. May Hurst-Fowler, Mr. and Mrs. John Savage, Mr. and Mrs. B. J. Hurst and
son, Mr. and Mrs. Dell Calaway, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Sowers, Mr. and Mrs. John
Bookwalter, Mr. and Mrs. Lester S. Carvey.
Mishawaka, Ind.
E. J. Robbins, Mrs. H. L. Stayton, Miss Minnie Cessna, Mr. and Mrs. Fred
Deardorff.
Culver, Ind.
Mrs. Mary Matthew Altman, Dr. and Mrs. C. L. Slonaker, Miss Clara Blanchard, Mr.
and Mrs. Lee Beehler and son, Harry Percher.
Kewanna, Ind.
Mr. and Mrs. Don O. Nafe and two daughters, Omer L. Reichard.
Indianapolis, Ind.
Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Shaffer.
Leiters Ford, Ind.
W. A. Hiatt, Charles Sales, Mrs. Leota Slonaker Young.
Peru, Ind.
Mr. and Mrs. S. F. Dingman, Judge Hurd J. Hurst.
Argos, Ind.
Mr. and Mrs. Fred T. Crabbs.
Plymouth, Ind.
O. H. Lawrence, Estel Ginn.
S. J. Hurst, Mexico.
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. E. Lucas, North Judson
Mr. and Mrs. A. P. Brooker, Monterey; Claude C. Garrison, Donaldson; Mort Smith,
Marion.
Fulton, Ind.
Ray Babcock, Dr. B. R. Kent, Mr. and Mrs. V. L. Barker.
Mr. and Mrs. E. C. Carvey, Converse; Fred Richardson, West Lafayette, Guy
Thayer, LaPaz.
Rochester, Ind.
Ben L. Brandenburg, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Tobey and daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Lon
Carruthers, Mrs. C. P. Coleman, Mr. and Mrs. Loren Emmons, Mr. and Mrs. Dee
Berrier and two daughters, Miss Ruth Pontious, C. J. Keebler, Mr. and Mrs. H. L.
Coplen and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Ellsworth Wagoner, Mr. and Mrs. Levi P. Moore
and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Claude Alspaugh and two daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Frank
E. Smith, Mrs. Otis Emmons, Mr. and Mrs. A. B. Shore and daughter, Mr. and Mrs.
Ray Newell, Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Foor, Miss Grace Foor, Fred Hanson, Roscoe T.
Anderson, Belva T. Miller, Mrs. Farry Porter Tobey, Mr. and Mrs. John Cessna,
Lola Timbers Moore and two daughters, Mr. and Mrs. Ray E. Myers and children,
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Jones and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Err Biddinger, Earl H. Adams,
Mrs. Murrel Ream, Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Tombaugh, G. H. Glen, Mr. and Mrs. Robt.
Shaffer, Mrs. Effie Brackett, Mrs. H. G. Miller, Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Emmons, Elva
Hutchinson, Bertha Musser, Mrs. Wm. Hudkins, Mrs. Emma brown, Mr. and Mrs. Wm.
A. McMahan, Miss Anna Myer and Miss Flo Delp.
[The News-Sentinel, Rochester, Indiana, Monday, August 12, 1929]
THE UNFULFILLED PROMISE OF ROCHESTER NORMAL UNIVERSITY
Considered Comment
Jack K. Overmyer
The story of Rochester Normal University and Rochester College that existed here
from 1895 to 1912 is that of an enterprise nobly begun but meanly ended. Local
citizens proved unwilling to preserve this asset for their future, a fault that
haunts their descendants today for the cost it exacted from the city's progress.
Rochester Normal existed in an imposing Victorian three-story brick and stone
building on four acres of the city's southeast edge. One may find its location
today by driving south on College Avenue from 14th street. Where College ends,
the building and its campus would have faced you, with woods behind. College
Square Apartmens occupy some of the ground now; 18th Street did not exist in
1895.
The story begins with a man whose perception of Rochester's destiny always was
clear, direct and optimistic. Not only did he do much to create the university,
but 10 years later he single-handedly established Woodlawn Hospital. He was Dr.
Winfield Scott Shafer, a visionary of indefatigable optimism and energy.
While others debated the possibility of establishing a normal (teaching)
university in Rochester, Dr. Shafer in 1894 immediately grasped its merit and
took the lead to make it a reality. He purchased the 35-acre Horace Mackey farm,
set aside the four acres for the campus and subdivided the rest into 150 lots,
asking that supporters of the university buy them at $200 each to provide
$30,000 for construction of the college. When the lots finally were sold, Dr.
Shafer in just five months had the building erected, equipped and turned over to
a board of trustees for management.
Private Normal schools such as this were springing up throughout Indiana in the
late 19th century to satisfy an acute need for teachers in the state's district,
or one-room schools. Fulton County had over 100 such schools at the time.
Supplying teachers for these schools, then, was Rochester Normal's original
purpose and it offered a one-year training course to high school graduates.
The university's curriculum, however, also provided studies in arts and
sciences, in commercial business and in performing or teaching of music. Classes
were held 48 weeks a year.
Students with no high school training also were accepted for a course that could
earn a diploma in three rather than four years. As a result, in 1902 the
university was commissioned as Rochester Township High School. That brought it
welcome tax support. Within 10 years from its founding, the university was doing
so well that many felt additional buildings soon would be needed. Enrollment
reached a high of 379 in 1905.
However, public school education in Indiana had begun to change. One-room
schools were being abolished and requirements for teacher training were raised.
That caused a steady decline in the university's Normal enrollment, for its
one-year teaching course could not meet those new requirements.
Evidently, no serious effort was made by administrators or trustees to increase
the length and quality of the teaching curriculum and by 1906 the school had
dropped "Normal" from its name and become Rochester College.
It then refocused its major purpose to educating high school students and within
a few years high school pupils dominated the student body. Then in 1911
Rochester city and township agreed to build a joint high school to be occupied
in 1913, a decision that would remove township tax money from the college. It
was a death blow to Rochester College and at the end of the summer term in 1912,
it closed its doors.
Later in 1912, an effort to resurrect the college for a different purpose met
defeat from a public that apparently had lost confidence in the college's value
to the city and county. It was proposed that a Fulton County Agricultural High
School be established as provided by state law. But $7,000 in local funds were
required to make the school a reality and the last $2,000 of this amount could
not be raised. County Commissioners later refused to accept the building as a
gift for that purpose, furthering dampening the drive for the needed funds.
Criticism a century later is easy, of couse, yet it's still curious that the
college no longer had the wide community support it once enjoyed. Similar normal
colleges that began at the same time were able to hang on and now are thriving
four-year institutions, such as Valparaiso University and Angola's Tri-State.
Nobody here was willing to reprise the leadership of Dr. Shafer, who by then was
deeply involved in operation of his hospital.
During the peak of its existence, Rochester Normal and College graduating
classes numbered 45 to 52 members and in 16 years 422 students received
diplomas.
RNU students mostly were from Fulton County, but other counties and even other
states were represented in the student body. They were an active community force
outside the classroom, with basketball, track and tennis teams, an orchestra and
glee club, two literary societies and recitals by musical students. Like all
college students, they could display some high jinks, too, such as the time a
milk cow was taken to the third floor and left as a Halloween prank.
The institution maintained enthusiastic relations with the Rochester community
through the University Association, whose 50 local members met monthly for
discussions of history, literature and current events led by university faculty.
Students developed a strong affection for the school that continued long after
it closed. The Rochester College Alumni Association, a vigorous and loyal group,
met regularly until 1974 when decreased numbers brought it to an end.
The abandoned college building stood for eight years, desolate and repeatedly
defaced by vandals, until it was sold in 1920 to Charlie Robbins, who used its
bricks to build his auto garage on Main Street. The garage four years later
became the Char-Bell movie theatre, now the Times.
Robbins bought the building from Dr. Howard Shafer, son of the college founder
and his successor as owner of Woodlawn Hospital. Howard Shafer bought it at
auction in 1917, likely feeling a debt to his father who had died in 1916 to
preserve the structure for some use. He was unable to find a buyer.
Today the college is remembered only at the southwest corner of the Courthouse
Square with a historical marker. Under it is the college building's cornerstone
that contains a line, nearly erased by time, which read: "Projected by W.
S. Shafer, M.D." The testimonial deserves to be recorded again, for it was
he who made it happen. Others let it fail.
[Rochester Sentinjel, Tuesday, October 24, 2000]
ROCHESTER COLLEGE BAND [Rochester, Indiana]
See: Rannells, William W.
ROCHESTER GRADED SCHOOL [Rochester, Indiana]
See: Hutton, J. T.
__________
Rochester Graded School. Will commence at the Odd Fellows Hall in Rochester
on the Second Monday of April, 1860. . . L. D. Willard, Principal; Mattie V.
Ernsperger, Assistant; Prof. Wm. Montgomery, Music Teacher.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 31, 1860]
Rochester Graded School. A graded School is expected to be opened in
Rochester, September 16th, 1867. It will be under the charge of Mr. J. M.
McAfee, as principal. . .
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, September 5, 1867]
Rochester Graded School. Mr. James M. McAfee (again commencing) Rochester
Graded School in the Rochester School building, commencing on Monday, March 23d.
. . Rochester, Ind., Feb. 17th, 1868.
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, February 20, 1868]
Spring Term of the Rochester Graded School will begin April 5th, 1869 . . . Miss
Angie Moore, will take charge of the Intermediate and Mr. S. R. Moon, of the
Primary . . . W. H. Banta, Principal.
[Rochester Standard, Thursday, March 18, 1869]
Rochester Graded School. The Spring Term. . . begin April 5th, 1869, and
continue eleven weeks. . . Miss Angie Moore will take charge of the
Intermediate, and Mrs. S. R. Moon of the Primary . . . W. H. Banta, Principal.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, March 11, 1869]
School Report . . . of the Primary Department of the Rochester School for the
month beginning Jan. 27th and ending Feb. 23rd. . . . W. H. Banta, Teacher.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, March 18, 1869]
School Meeting. . . at the School House (in Rochester) . . . plan for
furnishing additional school room. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, May 27, 1869]
School Notice. The Fall Term of the Rochester Graded School will being August
30, 1869, and continue eleven weeks . . Intermediate, Miss Angie Moore.
Intermediate, Mr. S. R. Moon. Primary, Miss Sallie Banta . . . W. H. Banta,
Principal.
[Rochester Standard, Thursday, August 12, 1869]
Select School. The fifth term of the Select School taught in the Mammoth
Building will commence August 30th and continue eleven weeks. . . J. E. Hilton,
Teacher.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, August 13, 1869]
Report of the Enrollment and Attendance at the Rochester Public School . . .
. W. H. Banta, Principal.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, February 18, 1870]
The Rochester School. The spring term of the Rochester Graded School will
begin Monday, April 18th, 1870, and continue eleven weeks. Prof. C. T. Wood of
Crown Point takes charge . . .
--- Miss J. E. Hilton will reopen school in one of the unoccupied rooms of the
Public School Building, April 11th, 1870, and continue eleven weeks. . .
--- Prof. C. T. Wood is to be the successor of Prof. Banta as Principal of the
Rochester School. He has been teaching at Crown Point for several years. . .
Prof. Banta has accepted the chair of Natural Science in the Valparaiso M. &
F. College. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, March 25, 1870]
Mr. W. H. Banta leaves us this week. He has accepted a position as Teacher in
the Valparaiso College. . .
[Rochester Standard, Thursday, March 31, 1870]
Rochester Graded School. . . arrangements with Prof. C. T. Wood, for a fall
term . . . in the public school building, to commence August 29th, 1870. . . I.
Walker, W. Sturgeon, N. L. Lord, Trustees. July 7th, 1870.
[Rochester City Times, Thursday, July 7, 1870]
Rochester Graded School. The undersigned School Board have made arrangements
with Prof. C. T. Wood for a Fall Term of school, in the Public School building,
to commence August 22d, 1870. . . I. Walker, W. Sturgeon, N. L. Lord, Trustees.
Rochester, Ind., July 7, 1870.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, July 15, 1870]
Miss Lizzie Green has charge of the Primary Department of the Rochester
Graded School under the management of Prof. Wood. Miss Green is spoken of as a
competent teacher. With Mr. Moon as Assistant the Rochester High School will
prove a success.
[Rochester City Times, Thursday, August 27, 1870]
The Rochester Graded School. The fall term . . . closed Friday, Nov. 4th. The
school for the past six months has been under the supervision of Prof. C. T.
Wood. . . examinations (by Prof. Wood and Mr. Craven) . . . A number of the
students have already secured schools for the winter. Among this number are
George W. Meredith, Geo. Wallace, B. F. Mechling, Frank Ausman, Bruce Surguy,
Miss Lucy Smith and Mr.Townsend.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, November 11, 1870]
The Rochester Graded School, Spring Term, will commence April 17th and close
June 30th. . . Miss Lizzie Green, Primary; S. R. Moon, Intermediate; Lafe Bryan,
Prin. R.G.S., Rochester, Ind.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, April 8, 1871]
Rochester Schools, Monthly Report for the month ending June 9, 1871.
Number of pupils enrolled, 116; average belonging, 107; percent of attendance on
average belonging, 94.3; number of pupils not absent during the month, 68; not
tardy 60; neither tardy nor absent 53. The regular monthly examination was
conducted in writing. J. P. Nellans attained an average of 94 percent, on the
common school branches, the highest given.
Respectfully submitted, Lafe Bryan.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 17, 1871]
Friday, of last week, being the last day of Sidney Moon's school, the closing
exercises were enlivened by a merry picnic near the lake . . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, July 15, 1871]
Rochester Graded Schools. The Fall term will begin August 28th and continue
twelve weeks. . . L. Bryan, Rochester, Ind.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, August 26, 1871]
Public School. The Rochester Graded School will commence its Winter Term on
the first Monday in December . . . Principal, L. M. Bryan; Grammar School
Department, Mr. C. P. Hinman and Miss S. E. Green; Intermediate, Miss Lena
Taylor and Ella Barb; Primary, Miss Clara Walker and Miss A. Bacon.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, November 17, 1871]
Report of the Rochester Public School for the ;month ending Feb 2d, 1872: . .
. .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, February 9, 1872]
Rochester Public Graded School . . . Spring Term will open April 8, 1872
[courses and fees set forth] L. M. Bryan, Superintendent, V. Gould, J. Dawson,
Enoch Sturgeon, Trustees.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, March 15, 1872]
Rochester Public School. . . opening exercises. . . Prayer by Rev. W.
Pattinson. . . Mr. Enoch Sturgeon briefly addressed the children . . . Mr.
Bryan, Misses Hilton, Barb, Taylor, Walker and Bacon, constitute the corps of
teachers.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, April 11, 1872]
Report of the Rochester Public School [statistics set forth] Lafe Bryan,
Supt.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, April 18, 1872]
Rochester Public Graded School will open September 2, 1872 . . . Common
School Course $3.00 to $6.00, High School Course $8.00. L. M. Bryan,
Superintendent. V. Gould, J. Dawson, Enoch Sturgeon, Trustees. Rochester, Ind.
Aug. 15, 1872
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, August 15, 1872]
Over 300 pupils are now attending the Rochester Public Graded School, this
number embracing many from the country, who are here to take advantage of the
admirable educational facilities now offered in our city. . . The school is free
to all children who reside within the bounds of the corporation. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, September 12, 1872]
Our Public School commenced one week ago Monday, with Mr. Sickman as
Principal and Miss Whittenberger as Assistant. Both have taught in the district
before, earning reputations that have secured like positions subsequently.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, November 28, 1872]
Night School. We learn that Prof. Bryan proposes . . . to open a night school
for . . clerks and mechanics. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, January 2, 1873]
School Reports [of Rochester Public School showing 472 enrolled, L. Bryan,
Supt., and Akron Public School, showing 71 enrolled, E. H. Sickman, Alice
Whittenberger, Teachers.]
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, February 13, 1873]
Rochester Public School Report for the second term of the year, including the
months of December, January and February, 1873: [shows 405 enrolled] . . . L.
Bryan, Supt.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, March 13, 1873]
School Difficulties. Attempt to Oust the Principal of the Rochester Public
Graded School. . . . [very lengthy report of hearing before the School Examiner,
in which Mr. Lafayette Bryan, Principal, was charged with incompetency and
neglect of duty, the origin of the difficulty having been in the Sixth grade,
presided over by Miss Jennie Hilton . . . names mentioned: Dr. Gould, Mr.
Dawson, Enoch Sturgeon, Esq. Rees, Mr. Cowgill, J. S. Slick, Dr. Rowden.]
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, April 3, 1873]
At the statutory meeting of the Board of Corporation Trustees for the purpose
of choosing three School Trustees, held on Thursday night last, Messrs. J.
Dawson, Dr. Angus Brown and Isaiah Walker were elected . . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, April 10, 1873]
William W. Williams. . . of Granville, O., has been employed as Principal of the Rochester Public Graded School for the ensuing year. He taught two years in Winamac, Ind. . [Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, July 17, 1873]
The following teachers have been selected by the Trustees for the Rochester
Public School for the ensuing year, which opens September 1st, 1873: Principal,
Mr. Wm. J. Williams; Sixth Grade, Mr. W. H. Sickman; Fifth, Miss S. E. Green;
Fourth, Mr. Ed. Horton; Third, Miss Maggie Kelly; Second, Mrs. E. M. Pond;
First, Miss Alice Barb. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, July 31, 1873]
Prof. Bryan and lady left Rochester last week, carrying with them the good
wishes of many friends. Their present destination is Grand Island, Neb., where
the wife's parents reside.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, August 7, 1873]
The total number of children of school age in Rochester, last year, was 635.
Attended school, males, 249, females, 271; total, 520; but of this number thirty
were foreign pupils. . The number, 145, who remained out of school may be easily
accounted for as young mechanics, clerks, laborers and loafers, young ladies
between the ages of 16 and 21, who seldom if ever attend minor schools, working
girls, domestics, and those who expect to get married soon.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, August 21, 1873]
Notice is hereby given that the Rochester Public Graded School will open
September 1st [tuition listed]. . . Wm. J. Williams, Supt. N. L. Lord, A. Brown,
J. Dawson, Trustees.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, August 30, 1873]
The Rochester Public Graded School opened last Monday with an enrollment of
four hundred pupils. . .
--- The young men of Rochester are requested to meet at the School building on
to-morrow, Friday evening, for the purpose of forming a Literary Society.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, September 4, 1873]
Prof. Williams is organizing a German class at the public school building.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, September 18, 1873]
Teachers' Institute. . . will be Monday, November 24, 1873, at the Rochester
Graded School Building and continue in session five days, closing with an
examination of teachers on Saturday, Nov. 29th. [names mentioned]: Prof. D. E.
Williams, of Granville, Ohio, Prof. W. J. Williams, principal of the Rochester
Graded Schools, W. D. Sickman, E. L. Yarlot, Principal of the Kewanna Graded
School, F. M. Elliott, E. R. Herman.
--- On the evening of the 6th. . . ladies and gentlemen met at the school house.
. . being the close of N. G. Hunter's writing school. . . Most improvement, Miss
Hattie Reiter and John L. Henry. Best writing, Frank Montgomery.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, November 13, 1873]
Prof. Williams, of the Rochester Graded School, has recenty been ordained
minister, and will preach his first sermon at the M.E. Church tomorrow evening.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 20, 1873]
The exercises of the Excelsior Literary Society, in connection with the
Rochester graded schools, on last Tuesday evening, were very interesting and
creditable . . . The following is the list of officers: President, Ed. Chinn;
Vice-President, O. D. Ross; Secretary, Millie Rannels; Critic, Ben. Gilman;
Editor and Editress paper, Chess Chinn and Lida Samuels; Marshal, F. Gould.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, January 8, 1874]
W. H. Banta, formerly Principal of our Graded School, is Superintendent of a
Sabbath School at Valparaiso.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, January 31, 1874]
Miss May Copeland done the alto beautifully at the Graded School exercises,
last Friday. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, March 5, 1874]
Close of Winter term of School. . . Supt. Williams . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, March 12, 1874]
The following named persons have made application as teachers in the
Rochester public school for the ensuing year: Misses Williams, Brown, Neal,
Long, Stradley, Brackett, Sterner and Olney.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, May 28, 1874]
The following persons have been employed for the coming year in the Rochester
Graded Schools: W. J. Williams, W. H. Sickman, Miss Williams, Miss Neal, Miss
Kelly, Miss Barb. Three teachers are yet to be employed.
--- Miss S. E. Green, who has for the past four years been one of the faithful
and efficient teachers in the Rochester Graded School, has concluded not to
accept the position for another year. . . She goes this week to her home, near
Fulton, for a short season of rest, after which her occupation may be resumed in
some other quarter. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, June 11, 1874]
The corporation School Trustees have engaged the following persons as
teachers of the Graded School for the present year: Principal, Prof. Williams;
teacher of the first grade, Miss Alice Barb; third grade, Miss Maggie Kelly;
fourth grade, Miss Neil; fifth grade, Miss Williams; Sixth grade, Mr. W. H.
Sickman. No choice has yet been made of a teacher for the second grade.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 13, 1874]
Rochester Public Graded School.. . will open August 31st, and continue in
session thirty-six weeks. . . With two additional rooms supplied with teachers
of experience, the school will be less crowded. . . Wm. J. Williams, Principal.
A. Brown, N. L. Lord, J. Dawson, Trustees.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, August 6, 1874]
Rochester Public Graded School will open August 31st, and continue in session
thirty-six weeks . . . Board is much cheaper here than in larger cities, with
the advantage of your children being near home . . . Wm. J. Williams, Principal.
Trustees - A. Brown, N. L. Lord, J. Dawson.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, August 8, 1874]
Mrs. Louisa Jones, of near Mexico, formerly a teacher in the Rochester Graded
School, who has been for several years one of our esteemed friends, attended the
granger picnic last Thursday. Mrs. Jones, nee Miss Zimmerman, is a lady of
culture and refinement, enjoying quite a reputation as a painter of portraits,
having been employed as an instructor of the same in one of the best academies
in the country.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, August 27, 1874]
The fall and winter terms of our city schools will open on Monday morning
with a full corps of teachers. The new and handsome school house in the
southeast part of town is fully completed and ready for occupancy. Miss Emma
Sterner and Miss Lu. Long will take charge of the schools in that building. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, August 29, 1874]
Rochester Graded Schools, opening exercises, speeches, &c. Last Monday .
. . The following are the grades and teachers: First, Miss Alice Barb, Second,
Miss Mary Brown, Third, Miss Maggie Kelly, Fourth, Miss Neal, Fifth, Miss Bell
Williams, Sixth, Mr. W. H. Sickman, High School, Prof. W. J. Williams.
At the new school building in the southeast part of town, First, Miss Louella
Long, Second, Miss Emma Sterner.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, September 3, 1874]
Non-Resident Students. We are under obligations to C. K. Bitters for the
following names of students attending the High School Department of the
Rochester Graded Schools, who are not citizens of Rochester: ROCHESTER TOWNSHIP
- Frank Beery, A. L. Thurston, F. D. Haimbaugh, C. W. Montgomery, O. F.
Montgomery, J. O Stevens, Wm. McMahan, Edwin Mercer, Henry Ward, Bailey
Brackett, Miss Belle McQuern, Dallas Edwards, Sidney Shelton. HENRY TOWNSHIP -
C. K. Bitters, C. L. Whittenberger, John Dickerhoff, Losson Noyer, F. O. Strong,
Frank Hoffman, John Rough. RICHLAND TOWNSHIP - E. C. Martindale. AUBBEENAUBBEE
TOWNSHIP - Henry Myers. NEWCASTLE TOWNSHIP - J. W. Colvin, Albert Kessler, W. C.
Barkman. UNION TOWNSHIP - Wm. Pugh, Albert Pugh, Miss Angie Showley. BOURBON,
MARSHALL COUNTY, IND. - J. A. Sickman, John Cooper, Marquis Stonehill, Edwin
Wood, Carl Cooper. CANTON, OHIO - F. L. Wagoner. OSCEOLA, IOWA - J. Q. Henry,
Miss Laura Henry.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, September 10, 1874]
An organ has been purchased for the use of the Rochester Graded School. About
one-half of the funds for its purchase was secured by subscription, the balance
to be paid by the Trustees.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, September 19, 1874]
Miss Belle Mahala Williams will conduct a class exercise in fifth reader at
the Teachers' Institute, next Monday morning. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, November 19, 1874]
Miss Maggie F. Neal, teacher of the fourth grade in the public school, lost
her watch a couple of weeks ago, lbut found it shortly afterwards in the
possession of two little boyd.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, November 26, 1874]
Rochester Public Graded School . . . winter term . . . began Monday morning
of last week with an enrollment of nearly four hundred scholars . . . Prof. W.
J. Williams, Mr. W. H. Sickman, 1st assistant, Misses Williams, Neal, Kelly,
Brown and Barb, occupying posisitons as 2d, 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th assistants
respectively . . . the south school taught by Misses Sterner and Long. . .
December 15, 1874.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, December 18, 1874]
Miss Maggie F. Neal, teacher of the fourth grade in the public school, lenjoyed
the holidays at Lincoln, Miami county.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, January 8, 1875]
Miss Alice Barb has sufficiently recovered from her recent illness to attend
to her duties in the public schools.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, January 29, 1875]
W. J. Williams and Miss Belle Williams will to-day leave for Granville, Ohio;
also J. Q. Henry for Osceola, Iowa, land F. L. Wagner for Stark county, Ohio.
[Kewanna items, Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, June 11, 1875]
The teachers employed by the school board for the next term, commencing
August 30th, are as follows: W. J. Williams, Principal; W. H. Sickman, assistant
teacher high school; Miss Belle Williams, teacher 5th grade; J. Q. Henry, 4th
grade; 3d and 2d grades not supplied; Miss Alice Barb, 1st grade. At the new
school building: Miss Louella Long and Miss Emma Sterner.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, June 11, 1875]
W. H. Sickman, a high school professor of this place, left for Bourbon last
Thursday.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, June 18, 1875]
The second and third grades in the Rochester public schools have now been
supplied, the former by Miss Josie Sturgeon, and the latter by Miss Josie
Davidson.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, July 2, 1875]
Rochester Public Graded School, opens August 30, 1875, for a Term of
Thirty-Six weeks . . . W. J. Williams, Principal. N. L. Lord, A. Brown, J.
Dawson, Trustees.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, August 20, 1875]
Miss Libbie Williams of Granville, Ohio, a sister of Miss Belle Williams, of
this place, will occupy the latter's position in the public schools here next
term.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, December 3, 1875]
I was present with Mr. Jonas Myers at a union of the pupils of the Rochester
Graded School, except those attending the South Ward School. . . I saw many of
the pupils in attendance at school who have been teaching in the country during
the past winter and many just entering a graded school for the first time. I
herewith give the names of a few whom I noted particularly: J. O. Stevens, Frank
Haimbaugh, Fitch Montgomery, Mr.Birch, C. S. Knott, E. Mercer, David Knott,
Willie Loomis, John Davidson, Mr. Smith, Miss Ambrose, H. C. Martindale and
others . . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 18, 1876]
Miss Williams' department of the graded school will give a very interesting
entertainment at the Court House to-night.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 3, 1876]
The fall term of the Rochester Graded School closed yesterday. A public
exhibition was given at the Centennial Hall last night by the pupils of the
school. A vacation of two weeks will take place before the opening of the winter
term.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 18, 1876]
High School Exhibition. The principal of the Rochester Graded Schools, Prof.
Williams, and the teacher of the High School department, Mr. W. H. Sickman,
assisted by a number of the pupils, gave a very pleasant and successful
entertainment at the court house last Friday night. The court room was literally
jammed. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, June 8, 1876]
Miss Libbie and Belle Williams returned from their home at Granville, Ohio,
last Monday. Libbie will take charge of the second grade in the Rochester
schools, and Miss Belle will teach in Kewanna.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, August 25, 1876]
Miss Mary Brown, teacher of 3d grade, Rochester public school, handed us the
following names of young misses who are the best spellers in her room: Vina
Blanchard, Carrie Scholder, Lucinda Tribbett, Tessie Clifford, Edie Copeland.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, November 3, 1876]
Miss Mollie Brown, one of the teachers in the Rochester graded schools, went
to LaPorte, Saturday, to visit her uncle, Rev. Hugh H. Brown, a brother to Dr.
Brown, of this place. . .
[Rochester, Union-Spy, Friday, February 9, 1877]
Jonathan Dawson, one of the school trustees for Rochester, has furnished us
the following. . . engaged to teach. . . for the year commencing September 3d:
Principal, W. J. Williams. 6th Grade, W. H. Sickman. 5th, Miss Phebe Thompson.
4th, Miss Alice Barb. 3d, Miss Clara Sturgeon. 2d, Miss Josie Sturgeon. 1st,
Miss Ollie Davis.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, July 14, 1877]
The Rochester Graded School opens August 27, 1877, for a term of thirty-six
weeks. . . . . Prof. W. J. Williams as Principal, and W. H. Sickman for the
sixth grade, and competent teachers for all the grades. . . Enoch Sturgeon, N.
L. Lord, J. Dawson, Trustees.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, August 11, 1877]
B. F. Dawson has quit the Rochester High School and gone to attend college at
Ann Arbor, Michigan. . . .
[Rochester, Union-Spy, Friday, October 5, 1877]
Misses Retta and Metta Elliott were agreeably surprised last Friday evening
by a large number of their school mates of the fifth grade and their teacher,
Miss Thompson. . .
[Rochester, Union-Spy, Friday, December 14, 1877]
The average attendance at the Rochester public schools has increased 114
during the past four years. The present number enrolled is 450. This when
compared with the whole number enumerated, which is about 650, indicates that
here, as in other towns of the size of Rochester, many children are upon our
streets who ought to be in school. . .
[Rochester Independent, Saturday, December 15, 1877]
Prof. Williams, of the Rochester schools, received a telegram early this week
announcing the severe illness of his father at Granville, Ohio.
[Rochester, Sentinel, Saturday, March 9, 1878]
The first annual commencement of the Rochester high school took place at
Opera Hall, last Friday evening. . . The quartettes by Misses Minnie Brackett,
Carrie Shryock, and Messrs. T. M. Bitters and Geo. Edwards were well rendered
and loudly applauded. The duette by Mrs. J. C. Spohn and Miss Dora Robbins, was
grand and showed high musical culture. . . Misses Mary Mercer and Laura
Copeland's duette, was heartily cheered. . .
We mention the name of each member of the class . . .
Edwin Colfax Mercer, who is a young gentleman of about 16 years of age, was born
and raised in Fulton county. . . Ed. is the youngest of the class. . .
John Conant Keith was unavoidably absent. . . He is about 16 years of age, and
is also a native of Fulton county. . . He is the son of Judge Keith. . .
Hugh Brown has lived here some ten years, is 19 years old. . .
John Brown Davidson is the son of the late Hon. Stephen Davidson, is 20 years
old and lives about two miles east of Rochester . . .
Orbra F. Montgomery was born about 20 yeas ago on the sand hill overlooking the
city, and where he yet lives. He is the superintendent of the Baptist Sunday
school. . . He has, until within a few years past, worked hard for his parents
on the farm. . .
Frank D. Haimbaugh. . . is from the country and is about 22 years of age. . .
[Rochester Independent, Wednesday, June 5, 1878]
Mr. Editor: We, the members of the class of 1878 desire to express through
your columns our thanks to Mrs. J. C. Spohn, Misses Dora Robbins, Minnie
Brackett, May Mercer, Annie Jackson, Laurie Copeland and Carrie Shryock, and
Messrs. M. Bitters and Geo. Edwards, for the most excellent music furnished for
our commencement. . . the kindness of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Holman in furnishing at
their residence, refreshments for the members of the graduating class and their
ladies, at the conclusion of the exercises. -E. C. Mercer, O. F. Montgomery, J.
B. Davidson, F. D. Haimbaugh, Hugh Brown.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, June 7, 1878]
The first "Commencement Exercises" of any importance ever given
before a Rochester audience was witnessed by nearly four hundred people at the
Opera Hall on Friday night of last week. . .
[names mentioned]: Rev. F. M. Rule, Misses Minnie Brackett, Carrie Shryock and
Messrs. Edwards and Biters, Colfax Mercer, John Brown Davidson, Mary Mercer,
Laurie Copeland, O. F. Montgomery, John Conant Keith, Prof. Williams, Geo.
Edwards, Frank D. Haimbaugh, Hugh Brown, Mrs. J. C. Spohn, Dora Robbins, Rev. A.
B. Charpie. . .
In presenting the first diplomas to graduates of the Rochester High School,
Prof. Williams made a brief but appropriate speech. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 8, 1878]
Prof. W. J. Williams, superintendent of the Rochester Graded Schools, and W.
H. Sickman, Esq., principal of the High School, have been employed for another
year . . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, June 14, 1878]
Prof. W. J. Williams and Miss Rosa Brackett will be united in marriage this
evening at the residence of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. E. Cowgill.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, June 21, 1878]
The fall term of the Rochester Graded Schools will open next Monday. . . W.
J. Williams, superintendent; W. H. Sickman, principal of High School; Miss Phebe
Thompson, teacher of 5th grade; Miss Alice Barb, 4th grade; Miss Clara Sturgeon,
3d grade; Miss Lou Killen, 2d grade; Miss Ollie Davis, 1st grade. In the school
building in South part of town, Miss Maggie Miller, 2d grade; Miss Lida Stradley,
1st grade. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, August 30, 1878]
Prof. Williams is wrestling with a stubborn case of billious fever. Young
Hugh Brown is trying to fill his educational shoes at the school house, and is
making a respectable effort.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, September 7, 1878]
School opened on Monday with an attendance of 450. Some forty students are
from the country.
[Rochester Republican, Saturday, September 7, 1878]
Prof. Williams, the principal of the Rochester Graded schools, can read and
speak five languages. He is the son of Welsh parents.
[Rochester Union Spy, Friday, March 15, 1878]
Prof. F. M. Grover has been conducting a grammar school at the school
building during the past two weeks.
[Rochester Union Spy, Friday, April 5, 1878]
During the holiday vacation of Rochester Graded Schools several of the
teachers took occasion to visit friends at a distance. Miss Clara Sturgeon spent
a few days with relatives and friends at Pierceton; W. H. Sickman called on his
venerable parents at Bourbon; Miss Thompson was off on a flying visit. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, January 10, 1879]
At a meeting of the Board of school trustees of Rochester, held this week, a
selection of teachers for the ensuing year was made. With one exception, all the
teachers employed last year were chosen, the exception being W. H. Sickman, next
in rank to the Principal. Mr. Sickman has well and faithfully served in our
schools for several years. . . As an instructor he is acknowledged to have but
few superiors and had he devoted his entire attention to that branch of busines
he would doubtless have been retained, but being of a speculation turn of mind
he was ever wont to turn an honest penny in speculation not connected with
school matters. He did this to such an extent that he incurred the displeasure
of some of the patrons of the school and perhaps their jealousies at his success
. . . his conduct and character is beyond reproach. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 21, 1879]
W. H. Sickman has purchased a half interest in a hardware store at Warsaw and
is going to settle down to business in that line of trade.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, July 12, 1879]
The Rochester Public Schools. . . teachers. . . Prof. Williams, principal;
High School, J. H. Cammack; Fifth grade, Miss Phebe Thompson; Fourth grade,
Alice Barb; Third grade, Clara Sturgeon; Second grade, North Buyilding, Lon
Killen; Second grade, South Building, Maggie Miller; First grade, North
Building, Ollie Davis; First grade, South Building, Linda Stradley. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, August 15, 1879]
Prof. I. H. Cammack is on hand ready to take charge of the high school
department of Rochester. He has taken quarters with Mrs. Shields, in the
southeast portion of town.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, August 30, 1879]
Mr. C. Hoover is the father of a youthful lad who has been placed in the
public school under the tutorship of Miss Clara Sturegon. . . his teacher became
impressed that for some childish violation of the rules of the school, he was
deserving of a little chastisement, which she proceeded to administer . . . he
was turned over to Prof. W. J. Williams. . . at his hands he received another
flagellation, which, according to reports and the marks upon the boy's person,
was brutal in the extreme. Eight days after the punishment is said to have been
inflicted, the boy's body showed markes of severe punishment. . . the father. .
. entered suit against the Prof. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, October 11, 1879]
Lafe M. Bryan, formerly principal of the Rochester schools, but now a
resident of Grand Island, Neb., is here with his wife visiting their friends and
acquaintances of the town and county. Mr. Bryan is engaged in the news, book and
stationery trade at his western home and is well pleased with his location and
trade.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, October 18, 1879]
ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL [Rochester, Indiana]
Located NW corner 7th and Pontiac.
See: Rochester Joint High School; Rochester High School Band; Rochester High
School Basketball
__________
[photo] First School House
[Manitou Ripples, 1914, p. 28]
[photo] Central Building
[Manitou Ripples, 1914, p. 28]
[photo] New Joint High School
[Manitou Ripples, 1914, p. 29]
[photo] Gym in Joint High School
[Manitou Ripples, 1914, pp 47 and 49]
[photo] RHS Camera Club in Nov. 1925. Front row: Jim Atkinson, Harold
Darnell, Richard Crowder, John Shafer. Row 2: Frances Curtis, Mae Pierce, Helen
Vawter (head down), Agnes O'Blenis, Donnabell Coakley. Back row: Louise Holman,
Nila Ambler, Marjorie Downs, Martha Jill Sheets, Esther Thrush. (Photo: Frances
Curtis Bond)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 72, p. 107]
[photo] RHS girls basketball team 1926. Front row, from left: Nilah Norris,
Ollivene Kumler, Audrey Lowe, Rebabelle McMahan, Nina Piper. Row 2: Elizabeth
Norris, Isabel Haimbaugh, Lola Bick, Mae Pierce, Frances Curtis, and coach Mary
Fugate. The girls would play curtain raisers for the boys' team games, even
traveling to play in the out-of-town games. (Photo donated to FCHS by Mary
Fugate Hardin in 1974)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 72, p. 110]
[photo] Rochester Joint High School, later the Middle School, and finally the
Community Center, soon to be razed. (Photo: The Sentinel)
[FCHS Newsletter, March 11, 1992, p. 7]
PEDAGOGUES AND PUPILS
By William H. Banta
In 1867 James McAfee was principal at Rochester Schools; William H. Banta -
first assistant. School Board: Rev. N. L. Lord, William Sturgeon, Jonathan
Dawson. This was a subscription school to last nine months. Enrollment: 300
pupils. Banta had 60 boys and girls in his room and taught them grammar
geography, arithmetic, reading, writing and spelling.
In 1868 Banta became principal of Rochester Schools, in charge of the high
school department. "I transferred a large number of those who had been with
me the last year, and hence had more students than the seats would accommodate.
We brought in chairs, benches, tables, and filled every available foot of floor
space. I also remember that one P. O. Jones, now a lawyer at Plymouth, occupied
my chair at my desk. The fact is I had no time to use the chair and felt that it
ought to be occupied. The crowded condition made the work very difficult, and
although the order was not as good as I have seen, it did very well, and the
students made good progress."
Other teachers 1867-70: Christopher Fitzgerald, Angie Moore, Sydney Moon, Mollie
Ewing, Emma Ford, Sallie J. Banta, George Tipton and others.
Banta introduced written examinations and extensive written work in preparation
of lessons in Rochester. Banta took private lessons in Latin and geometry from
Rev. Lord and German lessons from Mr. Richter. The great amount of writing
required by him kept the boys and girls so busy that they had little time for
anything else and most of the usual school mischief was eliminated. He called a
"deportment roll" but while some of the responses were honest, the
desire for a good report often overcame conscientious scruples. They made great
use of the blackboards in mathematics. Map drawing was taught in geography
according to the system introduced into Indiana by a Mr. Apgar of New Jersey.
This means of learning geography, while it may have been a step in advance of
the old "singing method", was later carried to such an extreme as
greatly to mar its usefulness. In history those getting highest grades were
those having the best ability to memorize the text. The same could be said of
the work in rhetoric. The lessons in spelling were both written and oral. Most
of the analysis and parsing were written and the books carefully criticixed.
Banta worried that perhaps too much time was devoted to arithmetic and algebra,
but affirmed that other branches were not neglected.
On Friday afternoons they had "Rhetoric Exercises." Many of the
students were good declaimers and their compositions showed real literary
talent.
Referring to the schools of 1867-70 Banta concluded, "Now it can be seen
that our school was not disturbed by any of the fads and fancies of many of the
schools of today, nor was it taught according to the best pedagogical methods,
and hence the scholarship may not have been as broad as that gained in present
day schools, but if the chief business of schools is to 'make men and women,'
then the schools of 1867-70 will not suffer by any comparison with Rochester
schools from that day to this." (1910)
[Excerpts from Marguerite Miller, Home Folks, Vol. II]
THE NEW BUILDING
By Raymond C. Johnson
Principal of Rochester High School
In the calendar issued by the class of '12 was the picture of a common. In this
annual there appears a picture of the same common, but upon it a magnificent new
high school building. The first picture was labeled "Our Hopes." The
latter might well be called "Realization."
For several years the school board has tried to perfect some plan for building a
new high school. About a year ago the township signified a willingness to join
with the city in the erection of a building. After considerable time had been
spent in viewing school plants of other cities and in examining plans, Mr. Chas.
E. Bacon, of Indianapolis (a former Rochester boy) was chosen as architect.
After his plans were perfected bids were submitted and Mr. Stephen Parcel, the
local builder, was awarded the contract. The building was begun about the first
of July, 1912, and will be ready for occupancy September 1st, 1913.
The plans for the building and the building itself have elicited much favorable
comment. Upon its completion Rochester will be as well equipped for school
purposes as any city its size in the state.
The new building has two stories and a basement. The basement is about two and a
half feet below the grade line and is so well lighted that it answers for school
purposes practically as well as either of the other floors. In it are rooms for
domestic science and manual training, a boiler room, the plenum chamber and
toilet rooms for both sexes. The school boards recognized that the physical as
well as the intellectual side of the child should receive training; the
excellent gymnasium found in the basement is the result. This is equipped with
locker rooms, shower baths, and a balcony that will seat about two hundred fifty
spectators.
This first floor has six large class rooms, a large assembly room, two locker
rooms, two toilet rooms and offices for the superintendent and principal. The
assembly is large enough to seat three hundred pupils in single desks; in fact
the entire building was planned for that number. The school boards are to be
congratulated for anticipating future needs.
The second floor has three laboratories - Botany, Chemistry, and Physics, a
science lecture room, two toilet rooms and two locker rooms.
There are two drinking fountains on each floor. The corridors are fireproof
throughout. There are five entrances to the building -- four leading to the
basement and one to the main floor.
The building is to be heated with steam from the Rochester Electric Light, Heat
and Power Company's plant. The steam passes through coils over which cold air is
drawn and forced to the rooms. The fan for this purpose is run by an electric
motor. The heating and ventilating are regulated automatically. The building
will be equipped with a vacuum cleaner. This is in accord with the modern idea
of getting rid of the dust and dirt in a sanitary way. The call system will be
regulated by a pneumatic clock with an automatic program attachment. The
building is to be fitted with new furniture and when completed will be an
educational plant of which Rochester city and township may well be proud.
It is being planned to have an art exhibit for the new building the latter part
of September. This will give the public an opportunity to see many beautiful and
inspiring pictures and to inspect this magnificent building at the same time.
Much credit is due the city school board -- Mr. True, Mr. Leonard and Mr.
Copeland, the township trustee -- Mr. Wylie, and his advisory board, Mr. Kline,
Mr. Matthias, and Mr. Rogers, for the time and effort given by them to make this
much needed building a reality. Surely the high school students of the future
will rise up to call them blessed.
[Manitou Ripples, 1913]
EARLY MEMORIES OF NORTH AND SOUTH SCHOOLS
The new high school built on the northeast corner of 7th and Pontiac in 1912 had
a gym under the present cafeteria. The west side of this gym had wood terraces
or big wood steps used for bleachers. After a year (1913) wood bleachers were
built on the east side, which made the floor smaller. There were only three feet
out of bounds on the west side. At the same time they put up glass back boards
back of the baskets on the north and south ends. This gym was converted into a
shop class when the new Whitmer gym was built in 1920.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 35, pp 9-10]
__________
The public school under the direction of L. D. Willard, closes its winter
term next Friday, with general exercises at the Odd Fellows Hall. . .
[Rochester Mercury, Thursday, March 8, 1860]
Rochester High School will commence at the Odd Fellow's Hall, in Rochester on
the Second Monday of April, 1860 . . . L. D. Willard, Principal, Miss M.
Ernsperger, Assistant, Prof. Wm. Montgomery, Music Teacher.
[Rochester Mercury, Thursday, March 29, 1860]
Rochester School. We visited the Rochester High School on Friday last. [names
mentioned]: Prof. O. Henderson, Principal, Miss Cornelia Strain, Miss Florence
Heffley, Wm. Chamberlain, Miss Mollie Davis, Miss Meredith, Miss Dales . . .
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, January 25, 1866]
The Winter School. Our winter free school is now in full blast, about 250
pupils in attendance. The Teachers are Mr McAfee, Principal; Mr. Bonty, Mr.
Fitzgerald and Miss Mollie Ewing, Assistants . . .
[Rochester Standard, Thursday, December 12, 1867]
School Report. . . . . W. H. Banta, Teacher.
[Rochester Standard, Thursday, February 11, 1869]
School Notice. The Trustee of Rochester Township desires it generally known
that, instead of three months public school, as usual, the funds on hand are
sufficient to keep the schools open for four months this year.
[Rochester Standard, Thursday, September 9, 1869]
Election of Teachers. The school meeting Monday evening chose the following
teachers: Principal, W. H. Banta. 1st Assistant, Sidney Moon. 2d Assistant,
(-----) Tipton. 1st Intermediate, R. Wallace, Jr., 2d Intermediate, Ed. Horton.
Primary, Miss Sallie Banta. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, October 1, 1869]
Several young ladies, pupils of Rochester Graded Schools, have set about
procuring an organ for the high school room. A vigorous canvass is being made
for funds, and many are the pocket books that wither under the sweet smiles and
loving words of the fair solicitors.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, August 27, 1874]
Miss Ella Kewney, B. F. Dawson and Will Pugh form the graduating class of the
Rochester high school.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, October 29, 1874]
Rev. N. L. Lord is an excellent Latin teacher, and conducts both classes at
the High School.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, November 5, 1874]
The Rochester High School has made application to the State Board of
Education to become commissioned.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, November 12, 1874]
W. H. Green, agent of the Higgin's Bent Wood School furniture Company, of
Indianapolis, has supplied four buildings in Miami county with the Eccentric
desk of that manufacture. He has also completed a contract with the Rochester
corporation to furnish seventy desks for the High School department.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, July 23, 1875]
__________
TEACHERS
J. F. Scull was supt. of Rochester City Schools 1882-1903, according to
Centennial issue of the Rochester News-Sentinel, June 23, 1953
[FCHS Quarterly No. 46, Corrections, p. 25]
1896-97: James F. Scull, Supt.; Teachers: Lida J. Meredith, Latin; Annette Keely,
Hist., Math.; Earnest E. Fry, Sc.
1897-98: John F. Scull, Supt.; Annetta Kelly, Asst.; Atta L. Dale, Asst.; E. E.
Fry, Asst.; Hooker Brainard, Prin.
1898-99: James F. Scull, Supt.; D. P. Powers, Prin.; Annetta Keely, Asst.;
Gertrude D. Forest Asst.; E. E. Fry, Asst.
1901-02: J. F. Scull, Supt.; D. T. Powers, H.S.P., Eng; M. R. Heinmiller, Sc.;
Mark Schaaf, Latin; Annette Powers, Math & Hist.
1902-03: James F. Scull; D. T. Powers, H.S.P., Eng.; O. Johnson, Sc.; Marcus
Schaaf, Latin; German; Annette Powers, Hist., Math.
1903-04: D. T. Powers, Supt.; O. A. Johnson, H.S.P., Sc.; Annette Powers, Math.;
Hist.; Margaret Hines, Eng.; Mary B. Denny, Latin, Germ.;
1907-08: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.; Lucille Helm, Hist.; Rezin Reagan, Chem.;
Evangeline Bankson, Music-Art; Marjorie Williams, Latin; Miss Reefsnider, Eng.;
Miss Krewson, Math.
1908-09: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.;Lucille Helm, Hist.; Rezin Reagan, Chem; Claudice
Stevenson, Music-Art; Marjorie Williams, Lat.; Miss Reefsnider, Eng.; Grace
Magaw, Math.
1909-10: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.;Marjorie Williams, Lat.; Mr. Reagan, Chem.;
Claudia Stevenson, Music-Art; Grace Magaw, Math.; Lucille Helm, Hist.; Lillian
Bappert, Eng.
1910-11: A. L. Whitmer, Supt., U. S. Hist.;Prin. Raymond C. Johnson, Sci.;
Marjorie Williams, Lat.; Lucille Helm, German; Grace Magaw, Math.; Lillian
Bappert, Eng.; Mable Gregory, Hist.; Claudia Stevenson, Music-Art.
1911-12: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.;Nora Lockridge, Lat.; Claudia Stevenson,
Music-Art; R. C. Johnson, Math., Sci.; Lillian Bappert, Eng.; Abbie Henby,
German; Miss O. E. Richards, Hist.; Hazel McDowell, Botany, Math.
1912-13: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.;Elizabeth Hanna, Lat.; Oron Richards, Debating
Hist.; Hazel McDowell, Botany; R. C. Johnson, Sci.; Claudia Stevenson,
Music-Art; Irene McMahan, Eng.; Grace Lloyd, Math.; Lillian Bappert, Eng.; Abbie
Henby, German.
1913-14: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.;Lillian Bappert, Eng.; Grace Lloyd, Math.; Claudia
Stevenson, Music; R. C. Johnson, Math., Sci.; O. L. Walter, Math., Sci.; Marie
Thorpe, Latin; Elizabeth Sudhoff, German; Nellie Bradley, Commercial; Irene
McMahan, Hist.; O. E. Richards, Debating, Hist., Eng.
1914-15: Lillian Bappert Eng.; A. L. Whitmer, Supt., Economics; Prin. R. C.
Johnson, Algebra, Reading, Debating, Oratory; Irene McMahan, Hist., Civics;
Lindley B. Perry, Manual Training; Nellie Bradley, Commercial; Marie Thorpe,
Latin; Grace Lloyd, Math.; Emma Rausch, Eng.; Ort L. Walters, Sci., Ag.;
Elizabeth Sudhoff, German; Flavilla Tracy, Music, Art; Anne S. Milligan, Dom.
Science.
1915-16: A. L. Whitmer, Supt., Amer. Hist; R. C. Johnson, Math.; L. B. Perry,
Manual Training; Harvey Chandler, Math.; Nellie Bradley, Commercial; Anne
Milligan, Dom. Sci.; Mildred Pfeiffer, Eng.; Emma Rausch, Eng.; Marie Thorpe,
Latin; Irene McMahan, History, Civics; Claudia Stevenson, Music, Art; Elizabeth
Sudhoff, German; O. L. Walters, Sc.
1916-17: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.;R. C. Johnson, Math.; Emma Rausch, Eng.; Marie
Thorpe, Latin; Mildred Pfeiffer, Eng.; Mary Stacy, Hist.; Lillian Niemann,
German; Anne Milligan, Dom. Sci.; Nelle Bradley, Commercial; Harvey Chandler,
Math.; L. B. Perry, Manual Training; O. L. Walter, Sci., Ag.; Claudia Stevenson,
Music, Art.
1917-18: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.;Harley Rogers (Jan. 1918), Commercial; Flavilla
Tracy, Music, Art; Mary Stacy, Hist.; Emma Rausch, Eng.; Marie Thorpe, Latin;
Lillian Niemann, German, Katherine Stevens, Eng.; Bertha Rogers, Home Ec.; Mable
Marin, Hist., Eng.; Nelle Bradley, Commercial; L. B. Perry, Manual Training; Ort
L. Walter, Sci., Ag.; R. C. Johnson, Prin., Coach, Math.
1918-19:A. L. Whitmer, Supt.; Thersa Wehr, Latin; Mary Stacey, Math.; Katherine
Stevens Eng.; Harley Rogers, Commercial; R. C. Johnson, Prin., Coach; Flavilla
Tracy, Music, Art; Elizabeth Haines, Hist.; Emma Rausch, English; Bertha Rogers,
Home Ec.; Elizabeth Phelps, Math.; L. B. Perry Manual Training; Harry Miller,
Sci.; Marie Thorpe, Sci.
1919-20: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.;Emma Rausch, Eng.; Prin. R. C. Johnson, Coach; L.
B Perry, Manual Training; Beulah Hole, Commercial; Verda Knox, Eng.; Harry
Miller, Sci., Grace Small, Latin; Marie Thorpe, Eng.; Elizabeth Haines, Hist.;
Elizabeth Phelps, Comm., Math.; Helen Hannah, Math.; Hazel Cushing, Home Ec.;
Flavilla Tracy, Music, Art; Thersa Wehr, (1st sem.), Latin.
1920-21: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.;Rosella Stoner, Eng.; Eunice Ross, Hist.; Prin.
Harry F. Miller, Sci.; Helen Hannah, Math.; Beulah Hole, Commercial; Irvin
Barkman, Comm., Math.; Flavilla Tracy, Music, Art; Mark C. Wakefield, Coach;
Elizabeth Haines, Hist.; L. B. Perry, Manual Training; Camilla Laws, Dom. Sci.;
Verda Knox, Eng.; Marie Thorpe, Eng., Latin; Esther Hudson, French, Pub. Spk.
1921-22: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.;Camilla Laws, Dom. Sci.; Elizabeth Tilley, Eng.;
Prin. Harry Miller, Sci.; Esther Hudson, French, Publ Spk.; Eunice Ross, Hist.;
Edith Thomson, Music, Art; Fonzo Lawler, Coach, History 2nd; Baulah Hole,
Commercial; Helen Hannah, Math.; Verda Knox, Eng.; Francis Clymer, Commercial;
L. B. Perry, Manual Training; Beatrice Bonewitz, Latin; Mary Fugate, Chem.,
Math.; Harry Reget, Phy. Ed., 1st sem.
1922-23: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.;Prin. Harry Miller, Math.; Verda Knox, Eng.; Mary
Fugate, Sci.; L. B. Perry, Manual Training; Helen Fraley, Latin; Imogene Zartman,
Math. Physics; Fonzo Lawler, Coach, Phy. Ed.; Camilla Laws, Domestic Sci.;
Beulah Hole, Commercial; Thelburn Engle, Comm., Math.'
Edith Thomson, Music; Elizabeth Flett, French, Eng., Bio.; Grace Cleveland, Art;
Nellie Stipp, Hist.; Harriet Corey, Eng.
1923-24: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.;Beulah Hole, Commercial; Prin. L. V. Phillips,
Civics; Elizabeth Flett, Sci., French Bible; Mary Fugate, Sci., Math.; Charles
Ivey, Coach, Phy. Ed.; Camilla Laws, Dom. Sci.; Harriet Corey, Eng.; Fred W.
Rankin, Math., Physics; Edith Thomson, Music; Grace Cleveland, Art; Nellie Stipp,
Hist.; Margaret Austin, Eng.; L. B. Perry, Manual Training; Kathryn Kessler,
Latin, Hist.; Dorothy Colson, Eng., Hist.
1924-25: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.;L. B. Perry, Manual Training; L. V. Phillis,
Prin., Civics, Economics; Elizabeth Flett, French Bible; Edith Thomson, Music;
Grace Cleveland, Art; Edith Shank, Comm., Math.; Mary Fugate, Chem., Sc., Math.;
Kathryn Kessler, Eng.; Frad Rankin, Physics, Sc., Math.;p Mary V. Henry,
Commercial; Mary Brass, Eng.; Lucille Kessler, Latin; Jeanne Swan, Dom. Sci.;
Mildred Fultz, Hist.; Rena Wright, (Mid Term) Eng., Voc. Guid.; Charles Ivey,
Coach.
1925-26:A. L. Whitmer, Supt.; L. B. Perry, Manual Training; Prin. L. V.
Phillips, Civics, Economics; Edith Thomson, Music; Grace Cleveland, Art; Edith
Shanks, Bookkeeping, Math.; Mary Fugate, Chem., Math.; Mary V. Henry,
Commercial; Mildred Fultz, Hist.; Ralph Powell, Coach; Grace Stauton, Eng.;
Elizabeth Flett, Biology, French Bible; Lucille Kessler, Latin; Fred W. Rankin
Math., Physics; Jeanne Swan, Dom. Sci.; Kathryn Kessler, Eng.; Rena Wright,
Eng., Voc. Guid.
1926-27: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.; Ralph Powell, Phy. Training; Edith Thomson,
Music; Elizabeth Flett; Bible, Biology; Victoria Mills, Latin; Grace Stauton,
Eng.; Public Spk.; Rena Wright, Eng.' Geraldine McNaughton, Dom. Sci.; L. B.
Perry, Manual Training; Prin. L. V. Phillips, Civics, Economics; Kathryn
Kessler, Eng.; Mildred Fults, Hist., Civics; Fred W. Rankin, Math., Physics;
Maru Smith, Commercial; Edith Shank, Commercial; Margaret Bond, Chem., Math.;
Loreen Wingerd, Art.
1927-28: Same as 1927 with Mr. Ralph E. Reynolds taking Miss Shanks place in
Commercial and Math.
1928-29:A. L. Whitmer, Supt.; Prin. L. V. Phillips, Economics, Civics; L. B.
Perry, Manual Training; Maru Smith, Commercial; Rena Wright, Eng., Hist.; Ralph
Powell, Coach, Phy. Ed.; Victoria Mills, Latin; Edith Thomson, Music; Ollie
Gardner, Eng., Pub. Spk.; Ralph E. Reynolds, Commercial, Math.; Meredith
Pleasant, Chem., Math.; Helen White, Biology, Physiology; Fred Rankin, Physics,
Math.; Ruth Mertz, Eng.; Dorothy Gessner, Home Ec.; Elma Miller, Art; Mildred
Fultz, Hist.; Helen Taylor (died), Hist.
1929-30: A. L. Whitmer, Supt.; Prin. Fred W. Rankin, Math.; Meredith Pleasant
(1st sem), Chem., Math.; Margaret Burgess, Chem., Math.; Paul Watson, Biology;
Keith Stroup, Coach, Phy. Ed.; Ruth Adams, Home Ec.; Ollie Gardner, Eng., Pub.
Spk.; Ann Elizabeth Wilcox, Commerce, Citizenship; Louise Bent Karn, Art;
Gretchen Atkinson, Commerce; A. V. Purdue, Math., Physics; L. B. Perry Mech.
Drawing, Shop; Victoria Mills, Latin; Mildred Fultz, Hist.; Rena Wright, Hist.,
Eng.; Ruth Mertz, Eng.; Edith Thomson, Music.
1930-31: Supt. A. L. Whitmer; Prin. Fred W. Rankin, Math.; Zelma Starr, Eng.,
Comm.; Miriam Lyst, Art; Evelyn Jones, Commercial; Sylvester A. Carvey, Band;
Edith Thomson, Music; Victoria Mills, Latin; Ollie Gardner, Eng.; Paul Watson,
Biology, Health; A. V. Purdue, Physics, Math.; L. B. Perry, Shop, Mech. Drawing;
Ruth Adams, Dom. Sci., Orrel Little, Eng.; Margaret Burgess, Chem., Math.; Rena
Wright, Hist., Eng.; Mildred Fultz, Hist.; Keith Stroup, Coach; Virginia E.
Barger, Librarian.
1931-32: First Class Com. 9-12. 303. Supt. A. L. Whitmer; Prin. Fred W. Rankin,
Math.; Mary Bushong, Chem., Math., Mildred Fultz, Hist.; Rena Wright, Hist,
Eng.; Victoria Mills, Lat.; Orrel White, Eng.; Edythe Williams, Eng.; Evelyn
Jones, Com.; Ruth Adams, H.E., Miriam Lyst, Art.; Edith Thomson Music; A. V.
Purdue, Math.; Physics; Paul Watson, Biol.; L. B. Perry Ind. Arts; Keith Stroup,
Phys, Ed., Coach.
1932-33: First Class Com. 9-12. 312. Supt. A. L. Whitmer; Prin. Fred W. Rankin,
Math.; Mary Bushong, Sci., Math.; Mildred Fultz, Soc. St.; Rena Wright, Soc.
St., Eng.; Victoria Mills, Lat.; Orrel White, Eng.; Edythe Williams, Eng.;
Evelyn Jones, Com.; Ruth Adams, H.E.; Miriam Lyst, Art; Edith Thomson, Mu.; A.
V. Purdue, Math., Sci.; Paul Watson, Sci.; L. B. Berry, Ind. A.; Clyde Lyle, Phy.
Ed., Coach.
1933-34: Supt. A. L. Whitmer; First Class Com. 9-12, 312. Prin. Fred W. Rankin,
Math.; Mary Bushong, Sci., Math., Mildred Fultz, Soc. St.; Rena Wright, Soc.
St., Eng.; Victoria Mills, Lat.; Orrel White, Eng.; Edythe Williams, Eng.;
Evelyn Jones, Com.; Ruth Adams, H.E.; Edith Thomson, Mu.; A. V. Purdue, Math.,
Sci.; Paul Watson, Sci.; L. B. Perry Ind. A.; Clyde Lyle, Phy., Ed., Coach; A.
F. Davis, B.
1934-35: Supt. A. L. Whitmer. First Class Com. 9-12, 312. Prin. Fred W. Rankin,
Math., Mary Bushong, Sci., Math.; Mildred Fultz, Soc. St.; Rena Wright, Soc.
St., Eng.; Billy Brown, Lat.; Orrel Little, Eng.; Edythe Williams, Eng.; Evelyn
Jones, Com.; Ruth Adams, H.E.; Edith Thomson, Mu.; A. V. Purdue, Math, Sci.;
Paul Watson, Sci.; L. B. Perry, Ind. A., Clyde Lyle, Phy. Ed., Coach; A. F.
Davis, B.
1935-36: Supt. A. L. Whitmer. First Class Com. 9-12, 312. Prin. Fred W. Rankin,
Math.; Mary Bushong, Sci., Math.; Mildred Fultz, Soc. St.; Rena Wright, Soc.
St., Eng.; Dale Lichtenwalter, Lat.; Orrel Little, Eng.; Edythe Williams, Eng.;
Evelyn Jones, Com. Ruth Adams, H.E.; Edith Thomson, Mu.; A. V. Purdue, Math.,
Sci.; Paul Watson, Sci.; L. B. Perry, Ind. A.; Clyde Lyle, Phy. Ed., Coach; A.
F. Davis, B.
1936-37: Supt. A. L. Whitmer. First Class Com. 9-12. 312. Prin. Fred W. Rankin,
Math.; Mary Bushong, Sci., Math.; Mildred Fultz, Soc. St.; Rena Wright, Soc.
St., Eng.; Dale Lichtenwalter, Lat.; Irene Smith, Eng., Phy. Ed.; Edythe
Williams, Eng.; Phyllis Barrett, Com.; Dorothea Slater, Art.; Ruth Adams, H.E.;
Edith Thomson, Mu.; A. V. Purdue, Math., Sci.; Paul Watson, Sci.; L. B. Perry,
Ind. A.; Clyde Lyle, Phy. Ed., Coach; A. F. Davis, B.
1937-38: Supt. A. L. Whitmer. First Class Com. 9-12. 292. Prin. Fred W. Rankin,
Math.; Mildred Fultz, Soc. St.; Rena Wright, Soc. St., Eng.; Irene Smith, Eng.,
Phys. Ed.; Edythe Williams, Eng.; Mary Bushong, Sci., Math.; Phyllis Barrett,
Com.; Dale Lichtenwalter, Lat., Eng.; Ruth Adams, H. Ec.; Catherine Immel, Art.;
Paul Watson, Sci., H.; L. B. Perry, Ind. A.; A. V. Purdue, Sci., Math.; Albert
Fiscus, B.; Clyde Lyle, Phys. Ed., Soc. St.; Edith Thompson, Mu.; Norma Jean
Truax, Lib.
1938-39: Supt. A. L. Whitmer. First Class Com. 9-12. 311. Prin. A. V. Purdue,
Math.; Mildred Fultz, Soc. St.; Rena Wright Soc. St., Eng.; Irene Smith, Eng.,
Phys. Ed.; Mary Marshall, Eng., Lib.; Mary Bushong, Sci., Math.; Phyllis Barret,
Com., Dale Lichtenwalter, Lat., Eng.; Ruth Adams, H. Ec.; Marguerite Mitchell,
Art.; Paul Watson, Sci., H.; L. B. Perry, Ind. A.; Orvan Van Lue, Eng., Math;
Albert Fiscus, B.; Clyde Lyle, Phys. Ed., Soc. St.; Edith Thomson, Mu., Orch.;
Norma Jean Truax, Lib., Clerk.
1939-40: Supt. F. W. Rankin. First Class Com. 9-12. 321. Prin. A. V. Purdue,
Math.' Mildred Fultz, Soc. St.; Rena Wright, Soc. St., Eng.; Wilda Hoopengardner,
Eng., Phys. Ed.; Mary Marshall, Eng., Lib.; Mary Bushong, Sci., Math., Phyllis
Barret, Com.; Dale Lichtenwalter, Lat., Eng.; Ruth Adams, lH. Ec.; Paul Watson,
Sci. H.; L. B. Perry, Ind. A.; Orvan Van Lue, Eng., Math.; Clyde Lyle, Phys.
Ed., Soc. St.; Ellamae Brown, Lib. Clerk.
1940-41: Supt. F. W. Rankin. Supervisors and Special Teachers: Elizabeth
Ohlrogge, Art; Albert Fiscus, B.; Edith Thomson, Mu., Orch. -- First Class Com.
9-12. 314. Prin. A. V. Purdue, Math.; Mildred Fultz, Soc. St.; Rena Wright, Soc.
St., Eng.; Wilda Hoopengardner, Eng., Phys. Ed.; Mary Marshall, Eng., Lib.; Mary
Bushong, Sci., Math.; Phyllis Barrett, Com.; Dale Lichtenwalter, Lat., Eng.;
Ruth Adams, H. Ec.; Paul Watson, Sci., H.; L. B Perry, Ind. A. Orvan Van Lue,
Eng., Math.; Clyde Lyle, Phys, Ed., Soc. St.; Ellamae Brown, Lib., Clerk.
1941-42: Supt. Fred W. Rankin. Special Teachers: Albert Fiscus, B., Elizabeth
Ohlrogge, Art; Edith Thomson, Orch., Mu. -- First Class Com. 9-12. 319. Prin. A.
V. Purdue, Math.; Mildred Fultz, Soc. St.; Rena Wright, Soc. St, Eng; Wilda
Hoopengardner, Eng., Phys. Ed.; Mary Marshall, Eng., Lib.; Mary Bushong, Sci.,
Math; Phyllis Barrett, Com.; Dale Lichtenwalter, Lat., Eng.; Ruth Adams, H. Ec.;
Paul Watson, Sci., H.; L. B. Perry, Ind. A.; Orvan Van Lue, Eng., Math.; Clyde
Lyle, Phys. Ed., Soc. St.; Ellammae Holloway, Lib., Clerk.
1942-43: Supt. Fred W. Rankin. Special Teachers: Ronald Melton, B.; Elizabeth
Ohlrogge, Art; Edith Thomson, Orch., Mu. -- First Class Com. 9-12, 272 Prin. A.
V. Purdue, Math; Mildred Fultz, Soc. St.; Rena Wright, Soc. St., Eng.; Bernice
Foster, Eng., P.E.; Mary Marshall, Eng., Lib.; Mary Bushong, Sci., Math.;
Phyllis Barrett, Com.; Dale Lichtenwalter, Lat., Eng.; Bonnie M. Swope, H. Ec.;
Paul Watson, Sci., H.S.; L. B. Perry, Ind. A.; Orvan Van Lue, Eng., Math.; Clyde
Lyle, P.E., Soc. St.; Frances Braman, Lib., Clerk.
1944-45: Supt. F. W. Rankin. Special Teachers: M. Edith Thomson, lMu., Ronald
Melton, B.; Ione Kunz, Art.; Odessa Greer, Kdg. -- First Class Com. 9-12. 261.
Prin. A. V. Purdue, Math.; Anna Botsford, Soc. St.; Rena Wright, Soc. St., Eng.;
Norma Fowler, Eng., P.E., Mary Marshall, Eng., Lib.; Harry Ray, P.E., Sci.;
Kathryn Quinton Com.; Dale Lichtenwalter, Lat., Sp., Eng.; Dana Mae Johnson, H.
Ec.; Paul Watson Sci., H.S., Elizabeth Ratcliffe, Math., Soc. St.; L. B. Perry,
Ind. A., Orvan Van Lue, Eng., Math.; Frances Braman Secy., Clerk.
1946-47: Supt F. W. Rankin. Special Teachers: Mable Bevington, Art; Wendell
Frederick, B.; Vera Purdue, Kdg.; Edith Thomson, Mu. -- First Class Com. 9012.
Prin. A. V. Purdue, Math.; Arthur Alexander, Ind.; Elizabeth Brown, Eng.;
LaRetha Leyman, P.E.; Dale Lichtenwalter, Eng., Lat; Sp., Clyde Lyle, kP.E.,
Soc. St.; Mary Marshall, Eng., Lib.; Kathryn Quinton, Com; Harry F. Ray, Math.,
Sci., Ag.; Blanche Stroup, H. Ec.; Orvan Van Lue, math.; Paul Watson, Sci., H.S.;
Rena Wright, Soc. St., Eng.
1948-49: Supt. F. W. Rankin. Special Teachers and Supervisots: Edith Thomson, Mu.;
Orvan Van Lue, Math., Guid.; Paul Watson, Sci.; Rena Wright, Soc. St., Eng.
First Class Com. 9-12, 316. Prin. A. V Purdue, Math.; Arthur Alexander, lInd.
A.; Mable Bevington, Art.; Patricia Chase, Eng., Math., Rogene Busche, Eng.,
Speech; Dale Eizinger, Vet. Ag.; Wendell Frederick,B.; LaReatha Leyman, P.E.,
Com.; Dale Lichtenwalter, Eng., Lat., Sp.; Clyde Lyle, P.E., H.S; Mary Marshall,
Eng., Lib.; Kathryn Quinton Com.; Harry Ray, Sci., Ag., Soc. St.; Mary Lee
Shafer, H. Ec.
1949-50: Supt. E. S. Castor. Supervisors and Special Teachers: Mabel Bevington,
Art; M. Edith Thomson, Mu.; Dale Eizinger, Vet. On-the-Farm Training; Wendell
Frederick, B. -- First Class Com. 9-12, 323. Prin. O. V. Van Lue; Arthur
Alexander, Ind. A.; Virginia Austin, Com.; Gladys Brandt, Voc H. Ec.; Patricia
Chase, Eng., Math.; Wendell Frederick ,B.; Charles Hudson, Math., Sci.; Dale
Lichtenwalter, Eng., Lat., Sp.; Mary Marshall, Eng., Lib.; Harry E. Ray, Ag.
Soc. St., Sci.; Doris Rynearson, P.E., Com.; Charles Shumaker, P.E., H., Coach;
Jacqueline Smith, Eng., Speech; Paul Watson, Sci., Dr. Ed.; Rena Wright, Soc.
St.
1950-51: E. S. Castor, Supt. Supervisors: Ruth Beaty, Art; M. Edith Thomson, Mu.
Special Teachers: Dale Eizinger, Vet. Ag.; William Hendrickson, B.; Mary Jane
Jeffrey, Speech; Ruth Skidmore, Sp. Ed. -- First Class Com. 9-12. Enrol (9-12)
343. Prin. O. V. Van Lue; Arthur Alexander, Ind. A.; Virginia Austin, Com.;
Gladys Brandt, Voc. H. Ec.; Patricia Chase, Eng., Math.; Glenn Hartman Voc. Ag.;
William Hendrickson, B.; Charles Hudson, Math., Sci.; Mary Jane Jeffrey, Eng.,
Speech, Dram.; Dale Lichtenwalter, Eng., Lat., Sp.; Mary Marshall, Eng., Lib.;
Claire McDonald, Com., P.E.; Harry E. Ray, Ag., Soc. St., Sci.; Charles
Shumaker, P.E. H.; Paul Watson, Sci., Dr. Ed.; Rena Wright, Soc. St.
1951-52: E. S. Castor, Supt. Supervisor: Opal Hull, Art. Special Teachers:
William Hendrickson, Mu., Edith Thomson, Mu.; Mary Jane Zellers, Speech, Hear;
Ross M. Blunk, Coordinator; Dale Eizinger, Vet. Ag.; Ruth Skidmore, Sp. Ed. --
First Class 9-12. Enrol. (9-12) 333. Prin. O. V. Van Lue; Virginia Austin, Bus.
Ed., Dean of Girls; Charles Cale Hudson, Math., Sci., Dean of Boys; Ross M.
Blunk, Ind. A., Coordinator; Mary Ellen Kalb, Bus. Ed., Eng.; Patricia Chase,
Math., Eng.; Harry Ray, Sci., Soc. St.; Mary Marshall, Lib., Eng.; Paul Watson,
Sci., Dr. Ed.; Rena Wright, Eng, Soc. St.; Charles Shumaker,Soc. St., P.E.; Opal
Hull, Art.; Dale Lichtenwalter, Eng.; Span., Lat.; Mary Jane Zellers, Speech;
William Hadley, Voc. Ag.; Edith Thomson, Mu.; William Hendrickson, B.; Gladys
Brandt, Voc. H. Ec.; Eugene Tahlier, Ind. A.; Anna Neff, Eng., P.E.
1952-53: [changes noted in supplements] Supt. E. S. Castor.
1953-54: Raymond S. Julian, Supt. Supervisor, Donna Hall, Art. Special Teachers:
Edward Linderman, B., Edith Thomson, Mu.; Mary Jane Zellers, Speech, Hear.;
Raymond Kestner, Coor.; Dale Eizinger, Vet. Ag.; Ruth Skidmore, Sp. Ed. -- First
Class 9-12. Enrol. (9-12) 324. Prin. Harmon Baldwin; Lois Bailey, Voc. H. Ec.;
Elizabeth Berkebile, Com., Dean of Girls; Willis Bowen Math., Sci.; Simon Deeb
Voc. Ag., Dorcas Dice, Eng.; Franklin Fitch, Ind. A., Math.; Jane Fitch, P.E.;
Donna Hall, Art; Raymond Kestner, Ind. A., Coor; Dale Lichtenwalter Eng., Span.,
Lat.; Edward Linderman, B.; Mary Marshall, Lib., Eng.; Robert Mathias, Soc. St.,
Dr. Ed.; Mary Ellen Overman, Com.; Harry Ray, Sci., Soc. St.; Edith Thomson Mu.;
Edward Trexler, Soc. St., P.E.; Paul Watson, Sci., Soc. St., Dr. Ed.; Rena
Wright, Eng., Soc. St.; Mary Jane Zellers, Speech.
1955-56: Raymond S. Julian, Supt. First Class 9-12. Enrol (8) 79 (9-12) 361.
Prin. Haromon Baldwin; Anita Samuelson, Secy.; Lois Bailey, H. Ec.; Deverl
Becker, Eng.; Elizabeth Berkebile, Com., Dean of Girls; Willis Bowen, Math., Sci.;
Dale Eizinger, Vet. Instr.; Mary Darnell, Eng.; Frances Cunningham, Speech
Correctionist; Simon Deeb, Voc. Ag.; Robert Heck, Soc. St., Coach; Dale
Lichtenwalter, Eng., Span., Lat.; Carla Lucas, Com.; Robert McGinn, Soc. St.,
Dean of Boys; Carl McNulty, Dr. Ed., Coach; Robert Mathias, Dr. Ed., Soc. St.;
Richard Molter B., Voc. Mu.; Audrey Myers, Art.; Herbert Pearson Ind. A.; Harry
Ray, Soc. St., Chem.; Marian Rieger, P.E., Math.; Virginia Shelby, Lib.; Robert
Shipman, Ind. A.; Delores Sibert, Eng.; Paul Watson, Biol., Sci.; Raymond Wolfe,
Speech, Dram.; Rena Wright, Eng.
1956-57: [changes noted in supplements], Supt. Raymond Julian; Prin. John O.
Reed.
1957-58: Raymond S. Julian, Supt. First Class 9-12. Enrol. (9-12) 437. Prin.
John Reed; Anita Samuelson, Secy.; Waldo Adams, Engl; Elizabeth Berkebile, Com.,
Dean of Girls; Willis Bowen, Math., Phys.; Gladys Brandt Voc. H. Ec.; Henry
Buchholz, Gen. Math.; Frances Busby, Math.; Simon Deeb, Voc. Ag.; Mary Ginn,
Gen. Business; Tom Heery, World Hist., Dr. Tr.; Max Hungerford, D. O. Program,
Ind. A.; Joan Hungerford, Com. (part time); Clifford Keihn Speech; Dale
Lichtenwalter Span., Eng., Lat.; Jack Lowe, Dr. Tr., P.E., Coach; Carla Lucas,
Com; Richard Molter, B, Voc. Mu; Audrey Myers, Art; Philip Parker, Lib; Harry
Ray, Gov., Sociol.; Marion Rieger, Gen. Bus., Girls P.E.; Paul Rockwell, World
Hist., Coach; William Schroer, Orientation, Dean of Boys; Gertrude Slack, Eng.,
Drama; Paul Watson, Biol.; Lucile Wicoff, Chem. Physiography; Rena Wright, Eng.,
Annual; Robert Lambert, Ind. A.
1959-60: John H. Davisson, Supt. Special Teachers: Norma Decius, Sp. Ed.; Jonell
Folsom, Art; Edith Thomson, Elem. Mu.; Kay Harvey, Elem. P.E.; Suzanne Belcher,
Speech, Hear, Ther. --First Class 9-12. Enrol. (9-12) 457. Prin. Loren Betz;
Secy. Anita Samuelson; Waldo Adams, Eng., Dev. Read.; Mary Ave, Eng., Sp.;
Elizabeth Berkebile, Typ., Dean of Girls; Willis Bowen, Alg., Geom.; Gladys
Brandt, Voc. H. Ec.; Donald Brunn, Woodshop; Henry Buchholz, Alg. Phys., Math.;
Simon Deeb, Voc. Ag.; Lois Hale, Eng., Asst. Lib.; Thomas Heery, Dr. Tr., Hist.;
Max Hungerford, Shop, Rel. Tr.; Dale Lichtenwalter, Eng., Span., Lat.; Joan
Hungerford, Com.; Jack Lowe, Dr. Ed., Soc. St.; Carla Lucas, Com.; Philip
Parker, Lib., Asst. Prin.; Harry Ray, Soc. St.; Marion Rieger, Com., Math.; Paul
Rockwell, Hist.; Eugene Saxe, Eng., Dram.; William Schroer, Soc. St., Dean of
Boys; Oland Charles Summers, Band; Paul Watson, Biol.; Lucile Wicoff, Sci.; Rena
Wright, Eng.
1961-62: John H. Davisson, Supt. Special Teachers: Marie Farnsworth, Sp. Ed.;
Esther Thrush, Sp. Ed.; Adrien Witkowski, Art 7-12; Kathleen Latier, Art Kdg.-6;
Edward Nils, Mu. 1-6; Mary Ginn, Voc. Mu. 7-12; Kay Harvey, Elem P.E. 1-8;
Suzanne Belcher, Speech and Hear. Therapist. -- First Class 9-12. Enrol (9-12)
488. Prin. Loren Betz; Anita Samuelson, Secy.; Waldo Adams, Eng., Dev. Read.;
Kent Beeler, Gen. Bus., Dr. Tr., Typ.; Elizabeth Berkebile, Typ., Dean of Girls;
Naomi Betz, H. Ec.; Willis Bowen, Geom., Alg., Trig.; Don Brunn, Shop, Dr. Tr.;
Simon Deeb, Voc. Ag.; John Howkinson, Shop; Joan Hungerford, Gen. Bus., Bkkp.;
Max Hungerford, Shop, D.O.; Dale Lichtenwalter, Lat., Span.; Carla Lucas,
Shorthand, Typ.; James Moody, Eng.; David Newell, Boys P.E., Geo., Coach; Marion
Rieger, Girls P.E., Gen. Bus., Bus. Math., Bus. Law; Paul Rockwell, Hist., U.W.,
Coach; William Schroer, Psych., Dean of Boys; Joanna Smith, H. Ec.; Madeline
Snoddy, Lib.; Joseph Springer, World Hist., Coach; Charles O. Summers, Band;
Sharon Taylor Alg., Phys.; Martin Torgerson, Eng., Speech; Paul Watson, Biol.;
Lucile Wicoff, Gen. Math., Chem.; Rena Wright, Eng.; William Yaney.
1963-64: John H. Davisson Supt. Special Teachers: Marie Farnsworth, Sp. Ed.;
Robert Bowen, Sp. Ed.; Adrien Whtkowski, Art 7-12; Kathleen Latier, Art, Kdg-6;
Linda Greaf, Mu., 1-6; Mary Ginn, Vo. Mu., 7-12; Kay Harvey Elem. P.E. 1-8;
Marcella Boswell, Speech, Hear. Therapist. -- First Class 9-12. Enrol. (9-12)
570. Prin. Loren Betz; Anita Samuelson, Secy.; Waldo Adams, Dev. Reading, Eng.;
Elizabeth Berkebile, Typing, Gen. Math. and Dean of Girls; Naomi Betz, Girls
P.E.; Willis Bowen, Geom., Math.; Donald Brunn, Drafting, Wood Shop; Gene Burns,
Band; Claire Decker, Lib; Simon Deeb, Ag.,; Marion Dyer, Eng.; John Howkinson,
Wood Shop; Joan Hungerford, Comm.; Max Hungerford, Machine Shop, D.O.; Edward
Kasamis, Psychology, P.E.; Ronald Kuehl, Math., Typing; Dale Lichtenwalter,
Span., Lat.; Carla Lucas, Shorthand, Typing, Bus. Law; Mary Markell, H. Ec.;
Stanley Musgrave, Phys., Sci., Alg.; Kenneth Pennington, Biol., Dr. Ed., P.E.;
Paul Rockwell, U.S. Hist; Jack Schmeltz, Eng.; Donald Scholer, Alg. I & II,
Chem.; William Schroer, Govt., Dean of Boys Joanna Smith, H. Ec.; Berniece
Striggle, Eng., Fr.; Paul Watson, Biol.; Richard Welborn, Govt.; Lucille Wicoff,
Chem., Alg. I, Rena Wright, Eng.; Paul Zartman U.S. Hist., Geo.
1965-66: John H. Davisson, Supt. Special Teachers: Marie Farnsworth, Sp. Ed.;
Robert Bowen, Sp. Ed.; Kathleen Latier, Art, Kdg.-8; Linda Greaf, Mu., 1-6; Mary
Ginn, Vo. Mu., 7-12; Kay Harvey, Elem. P.E.; Marcelia Boswell, Speech, Hear.
Therapist; Gene Burns, Band, 6-12; Carol Ann Whittenberger, P.E., Kdg.-6. --
First Class 9-12. Enrol. (9-12) 640. Prin. Loren Betz; Anita Samuelson Secy.;
Juliet Traeger, Secy.; Camille Meiser, Secy., A V; Walto Adams, Lang. A;
Elizabeth Berkebile, Typ., Math., Dean; Naomi Betz, P.E.; Willis Bowen Math.;
Donald Brunn, Ind. A.; Carol Calloway, Lang. A.; Claire Decker, Lib., A V Dir.;
John Decker, Soc. St.; Simon Deeb, Voc. Ag.; Robert Cox, Math. Sci.; Marion
Dyer, Lang. A.; Terry Fox, Lang. A.; John Howkinson, Ind. A.; Joan Hungerford,
Bus. Ed.; Max Hungerford, Ind. A., D.O.; Edward Kasamis Soc. St., Attd.; Ronald
Kuehl, Bus. Ed.; Dale Lichtenwalter, For. Lang.; Ruth Lindhart H. Ec.; Carla
Lucas, Bus. Ed.; Gary McMillen, Lang. A.; Mildred Nellans, Eng., Lib.; Stanley
Musgrave, Sci., Math.; Robert Pedio, P.E., Sci., Coach; Kenneth Pennington, Sci.;
Paul Rockwell, Soc. St.; Hugh Ressler, Bus. Ed.; Donald Scholer, Math.; William
Schroer, Soc. St., Dean; Joanna Smith, H. Ec.; Berniece Striggle, Lang. A., Fr.;
Paul Watson, Sci.; Lucile Wicoff, Sci.; Adrien Witkowski, Art; Rena Wright,
Lang. A.; Paul Zartman, Soc. St.
[F.C.H.S. files]
Rochester High School Alumni
Wendell,
Here, in 5 takes, are the names of Rochester High School graduates as collected
for our ZebFest 2000 special section.
Happy holidays to you and your family.
Sarah Wilson
The following is a list of Rochester High School graduates compiled from
Manitou Ripples yearbooks, The Sentinel, Fulton County Historical Society and
Rochester School Corp. files.
This list may not be perfect. Corrections may be directed to The Sentinel.
[NOTE: The following list of graduates was furnished by Sarah Wilson, Publisher, The Rochester Sentinel, from the Wednesday, June 7, 2000 issue for inclusion in the Fulton County Handbook, for which I express my sincere appreciation. - Wendell C. Tombaugh, December 15, 2000.]
1878
Hugh Brown, manufacturer, Battle Creek, Mich.
John B. Davidson, lawyer, Ellensburg, Wash.
Frank D. Haimbaugh, editor, Muncie, Ind.
John C. Keith, architect, Welsley, Mass.
Edward C. Mercer, farmer, Rochester, Ind.
Orbra F. [Orbon Fitch] Montgomery, lawyer, Rochester, Ind.
1879
No class graduated.
1880
Charles W. Brackett, lumberman, Hegewisch, Ind.
Calvin S. Knott
William W. Mercer, hardware dealer, Seattle Wash.
Maud Mow - Mrs. William Shoup, Chicago, Ill.
A. D. Robbins, stockbuyer, Rochester, Ind.
Charles M. Shoup
1881
Samuel Heilbrun, insurance, Kansas City, Mo.
Louise Hickman - Mrs. Howard Miller, Maclaud, La.
Henry Little
Virgil S. Reiter, judge, Hammond, Ind.
1882
No class graduated
1883
No class graduated
1884
Anna Ingraham
William S. Hector, surgeon, Chicago, Ill
1885
Samuel W. Goss, insurance, Indianapolis, Ind.
Carrie Gould
Charles Kirtland
Nellie Wallace - Mrs. William Bell
1886
Lelia M. Copeland - Mrs. O. B. Smith, Rochester, Ind.
L. Eleanor Scull, doctor, Hammond, Ind.
1887
Fred Hoffman, contractor, Rochester, Ind.
J. Frank Holman, California, Mo.
Theodore A. Parker - Mrs. Wed Gould, Fresno, Cal.
Nellie Shoup - Mrs. Fred Hoffman, Rochester, Ind.
1888
Kittie Beecraft - Mrs. J. N. Rannells, Rochester, Ind.
Charles W. Drake, doctor, Fort Worth, Texas
Mary M. Kirtland, teacher, Marion, Ind.
Lillian Mackey - Mrs. Levi Beeler, St. Lawrence, Kansas
Emma Meyer - Mrs. J. A. Scull, Saulte St. Marie.
Lizzie Stanton - Mrs. Frank Sterner, Rochester, Ind.
1889
Henry Davis, manufacturer mechanical supples, Benton Harbor, Mich.
Rhoda Delp - Mrs. H. Bernetha, Rochester, Ind.
Lucius V. Gould
Sue Good - Mrs. Elwood Thompson, Rochester, Ind.
Effie McKee - Mrs. George Lee
Carrie McKee - Mrs. John S. Miller
1890
Mary D. Brown - Mrs. Levi Van Blaricom, Pueblo, Col.
Nellie L. Fitzgerald - Mrs. Phil Barnett
Emma L. Graeber - Mrs. Charles Long, Dallas Texas
Isabel Metzler - Mrs. R. Graham, Lincoln, Nebraska
Thusnelda Peemoller, teacher, Indianapolis, Ind.
Letta Shoup - Mrs. Sidney Hoover, Bristol, Tenn
Rose Wile, Rochester Ind.
1891
John H. Barkdoll
Mae E. Downey - Mrs. Bert Corbett, Colorado Springs, Col.
Edwin C. Downey, Logansport, lInd.
Margaret S. Keith - Mrs. A. Richter
1892
Jennie Leiter - Mrs. John Greenstreet, Lewisville Ind.
Arthur M. Metzler, lawyer, Rochester, lInd.
Cora Rannells, Los Angeles, Cal.
Alice Emma Scull - Mrs. W. P. Upham, Dallas, Texas
Daisy Smith - Mrs. J. M. Casebeer, Newport, Ind.
Ellery Stockberger, Chicago, Ill.
Minia Stockberger, Mrs. C. W. Williams
1893
Charles Eiler, Flora, Ind.
Bessie Emrick, New York, N.Y.
Ida Fieser - Mrs. F. Bitters, Rochester, Ind.
Minnie Foglesong - Mrs. S. N. Knoop, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Minnie Matthieson
Congo Meyer, milliner, Rochester, Ind.
Leone McClung - Mrs. Lucien Savage, Macy, Ind.
Clyde O. Porter
Clarence Rannells, civil engineer, Little Hocking, Ohio
Milton G. Whittenberger, Tuttle, Ohio
1894
Martin Myers, Wichita, Kansas
Millie Lucile Holman - Mrs. Ralph Leonard, Rochester, Ind.
Bess Holzman, New York City
Glendolyn Myers - Mrs. Perry Heath, Rochester, Ind.
Trude Downey - Mrs. Everett Strong, Akron, Ind.
Margaret Welch
Jesse Rouch
Mitchell Baker, Chicago, Ill. [NOTE: also in 1895]
1895
Archibald Brown, doctor, Rochester, Ind.
Edith Ethel Cowgill - Mrs. Frank Bryant, Rochester, Ind.
Edna C. Hall - Mrs. Carl Frain, Chicago, Ill
Clayton Hoffman, farmer, Rochester, Ind.
Allee Leininger
Clara J. Montgomery - Mrs. Edward Murphy
Mitchell Baker, Chicago, Ill [NOTE: also in 1894]
Harry S. Mackey, doctor, Indianapolis, Ind.
Edward E. Murphy, lawyer, Rochester, Ind.
Gertrude Porter - Mrs. Edward Allen, Forest Grove, Oregon
Harry O. Wallace, merchant, Rochester, Ind.
Jetta Alexander - Mrs. Richard Sanger, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Elmer O. Kunz, doctor, McGregor, Texas
Charles Cox, Mendota, Cal.
Lanora Sidmore - Mrs. Frank Reunboldt, Tanawanda, N.Y.
Jesse E. Rouch, Fulton, Ind.
Grace Johnson - Mrs. Oscar Eugart Lafayette, Ind.
Katherine Killen - Mrs. Charles Boots, N. Manchester, Ind.
Marguerite Welch, San Francisco, Cal.
Della Hisey - Mrs. Luther Shoemaker, Kewanna, Ind.
Pearl DuBois - Mrs. Luther Doeniaker, Kewanna, Ind.
Bertha B. Baker, Rochester, Ind.
Florence G. DeMont - Mrs. Stevens
Eva C. Young - Mrs. Adam Felker, Lebanon, Ind.
Levy Williamson, editor, Nellsville, Wis.
1896
Sidney A. Buehler, Battle Creek, Mich.
Carl Frain, Chicago, Ill.
Minnie Hill - Mrs. Roy Robbins, Mishawaka, Ind.
Walter Jewell, mechanical engineer, Tanawanda, N.Y.
Carl McClung, linterest in Neil Barnett Hotel, Logansport, Ind.
Dot H. Miller - Mrs. Jerry Holland, Hackley, Wix.
John Montgomery, teacher, Rolling Plains, Ind.
Forey Mutchler, Chicago, Ill.
1897
Ira David Goss, superintendent of schools, Crawfordsville, Ind.
Estella King - Mrs. Harry Cross, Chicago, Ill.
Herman Hochstedler, South Bend, Ind.
Zona Leiter - Mrs. Ambrose Burget, Huntington, Ind.
Ruth E. McClung - Mrs.Ernest Brown, Wanamaker, Ind.
Ralph D. McClung, farmer, Rochester, Ind.
John F. Metzler, Omaha, Nebraska
Susan T. Schaaf - Mrs. Bennet Lowe, Brooke, Ind
Marcus, Schaaf, state forester, Mich.
Belva E. Stingley - Mrs. Guy Fish, South Bend, Ind.
Arthur E. Stinson doctor, Athens, Ind.
1898
O. Less Alspach, Ray, N. Dakota
Myrtle J. Eilenberger - Mrs. Walter Jewell, Tanawanda, N.Y.
Ida E. Elkins, Indianapolis, Ind.
Myrtle M. Greene - Mrs. G. D. Miller, Wichita, Kansas
Alice May Leiter, Rochester, Ind.
Jessie G. Martindale
Howard O. Shafer, surgeon, Chicago, Ill.
Mary E. Stanton - Mrs. Howard Shafer, Chicago, Ill.
Charles Black
1899
Charles Alspach, Buford, N. Dakota
Harry L. Brower, Rochester, Ind.
Dora Crabbs
Bessie Dawson - Mrs. Ira Hurst, Wagoners, Ind.
Fred H. Dubois, Rochester, Ind.
M. Lefevre, Dubois, Rochester, Ind.
A. Hugh Elliot
Dorothy F. Fromm - Mrs. I. N. Good, Rochester, Ind.
Ira E. Hoffman, Chicago, Ill.
Trella Harter, Minneapolis, Minn.
Grace Marguerite Holman - Mrs. George Beech, Royal Oak, Mich.
Albert H. King, lumber, Swift, Minn.
Bertha Musser, bookkeeper, Rochester, Ind.
Donald C. Plank, Wilmington, Del.
Hermione H. Rees, Rochester, Ind.
Fatinia B. Shelton - Mrs. Walter Bundy, Richmond, Ind.
Ethel Sickman - Mrs. W. J. Noonan
Guy E. Smith, traveling salesman, Peru, Ind.
W. Frank Scull, leditor, Crown Point, Ind.
1900
Milton Alspach, Rochester, Ind.
Charles C. Brackett, wholesale grocer, Rochester, Ind.
Wilhelmia M. Cornelius, Indianapolis, Ind.
Lena R. Crabbs - Mrs. Fred Cook, Culver, Ind.
Jessie L. Crosby, teacher, Mishawaka, Ind.
Gail I. Elliot - Mrs. Ira Wert, Rochester, Ind.
Emma King - Mrs. Mervin Hammel, Ottumwa, Iowa
Wilson Montgomery, farmer, Rochester, Ind.
Ada Rannells - Mrs. Roy Deniston, Rochester, Ind.
Effie Shafer - Mrs. Charles Brackett, Rochester, Ind.
May Stinson - Mrs. Loyd Millisor, Newark, Ohio
Mary L. Wilder, Rochester, Ind.
1901
Belle Ethel Baker - Mrs. Wilson Montgomery, Rochester, Ind.
Ruth Elliot - Mrs. Carl Jessen, Kewanna, Ind.
Maud Montgomery, University of Wisconsin
Lealda Ethel Stem - Mrs. Lewis Berkhiser, Rochester, Ind.
Henry B. Swartz, Ligonier, Ind.
Roy W. Martindale
1902
Rae Blacketor - Mrs. Ray Wildermuth, Wagoners, Ind.
Grace Bryan, Franklin, Ind.
Mina Levi - Mrs. Clyde Entsminger, Rochester, Ind.
Belle McClure, California
Anna Plank - Mrs. Frank Ensign, Boise City, Idaho
Mabel Rees, teacher, Rochester, Ind.
Edna Sheets, teacher, Rochester, Ind.
Mary Hurst
1903
Charles Burns, cashier, Bank of Indiana, Rochester, Ind.
Elmer J. Crabbs, Chicago, Ill.
Charles B. Crosby, bookkeeper, Mishawaka, Ind.
Clark Cunningham
Lon J. Hoffman
Victor Mygrant, Portland, Ind.
Robert Montgomery, Gary, Ind.
Mae Osborn, teacher, Rochester, Ind.
Lula VanDuyne - Mrs. Amos Burkett, Akron, Ind.
1904
Fred H. Ault, owner saw mill, Warroads, Minn
Marie Campbell, Dayton Ohio
Ruth Caple - Mrs. Antonio M. Delgad, Porto Rico
Caroline S. Crosby, Mishawaka, Ind
Paul S. Emrick, assistant prof. Civil Engineering, Lafayette, Ind.
Della C. Miller, teacher, Rochester, Ind.
George T. Ross, bookstore, Rochester, Ind.
Harold O. Ruh, Western Reserve Medical School, Cleveland, Ohio
Lavina Search, Rochester, Ind.
Earl Troutman, revenue servide, Hammond, Ind.
Ora Trustlov - Mrs. Daniel Colgan, Colgan, N. Dakota
Nellie Wise - Mrs. Fred Miller, Rochester, Ind.
1905
Roy Love, teacher, Rochester, Ind.
Francis Edward Mercer, farmer, Rochester, Ind.
Floyd E. Neff, University of Indiana
Effa King - Mrs. Roy Adamson, Rochester, Ind.
Charlotte Killen - Mrs. Floyd Mattice, Rochester, Ind.
Beryl Meyer, Rochester, Ind
Opha Belle Pletcher, University of Illinois
Francis Margaret Montgomery, teacher, Rochester, Ind.
Fay Studebaker, Kokomo, Ind.
Grace Myrtle Stingly, assistant librarian, Rochester, Ind.
Fern Stockberger, teacher, Rochester, Ind.
1906
Bernard Clayton, insurance agent, Joliet, Ill.
Robert N. Ford, Mitchell auto works, Racine, Wis.
Glen Louderback, teacher, Rochester, Ind.
Carrie Kline, teacher, Delong, Ind.
Clyde Wise, Logansport, Ind.
Virgil C. Robbins, Colorado School of Mines
Nora M. Hines, Kewanna, Ind.
Margaret Stacy - Mrs. Atwell Siegfred, Rochester, Ind.
P. Atwell Siegfred, clerk, Rochester, Ind.
Estey J. Crim, Rochester, Ind.
Carrie Shepherd - Mrs. Adam Ehereman, LaPorte, Ind.
George H. Gift, pharmacist, Elkhart, Ind.
Fred Rhodes, Cornell University
Ethel M. Funk, teacher, Rochester, Ind.
Grace Miles, St. Louis, Mo.
Ada Leonard, teacher, Rochester, Ind.
Fred Ruh
1907
Blythe Buchanan, post office, Rochester, Ind.
Lola Eber,, music instructor, Rochester, Ind.
Bessie Lowry, South Bend, Ind.
Erno Pletcher, Illinois University
Dean L. Barnhart, Indiana University
Bessie Willard - Mrs. Jessie Shelton, Rochester, Ind.
Lenora Condon, bookkeeper, Rochester, Ind.
Raymond Dawson
Arthur Hendrickson, Rochester, Ind.
Mary Baldwin - Mrs. Fred Richardson, Rochester, Ind.
Lyman Gould, University of Chicago
Lester Allman, business, Philadelphia Pa.
Eugene Coplen, pharmacist, Rochester, Ind.
Flavilla Tracy, teacher, Rochester, Ind.
Abbye Wheadon, Rochester, Ind.
Calvin Richter, Purdue
Jeannette Levi, bookkeeper, Rochester, Ind.
Fred Stevenson, University of Michigan
Karl Rausch, Purdue University
Clara Hoffman, , nurse, Chicago, Ill.
Charles Bailey, Lola [ - - -], Bessie Ross, Fred Rhodes [?]
1908
Class of January
Ada Southard, Clinton Tuttle, Mazie Wright, Lura Shore, Cornelia Moore, Edith
Wagoner, Ruth Tracy, Mary F. Stacy
Class of May
Porter Haimbaugh, Clara Allison, Bessie McIntire, Byron Goss, Charles C. Rees,
Harry Buchanan, Irene Chestnut, Frances Elliott, Georgia Onstott, Florence Levi,
Kenneth Veirs.
1909
Verna Esta Anderson, Guy Barr, Madge Elizabeth Bernetha, Mattie Brady, Walter
Wolfe Caffyn, Ethel Elizabeth Condon, Eva Fern Crim, Hubert Harold Douglas,
Theresa Louisa von Ehrenstein, Bertha Mae Ewing, Hugh Levi Foglesong, Harold Lee
Hendrickson, Daniel Earl Karn, Helen Corinne Levi, Gleason Colonel Mackey,
Anabelle Evangeline Marsh, Florence Elizabeth Meiser, Hubert Eldon Mogle, Lyle
Jonathan Pletcher, Vernie Franklin Plough, Roy Harrison Proctor, Charles Edward
Pyle, Emma Katherine Rausch, Alverta Maude Robbins, Bessie Adelle Ross, Lucy
Berrill Ruh, Frank Walter Stevenson, William Harry Southard, Hubert Aladdin
Suman, Nina Emeline Webster
1910
Horatio Stanley Agster, Edna Bitters, Ethel Lenora Black, Edith Bitters, Louise
Condon, Mary Ann Dawson, Louis McLinn Hoover, Bess Elizabeth King, Geraldine
Hull Kindig, Helen Mary Leonard, Arthur Louis Miller, Rosa Mae Miller, Harry
Dean Newcomb, Margaret K. Plank, Elgie Gertrude Thomas, Bonnie Fern Wright
1911
Hugh Barnhart, Margaret Bailey, Anna Batt, Bernice Coplen, Anna Cornelius,
Kathleen Davis, Ernest McIntyre, Brant McKee, Jessie McMahan, Cecilia Peters,
Mildred Pfeiffer, Roscoe Pontius, Fern Pratt, Retha Pratt, Robert Shafer, Ruth
Sheets, Percy Smith, Lyon Terry, Jessie Tingley, Oneida Williams
1912
Alvin Brandt
George Brower, clerk, Rochester, Ind.
Edna Condon
Grace Dillon, teacher, Rochester, Ind.
Harriett von Ehrenstein, Rochester, Ind.
Marie Foglesong, Indiana University
Rugh Grove, Normal, Terre Haute, Ind.
Orville Moon
Clarence Miller, Purdue
Charles Nellans, Medical College, Chicago, Ill.
Alida Newcomb, Rochester, Ind.
Margaret Rees, nurse, Chicago, Ill.
Clara May Robbins, reacher, Rochester, Ind.
Dennis Stockberger, clerk, Rochester, Ind.
Everett Stoner, clerk, Rochester, Ind.
Grace Shelton, Rochester, Ind.
Edna Taylor, teacher, Rochester, Ind.
Marie Turner, Rochester, Ind.
Lucy True, Rochester, Ind.
Ruth Whittenberger, teacher, Rochester, Ind.
William Ward, surveyor, Rochester, Ind.
Tom Ware, Meat Packing Co., Fresno, Cal.
Ruth Wright, nurse, Chicago, Ill.
Edwin Zook, printer, Rochester, Ind.
[NOTE: Manitou Ripples of 1913 listed as RHS Alumni Association]
1913
Byron Johnston, Tellie Coplen, Ruth McCarty, L. V. Louderback, Harold Hoover,
Glendor Irvine, Anna Clayton, Julian Williams, Minnie Cessna, Belmont Suman,
Ruth Wallace, J. Ralph Cline, Irene Holz, Raymond Kirkendall, Esther Grove, H.
Lucius Pfeiffer, Mira Paramore, Carl Keel, Ruth Hughes, Merle Enoc, Howard
Sterner, Loraine Seeley, Donald Ruh, Carrie Miller, John DuBois, Mildred Leiter,
Margaret Stockberger, Rudolph Hudtwalker, Florence Gohn, Walter Miller, Mildred
Bernetha, Harold Davisson, Iva Polley.
[In Memoriam]: "Orville Moon, January 21, 1893 - January 19, 1913, an
industrious, conscientious, faithful student, whose cheerful disposition made
him many friends."
1914
Josephine Davis, Alvin McKinley Masterson, Alice Marie Barkman, Pearl C.
Richards, Genevieve Copeland Smith, Karl Reed Becker, Garrett Hasty Leverton,
Carmen Palmer, Bessie Irene McKee, Naomi Genevere Grove, Fern Marie Mastellar,
Paul Brown Norton, Osa Vern Foor, Hazel Leiter, Katherine Mae Kirkendall, Edyth
Alma Kingery, Allee Belle Whittenberger, Aubra Milton Emmons, Herold Truslow
Ross, Elsie Blanche Gelbaugh, Lara May Holz, Margaret Rose Bitters, Emil Warner,
Edward Browne Schuler, Elva Ethel Snyder, Dean Edward Babcock
1915
Nellie Clayton, Stanley Carr, Eleonora Hanson, Imri Blackburn, Rosella Stoner,
Devon L. Lichtenwalter, Alice McClurg, James McMahan, Robert P. Moore, Isabelle
Carlton, Marcus H. Wright, Ruth Adamson, Murray McCarty, Marian Tatman, J. Bryan
Walters, Louise Bailey, Paul Blacketor, Nettie Overmyer, Joe Castle, Maurine
Bibler, Hubert Taylor, Mazie Davis, Ancil Thompson, Agnes Johnson, Myron Rees,
Ailine Lowman, Glenn Stewart, Irene Chandler, John Black, Ruth Barr, Dean
Mikesell, Vera G. Gohn, Guy Pontius, Zetha McCarter, Geo. N. DuBois, Bertha
Bibler, Tom Black Olive Hardin
["Lest we Forget: Pearl Richards died November 13, 1914]
1916
Irvin Barkman, service AEF
Clarance Chamberlain, Army, France
Agnes McKee, Teacher, Rochester IN
Dorthy Orr, Purdue University
Grace True, Reporter, Rochester IN
Clarke Arnold, Student, DePauw
LeRoy Bacon, Service AEF
George Buchanan, Student, Indiana University
Grant Johnson, Navy, Wabash College
Joe King, Bookkeeper, Rochester IN
Kenneth King, Navy
Lucius Miller, Navy
Billy Mitchell, Bookkeeper
Raymond Murphy
Cyril Rhodes, Purdue University
Fred Robbins, Naval Aviation, Rochester, IN
Fred Robinson, Navy
Ralphe Shelton, Service, Rochester IN
La Verne Smiley, Farmer, Rochester IN
Russell Stacy, Purdue University
Earl Townsend, Farmer, Rochester, IN
Mary Carruthers, Teacher, Rochester IN
Ruth Copeland, Rochester IN
Violet Hanna, Mrs. Harry Schwager, Chenoa IL
Zelda Manning, Mrs. Ralphe Arnold, Rochester IN
Helen Richardson, Mrs. E. Baker, Kokomo IN
Leone Shelton, Student, Indiana University
Louise Shelton, Stenographer, Rochester IN
Faye Stetson, Mrs. Wilson Drudge, Rochester IN
[Manitou Ripples 1919, List of Alumni]
1917
Madge Anderson, Stenographer, Rochester IN
Ralphe Arnold, Bookkeeper, Rochester IN
Mary Barkman
John Barrett, Lumber Dealer, Rochester IN
Vergal Becker, Farmer, Rochester IN
Kathleen Berry, Teacher, Leiters Ford IN
Glen Blackburn, Teacher, Rochester IN
Jerome Chamberlain, Secretary, Rochester IN
Maude Clayton, Teacher, Rochester IN
Maurice Cole, Chicago IL
Grace Ewing, Nurse, Indianapolis IN
Mable Geyer, Mrs. R. B. Sweany, Peoria IL
Louise Gibbons, Stenographer, Gary IN
Dwight Green, Purdue University
Edith Haimbaugh, Mrs. Glen Smiley
Ayrton Howard, Jewelry business, Rochester IN
Bernice King, Nurse, Ft. Wayne IN
Alice Lowe, Teacher, Rochester IN
Virgil Merriot, S.A.T.C., Purdue University
Von Mikesell, Farmer, Rochester IN
Mary Miller, Teacher, Loyal IN
Myra Moon, Mrs. Elzie Blackburn, Rochester IN
Russell Murphy, Farmer S.A.T.C., Rochester IN
Edward Pfeiffer, Indiana University
Bernice Ross, Whitetail MT
Frank Shipley, Purdue University
Elsie Winn, Mrs. Lee Mullen
Marjorie Wrentmore, Teacher, Leiters Ford IN
[Manitou Ripples 1919, List of Alumni]
1918
Retha Baker, Bookkeeper, Rochester IN
Letha Bibler, Bookkeeper, Roochester IN
Alma Cessna, Nurse, Ft. Wayne IN
Edith Chestnutt, Stenographer, Rochester IN
Martha Collins, Bookkeeper, Rochester IN
Jeanette Downs, Post-graduate, Rochester IN
Lola Felder, Alaska
Ruth Hagan, Rochester IN
Ethel Haimbaugh, Teacher, Mentone IN
Nina Holeman, Earlham College
Mildred Leonard, Rochester IN
Evabelle Mercer,Mrs. Maurice Cole, Chicago IL
Sylvia Miller, Stenographer, Washington DC
Mildred Neerman, Teacher, Rochester IN
Ruth Onstott, Rochester IN
Edna Orr, Teacher
Grace Quick, Stenographer, Rochester IN
Pearl Ross, Stenographer, Rochester IN
Hazel Smith, Teacher, Athens IN
Marguerite Veirs, Purdue University
Ethel Wagoner, Stenographer, Rochester IN
Rena Wright, Teacher, Rochester IN
Chas. Byerly, Chicago IL
Dewey Dudgeon, Purdue University
Guy Fields, Service, Rochester IN
Harry Foglesong, Navy, Rochester IN
Peter Hazlett, Student Dental College, Indianapolis IN
Ernest Hendrickson, Electrician, Logansport IN
Jonathan Hurst, Purdue University
Charles Ivey, Earlham College
Harry Karn, S.A.T.C., Rochester IN
Clifford Koch, Farmer, Rochester IN
Deo Lowden, Clerk, Lafayette IN
Raymond Miller, Purdue University
Fred Newby, Rochester IN
Walter Perry S.A.T.C., Rochester IN
Hermann Quinn, Gary IN
Alfred Robbins, Purdue University
Lester Rogers, Farmer, Rochester IN
Harley Schmitt, Purdue University
Dee Wallace, Grocery Clerk, Rochester IN
Howard Wilson, Farmer, Rochester IN
George Wylie, S.A.T.C., Syracuse, NY
Robert Zellar, Farmer, Rochester IN
Ruth Appleman
[Manitou Ripples 1919, List of Alumni]
1919
Alice Becker, George Coplen, Homer Kessler, Mary Burns, Mildred Fultz, Baker
Kilmer, Omer King, Ada Kepler, Hugh Kirkendall, Florence Leiter, Leonard
Newcomb, Mable Nafe, Mable Oliver, William Orr, Lucille Sheward, Robert Rannells,
Max O. Shipley, Jewell Smiley, Helen Van Trump, Robert Shott, Marie Nafe, Grace
Smith, Orville Whitmer, Hester Gribben, Gladys McKee, Maude Sheets, Marry
Mathias, Mildred Sheets, Miriam Vawter, Willard Snyder, Herma Wolf, Lorene
Moore, C'Dale Crabbs, Marie Ewing, Elliott Bailey, Hazel Hunneshagen, Dale
Lichtenwalter, Harold Carruthers, Carmen MacIntyre, Velma Manning
[In Memorium:
This to the five of R. H. S.
Who in this war all have gone "West":
This to the five of R. H. S.
Who in this hour gave all they possessed.
Let man not forget these brave five,
Who in this hour of trial have died;
But ever in ever in R. H. S.
Remember the five who now are at rest.
Augusta Irvine
Dean Mikesell
Raymond Murphy
John W. Black
Verle Madary
1920
Alden Kumler, Josephine Carlton, Sara Terry, Troba McVay, Buren Bybee, Katherine
Leonard, Dennis Miller, Anna Blackburn, Martha Ball, Dessie Wolf, Allen Miller,
Grace Fields, Bernice Eash, Ruth Clayton, George Leonard, Isabelle Farry, Clare
Hower, Isabelle Koch, Margaretta Fristoe, Robert Smith, Elma Daggy, Harry
Onstott, Mary Krom, Ruth Gibbons, Emerson Downs, Opal Manning, Thomas Lawrence,
Helen Rush, Geneva Booker, Cecil Leiter, Lucy Oliver, Earl Holeman, Letta
McMillan, Alida Miller, Milo Collins, Cecile Kelly, Albert Leiter, Bernice Eash,
Jeanette Sowers, Fred Mitchell, Annabelle Veirs, Wilber Irvine
1921
Winston Robbins, Maleta Paschall, Paul Mathias, Arthur Fieser, Mabel Brubaker,
Herbert Hardin, Mabel Hendrickson, Emerson Nafe, Lawrence Babcock, Byron Murphy,
Dorothy O'Blenis, Harold Kochenderfer, Vera Gregson, Mary Heeter, William Downs,
Dee Miller, Irene Easterday, Joe Schaaf, Ruth Downs, Charles Richardson, Alice
Vawters, Lee Fugate, Ruth Peeples, Harry Rosborg, Glendon Shore, George Gregson,
Lillian Schreyer, Robert Hoffman, Olive Hendrickson, Donald Brower, Perry
Richardson, Ernest Johnson, Paul Winters, Raymond Gohn, Fred Van Duyne, Walter
Smith, Mary Ruth Brown
1922
Howard Pontious, Margaret Wilson, Katherine Perschbacher, Robert Allen,
Marguerite Beatty, Roland Haimbaugh, Mary Swabey, Harry Nafe, Catherine McKee,
George Mizer, Lepha Musselman, Medrith Perschbacher, Devane Felts, Edith
Robbins, Lester Crabbs, Vernon Daggy, Hilda Kochenderfer, Emerson Zimmerman,
Clifford Downs, Jeanette Noftsger, LeRoy Madary, Winnifred Miller, Arnie Kindig,
Helen Lowe, Cecil Jones, Pauline Moonshower, Robert Swinehart, Minnie
Stockberger, Edith Teems, Irene Shott, Estel Rowles, Fern Taylor, Clyde Neff,
Hazel Gohn, Don Nichols, Jessie Wright, Robert Murphy, Marjorie Metzler, Oren
Mathias, Mildred Haggerty, Lois Fields, Eva McMahan
1923
Margaret Carruthers, George Hurst, Esther Overmyer, Gurley Mae Chastain, Walter
Morse, Margaret Bryant, Dean Stinson, Ruth Shuman, Annabelle Davis, Francis
Carlton, Pauline Cook, Pauline Gordon, Miriam Miller, Victor Mikesell, Dean
McMahan, Helen Finney, Byron Bailey, Ida Hays, Palmer Bussert, Helen Delp, Nina
Zimmerman, Oris King, Free Love Newcomb, Ernest Wales, Evelyn Shonk, Alice
Black, Harold King, Cleo Fugate, Howard Knicklebine, Helen Mathias, Helen Brown,
Arthur Myers, Herbert Zimmerman, Robert Chamberlain, Helen Osborne, Jean
Rannells, Joe Hendrickson, Almyrta Bligh, Page Leiter, Dorothy Conkle, Belva
Shobe, John Fraley, Doshia Wilhoit, Ralph Terry, Leona Rinehart, Edna Brown,
Milo Hoffman, Ruth Hoffman, Kermit Calloway, Zulah Barkman, Bessie Marriot, Roy
Haggerty, Harlan Thompson, Donald Kumler
1924
Myers Deems, Louise Metzler, Mary Carlton, Pauline Goss, Lowell Oliver, Orvan
VanLue, Crystal Tipton, Edith Pierce, Leon Sheetz, Daurcy Wright, Effie Borden,
Helen Fenstermacher, Luther Manning, Narcissus Sowers, Ruth Lichtenwalter,
Donald Zegafuse, Marion Gohn, Marietta Taylor, Kathryn Hunneshagen, Steele
Norris, Elding Clayburn, Arizona Hamlet, Wilma Smith, Richard Van Dien, Wyle G.
Bonine, Mary Alice Hendrickson, Robert Walters, Ralph Jurgensmeyer, Margaret
Neerman, Yetta Entsminger, Howard Carr, Franklin Smiley, Nondas Sheets, Frances
Jones, Franklin Wagoner, Doris Cessna, Pauline Morgan, Ruth Beck, Russell
Miller, Charles Jones, Mabel Kelly, Ruth Carruthers, James Perry, Coral Steffy,
Hazel Marsh, Paul Meyers, Robert Pyle, Blanche Kennell, Marguerite Shott, David
Deamer, Carl Batz, Eva Miller, Evadean Leedy
[In Memoriam: Hugh Murphy, Died March 1, 1924. A friend of everyone who knew
him. He was a member of the Senior Class and his death is mourned by all his
friends and classmates. Wilbur Teeter, Died March 5, 1924. As a member of the
Freshman Class he won the respect and confidence of all who knew him and his
tragic death was a bitter shock to the whole school.]
1925
John Leonard, Wilnetta Shore, Helen Chamberlain, Edward Ravencroft, Marjorie
Curtis, Margaret Sowers, Milton Whittenberger, Bernice Hagan, Irene Smith,
Kenneth Kochenderfer, Mildred Tobey, Faye Sheets, Serena Gelbaugh, Russel
Smiley, Martha Hood, Burnadetta Cline, Mildred Batz, Pauline Pontius, Mark
Oliver, Kathryn Thornburg, Clarence Alexander, Elma Myers, Vada McCarter, Laurel
Kenyon, Arnold Spurlock, Marjorie Biddinger, Dorothy Spohn, Ned Hart, Abe Krom,
Maude Sturken, Mary Jane Bunn, Dale Felts, Howard Chamberlain, Helen Shuman,
Fern Beehler, Carl Barnett, Denise Daggy, Eva Severns, Raymond Pontius,
Henrietta Brubaker, Leora Crabbs, Harley McGee, Pauline McIntyre, Louise Morrett,
John Ravencroft, Helen Moore, Mable Riddle, Charley McGee, Leah Downs, Opal
Briney, Orlen Kepler, Mildred Manning, Joe Barnette, Pauline Bryant, Marie
Kessler, Walker Arven, Linley Chamberlain, Fred Nicodemus, Barr Montgomery,
George Gordon, Harold Goss, Harold Swartwood
[In Memoriam: Robert Mogle, Born May 27, 1908, Died July 18, 1924, Class of
1925; Helen Rynearson, Born March 9, 1905, Died October 29, 1924, Class of 1925]
1926
James Atkinson, Marjorie Downs, Joe Arnold, Joe Shelton, Ralph Kirkendall,
Mildred Thompson, Deverl Carr, Velma Fore, Ollivene Kumler, Dale Zimmerman, Mary
Frances Waller, Forrest Wertz, Harriet Moore, Frances Whitney Curtis, Fred
Miller, Anna Belle Burkett, Mary Long, Amelia Doyle, Dorothy Deniston, Elizabeth
Stehle, Leon Babcock, George Bligh, Virginia Emma Barger, Harold Darnall,
Annabel Noftsger, Everett Lichtenwalter, Esther Thrush, Mildred Hearn, Marie
Newell, Edith Hurst, Juanite Ambler, Wesley Mills, Ferman Mow, Mercedes Becker,
Luther Keel, Donald Swartwood, Miriam Hetzner, Esther Zegafuse, Isabel Rans,
Josephine Smith, Mary Newell, Lura Zimmerman, Agnes O'Blenis, Lawrence Holland,
Mabel Souder, Mildred Pauline Kale, Floyd Gaumer, George Foster, Jackson
Brubaker, Nilah Norris, Mabel Whittenberger, Kenneth Piper, George Krom, Bernice
Carr, Dorothy Smiley, Maybelle Mohler, Wilma Kochenderfer, Laura Ancharstrand,
Howard Rowe, Joe Van Duyne, Virgil Kindig, Ruth Markley, Donnabelle Coakley
1927
Clifford Sriver, Roy Fultz, Catherine Myers, Porter Sibert, Nila Ambler, Mary
Margaret Wylie, George Foster, Madge Dillon, Thelma DuBois, Violet Heeter, Hugh
Tobey, Ray Coplen, Bonneita Ream, Edith Henderson, Edgar L. House, Clifford
Fields, Eunice Adams, Helen Miller, Telford Conrad, Allison Haimbaugh, Lavonna
Bailey, Margaret Coon, Carl Parker, Clarence Carr, Annabelle Yike, Josephine
Gordon, Joseph Horton, John Shafer, Stella Von Bailey, Elizabeth Norris,
Lorraine Moore, Charles Sheridan, Richard Crowder, Lois Shobe, Forest Leiter,
Ruth Kelley, Lora Sheets, Paul Rockwell, Robert L. Kenyon, Kathleen Mullican,
Harold Karn, Nila Daggy, Howard Wertzberger, Mae Pierce, Genevieve E. Shobe,
Barrett Irvine, Merle Blacketor, Jessie Rogers, Irene G. Fultz, Myron Berkheiser,
Doc Miller, Martha Sheets, Lawrence Ketchmark, Beulah Shonk, Lola Bick, Clarence
Wynn, Lawrence Delp, Opal Overmyer, Howard Swartwood, Grace Babcock, Elsie spohn,
Virgil Miller, Viola Jones, Donald Sheets, Willodean Ball, Evangeline L. Holman
1928
Robert Richardson, Kathryn Atkinson, Rebabelle McMahan, Lyman Burkett, William
Bussert, Thelma Smith, Frances Bryant, Donald Terry, Alfred Sibert, Helen Ysberg,
Helen Vawter, Lawrence Ketchmark, Richard Smith, Nina Piper, Louis Foster,
Eleanor Mann, Isabel Goss, Howard Stoner, Henry Skidmore, Billie Brown, Maurine
Jefferies, Cecil Fenstermaker, Paul Conkle, Ercel Powell, Miriam Kennel, Thelma
Overmyer, Laura Foy, Arthur Sheets, Herbert Myers, Elnora Hudkins, Orville
Severns, Aletha McVay, Audrey Lowe, Robert Krathwohl, Daniel Flynn, Lorene
Drudge, Betty Carter, Donald Davis, Wilbur Powell, Mary Delp, Anna Baldwin,
Victor Arven, Louise Rogers, Mary Jane Hood, Hubert Whittenberger, Isabel
Haimbaugh, Lola Heeter, Ralph Conaway, Deverl Frye, Charleen Raymer, Marjorie
Fretz, Hubert Shott, Herman Jones, Annabell Yike, John Bradley, Ward Wiley
1929
Maurice Carruthers, Marvin Moonshower, Lenorabell Snyder, Nadine Adams, Wayne
Bacon, Lyle Bailey, William Baldwin, Horatio Blacketor, Emery Bowman, Pauline
Brown, Arthur Brubaker, Laura Campbell, Ruth Carr, Page Coplen, Zelma Crabill,
Marjorie Dague, Zora Downey, Miriam Entsminger, Vera Feece, Morton Freese,
Meriam Graeber, Frank Greer, Omer Haimbaugh, Howard Hayes, Curtner Heath, Paul
Hoge, Harold Hoover, Marjorie Hoover, Cleon Kindig, Margaret Koch, Burdell
Leiter, Emily Mann, Marjorie Manning, Katherine McCarter, Robert McMahan,
Emeline Metzler, Arthur Mikesell, Helen Miller, Hiram Miller, Robert Miller, Lee
Moore, Harry Newell, Elim Osborn, Henrietta Overmyer, Kathleen Raymer, Wayne
Robertson, Zorah Ross, Thelma Sanders, Betty Shafer, Lucille Shaffer, Paul
Shaffer, Irene Smith, Liston Smith, Martin Souder, Harold Spurlock, Byron
Studebaker, Luther Walter, Hilda West, Clayton Whisman, Opal Williams, Ruby
Williams, Marjorie Wilson, Mary Woodcox, Helen Wright, Orpha Yoder, Wilma
Zimmerman
1930
Mary Edna Ducker, Donald Pontius, Ethel Kersey, Kyle Thompson, Rachel Hoge,
Edward Griebe, Frances Sibert, John Wilson, Claribel Myers, Harold Abbott,
Medrith Brower, James Nixon, Donna Brooks, Francis Stoner, Bernice Casper,
Chester Knicklebine, Josephine Belding, Roy Daggy, Martha Moonshower, Porter
Whisman, Dorothy Greer, Ronald Powell, Martha Alice Brown, Francis Blacketor,
Mary Tobey, Miriam Shobe, Russel Black, Gene Johnston, Bill Wertzberger, Clarice
Moore, Gwendolyn Van Dien, Victor Hoover, Eva Rowe, Floyd Kindig, Helen Eber,
Elizabeth Richter, Donald Rans, Grace Eash, Omer Coplen, Leah Keel, Margaret
Foster, Alden Lichtenwalter, Lula Mae Morrett, Eugene Gelbaugh, Annabel Woodcox,
Florence Overmyer, Bennie Daulton, Elsie Adams, Clem Piper, Elva Butler, Cecil
Patterson, Belva Cleland, Howard Collins, Josephine Mutchler, Lee Moore, Mary
Davis, Harold Newcomer, Mildred Russell
[In Memoriam, Billy Priest, A member of the class of 1933, Died November 15,
1929]
1931
John Shipley, Ernest Bonine, Devereux Cessna, LeRoy Frobish, Dolores Karn,
Marguerite Scheid, Harold Morrett, Mary Jane Alspach, Donald Miller, George
Dague, Edna Nichols, Billy Deniston, Mary Ambler, James Coplen, Harold Cooper,
Mary Alice Shonk, Robert Allen, Marguerite Walter, Oden J. Barger, Edith Alspach,
William Morgan, Burnette Strong, Thomas Hunt, Mary Alice Vernon, Robert Stoner,
Madge Carr, Vine Curtis, Mabel Curtis, Ancil Michael, Forest Skidmore, Dorothy
Wilson, Robert Van Duyne, Ruth Conkle, Howard Henderson, Bernice Baldwin,
Pauline Russell, Irene Sampsel, Ruth Wolfe, Eugene Kelley, Dorcas DuBois, Lois
Gaumer, Forest Rans, Mary Rice, Luther Herbster, Guy Moore, Maleta Brubaker,
Archie Marriott, Lois Zegafuse, Mildred Rouch, Kenneth Castleman, Merle
Blacketor, Hubert Van Lue
1932
Jimmy Brackett, Mildred Barkman, Marjorie Thompson, Cathryn Knickelbine, Hazel
Brown, James Peterson, Dora Rowe, Robert W. Hartung, Richard V. Rogers, Marjorie
Perry, Van Brown, Helen Sheridan, Helen Barkman, Alfred Nixon, Earl Bailey, Ruth
Pletcher, Ferne Quinn, Opal Mann, Thomas Clark, Hannah Hood, Byron Fretz, Zetta
DuBois, Ruth Eber, Florence Ducker, Juanita Lebo, Wendell Tombaugh, Ruth Spohn,
Mary Zartman, Rolland Meiser, Rachel Conrad, Helen House, Deloy Kindig, Earl
Osborn, Doris Page, Veryl Marie Adams, Byron Shore, Francis Raymer, Esther
Lehman, Virginia Carruthers, Woodrow Rynearson, Carolyn Barr, Harlin Showley,
Fern Bolinger, Mabel Gordon, Elizabeth Van Trump, Hugh Moore, Katherine Masters,
Blanch Yeazel, Albertus Van Dien, Alice Delp, Helen R. Leiter, Watson Curtis,
Howard Shireman, Hazel McCalla, Thelma C. Kester
1933
[no annual - 1933 graduates from The News-Sentinel, Rochester, Indiana,
Saturday, May 13, 1933, Station R.H.S.]
Hugh Blacketor, Kline Blacketor, Herbert Beck, Esther Beck, Dorothy Batchelor,
Darwin Braman, Violet Bryant, Edwin Carithers, Clarabelle Carr, Herman Coplen,
Maurice Coplen, Lloyd Craig, Patricia Davisson, Lloyd Dawson, Ben DuBois. Arthur
Dickinson, Paul Ducker, Howard Ewen, Harry Fitzell, Catherine Foster, Richard
Frill, Betty Ginther, John Keim, Pauline Kindig, Mable Kline, Geneva
Klopfenstein, Louise Meader, Walter Meader, Marguerite Mitchell, Florence Moore,
Hugh Moore, Robert Osborn, Wilma Pike, Annabelle Pontious Martha Quick, John
Richardson, Donald Rouch, Lola Strong, Dola Taylor, Annabelle Walters, Margaret
Weber, Virgil Whisman, Claretta Wolfe, Edgar Young and George Thompson.
1934
James L. Allison, Myra Alspach, Maxine Ambler, Betty Bailey, Dorothy Bailey,
Edgar Baney, Mabel Barkman, Pauline O. Barnhardt, Ethel Blacketor, Fred Brower,
Devern Brubaker, Irene Brunson, Ruth Cannon, Helen Louise Carithers, Christine
Carlson, Rosa Mary Worrell, Eldon Cessna, Lewis H. Cleland, Lela Davis, Rose
Dickinson, Viola Eisenman, Lillian Fenstermaker, Joe Gilbert, Alice Gilliland,
James Ginther, Lester Gordon, Louise Haggerty, George Haimbaugh, Lucille E.
Hoffman, Hugh Holman, Jr., Lester J. Leman, James Mandleco, Wohrer Malaby, Gail
Moore, Marjorie McClung, W. Carson McGuire, Frances Neff, Mabel Nixon, June
Overmyer, Anna Ruth Piper, Mary Pyle, Myron C. Reed, Ralph Reddick, Rhea A.
Rogers, Ellen Sanders, Helen Sausaman, Barbara Shafer, David Shafer, Elnora
Showley, Marguerite Slonaker, Frank Smith, Mary Frances Sturken, Mary Anne Van
Dien, Martha Van Trump, Bill Wagoner, Martha Walters, Mary Whittenberger
1935
Claude Brubaker, Barbara Deniston, Jess Brown, Helen Dague, Mary Adams, Robert
Babcock, Bert Bender, Marjory Braman, James Deardorff, Dean Ault, James Barnes,
Alvada Bick, Jeanette Bryant, Jean Foster, Leona Good, Conde Holloway, Marietta
Krieghbaum, Bettie Manchester, Emerson McMahan, Dick Heeter, Ralph Hudkins,
Agnes Little, Bill McCall, George McMahan, Frances McMillen, Ernest Miller,
Ernest Newman, George Osborn, Lewis Polk, Charlotte Miller, Eileen Mullican,
Bill Nicholson, Pauline Osborn, Byron Quick, Avis Reddick, Fredrick Ruh, Robert
Smiley, Cecil Taylor, John Vernon, Josephine Rowe, Bill Skidmore, James Snyder,
Josephine Thompson, John Weigle
1936
Max Bailey, Russel Parker, Warren Wise, June Ault, Betty Jane Baker, Edith
Barker, Earl Barkman, Lester D. Beck, Margaret Becker, James Bowell, Evelyn
Brubaker, Wilma Bryant, Byron F. Carr, George William Carr, Ida Katherine Carr,
Herbert W. Clay, Joe E. Conaway, Donald Countryman, Barbara Darr, June Davis,
Odessa Field, Eileen Garner, Joanne Ginther, Doris Harper, Maribelle Harter,
George Haynes, Kathleen Heeter, Madelyn Herbster, Florence Lucille Irvine,
Albert Jennens, Ruth Jennens, Chas. Kochenderfer, Eileen McQuiston, Keith L.
Miller, Laurence Miller, Robert C. Miller, Margaret Nelson, Robert Pletcher,
Donald Polk, Margaret Pyle, Donald J. Robertson, Robert Rose, Virginia Rose,
Norine Skidmore, Doris Slonaker, Mary Jane Smith, Frederick Snyder, Omer Spohn,
Elizabeth Swartz, Irene Townsend, Kathryn Van Lue, Audrey Weaver, Louise
Willard, Russell Williams, Sara Jane Zimmerman, Esther Miller
1937
Ruby Adams, James Ambler, Tom Baldwin, Deverl Becker, Catherin Bemenderfer, Jack
Bigler, Bonnie Mae Blacketor, Bob Bradley, Marie Brock, Ellamae Brown, Joan
Camblin, Emelyn Castle, Betty Conkle, Charles Coplen, Walter Dickinson, George
Haynes, Kenneth Jagger, Frances Johnson, Evelyn Keesey, Jean Kissinger, Dorothy
Leman, Betty Meader, Ivan Michael, Margaret Miller, Ralph Miller, Phyllis
Mitchell, Dorothy Moore, Ida Kathryn Moore, Vivian Moore, Bob Morris, Mildred
Neeves, Forest Pike, Mary Pletcher, Joe Quick, Donna Rhoda, Robert Richards,
Reuben Rynearson, John Smiley, James Smith, Bob Taylor, Stanley Teel, Norma Jean
Truax, Donald Werner, James Williams, Evelyn Zellers
1938
Frederick Eugene Gordon, Cecil Polk, Carl Gordon, Joe Ault, Elizabeth Adams,
Joan Barr, Marguerite Bemenderfer, Naomi Bender, Georgia Belle Berrier, Bernice
Blacketor, Clem Bowen, Jr., Dorothy Bryant, Marjorie Carithers, Marjorie Clay,
Freda Cook, Wilbur Coon, Kathleen Coplen, Garry Daniels, Burl Eber, Dottie
Estabrook, Agnes Fleming, Bill Gilliland, John C. Gray, Helen Haimbaugh, Eloise
Hanks, Marilee Hatch, Gladys Herrell, Dale Jagger, Trenson Kline, Harold
Knicklebine, Virginia Mahnke, Mary Mathias, Helen McDougle, Mary McDougle, Bill
McKee, Eva McKee, Norman E. Meiser, Burk Boyd Miller, Howard Mosher, Doris May
Newby, Mary Helen Nixon, Geraldine Park, Lorene Peterson, Ted L. Reed, Mary
Frances Ross-Shannon, Philip Shafer, Helen Sloderbeck, Dean Smiley, Louis W.
Stretch, Judy Sutherland, Mary Thrush, Edna Tobey, Anne Van Trump, Arthur
Weaver, Jim Williams, Martha Wilson, Anita Zimmerman, James W. Zimmerman
1939
James Smith, William Rusler, Richard Brackett, Wayne Daulton, Deloris Arven,
Richard Baber, Betty Lou Barnette, David Barnhardt, Ruth Beaudoin, Frances
Berrier, Mary Jane Bowers, Maxine Brown, Walter Brown, Natalie Burgett, Jay
Carr, Glenn Cleland, Mary Elizabeth Clemens, Louise Clupper, Lou Jean Conover,
Grace Conrad, Glen Daulton, Marcia Davis, Zanna Davisson, Robert De Bruler, Leo
Dubois, Edward Floyd, Donald Hartung, George Dale Holloway, Margaret Imhoof,
Mildred Alice Irvine, Jean Deverl Johnston, Richard Kesler, Eugene Koch, Richard
Landon, Helen McCalla, Eugene McIntyre, Betty McKee, Arthur J. Miller, Jack
Miller, Jake Miller, Annabelle Moore, Helen Moore, Joan Myers, Harriett Overmyer,
Marcia Pontius, Virginia Quackenbush, Rosanna Ruh, Louise Sheets, Don Smiley,
Ruth Smiley, Jane Smith, Richard Smith, Eddie Snyder, Gene Thompson, Jim Tobey,
Helen Tucker, Dorothy Vernon, Helen Wilson, Mildred Ann Wylie, Donald Young,
Betty Zellers, Lester Zeller
1940
Charles Alspach, Nelson Anderson, Louise Ault, Imogene Baber, Lou Edith Baker,
James Boyce, Warren Braman, Joanna Briney, Melvin Bryant, Dorothy May Brock,
Jean Calvin, Kathleen Cann, Ruth Clifford, Genevere Elizabeth Cook, Virgil
Darkwood, Virginia Delp, Frances Eshelman, Ida Fingerle, Catherine Fred, Firmer
Glassley, Raymond Goss, Arletta Harper, Billa Hartung, Frederick Hoffman, Dale
Johnston, Elizabeth Kent, Betty Jean King, Charles King, Robert Mathias, Mable
McGrath, Wilmer McIntire, Charlotte Medaris, Jean Miller, Betty Murray, Mary
Jane Osborn, Lucyanna Peterson, Mary Louise Polk, Mary Reddick, Ted Riley, Bill
Ritchie, Francis Rogers, Marvin Rose, Betty Sherrard, Mary Virginia Shore,
Richard Smith, Martha Jean Stretch, Annabelle Taylor, Mary Eunice Taylor, John
Taylor, Betty Thrush, Arthur Thomas Updike, Frederick Van Dien, Willetta Van Lue,
Dee Wallace, Jean Wilson, Betty Yike, James Yike
1941
Deverle Abbott, Keith Barts, Fred Bemenderfer, Charles Robert Bigler, Lawrence
Brown, Betty Carr, Westel Carr, Bob Cessna, Deloise Cunningham, Kathleen LaVonne
Emmons, Emerson Enyart, Kenneth A. Enyart, Marjorie Ann Fenstermaker, Kathleen
J. Fore, DeVon H. Graham, Margaret Gregory, Dixie Louise Harvey, Charles L.
Killion, Marietta Kindig, Pat Krieghbaum, Bette Miller, Edward Miller, Joanne
Miller, Dale Milliser, Harold Moore, Jean Neighbor, Barbara Newell, Jack K.
Overmyer, Harvey Palmer, John Richards, Harry Rush, Richard E. Sherbondy,
Frederick Dale Smiley, Don Stout, Martha Jean Smith, John D. Taylor, Vivian
Thrush, Helen J. Werner, John Wise, Lionel W. Young, Fred Zellers
1942
Joanna Ault, Bonita Babcock, Clyde E. Bick, Richard Booher, Charles Boyce,
Calvin Braman, Lou Jean Briggs, Grace Brown, Jean Brubaker, Charles Burget,
Frank Carrithers, Dean Carr, Betty Castle, Donna Castleman, Ildia Cook, Shirley
Cooper, Art Craig, Bill Daggy, Martha Day, George Deardorff, Jean Emmons, Harold
Emmons, Betty Evans, Pearl Fancil, Leo Feece, Lucy Gilbert, Jean Gohn, Virginia
Graham, Arphelia Ann Hamlett, Ilo Helt, Marjorie Hight, Hugh Hunneshagen, Betty
Jennens, Mary Kindig, Olive Jane Koomler, Mary Lamb, Dustin G. Loman, Helen
Maglecic, Ward McCarty, Frances McGuire, Donnabelle Mikesell, Martha Miller,
Billy Myers, Dean Neher, Bob Neighbor, Dick Newell, Harold Jan Nightlinger,
Selena Peterson, Marcele Reddick, Betty Reed, Bob Ross-Shannon, Jim Shelton,
Weldon Sherrard, DeVon Shuman, Hadden Stewart, Art Swango, Milton Thacker, Dick
Tobey, Bill Willard, Margery Wilson, Ida Young, Dick Young, Robert Zeller
1943
Maxine Bailey, June Barts, Elwyn Becker, Bob Bennett, Carolyn Bowers, Robert
Brown, Ellen Bunnell, Bob Burns, Joseph Callahan, Harriett Carr, Carolyn Coplen,
Virginia Denton, Tom DuBois, Lois Herendeen, Marjorie Hoffman, Harriett Hogue,
Doyne Hoover, Jack Killion, Malcolm Kestner, Dick King, Bill Krieghbaum, June
Mathias, Jean McDougle, Mary E. Moore, Bill Myers, Mary Lou Newcomb, Don Potter,
Janis Reed, Wanda Remy, Kathryn Rogers, Marjorie Rynearson, Maurice Sadowsky,
Dick Sanders, Joe Sparks, Joe Stansbury, Max Teeter, Russell Thompson, Bill
Tippy, Evelyn Van Duyne, Bob Wagnor, Walter Weber, Alice Jean Zimmerman
1944
Billie Adamson, Peggy Frances Ball, Gale Frederick Barter, Frances Bringham,
Robert Brown, Paul J. Burns, Dorothy Carr, James E. Carruthers, William Cessna,
Evelene Cook, Francis Coplen, John Davis, Harley R. Denton, Virginia Louise
Dovichi, Bill Downs, Lola Ekblaw, John Flora, Jr., Lois Gordon, Plyllis Ann
Graham, Naomi J. Hight, Robert E. Jackson, Richard E. Kindig, Robert McKelvey,
Kathryn Lynch, Robert Merkert, Frederick Mitchell, Mary Katherine Moore, Arnold
Murray, Willis Nickell, Mary Louise Norris, Patricia Potter, Don Reed, Betty
Russell, Francis Sanders, Geraldine J. Schafer, Virginia Schindler, Eldon
Shultz, Walter Donovan Smith, Jane Anne Smith, Charles Spohn, Jr., William
Stephen, Bonnie Lee Stretch, Mae Van Duyne, Margaret Wilhoit, Jo Ann Wright,
Betty Maxine Zartman, Nedra Zimmerman, Annabelle Zolman
1945
Tom Aylesworth, Ethel Baker, Mary Kathryn Beck, Jordon Blumenthal, James Bowers,
Paul Zartman, Frances Castleman, Bob Caywood, Dick Clary, Vernice Craig, Velma
Dague, Robert Deardorff, John Fultz, Duane Gohn, John Helt, Catherine Henriott,
Roberta Hunneshagen, Bill Huxley, Rose Mary Huxley, Suzanne Kaye, Fred Keim,
Jack Kern, Genevieve Kestner, Helen Kindig, Betty Leckrone, Maxine Masters,
Muriel Mathias, Kathleen McDougle, Joan Miller, Bob Murphy, Wanetta Neher,
Joanne Newcomb, Engrid Peterson, Carlyn Read, Duane Remy, Richard Rogers, Dick
Ross, Bill Schroer, Nancy Scull, Sally Shafer, Eldon Shepherd, Jane Sisson,
Betty Snyder, Camille Thompson, Frederick Van Duyne, Randall Westwood, Jim
Willard, Donna Zolman
1946
Mary Abbott, Jessie Alderfer, Rosemary Ault, Francis Babcock, Parke Baxter,
Frances Bearss, June Becker, Dick Berry, Virginia Best, Evelyn Bick, Robert
Bilyew, Gene Bryant, Catherine Carruthers, Virginia Cleland, Corinne Cox, Robert
E. Delp, Wilma Dittmer, Richard Downs, Wallace Ewer, Kathryn Felix, Alberta
Glassley, Robert Gohn, Melvin Hays, Patricia Hoffman, Pearly Johnson, Franklin
Lindley, Jolene Messman, Charles B. Miller, John Max Miller, Richard Miller,
Phyllis Newcomb, Marjorie Newman, Jack Pickens, Suzanne Rankin, Elnora Rouch,
Robert Rouch, John Sheetz, Louise Smith, Georgia Ann Snyder, Mary Jo Sowers,
Janis Thacker, Jack Tippy, Bill Wagoner, Harold Wright, Luanne Zimmerman
1947
Claude Atkinson, Fred Baker, Ramona Caywood, Richard Cook, Willidean Cumberland,
Eileen Enyart, John Eshelman, Lois Baker, Bob Bergman, Robert Clemans, Charles
Conover, Gloria Ensign, Jean Eshelman, Georgia Fenstermaker, Virginia Goss,
Charles Helt, Russell Heyde, Nancy Kumler, Patty Leckrone, Kenneth Melton, Ralph
Miller, Arlen Hammond, James Henriott, Dora Anne Keim, Lois Lang, Tad Louderback,
Claretta Mikels, Robert Moore, Anna Neff, John Nelson, Jack Sayger, Bill Smith,
Janice Spohn, Juanita Thompson, Katherine Townsend, Gerald Neff, Ted Olsen,
Barbara Smiley, James Spencer, Virginia Stewart, Dean Timbers, Jean Van Lue,
James Watson, Orville Weiske, Fred Wideman, Winsell Zartman, Janice Weller,
Wayne Wilson, Betty Woodcox
1948
Patricia Ann Abell, Joe Barts, Peggy Betcher, Manford Alber, Wendell Bearss,
Betty Bowman, Marijo Alexander, Don Beattie, Glen Bryant, Frank Ascensio, Ned
Bemenderfer, Belva Burns, Norma Bussert, Barbara Cleland, Ted C. Davis, Kermit
H. Calloway, Bob Clevenger, Irma Denton, Otto Carothers, Byron Conrad, Marjorie
Denton, Dick Clay, Gerald Damas, Lois Eastlund, Carl Enyart, Gordon Hedges,
Francis Jones, Lois Gilger, Marily Hunneshagen, Patty Keel, Mae Ginther, Lynn
Iler, Jack King, Carl Grube, Barbara Jarrette, Howard Lease, Gordon Lebo,
Charles N. Miller, Nancy Newell, Patricia Ann McCalla, Janice Miller, Jerry
Oliver, Joy McConkey, Donna Carol Mitchell, Dean Perdue, Albert Melton, Maxine
Mueller, Lola Pierce, Susan Richardson, Rosanna Ross, Joan Schafer, Ruby Robeson,
Don Roy, Jack W. Schindler, Charles Rogers, James Rudd, Louis Schroer, Dick
Rosenbury, Wilson Sadowsky, Patricia Servis, Phyllis Jean Shultz, Jeanne Spohn,
Mary Virginia Tabler, Albert Smith, Marjorie Steininger, Dave Taylor, Glen
Southerton, Bob Stocking, Marilyn Taylor, John Sparks, Ola Stubblefield, Jack
Thompson, Anna Marie Upp, John D. Van Lue, Peggy Voorhees, Bob Wilkinson, Dorney
Willard, Earl Wayne Wilson, Jim Zeller
1949
Mary Alber, Waldo Baker, Gloria Barter, Gloria Baxter, Lorna Breseke, Alice
Bringham, Joan Burns, Marilyn Bussert, Ralph Calvert, Martha Cantwell, John
Carlson, Hilda Carr, Bonnie Castleman, Anna Cessna, Mary Ellen Church, Cleta
Cloud, Phyllis Collins, Bob Daake, Mary Dague, Jerry Day, James Durkes, Harland
Ehlinger, Kenneth Felts, Ann Foster, Rosemary Gohn, Patsy Good, Dick Greer, Bob
Helt, Jacqueline Hinkle, Bill Hoffman, Bob Holmes, Martha Hopper, Carl Howard,
Burton Jones, Charles Jones, Harvey Keim, Mickey Jo Mathias, Yvonne McMurray,
Suzanne Mitchell, Mildred Miller, Mary Ann Mullen, Marlene Murphy, Bill Musick,
Alvena O'Blenis, Mary Lou O'Connell, Jack Oliver, Edna Perdue, Gene Pickens,
Ward Polley, Bill Ray, Gene Reno, Donald Rock, Virginia Sanders, Florence
Schroeder, Charlene Sheetz, Jim Smith, Robert Smith, Bertha Souther, Jim Bob
Stewart, Beverly Styck, Bonnie Summers, Virgil Sutton, Frances Taylor, Joan
Ilene Thomas, Don Van Horn, Betty Jo Vernon, Irene Weiske, Marjorie Wideman,
Fred Wood, George Wright, John Yike, Jack Zartman, Mary Zimmerman
1950
Victor Arven, George Babarik, Shelley Isabell Baker, Ray Booher, Spearl Bradley,
Jacquelyn Lou Brown, Barbara Ann Carlson, Bill Dague, Dick Davidson, Doyt D.
Davies, Charles Denton, Diane J. Elin, Joan Ewing, Dorothy Fay Grube, Velma Jean
Hahne, Mary Lou Herrell, Jay Allen Heyde, Bob Hill, Joe L. Hixon, Donna Jeanne
Jarrette, Jeannie Johnson, Catherine Kirkpatrick, Geraldine Joan Knauff, Ann
Kumler, William D. Marshall, Keith Mathias, Marcia McGee, Monna Jo McKinney,
Gerald Thomas Melton, Peyton Ronald Morris, Maralyn Lee Myers, Phyllis Neff,
Marcia Newcomb, Warren Nickell, Jr., Edward Ogle, Phyllis Onstott, Alta Perry,
Donna Pickens, Robert Popovich, Douglas Powell, Kenneth Eugene Reddick, James
Rhinehart, Jack L. Robinson, Devon Lee Showley, Glen Shriver, Esther Slonaker,
Martha Jane Smiley, James O. Smith, Robert M. Smith, Richard Sowers, John
Russell Stewart, Roy D. Swartz, Roberta Faye Thompson, Joyce Timbers, Wava
Yvonne Watson, Denny Wertzberger, Edith Woodcox, Victor Zartman
1951
Lois Glenn Alderfer, Ramon Ascencio, Ruth Marilyn Azbell, Martha Baldwin, Sarah
Ann Barts, Marilyn Bayles, Helen Beck, Jack Beery, Lalla Jane Boswell, Merlene
Bradley, Minnie Jean Bradley, Laurel Burnham, Don Cantwell, Phil Carr, Mary Lou
Cloud, Bill Conover, Mell Coplen, Chaume Crabbs, Edwin Crissinger, Lavon
Crissinger, Darwin DeLand, James Denton, Eugene DeWeese, William B. Enyart,
Catherine Ewing, Isabelle Funk, Larry Lee Goss, Bonnie Lou Grove, Betty Mae
Grube, Allison Haimbaugh, George Hess, James Wallace Hyde, Marvin Holloway,
Phyllis Holloway, Barbara Hopper, George Hudkins, Carolyn Jackson, Rozella
Rebecca Johnson, Anita June Keith, Omer Kindig, Jean Kofford, Nancy Long, Bebe
Sue Mattix, June McCall, Marguerette McMurray, Sue Ann Mikels, Janet Miller, Bob
Mills, Robert Weir Mitchell, Joan Theresa Mullen, Eunice Rita Neusus, Tony
Newell, Bill O'Blenis, Florence Onstott, Virginia Lee Reed, Alma Rhinehart,
Barbara Louise Rogers, Jack Romig, Bob Rosenbury, Wendell D. Sanders, Max
Shultz, Jack Lee Smiley, Carol Smith, Joyce Snyder, Jean Ann Spencer, Phyllis
Taylor, Mary Jo Thompson, John Tippy, Wade Tucker, David Wagoner, Carlyn Jean
Yike
1952
Gordon Allewelt, Paul Arven, Paul Eugene Baker, Kenneth Bathrick, Richard
Belcher, Mary Lou Berger, Joetta Lee Blackwood, Joyce Bowen, Harland Junior
Bowyer, Mary Jane Bradley, Donald K. Breseke, Joyce Ann Burkett, Dick L.
Carlson, John Edward Collins, William H. Collins, Jr., Dorla Cumberland, Ann
Cumberland, David Daulton, Harold Leroy Dawson, Janice Marie Durkes, Leta Eiler,
John Robert Ensign, Don Fenstermaker, Mary Ellen Foster, Marilyn Henderson,
Larry Tad Henderson, Don Herendeen, Nancy Hopper, Jane Iler, Jackie Sue Johnson,
LaMar Johnson, Betty Kelley, Mary Kindig, Alan Lynn Kirkendall, Thomas Allen
Klapp, Donald D. Kochenderfer, Jean Ann Krathwohl, Neal L. Lindeman, Randy
Masterson, Elsie Mae Mathias, John E. McIntire, Phillip Eugene Melton, Ann
Metzler, Doris Lynette Neff, Ed Newcomb, David B. Onstott, Arlene Veryl Perry,
Carole June Reuter, Shirley Ann Robson, Betty Shafer, Jerry Dean Smith, Tom
Smith, Mary Ellen Stewart, Dean Stinson, Marcia Suddith, Eileen Thomas, Carlene
Anne Thompson, Robert Tobey, Marilyn Van Duyne, Bill Van Lue, Merlyn Earl
Wagoner, Sandra Ann Watson, Robert Jerome Whitcomb, Paul D. Wideman, Marlene
Joan Willard, Patsy Willard, Gene Woodcox, Phil Yeakley, Elizabeth Zeller, Louis
Earl Zellers, Wayne Zumbaugh
1953
Robert Roy Beall, Joe Richardson, Karen Ann Westwood, Rob Eiler, Dixie Alderfer,
Mary Jo Alexander, Jerry Baker, Philip Baker, Alice Barts, Keith Bathrick, John
David Bayles, Dale Berkebile, Jack Bick, Dolores M. Biggs, Norman Blackwood,
Norma Jane Bowyer, Bill Brown, Jack Brubaker, Dale Clay, Russell Clinton,
Earline Cloud, Ruth Ellen Conn, Charone Crabbs, Darlene Cumberland, Colette
DuBois, Lon August Duguay, Sarah Eber, Dan Enyart, Joan Elizabeth Farr, Eileen
Friedrich, Harriett Ann Fultz, Bill Gordon, Bill Hayes, Nancy Henrick, Barbara
Holloway, Jack Holloway, Dortha Ruth Hopper, Nelson D. Hunter, Peggy Joyce
Johnson, Kay Donna Karns, Nicholas N. Keel, Nance Keim, John McCarty, Myra
McEvoy, Nancy Adele McFall, James B. Putterbaugh, Morris L. Ridenour, Anna Marie
Rock, Bill Rogers, Doris Ann Rose, John Lindley Ross, Nancy Lee Rowe, Don Smith,
Mary Lou Stewart, Sharon Taylor, Dale W. Thomas, Joan Lee Thompson, James
Thorrington, Shirley Ann Thrush, Clair Timbers, Phyllis Van Lue, Patricia Ellen
Wagoner, James H. Wertzberger, Nancy Ann Whittenberger
1954
Richard Arven, Ronald Baillieul, Donnis Ballinger, Dick Barts, Lincoln H. Bayles,
Ruth Miriam Beall, Janis Ann Bearss, Lawrence Dale Becker, Robert Jerome Berns,
Robert D. Biggs, Carolyn Lee Burkett, Lova Burns, Carolyn Lee Castleman, Dale
Castleman, Lorene Clay, Judie Daniels, Robert Darling, Robert Davis, William Lee
Duguay, Ronald Durkes, Norma Jean Enyart, Allen Grube, Jane Ann Haskett, Bill
Hayes, Phillip Hays, Alan Heeter, Donald Ray Helt, Everett Henderson, Tom
Herendeen, Jerrold W. Hermann, Dora Mae Hess, Charlotte Hiatt, William L. Hiatt,
John J. Hill, Paul Howard, Bob Howard, Harry J. Howell, Jerry Hudkins, Shirley
Jernigan, Margaret Rose Johnson, Jacquelyn Jeanne Keim, Linda Lou King, Carol
Sue Kirkpatrick, Peggy Anne Lichtenwalter, Lyndia Lou Louderback, Carl James
Lowe, Patsy McCall, Shirley A. McFall, Gary Lee McMillen, Carole Miller, C.
Raymond Miller, David Lee Mills, Elaine Mitchell, Connie Diane Newell, Bill
Oatess, Phoebe Jo Onstott, Kay Patterson, Alton L. Perry, Donald Lynn Rans,
Thomas Allen Ravencroft, Shirley Richardson, Eldon Rogers, Tom Rose, Mary
Suzanne Sanders, Cynthia Rae Sawyer, Robert Eugene Schroer, Mary Steininger,
Janet Elaine Sullivan, Robert Joe Thompson, Jim Thorrington, Donald Tomlinson,
Judie Trout, David Lee Upp, Shirley Wagoner, Sara Jane Whittenberger, Glenda
Wilson, Tom Winks, Bob Winterrowd, William Edward Zimmerman, Karen Zimmerman, S.
E. Hall.
1955
Carol Sue Arven, Ethel Ann Babarik, Joyce Loretta Bailey, Gresham Bearss, Jane
Ann Berkebile, Kenneth Lee Blackburn, James D. Bonine, Carol Calvert, Jack
Cessna, Dorothy Clark, Bernice Darling, Rose Ellen Eckelbarger, Elsie Eileen
Eiler, Susan Ann Felts, Dick Fletcher, Joan Ginn, Eldon Lee Gohn, Bill Hall,
Dianna Hall, Beverly Jean Harvell, William E. Haworth, Bill Dale House, Bernie
Holloway, John Holloway, Donald Jackson, Kirk R. King, David Krathwohl, Elaine
Mary Lange, Jim Lease, Sharon Lynne Leiter, Raymond Macy, Eugene Maddock, Jack
Mattice, Larry McCall, Judith Dianne Miller, Carolyn Joan Milliser, James J.
Moore, William M. Myers, Clair Andy Noftsger, Shirley Ann Ogle, Dick Pattee,
Marilyn Lee Perschbacher, Jaren Sue Powell, Eva Marie Reffett, Dorothy Ellen
Ridenour, Margaret Rock, Jeanine Lee Sampsel, David Kent Sausaman, Jo Ann
Showley, Richard M. Stewart, Phyllis Swanson, Denny Taylor, Robert Teel, Donna
Thompson, Sue Thompson, Jim Upp, Janice Lorene Wagoner, Edward A. Waltz, Ellen
Jo Warner, Patricia Ann Warran, William P. Warren, Mary Ann Whitcomb, David R.
Yeakley, Carol Jean Zent, Jack Zimmerman
1956
Donald Abbott, David W. Alspach, Madelyn Anderson, Ardith L. Bathrick, George
Tillman Bayles, Carol Ann Berns, James L. Bowen, Lyndia Kay Campbell, Mona Dean
Carpenter, Jeanette Chapman, Carol Coplen, Alan C. Craig, Patricia Cripe,
Virginia Louise Cronin, June Ann Denton, Patsy Olive Fansler, Mary Jean Fryer,
William Gates, Carolyn Jane Gaumer, Carrie Ann Ginn, Marilyn Joyce Gluck, Nancy
Greathouse, Anne Hart, Deverl Hill, Janith Kay Hinkle, Nancy Elizabeth Holmes,
Marcia Kay Hunneshagen, William Dow Kindig, Wayne Kochenderfer, Carlos Lasater,
Betty Kay Leavell, Donna Irene Lebo, Joyce Ann Lowe, John Dale May, Dan McEvoy,
Janice Louise McLean, Sandra A. Miller, J. Kent Mills, Robert Newcomer, Stephen
Douglas Onstott, Lowell Porter, Milford Putterbaugh, Virgil L. Richter, Gwen
Marie Riggs, Joyce Elaine Rogers, Nancy Sue Rose, James Saltsgiver, Barney Joe
Sanderson, William Earl Sayger, Norma Jean Shaffer, Carolyn Susan Showley,
Raymond Smith, Loy Sriver, John Thompson, Patricia Louise Thompson, Jane Ann
Tobey, Sarah Ellen Trout, June Van Dusen, David D. Warner, Tobey Warner, Steven
J. Whittenberger, Loren A. Wilson, Teressa Ann Wilson, Larry Lee Wood, Malcolm
Young
1957
Doris Ann Abbott, Richard Allen, Joan Maxine Alspach, Ira E. Baker, Penelope Ann
Ball, Sharon Ballinger, Richard "Dick" Bauer, Charles Lee Beatty,
David T. Berns, John Wesley Blackburn, Janice Sue Books, Joyce Ann Brown,
Marilyn Butler, Sondra Cattin, David Churchill, Robert Gene Curtis, Phillip
Michael Daulton, Howard Allen DuBois, Ruby Faye Edington, Emma Jean Feece,
Robert Fletcher, Judith Ann Fouts, Robert Roscoe Fraser, Martha Jane Funk,
Stanley Jay Gerrick, Gene Grogg, Donnasu Hall, Shirley Ann Hammond, Robert M.
Haworth, Robert Hoffman, Dorcia Hood, Norma Jay Jones, Fonda Kay Julian, Donna
June Keim, David A. Kindig, Patty Lou Lowe, Georgia Masterson, Judith Ann
Morgan, Patrica Mae Murray, Nikki Musselman, Roger Neff, Betty Lou Parker,
Richard Lee Piper, Bonnie Sue Reed, Paul E. Reuter, Keith Saltsgiver, Douglas
Sampsel, John Wesley Sawyer, John Timothy Scott, Robert Shafer, Annette Sharpe,
Tony Rex Shutlz, Lu Anne Shurte, Larry Gale Shriver, Merlene Kathryn Simonin,
Thomas Sissel, Olive Ann Smiley, Donald Steininger, Ronald Steininger, Patrica
"Tish" Swanson, Donna Lou Thomas, Juanita Mae Thomas, Dorothy Irene
Tomlinson, Carol Sue Wilson, Lois Ellen Wood, Erma Helene Zartman, Raymond Dale
Zellers, Mark M. Zimmerman
1958
Joyce Elaine Anderson, Allan A. Baillieul, William Doyle Baker, Gail Frances
Baldwin, Dennis Earl Barkman, Joseph Russell Bayles, Beverly Sue Becraft, Ruth
Elizabeth Berkebile, James Dean Bick, Brent Larry Blacketor, Curtis Cole
Burkhart, Robert Richard Butt, Barry Lee Conrad, Phillip Lee Coplen, Douglas W.
Coursey, Donald L. Crabill, Larry Franklin Cripe,Wayne Thomas Daniels, Judith
Kay Davis, Julia Kay Denton, Thomas David DuBois, Connie Jean Eastburg, Dick
Edwards, Lowell Gene Fincher, Joseph B. Foster, Nancy Jean Fouts, Lyle Alan Gohn,
Ellen Ann Goodrich, Nancy Susan Hall, Jerry Lee Henderson, Betty Kay Hill, Jack
Hill, Wilma Lisa Hill, Carol Evalena Hisey, Anna Katherine Hoagland, Betty Jean
Hoffman, Gloria Jean Hotler, Raymond Dorwin House, Harold Dean Howard, Richard
Lynn Jackson, Patricia May Kern, Charles Alexander Kindig, Ralph Dennis
Kirkendall, Patricia Ann Kline, Larry Grant Knauff, Jerry Lee, Mary Louise Long,
Harry Joseph Macy, Robert R. Mason, Robert L. Miller, Joe Foster Moore, Sharma
Jean Morrison, Noelle Glenn Musselman, Rebecca Ann Newell, Linda Ann Nix,
Patricia Sue Partridge, Larry Jay Pattee, Neil Price Patterson, Larry Pierce,
Larry E. Polley, Carol Ann Powell, Timothy Anderson Ravencroft, Marsha Ann
Renfroe, Rebecca Ann Robertson, Judith Ann
Rosenbury, L. Dale Rudd, Barbra Jean Sanderson, Judy Ann Shonk, Madonna Louise
Silberman, Carl Mark Smith, Sandra Kay Smith, Elizabeth Ann Sroufe, Leo Ernest
Steffey, Loretta Sue Steininger, David L. Thompson, Patricia Irene Thompson,
Phillip Edward Thompson, Janice Kay Van Dalsen, Marvin Leroy VanLue, Rebecca Sue
VanLue, Sandra Kay VanLue, Diana Marie Wagoner, Robert Jackson Wagoner, Sue Ann
Walker, Robert Lee Warner, Wanda Raye Warran, Barbara Jean Werner, Sandra Sue
Whittenberger, Patricial Ann Zimmerman
1959
Wanda Mae Alderfer, Carol Ann Baker, Reba C. Bailey, Robert M. Bailey, Gerry Ann
Basham, Arlene Carol Bathrick, Virginia Marie Berns, Carol Jane Bilyew, Janet
Ruth Bilyew, Janet Ruth Bilyew, Virgil J. Black, Yvetta Ann Blue, Stephen L.
Brown, Elizabeth Mae Castleman, Donnetta Helen Chapman, James Cheesman, Earl
(Bud) Cloud, Marie Annette Crites, Myron Dean Day, Bill Duncan, Philip T. Eber,
Ted Joe Edwards, June Marie Enyart, Nancy Lee Ewen, Edward Joe Fansler, James
Morton Fraser, Rhoda Ann Gates, Merril Dean Gerrich, Patricia Lou Gordon,
William Roy Gray, James W. Green, Barbara Joy Halstead, Bruce David Hermann, Jo
Ann Hickman, Junior Dale Hisey, Eileen Howard, Berne Lee Jones, Jaes Earl Jones,
Nancy Keyser, Jerry Joe Knauff, James Roger Loebig, Linda Lou Lukens, Jane Ellen
May, Richard Allen McLochlin, Bill Doyne McMillen, Karen Sue Metzger, George
Mollencupp, Cleta Marie Murray, Karl Eugene Newcomb, Cecil Dean Nickell, Ruth
Ellen Oliver, Amy Louise Onstott, Mary Louise Phillips, Donald Lewis Polk,
Sharon Kay Polk, Beth Charlene Richardson, Susan Robbins, Paula Rockwell, Glenn
I. Rude, Gloria Jean Rynearson, Anita Savage, David Lynn Sayger, Patricia Rae
Sayger, Lewis Wendell Scott, Patricia Lou Showley, Barbara Jean Sissel, John
Albert Skidmore, Thomas R. Skidmore, Elaine Ann Smith, Terry Wayne Smith, Dave
Snyder, Jack Lee Townsend, Betty Ann Wagoner, Judith Anne Wagoner, Stuart
Wagoner, Robert L. Walburn, John Walker, Wanda Kay Willard, Brian Devon Winters,
Roberta Lee Woods, Phillip Lee Zellers, Richard E. Zimmerman
[In Memoriam: Steven David Striggle, December 26, 1941 - April 20, 1958, A
member of the class of 1959]
1960
Susan L. Allison, Michael Leroy Atkinson, Dennis Dale Ault, David Bailey, Fayejo
Baker, Michael Edward Beattie, Richard Lynn Bennett, Nancy Sue Berkheiser, Don
Bilyew, Harriet Ellen Bonine, Rebecca Joann Boswell, Leroy Bowen, Sharon Annette
Bowen, Patricia Lee Bradley, Carol Diane Brown, Linda Kay Brubaker, Dixie Diane
Burkhart, Linda Lou Butt, Joan Carol Carpenter, Francis Eugene Cave, Walter Lee
Chapman, Patricia Ann Churchill, Ronald J. Clary, Ronald E. Collins, Sue Coplen,
Jerry Copper, Karen Ann Craig, Claudia Deeds, Carol Dillard, Patricia Ellen
DuBois, Philip M. DuBois, Carolyn Jeanette Eisenman, Sharon Elliott, Patricia
Ann Felke, Karen Ferguson, Maureen K. Gallagher, Frederick Lee Gamble, Anita
Marie Gilliland, Mary Lela Greathouse, John R. Gutknecht, Robert O. Hartman,
Dennis Dale Hayden, Shirley Ann Henderson, Bonnie Hill, Arthur L. Hoffman,
Sharon Sue Holt, Vernellee Howard, Linda Hunter, Steve Hurst, Ann Iler, Carol
May Jones, Pamela Jean Jones, Donna Von Keel, Beverly Ann Keyser, Judy K. Knapp,
Clair E. Lasater, Jay Kenneth Lee, Jay Walter McCall, Larry Lee McConkey,
Lawrence Francis McCourt, Dennis C. McNeil, Michael D. Mikels, Alan Miller,
Sharon Lee Miller, Terra Lee Mollencupp, James E. Mooney, Sue Morgan, Dorothy
May Morrison, Nils Thomas Musselman, David Patrick Nix, Robert Lowell Norman,
Ronald L. Oatney, Paul Andrew Onstott, John H. Packard, Bonita Kay Partridge,
Mary Nelle Powers, Mike Quick, Sandra Jean Richards, Karon Sue Ringle, Karen
Louise Rosenow, Paul Norbert Schroeder, Robert V. Sennett, Richard Allen
Shirley, Hugh Silberman, William Curtis Slonaker, Sally Lou Smiley, Marilyn
Cecelia Smith, Judith Ann Steininger, Louise Elaine Sweany, Timothy R. Thompson,
Judy Lynn Vernon, Jimmy Lee Vigar, Richard George Wagoner, Roger William
Wagoner, Barbara Ann Wallace, Don Walls, Lonny Delano Walters, Thelma Ann
Wildermuth, Larry Jay Wilkes, David Leroy Wilson, Roberta Lillian Wilson, Wanda
Sue Zartman
1961
Bonnie Sue Ashley, Darle Gene Azbell, Beverly Ann Bellinger, Janis Lee Barkman,
Larry Lester Beck, Rebecca Dare Blue, Nancy Gay Breseke, Susan Kay Brouyette,
Grace Marie Brown, David Lee Brumfield, Larry Joe Calhoun, David A. Cessna,
James Lowell Collins, Jr., James Eugene Coplen, William Arthur Cordell, Carole
Sue Crabill, Gerald William Decius, Donald Wayne DuBois, James Robert Ewen,
James Edward Felke, Diana Jane Foley, John Gamble, Betty Anne Gray, Larry Gene
Green, Bela Lee Heinzmann, Bondi Lynn Heinzmann, Barbara Carol Hines, Sharon
Rose Hoffman, Kenton James Hoover, Blanche Kay Hopper, Phyllis Lorraine
Howdeshell, John Phillip Hudkins, Donald M. Jones, Mark A. Jones, Lois Carol
Kelley, Paul R. Kelly, Sara Ellen Kirkendall, Phillip Alden Knapp, Beverly Jean
Kochenderfer, John Robert Krathwohl, Gladys Noreen Lowery, Edith Lorene Mayhew,
Kathleen Gertrude McCourt, Michael Gene McIntyre, George A. McKee, Francois
Messin, Linda Kay Mitchell, John Robert Moore, Randall Lee Mow, Samuel K.
Newman, Beverly Joy Nichols, Sharon Sue O'Connell, Carl Robert Overmyer, Doris
Ann Parker, Thomas Eugene Parkhurst, James Milton Pennell, Kenneth Eugene
Phillips, Carol Sue Pierce, Anita Catherine Powell, Stephen James Rans, Ellen
Elaine Reese, Shirley Ann Reese, Harry Edward Rockwell, Carl Eugene Rose, Lee
Ann Therese Rowe, Mary Margaret Sadowsky, Judith Jean Samuelson, Argyle Dee
Savage, Dale W. Schroeder, Emerson Eugene Scott, Stephen Roy Sheetz, Thomas
Bernard Shirley, Ronald Gene Shriver, Stephen Ray Shriver, Donald Eugene Shultz,
Linda Lee Shuman, Steven Ann Smith, Joe D. Slaybaugh, James Harold Snyder, Karen
Lee Summers, Joyce Swanson, David Tabler, Alyn Cozetta Teel, Jane Dea Thompson,
Linda Ann Thompson, Carol Ann Townsend, Russell Lynn Voorhees, Bonnie Jo
Wagoner, Connie Sue Wagoner, Patsy Ann Waltz, Charles Richard Wendler, Hubert
Eugene Wetzel, Diane Kay Wilkes, Ina Gene Williams, Albert Marie Yeazel, Nancy
Zeller, Ronald Eugene Zent, Rick J. Zimmerman
1962
William David Agle, Ronald Mark Alber, Janice Lee Allen, Susan Allen, Mary Jane
Anderson, Harold Earl Bailey, John Thane Bartlett, William Blaine Basham, Karen
Janice Bathrick, David Steven Blue, Lewis Frederick Bohm, Joyce Priscilla Bowen,
Linda Kay Bradley, Robert Michael Brandt, Sallie Irene Brouyette, Ann Gilbert
Burton, Carol Calhoun, Jerry Lee Carlson, Olin Gail Castleman, Loyd Wesley
Castleman, Carol Cave, Barbara Chambers, David Phillip Christman, Beverly Crabbs,
Sharon Kay Crabill, Jack Allen Daulton, John Davisson, Pamela Matilda DeBruler,
Linda Grace Ewen, Lindsey Glenn Ewen II, Janice Kay Flynn, Nikki Lynne Foster,
Willard Earl Gaerte, Thomas N. Gallagher, Oscar William Gerrich, Carolyn Louise
Glaze, Joyce Beth Gluck, Jeri Rae Grossman, James O. Hartzler, Thomas Lee
Haworth, John Michael Hatch, Connie Jean Henderson, Julia Chase Herkless,
Carolyn Sue Horn, David W. Hunter, Edwin Irvine Jefferies, William Joseph
Jernigan, Lavon Dorothea Johnson, Shirley Catherine Kern, Larry John Keyser,
Janet Mae King, David Louis Kline, Kaleen Sue Krom, Nancy Sue Livesay, Doris
Darlene Lowery, Margaret L. Macy, Robert Dean Macy, Mary Ellen McClintic,
Michael Carson McGuire, Patricia Jean McLochlin, Donald Gene Metzger, Cheryl
Miller, James W. Miller, Thomas Dean Miller, Loretta Lynne Mowrer, Marilyn Mae
Myers, Priscilla Jean Norman, Susan Jane Onstott, Charlene Powers, Sue Anne
Quick, Cheryl Lynn Ranz, Susan Beth Rauschke, Cletus Ray Rigney, Jim Dean Rude,
Larry Lin Sanders, Thomas H. Sawyer, Veril Wayne Scott, Daniel Dean Severns,
Kent D. Sheetz, Riley Keith Shirley, Judith Ann Skidmore, Robert Joseph Smith,
Jack Randolph Sparks, Mark J. Sroufe, Susan Jill Striggle, Mary Jane Thompson,
Gloria Jean Towne, Patricia Ann Ullery, Robert Eugene VanLue, Nancy Lee Walker,
Clifton Glen Wallace, Cynthia Ellyn Ward, Hallie Marie Weber
1963
Timothy Anderson, Thomas Michael Atkinson, Ronald Lee Bailey, Susan Louise
Bailey, James J. Barger, Shirley Ann Barker, Carol Ann Bartleman, Kathleen Ann
Beck, Mickey Eugene Belcher, Mary Louise Berkebile, Mary Kay Bowell, Joseph
Randall Brugh, Susan Lynne Brown, Donna Jean Buckingham, Sandra Jean Champ,
Larry Gene Chapel, Judy K. Cheesman, Donald G. Copper, Jerry Ray Crabbs, Larry
Jay Crabbs, Linda Crissinger, James L. Croussore, Nancy Carol Crown, Judith Ann
Cullivan, Danny Daniels, Philip T. Deamer, Stephanie Lynn Downs, William Lynn
Durkes, Loretta Lee Eber, Gene Fancil, Bruce Earl Fansler, Nancy Jean Foley, Ann
Gady, Terrill Lynn Garner, John Kelly Gaumer, William L. Gothan, Danny Steve
Grogg, Ralph Carl Gutknecht, Reeford Frank Hall, William H. Hammel, Barbara Lee
Harvey, Richard Keith Helm, Diane Merilyn Hermann, Diana Christine Hisey, Harold
Howard, Joe Hudkins, Wanda Jean Hunter, Etsuko Ishizuka, Dean Ann Jacobs, Lavada
Sue Johnson, Lonnie Joe Johnson, Margaret Janet Kelly, Nancy Jean Kelly, Michael
A. Kettinger, George W. Krom III, Philip Edward Kucinski, Don Leavell, Wayne R.
Mattice, Nancy Sue Miller, Ann Louise Morrett, Larry Murfitt, Patricia Ann Neil,
Cindy Donna Newman, Leroy Norman, Junior Rue Oliver, George R. Packard, David E.
Pattee, Janet Sue Piper, Judith L. Powell, Robert Carl Quick, Richard Roe, Joyce
Jane Samuelson, Louis Scott Savage, Terrance Lee Severns, Steven Clay Skidmore,
Dale Sommers, Michael Larry Sullivan, Donna Jean Teeter, William Alan Thompson,
Thomas Jay Tobey, Richard Van Dalsen, Vicki K. Vernon, Linda Lee Wade, Rosalie
Wagoner, Joyce Helen Walburn, Kathryn Sarita Willard, Connie Lou Wilson, Michael
H. Wink, Ronald James Winterrowd
1964
Brooks Baldwin, Rebecca Jane Baldwin, Jerry W. Beaird, Dennis Billings, Dawayne
Bowen, Jackie Sue Bowen, John Bradley, Bob Brash, Guy Paul Brouyette, Darlene
Bunnell, Sharon Elaine Burkett, Linda Kay Burton, Evelyn M. Butler, Barbara Ann
Butts, Alan Calvert, Chera Lynne Chamberlain, Ken Cochran, Mary Ellen Collins,
Jack Edward Conaway, Harry Richard Couse, Martha Ann Cox, Judy Crabill, Joanne
Louise Cross, Patricia Karen Crown, Marvin DuBois, Nelda Ann Enyart, Sharon Kay
Enyart, Jillane Farthing, Paulette Marie Felke, Rick Fouts, Ronald B. Geib, Jr.,
Lorraine B. Glentzer, Mary Jane Groover, Jack Hayden, Vonnie Henderson, Sandra
Lou Hermann, Patricia Lou Hill, Ann Leigh Hodel, Judith Marie Hoge, Larry
Hoglund, Kay Marie Hunter, Jean Frances Jacob, Jack Keesey, Trudy Ann Kennedy,
Sharron Kindig, Stanley Don Knauff, Dennis Koch, Mart Kochenderfer, Edward C.
Komm, Jr., Barbara Ann Kurz, Mary L. Layne, Elizabeth Sue Long, Judith Irene
Long, Brenda Loyd, Nancy Louise Lyons, Janet Elaine Madlem, Jim Mathias, Michele
Anne Mattix, Annetta Ann Mayhew, Jack Mikesell, Wade L. Mikesell, Jim Miller,
Linda Kae Miller, Ronnie Miller, Tona Miller, Rosa Jane Minglin, Chuck Morgan,
Martha Marie Mowrer, Tom Mutchler, Linda Marie Neher, Sandra Lynne Newcomer,
Helen Irene Onstott, Richard L. Overmyer, Sharyn Kaye Robison, Pamela Sue Rusler,
Barry Sanderson, Kitty Lane Sayger, Michael Allen Sayger, Jerry B. Schleiger,
Connie Sue Shaffer, Robert Shaffer, Judith Kay Shambarger, Ronald Bruce Shearer,
Otto Eugene Sherbondy, Ron Simons, Kay Skidmore, Jane Ann Smith, Jane A.
Stephen, Lynda Kay Summers, Charlene Ann Tamlin, Russell Taylor, Cynthia Carol
Teel, William Albert Thomas, Helen Lorraine Thompson, Mike Thompson, Virginia
Ellen Thompson, James Duane Towne, Roberta Traeger, Bobbie Jean Truitt, Sally
Lynn Vandermark, Bonnie Jean Vigar, Ronnie Werner, James W. White, Veslemoy
Wiese, Martie Williams, Thomas Glenn Wilson, Jayne Ann Wisley, Patricia Anne
Young, John Zeiger
[A member of the class of 1964: Carol Jean Smith, 1946-1962]
1965
Carolyn Kaye Alderfer, Alessandro Armitano, Richard Paul Bailey, Becka Baldwin,
Michael Lee Ballee, James Arthur Ballinger, David Lyle Barkman, Gordon Ronald
Bathrick, Barbara Jean Becker, William H. Betz, Dale Richard Biggs, David Alan
Biggs, Diane Kay Boardman, William Lee Braman, Gregory Edward Brash, Elizabeth
Ellen Brown, Martha Lorraine Butcher, Ira James Calhoun, Janice Mary Cardona,
Dennis Edward Carlson, Jo Michele Chamberlain, Terry Cleon Conwell, Steven Ray
Coplen, William Douglas Coplen, Leslie George Cordell, Phyllis May Cox, Deanna
Kay Crabbs, Susan Joan Craig, Lonnie Wayne Cripe, James Earl Cross, Richard
Wesley Cross, Mary Jo Dalke, Stephen Burt Downs, Jackie Lee Eisenman, Sherry Ann
Enyart, William Preston Ewen, Ross Allen Fear, Virgil Eugene Ford, Mary Kathleen
Fred, Delon Howard Furnivall, Richard Elmer Gady, Patricia Gallagher, Gail
Jeanette Garner, Jon Melvin Hammel, Larry Daryl Hammer, Julia Ann Hathaway,
Sharon Kay Hill, Jeff Dale Holloway, Sheila Sue Hooker, Larry Joe Howdeshell,
Patsy Lee Hunter, Jack Wayne Jacobs, Ronald Leroy Jana, Lloyd Ernest Jeffries,
Jerry Lee Jones, Richard C. Karn,William Robert Kern, Carol Jean King, William
Henry King, Mary Martha Kirkendall, Michael Lynn Lantz, William Dean Lebo,
Teresa Mary Lemler, Robert Joseph Loebig, Paul Barrett Marsh, Thomas John
Marquart, Dennis Arthur Mathias, Thomas Loren Mattix, Connie Belle McCalla, Judy
Nadine McCalla, Linda Louise McGurk, William Thomas McKee, Gregory Alan Miller,
Marcia Diane Miller, Merry Elizabeth Miller, Anna Lou Mills, Cynthia Laverne
Minarik, Stuart Ray Mutchler, Cheryl Ann Newman, James Dale Nixon, Donna Jean
Norris, Doris Ann Norris, Terry Louise Notz, Randena Sue Pfeiffer, Patrick David
Quick, Janet Gail Reser, Daly Lynn Rhodes, Cary Dalton Riggs, Calvin Richard
Ringle, Tim Robertson, Robert Eugene Roe, Roger Rex Rouch, Patrik Heeter Rowe,
Robert Lee Rudd, Gary Robert Saltsgiver, Phillip Karr Samuelson, Dennis Renae
Scholl, Kathryn Marie Schroeder, Janet Sue Schwenk, Linda Lu Severns, Lloyd
Shelton Shepherd, Terry Simons, Linda Rae Simpson, Beth Christina Smiley, Jerry
A. Smiley, Terry Lynn Smiley, Ronald Alan Smith, Viola Marie Smith, William Dale
Smith, Laura Lee Snyder, Gaynell Sparks, Merl Edward Shriver, Howard Lynn
Summers, Wilma June Sweet, Terrence Bryan Taylor, William Dean Teeter, Peter
William Terpstra, Cathy Ann Tharp, David Scott Thompson, Michael Allen Thompson,
Linda Sue Thomas, Steven Gene Thompson, Glenn Robert Tobey, Larry Gene Townsend,
Allan Lee Vandalsen, Carol Sue Watrous, Dennis Dean Wilson, Jane Kathryn Young,
Joyce Ann Zeller, Gladys Jane Ziegler, William Richard Ziesenhene
[NOTE: The class of 1965 was the last graduating class from the Rochester Joint
High School, located NE corner 7th & Pontiac, Rochester, Indiana -- WCT]
[Manitou Ripples, Rochester High School, courtesy of Fulton County Public
Library]
1966
Janet Abbott, Vera May Allen, Linda Allison, Paul Anness, Tom Arnett, David
Ault, Mary Bailey, Kenton Ballenger, Krystal Ballenger, Philip Barts, Judy Beck,
Catherine Biddinger, Rosalie Bonin, William Border, Stephen Bridge, James
Brockey, Gerald Brown, Walter Brown, Jim Brugh, Bonnie Cave, Max Clay
II, Philip Collins, Tamra Conaway, Daniel Cox, Dianne Daniels, Cindy DuDois,
Brad Eizinger, Lynn Fear, Patricia Flynn, Suzanne Forney, Richard Gerald,
Beverly Ginther, Diana Ginther, Duane Grimes, Jo Ann Gutknecht, Terry Hammer,
Ellen Harts, Karen Hathaway, John Haworth, Steve Heishman, Arthur Helm, Debbie
Henning, Ronald Herrell, Barbara Hess, Linda Hill, Thomas
Hintzke, Mary Beth Hodel, James Hoglund, Lance Hoppes, Sammy Howard, Steven
Hunter, Joseph Jacob, James Jarrette, Steven Johnson, Harry Jones, Howard Jones,
Carol Keim, Clark Keller, Sally Kennedy, Philip Kindig, Cheryl Koch, Cheryl
Lantz, Edy Lerche, Roger Lloyd, Connie Lowery, Linda Marsh, Maurine
Masterson, Bruce Mattice, Carol McGlothin, Phyllis McGurk, Linda Metzler, Bill
Miller II, Diana Miller, Richard Miller, John Milliser, Kerry Mitchell, Carol
Molinaro, Carol Mollencupp, Jack Moore, Nancy Morrett, Jim Mutchler, Stephen
Neff, Betty Neil, Linda Nellans, Phillip Newcomer, Stephen Norris, Elizabeth
O'Brien, Walter Oliver, C. Richard Oren, Marvin Peterson, John Quick, Charles
Redinger, Michael Reed, Colleen Rhodes, Peggy Rhodes, Teresa Rockwell, Gary Roe,
Patricia Rouch, Dina Rowe, Roy Rudd, Carolyn Sanders, Jim Sayger, Kenneth Scott,
Steve Shaffer, Steve Shambarger, Anita Shirley, Joseph Shirley, Nancy Shively,
Todd Schultz, Linda Sink, Richard Slaybaugh, Sammy Stephen, Michaelle Stewart,
William Street Jr. Steven Stutzman, Mel Swango, Connie Swick, Steven Thomas,
Paul Townsend, Cathy Van Lue, James Wagoner, Rebecca Walter, William Weakman,
Diane Welty, Steven Weltzin, Susan Westwood, John Wicoff, Mary Williams, Elaine
Zabst.
1967
Ralph Bailey, Mickey Baker, Kenneth Basham, Carolyn Bathrick, MarilynBathrick,
Jeffery Beattie, Mary Beth Becker, Phil Bickle, Margaret Biddinger, Judi Binney,
Virginia Bitterling, Sue Bowell, Cheryl Bowen, Sherry Bowen, Kent Boyd, Richard
Brash, Cathy Brubaker, Kathleen Burton, Joann Butler, Judith Cardona, Robert
Carpenter, James Carr, Janet Carroll,Vicki Caywood, Linda Cleland, Cecil
Cochran, James Conley, Angela Conwell, Randall Coplen, Charlene Cripe, Kathy
Cumberland, Janet Cunningham, Sharon Eikenberry, Linda Enyart, Joyce Eshelman,
Robert Foellinger, Rebecca Fred, Michael Gallagher, Jay Garver, Victoria Gates,
Lorina Geib, Jim Gilliland, Leonard Ginn, David Gottschalk, Dean Grandstaff,
Timothy Grosvenor, Morgan Grube, Ted Halterman, Laura Hathaway, Mark Hayden,
Rosemary Heisler, Dan Helt, Janet Hildebrand, Gloria Holloway, Barbara Hoover,
Beverly Jana, Rebecca Jewett, Dewey Jones, Laura Jones, Flo Jordan, Linda Kamp,
Linda Keel, Barbara Kelley, Carol Knapp, Keith Kurz, Jo Ann Layne, Vicki Leap,
Thomas Long, Steven Marley, Paula Mathias, Sharon Mattix, Marvin Mayhew, Eddie
McCullough, James McGuire, Betty McGurk, David Meiser, Melinda Merkert, Mary
Merrill, Dennis Mikesell, Donald Miller, Richard Minglin, Sharon Moore, Karen
Morgan, Peggy Newell, Douglas Niester, Marianne Nixon, Jane Norris, James
Onstott, Laura Overmyer, Charles Parsons, Glenda Perdue, Linda Perdue, Sue
Phebus, Teresa Potente, Charles Powers, Michael Pownall, John Pratt, John Pugh,
Carol Rakestraw, Stephanie Rhodes, Mary Ann Riggs, James Robison, Joyce Roe,
Sandra Rogers, Paul Sayger, Steve Scholl, Carol Schwandt, Sue Sedlacek, Beth
Sherbondy, James Showley, Jefferey Shriver, Douglas Shrum, Roger Sixbey, Carol
Sparks, Glen Squires Jr., Linda Starkey, Mary Stratton, Elizabeth Strong, Betty
Sutton, John Sweany, Tina Teach, Martha Thompson, Janice Thousand, Donald Trigg,
Ann Turner, Larry Umberger, Melanie Wagoner, Mike Wagoner, Bruce Wakeland, David
Walker, Mary Lou Walker, Susan Walter, Patricia Walters, John Werner, Evelyn
Westwood, Anne Wicoff, Janie Williams, Betty Wilson, Garry Winterrowd, Jerry
Wynn, Terry Wynn, Richard Young Jr., Dianne Ziegler, Gilda Zoppe.
1968
Diane Alderfer, Kathleen Bair, Beth Baldwin, Kathleen Beattie, Robert Beck,
Susan Betz, Mary Ellen Bonin, Ron Bowers, Barbara Bradley, Philip Braman,
Frederick Brouyette, Catherine Brown, Ronnie Brown, Ann Brubaker, James Carroll,
Dennis Cave, Darla Clary, James Clary, Richard Cochran, Nancy Cripe, Linda
DeBruler, Jayne Deeb, John Deering, Marianne Deniston, Cathy Enyart, Dennis Foor,
Linda Ford, Rebecca Forney, Gretchen Garber, Robert Geier, Larry Gerald, Jerry
Ginther, Randy Gow, Steven Grandstaff, Deanna Grimes, Denny Guyer, Kathleen
Harbett, Terry Harrison, Steven Herkless, Marcia Hermann, Janet Hintzke, Shirley
Hisey, Rick Hoffman, Sharon Holloway, Ronda Hood, Robert Howard, Sarah Howard,
Barbara Hunter, Linda Hurtt, Terry Jones, Jean Karn, John Karn, Larry Keel,
Linda Keele, Mary Jo Kline, Glenda Knauff, Lorna Lowery, Sharon Marquart, Karen
Marsh, Murro Martens, Mike Mattice, Patricia White, Frances McGuire, Michael
Meiser, John Merkert, Janine Miller, Jim Miller, Larry Miller, Michele Miller,
Tom Miller, Deborah Morris, Peggy Mull, Prudence Mummert, Gary Newland, Ernest
Newman, Patricia O'Brien, John Oden, Patricia Oliver, Dale Overmyer, Nancy
Parker, Diane Partridge, Thomas Perdue III, Deborah Phillips, David Pike, Wisan
Pongwichitr, John Powell, Jane Ranstead, Steve Reisman, Diane Reser, Karen
Rhoads, Sandra Rhodes, Kenneth Roe, William Roe, Larry Rudd, Jane Rynearson,
Patricia Sadler, Bradley Sanderson, Linda Sayger, Hans Schwarz, George Schwenk,
Linda Schwenk, Sheryl Shaffer, Gregory Shepherd, Mary Beth Shuman, Cheryl
Silberman, David Simonin, Roy Simpson, Travis Skidmore, Julianne Snyder, Jean
Squires, Dianne Stumpff, Judd Summers, Vicki Swank, Denny Sweany, Jim Teeter,
Patricia Terpstra, Lowell Thousand, Jill Tippy, Rita Tobey, Nancy Toomire,
Phillip Trout, Nick Vojtasek, Allen Wade, Beverly Wagoner, Gregory Wagoner,
Nancy Wagoner, Thomas Wagoner, Randal Weltzin, Georgina Werner, Sue Whetstone,
Patti Wynn, Donald Zeller, James Ziegler.
1969
Jeffrey Adams, Marsha Adley, Jane Allen, Jan Allison, David Baldwin, Melissa
Baltes, Jim Barbour, Karen Barkman, Janet Barnett, Mark Beattie, Stanley
Beecher, Francine Beck, Steve Bennett, Allen Bickle, Paul Bonin, Karl Boyd,Joan
Bradley, Judy Braman, Nancy Bridge, Michael Briney, Cheryl Brown, Jeffrey
Brubaker, James Brubaker, Penni Bryant, Pamela Butcher, Shirley Butcher,
Christina Carr, Michael Carr, Rick Caskey, Terry Cave, Cathie Cessna, Cynthia
Clark, John Cleland, David Clinger, Joellen Conaway, Dennis Conley, Don Coplen,
Patricia Coplen, Linda Cox, Sally Crabill, Joe Cunningham, Sue Damron, Christine
Daulton, Constance Deeb, Deborah Deering, John Delp, Michael Deniston, Theodore
Denton, Michelle Dibble, Chuck Dill, Dianna Dittman, Patricia Durkes, Richard
Eads, Beckie Elliott, Sherry Evans, Joe Federer, John Figlio, Merlyn Fish,
Dianne Fogelsanger, Vicki Fulton, Joyce Gilliland, Daniel Ginther, David Ginther,
Faye Gochenour, Steven Gottschalk, Thomas Grosvenor, Connie Grube, Edward Hart,
Gary Heishman, David Helt, Ed Henning, Christine Herrell, Michael Herrell,
Joseph Holloway, Rebecca Holt, Ruby Howard, Sharon Isbell, Steve Jacob, Wayne
Jana, Mike Jernigan, Douglas Jump, Jeffery Kamp, Vicki Keyser, James Kohlun,
Barbara Krom, Karen Kurapka, Kay Lantz, David Lloyd, Gary Madlem, Willard
Mahoney, Elizabeth Marsh, Anne Mathews, Patricia Mathis, Sandra McCalla, Linda
McCullough, Christine Miller, Selena Mutchler, Steve Moore, Judith Minarik,
Linda Nuff, Judy Nicholson, Michael Nixon, Byron Norris, David Norris, Carol
Ogle, Becky Overmyer, Elizabeth Overmyer, Shawnee Overmyer, Rhonda Palmer, Gary
Partridge, Gail Patterson, Michael Perdue, Geraldine Peterson, Jim Powell,
Timothy Quick, Lynne Rakestraw, Mary Reisman, Marcia Rhodes, Stephen Rhodes,
Daniel Riley, Tim Roe, James Rogers, Mari Rogers, Russell Rogers, Nick Rudd,
Jeff Sanderson, Kathy Schnitz, Gary Scholz, Gilbert Schwenk, Sandi Sedlacek,
Sonia De Senna, Beth Shepherd, Sara Shireman, David Shore, Crystal Shrum, Martin
Smith, Constance Snyder, Earl Steininger, Roger Stephen, Marynelle Stewart, Leta
Stutzman, Steve Summers, Patricia Sutton, Carol Szymczak, Russell Teach, Sandra
Timbers, Patty Towne, Sharon Truitt, Wayne Wagoner, Elizabeth Walsh, James
Christopher Walton, Kay Watrous, Laurie Wilson, Susan Winters, Miriam Wise,
Kenneth Cole Zartman.
1970
Elaina Alber, Charles Alderfer, Gerry Arnold, Deborah Ault, Sonja Baker, Charles
Bailey, Gloria Bartleman, David Barts, Gail Bathrick, Steve Beecher, Elizabeth
Bemenderfer, Don Betz, Rosalie Bilyew, Joy Bitterling, Janet Boardman, John
Bowers, Gene Brandenburg, Joan Bright, Hal Brooks, Bill Burkett, Randy Burkett,
Susanne Burwell, Fred Carr, Denny Carroll, Earl Clark, Janet Clark, Ron Clark,
Susan Clark, Judy Clemens, David Cox, Mike Croussore, Debsie Daniels, Rhonda
DeMien, Michael DuBois, Jim Eikenbury, Timothy Eizinger, Stephen Fellers, David
Foellinger, Shari Foster, Sherry Fromme, Donalee Frounfelter, Ronna Fulton,
Stephen Furnivall, Terry Gates, Mark Gentry, Robert Green, Deborah Godbee, Stan
Grove, Mike Grube, Kathy Hall, Juanita Kay Hall, Debbie Harper, Jerry Harrison,
Debby Hart, Edward Hartmann, Kristine Hermann, Joyce Hildebrand, Debbi Hittle,
Brenda Holcomb, Layne Hood, Vicki Hubbard, Richard Hudkins, Carl Johnson,
Deborah Johnson, Saara Anneli Juutilainen, Beth Kale, Neil Kamp, Jerry Keel,
Franklin Keitzer, Mike Kenny, Noreen Kenny, Mel Kern, Jo Ellen King, Kathy
Krisher, Cindy Kronberg, Ron Large, Donald Long, Bill Lowe, Robert Lowe, Evelyn
Lowery, Judy Madlem, Marilee Martens, Ronald Mathias, Chuck Mathews, Barbara
Mattix, Mark McGurk, Cathleen Miller, Eileen Miller, Kathy Miller, Terry Miller,
Vicki Morris, Marvin Murphy, Margaret Newcomer, Sue Newell, Debbie Nissen, Pat
Notz, Colleen O'Brien, Rhea Palmer, Diana Parker, Rita Paulus, Jacquie Pownall,
Phil Pugh, Marcia Quick, Eldon Redinger, Larry Reese, Daniel Rhoads, Dan
Richards, Charles Richter, Kristine Rietveld, Joanna Rockwell, Sharon Roe, Debra
Rose, Martha Roush, Steven Seidner, Gale Shepherd, John Shirley, Judy Simpson,
Steve Sims, Corinne Smiley, Gary Smith, Robert Smith, Thomas Smith, Darlene
Sparks, Peggy Stumpff, Becky Sundine, Robert Sutton, Becky Sweet, Mary Tabler,
Judy Teeter, Connie Jo Thompson, Maryanna Thousand, Nick Torrence, Denny Tyler,
Michael Vojtasek, Dale Wagoner, Mark Wagoner, Robert Wagoner, Charles Wallace,
Brenda Walleske, Jerome West, Greg Williams, Joe Williams, Lynn Worth, Ronald
Zartman, Tom Zeiger.
1971
Mickey Abair, Mary Anne Adley, Chuck Allen, John Allison, Barbara Arnett, James
Arnett, Joe Arnett, Bob Bair, Robert Baker, Doug Baxter, Patricia Bearss, Allen
Beck, Cathy Beery, Linda Bowers, Patty Braman, Terri Brewer, Dave Buckingham,
Debbie Burch, Kathy Butcher, Kent Carlson, Patty Carr, Christie Cessna, Ken
Clinger, Tom Conley, Susan Crill, Nancy Cunningham, Rodney Damron, Jill Daulton,
Denny Deeb, Tom Denton, Mark Dibble, John Dickerson, Ron Dickerson, Jay Elliott,
Bruce Figert, Rick Figlio, Ed Foor, Peggy Frettinger, Mike Furnivall, Joe Gady,
Jenny Garber, Gary Garver, Phyllis Gatliff, Vicki Gentry, Devon Gibbons, Debby
Grosvenor, Wayne Grube, Melinda Hayden, Cheryl Hiatt, Jane Holloway, Randy
Holloway, Barth Hooker, Debbie Hopper, Jim Hudkins, Robert Hudkins, Steve
Hunter, David Isbell, Doug Johnson, Chuck Jones, Allen Jonushaitis, Mary Keitzer,
Sharon Kern, Dave King, Janet Krisher, Pam Leavell, Noel Lim, Sheri Lloyd,
Theresa Logue, Carol McCullough, John McKee, Phil Miller, Teresa Miller, Barb
Mull, Kitti Nocholson, Doreen Norris, Debra Ogle, Maxine Oliver, Sarah Overmyer,
Jim Pemberton, Paul Pemberton, Mel Perdue, Betty Pontius, Pat Pritchett, Kathy
Rodefeld, Letty Roe, Richard Rogers, Kathy Russler, Jo Saltsgiver, Hugh Sanders,
Ken Schaffner, Rod Schnitz, Debbie Schwenk, Vince Sheetz, Darlene Shepherd,
Debbie Sherrard, Paul Shirley, Suzanne Silberman, Priscilla Simpson, Rae Ann
Smiley, Glendon Smith, Janet Smith, Linda Smith, Steve Smith, Diane Spencer,
Saralie Stephen, Beth Stocking, Rick Stutzman, Connie Sutton, Steve Swango, Jo
Ann Swank, Robin Thiem, Kim Tippy, Melody Towne, Jaci Traeger, Caroline Turner,
Roger Vigar, Bill Walsh, Charles Walters, Kathy Warmbrod, Kathy Warner, Steve
Westfall, Laura Wilson, Tina Zartman, Cathy Zimmerman, Kim Zimmerman, Roger
Zimmerman.
1972
Debbie J. Anderson, Debbie L. Anderson, Trillia Azbell, Ellen Bair, Brad Baker,
Susie Barnett, Bob Becht, Todd Bemenderfer, Mike Bennett, David Betz, Ruth Ann
Bowers, David Brandenburg, Carol Brown, David Brown, Debbie Brown, Rick Brown,
Jan Bryant, Wendy Bunn, Pat Burkett, Bev Carr, Linda Carr, Ron Clark, Steve
Coleman, Greg Cook, Diane Cunningham, Marvin Davis, Holly Dawald, Laurie Dawald,
Dennis Dell, Barb DeTurk, Melinda Dibble, Linda Durkes, Ted Eller, Gary Enyart,
Karen Evans, Dave Fall, Don Fenstermaker, Barb Fish, Pat Frettinger, Randy
Furnivall, Jeff Gaumer, Mike Gibbons, Dick Gottschalk, Ron Green, Sheryll Green,
Jan Grube, Mark Grube, Debbie Hamilton, Ralph Hart, Rick Hart, Glenn Hedrick,
Kenny Heishman, Helen Henderson, Vern Hibner, Pam Hitttle, Patti Hoffman, Sheila
Holloway, Jeanne Howell, Linda Howell, Jim Hubbard, Melva Hunter, Ken Jackson,
Alan Johnson, Denise Johnson, Marianne Johnson, Janelle Jones, Dick Jones, Mark
Jump, Sharon Kale, Marsha Keel, Linda King, Linda Klingenberg, Deborah Krisher,
Kevin Langley, Mike Lebo, Bruce Lloyd, Barbra Lowery, Lincoln Lukens, Barb
Mahoney, Steve Mahoney, Mark Martens, Jim Mathews, Mike McGowen, Melissa Merkert,
Charles Miller, Cindy Miller, Terri Miller, Tim Mills, Ron Moore, Rick Mull,
Cathie Newcomb, Ronnie Newcomer, Cheryl Niederer, Elaine Nusbaum, Tim O'Blenis,
Jim O'Brien, Marty Olinger, Kay Overmyer, Ricky Overmyer, Steve Overmyer, Joe
Palat, Bill Parker, Luann Patterson, Mary Sue Paxton, Frank Pickens, Buddy
Pollock, Tere Pownall, Paul Rakestraw, Connie Ratsimba, Michelle Ray, Bob Reed,
Michael Reno, Deanna Rensberger, Tracey Richter, Ronnie Riddle, Doug Roe, Carla
Rush, Sarah Sayger, Sandy Schoen, Mary Beth Schroeder, Becky Seidner, Cyndy
Seiwert, Gary Severns, Juleen Shaffer, Rex Shepherd Linda Shewman, Connie
Simonin, Ron Simpson, Tom Smith, Jim Snyder, Larry Sparks, Susan Stallard,
Sparkle Stiller, Bob Swope, Peggy Tharp, Edie Thompson, Roger Thompson, Nancy
Thousand, Holly Tucker, Barry Turner, Mark Tyler, Miguel Obando Vallejos, Larry
Wagoner, Phil Wagoner, Rick Walford, Mike Walsh, Tony Walter, Betty Walters,
Mike Warmbrod, Larry West, Jill Westwood, Dave Wise, Mike Wisely, Tim Youngstrom,
David Zartman.
1973
Paul Ainlay, Pam Alber, Rodney Allen, Karen Anderson, Cindy Ault, Karen Bailey,
Tedd Baldwin, Monty Barts, Lee Ann Baxter, Susan Beecher, Debbie Bick, Carol
Boardman, Karen Boardman, Robert Bowell, Laura Bowers, Glen Bradley, Janet
Brooks, Nancy Brown, Kathi Brunn, Debbie Bryant, Tim Bunn, Liz Cardona, Diane
Carroll, Larry Cheesman, Dan Cibock, Gary Clevenger, Sharon Cloud, Gary Cooper,
Dianna Dawson, Debe Deeb, Matt Deering, Dave Delp, Mary Alice Delworth, Terry
Denton, Karen Douglas, Betty Durham, Sandy Durkes, Denise Dyer, Deb Easterday,
Jim Eshelman, Brian Figert, Becky Freyberg, Larry Freyberg, Alan Fulton, Jennie
Gates, Don Gibbons, Carolyn Gochenour, Bob Goodman, Rick Greer, Debby Grimes,
Regina Grube, Lynn Halterman, Mike Halterman, Jeannine Harper, Jim Hart, Mike
Hartman, Phyllis Heisler, Brad Hermann, Gary Hiatt, Gary Hisey, Russell Hisey,
Karen Hungerford, Corky Jones, Elaine Kamp, Kris Kanouse, Sandy Keele, Susan
King, Roxann Lewis, Pat Lowe, Anna Maibauer, Rick Markley, Mike Martin, Jane
Mathews, Jody McClure, Melody McCray, Jeff Miller, Kris Miller, Debbie Moore,
Lois Mowrer, Debby Murphy, Chris Newell, Jo Ann Nichols, Bill Nicholson, Pat
Nichlaus, Dan Norris, Rick Notz, Sandra Ogle, Mark Olinger, Jenny Overmyer,
Ricky Overmyer, Brent Paulus, Deana Perdue, Sture Perrson, Steven Petersen,
Richard Pike, Mike Pritchett, Melody Ray, Vicki Reeser, Pat Richards, Teddy
Richard, Doug Riddle, Mary Sue Roe, Roger Rose, Barbara Sayger, Mike Schnitz,
David Scott, Richard Seiwert, Vicki Shafer, Chris Shaffer, Vickie Sherrard,
Debbie Showley, Jeff Sisti, Barb Smith, Holly Smith, Lael Smith, Jim Squires,
Richard Stallard, Vince Stewart, David Stratton, Cynthia Strong, Dennis Strong,
Patty Stumpff, Randy Stutzman, Randy Sutton, Dawn Thompson, Mark Timbers, Harry
Towne, Cindy Tribby, Dianne Vojtasek, Jack Vrana, Jill Vrana, Lynda Wagoner,
Debby Ward, Carolyn Warmbrod, Dan Weaver, Tonia Weller, Jim Werner, Rex White,
Rhonda Wilson, Jeff Winterrowd, Robin Winterrowd, Debbie Wynn, Terri Youngstrom,
Swany Zacarias, Mike Zent, Joan Dennis, Lana Duncan, Gordon Easterday, Douglas
Kline, Roberta Saner, Tim Smith, Jim Swank, Mike Wagenknecht.
1974
Barry Rose, Mary LeSueur, Rusty Markley, Tim Richter, Mila Azbell, John Jones,
Ann Jordan, Larry Callahan, Myron King, Sandy Bailey, Robert Schauer, Connie
Scherbing, Dale Bradley, Diane Shirley, Terri Ogle, Bob Eiler, Kay Eller, Stacy
Hartman, Rick Alber, Danny Bunn, Lisa O'Blenis, Janet Davis, Kathy Martin, Don
Whitcher, Janet Hoffman, Gail McGuffey, Pat Ziegler, Paul Johnson, Marc Calvert,
Carla Waldron, Dick Eggers, Walker Conley, Larry Fish, Debbie Caywood, Susan
Maibauer, Vickie Rogers, Rick Kramer, Tom Williams, Jeff Warner, Jeri Good, Lisa
Thomas, Keith Keim, Mike Brindle, Ruth Collins, Dean Groves, Jeff Schnitz, Cindy
Kinsel, Shirley Coleman, Cathy Bickle, Martine Caskey Jones, Mike Ray, Robin
Syler, Connie Hunter, Kenny Anderson, Terry Partridge, Pam Knee, Robert Bryant,
Tom MacLain, John Roe, Jorge Arguello, Martin Jonushaitus, John Reagan, Mark
Smiley, Jan Mills, Paul Tobey, Glenn Howell, Kurt Van Steenburg, Kathy Sweet,
Nancy Jones, Sheri McKee, Julie Zellers, Joe Bowers, Rick Jackson, Warren
Tatter, Bob Ulerick, Steve Wonders, Debbie Wagoner, Ron Sutton, Dave Fulton, Tom
Bonin, Pam Davis, Tom Schwenk, Marilyn Zartman, Mark Flynn, Lisa Jennings, Pam
Gordon, Larry Fear, Denise Daniels, Bill Morris, Carl Adley, Rob Berry, Kathy
Johnson, Susanna Horban, Randy Green, Frank Kats, Greg Shireman, Cheri Dawald,
Wynne Cook, Randy Alderfer, Mike Cover, Julie Rosenbury, Dave Daulton, Harold
McCalla, Debbie Paxton, Susan Bearss, Brian Green, Denny Lebo, Jack Bridge, Bob
Mills, Dave Gady, Rick Furnival, Laurel Lybarger, Dave Dittman, Janet Jones,
Rick Baker, Neil Bemenderfer, Bruce Hartlerode, Carla Overmyer, Tim Miller, Doug
Walker, Kathy Liskay, Darryl Thompson, Gayle Lego, Cindy Beattie, Ron Hisey, Tom
Hurtt, Mike Icenburg, Jody Kelley, Don Logue, Scott Shelburne, Jeff Simonson,
Melody Steininger, Shane Stephenson, Barbara Walsh, Wink Zartman, Scott
Stocking, Kim Shearer, Richard Wagoner, Dana Mullady, Mike Overmyer, Neal
Wakeland, Doug Holcomb, Tim McFarland, Chloann Mummert, Susan Rhodes, Joe Notz,
Keri Wood.
1975
John Arnett, Connie Arnold, Barb Bauman, Tom Bearss, Kathy Beattie, Sherry
Beecher, Debbie Beehler, John Beery, Pam Biltz, Garry Bohm, Don Borden, Duane
Border, Sue Bowers, Marianne Brindle, Kevin Brown, Alan Burch, Mike Burkett,
John Carr, Veronica Carrico, Beth Chaney, Debra Chelf, Karen Sutton Clevenger,
Merlinda Collins, Linda Conley, Debbie Crispen, Colleen Curran, Tab Daulton,
Scott Davis, Cindy Dell, Janice Dennis, Cheryl Dixon, Kurt Douglass, Dave
Duzenbury, Gary Easterday, Beth Eggers, Sue Eller, Doug Enyart, Rick Enyart,
Dennis Eshelman, Lynn Evans, Pat Evans, Bob Ewing, Dave Fassett, Diane Fish, Dan
Frettinger, Marvin Gilliland, Dave Glentzer, Teresa Goodman, Gary Gordon, Pat
Green, Donna Grimes, Loretta Hammel, Kathy Harshman, Gretchen Hart, Mark
Heishman, Ed Heyde, Melinda Heyde, Cathlene Hiatt, Lisa Hooker, Jerry Horban,
Linda Isbell, Ilkka Jaakkola, Kathleen Jacob, Ann Johnson, Dewey Keller, Mike
Kern, Alan Klingenburg, Jeff Lease, Kim Lewis, Beth Ludwig, Mekonnen Malaku,
Serita Coplen Markley, Joyce Mathews, Steve Maughan, Jeri McClure, Skip McCray,
Evelyn McGee, Dave McGowen, Ed Merkert, Mark Miller, Diana Mills, Barb Moore,
Chris Morris, Diane Newell, Louis Ninios, Richard Norman, Terri O'Brien, Jim
Oliver, Roger Partridge, Jamie Perry, Greg Peter, Pat Plath, Susie Polley, Peter
Pownall, Cathy Prathafakis, John Pritchell, Dave Ranstead, Cathy Reese, Sandy
Reichenbach, James Reno, Brian Reser, Kevin Reser, Dana Reynolds, Gary Rhodes,
Rita Richard, Kim Richardson, Duane Riddle, Barney Riffle, Nancy Roe, Rachel
Rose, Pat Rynearson, Ron Sayger, Bob Schoen, Debbie Schroer, Janet Seebauer,
Sandy Seiwert, Mark Shafer, Tammy Shelburne, Dixie Shepherd, Jenny Shireman,
Susie Sims, Mark Skersick, Ed Smith, Greg Smith, Lori Stephenson, Libby Stewart,
Fred Sumpter, Dave Swango, Jack Swank, Mike Swank, Marcia Tabler, Cathy Thomas,
Lee Ann Tobey, Mike Treglia, Cinda Tucker, Steve Utter, Tim Wagoner, Todd
Wagoner, Jo Ann Waltz, Beth Wenrick, Mark Werner, Paula Wideman, Jeff Wilson,
Kathleen Zeyen, Bob Carpenter, Judy Carr, Steve Cleaver, Dennis Fulton, Jim
Guthrie, Ray Igelski, Dave Johnson, Jill Johnston, Jeff Powell, Tim Rhoads,
Terry Smith, Debbie Steininger, Pam Walton, Wayne Warner, George White, Joe
Zimmerman.
1976
Darla Anderson, Douglas Anderson, Constance Arinder, William Ault, Scott Bagley,
Teresa Beck, Scott Beecher, Dorothy Beery, James Beery, JoEllen Bendall, Karen
Betten, Charles Bivins, Julie Blackburn, Michael Bowers, Linda Brandenburg (Stutzman),
Treina Bryant, Karen Burkett, Daniel Callahan, Roger Calvert, Stephen Carroll,
Giuseppe Cavalli, Tamara Caywood, Caren Chambers, Barbara Chaney, Patricia
Clark, Lois Clauson, Neal Cloud, Debra Collins, Pamela Coplen, Steve Coplen,
Ruthann Croussore Kelly, Russell Davidson, James Dawson, Patricia Delworth,
Tamara Denton, Duane DeWitt, William Dixon, Rodney Eiler, Janice Ellison,
Jacklyn Eriks, Mark Figlio, Susan Frettinger, Gerald Freyberg, Darlene Geib,
Jeffery Gelbaugh, Debra Gohn, David Goller, Patrick Goodman, Connie Gottschalk,
Tim Graham, Rick Green, Kevin Gregory, Debra Groleau, Jerry Grube, Barbara
Halterman, Donald Harper, Paula Harper, David Harshman, Stephen Hatfield, Debra
Henderson, Beverly Hiatt, Vicki Hibner, Meri Higgins, Laura Hill, Mark Holloway,
Angela Hoppes, Rhonda Howard, Mary Beth Howkinson, Rhonda Icenberg, Michael
Jennings, Terese Jernigan, Candace Jones, Lynn Jordan, Britt King, Douglas King,
James King, Mark Kinsel, Sharon Keating, Ann Klein, William Krisher, Linda
Kronberg, Joan LeSueur, Julie LeSueur, Bill LeSueur, Thomas Long, Greg Lowe,
Michael Ludwig, Janet MacLain, Kathy Markley, Michelle Martens, Sue Mathews,
Deborah Maughan, Anne McCarter, Michael McGee, Danny Metzger, Deborah Miller,
Lisa Miller, Daniel Mills, Jerry Mills, Marie Mork, Anne Morris, Ralph Murray,
Kenton Newcomb, Rochelle Newell, Julie Newlin, Penny Nicodemus, Diana Nunley,
Richard Ogle, Judy Overmyer, Bryan Owens, Lawrence Owens Jr., John Pemberton,
Sarah Pemberton, Jayne Perry, Milton Pesak, Jonathan Powell, Michael
Prathaftakis, Mark Rakestraw, Kimberly Rhodes, Hugh Richard, Richard Ritter,
Dennis Rudd, Tina Schnitz, Kevin Scott, Paulo de Senno, Charles Shambarger,
Frederick Shepherd, Brian Simonson, Jon Sisti, Marc Smiley, David Smith, Tamara
Snipes, Ran St. Clair, Carol Stevens, Mark Stevens, Thomas Stumpff, Judson
Sumpter, Catherine Taylor, Brenda Thomas, David Treglia, Michael Tyler, Valerie
Tyler, Kenneth Wagenknecht, Brad Walter, Ricky Walters, Kathryn Waltz, Jeffery
Ward, Melinda Warmbrod, Michael Weaver, Jeffrey Wentzel, Theresa Wilkinson, Lynn
Williams, Kenneth Wilson, Charles Wynn, Bonnie Zehner, Alisa Zeller, Nancy
Zellers, Kendra Zimmerman.
1977
Gene Arnold, Patricia Bailey, Susanne Bair, Teresa Barnette, Julie Beck, Cheryl
Brewer, Gregory Brown, Tammie Brown, Janet Brubaker, Deborah Burge, Keri
Callahan, Keith Carlson, Monica Carrico, James Clark, Thomas Clinger, Shirley
Cloud, Julie Clupper, Ricky Coffman, Melodie Cohee, Darrell Collins (Rigney),
Danny Conley, Perry Coplen, William Crabill, Theresa Cramer, Kevin Crispen,
Willie Crump, Kevin Curran, Stephen Daulton, Julie Dawald (Pickens), Brent
DeMein, Jean Dennis, Laurie Drenth, Timothy Durkes, Dona Duzan, Christina
Duzenbery, Julie Eads, Marti Eckert, Karl Eggers, Katherine Eiler, Kim Enyart,
Christina Evans, Scott Ewing, Susan Fellers, Bradley Figert, D.J. Frounfelter,
Susan Furnival, Ernest Gates, Susan Gibbons, Tracy Glentzer, Jon Good, Valerie
Gordon, Penny Grube, Brenda Halterman, Tami Halterman, Daniel Hartman, Stephan
Hazlett, Glenn Heisler, Curt Henriott, Dorothy Hess, David Heyde, Tracey Heyde,
James Higgins, Melana Higgins, Jay Hildebrand, Paula Ho, Jack Hoge, Mary Hoge,
Brian Hooker, Danette Holloway (Hunter), Tina Holloway, Jeffrey Hoover, Blaise
Horban, Franda Howard, Tommy Hunter, James Hurtt, Randy Hutchens, Carol Isbell,
Karen Jackson, Marcia Jenkins, Catherine Jennings, Daniel Johnson, Janet Jones,
Karen Jonushaitis, Glen Jordan, Rachel Jordan, Donn Kale, Thomas Keating, Brian
Keeney, Nickie Klingenberg, Douglas Krisher, Jerry Kuhn, David Langley, Cindy
Lewis, Alex Long, Shaunn Lybarger, Richard McClure, Jacqueline McKee, Tambra
McKee, Suzie McKinney, Gregg Mahoney, Gregory Melton, Jay Mills, Michael Mills,
Russell Moore, Karen Murray (Sumpter), Rickey Myers, Kathy Neff, Vernal Ness,
Laura Newcomb, Kurt Newman, Margaret Newman, Jenny Nicodemus, Greta Niederer,
Linda O'Dell, Richard O'Dell, Linda Ogle, Vicky Ogle, Jeffery Olinger, Kandy
Overmyer, Laura Peter, Christine Paulik, Andrea Pickens, Corey Plath, Ryan
Reasoner, Rebecca Reed, Yvonne Reeser (Floor), Kathryn Rensberger, Jacob
Reynolds, Annette Rhodes, Nancy Richards, Charles Richardson, Lee Ann Richter,
Denise Riddle, Sue Rock, Pamela Saine, Timothy Sayger, Kenneth Scherbing, Pamela
Schnitz, Cynthia Schroer, Rusty Shelburne, Bret Simonson, Jean Smith, Robert
Smith, Tonia Smith, David Steininger, Leland Sterry, Rita Stevens, Teresa Stout,
Kathy Swango, Charles Tate, Brian Tatter, Sally Taylor, Kenneth Templeton,
Rebecca Thomas, Judith Thompson, Karen Trausch, Theresa Ulerick, Betty Van
Meter, Frank Vojtasek, Daniel Wakeland, Jeffrey Wallace, Todd Walters, Edward
Waltz, Pamela Waltz, Tammy Warmbrod, Daniel Weaver, Matthew Weaver, Kathy
Weller, James Wells, David Wentzel, Thomas Willard, Mark Wood, Briget Jean Yoder
(Debbie Sue McGee), Scott Youngstrom, Mark Zeyen, Daniel Ziegler.
1978
Sharon Allred, Robert Andrews, Kimberly Bailey, Gary Baldwin, Lynn Barnette,
Brenda Bathrick, Teresa Beattie, Dan Beck, Shirley Beecher, Jeffery Bilby, Jerry
Bingle (Butler), Jill Bitterling, Douglas Blackburn, Julie Bohm, David Border,
Pamela Bowers, Fred Brown, Garry Brown, Larry Brown, Gary Bryant, Denis Burton,
Eric Brunn, Kevin Carlson, David Carr, Donna Chelf, Dan Chudzynski, Georgia
Clark, Mike Clark, Ron Clauson, Deborah Clemans, Charlann Clevenger, Mike Cloud,
Kenny Collins, Bob Cook, Donna Cooley, Dede DeBruler, Jay DeMein, Jennette
Dennis, Beth Divine, Jill Draper, Kathy Draper, Linda Dunn, Robert Duzan, David
Easterday, Tom Eggers, James Enyart, Lori Enyart, Keith Eskridge, Brenda Evans,
Brent Evans, Donna Ewing, Tami Fansler, Debbie Fowler, Jill Fulton, Rhonda
Galloway, Gene Gamble, Doug Garvison, Alan Gohn, Danny Grimes, Tammy Groleau,
Carl Grube, James Hallam, Jerry Halterman, Sharon Harper, Kevin Helt, Desiree
Henriott, Traci Hicks, Mark Hisey, Susie Hoffman, Dan Hood, Mary Horban, Nancy
Horton, Mike Hurtt, John Ingram, Theresa Jackson, Janet James, Chuck Johnson,
Julie Johnson, Margaret Judd, Rickey Kanouse, Jane Keim, David Kelley, Nathan
Kimmel, Franklin King, Albert Kinsel, Brent Kramer, Kathy Kuhn, Nik Lee, Yvonne
Lee, Carla Lowe, Pam Lowe, David McCarter, Margaret Mahoney, Emma Masteller,
Rebecca Mathias, Ricky May, Karen Mehrley (Hutchens), Dawn Mikesell, Spencer
Mills, Stephanie Mitchell, Lori Morgan, Richard Murphy, Rhonda Murray, Timothy
Murray, Brett Myers, Debbie Myers (Cole Williams), Lori Newlin, Kevin Newman,
Timothy Norman, Jackie Nunley, David O'Brien, Vonda Owens, Joseph Parham, Joe
Paulik, Karen Perdue, Margot Polley, Phillip Prathaftakis, John Pryor, Tom
Puckett, Joseph Ramos, Karen Ranstead, Robert Reemer, Deborah Reynolds, Charles
Richard, Tammy Risner, David Roe, Susan Rynearson, Timothy Schnitz, Douglas
Scott, Randy Shambarger, Andrew Seiwert (Hintzke), Sherry Shafer, Tammy Shively,
Jenny Shultz, Mike Simpson, Kathleen Sisinger, Jeannine Sisti, Jon Smiley,
Kenneth Smith, Karry Smith, Kerry Smith, Sandy Smith, Michael Smith, Michael
Sterry, Dawn Stewart, Michael Stockberger, Lisa Strong, Brent Thompson, Brian
VandenBossche, Pamela Vaughn, Sandra Vedder, Walter Wallace, Chris Walley,
Timothy Walters, Robin Warmbrod, Michael Ward, Michael Wenrick, Doyle Willard,
Mark Wisely, Lori Wonders, Lance Young, David Zehner, Sallie Zeller.
1979
Kevin Adams, Cheryl Allman, David Andrews, Tommie Arnett, Barbara Ault, LaWanda
Bailey, Gary Basham, Dawn Bathrick, Karl Beck, Paul Beecher, John Braman, Greg
Brown, Mark Bryant, Gerry Burkett, Janet Calvert, Debora Carpenter, Gregory
Carr, John Carr, Justin Carrico, Kimball Clay, James Clevenger, Teresa Collins,
Linda Conley, Donald Cooley, Julie Cripe, Carey Daulton, Julie Davis, Michael
Delworth, Daryl Lynn Dennis, Tracey Denton, Walt Dewitt, Donna Dittman,
Jacqueline Downhour, Brenda Durkes, Dana Duzan, Brenda Eatmon, Tonya Enyart,
James Evans, Brenda Fish, Deborah Fish, Teresa Fletcher, Robert Flook, Michael
D. Foster, Elizabeth Fox, Terry Frederick, Michael Gelbaugh, Jayne Good, Christy
Grogg, Tamara Guthrie, Joseph Halterman, Lisa Haworth, Donna Henderson, Karen
Henderson, Connie Hendricks, Vince Herbst, David Hiatt, Tamara Hibner, Julie
Hoffman, Christal Horn, Lisa Horn, Timothy Horn, Cynthia Hounshell, Mark
Howkinson, Ranette Hunter, Patricia Hurtt, Stephen Icenberg, Brian Jennings,
Darla Johnson, Joseph Jones, Terry Jordan, Theresa Judd, Lori Kamp (Ingram),
Richard Kelley, Elizabeth Kerr, Lars King, James Knee, Bradley Lahman, Kathy
Langley, Duane Large, Arik Lee, Shane Lehman, Terry Lett, Ginger Loper, Michael
Lowe, Teresa Malott, Mark Melton, Tomi Melton, Brady Mills, Cristal Moore,
Gretchen Murphy, Sandra McKee, Jeffery McLochlin, Michael McNutt, Michael Neff,
Brian Nelson, Angela Newcomer, Kerry Newman, Philip Nicklaus, Valerie Northcutt,
Deena O'Blenis, Randall Ogle, Charles Pocock, John Prathaftakis, Charles
Rathburn, Terri Reasoner, Steven Reed, Rosella Reeser, Carla Reid, Paula Reid,
Roy Rensberger, Jeffery Rock, Hugh Rogers, Roger Rudd, Kevin Rush, Bonnie
Rynearson, Lisa Savage, Steven Schoen, Pamela See, Thomas See, Denise
Shanabarger, Brenda Shippy, Pamela Shimpson, Terri Simpson, Jerry Sisinger,
Janelle Sisti, Jeffrey Smith, Patricia Smith, Robert Smith, Terry Smith, Edwina
Smoker, Traci Snipes, Shawn Sriver, Deanna Stockberger, Allyson Stones, Roy
Sutton, Cheryl Sweeney, Tracy Syler, Julie Tate, Tara Thompson, Stephen Treglia,
Diane Tucker, Cheryl Tullis, Sherri Tullis, Jimmie Tyler, Randall Utter, Carl
Van Meter, Theresa Vojtasek, Brenda Wagoner, Ken Wallace, Chad Walters, Jack
Waltz, Thomas Weaver, Melissa Weible, Thomas White, Eric Williams, Todd Zartman,
Vance Zehner, Janet Zellers, Scott Zeyen, Raymond Zimmerman.
1980
Brian Abbott, Linda Allred, Ilah Rosemarie Applegate, Craig Armstrong, Karen
Bagley, Karen Bailey, David Baillieul, Donald Baker, Gerald Beattie, Robert
Berns, Tracy Bick, Kandi Bickle, Paula Bilby, Michael Bitterling, Craig Bowers,
Jay Bowers, Cynthia Bradley, Sherri Braman, Jeffrey Brovont, Mark Brunn, Brenda
Buell, Jeralyn Burkett (Brown), Bruce Burton, Rick Carpenter, Ronald Carr, Linda
Clauson, Jeffrey Cloud, Bruce Conley, Richard Cowles, Peggy Dawald, Terry
Downhour, Renee DuBois, Dena Dugan, Michael Duzenbery, Michael Easterday, Julie
Eckert, Jill Eden, Ronald Edington, Dawn Enyart, Todd Fansler, Timothy Figlio,
Pamela Foor (Hayes), Guy Fox, Laurie Gearhart, Angelina Good, Mickey Green,
Roger Green, David Grogg, Suzanne Groleau, Kelly Harshman, Holly Hart, Barbara
Heisler, Larry Helt, Beth Henderson, David Hendry, Eric Herbst, Kimberly Heyde,
Thomas Foster Holloway, Thomas Paul Holloway, Lyle Hood, April Hoover, Robert
Hoppes, Andrew Horban, Harold Howard, Jeffrey Hunter, Jerry Hunter, Lynda
Ingram, Julie Jupin, Thomas Kale, Brad Kelly, Deborah Kerr, Inger King, Kathy
Kirby, Joseph Koch, Randy Langley, Deborah Large, John Lawson, Matt Lembke,
Gregory Lowe, Mary Maughan, Robert Martin, Thomas Mills, Jennifer Mitchell,
Pamela Morgan, Christine Mow, John McCarter, James McEvoy, Patricia McGee,
Rebecca McGee, Denice McIntyre, David Neil, Mark Pike, Donna Ogle, Randy Wayne
Overmyer, Randy William Overmyer, Karen Paulik, Jeffrey Puckett, William
Niederer, John Rakestraw, Richard Ranstead, Rhonda Rich (Roe), Joseph Richard,
Edward Richardson, Kelly Riffle, Damita Ritter, Teresa Rodewald, Carey Rogers,
Mike Rude, Cynthia Rynearson, Melissa Schrader, Connie See (Pittman), Michael
Shafer, Kelly Shambarger, Susan Sheetz, Rodney Shelburne, Debra Shepherd, Debra
Shippy, Danny Showley, Julie Shultz, Patricia Simpson, Kraig Smith, Susan Smith,
Terry Smith, Chris Stephenson, Donna Stevenson (Brainerd), Jill Stewart, Ricky
Sutton, Kimberly Sweet, Angelica Tate, Diane Tatter, Bradley Thomas, Barry
Thompson, Kellie Thompson, Theresa Thompson, Alice Tyler, Audrey Tyler, Douglas
Tyler, Jayne Tyler, Jay Vance, Kevin VandenBossche, Starr Walters, Kenneth
Waltz, Robert Waltz, Kathleen Weaver, Jeffrey Weeks, Jodi Wentzel, Elizabeth
White, Kelly Wilber, Stuart Youngstrom, Richard Zeiger, Cindy Zeller.
1981
Kevin Abbott, Jerry Armstrong, Brett Arnett, Gregory Arven, Tammy Bailey,
Beverly Baker, Sheila Barnett, Judith Bearss, Patricia Beecher, Daniel Belcher,
David Benzing, Kellette Bick, Tresa Bowen, Cathy Bowers, Neal Bowers, Keith
Brandenburg, Kimberly Briney, Julia Brovont, Eric Burch, Karen Calvert, Timothy
Carnes, Greta Carr, Pamela Carr, Deborah Cecrle, Cathlene Chambers, Melinda
Cheesman, John Coby, Susan Coleman, Carrie Collins, Marvin Collins, Lora Conley,
Roberta Cowles, Alan Dague, Penny Davis, Timothy Delworth, Mona Dennis, James
Downs, Keith Emerick, Angela Enyart, Jeffrey Ferrell, David Fox, Alissia Geller,
Ronald Gentile, Christina Graham, Corey Green, Della Grossman (Conley), Bill
Guthrie, Angela Halterman, Michael Hammel, Linda Hassenplug, Kevin Hazlett, Jean
Helt, Diane Henderson, Cynthia Hendricks, Christopher Henning, Bernadette
Henriott, Romy Henriott, Robert Heyde, Gerald Hibner, Jon Hill, April Hoffman,
Monte Hoffman, Jeffrey Hoover, Jennifer Hoover, Angela Horban, Randy Howard,
David Hunter, Linda James, Wendy Jennings, Daniel Jensen, Eric Johnson, Joanna
Jordan, John Kelly, Karen Langley, Cheryl Lawson (Draper), Huey David Lawson,
Tracey Leonard, Rhonda Lent (Wilkes), Patricia Lett (Carr), Tammy Lett (Conley),
Traci Little, Tamera Loebig, Tariesa Loper, Sue Long, Peter Malott, Karrie
Mathias (Junkins), Keith McClellan, John McLochlin, Jenny Mercer, Julie Miller,
Karen Mills, Michael Mitchell, John Mooney, David Murphy, Tamara Murray, Lori
Neff, Kerry Nelson (Riffle), Scott Newcomb, Brenda Newcomer, Loraine Newell,
Brenda Nissen, Robert Nye, Stuart O'Dell, Rebecca Patterson (Shotts), Angela
Pendley, Donna Peter, Susan Reed, Richard Rensberger, Richard Reynolds, Mark
Richard, Mitchell Robbins, John Sawyer, Anne Schaller, Steven Sells, Tamra
Shidler, Jay Simonson, Lisa Sisinger, Trevor Skarbek, Kevin Smith, Susan Smith,
Todd Smith, Eric Smoker, Christal Spencer, Marvin Stamm, Sally Stephen,
Elizabeth Stockberger, Mark Sult, Rena Sweet, Samual Taylor, Tamara Thompson,
Jack Townsend, Brenda Tullis, Robin Turner, Joseph Tyler, Mara Vaughn, Kathie
Wallace, Debra Walley, Brenda Walters (Polley) Melody Waltz, Lori Weber, Scott
Winks, John Wisely, Kevin Wolford, Nancy Wonders, Shawn Young (Dibble), Eric
Zimmerman.
1982
Lora Arven, Tracie Baillieul, Caryl Baker, Terry Baldwin, Mark Barnhart, Andrea
Bell, Dianne Bergh, Julie Berns, Jeffery Bitterling, Kenneth Blackburn, Lisa
Bode, Barbara Brady, Mark Brindle, Todd Bryant, Ellen Marie Bradley (Burge),
Roger Burton, Joseph Buttrum, Trinity Carrico, Debra Castleman, Timothy Cheek,
Sandra Cleaver, Sonda Cloud (Swartz), Christine Collins, Brian Conley, Timothy
Coplen, Claudia Crabill, Jennifer Cramer, Linda Cripe, Carin Crispen, Jolinda
Davison, Melinda Davis, Wendy Davis, Penny DeWitt, Patrick Duzenbery, Jennifer
Eckert, Christina Edington, Michael Eskridge, Nancy Fairchild, Troy Fansler,
Darrin Fenstermacher, Michael Gearhart, Lee Ann Gerrich, Jeffery Good, Michael
Good, Curtis Graham, Renda Green, William Griffith, Marcia Grogg, Darlene
Hartman (Quirk), Lora Haworth, Michael Hendrickson, Jerry Heckathorn, Andrew
Heyward, Debra Hisey, Jennifer Ho, Marijane Hoffman, Susan Holse, Aaron Hoover,
Debra Hounshell, Penny Hounshell, Kevan Howard, John Hudkins, Barbara Hunter,
Denise Ingram, Brad Jenkins, Julie Johnson, Lori Johnson, Steve Johnson, Beverly
Jones David Junkin, Mary Kelly, Mark Kern, John King, Sherry Knight, Russell
Koebcke, Darla Kroft, Karen Kronberg, Barry Lahman, Robert Langley, Anthony
Lawson, Deana Lehman, Robert Lembke, Bobbie Lewis, Melissa Loebig, Matthew Loper,
Lonnie Manns, James Marrs, Toney May, Steve McKinney, Daniel Melton, Mitzi
Melton, Shawn Mesecar, Richard Miller, Joe Murray, Lance Musgrave, Raynee Myers,
Pamela Neighbor, Dana Noonon, John Patterson, Jeffery Pocock, Lee Ann Polley,
Julie Puckett, Jessica Ramos, Tammy Ricke, Richard Ritter, Joseph Rock, David
Roe, Thomas Rude, Jonathan Rupert, Meredith Savage, Robert Sawyer, Caroline
Schaller, Sandra Scherbing, Paul Schrader, Laura Scobie, Julie See, Mark Shafer,
Randy Shelburne, Brian Shippy, Michelle Shrader, Craig Simpson, Shelly Slone,
Larry Smith, Kenneth Sparks, Letitia Sriver, Keith Stevens, Raymond Stockberger,
Barbara Talbott, Jacob Tholl, Elizabeth Thomas, Brad Thompson, Daniel Thompson,
Julie Tryon, Lisa Tullis, Diana Tyler, Richard Tyler, Brian Ulerick, Kendra
Vance, Chris Vanata, Kisia Vaughn, Layne Wagoner, Rachelle Wagoner, Becky
Walters, Rita Waltz, Gary West, Kimberly Wilburn, Bryan Wilkinson, Jill
Williams, Julie Winterrowd, Alan Young, Stephen Zahn, Lisa Zeyen.
1983
Anthony Albregts, Dewey Armstrong, Gary Armstrong, Michelle Bailey, Mike Bailey,
Barbara Bascom, Gregory Basham, Jeffrey Becker, David Bell, Monica Bella, Norman
Benzing, David Biltz, Glen Bode, Sandra Bowen, Gary Bowers, Cheryl Bradley,
Richard Brainerd, Thomas Butler, Robert Cannedy, Lori Cheesman, Mark Clark,
David Clay, Jane Clevenger, Tina Clinger, Teresa Coleman, Harold Conley, Stephen
Cook, Marcia Cripe, Karen Dague, Lana Davis, Brian Deeds, Kevin Denny, Debra
Dugan, Mark Duncan, Michael Emerick, William Enyart, Karen Eshelman, Frank
Ewing, Fred Ewing, William Fisher, Richard Fogelsanger, Patrick Foster, Stanley
Franklin, John Galloway, Scott Gardner, Enid Goss, Jeffery Grube, June
Gustafson, Bonnie Halterman, Kenneth Hammel, David Hawkey, Christina Helt, Susan
Hendrickson, Lisa Hibner, Carol Hill, Tina Hoffman, David Holloway, Michele
Holloway, Teresa Holloway, Giles Horban, Kristina Horn, Jeffery Howard, Sonya
Howard, Jeffrey Hudkins, Laura Hudkins, Sheila Imel, Brian Johnson, Philip
Jones, Marvin Jordan, Susan Junkin, Beth Kirby, Harold "JR" Kirby,
Vincent Kirby, Lisa Kistler, Ralph Kovel, Kimberly Krick, Ronald Kuehl, Todd
Kuhn, Susan Langley, Timothy Latta, Diane Large, Lisa Leja, Bryan Lewis, Melinda
Loughman, Jeffery Lowe, Lorri Ludwig, Lisa Malott, Michael Marrs, Misti McCall,
Kevin McCray, Candy McGlothin, Donna McVay, Luann Mercer, Michael Mesecar,
Anthony Milliman, Jeffery Mooney, Paula Morgan, Shirley Morris, Gregory Mow,
Jacquie Murphy, Craig Newgent, Julie Ogle, Stephanie Oliver, John Paulik, Martha
Payne, Candi Pennell, Nelson Quier, James Rans, Nancy Reasoner, Sherry Reynolds,
Ruth Richard, Tina Ricke, Steve Riegle, Luanne Robbins, Robby Rodewald,
Christopher Ruckman, James Rudd, Carl Rude, Lori Salts, Virginia Scharnhorst,
Lori Schwenk, Jacqueline Sells, Joan Seiler, Brenda Scott, Maryrose Shafer (Carmack,
Border), Tina Shafer, Kendra Shambarger, Ann Shaw, Barney Shelburne, John Shen,
Jodie Simpson, Jacqueline Smith (Scott), John Smith, Julie Smith, Karen Smith,
Bettina Sommers, Kimberly Spencer, Wayne Stout, Cal Sundine, Michael Sweeney,
Warren Scott Talbott, Lisa Teel, Ricky Thompson, Todd Thompson, Linc Townsend,
Russell Triplett, Troy Tyler, Rick Utter, Todd Vanderwall, Natalie Walters, John
Weaver, Scot Weeks, Steve Williams, Timothy Wilson, Wendy Wilson, Robert Winks,
Jennifer Winterrowd, Michael Yeargin, Mark Zech, Jeffery Zent, John Zimmerman,
Rick Zimmerman, Thomas Zimmerman.
1984
Carla Anderson, Amy Arms, Pamela Bailey, Jennifer Bair, Jimmy Baldwin, Julie
Bascom, Donna Beattie (Rutledge), Jennifer Beck, Cynthia Belcher, Greg Benzing,
Kristin Bick, Dawn Bingle (Flynn), Brian Boldry, Anthony Boyd, Douglas Brovont,
Polly Bruck, Jeffrey Bryant, Jay Burkett, Craig Burton, Kimberly Carrico, Xena
Carrico, Kurt Castleman, Pamela Cloud, Julie Cohagen, Eric Cohee, Tammy Cole,
Becky Conley, Louise Conley (Angel), Melissa Conwell, Thomas Coursey, Julie
Creviston, Ellen Crispen, Angela Crow, C'Dale Daulton, Patrick Decker, John
Delworth, Elizabeth DeWitt, Jamie Downhour, Brett DuBois, Jill Eisenman, Jill
Eurit, Cara Fritts, Joseph Gaerte, Robert Gardner, Jason Garver, Caitlin
Gregory, Beth Goss (Creamer), Gary Grube, Bret Hake (Coonfare), Annette Hartman
(Quirk), Tim Hayden, Lisa Hazlett, David Heisler, Angela Hisey, Letitia
Holloway, Stewart Hoover, Lori Hunter, Matthew Irvin, David Johnson, Deanne
Johnson, Erron Kelly, Kevin Kesler, Bret Koebcke, Teresa Kroft, James Loebig,
Karen Louderback, Douglas Luhnow, Craig Mason, Jeffrey May, James Maynard,
Joseph McCarter, Julie McIntire, Andrea McLochlin, Mark Miller (Ousley), Cheri
Morris, William David Murhling, Shelley Musgrave, Deborah Norman, Kimberly Oden,
Kelly Olczak, Dodi Pampel, Tony Pendley, Jill Peterson, Tambra Pfeiffer, William
Pickens, Eric Piper, Trina Ray, Jacob Riffle, Jamie Roe, Jerri Rosenbury, Kevin
Rynearson, Leslie Salts, Eileen Schaller, Bruce Scott, Robert Shafer, Mark
Shambarger, Mary Shaw, Ryan Showley, Daniel Simpson, Randy Stahl, Brian
Stockberger, Brian Sult, Tomi Syler, Pamela Tabler, Rodney Talbott, David
Timmons, Debora Ulery, Kevin Vedder, Jennifer Wagoner, Bradley Walley, Judy
Wappenstein, Joseph Werner, Zorina Winterrowd, Monica Zahn, Ann Zimmerman, Pam
Zimmerman, Scott Zent.
1985
Lorie Adams, Tracy Anderson, Anna Arms, Leslee Bailey, Robert Baillieul,
Christopher Barnett, Henry Baugh, Angela Benzing, Megan Bingman, Gregory
Bitterling, Brenda Bowyer, Debora Bradway, Christopher Brown, Stephanie Brown,
Allee Calhoun, Lisa Calhoun, Pamela Campbell, Frederick Carpenter, Melinda
Clinger, Paul Coffman, Michael Cohagen, Theresa Cohagen, Andrew Coleman, Teresa
Collins, Hope Conrad, Dawn Coplen, Robert Cripe, Elizabeth Downs, Julie Druley,
Katherine Easterday, Robert Eatmon, Keith Ellison, Brian Eshelman, Leticia
Fernandez, Douglas Ferrell, John Fisher, Thomas France, Travis Garcia, Melissa
Gardner, Glenn Goss, Kenneth Graham, Donna Groleau, Scott Hancock, Timothy
Hartzler, Julie Hassenplug, Eric Hazlett, Jimmy Hedrick, Michelle Heinzmann,
Christine Herbst, Megan Hermann, Kelly Hiatt, Lori Hill, Robert Hoffman, Tiffany
Hoffman, Andrew Holland, Anthony Scott Holland, Autumn Hoover, Susan Hurtt,
Michael Ingram, Ricky Jackson, Garrett Jacobs, Jay Jenkins, Dean Johnson,
Patricia Jones, Robert Kamp, Alan Kelley, Scott Kistler, Susan Kuehl, Mark
Leonard, Jennifer Lewis, Vinicia Lipowski, Kimberly Loebig, Robert Mahoney,
Kevin McClellan, Lisa Mitchell, Timothy Moore, Kevin Morrow, Kristine Murphy,
Austin Mutchler, Jon Myers, Tracey Neag, Alan Neighbor, Alejandro Ojeda-Nonzioli,
Steven Olczak, Jeffrey Paulik, Jacqueline Pea, Dawn Peters, Matthew Peterson,
Wayne Pfeiffer, Todd Pocock, Kevin Pugh, Natalie Quick, Betty Quier, Deborah
Reitz, Melinda Richardson, Tracy Riegle, Jamie Rock, Robert Rogers, Van Ruckman,
Floro Rudd, Robin Rudd, Pauletta Rupert, Brian Sayger, Daniel Sayger, Jeffrey
See, Cynthia Sells, Rodney Shambarger, Sunday Sheeks, Stacy Shephard, Lisa
Shrader, Arthur Shidler, Jeffery Shriver, Tracy Skarbeck, Gregory Smith, Angela
Smoker, Craig Stevens, Kathleen Stockberger, Todd Stout, Maureen Sweeney, Robert
Brian Sweany, Tammy Townsend, Thomas Tryon, Rodney Ulery, Tresha Utter, Larry
VanLue, James Voss, Angela Warner, Rhonda Wegner, Kim Williams, Tom Williams,
Rebecca Wilson, Julie Wirtz, Michele Wisenberg,Keith Wolford, Roger Young.
1986
Todd Abbott, Stacey Armstrong, Terry Belcher, Nancy Bickel, Daniel Blanchard,
Lois Boroff, Troy Boyd, Joseph Butler, Deborah Calhoun, Carmen Castleman,
Christine Chapman, Michael Clemans, Christine Clevenger (Sriver), Ronald
Coleman, Traci Collins, Kevin Conley, Joanna Conover, Rozalyn Costello, Ryan
Curtis, Tracy Deeds, Lynette Dehnart, Kent Denny, Chris Drudge, Bobbie Jo
Duncan, Donald Eatmon, Brian Eber, Robert Edington, Judy Eisenman, Randy
Fairchild, Laura Fritts, Sherman Garringer, Kevin Gentile, Peggy Hammel, Melissa
Hassenplug, John Hedrick, Brent Hisey, Joachim Hoffman, Greg Holloway, Stephen
Horban, Robert Horn, Charmon Howard, Gregory Howdeshell, Cathi Hudkins, Josine
Huffman, Richard Imel, Ronald Imel, Susan Jackson, Christopher Jennings, Misty
Johnson, Ann Jones, Corey Kelly, Blake Kesler, Scott King, Sharon King, Angela
Kline (Hively), Anthony Latta, Joseph Leja, Nancy Lembke, Crysta Lemmon (Perez),
Amy Louderback, George (Joe) Loughman, William McBride, Kathleen McClellan,
Shawn McIntyre, Jamie McKinney, Brian Merchant, Joseph Meyers, Marlo Mitchell,
Johnny Morris, Lauria Morrison, Mary Mulvaney, William Mulvaney, Kevin Nelson,
Tracey Nixon, Cheryl Pence, Julie Peterson, Elizabeth Pinder (Kersey), Kimberly
Plantz, Stephanie Pocock, Jack Price, Lisa Purlee, Suzanne Reitz, Sevilla
Rhoades, Michele Rhodes, Edward Richard, Jamie Richards (Barry), Shellie Riggs,
Tracy Ringle, Jerome Rock, James Roe, Claudia Russell, Timothy Salts, Mark
Sauberlich, Klise Savage, Allen Sayger, John Schaller, Tamora Scobie, Shawn
Shambarger, Mindy Shelburne, Misty Shelburne, Candace Shippy, Christine Shriver,
Kevin Shultz, Christopher Smith (Shriver), Christine Sneesby, Terry Snook,
Caroline Sriver (Freels), Virgil Edgar Stanley, Tracy Stockberger, Virgil
Sumpter, Rick Timmons, Amy Trausch, Peter Trausch, Melissa Triplett, Jamie
Ullery, Jeanie Waggoner, Laura Wagoner, Renee Walker, Richard Wappenstein, Andi
Wilson, Tad Wilson, Karen Wolford, Jonathon Wootten, Daniel Wyman.
1987
Karen Arven, Christina Baker, Ronney Baldwin, Sherry Barnhart, RandallBascom,
Carmen Bathrick, Todd Beehler, Michael Behrens, Nancy Belcher, Kevin Beliles,
Kymberly Bick, Roy Bickel, Douglas Biggs, Amy Blickenstaff, Teresa Boldry
(Pryor), Lori Border, James Bowyer, Albert Bozzo, Brian Bright, Matthew Bryant,
James Calhoun, Gary Calvert, Shawn Campbell, Stephen Cannedy, Shawn Carlson,
Cynthia Carrico, Raymond Coffman, Faith Conrad, Amy Daulton, Jeanette Davis,
Roseanna Del Rosario, Michelle DeWitt, Christopher Dodge, Shelly Durkes,
Jeanette Ellison, Michael Evans, Ray Fenstermacher, Richard Fox, Michele France,
Traci Galloway, Denise Gerrich, Bryan Green, Sherrie Hancock, Rebecca Hartisch,
Barry Hiatt, Melissa Hoff, Melissa Hoffman, Johna Hogan, Christopher Holbrook,
Chad Holloway, Craig Holloway, Adam Hoover, Adam Howard, Suzette Imel
(Zimmerman), Michael Jackson, Jenni Jenkins, Deanna Johnson, Roger Johnson,
Anthony Jones, Tina Kamp, Kristine Keefer, Robert King, Dennis Koch, Katherine
Laird, Carl Landskron, Camara Leap, Andrianne Lehr Lemar, Chad Lewis, Jeffrey
Lewis, Robert Loebig, Brent Long, Laura Louderback, Christine Luhnow, Laurie
Marks, John Marrs, Patrick Mesecar, Colleen McMillen, Troy Mikesell, Leslie
Miller, Melissa Miller (Beeson, Bagley), Stephen Moore, Teresa Morgan (Alley),
Jo Ellen Morrow, Gary Mow, Amy Murhling, Matthew Nard, Sherri Newcomer, Patrick
Noonan, Wendy North, Karen O'Blenis (Lolmaugh, Fisher), Elizabeth Oren, Jean
Orisich, Diane Ousley, Bernard Pautsch, Daniel Peter, Jennifer Piper, Warren
Edwin Pfeiffer, Lorilee Quinlan, Richelle Reffitt (Miller), Michael Ringle,
Becky
Rooney, Amanda Sandos, Jacquiline Schaller, Michael Schwarte, Daniel Shafer,
Howard Shaw, Daniel Shriver, Douglas Simons, Christopher Smith, Craig Smith,
Arden Sneesby, Scott Sommers, Jeffrey Stafford, Kevin Stahl, Joseph Stanley,
John Stockberger, Heather Stout, Stephen Summers, Jeffrey Sutton, James Teel,
Shelly Thompson, Brian Townsend, Ginger Tullis, Lesley Vanata, Annette
Vanspeybroeck, Amy Walley, Stephanie Warner, David Wegner, Scott Werner, Tammy
Williams, Michelle Wilson, Michael Woodcox, Julia Wootten, Shannon Zartman.
1988
Rick Abbott, Jamie Arnett, Steven Arven, Jill Bahney, Byron Robert Bailey,
Steven Bailey, Melody Behrens, Andrea Belcher, Rodney Bickle, Gregory Biggs,
Mary Bilby, Michael Bisch, Christopher Blanchard, Michael Blickenstaff, Scot
Bode, Brett Bohm, Daniel Boyd, Stacy Bradley, Penny Bramble, Mechele Brechbiel,
Jennifer Brown, Sherilyn Brown, Derek Bruck, Steven Bryant, Barbara Butler,
David Castleman, James Chapman, Arden Clemans, Kimberly Collins, Leonard Conley,
Kristina Cripe, Dana Davis, Glen Davis (Virgo), Deborah Del Rosario, Kelly
Easterday, Rebecca Edington, Jennifer Eisenman, Tanya Eurit, William Fant,
Charles Scott Faricelli, Katherine Fenstermacher, Mary Fisher, Christopher
Fernandez del Riego (Petersen), Corey Gerald, Brian Goss, Kimberly Haimbaugh,
Brad Hartz, Anne Marie Haworth, Jennifer Haworth, Wendy Hays, Kevin Herbst, Gwyn
Heyde, Stephen Hiatt, Christopher Holloway, Stacey Huppert, Lisa Jana, Candy
Jernigan, Frank Johnson, Eric Kimmel, David Kistler, Kristina Krom, Brian Kuhn,
Carma Kuhn, Mindy Lahman, Amy Lautt, Christopher Mappin, Dennis Mathias, James
McAllister, Shannon McLochlin, Theodore Meade, Traci Miller, Jonathon Mitchell,
Karrie Moore, Andrew Nard, Lisa Nelson, Arthur Noel, Kimberly Ogle, Michael
Pautsch, Christine Perdue, Daryl Peters, Elaine Peterson, Jody Pfeiffer, Joseph
Quick, Leif Raderstorf, Jane Richard, Stephen Ritter, Sandra Rock, John See,
Andrew Short, Deanna Showley, Donald Shriver, Troy Shriver, Marvin Siders,
Marcus Smith, Evelyn Sneesby, Rachel Stephen, Tonya Swanson, Theresa Sweany,
Scott Swick, Derrick Thomas, Brian Thompson, Vicki Trier, Douglas Vance, Richard
VandenBossche, Duane Vanlue, Timothy Walker, Denice Wegner, Darren Wetzel, David
Willard, Michele Williams, Traci Wilson, Stacey Winterrowd, Keli Wood, Melvin
Bruce Woodcox.
1989
Todd Adair, Jeffrey Agnew, Traci Alber, Andrew Baker, Chad Baxter, Nicole Beach,
Karie Beaird, Troy Beehler, Robert Blackburn, Kelli Border, Douglas Bower,
Rachel Brady, Todd Brooks, Keri Burris, Jennifer Calvert, Jessica Campbell, Lisa
Carr, Alison Carrico, Angela Castleman, Tracey Clark, Myron David Cohagan II,
Wendy Coleman, Jeffrey Conley, Kevin Conway, Marcus Courtney, Kevin Crall, Chad
Cumberland, Terrence Dain, Seth Damas, Benjamin Daulton, Kelli DeMarco, Bryan
DeWitt, Rebecca DeWitt, Cori Drudge, Craig Durkes, Brenda Eber, Chantel Ehlinger,
Ginger Emerick, Janet Enyart, Connie Fox, Lori Fry, Robert Gast, Brian Gerald,
Michelle Grube, Ami Hall, Michele Hamelman, Michael Hartz, Burnice Hayes III,
Vicki Hays, Dustin Heishman, Jerrilyn Hermann, Tim Hisey, Elizabeth Horn, Jodi
Hounshell, John Houser, Scot Howdeshell, Douglas Howe, Rebecca Howell, Richard
Howell, Joann Hoyt, Todd Hudkins, Mary Ingram, Manitou Jefferies, Kimberley
Johnson, Larry Jolley, Kristine Jones, Thomas Justice, Charlie Jutterstrom, Amy
Kistler, Nickey Klinefelter, Chera Koebcke, Charles Kumler, Connie Landskron,
Michelle Leavell, Karolyn Leja, Misty Lytle, Mike Martin, Gwen McAllister, Robin
McBride, Matthew McCall, Jean McFarland, Wendy McGlothin, Bradley McMillen,
Scott Miller, Naomi Moore, Christopher Murray, Craig Musgrave, Alison Mutchler,
Steve Nellans, Jason Nixon, Clifford Ogle, Elizabeth Olczak, Jessica Onstott,
Patrick Overmyer, Sharyn Parko, Rhonda Perez, William Pfeiffer, Mary Pinder,
Tracy Potter, Harold Pugh, Kristie Quinlan, James Redinger, Michelle Ringle,
Stephanie Ringle, Edward Robson, Sindi Rock, Steve Ruckman, Laura Rudd, Charles
Rude, Christy Sawyer, Todd Scobie, Steven Craig Shambarger, Kathleen Shriver,
Rebecca Slisher, Anthony Smith, Julie Smith, Nathan Smoker, Joseph Spence, Sarah
Sroufe, Elizabeth Stanley, Richard Stokes, David Stowasser Jr., Shelly Swick,
Scott Tate, Leanne Thompson, Myrna Thompson, Cheri Trier, Jerry Upp, Scott
VanLue, Katherine Vedder, Carla Walker, Valerie Weakman, Kimberly Westwood,
Christina Wilkins, Brett Williams, Thomas Wilson, Carmen Wise, James Zellers.
1990
Danny Amich, Wendy Armstrong, Kerry Bathrick, Shonda Bean, Earl Allen Beattie,
Dora Beck, Debra Belcher, Brooke Beliles, Holly Bellows, Christopher Bickle,
Mark Bisch, James Boyd, Lori Bramble, Andrea Brash, Jennifer Burke, Jason
Calvert, Nelson Carlson, Andrea Carr, Cassandra Carroll, Larry Cave, Michael
Clinger, Cynthia Collins, Sandra Collins, Rita Cooley, Timothy Corn, Troy
Cowles, Shannon Cox, Larry Cripe, Naomi Day, Amy DuBois, Jerry Eckrote Jr.,
Tammy Ellis, J. Garrett Ewen, Hope Faricelli, Chris Felke, Michele Felke, Scott
Figert, Kristie Forney, Michelle Ginther, Chris Grimes, Shawn Grube, Rosetta
Haimbaugh, Lee Ann Hartman, Teresa Hartman, Charlotte Heiden, Trish Heishman,
Michael Herrell Jr., Michael Hiatt, Chrystal Holloway, Christopher Hooks, Angie
Howard, Kari Huppert, Johanna Jefferies, Kelly Jenkins, Deana Johnson, Dustin
Johnson, Robin Johnson, Steven Johnson, Sharon Jolley, Michelle Justice, Thomas
Keele, Thomas Kelly, Kimberly Kesler, Shelly Kiggins, Kristin Klobucher, Stacy
Krohn, Kimberly Krom, Jeff Kuhn, Amanda Latta, Chad Leap, Jason Long, Wendy
McMillen, Timothy Merchant, Angel Miller, Rick Miller Jr., Donna Milliser,
William Morgan, Christopher Morton, Doug Neighbor, Kevin Ogle, Dustin Overmyer,
Shannon Overmyer, Elizabeth Pea, Alison Pfeiffer, Jennifer Price, Jon Puckett,
Brian Pursifull, Dan Rans, Tonya Rans, William Reynolds, Tina Rodman, Donald
Rogers, Kasandra Ruble, Kevin Sawyer, Scott Sayger, Wendi Sayger, Lester Scaife,
Paul Schaeffner, Jeffrey Schaller, Andrea Schwarte, Stefanie Sellers, Dennis
Smith, Julia Stafford, Darek Stump, Kristina Sutton, Joseph Swango, Carleen
Terry, Ronald Towne, Amy Townsend, Chris Trigg, James Vires Jr., James Wagoner,
Richard Wagoner, Thomas Wagoner, Timothy Walker, R. Perry Walters, Jenny
Weissinger, Jaime Wertz, Kori Wertz, Angela Westwood, James Wheadon, Amy
Whirledge, Erica Wilber, Marsha Wilder, Valerie Willard, Michael Williams,
Michael Wisenberg, Travis Woodcox, Kindra Wright.
1991
Laura Absi, Nathan Alber, Paul Alber, Angela Altic, Mary Archer, Susan Arven,
Misti Baldwin, Laura Ballinger, Stacy Barkman, Jennifer Beach, Robert Beattie,
Christopher Beck, Kimberly Bilby, Kassandra Bohm, Lisa Bowman, Anthony Bradway,
Darrell Bright, Tobi Briney-Ogle, Ryan Browning, Paul Carpenter, Carey Carr,
Brian Cave, Dawnae Christensen, Jonathan Clark, Jennifer Clevenger, Brandon
Conley, Russell Conley, Mark Copeland, Robert Dell, Deke DeMarco, James Downhour
II, Casey DuBois, Billy Ellis, Lawrence Eschbach, Diane Evans, Steven Fox Jr.,
Greg Freant, Lisa Fry, Nela Garver, Shan Renee Geller, Arthur Good, Brandi Grogg,
Jason Grube, Paula Hartisch, Edward Hassenplug, Christina Hill, Heather
Holloway, Adam Horoho, Todd Howdeshell, Melanie Hubbard, Jason Hunter, Lisa
Jackson, Laurie Jana, Shawn Jolley, James Keefer, Jennifer Kelley, Crystal
Kelly, Kimberly Kirby, Sean Kresge, Virginia Kuyoth, Ryan Lehman, Kerrie Lautt,
JoAnn Leia, Ty Lewis, William Livingston III, Max Lytle II, Steven Mahoney Jr.,
Keith Mason, Jimmy McGlothin, Shelly McGlothin, Keith McGriff, Shanon Mitchell,
Elizabeth Moore, Charles Mott Jr., Amy Newman, Laurie Parko, Barbara Pearson,
David Perdue, Robert Plantz, Lori Reed, Shane Reffett, Karen Reitz, Todd Rhymer,
Ryan Riggle, Rex Robison, Jesper Roland, Tracy Rottmiller, Ann Sawyer, Dawndalyn
Shelpman, Katina Shidler, Lisa Shidler, Jennifer Shrader, Bradley Smith, Cory
Smith, Gary Smith, Trevor Smith, John Stevens, Patricia Stockberger, Joseph
Stocking, Kaci Stump, Robert Styles Jr., Matt Sutton, Donald Thompson, Brenda
Ulery, Kirt Weakman, Lance Wetzel, Wendy Williams, Randall Wynn.
1992
Rhonda Abrams, Trula Amich, Victoria Bailey, Rodger Baker, Joshua Baxter,
Jeanette Beaird, Kimberly Bingle, Todd Bode, Staci Boldry, Mark Bond, Tami
Bradley, Michelle Brash, Julie Brown, Michael Brown, Richard Brown, Todd Brown,
Mendi Carroll, Donald Castleman, Jerry Clinger, James Coleman, Yvonne Cook,
Kimberlie Cowles, Daniel Cyrus, Jason Denton, Amy Dulin, Jeffery Eckrote, Aimee
Eschbach, Matthew Fisher, Frank Fugate, Lara Alvarez, Christopher Gardner, Carl
Grubbs, Heather Hack, Nikki Hall, Aimee Hammer, Tammie Hart, Angela Hartmann,
Mark Hayden, Brandon Heishman, Shari Helt, Scott Harrell, Miriam Hiatt, Matthew
Hoover, Courtney Houin, Jason Hounshell, Michael Houser, Ty Howard, Lisa Hoyt,
Stephen Jackson, Chad Jernigan, Alfred Johnson, Jason Kesler, Regina Keyser,
Cassandra Knauff, Cynthia Koontz, Parry Leavell, Tony Leininger, Scott Mappin,
Melissa Markley, Ehler Martin Jr., John Martin, James Melton, Terry Metheny,
Angie Meyer, Donald Meyer, Carl Miller III, Melinda Moore, Robert Morton, Eric
Murphy, Stacey Newman, Kirsta O'Hern, Douglas Oliver, Christine Overmyer, Nicole
Parker, Daniel Pease, David Pease, Daniel Perez, Douglas Pomeroy Jr., Martin
Prater, Gail Price, Jacquelin Randall, Jessica Randall, Krista Riegle, Timothy
Ritter, Tracy Robinson, Denise Robson, Stacey Rogers, Tamara Rutledge, Joseph
Schaller, Shawn Schmal, Anthony Shaffer, Michael Shaffer, Katina Shidler,
Douglas Showley, Elizabeth Shriver, Teresa Shriver, Lora Smith, Carey Spaulding,
Randall Spaulding, Bobbie Stahl, Tracy Stokes, Jason Swango, Darla Towne, Faith
Townsend, Jill Tucker, Eika Umeki, Cyle Wagoner, William Weissinger, Donna
Wetzel, Lonnie White, Paul Wilder, Michael Woods, Robert Woods, Jeffery Zellers.
1993
Frederic Absi, Jason Amich, James Apt, James Arnett, Cheri Bailey, Scott Barkman,
Dempsey Bean, Andrea Beattie, Robin Beck, Traci Beehler, Phillip Bowers, Marcy
Bradley, Cheryl Bretzinger, Anthony Briney, Daniel Brubaker Sr., Jeremiah
Brzozowski, Kathryn Burke, Angela Buskirk, Robert Calhoun, Tara Calhoun, Enio
Cantarelli Jr., Robert Clemens III, Roger Clevenger, Gretchen Conley, Michael
Copeland, Lori Curtis, Raquel da Costa, Shannon Davis, Catherine Dluzak,
Michelle Dosenberry, Justin Downs, Jennifer Elliott, Melissa Ellis, Douglas Fant,
Bradley Fellers, Shannon Ginther, Brian Goodman, Shoda Green, Dawn Gregory,
Anjanette Grosvenor, Carl Grubbs, Shannon Grube, Gregory Hamilton, Jennifer
Harper, Jason Harrison, Darci Heishman, Matthew Hennon, Jennifer Hoffman,
Christopher Hoglund, Jason Holloway, Cheryl Howe, Sara Hudkins, Johnson, Andrea
Jones, Michael Justice, Daniela Kerr, Daniel Kesner, John Kimmel, Cynthia Kline,
Mandie Langley, Heather Little, Naomi Livingston, Elizabeth Mata, Dustin
Mathias, Tracey McKee, Jason McMillen, Matthew Meiser, Christopher Miller,
Justin Miller, Karen Miller, Trina Miller, Kimberly Mooney, Tiffany Moore, Toby
Mosley, Joe Oliver III, Carrie Onstott, Joellyn Peter, Laura Phillips, Lauri
Pitcock, Stephanie Powell, Jason Reed, Theodore Richard, Christi Sayger, Matthew
Sayger, Andrew Schleiger, Jason Skinner, Lyndee Smith, Tina Thorn, Ian Ton,
Regen Ton, April Troutman, Mark Vanspeybroeck, John Wegner, Melissia Williams,
Melody Winter, Cory Zartman, Zannie Zartman.
1994
Amy Agnew, Heather Allen, Daniel Bailey, Christopher Bair, Jarrod Ball, Tanya
Banic, Glenn Barnes, Jeffrey Behrens, Ross Bowers, Stacy Bradway, Corey
Brandenburg, Ryan Breidinger, Sarah Bretzinger, Ryan Clevenger, Sean Cochran,
Amy Coffing, Libby Coleman, Angel Collings, Daniel Coplen, Shannon Cumberland,
Christopher Duncan, Nesha Fear, Bruce Freant, Rebecca Frushour, Melissa Frushour,
Toby Galloway, Steven Gilliland, Bobbi Goss, Jasmine Gross, Eric Halfast, Eric
Hammel, Larry Hammer II, Melissa Hennon, Heather Herrell, Kristen Hoehne, Noah
Hogan, Benjamin Hoover, Mark Hott, Holly Hounshell, Michele Howton, Damon
Hummel, Megan Hunter, Joshua Isbell, Kimberlee Jones, Rebecca Kelley, James
Kelly, Alonda Kiggins, Nicole Kiggins, Dawn Kimmel, Eric Koontz, George Krom IV,
Michael Lease, Oliver Liebig, Rod Marks, Kimberly McFarland, David Meade,
Douglas Meade, Angela Miller, Tara Jane Miller, Tara Lynn Miller, Jamie
Mitchell, Amy Mooneyhan, Jamie Musselman, Renee Mutchler, Stephen Offutt,
Melinda Pace, Charla Pocock, Eric Pratt, Ravishankar Rajendran, Shawn Rensberger,
Rebecca Rich, Renee Riggle, David Rigney, Mark Sayger, Virginia Schakel, Scott
Schultz, Kara Showley, Aaron Sims, Shane Smith, Kristie Spaulding, Stacey
Spencer, Erin Sroufe, Shannon Stockberger, Christopher Stokes, Brett Stowasser,
Jason Stump, Misty Styles, Drew Swango, Alicia Taylor, Molly Terrell, Chad
Thomas, Emily Vititoe, Candy Wade, Jennifer Wade, Jami Wagoner, Stacy Wagoner,
Danny Winter, Patrick Zeider, Adam Zimmerman, Adam Zink.
1995
Elliott Allen, Angel Andrews, Mark Bailey, Scott Baillieul, Scott Baldwin,
Britin Beaulieu, Jason Beck, John Beck, Bill Beliles, Andy Bower, Stephanie
Bright, Ben Brzozowski, Jessie Burkett, Amy Burns, Ryan Calhoun, Kendra Carlson,
Chad Carpenter, Charles Cave, Katrina Chilcutt, Heather Christensen, David
Clark, Jason Coleman, Cathy Conley, Shawn Davidson, Kelley Davis, Lori DeWitt,
Emily Dluzak, Joshua Drach, Rachel Drach, Amanda Dulin, Rachelle Eaton, Janet
Eley, Sarah Eller, Katherine Eschbach, Jennifer Fisher, Jeffery Frolick, Tara
Frolick, Amber Fulton, Michael Garringer, Sean Garrison, Gregory Gentry,
Jennifer Good, Emily Gottschalk, Eric Green, Kari Grosvenor, Becky Guzzo, Tyler
Harrison, David Hartman, Sara Heins, Jamie Hill, Lee Holloway, Mark Holloway,
Tracy Holloway, Heather Hook, Samantha Horn, Jamie Howton, Cindy Hoyt, Joseph
Hozey, Melisa Huppert, Kent Jones, Bill Keele, Carrie Kelly, Jeremy Kelly,
Stacey Kesler, Laura Koebcke, Angela Luhnow, Jenny Maple, Matt Mappin, Jaime
Mathias, Sheila McMillen, Jamie Miller, Amy Milliser, Daryl Minix, Matt Moore,
Natalie Moore, Timothy Mott, Jeni Oliver, Byron Osborn, Carrie Parker, Beverly
Perez, Jim Pomeroy, Lesley Price, Debbie Queen, Ashley Reichard, Jennifer
Rodriguez, Tonda Roe, Jack Rudd, Keri Sayger, Jesseca Schlosser, Misty Shaffer,
Ben Shambarger, Faith Sheldon, Andrew Shotts, Sam Shriver, Tim Smith, Amanda
Spaulding, Mikel Sriver, Dexter Sumpter, Jennifer Swick, Shaun Taylor,
Christopher Thompson, Jennifer Todd, Adam Troutman, John Tyler, Steven Vigar,
Cory Wagoner, Kimberly Wagoner, Janeen Webb, Amy Wideman, Jennifer Wilkinson,
Steve
Wilkinson, Michelle Wreglesworth, Julie Zellers.
1996
Nancy Abbott, Amatul Ahmad, Christopher Arnett, Matthew Bair, Jason Baker,
Joclyn Barnett, Amber Basham, Jason Beliles, Kari Bilby, Ike David Birdwell,
Joseph Bowers, Amanda Brash, Amy Bretzinger, Heather Briney, Stefhanie Bugno,
Andrea Burkett, Brandi Burns, Rebecca Buskirk, Dustin Calhoun, Shawn Carpenter,
Heather Carr, Jennifer Coble, Stacey Cole, Brandy Collins, Melissa Courtney,
Stacy Cumberland, Matthew Deeds, Patricia Denton, Stephen Duckett, Stephanie
Eastwood, Gwendolyn Elliott, Brenda Evers, Dustin Ewing, Carrie Fant, Heather
Figert, Charity Franz, Jason Furnivall, Andrew Gardner, Charles Gault, Shannon
Good, Leslie Gottschalk, Jason Grube, Jill Hankee, Mathew Hardesty, Rebecca
Harrison, Gretchen Hayden, Justin Heit, Brooke Holloway, Nicholas Hornstein,
Joshua Hozey, Allison Jacobs, Kenneth Jansing Jr., Thomas Johnson, Aaron Jones,
Nicholle Kamp, Thomas Kelly, Michael Kiggins, Stephen King, Ryan Kirby, Corey
Kline, Keith Kochenderfer, Kyle Krathwohl, Wade Langley, Kimberly Lawson, Mark
McCall, Heather McFarland, Fred McGlothin Jr., Brandon McGriff, Jason McKee, Amy
Meredith, Andrew Miller, Jennifer Miller, Matthew Miller, Kimberly Mooneyhan,
Broderick Moore, Nathan Mueller, Marcelle Murphy, Travis Mutchler, Lincoln
Osborn, Marjorie Osborn, David Overmyer, Amber Pesak, Traci Powell, Alicia
Powers, Patricia Pursifull, Dawn Ritchie, Steven Ritchie, Jennifer Roberts,
Stacie Sain, Stefphanie Sain, Gina Sapp, Sarah Schrader, Timothy See Jr., Heath
Simons, Brett Sims, Mimi Siyousack, Chad Smith, Jacob Smith, Benjamin Snyder,
Mikel Sriver, Crystal LaCosta Stone, Jaime Swango, Jeremy Swango, Grant Terrell,
Brandon Terrone, Kyle Umbarger, Angela VanderVinne, Kylie Wagers, Samuel
Weissinger, Dawn Wetzel, Lesley Whirledge, Jack Winegardner Jr., Crystal Winter,
Alisha Woodcox, Jare Woods, Matthew Woods, Jodi Wynn, Timothy Wynn, Jennifer
Yochum, Jane Zellers.
1997
Lydia Absi, Meranda Allen, Brian Apt, Christopher Araman, Shannon Atkins, Shawna
Baldwin, Chad Balser, Gretchen Barts, Felicia Besse, Jeremy Bilby, Bryan Bond,
Ryan Bond, Leeann Bradway, Alicia Brown, Anthony Byerline, Daniel Christman V,
Christina Clark, Misty Conley, Brent Conrad, Nathan Crall, Amanda Cripe, Deadra
Crowel, Ryan Cunningham, Kyle Damron, Timothy Dehnart, Darla DeMarco, Jennifer
Denton, Thomas DuBois, Jennifer Duncan, Scott Eikenberry, Jayson Elliott, Cory
Fellers, Kimberly Gardner, Chad Garrison, Jedediah Garrison, Darcy Glingle,
Sarah Gordon, Fritz Haack, Ryan Hartwell, Jason Hattery, Kandi Hektor, Justin
Helt, Chad Hisey, Casey Horoho, Christina Hott, Heidi Howard, Lisa Hubbard,
Kenneth Hurst, Jonathan Isbell, Jose Jimenez Jr., Kelby Jones, Ray Jurado,
Stephanie Kesner, Elizabeth Kinninger, James LaFrance, Bradley Lease, Tera
Lewis, Nathaniel Long, Dana Lowe, Anthoni Marks, David Masterson, Michael
McFarland, Herman Medina Jr., Travis Mehring, Michael Meiser, Jennifer
Mollencupp, Laura Mosley, Eric Muse, Titus Mutchler, Jennifer Newcomer, Bobbie
Nicholson, Nicole O'Dell, Jack Oldroyd, Amy Olinger, Angela Overmyer, Melissa
Overmyer, Devan Penn, Amanda Phillips, Rodger Pittman, Kelly Plantz, April
Powers, Christina Pratt, Kristen Price, Ryan Ritchie, Paul Rosswurm, Sheri
Rottmiller, Johnathon Rucker, Diana Ruttschaw, Michael Sellers, Devon Showley,
David Shriver, Deby Skidmore, Joshua Smith, Michael Smith, Harold Stockberger,
Regina Sutton, Dan Swanson, Brooke Taylor, Nathan Terrone, Corey Thomas,
Nicholas Thompson, Jan Tigges, Joshua Ton, Eric Tripp, Corey Tyler, Gregory
Wade, Joshua Wagoner, Lindsay Wagoner, Jennifer Wakeland, Jodee Wilburn, Joshua
Wilkins, Aisha Williams, Nicholas Williams, Kelly Winegardner, Jeremy Zeiger,
Rachel Zeiger.
1998
Patrick Allen, Lannette Armstrong, Jason Arnett, Stephanie Bailey, Brad Ball,
Melinda Bartlett, Amber Beck, Amy Beck, Crystal Birden, April Blomquist, Todd
Bowen, Gretchen Boyer, Amanda Bradley, Justin Bradley, Jamie Bretzinger,
Jennifer Bright, Theodore Brown, Danielle Browning, Ben Brubaker, Brooke Bryant,
Kyle Calvert, Kristen Carlson, Shanna Carlson, Donna Cave, Jason Clinger,
Gwyndyn Cloud, Nathan Coleman, Allison Conley, David Crowel, Elizabeth Dale,
Lesley Davis, Nicole Davis, Nicole Denney, Harriett Dluzak, Nathan Drach, Joshua
Durkes, Kent Easterday, Amy Eizinger, Eric Elliott, Brandon Evers, Joshua Faris,
Kirk Fischer, Paul Fisher, William Frounfelter, Thomas Fulton, Daniel Funk,
Ashley Furnivall, Brenda Gaerte, Jeralyn Gault, Erica Ginther, Jami Goodman,
Evan Gottschalk, Trevor Grosvenor, Heather Gustafson, Leslie Gustafson, Tonya
Hall, Andrea Hamblin, Toni Harley, Stephen Heinzmann, Stacey Heishman, Travis
Heishman, Ryan Helt,
Bret Henderson, Danielle Hoffman, Derrick Holloway, Jace Hoppes, Matthew Horn,
Michelle Hornstein, Jared Hozey, Darren Hunt, Nathan Hunter, Eric Jana, Brian
Jimenez, Ryan Johnson, Amber Kale, Andrea Kamp, Charlene Kline, Nicole
Konopasek, Ivy Krom, Shaun Kruse, Julie Martin, Carmen Mathias, Allison May,
Sarah Mays, Sherry McConnell, Veronica McNutt, Brooke Mikesell, Thomas Miller,
Kathleen Morton, Eric Murphy, Dustin Musselman, Andrea Mutchler, Branden Nelson,
Travis Nolen, Joshua Ogle, Joshua Overmyer, Robin Peltz, Joshua Pike, Trent
Powell, Richard Prater, Pamela Pratt, Melissa Puckett, Travis Pugh, Kevin
Redford, Terria Reffitt, Jenny Robowski, Amy Roe, Nathan Rosswurm, Jeremy Rudd,
Brandy Saine, Jordan Schlosser, Eric Schoff, Brian Sheets, Nicholas Skinner,
Jennifer Smiley, Adele Smith, Jamie Smith, Trevor Smith, Emily Snyder, Erika
Stiles, Kevin Swafford, Jeremy Swank, Derek Tatter, Joshua Tyler, Tammy Ulery,
Angela Wagoner, Bethany Wagoner, Kaara Walker, Nicole Waltz, Betsy Weissinger,
Paul Wheadon, Rhonda Wiegand, Alicia Williams, Corey Wilson, Seth Wilson,
Melinda Yates, Melissa
Yates.
1999
Courtney Allen, Bruce Armstrong, Nicole Barnes, Erin Beaulieu, Jessica Border,
Crystal Borys, Mark Brash, Thomas Brash, Jami Briney, Shannon Brock, Jayme
Brooks, Stephen Brown, Travis Bryant, Heather Bugno, Rachelle Burke, Amanda
Burkett, Joseph Burkett, Amanda Burns, Corey Calvert, Stacey Carvey, Melissa
Castellano, James Clark III, Donna Cloud, Ryan Cloud, Melissa Cole, Dustin
Conley, Andrea Cook, Michael Coplen, Joshua Crispen, Lizza Dauenhauer-Pendley,
Erin Dittman, Daniel Douglass, Matthew Duncan, Andrew Eller, Steffany Enderle,
Justin Estes, Kathryn Faris, Lori Fellers, Tracy Fox, Dustin Friend, Jennifer
Fritz, Stuart Fulton, Aaron A. Gates, MelissaGilliland, Cassie Goodman, Nicholas
Groenleer, Alicia Halfast, Mona Hall, Jon Hartsock, Trevor Heishman, Michael
Hicks, Mandy Hood, Travis Huffman, Cristina Jurado, Susy Jurado, Phillip Kelly,
Nicole Kline, Melissa LaFerney, Tabatha Lahman, Stephanie Lewis, Buddy Lowe,
Mathew Markley, Melissa Martin, Tina McGaughey, Jeremy McKee, Matthew McKee,
Sarah McKinney, Billy Medina, Luke Middleton, Jessie Miller, Joseph Miller,
Justin Mooneyhan, Craig Moore, Misty Moore, Erin Moschell, Matthew Murray, Lisa
Musselman, Christian Nicholson, Crystal Norman, Greta Notz, Aaron Ogle, Cassidy
Ogle, Grace Overmyer, Nathanial Pace, Tai Patterson, Christopher Phillips,
Amanda Ramsey, Brandon Rans, Staci Ranstead, Alan Reese, Richard Rensberger,
Kristy Richard, Melanie Roberts, Stephanie Rodriguez, Timothy Roe, Joshua Rude,
Leah Sawyer, Kyle Schnitz, Kristy Sheets, Casey Shively, Crystal Sipe, Daniel
Sirken, Sarah Slisher, Kristen Smiley, Tiffany Smith, Sarah Steinmeyer, Robert
Sutton, Timothy Tate, Lisa Thompson, Malissa Thorn, Hollie Tobin, Dirk Ton,
Alissa Troutman, Craig Tyler, Andrew VanderVinne, Amy Van Duyne, Rita Vigar,
Mandy Vogel, Carrie Wagoner, Nicole Wakeland, Ashley Warner, Oliver Wells, Scott
Wilburn, Amy Wilson, Luke Wilson, Weston Wilson, Heather Yeazel, Cory Zent,
Stacey Zent, Erik Zink.
2000
Myra Absi, Nila Ahmad, Lanty Armstrong, James Atkins, Brian Bauman, Deric Beck,
Hermon Beliles, Rachel Berryman, Brandi Blackburn, Nicholas Bowers, Michael
Brash, Stephen Bretzinger, Adam Brown, Derek Brown, Nicholas Brown, Priscilla
Brown, Kimberly Brubaker, Dustin Burkett, Roscoe Burkett, Stacie Burkett, Amy
Callahan, Robert Cameron, Brooke Carlson, Brenda Christman, Kevin Clark, Patrick
Clevenger, Corey Conley, Jeremy Conley, Belinda Conrad, Clinton DeWitt, Lisa
Donahue, Amanda Dreibelbis, Robert Dugan, Adam Enyart, James Erdman, Jennifer
Evers, Alisha Ewing, Jared Figlio, Jason Fincher, Blane Fischer, Don Fishburn,
James Fisher, Amanda Foor, David Fox, Kyle Freant, Tara Gehring, Austin Gibbons,
Brandie Grimm, Clinton Grossnickle, Jeremy Grube, Ashley Gundrum, Candace Hack,
Kristin Hall, Autumn Harlow, Jayme Hartzler, Amy Helt, Amanda Henriott, Misti
Hildebrand, Erica Hizo, Andrea Hoehne, Dustin Hook, Kyle Hoover, Travis Horn,
Allison Horoho, Bartholomew Hott, Terese Hott, Jeremy Housouer, Ashley
Howdeshell, Rebecca Hudkins, Matthew Hunter, Marcos Irizarry, Scott Jana, Justin
Jenkins, Glenn Johnson,Samantha Johnson, Justin Jordan, Kira Jump, Emily Kamp,
Molly Kepler, Kyle Kimmel, Rebecca Kline, Lindsey Kozubik, Geoffrey Kruse, Eddie
Lawson, Nikole Lawson, Stacey Lease, Corey Lebo, Nicole Lee, Brian Lett, Richard
Lucker, Elisabeth Marshall, Dustin May, Anna McFarland, Josie McGrew, Lindsey
McIntire, Kyle McKinney, John McQueary Jr., Amy Meiser, Justin Miller, Sarah
Miller, Tia Miller, Andrea Milliser, John Mollencupp, Adam Montel, Jonathan
Mueller, Erin Mulholland, Kami Newcomer, Blake Newton, Pamela Nicklaus, Philip
Overmyer, Brandon Parker, James Pemberton, Brandi Pike, Jeffrey Powell, Trisha
Powell, Robert Prater, Courtney Prathaftakis, Bridget Rans, Shane Reasoner,
Dusten Roe, Michael Rogers Marie Rosswurm, Michael Rottmiller, Alejandra
Sanchez, Kara Sayger, Rebecca Sayger, Patrick Schleiger, Adam Shidler, Dennis
Siyousack, Catherine Skidmore, Kacie Skidmore, Sheila Spaulding, Katie Spencer,
Jon Stamper, Kara Starkey, Ryan Steele, April Stiles, Morgan Stone, Matthew
Straeter, Arica Sumpter, Justin Tammany, Jan Tolkien, Jared Tyler, Cynthia
Vogel, Daniel Wagoner, Jeffrey Wagoner, Ricky Wilburn, Alan Wilson, Carmie Wood,
Jodi Woods, Jade Ziegler.
[The above Rochester High School Graduates, from 1878 to and including 2000,
were furnished by Sarah Overmyer, Publisher, The Rochester Sentinel, from the
Wednesday, June 7, 2000 issue.]
ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC FIELD [Rochester, Indiana]
See: Schools - Rochester High School Athletic Field
H. S. HAS AN ATHLETIC FIELD
Students of the Rochester high school are busy preparing their new athletic
field which has been rented at the end of West Seventh street. This lot was
selected over any others on account of its location, the school gymnasium with
its shower baths and other equipment, being only two squares distant. The lot is
also big enough to serve for several different purposes.
At present the students are constructing the baseball diamond and expect to have
it completed by Saturday when they will meet the Huntington high school team.
The diamond has already been scraped and the grass in the outfield cut. Several
teams have been employed to fill in the holes and the ground will be ready for
use by Wednesday evening.
If possible, arrangements may be completed in the spring so that a quarter mile
running track and a place for field events will be built around the field. A
grandstand may be built and the local school would then have one of the best
athletic fields in this state for high schools.
[Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, September 15, 1914]
ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL BAND [Rochester, Indiana]
Organized in 1930, S. A. Carvey, director.
Early members: Marguerite Scheid, Florence Ducker, Chester Knickelbine, Marjorie
Thompson, Bill Deniston, Robert Hartung, Maurice Coplen, Kenneth Castleman,
Herman Coplen, Oden Barger, Eugene Kelley, Bennie DuBois, LeRoy Frobish, Earl
Osborn, Earl Bailey, John Keim, Lloyd Craig, Devern Brubaker, Robert Osborn and
Robert Allen.
In 1938 the band had uniforms.
ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL [Rochester, Indiana]
Basketball was beginning to attract attention over the state and there was
already a local business men's league in Rochester composed of three teams which
played a schedule through the winter. This gave some incentive to the RHS young
students and in my freshman year we formed the school's first basketball team
all on our own. Our mothers made the trunks and most of us wore our swimming
suit jerseys. We bought our own shoes and stockings. My brother, who played on
one of the city league teams, was our coach his senior year. We played several
games with neighboring fives but the big contest of the year was with Rochester
College which had the advantage of age and superior coaching by a faculty
member, Prof. Vance, who had played the game at Colgate University. They
usually, but not always, beat us.
It's probably unbelievable to the young generation of this day to learn about
the halls in which we played. Here at home the league had already rented the
Armory Hall which was upstairs on East 8th Street facing the court house.
They had placed one basket on the north wall and on the south above a wire fence
which was erected on three sides with three-foot sideboards. Homemade bleachers
were behind the west side of the fence. At the south end the canopy covering the
stairway separated two spaces which were used for rest periods between halves.
Heat was furnished the hall by two large drum woodburning stoves and they
furnished sufficient warmth to the bleacher fans and to the players who gathered
around to plan the second-period play. Fortunately the Tipton barbershop (now
the Westwood barber shop) located in the basement of the Holman building had a
single roomy shower bath and the adjoining room was where we dressed. In zero
weather most of the local players wore bathrobes or sweaters to and from the
hall but some did not. It is remarkable that not one case of pneumonia was ever
reported. Both teams used the same shower facilities. Following each game the
perspiring players had to run the quarter of a block despite the temperature,
snow or rain. Some of the other places we played in those early years had only
cold dressing rooms. The halls were mostly located over stores or in remodeled
barns. Plymouth was more up to date as they held their contests in an abandoned
theatre with posts that held up the balcony at the edge of the playing floor. In
those days we usually were able to defeat the Plymouth high school team.
Crawfordsville and Lebanon had preceded us in adopting the game and their teams
were well developed. I recall when we did play Lebanon in my senior year it took
some doing to get there and return. First we took the Lake Erie and Western
Railroad south out of Rochester to Denver; there we spent some time waiting for
a train that carried us to Logansport. Another change landed us in Frankfort
(the high school had no team at that time) where we made our final transfer to
an interurban car which took us to our destination. The next day we journeyed by
interurban to Indianapolis and then home on the good old LE&W. Once when we
played at Argos we rode north by train, stayed overnight and came back the same
route.
Since my parents were in Washington most of the winter my father thought I would
be in better hands if I attended Notre Dame under the guidance of the first
Father Cavanaugh and other strict priests. While there I played basketball on
the Walsh Hall team where I became a friend of Knut Rockne. Weekends I would
return to Rochester and played with the high school team. Since there was no
state athletic association at that time and no rules covering this I actually
played five years . . . . something our old opponents never let me forget. Many
years passed and in November, 1972, Mrs. Barnhart and I gave the high school
sufficient funds ($100,000) to construct a new football field [Barnhart Field]
just east of the new high school. When the gridiron was dedicated at the first
game of 1973 I was presented a high school jacket bearing the letter
"R" and five service stripes. Naturally I value this highly.
[Hugh A. Barnhart, Fulton Co. Folks, Vol. 1, Willard]
Dean L. Barnhart served as coach of the first basketball team in 1907 and
played on the school's first basketball team.
[Dean L. Barnhart, Hugh A. Barnhart, Fulton Co Folks, Vol. 1, Willard]
See William Schroer, Z-Roots (A History of Rochester Sports)
ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENTS
COMPLETING 120 YEARS OF R.H.S. COMMENCEMENTS
Considered Comment
Jack K. Overmyer
Having chosen how much to drink from the fountain of knowledge their home town
citizens have provided them, a class of 133 seniors graduated from Rochester
High School at commencement exercises last Friday evening. Awaiting them is a
world they will find to be more indifferent to their success than the one
they've inhabited here the past 12 years.
I've attended six of these events --- first as a senior, then as father and
grandfather of seniors --- so in contemplating the coming of still another I
began to wonder how long Rochester has been producing high school graduates.
Well, we've been at it 120 years and this was the 118th RHS commencement since
1878 when the first class graduated. They were six in number: Hugh Brown, John
B. Davidson, Frank D. Haimbaugh, John C. Keith, Edward C. Mercer and Orbra F.
Montgomery. All males, you note, but Maud Mow was among the five 1880 graduates
and thereafter female graduates increased rapidly.
Three of those early years -- 1879-82-83 failed to produce graduates but by 1884
RHS was moving its classes toward graduation without interruption.
Rochester's educational processes did not begin in 1878, of course, and we are
indebted to James F. Scull for the history of its start. Scull was
superintendent of schools in 1887 when he researched a paper on the subject.
Known respectfully hereabouts as Professor Scull, he directed development of
schools from 1882 until 1902 and earned a statewide reputation for his
leadership. He died at the age of 77 in 1913 while in retirement at his Burton
neighborhood farm.
Rochester's first school appeared in 1834, two years before its official
founding, at what now is a vacant lot just south of 1215 Madison Street. First
Jacob Bozarth, then successively Ebenezer Ward, Mary Jane Ward and John Ward
taught pupils in a tiny log cabin that was erected there.
The second school building came in 1838, northward on Main Street where the City
Hall is being constructed. Other early school classes were held in various
locations: at the first Courthouse, a small structur( on the west side of the
Courthouse Square where the Chamber of Commerce office is today; at the
Presbyterian Church, still at Sixth and Jefferson streets, and in a small
structure built near the southeast corner of Sixth and Pontiac Streets that
later was removed for a residence.
These all were select schools, charging a fee, and it was not until 1852 that
Rochester's first free public school appeared. It held forth for 10 years at the
Odd Fellows Hall at the site of today's Grace Methodist Church, Seventh and
Jefferson Streets. The first Rochester Public School, a two-story, four-room
frame building, was erected in 1862 on the southeast corner of Sixth and Pontiac
Streets, east of today's Arboretum. A four-room addition was added in 1869, by
which time a graded school system was begun that led to the first high school
graduation class.
By 1888 this school had been outgrown and the towering brick three-story Central
School Building was completed across the street at today's Arboretum site. It
came not a minute too soon, for the old school building went up in flames six
weeks before Central was to be occupied.
Central's high school classes were cnducted on its upper floor. That space soon
proved inadequate, so in 1913 Rochester city and township joined tax bases to
build a separate high school southeast of the Central site, at Pontiac and
Seventh Streets. The Community Resource Center is there today.
When the new high school on Park Road was opened in 1965, the Pontiac Street
buildIng became a junior high and remained so until 1975 when it was declared
obsolete for that purpose as well and the new Middle School was erected south of
the High School.
Meanwhile, in the 1950s statewide consolidation of elementary schools was
decreed and that movement in time brought city and township pupils into new
elementary buildings, Riddle and Columbia, in 1957, phasing out scattered
primary schools. These were Lincoln, which was the original Central structure;
old Columbia, or South School, at 12th and Monroe Streets, now Jaycees Park, and
Woodrow, Reiter and Burton in south, southwest and northwest township n(:ighbor
hoods, respectively.
Richland Township's elementary and high school students joined the Rochester
system in 1967 after its facilities had reached obsolescence.
"Thus far the work has gone. The workers die but the work goes on. May the
Republic live forever."
And thus did Professor Scull conclude his survey of the local school history,
with words as fitting today as they were 111 years ago. In truth, although each
generation's educational needs are ever-changing; the community's responsiblity
of meeting them remains immutable.
[Rochester Sentinel,Tuesday, June 2, 1998
ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL HI-Y CLUB [Rochester, Indiana]
ORGANIZE HI-Y CLUB AT THE HIGH SCHOOL
Though Rochester young men are unfortunate in not having a Y.M.C.A., the boys of
the high school have taken steps to fill in with an organization which is very
similar. Recently fourteen boys of the high school held a meeting and formed
what is known as a Hi-Y club or junior Y.M.C.A. The organization is a national
one and in many cities has proven a big thing for the young men. The aim of the
club is to create and maintain a high standard of christian living throughout
the school.
The local club is composed of the fourteen charter members out of which the
following officers have been elected: president, Edward Ravencorft;
vice-president, John Ravencroft; secretary, James Atkinson; treasurer, John
Leonard; sergeant at arms, Laural Kenyon; faculty advisor, L. V. Phillips. The
club membership has been limited to about thirty and new members can be taken in
by suggesting the name of the boy wanted to the committee which will in turn
look up the boy's personal record and make a favorable or unfavorable report
which ever the case may be.
Meetings are being held every Monday night of each week at the high school. This
club is one that should grow and become one of the most solidly founded
organizations of Rochester as it has the best of the young men for its members
and the highest of ideals as its aim.
[The News-Sentinel, Rochester, Indiana, Wednesday, December 10, 1924]
ROCHESTER JOINT HIGH SCHOOL [Rochester, Indiana]
Located NE corner 7th and Pontiac.
Built in 1912.
Gymnasium in basement. Later converted into a shop room after Whitmer Gymnasium
was constructed.
Pupils included those from Rochester Township and Rochester City.
Teachers: Harley Rogers, commerce, 1923.
Used as a Middle School a few years after the present high school was
constructed.
See: Schools - Manitou Ripples
See: Schools - Rochester High School
See: Schools - Rochester Junior High School
See: Schools - Station R.H.S.
See: Schools - Whitmer Gym
__________
REMINISCENCES
Bye and bye Rochester built a new high school (1912) with a small gynasium that
for a number of years resounded to cries and shrieks of the male and female
gender as Rochester's first high school basketball team won or lost an
encounter. Rochester went basketball crazy and has almost never recovered from
the epidemic. Still later, a new gymnasium (Whitmer - 1922) was finagled through
the organization of a local stock company when tax dollars were not available.
Now this structure is found inadequate and most any day a furore will be raised
to build larger and better.
[Earle A. Miller, The News-Sentinel, Thursday, July 30, 1959]
__________
NEW HIGH SCHOOL
Rochester is to have a new High school building and it may be that work on
laying the foundation may yet be started this summer.
The city school board has talked and figured over the proposition at many of
their meetings and the matter has been sifted down to a pretty fine point,
although several important features are still unsettled. It will be recalled
that the site of the old Central school, which was destroyed by fire in 1881, is
still retained by the city. In addition the lot adjoining to the south was
purchased some time ago and the new building will be erected on the two lots.
The structure will be built of brick and trimmed with stone, the exact style of
architecture yet to be selected. There will be plenty of room to accommodate the
growing demands and in addition there will be provided a finely equipped
gymnasium and laboratory.
If the township and city High schools consolidate, the school will have a
starting membership of about 250 and even if they don't the city will have 150
to 200 students. On this point hangs the starting time of the building and until
it is settled there is no likelihood of work being commenced. If there is
nothing done this year then, in all probability, work will commence in earnest
next spring.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, May 12, 1911]
BIG NEW $40,000 SCHOOL BUILDING
The final step in the completing of plans for the building of a joint high
school building by Rochester township and Rochester city was taken this
afternoon, when the township advisory board, Trustee Robert Wiley and the
members of the city school board met and signed the contract. The need of a
building of this sort had been quite apparent for the past couple of years and
the step just taken will be approved by the entire population of the township.
At present there are about forty city high school students who are compelled to
study at home for lack of room at the school and the situation has become quite
alarming to the city school board. The city is unable to build because of lack
of funds and therefore was anxious to join the township in the undertaking. When
it comes to the need of a new building the township was also at a loss as to
what to do, for according to Trustee Wiley the Rochester college, which is now
being used as a township high school will no longer be fit for a school after
this year unless extensive improvements are made, which is not likely.
The proposed new high school building will be located on the lot south of the U.
B. church and will be used exclusively as a high school. As now contemplated the
cost will be somewhere near $40,000 and will be modern in every particular, with
the addition of a manual training department and possibly gymnasium. Work will
be started on the building as soon as the weather will permit and it is hoped it
will be completed before the opening of school next fall.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 23, 1912]
WIDE RANGE IN BIDDERS' FIGURES
Just who will get the contract for the new joint city and township high school
building was not decided at the letting held in this city Friday afternoon. The
three low bidders are C. W. Lee, Logansport; Stephen Parcel and William Cooper
of this city, and it is more than likely that one of the three will be awarded
the contract when the board meets in this city again on next Saturday. No
decision was reached Friday as the board decided that it would be the part of
wisdom to carefully consider the bids of the low bidders and investiage the
reputation of the bidders on work of this class before finally awarding the
contract.
Eleven bids were submitted on the building, exclusive of heating and plumbing,
and were as follows:
C. W. Lee, Logansport $44,007
W. H. Cooper, Rochester 47,500
Stephen Parcel, Rochester 50,000
Kindig Bros., Bunker Hill 51,203
W. Everly, Plymouth 57,958
W. H. Shields, Plymouth 54,955
Berden Bros, Hamilton, Ohio 56,699
Van Hoy & Son, Logootee 57,700
Goodall & Son, Peru 57,779
W. M. Winship, Rushville 59,990
Jung-Claus, Indianapolis 62,350
The question of heating was considered and five bids, ranging from $6,197 to
$6,566, were submitted on steam heating equipment and boilers. The boards then
considered the proposition of the Rochester Electric Light, Heat & Power
Company to furnish steam heat from their central plant at from $900 to $1,300
per year, the former being the minimum and the latter the maximum amount of the
charge permitted under the agreement. By a vote of five to two the board
accepted the proposition of the local electric light company. Under this
arrangement no boilers will be req uired in the building and new bids will be
asked for on the heating equipment without boilers. This will probably reduce
the heating equipment bids from $1,000 to $2,500.
Two bids were received on plumbing. One from P. A. Ritchey & Co., city, and
the other from Carson & Payne, Indianapolis. Both bids were rejected and the
board will re-advertise for bids on this class of work, believing that more
competition will reduce the price of the work.
Between now and the meeting set for next Saturday members of the two boards will
carefully consider the bids on file and also the character of work done by the
bidders on other jobs which they have erected. A number of the bids specify
reductions the bidder is willing to make in case different materials or a
different class of work is substituted from those specified in the architect's
plans. The board will examine these matters carefully and see if it is possible
to reduce the cost of the building without sacrificing quality.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 15, 1912]
STEPHEN PARCEL GOT CONTRACT
The Rochester city and Rochester township school boards held another meeting
Saturday afternoon for the purpose of reconsidering the bids for the new joint
high school building to be erected in this city. At a late hour in the afternoon
the boards decided to let the contract to Stephen Parcel of this city on his bid
of $50,000. Contractor Lee of Logansport, who was the lowest bidder, was
eliminated some time ago, and Saturday morning William Cooper of this city,
whose bid was next lowest, withdrew, leaving the field open to Parcel.
Mr. Parcel stated this morning that the work of staking out the ground and
excavation work would start Wednesday of this week and the work will be pushed
to completion. According to the contract the building is to be enclosed by Dec.
1 and finished by June 1, 1913.
[Rochester Sentinel, Monday, July 1, 1912]
NEWS OF THE DAY
The Eureka Plumbing Company was awarded the contract for the plumbing and gas
fitting in the new high school building. Their bid was $3,441.50 and Robbins
& Ritchey's bid was $3,567.50
[Rochester Sentinel, Monday, August 5, 1912]
WORK ON NEW SCHOOL BUILDING
The work on Rochester city and township's new high school building which is to
be erected on the West Seventh street lot is going on in earnest, and, although
there have been some slight drawbacks, a great deal of headway is being made.
The excavation, which was a big job, was finished more than a week ago, and now
the work of installing the cement foundation is under way. The original plans
called for a brick foundation, but it was thought best to change to cement.
As one passes the school lot the eye is met with small mountains of gravel and
bricks, which are to be employed in the building. Already about nine carloads of
bricks, comprised of more than 100,000 bricks, are on the grounds and when the
1,500,000 are piled up there the lot will resemble a good sized brick yard.
[Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, August 6, 1912]
MISTAKE OF ARCHITECT BACON
The work on the Rochester city and township's new joint high school building has
been at a standstill for the past two weeks and many Rochester people are
blaming Contractor Steve Parcel for the delay, but he is entirely innocent
according to the statement of one who ought to know. The reason of the stopping
of the work is that the stone, which is to be used in the construction is cut
into lengths that will not fit the specifications and it is impossible to use
them. The brick work is finished as far as it is possible to go until the stone
is placed in position and with the stone here of the wrong size, the work had to
cease. According to Contractor Parcel the stone was ordered by Architect Bacon
of Indianapolis and it is his fault that they are not of the required size.
However, it is thought that the new stone, which has been ordered will be here
the first of next week and then work will be resumed.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, September 28, 1912]
WILL FOLLOW OUT NEW IDEA
The Rochester Township High school building will be the first public building in
this county to be erected without a corner stone. To take the place of the usual
corner stone which contains records and other matters of historical interest, a
bronze tablet will be placed in the large assembly room. The new idea is
followed because it details less cost and trouble.
The school board have also decided to do away with the old custom of dedication,
which is usually a formal affair, taking much time and which is perhaps
unnecessary.
Contractor Steve Parcell is making good headway on the building, and has the
roof very near completed. They hope to have the windows in within a short time,
when the rooms will be ready to be plastered.
[Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, January 21, 1913]
HIGH SCHOOL NOW NEAR COMPLETION
The new joint high school building on the corner of Seventh and Pontiac streets
has now approached far enough toward completion that an inspection of the
structure, readily shows what it will be when finished, one of the finest and
most modern in the state. Every possible convenience that finances on hand will
permit, will be installed in the building. Especial attention has been paid to
the lighting, as the many and large windows testify.
The assembly room is on the first floor and will contain 300 sanitary [sic],
individual desks in place of the old double ones used heretofore. The first
floor will also contain the principal's and superintendent's offices and six
large class rooms. With these and the six class rooms on the second floor, it
will no longer be necessary for a class to hold a recitation in the same room in
which another class is studying. There will be a large lecture room on the
second floor, which will be used for lectures, teachers meetings and probably
class meetings.
In the Basement
In the basement are the gymnasium and manual training rooms. The gymnasium will
be furnished moderately at first, and additions to the equipment bought as they
are needed. In connection with the gymnasium will be shower baths and boys' and
girls' locker rooms. With the installing of manual training rooms a new line of
work will be inaugurated, that of wood, and perhaps shop work. There are five of
these rooms, all of which will probably not be needed at first.
Plan Forge Room
Another room in the basement, which will not be furnished immediately, is called
in the plans, a forge room. If it is found that interest enough will be taken in
that line of work to justify the purchase of all equipment, that branch of
manual training will be taught. Each floor and the basement contains two toilets
and several drinking fountains.
Pine floors in the rooms are called for in the specifications, but it is not
decided as yet what will be used. The floors of the halls will be of cement and
tile. The walls will be painted a light green. The building will be heated
throughout with steam from the city pipes.
Work Stopped
Work has been stopped at the building at the present owing to the delay in the
installation of the electrical wiring. An Indianapolis concern has the contract,
and it is expected that they will send workmen here soon to do the work. The
building complete will cost $60,000.
[Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, February 4, 1913]
HIGH SCHOOL IS IN NEW COMBINE
The Wabash Valley High School Athletic and Oratorical association is the new
organization of which Rochester high school is a member. Its opening meet will
be held in Huntington, May 17, and will, as the name implies, have two features
-- a field meet and oratorical contest. - - - - Besides Huntington, the schools
of Bluffton and Wabash will also be represented. E. O. Maple, of Huntington, was
elected president of the new organization and F. H. Croninger, of Bluffton,
secretary of the board of directors. Principal O. J. Neighborn, of Wabash, and
O. C. Johnson, of this city, will be the other directors. - - - - - - - -
[Rochester Sentinel, Tuesday, March 4, 1913]
R.H.S. NEWS
By Arthur Copeland
The girls' Glee Club, numbering 12, under the direction of Miss Claudia
Stevenson, gave a recital in the large assembly room of the high school Saturday
morning, before the students and visitors. The girls sang three songs, which
were well received by all. Those comprising the Glee club are: Alice Barkman,
Ruth Copeland, Ruth McCarty, Ruth Brinkman, Isabelle Carlton, Louise Bailey,
Irene Chandler, Olive Hardin, Esther Grove, Ruth Adamson, Genevere Grove and
Myra Paramore.
[Rochester Sentinel, - - - - - - - - - - 1913 ?]
TO START PRACTICE
As soon as the art exhibit is over at the new high school building, work will be
commenced upon the gymnasium so that basketball practice may be started as soon
as possible. Guards will have to be put in for the windows and backstops for the
goals. In all probability the first practice will be about Thursday and the
first game will be on Thanksgiving.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, October 31, 1913]
WILL REMODEL GYM AT H.S.
Within the next two weeks workmen will rebuild the gymnasium at the new high
school building cutting down the west wall six or eight feet in order that
spectators of the basket ball contests may see the entire floor without standing
up.
At the present time people who attend the games are able to see only a small
part of the game and those who sit in the back rows are hardly able to see any
part of the floor. The wall was made too high, but the mistake can be remedied
at a small expense. Bleacher seats will probably be installed and the west wall
of the playing space cut down to a height of four feet. When finished the hall
will be one of the best in the country.
The school board has not accepted the new building yet, but expect to soon.
Several small places in the building have not been painted and when they are
touched up everything will be complete. The heating system is giving good
satisfaction.
[Rochester Sentinel, Wednesday, December 17, 1913]
ROCHESTER HIGH SCHOOL TO LEAVE THE "BIG TEN"
It was announced here today by officials of Rochester high school that within a
few days Rochester will send in its resignation from the North Central
Conference, commonly known as "The Big Ten." This announcement did not
come as a surprise to the majority of basketball fans here as it was talked that
such action might be taken after this season.
It is the plans of the school officials to schedule games for future seasons
with "natural" rivals of Rochester rather than go to far distant downs
and bring them here at great expense. Also since the Zebras have not had teams
in recent season of the class that they had in years gone by it is the intention
of the scheduling officials to arrange games here and abroad with teams of its
own class so players will have an even chance to score victories and give the
fans more closely played games. Continual overwhelming defeats by the leading
"Big Ten" teams such as Muncie, Anderson, Newcastle, Technical,
Frankfort and others has not led to any "building up" process with the
local squads nor has it helped the school morale. Finally bringing the far away
teams has resulted in the smallest attendance on record during the past season
and the cost has been more than the athletic treasury can stand.
Never Fared Well
Rochester teams have never fared will in the big loop being found usually at the
bottom of the league when the final standing was published and in this year only
Kokomo stood between the Zebras and the cellar position. However this was not
the only reason for the action as it was the general opinion locally that the
local squad had little to gain by being in the conference whether it stood at
the top or the bottom. - - - - - -
[The News-Sentinel, Tuesday, March 22, 1932]
R.H.S. TYPING TEAM WIN FIRST IN STATE MEET
Rochester High School won first place in the advanced typing division in the
state commercial contest held Saturday in Muncie. For this honor the school will
be awarded a beautiful plac que.
Members of the team placing first in advanced typing were: Misses Opal Mann,
Helen Sheridan and Ruth Pletcher. Miss Opal Mann also placed second in the
individual typing contest and Miss Helen Sheridan won third place. Between 75
and 100 students participated in each divisional contest.
The students were accompanied to Muncie by Miss Evelyn Jones, commercial
teacher, Misses Waneta Lloyd and Marie Turner.
[The News-Sentinel, Monday, May 2, 1932]
CLYDE LYLE, PURDUE STAR, TO COACH HERE NEXT YEAR
Official announcement was made here today by the Rochester School Board, that
Clyde Lyle of Indianapolis, Indiana had been employed as coach of the basketball
squad for next season and physical director of the public schools. Lyle will
succeed Keith Stroup who has been coach for the past three years. While it had
been rumored here for some time that a change would be made, nothing official
was made public until today.
The members of the board stated that the change was being made not so much for
the reason of any disatisfaction with the work of Stroup but that they hoped to
produce teams in Rochester that would rank with those of former days here. They
stated they felt that Lyle, a member of a Big Ten Championship five at Purdue
University and who was for four years under the tutelage of Coach Ward Lambert
might instill the same system here to the advantage of the squad and players.
Stroup Was Popular
Coach Stroup in his time here has built up a fine morale in the schools and is
very popular with the students and athletes all of whom regret seeing him leave.
He came to Rochester after being a member of the state championship five at
Frankfort High School. He did not play on a college team. In addition to his
physical culture and basketball directing Stroup also coached the football and
track squads both of which had fair records under his guidance.
Lyle for the past three years has been coach at Rossville (Raub) High School a
small institution in the Central part of Indiana. In the words of Lambert,
Purdue basketball coach, recognized as the leading hardwood mentor of the middle
west, "Clyde Lyle, is one of the greatest masters of footwork and
fundamentals that has ever played the net game and in addition has always been a
keen student of every phase of the sport."
Lyle, a comparative midget, although handicapped by his lack of height and
weight, more than made up for his physical handicaps while a member of Purdue
teams through his exceptional cleverness, speed and foot work that was the
despair of more than one guard.
Lyle Played At Purdue
The new Rochester mentor started his basketball career at Purdue in 1927 when he
won a minor letter as a member of the squad that won 9 out of 12 Big Ten games
to grab the runner-up honors in the conference chase. The next season, he broke
into the regular lineup as forward and floor guard, and the Boilermakers forged
ahead to the Big Ten championship, dropping only two conference games during the
season. His senior year he again won a major letter as a member of the 1929
squad that came within on ace of grabbing the title again, but was forced to be
content with the runner-up honors.
In addition to his basketball honors, Lyle was an outstanding member of Purdue
baseball nines from 1927 to 1929 inclusive, winning major letters all three
years as an infielder, shifting between second base and shortstop.
Flash on The Floor
Lyle's athletic career at Purdue was always characterized by his keenness and
ability to analyze situations in a flash. His midget makeup was soon forgotten
when he went into action, for his unfailing store of quick acting energy made
him more than a match for any foe.
[The News-Sentinel, Tuesday, May 31, 1932]
LIVES OF EX-PRINCIPALS TOLD BY SUPERINTENDENT
Where are the men who each have served as principal of Rochester High School
during the last twenty-eight years? What are they doing at the present? What
were their major subjects while teaching? From where did they graduate?
Mr. Rezin Reagan, graduate of Earlham college, was principal of Rochester High
School for two years when Mr. A. L. Whitmer became superintendent. Mr. Reagan's
major subject was science. He is now a physician in the West.
Mr. R. C. Johnson, also a graduate of Earlham college, was principal of R.H.S.
for ten years. Mathematics was his major subject. At the present he is a
merchant in Rochester.
Mr. Harry Miller, graduate of Chicago University, presided over the high school
for three years, and his major subject was science. At the present he is the
principal of the Goshen Junior High School.
Mr. L. V. Phillips, graduate of Indiana University, filled the position of
principal of R.H.S. for six years; history was his major subject. He is now the
principal of Vincennes High School.
Our present head of the high school is Mr. F. W. Rankin, graduate of Hanover
college. He has been here for seven years, his major subject is mathematics.
All these men have shown stability and progressiveness. They have had good
personalities, and fine scholarship. All have emphasized clean living and good
sportsmanship.
[The News-Sentinel, Wednesday, February 5, 1936]
ROCHESTER JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL [Rochester, Indiana]
See Lincoln School
ROCHESTER MIDDLE SCHOOL [Rochester, Indiana]
Johnny Edward Hill became principal of Rochester Middle School in the fall of
1976.
[Jacob Whittenberger Family, Velma Bright, Fulton Co Folks, Vol. 2, Willard]
__________
TEACHERS
1966-67
[This was the year the sixth grade was moved into the Junior High Building to
avoid overcrowding in the elementary schools.]
Robert Burwell, Principal; Virginia Smith, Secretary; Deverl Becker, Math;
Frances Bright, Home Ed.; Tom Brovont, Industrial Art; Marguerite Coplen,
Language Arts; John Crabbs, Science; Dale Eizinger, Science & Agriculture;
Ruth Ellison, Language Arts; Mary Elizabeth Gray, Maty; Milton Kistler, Social
Studies, Guid.; Leonard Mc Intire, Social Studies; Mildred Nellans, Librarian;
Marvin Overmyer, Social Studies; Wilodean Rakestraw, Science; Agnes Schael,
Language Arts; John Vernon, Physical Education; Kay Horn, Physical Education;
Kermit Biddinger, Asst Principal & Grade 6; Frances Baxter, Grade 6; William
Biddinger, Grade 6;
Irene Paltz, Grade 6;Alysia P. Preul, Grade 6; Sandra Sawyer, Grade 6 (until
Dec. 1); Kathryne Drach, Grade 6; Roger McNett, Special Education; Calvin
Crabill, Custodian; Allen Stephen, Custodian; Reardon Newman, Custodian.
1967-68
Robert Burwell, Principal; Jane Trausch, Secretary; Deverl Becker, Math; Frances
Bright, Home Ec.; Tom Brovone, Ind. Arts & Arts & Crafts; Marguerite
Colen, Language Arts; John Crabbs, Science; Dale Eizinger, Science &
Agriculture, Ruth Ellison, Language Arts, Mary Elizabeth Gray, Math, Milton
Kistler, Social Studies & Guidance, Leonard McIntire, Social Studies;
Mildred Nellans, Librarian; Wilodean Rakestraw, Science; Agnes Schael, Language
Arts; Mason Stewart, Social Studies; John Vernon, Phys. Ed.; Kay Horn, Phys.
Ed.; Mary Ginn, Vocal Music; Kermit Biddinger, Asst. Principal; Frances Baxter,
Grade 6; Lloyd Beehler, Grade 6; Alysia Preul, Grade 6; Bill Worl, Grade 6;
Roger McNett, Spec Ed.; Kathleen Latier, Art; Wayne Wildrick, Custodian; Arlie
Dudgeon, Custodian; Larry May, Band; Catherine Drach, Grade 6.
1968-69
Jack Stroup, Principal; Virginia Smith, Sec.; Cuma Becht, Social Studies &
Guid; Deverl Becker, Math; Frances Bright, Home Ec.; Thomas Barker, Soc Studies;
Tom Brovont, Ind Arts, Arts & Crafts; Marguerite Coplen, Language Arts &
Math; Dale Eizinger, Science & Agriculture; Ruth Ellison, Language Arts;
George Krom III, Phy Ed & Soc Stud; Kathleen Latier, Art; Mildred Nellans,
Librarian; Kathleen Cessna, Library Clerk; Willodean Rakestraw, Science; Warren
Rietveld, Math; Agnes Schael, Language Arts; Mason Stewart Soc Studies; Mary
Ginn, Vocal Music; Ilene Howard, English & Science; Kermit Biddinger, Asst
Princ & Grade 6; Cheryl Barkman, Grade 6; Frances Baxter, Grade 6; Lloyd
Beehler Grade 6; Daniel Custer, Grade 6; Catherine Drach, Grace 6; Roger McNett,
Spec Ed; Kay Horn, Phys Ed; Larry May, Band; Wayne Wildrick, Custodian; Arlie
Dudgeon, Custodian; Cal Crabill, Custodian, Whitmer Gym
1969-70
Jack Stroup, Principal; Virginia Smith, Sec.; Cuma Becht, Guidance; Don Kinsel,
Reading Specialist; Thomas Barker, Soc. Studies; Deverl Becker, Math; Frances
Bright, Home Ec & Lang Arts; Tom Brovont, Ind Arts - Arts & Cr; Daniel
Custer, Soc Studies & Math; Dale Eizinger, Science; Ruth Ellison, Lang.
Arts; Ilene Howard, English & Science; Kathleen Latier, Art; Tom Mattix,
Math; Mildred Nellans, Librarian; Wilodean Rakestraw, Science; Agnes Schael,
Lang Arts & Soc Stud; Mason Stewart, Soc Stud; Nicki Warner, Vocal Music;
Darla Eiler, Teacher Aide; Evelyn Walker, Teacher aide; Kathleen Cessna, Library
Clerk; Kermit Biddinger, Asst. Prin., Grade 6; Cheryl Barkman, Grade 6; Frances
Baxter, Grade 6; Lloyd Beehler, Grade 6; Beth Custer, Grade 6; Catherine Drach,
left Jan 1970, Dee Carvey, Grade 6; Roger McNett, Spec Ed; Kay Horn, Phys Ed;
Larry May, Band; Wayne Wildrick, Custodian; Arlie Dudgeon, Custodian; Cal
Crabill, Custodian - Whitmer.
1970-71
Jack Stroup, Principal; Kermit Biddinger, Asst Prin , Soc Stud, Math; Virginia
Smith, Sec; Cuma Becht, Guidance; Don Kinsel, Reading Specialist; Frances
Baxter, SCience & Lang Arts; Deverl Becker, Math; Lloyd Beehler, Math &
Soc Studies; Frances Bright, Home Ec & Lang Arts; Tom Brovont, Ind Arts; Dee
Carvey, Math & Soc Studies; Dale Eizinger, Science; Ruth Ellison, Lang.
Arts; Barbara Frounfelter, Math & Science; Ilene Howard, Lang Arts &
Science; Kathleen Latier, Art; Anna Kinsel, Lang Arts & Science; Larry
Murfitt, Phy Ed & Health; James Nies, Math & Soc Studies; Mildred
Nellans, Librarian; Marvin Overmyer, Social Studies; Wilodean Rakestraw,
Science; Agnes Schael, Lang. Arts; Mason Stewart, Social Studies; Linda
Weissert, Vocal Music; Lincoln Earhart, Special Ed; Larry May, Band; Mona
Rodefeld Phys Ed; Jane Halterman, Phy Ed Aide; Charlotte Mathews, Teacher Aide;
Evelyn Walker, Teacher Aide; Kathleen Cessna, Library Clerk; Cal Crabill,
Custodian; Herbert Myers, Custodian; Louise Sweaney, Matron.
1971-72
Jack Stroup, Principal; Deverl Becker, Asst Prin & Math; Virginia Smith,
Sec; Cuma Becht, Guidance; Don Kinsel, Reading Specialist; Frances Baxter,
Science; Lloyd Beehler, Math; Frances Bright, Home Ec & Lang. Arts; Tom
Brovont, Ind Arts; Dee Carvey, Soc Studies; Dale Eizinger, Science; Ruth
Ellison, Lang. Arts; Barbara Frounfelter, Math; Ilene Howard, Science; Kay Horn,
Lang Arts & Phy Ed; Anna Kinsel, Lang Arts; Kathleen Latier, Art; Marry
Murfitt, Phy Ed; Mildred Nellans, Librarian; James Nies, Math & Soc Studies;
Marvin Overmyer, Social Studies; Willodean Rakestraw, Science; Agnes Schael,
Lang. Arts; Mason Stewart, Soc. Studies; Gary Tarr, Math; Linda Weissert, Vocal
Music; Lincoln Earhart, Sp Ed; Charlotte Mathews Teacher Aide; Evelyn Walker,
Teacher Aide; Ruth Davis, Library Clerk; Larry May, Band; Cal Crabill,
Custodian; Herbert Myers, Custodian; Louise Sweaney, Matron.
1972-73
Jack Stroup, Principal; Deverl Becker, Adm. Asst. & Math; Charlotte Mathews,
Sec.; Cuma Becht, Guidance; Don Kinsel, Reading Specialist; Frances Baxter,
Science; Lloyd Beehler, Math; Frances Bright, Home Ec.; Tom Brovong, Industrial
Arts; Dee Carvey, Soc. Studies; Dale Eizinger, Science; Ruth Ellison, Lang Arts;
Barbara Frounfelter, Math; Kay Horn, Lang. Arts & Phy Ed; Ilene Howard,
Science; Anna Kinsel, Lang Arts; Kathleen Latier, Art; Larry Murfitt, Phy Ed;
Mildred Nellans, Librarian; James Nies, Soc Studies; Marvin Overmyer, Soc
Studies; Wilodean Rakestraw, Science; Charles Rathburn, Math; Gary Tarr,
English; Linda Weissert, Vocal Music; Michael Whirledge, Soc Studies; David Apt,
Special Ed; JoAnn Grogg, Teacher Aide; Evelyn Walker, Teacher Aide; Ruth Davis,
Library Clerk; Robert Jones, Band; Louise Sweany, Matron; Charles Boardman,
Custodian; Cal Crabill, Custodian.
1973-74
Jack Stroup, Principal; Deverl Becker, Adm. Asst.; Charlotte Mathews, Sec.;
Frances Baxter, Science; Frances Bright, Home Ec; Tom Brovont, Industrial Arts;
Dee Carvey, Social Studies; Dale Eizinger, Science; Ruth Ellison, Lang.
Arts;Barbara Frounfelter, Math; Kay Horn, Lang Arts & Phy Ed; Cindy
Houghton, Vocal Music; Ilene Howard, Science; Anna Kinsel, Lang. Arts; Don
Kinsel, Reading Spec & Lang Arts; Kathleen Latier, Art; Mildred Nellans,
Librarian; James Nies, Social Studies; Marvin Overmyer, Social Studies; Wilodean
Rakestraw, Science; Charles Rathburn, Math; Gary Tarr, Lang Arts & Math,
William Warnock, Phy Ed, Michael Whirledge, Social Studies; Judy Zent, Math,
JoAnn Grogg, Teacher Aide; Evelyn Walker, Teacher Aide; Ruth Davis, Library
Clerk; David Apt, Special Ed (employed-Joint Ser); Robert Jones, Band; Charles
Boardman, Custodian; Cal Crabill, Custodian; Carolyn Largen, Matron.
[NOTE: This was the last classes in the old Joint High School Building, NE
corner 7th & Pontiac, Rochester, Indiana.]
[FCHS files]
See Lincoln School.
ROCHESTER NORMAL SCHOOL [Rochester, Indiana]
School Notice. Having made arrangements with the School Trustees of Rochester
for the School Building . . . fall term beginning Sept. 7th and ending Nov. 11,
1868. A Normal Class will be organized for the benefit of those wishing to teach
. . . W. H. Banta, Principal. Rochester, Aug. 12, 1868.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, August 27, 1868]
A normal school, for the special instruction of teachers, will open in Rochester
on July 8th. . .
[Rochester Independent, Wednesday, April 10, 1878]
Normal school begins next Monday week.
[Rochester Independent, Wednesday, June 26, 1878]
The Normal School at this place, under the direction of Professors Williams and
Sickman, opened last Monday. . . Prof. Myers, C.S., has begun a series of
lectures on didactics. . . Miss Leonard of Peru, and graduate of the Oswego
Normal school, has begun a series of lessons in map-drawing and object teaching.
. .
[Rochester Republican, Saturday, July 13, 1878]
Yesterday afternoon was held the last session of the present term of the
Rochester Normal School. No especial or unusual exercises were had, except a
short and encouraging address by Dr. Moss, President of the Bloomington
University. The term was of six weeks duration and was attended by about fifty
pupils. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, August 10, 1878]
ROCHESTER NORMAL UNIVERSITY [Rochester, Indiana]
Founded by Dr. Winfield Scott Shafer.
In 1895 he secured an option on a suitable site, divided it into lots, which he
sold for $200 each, the proceeds being used to build the $30,000 university
building.
He entered into an agreement with Prof. George Suman and Prof. W. H. Banta for
them to run the school for five years.
See: Rochester College
[photo] Rochester College, 1895-1912, was located on 18th Street and College
Avenue (that's how the street got its name) on the south side of Rochester. F.
A. Herrington was the president. Also known as Rochester Normal School (that
means it trained teeachers) and Rochester University, it was extablished by Dr.
W. S. Shafer the same man who started Woodlawn Hospital. (Photo: Merrel Wagoner)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 67, p. 140]
[photo] This was a popular postcard view of Rochester College, showing the
front (north) and west side of the building, 18th and College streets. The
college stood at the end of and facing College Street.
The observatory is described as being on top but we don't know if that was up on
the roof or if people looked out the windows on the 4th floor. Ferman Powell
told of going out on the roof to see the first airplane fly over Rochester in
1911. (Donated to FCHS in 1974 by Mrs. Dale [Medrith Brower] Welty)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 26]
[photo] Same view of the college but taken from a greater distance so it
shows the wooded area back (south) of it. College students in front are pointing
at the flagpole which has an extension making it taller. This may be the morning
after Rochester High School kids put a fishing pole on top of the flag pole to
hoist the high school banner higher than the college banner. (Photo donated to
FCHS in 1987 by Ann Wooten, Green Oak Antiques)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 26]
[photo - top] Rochester College Track Team 1909. Front row: M. Belt, R. Belt,
Fred Crabs, Clarence Adamson, Talmadge Dillon. Back Row: Glen Belt, Ray Myers,
Elmer Norris, Cleon Nafe, Adolph Richardson, [ - - - - ] Ambler. (Photo donated
to FCHS by Rochester College Alumni Assn.)
[photo - bottom] Rochester College junior class of 1911. Row 1: Ingrid Sara
Cristina Hanson Smiley,3. Elmer Norris, 4. Eula Ewing (Mrs. Dee Berrier), 7.
Cleon Nafe, 8. Edna Cooper, 9. Eunice Barkman (Mrs. Charles Coplen. Back row: 4.
Otto Babcock. (Photo donated to FCHS by Rochester College Alumni Association in
1972)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 67, p. 141]
[photo] Rochester College Glee Club. c. 1910 with Prof Davidson at left. Flo
Delp, administrative secretary, is looking out the office window. (Photo donated
to FCHS by Ann Burton of Green Oak Antiques in 1990)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 27]
[photo] Sketch of Rochester Normal University showing the east side of the
building. This sketch is on the front of a leaflet advertising the Busines and
musical training. The music teachers were E. J. Germann, Suman and Banta. Twenty
lessons, two per week, were $12.00, or ten lessons for $6. Students could choose
to be an artist, musician or a teacher.
The commercial department offered typing, shorthand and bookkeeping, taught by
J. G. Flaherty. A term of ten weeks cost $18.00.
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 27]
[photo] This pen and ink sketch of Rochester Normal University and interior
view of the Commercial Department was done by A. C. Bruce, student in Pen Art
Department, who graduated in 1901. It was reproduced in a leaflet advertising
the Penmanship and Pen Art courses. J. L. Best was principal, and W. H. Banta
president. (Donated to FCHS in 1979 by Helen Barkman)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 28]
[photo] Floor plan of Rochester College, drawn by Shirley Willard from
memories of Reba Moore Shore. The Rochester Sentinel Sept 20, 1895, describved
the college as follows:
"It is built of brick and Bedford limestone, and combines architectural
beauty with solidity and ample capacity for a thousand students. The basement is
occupied by furnaces, closets, ventilating apparatus and janitors quarters.
"The first floor is devoted to office room, library, class room and chapel
of 600 seating capacity. The second floor consists of five large class rooms, a
physical laboratory and toilet rooms.
"The third floor consists of a 15 x 40 foot hall off of which on either
side are two society halls 35 x 40, and above all a grand observatory 60 feet
from the ground from which commands a view of the campus, Lake Manitou, the city
and surrounding country, unequaled from any other point of observation. Every
part of the building is abundantly lighted, the roof is substantially covered
with the best slating, and the entire inside finished in natural oak."
Notice that the front half of the building is not as wide as the back half.
Compare this to the photos and you see the offset where the front and back half
join. The front door faced north. [FCHS Images No. 2, p. 29]
[photo] Report card of Florence Porcher, 1901. (Donated to FCHS in 1988 by
Marshall County Historical Society)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 30]
[photo] Commencement announcement for RNU 1901. Notice the seniors had a
whole week of activities for commencement in July. (Donated to FCHS in 1980 by
Mr. and Mrs. William Downs)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 30]
[photo] Verd Barker's invitation card to be presented at door for a college
reception at the Knights of Pythias Hall, which was located on the east side of
Main Street by the Arlington Hotel. Barker attended RC 1900-01. (Donated to FCHS
in 1985 by Elsie Barker Eskew)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 31]
[photo] Rochester Normal University. This picture belonged to Cora Pownall
Carithers Finney, who graduated in 1903. Cora and her sister Lillie Pownall
Brubaker are the two ladies in the back row under the third window from left.
Prof Banta is the older man ith mustache seated in the middle of the front row.
The three ladies with hats seated back of him are probably teachers at the
college. (Donated to FCHS in 1979 by Cora's daughter Helen Barkman)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 31]
[photo] (1) View in business department. (2) R. N. U. Glee Club. (3) R. N. U.
Base Ball Club
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 35]
[photo] Pages from Rochester Normal University catalog 1900-01. (Donated to
FCHS in 1985 by Verd Barker's daughter, Elsie Barker Eskew)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 36]
[photo] Rochester College Basketball team 1910. Front row: unknown, Otto
Babcock, Ray Myers. Middle row: Herman Pritz, Clarence Adason, Arthur Shore,
Cleon Nafe, Elmer Norris. Back row: Ott Van Duyne, Don Nafe. (Donated to FCHS in
1972 by Rochester College Alumni Assn.)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 38]
[photos] Prof. W. H. Banta, President Rochester College; Prof. W. F. Strong,
Dean of Musical Conservatory; Mrs. W. F. Strong, Teacher of Piano and Harmony;
Mr. Eric Lidholm, Teacher of Violin; Miss Kathryn Strong, Assistant Teacher of
Piano.
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 39]
[photos] Class officers: Kathryn Strong, Pres, Evva King, Vice-Pres.,
Glendolyn Howell Barnhart, Secy., Adrian Manering, Treas.
Conservatory Quintet Club: W. F. Strong, First Violin, Delia Strong, Second
violin, Mrs. W. F. Strong, Cello, Kathryn Strong, Piano.
Other photos: Harold Hendrickson, Laura Bevelhimer, Mildred Watson, Goldie
Fouts, Annabel Marsh. [FCHS Images No. 2, p. 40]
[photos] Frankie D. Bowser, Alma Beebe, Rutha Mastellar, Claudie Stevenson,
Rosie Marsh
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 41]
[photos] Edna Thomas, Rutha Plantz, Lillian Noon, Coda Plough.
Also: Rochester College Junior Class of 1911 shown in a classroom. Front row:
3rd from left is Hazel Rush Cessna, wearing white blouse under jumper. The 4th
is Eula Ewing Berrier. Otto Babcock, 4th from right in back row. (Donated to
FCHS in 1972 by Rochester College Alumni Assn.)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 42]
[photo] Rochester College summer school in 1912, the last class there before
the college closed. (Donated to FCHS in 1974 by Omer Reichard)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 43]
[photos] Normal Bulletin, 1908 - photo of college and faculty: Professor W.
H. Banta, F. A Herrington, Mrs. Marion G. Graves, Mrs. Gertrude M. Wiltsee, G.
C. Mance, Samuel Essick, Grace E. Leas, Miss Permelia Martin.
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 45]
[photos] Bradley M. Sims, Mrs. Bradley M. Sims, Basketball team.
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 46]
[photo] 24th Annual Rochester College Reunion, July 5, 1953, was held at
Ruth's Tea Room, 312 West 9th Street, Rochester, and attended by 60 former
students. The president was V. L. Barker, Fulton. Mrs. Clarence Werner, owner of
Ruth's Tea Room, served dinner for $1.50 a plate. Mayor Robert Shafer gave a
welcomig address. Mrs. Ray Myers played the piano for the group to sing
"America." Miss Mona Moulton and her grandmother Flossie Enyart Bailey
played two piano selections. Short talks were given by a numbber of old students
who related many interesting and amusing incidents of the old days.
The only ones identified are Reba Shore 4th from left in front row, and Arthur
Shore, 4th from left in back row (marked by arrow). The newspaper reported the
following people attended: Mr. and Mrs. Amos Sanders, Mrs. Amy Walton, Akron;
Mr. Errett Carvey, Converse; Miss Mona Moulton, Deedsville; Mr. and Mrs. L. D.
Aldridge, Fort Wayne; Mr. and Mrs. V. L. Barker, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Kent and Mrs.
Myrtle Doud, Fulton; Dr. and Mrs. Harry S. Mackey, Indianapolis; Mr. and Mrs.
Vause Polen, Mrs. Cora Pownall Finey, Kewanna; Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lucas, Knox.
Also Mrs. A. E. Conrad, Stanley Conrad, Mrs. John Kraft and granddaughter, Susan
Rice, Logansport; Mr. and Mrs. John Bookwalter, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Savage,
Macy; Mrs. Glynn Schricker, North Judson; Mr. and Mrs. Furel Burns, North
Manchester; Attorney and Mrs. Hurd Hurst, Mrs. Lula Clark Petty, Peru; Mr. and
Mrs. Fred Deardorff, Richmond; Mrs. Anna Jones Haimbaugh and Mrs. Edith Wolfe,
South Bend.
Local graduates were Mr. and Mrs. Err Biddinger, Mrs. Lucile Leonard, Mrs. Zoa
Shelton, Mrs. Edith Bryant, Mrs. Mary Shelton, Mrs. Charlotte Mackey Palmer, Mr.
and Mrs. Arthur B. Shore, Mrs. Maude M. Emmons, Miss Belle Montgomery, Mr. and
Mrs. Raymond A. McVay, Mr. and Mrs. George Felder, Mr. and Mrs. Dow Haimbaugh,
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Shafer, Mr. and Mrs. E. D. Gordon, Mrs. Flossie Bailey, Mr.
and Mrs. W. L. Kennell, Flo Delp, Mrs. Rae Wildermuth, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Myers,
Dr. and Mrs. A E. Stinson, Miss Emily Von Ehrenstein, Mrs. Mary Clifton and Mrs.
Grace Jones. (Photo donated to FCHS in 1981 by Reba Shore)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 47]
[photo] The 45th and last Rochester College Reunion was held in 1974. The
group posed for this photo and sent a postcard about the disbanding of the
organization to all remaining members. Only a few have been identified: Hazel
Rush Cessna is no. 7 in the front row, to the left of Reba Shore. Pearl Timbers
Moore is 5th from right, according to her daughters Clarice Moore and Maxine
Zerbe. Bert Kent and wife 2nd from left, 8, Reba Shore, 13, Mrs. Ralph Schwenk,
14, Agnes Haimbaugh, 15, Dr. Dow Haimbaugh. The picture has more people than the
attendance listed on the postcard. (Donated to FCHS in 1985 by Juanita Eldred
Paulus)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 52]
[photo] Rochester College, William H. Banta, President, Rochester, Ind.
Notice the mailbox, flagpose and stepping stones across College Ave. A kite is
flying at right. (Photo: FCHS)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 54]
[photo] R.N.U. Grads Gather - Dr. and Mrs. A E. (Dick) Stinson (center) were the
honored guests Sunday as some 90 alumni of the old Rochester Normal University
gathered for their 27th annual reunion at the Izaak Walton League's clubhouse on
the Tippecanoe river. Dr. Stinson, Indiana's "Doctor of the Year" in
1954, is 77 years old and attended RNU before graduating from medical school in
1903. Others in the picture, left to right, are Mrs. Dee Berrier, alumni
secretary-treasurer, 1911 RNU graduate; Flo Delp, 91, longtime secretary at the
college; Mrs. Dow Haimbaugh and Dr. Haimbaugh, 71 also a onetime RNU student.
The college building was located in the southeast section of the city.
(News-Sentinel Photo)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 54]
[photo] Remembering (1958) - These 11 persons, all graduates of the former
Rochester Normal University, were among the 50 who gathered at the Fulton County
Conservation Clubhouse Sunday afternoon for the annual reunion of RNU students.
The college, located in the southeast part of the city, operated until 1912.
Front fow, left to right, are Lula Clark Petty, Peru, class of 1903; Mary
Harrison of Peru, 1902; Walter T. Meyer, Everett, Wash., 1902; Ray Woodcox,
Rochester, 1906; Harry Mackey, Indianaolis, 1906; Clara McClary, South Bend,
1910; back row: A. B. Eherenman, LaPorte, 1899; Lucille Leonard, Rochester,
1899; Lee Beehler, Logansport, 1909; Charles Lucas, Knox, 1906; Mrs. Eula
Berrier, Rochester, 1911. Reelected to another year as president of the alumni
association was Mrs. A. E. Stinson of Athens, who is touring Europe at present.
Estel Ginn was named vice president, Mrs. Ada Sherbondy secretary-treasurer.
(The News-Sentinel Photo)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 55]
[photo] Principals during the dedication of the cornerstone of Rochester
college (first known as Rochester Normal University) and the historical marker
about the college on the southwest corner of the Court house lawn Sunday are
shown looking at the stone and marker. They are, left to right, the Rev. Clyde
Walters, Rochester College Alumni Association, president; Ernest Hiatt, Fulton
County Historical Society president, and Mrs. Edna Burns, who presented the
stone and marker to the Historical Society. (The Sentinel Photo)
Memorial dedicated to Rochester College July 12, 1970. This story was printed on
the front page of the Sentinel.
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 56]
__________
ROCHESTER NORMAL UNIVERSITY1895-1912
By Kathryn L. Waltz-Freel
[About the Author: Kathy Waltz is the daughter of Jack and Ann Waltz, Rochester,
and the granddaughter of Bertha Waltz, Fulton. Bertha is a volunteer at the
Fulton County Museum, has served as a member of the FCHS Board of Directors, and
has written local history for several FCHS publications. Kathy wrote this for
her Master's Degree at Indiana University, South Bend, in 1991. She used the
FCHS archives, which includes the Rochester College Alumni records and displays.
She also found much material about RNU or RC in the Fulton County Library.]
On November 15, 1894, at a meeting of "numerous leading citizens"
Professor George Suman outlined his plans for a normal university for Rochester,
Indiana. It was agreed at this meeting to hold a public meeting the following
Wednesday (November 21, 1894) at the Prespyterian Church. The November 16, 1894
edition of the Rochester Sentinel stated, "This is the most opportune
moment for Rochester to wake up to the importance of injecting new life into our
business channels and a healthy Normal University will be a long step in the
direction of sensible and profitable enterprise."
The public meeting was well attended and by December 7, 1894, local physician,
Dr. Winfield Shafer had developed a proposal for the funding of the college. Dr.
Shafer proposed to purchase the thirty-five and fifty-two hundredths acre Horace
Mackey farm in the southeast corner of the city. Four and fifty-two hndredths
acres would be set aside for the college campus. The remaining acres were to be
platted (at Dr. Shafer's expense) into one hndred-fifty lots that responsible
patrons would subscribe for at $200 per lot. The subscribers would decide in
their own way who would get which lots and the $30,000 proceeds would be used to
erect a college building of a cost of not less than fifteen thousand dollars and
to equip that building. The university was to establish courses in preparatory
(high school), teachers' common English, teachers' professional, commercial,
musical - both vocal and instrumental, and scientific and classical. The goal of
the school was to emphasize the professional training of teachers, to do work
that would run parallel to that done at the Indiana State Normal School. The
school was to offer the latest and the best work in pedagogy and psychology with
actual study of children in and out of the classroom. The demand for trained
teachers was greater than the supply and the founders of Rochester Normal hoped
to tap into that need.
In contrast to many other local issues, both local newspapers, the Rochester
Sentinel and the Rochester Weekly Republican, seemed to be in favor of the
establishment of the college. The Sentinel was extremely supportive of the
endeavor and published several articles highlighting the benefits of the college
to the city. The Republican seems to have been just as supportive. In an
editorial published on December 20, 1894, the editor encouraged the citizens to
put their names down for a lot. In the February 14, 1895, edition, the
Republican states, "If we make the purposed
[proposed] Normal University a grand success, Rochester will be greatly
increased in wealth and population."
That there was some public opposition to the school was evidenced by an article
in the December 14, 1894, edition of the Sentinel. Dr. Shafer responded to the
criticism that his reasons for wanting the college were for a "pecuniary
gain." He outlined the amount of money to be made from the sale of the lots
and then asked the citizens of Rochester to consider the expense he had or would
inclur, including such things as platting the property, grading and excavating
the grounds, in addition to building, furnishing and equiping the building. He
admitted that if all went as planned, the college was already in debt $1,000 to
$1,500. Dr Shafer concluded his devense by saying:
The pecuniary side of it to me is this which I will gladly propose and will be
more than willing to accept. Let the citizens execute to me a sufficient
indemnifying bond against all risks, repay me the money expended over the
$30,000, pay me something for my time spent in the work and at the end of five
years, I will gladly turn the building over to any person or body of men you
many name.
The agreement between Dr. Shafer and the lot buyers outlined the dates that
payment was due on the properties and information concerning the proposed
college. Stipulation nine of the agreement stated that Dr. Shafer agreed to not
only erect the building in the spring of 1895 and have it in readiness for the
fall of 1895, but he also agreed to build a college library and laboratory, and
to turn the completed college over to a "Board of Trustees which will
consist of competent worthy businessmen." The lots were eventually assigned
to the subscribers through a drawing at the courthouse. Two blindfolded boys,
one drawing names and the other drawing numbers from hats, were responsible for
the lot assignments.
On February 14, 1895, the Sentinel reported that a "Professor Kreibel"
(their quotation marks) of North Manchester, representing an unnamed source was
willing to offer a million dollars to the college fund. The plan called for the
citizens to build and equip some very expensive college buildings before any
part of the endowment would be available. Needless to say, this unnamed source
of funding was never revealed, nor was his million dollar endowment ever added
to the coffers of Rochester Normal.
Thursday, June 27, 1895, the cornerstone of the college building was laid, at
the present location of College and Eighteenth Streets, with a large impressive
ceremony which included parades, bands, and orators. Over 2,000 people attended
the ceremonies. What appear to be the first drawings made available to the
public along with detailed descriptions of the building's floor plans were
published in the local papers. "The building is to be a three story brick
and stone structure of modern architectural beauty. . ." The building was
to include classrooms, janitors' quarters of five rooms, a chemical laboratory,
ladies' exercise room (19 x 22'), gents' exercise room (40 x 48'), full [fuel?]
room, corridors, and toilet rooms. There was also space set aside for offices,
the library, and a chapel. The open observatory on the third floor of the tower
was to command a view "unequaled from any other point of observation."
The building was formally dedicated on November 29, 1895. The dedication was
scheduled for the day after Thanksgiving to allow the students of the high
school and district school to attend the ceremonies. There were fifty-one
students enrolled at the school on the day of dedication.
The first president of the school was W. H. Banta. Professor Banta was not a
total newcomer to the community when he moved to Rochester in 1895 to assume his
duties as president of Rochester Normal. Professor Banta had taught in the
Rochester Public Schools in the late 1860's and was made a principal while
there. He resigned the principalship in 1870 and moved to Valparaiso where he
became a member of the faculty of the Male and Female College of Valparaiso. He
resigned that post in 1871 and was elected superintendent of Valparaiso schools.
He held that position until 1894 when he resigned to assume his duties at
Rochester Normal. In addition to Professor Banta, Professor George Suman, who
had been a teacher for twenty years, thirteen of which he had been engaged in
college and normal school management, was the other primary instructor for the
institution.
The college from its inception targeted students both with and without high
school diplomas. The admitting of students without high school diplomas was
consistent with what other similar institutions were doing at this time. For
example, the Indiana State Normal School in Terre Haute, which had been
established in 1870, had 671 students enrolled in the spring term of 1890. Of
these, only 129 students had obtained their high school diplomas. The
preparatory department of Rochester Normal professed to offer the graduates of
the common schools "work exactly suited to their needs." The high
school courses could also be completed in three rather than four years because
the school was in session forty-eight weeks a year.
Special drill work was available to the high school students in penmanship,
drawing, oratory, debating, vocal music, and pedagogy. In the "Talk with
the Graduates of the Common Schools," the college catalog emphasized that
the educated farmer "lives better, brings up his family better, makes more
money, does it more easily, and is happier, and more successful in every way,
than is the one without an education." The preparatory branch of the
college was commissioned as Rochester Township High School between the years of
1902 and 1904. The commissioning of the high school allowed the previously
nonendowed college to receive tax support for the institution. It also allowed
all township students pursuing high school diplomas to attend the school without
having to pay tuition.
Those who did have their high school diplomas upon enrolling at the college
could pursue a variety of course work. One option the students had was a
scientific course, consisting of such subjects as college algebra, Livy, (Roman
Historian B.C. 49 - A.D. 17), science of rhetoric, physics, chemistry, political
economy, and mineralogy. The classic course combined Greek, Latin, literature,
and ethics along with the sciences. The professional teachers' course could be
completed by a high school graduate within one year and focused on topics such
as trigonometry, Latin, psychology, elocution, science, and art of rhetoric,
history of education, along with drills in special methods and training,
practical pedagogy, child study, penmanship, and music.
The commercial department offered students courses even before the completion of
the building. Those who enrolled in the commercial department paid their tuition
differently than those enrolled in the high school, college, or normal school.
These branches of the college charged $10.00 per ten-week term and $8.00 for the
eight-week summer term. Those in the commercial department had the option of
either paying these rates or of paying $35.00 in advance for the entire business
course and having an unlimited amount of time to complete that course. The
business course consisted of a term of bookkeeping, business practice,
commercial law, banking, commercial arithmetic, letter writing, English grammar,
orthography, rhetoric, penmanship, drawing, and American literature. The course
was considered a thirty-week course. In the business practice class (second
term), students were required to have charge of an office where they would buy
and sell merchandise at wholesale, resale, and on commission and make
"every transaction possible in the business world." In the third term
students learned how to organize a bank according to the revised National Bank
Act and to serve as a teller and cashier. In addition, they learned several
other duties associated with running a bank. A stenography course which
emphasized language, grammar, and mechanics as well as shorthand, dictation, and
typing speed was also available to students through the commercial department.
The music department tuition rates were slightly higher than the other college
rates. Music department rates were $12.00 per ten-week term (instrument and
voice), $5.00 per ten week term harmony and teachers' class. The eight-week
summer term cost music students $9.60. Those pursuing music degrees were able to
focus on either performance or teaching specializations. The 1900-1901 catalog
outlined the various musical compositions students were expected to master
including such works as Bach's 2d Inventions, Krause Op. 5, Gzerney's Toccato in
C Major, and various compositions by Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Mendelssohn,
Shubert, Liszt, and others.
The Normal School was the focus of the founders, however. In 1865 Indiana began
the systematic licensing of teachers. Prior to the establishment of state
licensing procedures, many teachers in the common schools did not have even high
school training. The licensing procedure required that the prospective teacher
write out answers to questions, which by 1899 would be distributed by the State
Board of Education. The future teachers had the choice of whether the county or
the state superintendent would give the exam. If the state superintendent gave
the exam passing marks, the teacher could teach anywhere in the state. If the
county superintendent did the grading, the teacher was licensed to teach at any
school in the county. Teachers received their training in various ways. The
State Teachers' Association, which had been organized in 1854, promoted teacher
training through Reading Circles. The Reading Circles operated by assigning
teachers to read certain books throughout a school term and then gather with
other teachers to discuss the various topics presented in those books. Another
option was the township or county institute. When these institutes were first
instated, teachers were encouraged to attend the one-day sessions or forfeit a
day's pay if they refused. As the institutes grew, teachers eventually were paid
for attending them. The quality of teacher training presented at the institutes
varied greatly. The institutes eventually became one-week sessions in which
educators from the various colleges and universities in the state would present
information to the teachers of the district schools.
In addition, teachers in Indiana could take pedagogy courses at Indiana
University or Purdue, or they could attend the Indiana State Normal School at
Terre Haute. Private normal schools also sprang up throughout the state to meet
the demand for qualified teachers. The first private normal school in America
was established in Concord, Vermont, in 1823. The purpose of the normal school
was to raise teaching standards and to turn teaching into a profession.
Fulton County had over one hundred district schools in addition to the public
city schools. Fulton County ranked second among the counties in the 1848 Free
School Vote with 91.3 percent of those voting, voting in favor of free schools.
Fulton County, however, faced the same dilemma many small rural counties still
face - how to get the best qualified tachers to teach in those schools. The
state had established the State Normal School in response to the lack of
competent teachers, but there were still so few trained teachers available that
small counties had to devise their own creative methods for training teachers.
Small private normal schools sprang up all over Indiana in the 1870's and the
1890's in response to this need.
The quality of the education offered in the private normal schools varied
widely. Some eventually became fully accredited four year institutions which are
still in existence today such as Valparaiso University and Tri-State University.
Others had an extremely brief existence. The quality of education offered at the
private schools depended on those running the school. Every school was
independent, and sometimes each department within the school was equally
independent.
Rochester Normal from the beginning claimed to have been chartered by the state.
All instructors were claimed to have had college and university training. The
schools which were listed under faculty credentials included among others:
Indiana University, Chicago University (several times), Regents' University of
the State of New York, Earlham College, Colgate University of Hamilton, New
York, DePauw University, and Northwestern University. The school offered two
levels of teaching courses. The general teachers' course was open to the
graduates of the common schools and offered a student work in methodology,
general pedagogy, vocal music, drawing, and advanced work in psychology in
addition to the academic (high school) course. This was a three-year program.
The special professional teachers' course was open to high school grduates only
and was a one year course designed "to give strength and symmetry to the
preparation of those who have had a good High School course and desire to become
teachers."
The bulletin for 1908 claims the college had acquired accreditation for Class A
and Class B teaching certification and was currently working toward a Class C
certification. The accreditations, which the State Board of Education assigned
to the Indiana State Normal School, were also classified as A, B, and C. The A
classification was a twelve-week couse in which students had to take three
credits, two of which were in strictly professional subjects. The Class B
accreditation was a twenty-four-week course of six credits, four of which were
taken in a professional subject, and the student could have no duplication of
work. The C level accredited course was a three-year course that combined with
two years of successful teaching entitled the holder to an Indiana State Life
License. All three levels at the state school required a student to be a high
school graduate upon entrance to the program. Were these the same accreditations
that Rochester Normal was claiming to have? It seems unlikely. Were they
accredited by a private agency, or even just their own board of trustees? It is
difficult to determine from the records which have survived. One thing is
certain, the language of the catalog does change from a school which is merely
"chartered" to one which is "accredited."
Who were the students of Rochester College and what was a typical day like for
them? What kinds of activities did the college offer them? A scanning of the
class rolls published in the still existing catalogs and the graduates' list
reveals that the college enrolled more female than male students. Sixty-two
percent (175 students) of those enrolling in 1900-1901 were female, and
thirty-eight percent (109) students were male. The majority of the students came
from Fulton County, but several students did come from outlying counties, and
there were even a few who traveled from other states. The class roll of
1900-1901 reflected 75 percent of the students were from Fulton County, 22
percent were from other counties in Indiana, and 3 percent were from
out-of-state. Most of those who were from out of state came from neighboring
states but a few journeyed all the way from California. Those who came from
outside the city could board with private families. The rates for
"good" room and board with a private family were $2.00 per week. At a
private boarding house, the rate was $1.50, and rooms without board were usually
50 cents per week.There was even an enterprising citizen who established a
rooming house close to the college, but it never became a success because of a
female student committed suicide in her room there.
Those who lived in the township had to devise their own transportation plans.
Reba Moore Shore, a graduate of the class of 1910, tells of driving to the
college with her brothers in a horse and buggy. It took them approximately one
hour to make the four mile trip. Once they arrived in town, there was the
problem of where to park the buggy. The Moores ultimately decided to rent a barn
in town for their horses. In the summer months, Mrs. Shore said she would often
ride her bicycle back and forth.
The school day started at 9 a.m., and the first order of the day was Chapel. The
catalogs make it very clear that those students who were in or around the
building were expected to attend Chapel. Students then attended classes with a
short lunch break until approximately 4:00 p.m.
There was a wide range of additional activities available to the students. Those
enrolled in the music department were expected to perform at various recitals
throughout the term. In addition, there was an orchestra and a glee club. The
two literary societies were the Athena Literary Society established on December
3, 1895, and the Philomathean which was established October 12, 1900. The
purpose of the Athena was "to encourage a social feeling among the
students, to give them an opportunity to become acquainted with debating and
parliamentary rules, of becoming accustomed to appearing before audiences and
above all to engender a love for true culture."
There were various sports teams at RNU to defend the school colors of light blue
and yellow. The baseball team seems to have been one of the earliest teams
established, but there was also basketball, track, and tennis. In the spring of
1901, the basebell team defeated the Peru High School team 31-6, then the
northern Indiana Normal School team (Valparaiso) 11-8. On May 18, 1901, they
played a "professional" team "purporting to be students of
Bourbon College" and met their first defeat of the season. Having opponents
from the high schol as well as the college level, again reemphasizes the
confusion which existed at this time between these two levels on the athletic
field as well as the academic field.
The college newspaper, R.N.U. Record, was established in 1901, but there seems
to be only one copy left in existence. Later copies of the college newspaper
carry the name of the College Echo on the banner. In addition, there were
various student activities scheduled throughout the year. Mrs. Reba Shore
recounted meeting her future husband at Rochester Normal University.
They used to have two steps in the big auditorium and one night I had the
numbers for the men and the numbers for the women and I'd go around to the men,
and the men would pick out a number. So this man picked out a number, and I
looked at it, and I picked out my number to match his, and that was my husband.
Upon graduation, large numbers of students did seem to stay within Fulton
County. Over thirty of the official graduates taught locally, but many other
local teachers took some courses or a complete summer normal at the college and
then taught in the district schools. County Superintendent W. S. Gibbons was
urging the teachers in the district schools to take advantage of the 1899 summer
term at Rochester Normal. Several other graduates pursued the commercial course
and became prominent Rochester businessmen. At least two county superintendents
(J. C. Werner and Arthur Deamer) attended the college as well as local
physicians Clyde Fish and A. E. Stinson. Dr. Bert Kent, Fulton veterinarian, and
his twin sister, Myrtle Kent Doud, both graduated from the college as well.
Future Rochester Mayor Ray Myers was a member of the last graduating class of
1911. Many of the women who graduated from the college taught a few years and
then married usually ending their teaching careers. It was not considerd
acceptable for a married woman to work outside her home at this time. "You
were taking a job away from a man with a family."
The impact of the college on the community was immediate. A university
association was developed and a constitution and bylaws adopted on November 18,
1896. The group met one Tuesday evening a month, and the program was usually a
group of four speakers, all who had been assigned a specific subject and were to
report on those topics. The topics discussed were usually a combination of
history, literature, and current events. There were approximately fifty members
from the community and the college throughout its existence. Other organizations
also used the college building. The Y.M.C.A entertainment on June 19, 1896, was
held in the college auditorium/chapel. By 1897, a regular feature of both
newspapers was the college news.
All, however, was not well. By May of 1899, the college seemed to be in the
midst of its first major financial crisis. The school was still unendowed with
any tax dollars at this time. The Rochester Sentinel on May 19, 1899, reported:
Profs. Banta and Suman are both enthusiastic and devoted school men, but neither
ever gave much attention to extensive business affairs and while the educational
features of the college have been generally satisfactory, the business affairs
took care of themselves with the usual result that the book accounts of the
institution became so great that there were lack of funds to do the advertising
and supply the attractions necessary to draw the students which the financial
welfare to the institution demanded.
The solution to the financial problem was that Frank Hoffman, a bridge and
factory man, purchased Professor Suman's interest in the college, and Professsor
Suman left town to pursue his academic work elsewhere. Enoch Meyers, who was
experienced as a teacher, county superintendent, and attorney, also purchased
one-third interest in the college. Under the new structure, Professor Banta was
to be in charge of the supervision of all branches of instruction, Mr. Meyers
was to develop a law department, and Mr. Hoffman was to handle the business
affairs. That the money was put to immeidate educational use is evidenced by the
fact that the university library grew by 134 volumes to 345 total volumes in
1899, and then nearly doubled in size with 300 additional volumes in 1900.
Under the new management the college was doing all that was promised and more.
Many felt that within two to three years, additional buildings would be needed
to accommodate all the students. With the commissioning of Rochester Township
High School, the college began to receive tax money. By the 1905-1906 term the
college was prospering. In 1905 enrollment topped 379 students. "Classes
are reciting from 6:40 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with evening work along some
educational lines nearly every evening." There was even a promotional
brochure distributed in 1905 which cited testimony from several leading citizens
including businessmen and a judge which lauded the college's contributions to
the community and the quality of education the students received there.
After the peak enrollments of 1905-1906, the enrollment in the normal school
began to decline steadily. As the enrollment in the normal declined the college
dropped the word normal from its general promotional literature and began to
refer to itself only as Rochester College. The college was still advertising the
normal programs, but it did so in separate brochures. In 1908, Professor Banta
retired from his post as college president. He moved to Arkansas to try to
restore his failing health. He would have been sixty-two years old at the time.
The "pure Ozark air" seems to have benefited him, because by 1911, he
was the superintendent of Springdale Public Schools. He held that position until
his death on May 28, 1916. The college was not quite ready to give up on the
normal school as evidenced by the naming of the next president, F. A.
Herrington. Herrington was the head of the normal school under President Banta.
Herrington remained president of the institution through the 1911 term.
Enrollment in the normal school though continued to decline. Why? A possible
reason was the changing face of public school education in Indiana and other
Midwestern states at this time. No one knew in 1906, but education was on the
eve of several major changes. Better transportation was making it possible for
students to travel further for their schooling. Changes in state law were making
it more and more difficult to maintain the one-room district school. By the
summer of 1912, the year that Rochester Normal would finally close its doors,
County Superintendent H. L. Becker would be reporting that several district
schools would be closing their doors permenently. In the June 7, 1912, edition
of the Sentinel, Becker stated that two major changes in school law were
responsible for these closings. One of the State Board of Education's rulings
required that every certified and commissioned school must now employ at least
one teacher with a college degree.
The teacher who was a high school graduate with only a term or more of normal
training, the kind of teacher who typically graduated from Rochester Normal, was
no longer the most desirable teaching candidate. The second law that had a
direct impact on these teachers stated that schools in which daily attendance
averaged fewer than twelve students must be abolished. Rochester Normal was
created, in part, to meet the need for teachers in district schools. Without
district schools, the college would either have to make drastic changes or close
its doors.
The college began to focus on the high school programs. Enrollment in the high
school rose slightly. By 1908, only seven of the fifty-three graduates were
graduating from the normal department. The rest were all graduates of the high
school and commercial departments. The 1909 commencement folder lists no degree
designations, and the 1910 and 1911 folders list three graduates in the
commercial department and thirty-nine graduates in the high school department.
The college was graduating mostly high school students.
In 1911, the township and the city reached an agreement to build a new joint
high school. A high school that both city and township students could attend
without paying tuition. The diversion of tax money from the township high
school, housed at the college, to the new joint high school caused the college
to close because of lack of funds at the end of the summer term 1912.
The loss of tax dollars did not end the story of Rochester College. The
president at the time of the college's close, J. C. Werner, had a proposal to
turn the college into a countywide agricultural high school. According to the
May 15, 1912 edition of the Rochester Sentinel, state school law had the
following provisions:
Whenever any person or persons shall donate to any county of the state, any
building or buildings together with the necessary grounds of the value of not
less than 20,000 . . . for the purpose of maintaining a county high school, it
shall be the duty of the board of county commissioners to accept such donation
for the purposes herein.
The paper went on to state that the law provided for the election of trustees to
run this school and the levying of an annual tax that would not exceed fifteen
cents on each one hundred dollars of taxable property for the financial support
of the school.
The next part of President Werner's plan called for some input from Purdue
University. Professor Christie, the superintendent of the agriculaural extension
department, offered to come to Rochester to explain the benefit of the plan, and
on June 21, 1912, he did just that. Professor Christie emphasized in his address
that the dissatisfaction with country life often began when a city girl, wholly
ignorant of the glory of farm life, taught in a one-room country school. This
city teacher continually encouraged farm youngsters to study hard to escape the
drudgery of farm life. The solution to the problem was to have teachers who
understood and were in sympathy with life on the farm.
Approximately $7,000 was needed to make President Werner's dream of a county
high school a reality. Several of the citizens who held bonds on the college
offered to forfeit those bonds to help the cause. That left a balance of $5,000.
Much of the rhetoric in the local papers at this time sounded very similar to
the rhetoric of 1895 -- Now was the time for Rochester to act to do something
positive for its future. Through subscriptions and pledges almost half of the
money was raised, but that meant another $2,000 had to be raised to seal the
college's fate as an educational institution. The Commercial Club which had
undertaken the project of raising the funds was soundly criticized in the
Sentinel. "The Commercial Club endorsed the plan and promised to raise a
fund for the purchase of the building, but the Commercial Club couldn't raise a
flag on the iron flagstaff in front of the courthouse. The community support
that the college had enjoyed throughout most of its existence was virtually
gone. The college needed the community to provide it with financial support, and
the community refused.
At their August meeting the county commissioners were presented with affidavits
showing that the value of the property exceeded $26,000. They were also
presented with the signatures of 250 citizens who supported the plan to turn the
college into a county agricultural school. Several proponents of the plan also
spoke at the meeting. The commissioners were not swayed by the affidavits, the
signatures, or the speakers though, and they postponed making a decision on the
acceptance of the "gift." At a special session of the commissioners
reported in the September 5, 1912, Sentinel the commissioners finally voted to
reject the gift of the building. The main reason they cited for the rejection
was that the building, grounds, and equipment, was not worth the $20,000 as
specified by law. The plan appears to have been slightly ahead of is time. By
1913 a law was enacted in Indiana which required the teaching of agricultural,
domestic, and industrial courses in both the state's elementary and secondary
schools. By March 25, 1914, the Sentinel was reporting that agriculture was
being added to the curriculum of the new joint high school under the direction
of the agriculture department at Purdue.
The college building appeared to have stood idle until it was razed in 1923.
There was an effort in 1914 to turn the building into the Indiana Christian
Womans' [sic] Home for the Aged and Orphans. There were conflicting newspaper
accounts of the transaction. The Rochester Weekly Republican of March 12, 1914,
reported, "the College was sold this morning." The Sentinel of the
same date reported that arragements were made to sell the college this morning.
The Sentinel reported that for the deal to be completed approximately $3,000 was
needed to be raised by community to contribute to the renovating of the
building. The plan does not seem to have ever been implemented, and by 1923, the
only part of the Rochester College building which was still intact was the
cornerstone. The bricks from the building were used to convert Robbins'
Chevrolet Agency into the Char-Bell Theater which eventually became the Times
Theaster.
The Rochester College Alumni Association had been organized in 1910, but it did
not become active until 1929. The Alumni Association held yearly reunions until
1974 when it disbanded because of the age of the members. In addition to the
yearly reunions there were two other major activities of the alumni association
which should be mentioned. One was the designation of the College Memorial Fund
and the second was the dedication of the college cornerstone as a historical
landmark. At its 1959-1960 meeting, the asociation decided to designate the
Rochester College Memorial Funds "that would be distributed to a needy
college student as either a scholarship fund (direct gift) or a revolving fund
(loan without interest if repaid within four years after graduation or
withdrawal from college)." In addition they established a perpetuating fund
for promotional, building, and maintenance expenses as directed by the alumni
association. When the group disbanded in 1974, there was $102.58 left in this
fund. The money was given to the Fulton County Historical Society for the
maintenance of the college cornerstone which had been designated as a historical
landmark in 1970. The cornerstone now stands on the southwest corner of the
Fulton County Courthouse lawn with a historical marker which outlines a brief
history of the college. It is a permanent reminder of the college that was.
[FCHS Images No. 2, pp 26-44]
MEMORIES OF REBA MOORE SHORE
By Kathryn L. Waltz-Freel
The following are additional memories of Rochester College and Reba's life as a
teacher in the one-room schoolhouses in Fulton County that were shared with the
author when she was researching the college. The interview took place when Reba
was 100 years and two months old in 1991.
When Rochester College was in existence, it was the host of several social
events for the city. Perhaps more importantly though, it was also the hub of
many social events for its students. A variety of social activities were offered
to give the students ways to get to know each other. Reba Moore Shore relates
that the most important thing to her about going to the college was the
opportunity to meet her future husband. Reba relates that they used to have
"two-steps" in the big auditorium. The students who attended these
"two-steps" were given numbers which were to determine who their dance
partners would be that evening. One eveing Reba had the numbers for the men and
the numbers for the women. She walked up to this man who picked out his number,
and she looked at it - something she was not supposed to do. She then picked out
her number to match his. This was the beginning of their relationship.
In 1911, the two were engaged to be married. Reba says that A.B.'s father told
him if he wanted to get married he had to have a job, so A. B. started the A. B.
Shore Clothing Company. Finally, on one day in 1913, Reba, who was teaching at
Sprinkleburg one-room school, east of Rochester, received a letter from A.B. In
the letter, he indicated he was ready to end their two-year engagement. Reba
recalled the letter said, "I rented a house, bought some furniture, and
when school is out we're going to get married."
The college social calendar and Reba's quick thinking had led her to the altar.
When the college was in high gear, it was wonderful. It had a significant impact
on the community through such things as the university association, and it also
attracted new people to the community. Reba's husband's sister, Artella Shore,
married a man from Kentland, Indiana, Harry Wilson, who was just one of many
people who came to Rochester specifically for the college. The atmosphere of the
college was very friendly, and the students played games and did practically
everything together. The school term was seven months long, and the school day
began at 9:00 a.m. with reading of scripture and prayers in the Chapel.
Eventually the students themselves offered the prayer, and lateness was not
tolerated. After prayers, lessons began. Reba remembered studying Latin with
Miss Dane, and mathematics and history. The school day ended at 4:00 p.m.
The college was also well-known for teaching music and holding recitals for the
students and the public. Students also had the option of enrolling in the
commercial program, which was designed to prepare them to run a business. Arthur
B. Shore enrolled in the commercial program after his father told him that if he
wished to get married someday, he needed to have a job. After his graduation
from the college, A.B. started the A. B. Shore Clothing Company.
The focus of the college, though, remained the normal programs which prepared
individuals to teach in the one-room schools. Many of Reba's classmates taught
in the area, and two of her brothers, her oldest brother, Fred, and another
brother, Jim, also graduated from the college and taught in the area. There were
many key differences between the normal course Reba completed and a
teacher-training program today. One of the most important though was no practice
teaching. Reba says that most of the students enrolled in the normal had
graduated from a one-room school and knew all about them, so practice teaching
was not considered necessary.
Reba took one term of normal the summer before she graduated, and an additional
two terms of normal the summer she graduated. After completing the normal, Reba
completed the required writing to receive a teacher's license. This written exam
was given on the top floor of the old Lincoln School, present site of the public
library [arboretum] grounds. The test was scored by the county superintendent
and certified the test-taker to teach in any school in the county. Reba took the
test at the same time as one of her classmates, a man, but she could not recall
his name. She did remember, however, that he scored a 90 on the test while she
received a 76.
After taking the test, Reba was not impressed with her own score, and she
remembered asking the trustee, "Do I get a school?" His response was,
"You get any school you want. You want the home school, you take it."
The home school was the school closest to a teacher's home, and it was
considered an honor to be assigned to one's home school.
Reba did not get the home school though, and she spent her first year teaching
1910-11 at School No. 6 located three miles west of Rochester and one mile north
on Tippecanoe (Olson) Road. After her first year of teaching she moved to her
home school, Sprinkleburg. Reba lived east of Rochester four miles on the Akron
Road, which was also called Road 14. The red brick schoolhouse was south a half
mile and west an additional half a mile from her home. Reba taught at
Sprinkleburg two years until her marriage. Essentially, she was not allowed to
teach after she was married. The prevailing thought was that if a woman was
married, she did not need a job, and to have one took a job away from a man who
had a family. Reba did not teach after 1913.
What about the promising young teacher who took his certification exam with
Reba? He was assigned to the Burton School. His high score might have indicated
that he would have been a good teacher, but the gentleman had difficulty getting
to the school on time. When he would arrive to start the school day, he would
set back his watch and claim that he was on time. One of the students was able
to get an old time piece to prove to the teacher that he was later. The
tardiness continued, however, Reba says, "That man never got a school
again."
The one-room schools at the time Reba quit teaching were beginning to be
consolidated. The college's financial difficulties, at the same time as the
demise of he one-room school, made its continued existence almost impossible.
Reba attributes the failure of the college to the new joint high school, which
took tax money from the college, and a lack of community support to keep the
college going. She said that she did not think most of the community really
cared whether the college continued or not towards the end of its existence.
The spirit of the college lived on for many years though through the University
Alumni Association. The association held annual reunions, planned at Reba's
home, for nearly 50 years. The Alumni Association disbanded in 1974 because of
the age of the various graduates was making it diffucult for them to continue
meeting. As one of its last tasks, the Alumni Association placed the college's
cornerstone on the courthouse lawn.
The one-room school and Rochester College are a part of the heritage of many of
us who were born and grew up in Fulton County, including the author of this
piece whose great-grandfather, Arthur Fry, attended normal and taught in a
one-room school. Reba Moore Shore's memories of this time help many of us to
more clearly understand what the day-to-day experiences of our ancestors were
like.
[FCHS Images No. 2, pp 51-53]
MEMORIES OF ROCHESTER COLLEGE STUDENTS
Compiled by Shirley Willard
Rochester College students had a good time at the college at the edge of town.
Down through the years several recorded their memories in FCHS or other
publications.
Ferman Powell told his memories to Shirley Willard, land they were published in
Fulton County Folks vol. 2 in 1981, pp 438-441.
Ferman grew up on his father's farm south of Mt. Zion. His father was Oliver M.
Powell, famous for his race horses that set four world records in racing. Ferman
recalled that he lived in Fulton County but walked south to attend Miami County
schools because they were closer.
"I attended Hopewell one-room school a half mile south of Wagoner's
Station, Miami County, which was a mile and a half walk twice a day. Then I
attended Macy High School (three mile walk twice a day) and Rochester College. I
didn't start to school until a couple of years older than other first graders
because I was sickly and they thought I might go into TB. But I made a practice
of running to school and got healthy. I would run the distance of three
telephone poles, then walk for three, and so on. We had a Macy telephone even
though we lived in Fulton County because we were on the county line road and the
Macy wires were closer.
"I also liked to run on my dad's horse track on our farm. I ran for the
track team of Rochester College and won several brown and gold ribbons (the
school colors). I wanted to run the marathon (26 miles) and trained at the
Rochester city park by running five miles every day. Every evening the
grandstand would fill with people watching the college boys train. I got so I
could run 20 miles, but never made the marathon. When you run a long time, your
side hurts, but with continued practice you get a muscle that and the side stops
hurting.
"To toughen my leg muscles for running, I would go up on my toes, up and
down, 200 times. When my family went to visit my grandparents, Christian and
Suzanne Smoker, they went in horse and carriage on the roads, but I ran through
the fields and over fences and got there at the same time. It was six miles to
their house, located one-half mile east of the Pleasant Hill Church about a
quarter mile south of the county line.
"In 1911 the first airplane flew across the United States, and the
Rochester College students were allowed to go up on the roof to look at it. A
man named Rodgers was the pilot. He followed the railroad tracks, came through
Akron and Rochester over the Erie. He was following a passenger train which had
to go slow and stop and wait for the plane to catch up. The airplane went only
100 miles a day. He made a forced landing in a corn field by Lafayette [?] and
had to be pulled by horses.
"I attended Rochester College and was among those who climbed up to the
roof to see the airplane. I was in the last graduating class of Rochester
College when it closed in 1912. I remember the time some Halloween pranksters
took a cow up on the third floor of the college. Tommy Blacketor was the janitor
and had a mess to clean up. Rue Oliver was one of the students who helped get
the cow down stairs. We never found out who did the dirty trick.
"When I was in Rochester College, a professional athlete walked through
Fulton County on his way from New York to the West Coast. He followed the Erie
Railroad through Akron and Rochester. Dr. Kelsey from Monterey, Ind., was a good
hiker and announced that he would accompany the athlete on his walk across
Fulton County. I saw them cross Main Street at the north edge of Rochester. The
professional athlete looked to be 60 years old and walked like a machine, boldly
swinging his arms as he strode, looking neither to the right nor left, but
straight ahead. He didn't speak or acknowledge the crowds in any way. Dr. Kelsey
had joined him in Akron and was lagging behind about 100 yards. The doctor wore
out and dropped out of the walk when they got to Germany Station five miles west
of Rochester. This was about 1910."
Mrs. Tommy Blacketor wrote to her daughter, Mrs. Rae Blacketor Wildermuth,
shortly after her marriage, describing an exciting episode at the college. This
was read at the Rochester College Alumni Reunion many years later.
"They were having a time at the College. You knew they raised a flag pole
Monday. The College students put their pennant on top of the pole. Tuesday
morning or Monday in thhe night time the Rochester High School (kids) tied their
pennant to a fish pole, went up and hoisted it three or four feet higher than
the College pennant, tied it to the flag pole and as they came down, greased the
pole. But Jim Moore went up and took the High School pennant down and such
cheering!
"This morning the R.C. students tacked the High School pennant fast to the
floor right inside the Chapel door, and as they went in wiped their feet on it.
That made the High School students mad and they are having a time.
"I know all about this because I went through all the excitement, with both
sides. Jim made the trip up and down the pole, but it was a hard trip, but the
best part of it was - the objectionable pennant was down."
In 1958 Darlene Cox wrote a paper about Rochester College for her high school
English class. She interviewed some of the former R.C. students but does not
name them in her report.
"There was a foreigner that came to Rochester and had no place convenient
for his work and to live. After talking to Professor Hunley, the man found out
that he could live in the tower above the college. The type of work he did was a
happy coincidence also. He made violins and sold them to various people around
Rochester.
"Every Friday night the college students presented some sort of
entertainment or program. They had many different plays during a semester.
Professor Hunley wrote all of the plays and the songs to go with them."
After Rochester College closed in the fall of 1912, many suggestions and schemes
were advanced as to what to do with the building. On Oct. 9, 1913, lthe Fulton
County Sun ran a story titled COLLEGE CASE SETTLED FOR GOOD. The college had
been offered as a donation to the County Commissioners for use as a County High
School. The same newspaper had another story right beside it: OUR HIGH SCHOOL
OPENED. The new Rochester Joint High School opened in October because the
building was not ready for school to start in September.
But it wasn't settled completely yet. Other news articles told of the building
being offered to Purdue University for an agricultural school. The Rochester
Daily Republican had as its headling on Monday Mar. 9, 1914: Indiana Womans'
Christian Home for Aged and Orphans is Assured and Local Organization Perfected
this Afternoon. Even though a huge crowd had gathered at the Christian Church to
hear the president of the Christian Women's National Benevolent Association on
Sunday, thus prompting the headline, the deal fell through.
The "college case" was not completely settled until the building was
torn down in 1923. How sad that this beautiful building was used for fewer than
two decades. We will never know how life would have been different in Rochester
if the college had continued and grown.
But the college continued to live in the hearts of its graduates. They held
reunions for many years, and every year at reunion time the local newspapers ran
articles of their memories and a brief history of the college.
Howard E. Conn, New Castle, Ind., wrote a letter to the Rochester News-Sentinel,
published Aug. 1, 1962, in which he tells of his Rochester College days:
Editor, The Sentinel:
The thing that inspires this dissertation is a copy of the Rochester Sentinel
under date of July 12, carrying the account of the reunion of Rochester Normal
University. I was unable to attend and do not know who to thank for their
remembrance, due to the fact that I have not taken an unsupported step since
1945. Mrs. Conn, the former E. Fern Wells, has been confined to her bed
following a cerebral hemorrhage in 1953. She is a graduate of Rochester Musical
Conxervatory, class of 1905, piano teacher's course.
If mistakes occur in this copy, excuse a man of 77 with blindness that precludes
proofreading.
The Sentincl which I received was a pretty presentable newspaper, but don't
forget that I knew The Sentinel when it was owned and published by Hugh's
father, the late Henry A. Barnhart, and Albert W. Bitters was owner and
publisher of The Republican. In politics, it was open warfare year around
between them. So far as I can recall they got along in other things.
I was College reporter for The Republican during the year beginning in the fall
of 1904. But if you'll agree to not tell it on me, I'll admit that I helped
elect Hank to congress. Why? Because we were not long in Rochester before he was
addressing we boys as though we were contemporaries and not just cubs.
Yes, I also knew Alex Ruh, Sol Allman, Guthrie the clothier, Burt Green, Dawson
and Richter, Knobby True, A. H. Skinner, Charles Plank, the Wile brothers, Pete
Buchanan and the whole tribe of McMahans.
I also was present when the Rochester Citizens Military Band, prize winning band
of Indiana led by Billy Reynolds, met Annias Baker (Anti-Cigarette Baker, as he
soon was known) at the "Leave Early and Walk" railroad station on his
return from the session of the Indiana General Assembly where he had exposed the
attempt of the tobacco interest to bribe representatives to defeat an
anti-cigarette bill.
I just wonder if that law still is on the statute books. If it is, public
opinion has declared it unconstitutional. From the decisions of public opinion
there is no appeal.
During that year, some fellow out near the lake went berserk, killed his wife,
mother-in-law, sister-in-law and committed suicide. The morbid mob stood in line
at Val Zimmerman';s mortuary to view the bodies. Rev. O. B. Wells of the U.B.
church, who was to become my father-in-law the next year, conducted the burials.
Ike (as he was familiarly known) Brown was in the employ of Helen Gould, the
unmarried daughter of the Wall Street Goulds at a then-fancy stipend furthering
the interests of the Audubon Society. He addressed the student body from the
deck of a low-wheeled wagon in an orchard north and a little east of the college
one morning. His favorite song was "Juanita," we sang it for him. The
Indiana Editorial Association held its annual meeting in the college chapel that
year and I reported it to The Republican and and banqueted with them at the
Columbia Hotel. Immediately preceding one of the evening sessions the Citizens
Band accompanied Harry Shields, just home from somewhere, on the northwest
corner of the college lawn, as he sang "In the Shade of the Old Apple
Tree," which just then was very popular.
Joe Voglegesang of Marion, O., was director of the college band in which Prof.
A. J. Hoare played baritone, Jay Ginther trombone, Alger Norris alto and I had
the honor of playing tuba.
One incident that will remain in my memory as long as it continues to function
occurred as I finished reading a rejoinder to a paper the Philomathian Society
had read at the previous meeting disparaging the Athena Society. Jimmy Banta,
barely school age if that, sat on the front seat. As I left the stage I saw him
clapping both his hands and his feet in perfect unison and laugh "fit to
kill." Had I seen him before I finished reading he probably would have
stopped me cold. I haven't yet figured out just exactly what a lad of that age
knew about the merits of the paper. He was the young son of President W. H.
Banta.
W. H. Banta and bright-eyed Flo Delp made the college office a nice place to go.
Shortly before the end of the year Prof. Banta, as he was familiarly known to us
all, called me into his private office to inquire what I was going to do when
the school year ended. I answered "go down and work on the farm, maybe help
some of the neighbors until school starts." He then asked me if I would
take a reporting job. I replied that I would if it would pay my keep. He assured
me that it would and that I was capable.
Then he informed me that without consulting me he had arranged for me to report
the Darrow - Talbott - Worden disbarment case to the A to Z syndicate. Clarence
Darrow was the later-nationally-known attorney of South Bend (later Chicago
criminal lawyer) who in the 20s was the defense attorney in the Scopes
anti-evolution trial at Dayton, Tenn. William Jennings Bryan was the prosecuting
attorney in this trial. The disbarment case was postponed and before it came to
trial I was teaching in Liberty township. But for this cruel quirk of fate old
man Kaltenborn might have "found the place filled" before he got
there.
One year of teaching in Liberty was followed by three in Union Township after
which I took to the road as a traveling salesman until 1922 when I entered the
gospel ministry. I still hold credentials in Whitewater Presbytery of the United
Presbyterian Church in the USA. Prof. Marbett and I are brothers of the cloth.
He is somewhere in New York state. Of the eight children born to Fern and I,
five still live. We have eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. All
of the lattter are on the West Coast with our three eldest grandsons and their
wifes - Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
Though thwarted in becoming a correspondent I have written extensively for
Midwest newspapers and other periodicals from coast to coast.
Memories, memories. How sweet they are as we near the end!
Howard E. Conn, 525 North 18th Street, New Castle, Ind.
[FCHS Images No. 2, pp 53-56]
Students' Roll -- 1900--1901
COLLEGE DEPARTMENT:
Anglemyer, Grace, Fulton
Alspach, Milton, Fulton
Adamson, Earl, Fulton
Anderson, Georgia, Fulton
Arnold, Flora, Starke
Beyer, Earl, Fulton
Barker, Verdie, Fulton
Bevelheimer, Olca, Fulton
Belt, Iva, Fulton
Bradley, Bruce, Marshall
Bright, Maude, Fulton
Beehler, Elbe, Fulton
Bruce, A. C., Fulton
Bailey, Ella, Fulton
Bowers, Bessie, Fulton
Bainter, Claude, Fulton
Baker, Mitchell, Fulton
Bailey, Estella, Fulton
Bryant, Mottie, Fulton
Barger, Guy, Fulton
Busenberg, Leslie, Fulton
Brugh, Harry, Fulton
Bowen, Dorothea, Fulton
Biddinger, Carl, Fulton
Berry, E. C., Fulton
Babcock, Clyde, Fulton
Bair, Eva, Fulton
Bish, Ray, Fulton
Bok, Henry A., Fulton
Biddinger, Frank, Fulton
Bennett, Frank, Fulton
Becker, Emma, Fulton
Bright, Addie, Kosciusko
Bolley, Mae, Wabash
Bowman, Jessie, Fulton
Collins, Claude, Starke
Cook, R. Stanley, Howard
Caple, Ruth, Fulton
Caple, John, Fulton
Crabbs, Will. T., Fulton
Crabill, Delno, Fulton
Clark, Lulu, Fulton
Calaway, Howard, Fulton
Campbell, Lucretia, Fulton
Cook, Martha, Fulton
Collins, Frank, Fulton
Cline, Chas., Fulton
Cline, Mrs. Chas., Fulton
Coplen, Alta, Marshall
Courter, Gussie, Fulton
Carson, O. H., Fulton
Cobb, Mary, Johnson
Calvin, Glen, Fulton
Cotton, Blanche, Fulton
Conn, Carrie E., Fulton
Cramer, Cynthia, Fulton
Dill, Mary, North Dacotah
Dill, Anna, North Dacotah
Durkes, Henry, Fulton
Dawson, Lillian, Fulton
DuBois, [ - - - - ], Fulton
Ducker, Elzy, Fulton
Eldridge, Grant, Pulaski
Ehrenman, Bertha, Fulton
Emmons, C. E., Fulton
Eber, Margaret, Fulton
Fisher, Clarence, Jefferson, O.
Fish, Clyde, Fulton
Felder, Geo., Fulton
Farmer, Mrs. Carrie A., Pulaski
Frank, A. J., Marshall
Foor, Mabel, Miami
Gordon, Elmer, Fulton
Goss, Clara, Fulton
Guynn, Nellie, Fulton
Guynn, Daisy, Fulton
Gould, Geo., Fulton
Guise, A. P., Cass
Gorsline, J. C., Fulton
Gohl, W. H., Fulton
Guthrie, Mabel, Fulton
Gillespie, Una, Fulton
Green, Elsie, Miami
Henderson, Fred, Fulton
Huffman, Pearl, Fulton
Hoover, Ray, Fulton
Hendrickson, Harry, Fulton
Harter, Howard, Fulton
Hulse, Earl, Cook, Ill.
Hill, Mae, Marshall
Hoover, Edith, Fulton
Haimbaugh, J. B., Fulton
Holman, Grace M., Fulton
Huff, F. D., Fulton
Hall, Grace, Marshall
Hall, Nellie, Marshall
Hurst, Scot, Miami
Howell, F. R., Fulton
Hall, Lawrence, Marshall
Herd, Richard, Fulton
Hoffman, Maude, Fulton
Hoffman, Minnie, Fulton
Heath, Glena, White
Hudkins, D. B., Fulton
Henderson, Clyde, Fulton
Hiatt, C. E., Fulton
Hays, Lizzie, Newton
Hay, Verna, Fulton
Judd, Lola, Kosciusko
Jewell, Belle, Fulton
Johnson, Florence, Fulton
Johnson, May, Fulton
Kline, Aaron, Fulton
Kennell, Will, Fulton
King, Grace, Fulton
Kent, Samuel, Fulton
King, Cathren, Miami
Kaley, Daniel, Fulton
Kershner, Kate, Marshall
Keesey, Roy, Miami
Lawrence, Oliver, Marshall
Lough, Edith, Fulton
Lindsey, Sylvia, Starke
Lish, Chas. M., Starke
Lizenby, Fanny, Pulaski
Laudeman, E. O., Fulton
Montgomery, Wilson, Fulton
Miller, H. St. Elmo Fulton
Michael, Joseph, Marion
Mathias, Minnie, Fulton
Moore, Ida, Fulton
McMahan, Hugh
Millisor, L. G., Fulton
Myers, John G., Fulton
Merchant, Miriam, Newton
Miller, Ray, Fulton
Murray, Vallie, Fulton
McCrory, Chas., Marshall
Montgomery, Omar, Fulton
Meiser, Nellie, Fulton
Morts, Myrtle, Fulton
McNeff, Frank, Lake
Meyer, Walter T., Miami
Milliser, Stephen, Fulton
Messersmith, Chas., Pulaski
Mitchell, Annabelle, Fulton
Martindale, Byron, Fulton
Moore, Lessie, Fulton
Myers, Maud, Fulton
Moore, Fred H., Fulton
Myers, Bert, Fulton
Miller, Harley, Pulaski
Miller, Orion, Fulton
Neff, Addie, Fulton,
Nelson, Chas., Kosciusko
Nelson, Electa, Kosciusko
Nelson, Irving, Kosciusko
Neff, Frank, Fulton
Norman, Mabel, Fulton
Norris, William, Fulton
Newell, Ray, Fulton
Parcel, Ira, Fulton
Perschbacher, Edith, Fulton
Perschbacher, Ammon, Fulton
Pence, Venarda, Fulton
Porter, Vernon, Fulton
Pownall, Cora, Fulton
Pyle, Frank, Fulton
Porcher, Eunice, Marshall
Porcher, Florence, Marshall
Parke, Flora, Newton
Rouch, Fred, Fulton
Richardson, Fred, Fulton
Rhinesmith, Arthur, Fulton
Rooney, Robt., Fulton
Robbins, Elmer, Miami
Robbins, F. E., Fulton
Reed, Thos. E., Fulton
Reiter, D. L., Fulton
Rightly, Bertha, Marshall
Robinson, Dessa, Fulton
Stinson, Geneva, Fulton
Sibert, Sue, Fulton
Stinson, Ruby, Fulton
Stinson, Stanley, Fulton
Spaid, Grace, Fulton
Slick, Ray, Fulton
Slick, John, Fulton
Stahl, Clinton, Fulton
Smith, Elvy, Fulton
Smith, Lee, Fulton
Sissel, Chas. A., Fulton
Shadel, Solomon, Fulton
Smith, Bertha, Fulton
Steffey, Ethel, Fulton
Slonaker, Marie, Fulton
Trickle, Samuel, Fulton
Trickle, Pearl, Fulton
Tippy, Lynne, Fulton
Townsend, Carrie, Fulton
Taylor, Harley, Marshall
Thomas, L. T., Pulaski
Thompson, Byron W., Fulton
Tobey, George, Miami
Uncapher, Perry, Starke
Van Kirk, G. H., Fulton
Vandegrift, Hugh, Fulton
Vories, Delbert, Marshall
Wiltshire, Lucy, Miami
Wert, Harry, Carroll
Wildermuth, Ray, Fulton
Whittenberger, J. F., Fulton
Wolfe, Frank, Marshall
Wile Ida, Pulaski
Wilson, Madge, Fulton
Zimmerman, William, Miami
DEPARTMENT OF ORATORY
Babcock, Clyde, Fulton
Caffin, Walter, Fulton
Huff, F. D., Marshall
Killen, Charlotte, Fulton
Mitchell, Annabelle, Fulton
Ruh, Fred, Fulton
Von Ehrenstein, E., Fulton
COMMERCIAL DEPARTMENT
Agete, Ralph, Newton
Bruce, A. C., Fulton
Bowers, Bessie, Fulton
Curtis, Grace, Lake
Carson, O. H., Fulton
Durkes, Henry, Fulton
Dowd, Bert, Fulton
Eldridge, Grant, Pulaski
Frederick, Guy, Pulaski
Grove, Maple, Fulton
Gould, George, Fulton
Hulse, Earl, Cook, Illinois
Judd, Lola, Kosciusko
Johnson, Jesse, Marshall
Myers, John C., Fulton
Millisor, L. G., Fulton
Myers, Maude, Fulton
Rooney, Robt., Fulton
Stair, C. M., Marshall
Swinehart, O. E., Fulton
Spitler, Oron, Marshall
Trimble, Mrs. Nona, Lake
Von Ehrenstein, Leon, Fulton
Wile, Lee, Fulton
DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
Instrumental
Allman, Lester, Fulton
Arnold, Flora, Starke
Bowman, Jessie, Fulton
Barrett, Fulton
Baker, Bell, Fulton
Brown, Mary H., Miami
Baily, Pink, Fulton
Berrier, Jennie, Fulton
Bolley, Mae, Wabash
Busenberg, Fulton
BEnnett, Frank, Fulton
Bish, Ray, Fulton
Bainter, Claude, Fulton
Clifton, Mrs. Jennie, Fulton
Carithers, Nellie, Fulton
Cummins, Mae, Grandview, Tenn.
Cline, Ghas., Fulton
Cline, Mrs. Chas., Fulton
Cline, Bartha, Fulton
Cline Marie, Fulton
Crosby, Jessie, Fulton
Coplen, Ethel, Fulton
Clark, Lulu, Fulton
Dellinger, Mrs., Pulaski
Delp, Flora, Fulton
Enyart, Mrs. Minta, Fulton
Gould, Lyman, Fulton
Grove, Fannie, Fulton
Guthrie, Mabel, Fulton
Holman, Georgiana, Fulton
Hendrickson, Mae, Fulton
Haimbaugh, Kate, Fulton
Hurst, May, Miami
Hurst, Josie, Miami
Haimbaugh, Porter, Fulton
Jones, Mary, Fulton
Johnson, May, Fulton
Kaley, Daniel, Fulton
Kershner, Kate, Marshall
King, Grace, arshall
Killen, Charlotte, Marshall
King, Maude, Marshall
Long, Lola, Fulton
Levi, Mina, Fulton
Lowry, Alice, Fulton
Miller, Ray, Fulton
Miller, Hugh, Fulton
Michael, Pauline, Marion
McClung, Ruth, Fulton
McClung, Eva, Fulton
Mathias, Minnie, Fulton
Moore, Ida, Fulton
Morhead, Della, Frances, O.
Marshall, Grace, Johnson
Morts, Myrtle, Johnson
Neff, Addie, Fulton
Ray, Newell, Fulton
Overmeyer, Odessa, Fulton
Parker, Theo., Fulton
Porter, Vernon, Fulton
Pownall, Cora, Fulton
Ruh, Lucy, Fulton
Rhinesmith, Laura, Fulton
Richter, Ralph, Fulton
Rightly, Bertha E., Marshall
Shaffer, Effie, Fulton
Slick, Ray, Fulton
Sissel, Chas., Fulton
Search, Lavina, Fulton
Steinheiser, Hattie, Fulton
Spencer, Gladys, Fulton
Segrist, Weldon, Fulton
Sampsel, Minnie, Miami
Stevenson, Nellie, Fulton
Stevenson, Claudia, Fulton
Townsend, Carrie, Fulton
Thomas, L. T., Pulaski
Trout, Mrs. O. K., Fulton
Taylor, Goldie, Fulton
Thompson, Edna, Fulton
Theobald, Clara, Miami
Theobald, Martha, Miami
Tracy, Mrs. Frank, Miami
Thalman, Blanche, Fulton
Vanblaricom, Nellie, Fulton
Wilkinson, Bessie, Miami
Wilson, Bell, Fulton
Voice Culture
Berrier, Jennie, Fulton
Bainter, Claud, Fulton
Busenburg, Leslie, Fulton
Bright, Addie, Kosciusko
Bruce, Arthur, Fulton
Carvey, Nina, Miami
Clifton, Jennie, Fulton
Cline, Chas., Fulton
Cummins, Mae, Grandview, Tenn.
Clark, Lulu, Fulton
Crabs, W. T., Fulton
Clyde, Fish, Fulton
Guynn, Nellie, Fulton
Guise, A. P., Cass
Gordon, Elmer, Fulton
Haimbaugh, Porter, Fulton
Hoover, Edith, Fulton
Hill, Mae, Marshall
Jewell, Belle, Fulton
Kline, Marie, Fulton
Kent, Samuel, Fulton
Miller, Hugh, Fulton
Moore, Ida, Fulton
Marshall, Grace, Johnson
Morehead, Della, Van Wert, O.
Montgomery, Wilson, Fulton
Mortz, Myrtle, Fulton
Neff, Addie, Fulton
Nelson, Chas., Kosciusko
Parker, Theo., Fulton
Rhineesmith, Laura, Fulton
Stevenson, Claudia, Fulton
Slick, Ray, Fulton
Sissel, Chas., Fulton
Trout, Mrs. O. K., Miami
Trickle, Samuel, Fulton
Whittenberger, F., Fulton
Wolfe, Frank, Marshall
Harmony and Pedagogy
Carithers, Nellie, Fulton
Holman, Georgia, Fulton
Haimbaugh, Kate, Fulton
King, Maude, Fulton
McClung, Eva, Miami
McClung, Ruth, Fulton
Morehead, Della, Van Wert, O.
Shaffer, Effie, Fulton
Sigrist, Weldon, LaGrange
Vanblaricom, Nellie, Fulton
[untitled list]
Barret, Pearl, Fulton
Carithers, Nellie, Fulton
Cummins, Mae, Grandview, Tenn.
Haimbaugh, Kate, Fulton
McClung, Eva, Miami
Miller, Ray, Fulton
Morehead, Della, Van Wert, Ohio
King, Grace, Fulton
King, Maude, Fulton
Vanblaricom, Nellie, Fulton
[FCHS Images No. 2, pp 33-35]
GRADUATES OF ROCHESTER COLLEGE
The following list of graduates was compiled from the handwritten notes of Flo
Delp, longtime college secretary, and Reba Moore Shore, graduate of class of
1910 and longtime Alumni Association secretary and treasurer. Whenever possible,
the list was verified through an additional source, and that source is indicated
at the top of the list. When the information was available, the students' degree
or diploma is also indicated. Those graduates who were involved with education
within the county are designated by *.
CLASS OF 1896
(verified through newspaper account)
Clay, ---
Hisey, Della
Rannells, Clarence
Shelton, Maurice
CLASS OF 1897
The only record is a handwritten notebook which lists the same students
graduating as the newspaper lists graduating in 1896.
CLASS OF 1898
Becker, L. H. (B.S.)
Cline, Charles W. (Teacher)*
Gast, Estill A. (Teacher)
Leas, Grace Elma (Teacher)
Miller, Orion M. (Teacher)
Pocock, Grace Ellen (Teacher)
Slonaker, Clement (Teacher)
Suman, Lulu G. (B.S.)
Werner, John C. (Teacher)
CLASS OF 1899
(verified through Commencement folder)
Cline, Charles (B.S.)
Thrush, Mae (B.S. + Teacher)
Leas, Grace E. (B.S.)
Mackey, Harry (B.S.)
Mackey, Lottie (Teacher)
Rathburn, Roy (Teacher)
Stinson, Eugene (B.S.)
Wildermuth, Sylvia (Music)
CLASS OF 1900
Grove, Frank (Teacher)
Hendrickson, Floyd W. (Teacher)
Langsdorf, Amelia (Music)
Pocock, Retta (Teacher)
CLASS OF 1901
Agate Ralph (Commercial)
Baker, Mitchell (B.S.)
Bowers, Elizabeth (Commercial)
Bruce, A. C. (Commercial)
Cook, Stanley R. (Prof. Teacher)
Curtis, Grace (Commercial)
Durkes, Henry (Commercial)
Eldridge, Grant E. (Commercial)
Gordon, Elmer (Prof. Teacher)
Gould, George B. (Commercial)
Haimbaugh, Katherine (Music)
Horton, Howard (High School)
Holman, Grace M. (B.S.)
Johnson, Florence (Teacher)
Johnson, Jesse (Commercial)
Judd, Lola (Prof. Teacher)
McClung, Eva (Music)
Merchant, Miriam (Teacher)
Miller, Hugh (High School)
Nelson, Electa (Teacher)
Rooney, Robert (Commercial)
Shafer, Effie (Music)
Slick, John S. (Commercial)
Spitler, Oron (Commercial)
Swinehart, Ormond (Commercial)
VanBlaricom, Nellie (Music)
CLASS OF 1902
(verified through Commencement folder}
Agate, Ralph (Commercial)
Beery, Earl (Teacher)
Bruce, Arthur C. (Commercial)
Dudgeon, Fred L. (Commercial)
Durkes, Henry (Commercial)
Guthrie, Maude (Commercial)
Guthrie, Maybelle (Music)
Hassenplug, Charles R. (Prof. Teacher)
Hatch, May (High School)
Holman, Georgianna E. (Music)
Hoover, Charles Guy (High School)
Hurst, Hurd J. (High School)
Johnson, Florence (B.S.)
King, Grace (Music)
Kline, Aaron (B.S.)
Lowry, Alice (Music)
Luken, Adolph H. (Commercial)
Martindale, Roy W. (B.S.)
Miller, Hugh St. Elmo (B.S.)
Miller, Hugh S. (Music)
Miller, Rae (Prof. Teacher)
Miller, Robert R. (Commercial)
Millisor, Lloyd (Commercial)
Montgomery, Maude (Prof. Teacher)
Robbins, Elmer J. (Teacher)
Shadel, Solomon J. (B.S.)
Shields, Harry (Commercial)
Stinson, May (Prof. Teacher)
CLASS OF 1903
(verified through Commencement folder)
Babcock, Clyde (Commercial)
Babcock, Ray (Commercial)
Barger, Guy (Prof. Teacher)
Belt, Iva (Teacher)
Blacketor, Rae (B.S.)
Buchanan, Blanch (Teacher)
Buehler, Sidney A. (Commercial)
Busenburg, Leslie (Prof. Teacher)
Carvey, Nina (Music Teacher)
Conrad, Arthur (Teacher)
Courter, Gussie (Prof. Teacher)
Emmons, Chas. E. (Teacher)
Fisher, Jeannette (Teacher)
Forsythe, Ralph K. (Prof. Teacher)
Gordon, Elmer (B.S.)
Goss, Clara (Commercial)
Haimbaugh, Kathryn (Music Classic)
Henderson, Fred (Commercial)
Hoover, G. G. (Music Teacher)
Jewell, Ida (Commercial)
Kent, John (Teacher)
Kent, Samuel (Teacher)
Lowe, Ethel (Commercial)
Luken, Adolph H. (Commercial)
McCarter, Mary (Music Strings)
Mahaffy, Ledah (Commercial)
Mehling, Milo (Prof. Teacher)
Millisor, Lloyd G. (Commercial)
Newcomer, Frank (B.S.)
Owens, Lola (Commercial)
Pownall, Cora (Commercial)
Rannells, Mabel (Commercial)
Rouch, Fred L. (Prof. Teacher)
Sayger, Dessa (Prof. Teacher)
Shoemaker, Lena (Commercial
Shore, Ray (Commercial)
Stinson, Geneva (Teacher)
Stinson, Stanley (B.S.)
Trout, Lyman (Commercial)
Tyrrell, May (Commercial)
Vandergrift, Hugh H. (B.S.)
Wallace, Charles (Commercial)
Weber, Lyman (Commercial)
Wright, Faye (Commercial)
Young, Bessie (Commercial)
CLASS OF 1904
(verified through Commercial Folder0
Anderson, R. N.
Belt, Iva
Blacketor, Rae
Bowen, Dorothy
Butler, Irvin
Clifton, Jennie*
Conn, Carrie
Cox, Nellie
Dittman, Emma
Felder, Geo.
Fosner, Roy
Henderson, Henry
Hoffman, Minnie
Howe, Mamie
Jeffry, Edith
Lidholm, Eric
Mathews, Mary
Mitchell, Luther
Montgomery, Robt.
Morehead, Della
Morrett, Faye
Mow, Robert
Muntzinger, Adolph
Mygrant, Victor
Poor, Edith
Shonk, Vernetta E.
Slonaker, Marie
Smith, Frank E.
Stevenson, Nellie*
Stinson, Edna*
Troutman, Earl
Wand, Nettie M.
West, Lela M.
Wildermuth, Ray
CLASS OF 1905
(verified through college catalog)
Anderson, Rose (Teacher)
Bevelhimer, Olca (Teacher)
Biddinger, Harry (B.S.)
Bookwalter, Edith (High School)*
Bright, Althea (Commercial)
Burch, Gail (Commercial)
Butler, I. E. (B.A.)
Caple, Ruth (B.S.)*
Collins, Homer (Commercial)
Conrad, Arthur (B.S.)
Eaglebarger, H. E. (Hish School)
Erdhom, Eric
Fike, Fergan (Commercial)
Ginther, F. G. (High School)
Giver, Gertrude (Music)
Goodwin, Mabel L. (Piano)
Guthrie, Maude (Commercial)
Hall, Nellie (Commercial)
Horne, Maryanne (Music)
Howe, Mayme (Music)
Hurst, Josephine (Music)
Izzard,Effie (Commercial)
Kaley, Wesly (High School)*
Kent, Myrtle (B.S. and Prof. Teacher)*
Lambert, Myrtle (Commercial
Latton, Horace (Music)
Leininger, Ania
Lidhouse, Eric (Music)
McNall, R. A. (Music)
Mathews, Mary (Commercial)
Mygrant, Victor (B.S.)
Overmyer, Odessa (Music)
Partridge, Merrit
Patterson, Maude (Teacher)
Rees, Mable*
Richardson, Clyde (High School)
Richardson, Kline (High School)
Rouch, Fred (Commercial)
Search, Lavina (B.S.)
Siebert, Mamie (Teacher)
Shonk, Verna (Commercial)
Smith, Amy (Music)
Sparks, H. D. (Master of Accts)
Sommers, Charles (High School)
Stockberger, Fern (Music)
Strong, Katharyn (Music)*
Vogelgesang, J. S. (Music)
Wagoner, Hyluannia (Music)
Wells, Iva (B.S.)
Wolfe, Frank
Wyke, Ester
Zimmerman, Omer (High School)
CLASS OF 1906
(verified through Commencement Folder)
Barnhart, Glendolin (Music Teacher)
Barr, Earl (Commercial)
Beebe, Elma (Music Teacher)
Bevelheimer, Laura (Commercial)
Biddinger, Err (High School)
Bowser, Frankie (Piano)
Carithers, Louise (Commercial)
Carr, Lon (High School)
Collins, Homer H. (B.A.)
Coplen, Walter (Commercial)
Crabill, C. D. (Commercial)
Davidson, Bessie (Commercial)
Early, Ora (Teacher)
Fosner, Leroy (Science Course)
Fouts, Goldie (Music Teacher)
Hendrickson, Harold (Guitar)
Hulse, Faye (Teacher)
Hurst, James (High School)
Kent, Bert (Teacher)*
King, Effa (Piano)
Lidholms, Eric (Violin)
Lower, A. V. (Commercial)
McPherson, Nellie (Master of Accts.)
Mannering, Adrian (Violin)
Mannering, M. F. (Commercial)
Marsh, Annabell (Music Teacher)
Marsh, Roxie (Music Teacher)
Mastellar, Retha (Music Teacher)
Miller, Emma E. (Teacher)
Miller, Roy (High School)
Murphy, Elba (High School)
Musser, Bertha (Commercial)
Newcomer, Frank (Commercial)
Noon, Lillian (Music Teacher)
Ovewrmyer, Bessie (Piano)
Plantz, Rutha (Piano)
Plough, Coda (Music Teacher)
Richardson, Fred L. (High School)
Riner, Hugh (Commercial)
Robinson, Lillian (High School)
Shelton, Roy (High School)*
Shriver, Maud (Commercial)
Stevenson, Claudia (Violin)*
Strong, Delia (Violin)
Strong, Kathryn (Piano)
Thomas, Edna (High School)
Waite, Carrie M. (High School)
Waite, Marietta H. (High School)
Watson, Mildred (Music Teacher)
Wildermuth, Marquerite (Commercial)
Woodcox, Ray (Commercial)
Zimmerman, William W. (Teacher)
CLASS OF 1907
Aughinbaugh, Geo. (Commercial)
Ault, Fern (High School)
Bybee, Hal P. (High School)
Bibler, Nora (Commercial)
Carvey, Errett (High School)
Coplen, Walter (Commercial)
Davis, Harley (High School)
Davis, Ruth (Commercial)
Deardorff, K. Fred (High School)
Foglesang, Fred (Commercial)
Ginther, F. J. (High School)
Harte, Ernest (Commercial)
Harter, Earl (Commercial)
Hamlett, Nellie (Commercial)
Heeter, Elva (Commercial)
King, Catherin (Commercial)
Kreig, Vera (Commercial)
Lackey, Ethel (Commercial)
Lewis, Ua (Commercial)
Louderback, Glen (High School)
McGraw, Nana (Teacher)*
Maple, Chas. (High School)
Newcomer, Ralph (High School)
Osborne, Edmund (Commercial)
Pletcher, Opha (High School)
Robinson, Henry (High School)
Ross, Retha (Commercial)
Rowe, Grace (Commercial)
Rush, Lenora (Commercial)
Smith, Russell H. (High School)
Sommer, Corna (High School)
Thayer, Guy (High School)
Tombaugh, Goldie (High School)
Tombaugh, Jesse L. (High School)
Waller, Raymond (Commercial)
CLASS OF 1908
Ambler, Frank (High School)
Anderson, Roscoe (High School)
Apple, Velma M. (Commercial)
Belt, Charles A. (High School)
Belt, Gail (High School)
Bennett, Ethel (Commercial)
Bookwalter, John (High School)
Burkett, Clara (High School)
Busenburg, Guy V. (Commercial)
Bybee, Hal P. (Teacher)
Carr, Ray (High School)
DuBois, Henry (Teacher)
DeBois, Koert (High School)
Edington, Ray (Commercial)
Essick, Samuel L. (Teacher)
Fish, Clyde (High School)
Foor, Earl (Commercial)
Gatsrll [?], Iona (Commercial)
Glick, Everett (High School)
Gohn, Lloyd (High School)
Hicks, Earl (High School)
Hosurn, Harry L. (Commercial)
Kent, John (High School)*
Logan, Maude (High School)
Lucas, Charles E. (High School)*
McIntyre, Lulu (High School)
Meiser, Chas. W. (High School)
Miller, Della C. (Teacher)
Moore, James (High School)
Moore, Ray (Teacher)
Mow, Ray B. (High School)
Nafe, Don A. (High School)
Orr, Henrietta (High School)
Osborne, Harry M. (Commercial)
Peters, Robert J. D. (Teacher)
Poenix, Fay (High School)
Rawnells, Harry M. (Commercial)
Robinson, Henry (Teacher)
Rohsabagh, Pearl F. (Commercial)
Rorr, Elena (High School)
Shore, Lusa B. (Commercial)
Smith, Mort (High School)
Smith, Russell H. (Commercial)
Sowers, Earl (High School)
Vandegrift, Quincy (High School)
Van Duyne, Otto (High School)
Van Kirk, Albert (High School)
Von Ehrenstein, Emily V. (Commercial)
Wagoner, Neta (Commercial)
Wiltser, Grace E. (High School)
Wright, Mazie (Commercial)
Zeslie, Bessie N. (Commercial)
Zimmerman, William (Teacher)
CLASS OF 1909
(verified through commencement folder - no degree designations)
Babcock, Gladeys
Beehler, Lee
Biggs, Fern
Carvey, Garnet
Crabbs, Fred
Dillion, Talmage
Frye, Myrtle
Johnson, Jessie E.
Gaoat [?], Bessie
Hearst, Jud
McLean, Donald
Miller, Nellie
Murphy, Pearl
Nellans, Mary
Nicodemus, Dessa
Peters, Robert
Richardson, Adolph
Riddle, Edward*
Riddle, Earl
Snowberger, Garnet*
Thornburg, H. O.
Wynn, Arlie
CLASS OF 1910
(verified through newspaper)
Adamson, Clarence (High School)
Belt, Glenn (High School)
Belt, Merrill (High School)
Belt, Rex (High School)
Biggs, Lula (High School)
Briggs, Marvin (High School)
Butt, Ethel (High School)
Camerer, Olive (High School)
Cooper, Tessie (High School)
DuBois, Ruth (High School)
Emmons, Golda (High School)
Ginn, Estel (High School)
Hatfield, Iva (High School)
Heeter, Edith (High School)
Hurst, Blaine (High School)
Moonshower, Clare (High School)
Moore, Reba (High School)*
Myers, Anna (High School)
Pontious, Ruth (High School)
Porter, Hannabelle (Commercial)
Shore, Arthur B. (Commercial)
Sowers, Ross (High School)
Van Duyne, Otto (High School)
Ward, Edna (High School)
Wilson, Helen (High School)
CLASS OF 1911
(verified through Commencement folder)
Babcock, Otto R. (High School)
Barkman, Eunice (High School)
Carvey, Lester (High School)
Coplen, Herman (Commercial)
Ewing, Eula (High School)
Murphy, Lula (High School)
Myers, Ray (High School)
Nave, Cleon A. (High School)
Norris, Elmer (High School)
Pritz, Herman (High School)
Robinson, Don (High School)
Rush, Hazel (High School)
Savage, John C. (High School)
Skinner, Carol (High School)
Stauffer, Neal (High School)
Stinson, Zeek (High School)
Watson, Fern (High School)
CLASS OF 1912
(Editor's Note: Found in commencement program)
Conrad, Pearl
Faulstich, Roy C.
Gordon, Hayden
Mow, Dean
Neher, Medford D.
Powell, Ferman
Reichard, Omer E.
Sheets, Ruth
Shonk, Ralph
Smiley, Glen.
[FCHS Images No. 2, pp 47-51]
The cornerstone was laid in June, 1895, and the building was dedicated November
17, 1895.
The building was a three-story structure of brick and stone with a basement. On
the first floor was a chapel, library, office and one recitation room. On the
second floor were four recitation rooms, while the top floor was occupied by the
business department and science room. The attic was used as a small gymnasium
where the boys practiced basketball.
The name was popularized as Rochester College, and both names were printed on
the annual catalog. Enrollment grew from 44 students to over 200. Tuition was
$10 a semester and $8 for summer term. Near the school was a medium-sized house
used as a home for students. Most of the pupils boarded in Rochester and paid
$2.50 or less per week for room and meals.
Rochester College became an accredited high school and also offered courses on
the college level in such fields as music, commercial, penmanship, review,
teachers, academic, scientific, and classical.
Students published a bi-weekly news booklet called "The College Echo,"
financed by local advertisers. The students also gave junior and senior plays.
Student organizations included the Athena Literary Society, Alpha Lyceum,
Shakespeare Society, Canterbury Pilgrims, Chorus, Philomathean Society, as well
as the athletic teams which played against other high schools.
Rochester Normal University had a topnotch staff and many people of a later era
remembered professors Will H. Banta, F. A. Herrington, and M. L. Davidson, who
also gave of his time to lead the then outstanding Rochester Citizens Band.
Other names almost now forgotten were those of Everest Macy who taught
agriculture, physics, chemistry and botany. Olive Gray was professor of
psychology and methods, while Lucia Dains headed the courses in Latin and
German. Nana McGraw acted as instructor of primary methods and reviews, and
Professor Ben L. Brandenburg taught pianoforte and harmony.
Rochester University Association was organized December 4, 1895, for general
study of world's history. It had about sixty members and held a banquet twice a
year. They met each Tuesday evening from 7:30 to 10 o'clock and heard one to
three papers. By 1907-09 the University Club, as it was popularly known, had
changed their weekly program to include only one paper, with discussion led by
another person.
Rochester College Alumni Association was organized in 1910, but did not meet
annually until 1929.
Rochester Normal University filled a need. Small outlying towns had at the most
only three years of high school, so the college attracted those who wished to
complete their high school education. When those other schools became four-year
high schools, Rochester Normal University fell upon hard times, and was closed
in the summer of 1912.
[Dr. Shafer Family, Shirley Willard, Fulton Co Folks, Vol. 1, Willard]
A good furnished room for 50 cents a week and board for $2.50 for seven days. So
lists those items in a Rochester Normal University catalog of 1908-09. Fifty
years later bed and board has been multiplied a half dozen times and even then
its availability is most questionable.
Looking backward a half-century seems almost like yesterday but our old college,
which provided an excellent curriculum, a bit of society life, a staff of
excellent instructors and a fantastic low rate of tuition long since has gone
the way of many dreams. Here was an institution that the community should have
backed to the limit. Today it would have grown in the bounds of educational
needs and the pride and joy of many grads who would have picked up their sheep
skins through the years.
Rochester Normal University had a topnotch staff and there are many persons here
still alive who will remember professors Will H. Banta, F. A. Herrington, and M.
L. Davidson, who also gave of his time to lead the then outstanding Rochester
Citizens Band. Other names almost now forgotten were those of Everest Macy who
taught agriculture, physics, chemistry and botany. Olive Gray was professor of
psychology and methods, while Lucia Dains headed the courses in Latin and
German. Nana McGraw acted as instructor of primary methods and reviews, and
Professor Ben L. Brandenburg taught pianoforte and harmony.
A picture of Rochester Normal University on the first page of the 1908-09
catalog brings to mind many nostalgic memories of days and evenings spent in and
about that educational institution. Many names of other instructors, names of
many students remembered and entertainments, theatrical, musical, athletic come
to mind's review.
Not even one brick, a foot of foundation or a marker of any kind remains at the
college site south on 18th Street at the end of College Avenue. Nowadays when I
drive toward Peru and Leiters Ford, it makes me heartsick to see foromerly good
brick school buildings going to ruin for want of some small bit of community
promotion. Like Rochester's first, last and only college, these monuments to
better living are doomed to extinction for want of some plan to use the
structure to the benefit of present citizenship and to those who will regret
their passing in the days to come.
[Earle A. Miller, Rochester Sentinel, Wednesday, May 21, 1962]
NORTH MUD CREEK SCHOOL
By Jetta Marie Barkman, Healthwin Home, South Bend, Ind.
I never attended any other grade school [than North Mud Creek School] and after
graduating, my brother and I entered our first year of high school at Rochester
College. We drove a horse and buggy until the weather became too bad, and we
stayed with Aunt Maggie Ewing. Marie and Joe still lived at home. This was the
last year (1912) that the college was in session, so we had to go to Leiters
Ford High, where we graduated.
I can't tell you much about Rochester College as I was only 12 years old when I
went there and didn't spend the entire year; owing to circumstances, we had to
quit the last three months. I do remember that there were at least two floors
and we were on the second floor. I'm quite sure that the first, second, third
and fourth grade pupils were all in one big room. I took mathematics, English,
history and German. I've forgotten the teachers' names, but remember some of the
names of pupils in first year. The ones that come to mind are Guy Pontius, Paul
Blacketor, Herma Wentzel, Ralph Sheets, Ross Blacketor and myself. There may
have been others that I have forgotten.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 61, pp 48-49]
__________
The building was torn down in 1923.
The bricks were used to convert Robbins Chevrolet Agency into the Char-Bel
Theatre, later known as the Times Theatre.
See Rochester High School Basketball.
ROCHESTER SCHOOL [Rochester, Indiana]
Located SE corner 6th & Pontiac.
Frame building, used as a grade school.
Destroyed by fire.
The winter session of the Rochester Public school will commence on Monday
next, in the basement story of the Odd Fellows Hall. L. D. Willard, Principal.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 3, 1859]
School Meeting. The citizens are requested to meet at the School Room in the
Odd Fellows Hall, on Tuesday evening, next Jan 10th, 1860, at 6-1/2 o'clock
p.m., at which time a plan and specification for a School House will be
presented for the consideration of the citizens. Trustees.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, January 7, 1860]
To Builders. Sealed proposals will be received by the undersigned up to
Saturday, February 4th, 1860, for furnishing the materials and building a School
House 36 by 48 feet and two stories high . . . D. R. Pershing, E. Rose, L. J.
Brown, Trustees. Jan. 20, 1860.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, January 21, 1860]
We learn that our town Trustees, Messrs. Pershing, Rose and Brown, have
contracted with Mr. Beeber, of this place, for the building of a School House,
which has been much needed for years. The main building is to be 36 by 44 feet,
and two stories high, which will accommodate about 350 pupils, with all
necessary recitation rooms, &c. . . .
[Rochester Mercury, Thursday, March 22, 1860]
The New School House we understand will be completed by the 1st of June,
which will be an honor to the builder Mr. G. P. Beeber, and an ornament to our
Town.
[Rochester Mercury, Thursday, April 4, 1861]
See Union School, Rochester City
We learn that on Saturday last, an election was held for teachers of our
Public Schools for the ensuing free term. The result was the choice of Mr.
Hazleton as Principal, and Misses Clouse, Ernsperger and Levesy as assistant
teachers.
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, November 13, 1862]
ROCHESTER SCHOOL BOARD [Rochester, Indiana]
1898-99: Samuel Keeley, Pres., Jos. F. Ault, Sec., A. C. Copeland, Treas.
1901-02: Samuel Keeley, Pres., Jos. F. Ault, Sec., A. C. Copeland, Treas.
1902-03: Samuel Keeley, Pres., Chas. W. Caffyn, A. C. Copeland
1903-04: Omar B. Smith, Sec.
1904-05: A. C. Copeland, Pres., C. W. Caffyn, Sec., L. M. Brackett, Treas.,
Copeland died Jan. 1905 - Rinaldo P. True, Pres.
1905: Rinaldo P. True, Pres., Lyman M. Brackett, Treas, Frank M. Sterner, Sec.
1906: Rinaldo P. True, Pres., Omar B. Smith, Treas., Clem V. Leonard, Sec.
1907: Rinaldo P. True, Pres., Omar B. Smith, Treas., Clem V. Leonard, Sec.
1908: Rinaldo P. True, Pres., Omar B. Smith, Treas., Clem V. Leonard, Sec.
1909: Clem V. Leonard, Pres., Omar B. Smith, Treas., Rinaldo P. True, Sec.
1910: Rinaldo P. True, Pres., Arthur P. Copeland, Treas., Clem V. Leonard,
Sec.
1911: Rinaldo P. True, Pres., Arthur P. Copeland, Treas., Clem V. Leonard,
Sec.
1912: Rinaldo P. True, Pres., Arthur P. Copeland, Treas., Clem V. Leonard,
Sec.
1913-14: Clem V. Leonard, Pres., Arthur P. Copeland, Treas., Harry W. Wilson,
Sec.
1914-15: Clem V. Leonard, Pres., A. P. Copeland, Treas. Harry W. Wilson, Sec.
1915-16: Clem V. Leonard, Pres., A. C. Copeland, Treas., Harry Wilson, Sec., L.
B. Perry, Supervisor, Anna Milligan, Supervisor, Claudia
Stevenson, Supervisor.
1917-18: Clem V. Leonard, A. C. Copeland, Harry W. Wilson, L. B. Perry,
Supervisor, Bertha Rogers, Supervisor, Flavilla Trace, Supervisor.
1918-19: A. C. Copeland, Pres, Harry Wilson, Sec., Clem V. Leonard, Treas.
1920: Harry W. Wilson, Pres., Clem V. Leonard Treas., Harley W. Taylor, Sec.
1921: Harry W. Wilson, Pres., A. L. Deniston, Treas., lHarley W. Taylor, Sec.
1922: Harley W. Taylor, Pres., Frank McCarter, Treas., A. L. Deniston, Sec.
1923: A. L. Deniston, Pres., Frank McCarter, Treas., E. C. Mercer, Sec.
1924: Frank R. McCarter, Pres., A. L. Deniston, Treas., E. C. Mercer, Sec.
1925: A. L. Deniston, Pres., Frank R. McCarter, Treas., E. C. Mercer, Sec.
1926: Guy R. Barr, Pres. Frank R. McCarter, Treas., H. W. Taylor, Sec.
1927: Frank R. McCarter, Pres., H. W. Taylor, Treas., Harry W Wilson, Sec.
1928: Harry W. Wilson, Pres., Frank R. McCarter, Treas., H. G. Miller, Sec.
1929: Frank R. McCarter, Pres., Harry W. Wilson, Sec., Otto Carlson, Treas.
1930-31: Edith Bryant, Treas., A. L. Whitmer, Pres.
1931-32: Otto Carlson, Pres., Edith Bryant, Sec., Guy R. Barr, Treas.
1932-33: Edith Bryant, Pres., Guy R. Barr, Sec., R. C. Johnson, Treas.
1933-34: Guy R. Barr, Pres., R. C. Johnson, Sec., Lisle Krieghbaun, Treas.
1934-35: R. C. Johnson, Pres., Lisle Krieghbaum, Sec., Mrs. Dee Robbins, Treas.
1935-36: Lisle Krieghbaum, Pres., Mrs. Dee Robbins, Sec., Levi Moore, Treas.
1936-37: Mrs. A. D. Robbins, Pres., Levi Moore, Sec., Dr. C. L. Richardson,
Treas.
1937-38: Levi P. Moore, Pres., Dr. C. L. Richardson, Sec., Mrs. A. D. Robbins,
Treas.
1938-39: Dr. C. L. Richardson, Pres., Mrs. A. D. Robbins, Sec., Lisle
Krieghbaum, Treas
1939-40: Mrs. A. D. Robbins, Pres., Lisle Kreighbaum, Sec., Dr. C. L.
Richardson, Treas.
1940-41: Lisle Krieghbaum, Pres., Dr. C. L. Richardson, Sec., Mrs. A. D.
Robbins, Treas.
1941-42: Dr. C. L. Richardson, Pres., Mrs. A. D. Robbins, Sec., Dr. Dale
Berkebile, Treas.
1942-43: Mrs. A. D. Robbins, Pres., Dr. Dale Berkebile, Sec.,
Dr. C. L. Richardson, Treas.
1943-44: Dr. Dale Berkebile, Pres., Mrs. Orbra Taylor, Treas., J. Murray
McCarty,
Sec.
1944-45: J. Murray McCarty, Pres., Mrs. Orbra Taylor, Sec., Joseph Ewing, Treas.
1945-46: Mrs. Orbra Taylor, Pres., J. Murray McCarty, Treas., Joseph L. Ewing,
Sec.
1946-47: Joseph Ewing, Pres., J. Murray McCarty, Sec., Mrs. Orbra Taylor, Treas.
1947-48: J. Murray McCarty, Pres., Joseph Ewing, Treas., Mrs. Orbra Taylor, Sec.
1948-49: Mrs. Orbra Taylor, Pres., Joe Ewing, Sec., Max Haworth, Treas.
1949-50: Joseph Ewing, Pres., Max Haworth, Sec., Mrs. Orbra Taylor, Treas.
1950-51: Max Haworth, Pres., Mrs. Orbra Taylor, Sec. Joseph Ewing, Treas., John
Braman, Sec.
1951-52: Mrs. Orbra Taylor, Pres., Joseph Ewing, Sec., Lyman Langford, Treas.
1952-53: Joseph Ewing, Pres., Mrs. Ed. Boswell, Treas., Lyman Langford, Sec.
1953-54: Edwin C. Boswell, Pres., Dr. Howard H. Rowe, Sec., Harold A. Karn,
Treas.
1955-56: Harold Karn, Pres., Dr. Howard Rowe, Sec., Mrs. Edwin C. Boswell,
Treas.
1956-57: Harold Karn, Pres., Rebabelle Boswell, Treas., Edgar Keebler, Sec.
1957-58: Mrs. Edwin C. Boswell, Pres., Edgar G. Keebler, Treas., Gene Winks,
Sec.
1958-59: Edgar Keebler, Pres., Gene Winks, Treas., Clay Smith, Sec.
1959-60: Henry Skidmore, Pres., Clay Smith, Sec., H. C. Herkless, Treas.
1960-61: Henry Skidmore, Pres., H. C. Herkless, Treas., Clay Smith, Sec.
1961-62: Clay Smith, Pres., H. G. Herkless, V. Pres., Harold Lease, Sec.,
Charles
Helt, Treas, Henry Skidmore, Asst. Sec.
1962-63: H. C. Herkless, Pres., Henry Skidmore, Treas., Charles Helt, Sec., Clay
Smith, Henry Skidmore until 1-1-63 then Robert Keim.
1963-64: H. J. Lease, Pres., Charles Helt, V.Pres., Robert Keim, Sec., Rebabelle
Boswell, Treas., H. C. Herkless, Asst. Sec.
1964-65: Charles Helt, Pres., Robert Keim, Treas., Rebabelle Boswell, Sec., H.
C.
Herkless, Harold Lease.
1965-66: Robert Keim, Pres, Rebabelle Boswell, V. Pres., H. C. Herkless Sec., H.
J. Lease, Treas, Charles Helt, Ernest Walters.
1966-67: Rebabelle Boswell, Pres., H. C. Herkless, V. Pres., Wendell Bearss,
Sec.,
Ernest Walters until 1-1-67 then Eldrith Cook, Joe Quick, Robert Keim until
1-1-67 then Arthur Weaver.
1967-68: H. C. Herkless, Pres., Wendell Bearss, V. Pres., Joe Quick, Sec., Burke
Miller, Eldrith Cook, Arthur Weaver.
1968-69: Wendell Bearss, Pres., Joe Quick, V. Pres., Eldrith Cook, Sec., Burke
Miller, Arthur Weaver, H. C. Herkless.
1969-70: Joe Quick, Pres., Eldrith Cook, V. Pres., Arthur Weaver, Sec., Wendell
Bearss, Burke Miller, Norbert Gallagher.
1970-71: Eldrith Cook, Pres., Arthur Weaver, V. Pres., Burke Miller, Sec.,
Wendell
Bearss, Joe Quick, Norbert Gallagher.
1971-72: Burke Miller, Pres., Norbert Gallagher, V. Pres., Joe Quick, Sec.,
Wendell
Bearss, George Schwenk, Robert Gottschalk
1972-73: Norbert Gallagher, Pres., George Schwenk, V. Pres., Robert
Gottschalk,
Sec., Burke Miller (killed) replacement Michael Quick, Wendell
Bearss, Don Showley.
1973-74: George Schwenk, Pres., Robert Gottschalk, V. Pres., Wendell Bearss,
Sec.,
Norbert Gallagher, Don Showley, Michael Quick.
1974-75: Robert Gottschalk, Pres until 1-1-75, Don Showley, V. Pres, became
Pres.
1-1-75, Michael Quick, Sec., became V. Pres 1-1-75, Norbert
Gallagher became Sec 1-1-75, George Schwenk, Parke Baxter, John
W. Myers.
1975-76: Don Showley, Pres., Norbert Gallagher, V. Pres., George Schwenk, Sec.,
John W. Myers, Parke Baxter, Rex Sims.
1976-77: Norbert Gallagher, Pres., George Schwenk, V. Pres., Parke Baxter, Sec.,
John W. Myers, Rex Sims, Lillian Walters.
1977-78: George Schwenk, Pres., Parke Baxter, V. Pres., John W. Myers, Sec.,
Rex Sims, Lillian Walters, Dr. Larry Pampel.
[FCHS files]
ROCHESTER SCHOOLS
OUR SCHOOL FACILITIES
THE HOPE OF OUR CITY!
Good schools are the foundation of substantial citizenship and Rochester has
them. Strangers looking for locations are ever alert for school facilities and
church privileges and it is the pride of our city to cater to these two
advantages.
The first school in Rochester was conducted by Jacob Bozarth in 1834, in a cabin
on the lot now occupied as a residence by Hon. M. L. Essick, the venerable Jesse
Shields being one of his pupils. Ebenezer Ward and his son John were both
teachers in the same cabin. In 1839-40 Hugh Miller taught a school in the upper
room of a frame building which had been erected for a court house on the west
side of Main street, opposite the public square.
In 1841 a single room school house was built near the location of the Central
Building and was used as a school building for about ten years. Among the
teachers in this building were a Mr. Simpson and a Mr. Gordon, the latter
abandoning teaching as a profession and becoming a Presbyterian minister. This
building, from the first, seems to have been inadequate to the needs of the
growing town. The schools at this time enrolled about 200 pupils. These were
housed in various rooms in the town, and many private schools were taught. Odd
Fellows Hall, then located on the lot now occupied by Grace M. E. church, was,
for a number of years, used for school rooms. In 1850 a more commodious building
was erected, and ten years later an addition was built to this, making in all
six school rooms, an office and a recitation room. In 1860 Rev. N. L. Lord
became principal of the schools with Miss Jennie Hilton assistant. The schools
were managed under various principals for a number of years till in 1867 we find
George Schilling in charge. He was soon chosen County Examiner and was succeeded
by James McAfee with W. H. Banta as assistant. Mr. Banta succeeded James McAfee
as principal, and managed the schools for two years when he removed to
Valparaiso. T. J. Wood was the next principal, managing the schools for one
year, then Lafayette Bryan had charge for two years. Wm. J. Williams then became
Superintendent of the schools, managing them for eight years. During his able
administration the High shcool was established on a firm basis, the first class
of six members graduating in 1878. During Supt. Williams' administration the
schools again became too large for their accommodations and an additional
building of two rooms was erected in the south part of town.
In 1881 Mr. Williams resigned the superintendency of the city schools to accept
the county superintendency. In 1882 James F. Scull, the present incumbent,
became superintendent, with A. E. Davidson as High School Principal. In 1883 two
additional rooms were built to the South Building. But soon it was evident that
the school facilities were insufficient to accommodate the increased number of
pupils, nor were they up to date in furnishing and equipment. The project of
building anew was agitated for a number of years, with many, as usual, opposing.
In 1887, July 20, the corner stone of the Central School Building was laid and
in the following February the old building burned down six weeks before the new
one was ready for occupancy. The building ready for occupancy cost between
$23,000 and $25,000. It contains ten school rooms, office and library. It is
heated and ventilated by the Ruttan-Smead system, well lighted, and in every way
convenient and up to date. This elegant building, by contrast, made more
apparent the inconveniences of the South Building, and agitation at once began
for a new building in the south part of town, but, for a long time no way was
found by which the means could be had to warrant beginning the work of building.
Early in 1894, William J. Leiter, President of the Board of Education, after
long correspondence, was able to formulate a plan by which money was obtained
with which to build the new South Building. In June of that year the old
building was removed from its foundations and soon in its place rose the
beautiful structure known as the South Building, a marvel of architectural
beauty and grace and a model of internal convenience and comfort. The cost of
the South Building was $18,177.49.
A course of twelve years is provided for in the Rochester schools, distributed
in departments, Primary, Intermediate, Grammar and High School. Thus a pupil
entering the schools at six years of age, following the regular course, may
graduate from the High School at the age of eighteen but many complete the
course in less time. At a meeting of the State Board of Education, December 16,
1884, the Rochester Hgh School was placed among the Commissioned High Schools
and a certificate of graduation entitles the holder to admission, as Freshman,
to the State University.
The present enrollment of pupils in all grades aggregates 809 and the teachers
are Principal High school, Emma L. Butler, and Lida J. Meredith and Annetta
Keely, assistants; Earnest E. Fry, Florence M. Fulton, Eva C. Beatty, Belle
Metzler, Florence DeMott and Mrs. Alwilda Dillon. At the South Building, George
R. Fish is Principal and associated with him are Alice Stahl, Esther Martin,
Theo. A. Parker, Lena Morrison and Nana McGraw. The Board of Education is
composes as follows: William J. Leiter, President; Joseph F. Ault, Secretary;
Lyman M. Brackett, Treasurer; and James F. Scull, Superintendent of schools.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, September 20, 1895]
ROCHESTER TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
Rochester Township music teachers taught at all the township schools by teaching
at each school one day a week and giving instrument lessons on a half day basis
in each school.
1929-33: Ernest Fisher
1935-36: Bertha Cole
1936-37: Margaret Myers
1938-39: Audrey Kassalbaum
1939-40: Ida Moore Burwell
1940-43: Gertrude Clingaman
Carl Daugherty
Mrs Orvan Van Lue
1947-48: Wilma Byfield Murphy
1948-49: Esther Sheffer Lyle
1949-54: Edith Carlson
1954-55: Mary Ginn
1955-59: Donna Dawalt
[FCHS Quarterly No. 34, pp 30-31]
__________
The Sentinel announces that Rochester Township is to have three and one-half
months public school this year. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, February 16, 1872]
BURTON NEIGHBORHOOD ONE-ROOM SCHOOLS
By Shirley Willard
The 1876 atlas shows only three one-room schools in the northeast part of
Rochester Township, which is commonly referred to today as the Burton
neighborhood. This is west of the Michigan Road (Old US-31) and north of Indiana
14. The three schools were Burton (the one-room building, not the later
consolidated four-room building), North Mud Creek, and Prairie Union. There were
only three schools because a large part of this area was swamp or marsh and
uninhabited. The marsh was several miles across and covered all or parts of
Rochester Township sections 2, 5, 8, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 27, 28,
and 29. In Union Township the swamp covered all or part of sections 6, 7, 11,
12, 18, and 19. So you see it was quite a large marsh and gave rise to the old
saying that you could row in a boat from Rochester to Kewanna. The marsh
completely covered the present state highway so if you wanted to drive or ride a
horse from Rochester to Kewanna, you had to go around to the north on county
road 200N or south to 300S.
The 1883 atlas shows five one-room schools in the Burton neighborhood:
Ernsperger or Tippecanoe school, Wildermuth, Burton, North Mud Creek, and
Prairie Union. Both Ernsperger and Wildermuth schools were on the Olson Road by
the Tippecanoe River.
The 1907 atlas shows seven one-room schools in the Burton neighborhood:
Ernsperger or Tippecanoe, Wildermuth, Burton, North Mud Creek, South Mud Creek,
Prairie Union, and Oak Grove. Only the South Mud Creek School was in the marshy
area, so the marsh had evidently been drained by ditches, and farmers had
children needing a school. Oak Grove pupils were not included in Burton
consolidated school in 1912, but continued to attend the one-room Oak Grove
School until Reiter School was built in 1925. Oak Grove was on the north side of
Indiana 14 between 200W and 300W.
Prairie Union School (district no. 14) stood under the present big dual highway
New US-31 where it is crossed by county road 50N. It is not known when this
school closed but apparently before 1912, as it is not mentioned as one of the
schools closed when Burton consolidated school was built in 1912.
Burton one-room school (district no. 9) was a wood frame building located on the
north side of 200N in the 1876 atlas. The 1883 atlas shows the school on the
south side of the same road next to the Burton Church, between 200W and 300W.
This was a brick school building apparently built between 1876 and 1883.
Ernsperger (district no. 5) was also known as Tippecanoe School. It was named
for the Ernspergers who lived across the road. Since F. M. Ernsperger was
township trustee 1893-94, people say it was named for him. But it was built
before 1883 or it couldn't have appeared in the 1883 atlas. The farm across the
road belonged to Ida A. Ernsperger, according to the 1883 atlas. The school was
located on the northeast corner of the Olson road a quarter mile west of New
US-31, where the Olson Road turns north towward the Tippecanoe River. Since it
was so close to the river, the school was also called Tippecanoe School.
Wildermuth (district no. 6 or 17) was on the north side of the Olson Road across
from 300W. In the 1907 atlas the farm south of the school was owned by Margaret
and Daniel Wildermuth. Reba Shore, who taught there 1910-11, says this school
was called the Tippecanoe School too.
North Mud Creek School (district no. 10) and South Mud Creek School (district
no. 8) were about two miles apart. The north school was the older school as it
appears in the 1876 atlas, but the south school does not appear until 1907
atlas, meaning it was built after 1883. North Mud Creek was located on the east
side of 500W just south of the railroad. South Mud Creek was situated on the
north side of 100N half way between 400S and 500S.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 61, pp 42-44]
ROCHESTER UNIVERSITY CLUB [Rochester, Indiana]
Assigned topics for study and discussion.
RUSH SCHOOL [Wayne Township]
Located NW corner of 400W and 800S.
Built between 1883 and 1907.
RUSSELL SCHOOL [Union Township]
Located S side of Division [SR-14], approximately 800W.
Built before 1876.
__________
[photo] Russell School. This one-room school was located where the Pinhook
Grange now stands on state road 14 northeast of Kewanna. (Photo: Helen Anderson)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 45, p. 67]
[photo] Russell School 1902. Front Row: George Bixler, Murlen Zellers, Sylvia
Metzger Gillespie, Hazel Metzger, Ella Stubbs Osborne, Irma Stanley, Emma
Swango. Row 2: Jessie Baldwin (boy at left), Emma Shirm Wilson, Mable Garman
Troutman Gillespie, Zora Neff Wilson, Verda Metzger, Bertha Stanley, Otto
Bixler. Row 3: Carrow Garman, Russell Stanley, Vernon Stubbs, Dean Neff, Winnie
Bixler, Omer Smith, Nathan Stanley, Viron Zellers. Row 4: Zora Stanley, Ida
Shirm, Perry Garman, Harry Garman, Margaret Metzger Gillespie, Zella Neff, Bruce
Smith, Frank Swango. Back Row (two standing): Roy Cannon - visiting teacher,
Frank Collins - teacher. (Photo: Zora Neff Wilson)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 45, p. 68]
[photo] Russell School Graduating Class 1909. Front Row: Omer Smith, Roy
Cannon - teacher, Viron Zellers, Oscar Masters. Row 2: Zora Neff (Mrs. Hugh
Wilson), Emma Shirm (Wilson), Virda Metzger, Mabel Garman (Troutman Gillespie).
This photo was taken by Elmer Smith, photographer at Bruce Lake Station. (Photo:
Zora Neff Wilson)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 45, p. 69]
[photo] Russell School 1916-17. Front Row: Ray Overmyer, Ralph Baldwin,
Anderson girl, Margaret Zellers, Charles Hott, Ralph Zellers. Row 2: Elba Hott,
Estil Pickens, unknown, Dolly Master, Lucile Anderson, Edna Overmyer, Hugh
Baldwin, Milo Hott. Row 3: Clarence Miller, Clyde Neff, Helen Osborne, Norma
Master, Venus Engle, Grace Hott, Louisa Garman, Van Tuyl Gillespie - teacher.
(Photo donated to FCHS by Helen Osborne Keller)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 45, p. 70]
[photo] Russell School 1923-24 stood where the Pinhook Grange stands today.
Front row: Lucille Crabill (Byers), Theodore Myers, Helen Kissinger (Miller),
Carl Heim, Vera Baldwin (Gibson), Ermal Crabill, Ruth Mullencup, Lester Masters,
Helen Smith (Anderson), Lois Brooker (Crill), Esther Pickens (Books), Josephine
Brooker (Talbot). Back row: Herman Pickens, Helen Pickens, Pete McClain, Marie
Heim, Virdel Overmyer, Raymond Bowers, Guilford Bowers, Carl Overmyer, Chester
Master, Bernice Baldwin (Zellers), Mildred Britton - teacher. (Photo: Helen
Anderson)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, p. 79]
RUSSELL, MUNGER AND BRUCE LAKE STATION
Early School Years (1921-28)
By Catherine Crabill Kough
Remembrances of my early school years in the Union Township one-room schools
Russell, Munger and Bruce Lake Station. It is amazing how much one forgets; my
sister, Lucile (Crabill) Byers helped me with this sketch.
Lucile attended the Bruce Lake Station School in her first year, but can't
remember the teacher. Her second school year was at the Munger School. This
school was located about six miles northeast of Kewanna next to the David
Brooker farm. One year the students would attend the Munger School and the next
year go to the Russell School. This I presume was to favor all the pupils in the
area. Russell School was located on state road 14, where the Grange building is
located and it was closer to Kewanna.
In her third year she attended the Russell School, and Mildred Britton was the
teacher. They had a grand time making rag rugs, etc., until it was time for the
final exams, when most of the pupils failed. One of the pupils that passed was
Ruth Mollencup.
The ground in the schoolyard was rather sandy, and the pupils had a great time
digging tunnels. This was halted by a visit from the trustee, who was horrified
at their accomplishment. He was afraid it would cave in on them.
The next year was my first year attending school, which was the Munger School's
turn. Miss Laura Hoover was the teacher. She drove a horse and buggy to school.
When she arrived she would put the horse and buggy in a shed that was located
near the school. The children had a great time climbing on top of this shed,
usually against the teacher's wishes. There were about 30 pupils at the
beginning of the year; by the end of the year there were five. Some of the older
students quit and some moved elsewhere. She had no control over the older boys.
To correct them she would get a piece of her harness. Lucile said she doubted
she had any harness left by the end of the year. The five pupils at year's end
were - third grade - Josephine Brooker and Lucile Crabill; second grade - Lois
Brooker and Ermal Crabill; first grade - Catherine Crabill.
One form of entertainment was to wrap the rope from the flagpole around the
pole, then swing from it. This I don't remember, but Lucile does and you can bet
she was in the midst of the affair. She was very much a "Tom-boy".
Mother used to say if she wanted Lucile, she would look in a tree.
When we attended Munger School, we walked a mile and a quarter in all kinds of
weather. I don't remember of my father taking us to school. Some of the pupils
who walked to school with us were Raymond Bowers; Helen and Irene Kissinger;
Ruth and Paul Mollencup and Josephine Brooker. Sometimes we would meet the Myers
boys, Theodore and Ray, at the corner. As the one living the farthest distance
would pass by the next house, we would fall in step. We all carried our lunch
boxes or brown paper sacks along with our books.
When I was in the second grade (1926) it was back to Russell School. I think
this was the last year for this school. Gertrude McLochlin was the teacher. One
occurance that stands out in my mind is a visit from the lady from the health
office. It might be because of a feeling of guilt when she made a fuss at my
giving the correct answer to a question she asked. She asked the correct way to
brush your teeth. I had peeked out of the corner of my eye and saw one of the
older students motion up and down, so I did the same.
One of the most embarrassing moments was when the teacher caught me whispering
to a boy; as punishment I had to sit with him.
There were always the social gatherings at the schools and were big events,
especially for the pupils. There would be cake walks, programs and I remember
the refreshment booths. These events were attended by the parents.
Lucile recalls an incident which occurred when she dropped her pencil. The girl
across the aisle, trying to be helpful, started to pick it up at the same time
Lucile did. The teacher thought they were fighting so she made them stand in
front of the room and told them to fight. Since they were friends and weren't
mad at each other, this was a real task. The teacher told them they had to stand
there until they fought, so finally Lucile hauled off and gave the other girl a
bloody nose. She felt so bad about this, she gave he the banana she had for
lunch.
I suppose one remembers the bad experiences more vividly than the good ones. One
very bad experience happened when I was in the second grade. The bus was a Model
T car with side curtains (that Lucile had to hold shut with her hands) and no
heater. One very cold day the teacher's car wouldn't start so the bus driver
offered to push the car. Since she lived in Kewanna, they headed that way. We
pushed her half way to Kewanna, and then had to turn around and make the route.
By this time we were nearly frozen, and I can remember Lucile rolling on the
floor and crying of the pain in her hands. Believe me, this was one time my
mother was up in arms.
It was back to Munger School when I was in third grade with Herbert Montgomery
as teacher. One incident that stands out in my mind was a girl coming to school
with make-up on. She was made to stand in front of the room. She stood there for
a few minutes, then out the door and walked five miles to her home.
In the fourth grade (Munger School) Ralph Wringer was the teacher. He was a
great teacher and stayed with the Frank Hudkins family. It was a treat to have
Mr. Wringer come to our house and spend the evening. The school had a large
pot-bellied stove to heat the room. For a time the girls would bring foodstuff
to cook their lunch on top of this stove. It worked for awhile until our lunch
hour got over-extended and I think Mrs.David Brooker was imposed upon a bit from
our borrowing pots, pans, etc.
We played the usual games children played at that time. One in particular Lucile
remembered was called "The Prince Has Lost His Hat." I can't recall
all the students attending the Russell and Munger schools, so please excuse if
some are omitted. Bernice and Vera Baldwin; Marie and Carl Hines; Herman, Helen,
Esther Pickens; Francis and Judd Hudkins; Ray and Theodore Myers; Nobelene Hott
(maybe she was just visiting); Helen and Irene Kissinger; Josephine Brooker;
Lois Brooker; Helen Smith; Frances Gillespie; Ermal Crabill; Raymond Bowers;
Ruth and Paul Mollencup; Lucile, Catherine and Betty Crabill.
The fifth grade I attended the Bruce Lake Station School with Ruth Lebo as
teacher. She had a little trouble controlling some of the older boys. Leonard
Garner was in the eighth grade, and one day he was writing on the blackboard and
entertaining the rest of the pupils. Miss Lebo told him to take his seat. His
desk wasn't fastened to the floor so he went back, picked up his desk, set it in
front of the room and sat in it. (Leonard later became a professor in a
university.) Burdette Garner was told to say the ABC's backwards, (why I don't
know) so he just turned his back to the rest of the pupils and said his ABC's.
The eighth grade students had to go to Rochester to take their exams to
graduate. By the time Lucile graduated, this practice was discontinued.
On the last day of school there was always a picnic and program, and the parents
were invited. The mothers would attend with their well-filled lunch baskets. It
was always a day to look forward to.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 45, pp 60-65]
RUSSELL SCHOOL
By Zora Neff (Mrs. Hugh) Wilson and Shirley Willard
Russell School was located where the Pin Hook Grange Hall is at present, on
state road 14 northeast of Kewanna.
Mr. J. P. Russell was the first trustee. It was a one-room building, heated with
a stove in the center of the room. Besides teaching all eight grades the teacher
was janitor. In winter drinking water was carried from the nearest neighbor, Sam
Smith. All drank from one big dipper left in the bucket.
The last day of school was a memorable occasion. The students found out in the
forenoon whether or not they would be promoted to a higher grade and at noon the
parents came with well-filled baskets and a big dinner was enjoyed by all. Later
there was a program and talks by some of the parents.
Dean Neff adds the following memories: I attended Wildermuth School on the Olson
Road by the Tippecanoe River for my first grade when I was only five years old.
I was sent to school at that young age to accompany my sister, Zella, who was a
year and 10 months older than me. We walked one and a half miles to school. As
we walked, other children would join as we passed their houses, so we all
arrived at school together. Wildermuth School faced south toward the road, had
no cloak rooms, only hooks on the walls for the coats. I don't remember the
teacher or anything much about this school as that was long ago in 1897.
(Editor's note: Wildermuth one-room was located a half mile east of the Germany
Bridge.)
I attended Russell School for the next six years, but I recall the name of only
one teacher, Arthur Troutman, 1905-06. He was my kind of teacher because I
thought fooling around in school was a waste of time, and he let me skip a grade
and get out of school sooner. Because I was the only pupil in the seventh grade,
he conferred with my parents and decided that I was capable of handling eighth
grade work, so put me in the eighth grade. But it turned out not to have been
the wisest decision in the long run, as I missed learnning about fractions and
had difficulties with them for the rest of my life.
I recal Russell School very vividly. It had a cloak room for boys on one side
and a cloak room for girls on the other side of the door, which faced north
toward the road. The stove had a galvanized jacket around it to make it into a
furnace which spread the heat better than a plain stove. This meant you could
sit next to it and not get roasted on one side while freezing on the side away
from the stove, the way it was in most one-room schools. There were cold air
registers cut in the floor around the edge of the room. You could see the ground
through them, and of course, bugs and mice could enter the school through them.
We played "shinny" which is called field hockey now. We made our own
sticks, cut from trees, and made our own puck by winding string to make a ball.
Some kids made a better ball by using a darning needle to stitch it so it
wouldn't unwind. We had no baseball gloves so the catchers were always the
toughest kids with the toughest hands. There was a pond on the north side of the
road where we went skating in winter.
The teacher walked from Kewanna every day. It was customery to lock the teacher
out of the school a few days before Christmas so he would be sure to give us a
treat. We had box socials and othr social events in the school.
One event I especially remember was my first phonograph. A man from Bruce Lake
Station (I don't remember his name but I think he lived between Bruce Lake
Station and Leiters Ford) bought the first phonograph in the community and
offered to put on a program in the school so all could hear this new invention.
Notes were sent home with all the pupils that this man would play his talking
machine on Wednesday night. Admission was 10 cents a family and the school was
packed. The phonograph played cylinder records. There were comedy, singing, and
religious records. The school was well lighted with four lanterns with tin
reflectors on each wall.
I can't remember the teacher's name but on Jan. 1, 1900 (yes, we had school on
New Year's Day) the teacher gave a talk about the future and what the new
century might mean. He said that some of us might live to see the year 2000 but
my sister Zella and I are the only ones left. Of my graduating class of 1910
from Kewanna High School, there are four left: myself, Homer Vincent, Dola
Garman, and Ana Wilson, but I am the only one from Russell School. I almost
didn't get to graduate from Kewanna with my class in 1910 because of my
chemistry grades in Miss Smith's class. But I talked to Prof. Arnold (a short,
fat, jolly man) and told him if I wasn't going to graduate, I would just go home
that day as my father needed me on the farm. But he said to continue coming to
school as I was going to graduate all right. So I did. There were 12 in my
graduating class and four were in attendance at the last Kewanna Alumni Banquet.
I loved trains and used to watch them out the window of the assembly hall in
Kewanna High School. One time the engine and the car behind it de-railed. I
stood up to look at it better, and the teacher, Miss Hoffman, said, "Dean,
I think they can handle the train without your help." I said, "They
will need a lot of help today because it just de-railed." All the students
and teachers rushed to look out the windows. No one was hurt, but the train had
de-railed just south of the tower where the Vandalia and C & O tracks
crossed.
Another memory of this same time period: John Zegafuse (who had a round barn on
state road 14 between Kewanna and Rochester) had the first tractor in the
county. It was a Bull tractor with a gasoline engine. It had three wheels; there
was only one wheel in front. It had steel tires with metal lugs. The first time
I saw the tractor, John was trying to get it to run in the lane to his house. We
were going down the road and stopped to see it.
Clyde Neff attended Russell School beginning in 1910. He remembers a lady
teacher named Miss Fahl, whose father brought her from Grass Creek every day.
Louise Gorsline (Collins) taught there 1915-16 and paid Clyde $2 a week to do
the janitor work. He saved all the checks until the end of school and cashed
them all together. He would sweep the schoolroom after school, while the teacher
graded papers. Then they walked to the crossroads together. She roomed east of
the school, while Clyde lived north of the school.
There was a buggy shed on the east side of the school towards the girls
outhouse. Teachers put their horse and buggy there during the day. There was a
water pump half way between the school and the south fence.
Van Tuyl Gillespie was the teacher 1916-17.
When Clyde was in the seventh grade, the Masters boy put a shot gun shell in the
stove and it blew down the stove pipes. Men would bring wagon loads of fire wood
to the school, and the bigger boys would rack it by the fence. Then each day
they would bring in enough wood to last the day, piling it inside the back door.
The Masters boy was older, having flunked a couple of grades, and he took the
shot out of a shot gun shell and stuffed it with newspaper. Then he put it in a
knot hole in a piece of firewood. The other big boys saw him do it and they sat
in anticipation all aftenoon. Finally not long before school was over for the
day the teacher put the loaded piece of fire wood in the stove. Sure enough, it
blew with a big bang, and knocked down all the stove pipes, scattering soot and
ashes. School was dismissed early. The next morning a man put the stove pipes
back up and swept up, and they had school again as usual. But the guilty boy was
never discovered or punished.
When Clyde was in the eighth grade, 1917-18, Russell School had and lost its
teachers, one right after another.There were two or three lady teachers and
Clyde does not remember why they left. But he wanted to graduate and go to high
school and not waste time. So his mother took him to Bruce Lake Station School
where Plaudia Enyart was the teacher. She kept a strict school. She brought her
chair down to sit by the eighth graders to give them extra help so they would
pass their exams and get into high school. Once the little Nutt boy whispered to
his neighbor while Plaudia was helping the eighth grade, and she took a
blackboard eraser in her left hand and threw it and popped him. He straightened
right up and got to work.
Zella Neff Smith recalls the following teachers at Russell School: Roy Cannon,
Arthur Troutman,Clyde Henderson, and William Gorsline. It is also believed that
the following taught there: Frank Collins, Blanche Baldwin, Harry Garman,
Mildred Britton, 1923-24, and Gertrude McGlothlin 1924-25.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 45, pp 66-71]
MEMORIES OF RUSSELL AND MUNGER SCHOOLS
By Helen Smith Anderson
Russell School District No. 12, was started around 1898 on land owned by my
grandfather, Samuel Smith, located on State Road 14 just across the fence from
the Pinhook Grange Hall. (Pinhook Grange did not exist them.) It was named for
J. P. Russell, the Trustee of Union Township. My father, Oliver Smith, attended
school there as well as my uncles.
Mildred Britton was my first grade teacher 1923-24. She boarded with my parents.
I was always getting in trouble because I would tell the older children who her
boyfriends were. She seemed to have several. She would keep me after school for
telling. I remember the older kids marching around the room teasing her about
them. I remember one incident when I had to go to the restroom, which was
outside. I was crying because I was too bashful to ask to leave the room. I knew
Ted Myers real well so I relayed the message to him and he asked if I could be
excused.
Another time in the second grade I had to sit with Chauncey Sommers for
whispering to him. I was very embarrassed and cried. My teacher was Gertrude
McLochlin. "Miss Gertrude" we called her. That was the last year for
Russell School, 1924-25. We then were bussed to Munger (now the home of Ben
Fort). Gertrude McLochlin was the teacher again, 1925-26. My fourth year teacher
was Herbert Montgomery, 1926-27. It was about his first year of teaching and the
kids would walk about a mile down the road to a pond and skate around. We
usually were late and would have to stay in at recess to make it up. I remember
the first day of warm weather, the girls would roll their long johns up and
their stockings down. Lois Brooker Crill was called over by her grandmother, who
lived across the road, and made to roll them down again.
My fifth grade teacher was Ralph Winger, 1927-28. I remember he had a guitar and
would sing and play folk songs. He also called Lois and me to the wood shed. I
still can see the switch he was holding. We had been whispering. We were really
scared but we squealed on Josephine Brooker and Lucille Crabill, so he let us
off that time and called them out to the shed. They didn't get it either. He
just gave us a good scare.
I remember having a box social. Josephine and I had a double box. We decorated
it with crepe paper and had a little doll on top. It was filled with a lunch and
sold to the highest bidder. I remember Merlin Zellers bought it. We had to eat
with him but he was the father of one of the kids in school. We had hoped that
one of the boys in school would buy it but they didn't have enough money. We
also had a fish pond - you would get a prize on your hook. I still have a salt
cellar I got.
Zella Neff Wilson has a souvenir booklet from Russell School dated 1898. S. A.
Blessing was the teacher. Other school officers included W. S. Gibbons, County
Supt.; J. P. Russell, trustee; Samuel Smith, director; C. O. Fish and William
Parker, truant officers. The school term began Oct. 4, 1897, and ended Apr. 1,
1898. Scholars were listed: 8th year: Jessie Gorsline, Albert Smith. 7th year:
none. 6th year: Agnes Gorsline, Charles Ware, Oliver Smith. 5th year: Sidney
Bixler, Lottie Stubbs, Nora Bixler. 4th year: Alice Pickens, Maud Ware, Madie
Schirm, Harry Green, Hugh Green. 3rd year: Myrtle Freel, Rue Green, Herman Ware,
Maude Pickens, Grover Freel, Willie Pickens, Melvin Henderson, Sarah Swango. 2nd
year: Willie Swango, Ida Schirm, Elsie Hott, Frank Bixler, Fried Walker, Dora
Pickens, Alice Hott, Henry Bixler, Floyd Walker, Harry Garmon. First year:
Vernie Stubbs, Elmer Hott, Frank Freel, Velmy Harris, Perry Garmon, May Green,
Edith Harris, Tishie Swango, Elmer Ware, Isaac Swango, Susie Felty, Winnie
Henderson, Jesse Felty, Frank Swango. Visitors that year were listed in the
booklet too. Parental: M. F. Walker, Mrs. Matilda Schirm, Mrs. Alice Stubbs,
Samuel Smith. Official: W. S. Gibbons, J. P. Russell, Samuel Smith, C. O. Fish,
William Parker. Others: Miss Nettie Stubbs, Mrs. W. O. Lamborn, Miss Carrie
Lamborn, Frank Hudkins.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 47, pp 78-80]
THE MONGER SCHOOL
Compiled By Benjamin Barrett Fort
Consolidation had been considered for sometime in Union Township between Monger
School and the Russell School to favor all the pupils and the need in the
township to support jointly only one school in the area. The Russell School was
located on State Road 14 at 775 West where the Pinhook Grange Hall is presently
located. It was agreed upon that area students one year would attend the Russell
School and the next year the Monger School. In 1922-23 Monger School classes
were discontinued and then students attended Russell School with Mildred Britton
as the teacher. In 1923-24 the reverse took place with Mildred Britton the
teacher at Monger School, and Russell School was not in session.
For the school year 1924-25 school was held in the area again at Russell School
with Gertrude McLochlin the teacher. Teachers in the past sometimes had trouble
with both students and parents but for this school year all found an equal.
"Miss Gertrude," as she was known by her students, lived in Kewanna
and drove to school in a Model T Ford. She had control in class and the
community supported her disciplinary manner. Students prospered by her
individual tutoring in an atmosphere conducive to learning. This was the last
year for Russell School to have classes. In 1925-26 classes were reversed in the
area at Monger School with again "Miss Gertrude" the teacher. Coming
daily from Kewanna in her car, she acted as the hackman for the former Russell
students attending school at Monger. She was paid 10 cents per day per pupil for
transportation to school by the Union Township trustee. The daily student
passenger load consisted of from six to eight pupils.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 49, pp 59-70]
SALINA SCHOOL [Richland Township]
Miss Tena Pence, daughter of John Pence, Esq., was unanimously elected to teach
a fall term of school at Salina, in Richland township. . .
[Rochester, Union-Spy, Friday, August 24, 1877]
SAND HILL SCHOOL [Aubbeenaubbee Township]
Located in Section 26, NW corner 275N and 700W.
Built between 1883 and 1907.
__________
[photo] Sand Hill school in 1891 or 1894. The teacher, Howard Reed stands at
the right. The pupils were, from left, Row 1: Jenny Glaze, Lena Miller, Edith
Miller, Err Biddinger, Henry Overmyer, Eddy Brower, Harry Felty, Harry
Biddinger, and Charles Dorland. Row 2: Bess Dorland, Jenny Hisey, Frank Glaze,
Charles Miller, Ed Sissel, Emma Sissel, Lottie Hisey, Oscar McPherron, and
Claude Cole. Row 3: Jay Trimble, Millie Dorland, Charles McPherron, Lester
Gilbaugh, and Ray Gilbaugh. Row 4: Bertha Brower, Sarah Overmyer, Nora Wright,
Josie Wright, and Charles Sissel. This photo belongs to Harry McPherron, R. 1,
Argos. Over the years six McPherron children attended the school).
[FCHS Quarterly No. 20, p. 11]
[photo] Sand Hill School about 1907-08. Sitting on the steps: Dee Fultz, Harvey
Miller, Clarence McPherron. Row 1: Mary McPherron, Ed Eash, Oral "Hap"
Kindig, Millard Dickey, Lavonne Kindig, Emily McPherron, Kenneth Clark, Arnie
"Dude" Kindig, Viola Camp, Lannie Beck, Ossie Palmer, and Mary Palmer.
Row 2: Martha Miller, Hazel Dickey, Audrea Kindig, Pearl Ralston, Rea Fultz,
Clarence Hisey, Thomas Beck, Dewey Dudgeon, Floyd Ralston Kenneth Thompson, and
Jim Foor. Back Row: Charles Maple - teacher, Vada Camp, Lizzy Boggers, Ferman
Foor, Jess Foor, Mildred Dickey, Rosie Hisey, Etta Beck, Ozzie Foor, Leo
Thompson, Guy Ralston, Bill Miller, and Ralph Halterman. (Harry McPherron's
photo).
[FCHS Quarterly No. 20, p. 12]
__________
SAND HILL SCHOOL
By Harry McPherron and Rev. Clyde Walters
On the farm of Michael Shore, in Richland township, his son David taught school
and Sunday school in their house. A few years later Abel Bush bought land near
by, five miles north of Rochester, at the crossroad. At the corner of this farm
he built the first log schoolhouse. They had school here a few years, then the
Sand Hilll school was built one-half mile south at the next crossroad about
1842-43. Bert Dudgeon gave the land for the Sand Hill school, and it reverted
back to the Dudgeon family when the school ceased to exist.
This old schoolhouse was owned by Thomas Beck and used as a dwelling, until Beck
sold it to Charley Town in 1948. Town tore it down and moved it to the first
house south of Bert Leedy's round barn (now Partridge's round barn). Town used
it to build a porch.
The second Sand Hill school was built about 1880. It was a wooden frame
building, on the southwest corner of the intersection of 550N and Old [US-31],
about four and one-half miles north of Rochester. It had a wood and coal stove
in the center of the room. The pump for the drinking water was on the east side
of Michigan Road. The teacher and the eighth grade boys would carry the water
across the road to the school and put it in a five gallon metal container which
had a faucet at the bottoom. All of the students drank from the same cup. No
modern day plumbing, just outside toilets.The students furnished their own
transportation, walking, many more than a mile. One teacher taught all eight
grades, about 15 minutes for each class. He did the janitor work, sweeping the
floor, building fires and carrying in the fuel, which was furnished by the
trustee.
The games the children played were basketball (outside) for the seventh and
eighth grades. The smaller children played blackman and other ball games with a
string ball. In the winter time they played fox and goose, sliding down the
hills near the school house. On stormy days they placed checkers and had
spelling and ciphering bees, and played leap frog.
Some of the teachers were: Lydia Feiser, Howard Reed, Chalmer Trimble, 1907-08
Charlie Maple, 1908-09 Howard Dickey, 1909-10 Leo Beehler, 1910-11 Harold Weir,
1911-12 Edna Umbaugh, and 1912-16 Leo Beehler. Bill Waltz drove the hack 1908.
The school was closed in about 1917-18. The building was torn down in 1928-29 by
Oral "Hap" Kindig the round barn builder, and was moved to one mile
north of Rochester. The lumber was used to build a little grocery and restaurant
for Billy Cornell and Wife Elizabeth and father William. Cornell's Restaurant
stood on [East side of] Old [US-31], the third house south of 200N, where Earl
Quick lives now. Part of the lumber was also used to build a chicken house east
of Clevenger's Alignment on 200N, but this structure is gone now.
I had read one time that this was the first consolidated school in Indiana,
but I guess there is some dispute about this.
My first days of school were at South Germany summer school taught by Jenny
Kiler from Tiosa, winter months taught by Charley Anderson. South Germany school
was at the top of the hill and the school grounds went north to where the road
goes west.
The old South Germany church was torn down and the material was used to build
class rooms and the front entrance to Grand View church in the late 1920's.
Mike Walters lived a half mile south of Germany school where the road turns west
and had a grocery store and at one time a post office. A half mile south at the
next turn of the road in an earlier day was a grocery store and post office
called Lick Skillet.
__________
Sand Hill School (section 36) was located north of Leiters Ford on the west
side of county road 700W at the end of 300N. It was named for the hill it stood
on. Teachers were Frank Beery 1875, Solomon Shadel 1890-92, Carrie Greer,
Robinson, Stella Bailey, Harry Brugh, Flavilla Tracy 1908-09, Florence Meiser
1911-12 and Ethel Leiter 1913-14. Patrons included Brugh, Sanns, Moon, White,
and Bailey families. It was closed in 1914 and the building was sold to Pete
Sanns in 1929 for $50.00 when Omer Reichard was trustee. It was on the way home
from Sand Hill that a 7 year old boy stabbed his cousin with his jack-knife. The
cousin died but charges were never pressed because the child was so young.
Flavilla Tracy, now 85 years old and living in Franklin Indiana, Methodist Home
and enjoying life immensely, writes: "Ada Southard Sherbondy and I taught
in Aubbee township 1908-09. During pleasant autumn and spring weather we rode
from Rochester to Leiters Ford on the old Milk Train - Erie Railroad. Ada taught
southwest of Leiters Ford at BEAVER SCHOOL. I taught southeast of Leiters Ford
at Sand Hill. Ada rode a wheel to her school. I walked back east along the
railroad track, then took the road south to Sand Hill school. During cold winter
weeks Ada lived in the home of Omer Reichard, then a school boy. I never met his
parents. I lived in the home of my second cousins, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Bailey,
and their daughter. Stella, as we called her, was then teaching the primary
grades in Leiters Ford. Ada and I were back in Rochester each weekend. Ada was a
fine friend.".
[FCHS Quarterly No. 17, pp 4-5]
Sand Hill School was named for Jimmy Sands, who donated the land for the
school so his children would not have to walk so far. The school reverted back
to the farm after it closed, according to the abstract. Mrs. Carl Westwood says
she and her husband Carl tore the schoolhouse down in about 1960 and kept the
big bell, which she now wants to sell for $500.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 59, Corrections p. 24]
Teachers: Flavilla Tracy, 1908-09; William Foster
SAND HILL SCHOOL [Richland Township]
Located NE corner of Old US-31 and 550N.
Built before 1876.
In 1928 the schoolhouse was moved and made into a hen house by William Cornell.
__________
MORE ON WHIPPOORWILL AND TIOSA SCHOOLS
Dennis Foor recalls that in 1916 Sand Hill, Red Brush and Tiosa one-room schools
all consolidated into a new Tiosa School on a five acre lot. This was such a big
playground that the kids playing in the northwest corner could not hear the bell
but would see the other children going in the school and thus knew the bell had
rung. The bell was a large brass round alarm bell about 12 inches diameter. It
was struck by a metal arm that hit the outside of the bell and would go
"clack clack clack." The bell was in the hallway by the drinking
fountain. There was a pile of rails on the northwest corner of the school yard
and the kids would build a house of them and cover it with grass.
Dennis attended Sand Hill School and was sent to Tiosa after the consolidation.
Several people opposed building the new school at Tiosa. Parlee Foor (Dennis'
father), Orville Miller, John Beck and others went to Indianapolis to try to get
the new school built closer to Sand Hill where they wanted the new school. Still
others wanted to keep the old Tiosa School, such as Harrison Wynn and Dr. L. C.
Meek.
In the fall of 1923 pupils from Germany School and all those living west of 50W
(west of Sand Hill) went to Whippoorwill School. So Dennis was consolidated into
a different school again. He only attended old Whippoorwill School three months
and the new Whippoorwill School opened Dec. 1, 1923, so he went to yet another
school. The new Whippoorwill School cost $20,000 to build but was used only
seven years.
Why was a new Whippoorwill School built and used for only seven years? There
were several prominent and influential people who wanted a new school at
Whippoorwill, including Bill Miller, Harry Overmyer, and Chancey Hiatt. The
trustee, Howard Reed, wanted to wait a couple of years and put all the children
in Richland Center School. Several people opposed building a new Whippoorwill
School. But those who wanted a new school won out and the new Whippoorwill was
built.
Dennis remembers attending a meeting at the new Whippoorwill School around 1930
in which Richland Township trustee, Oscar Scott, pointed out the defects of the
school, though it was only a seven-year-old building. There was mortar coming
out from between the bricks. It was said that this was the fault of the
architect who insisted that they use the mortar that had sat and dried out over
noon hour instead of making a new batch. And the flat roof leaked because the
drain holes had filled with leaves and then formed a lake on the roof and froze
and pushed the roof away from the wall and split the roof. J. Howard Reed, the
trustee who had built the school, had Dave Beehler the janitor clean the leaves
out. But the new trustee, Oscar Scott, hired a new janitor, George Morris, and
he did not clean out the leaves so the roof began to leak.
In 1926 the Richland Township trustee moved the Whippoorwill and Tiosa 7th and
8th grades to Richland Center School. Their desks were moved too. Dead Man's
College was closed then too. That was the first year that high school students
were allowed to ride the school buses. Chancey Hiatt and Bill Miller were the
bus drivers for Whippoorwill, while Jess Waltz and Frank Ball drove buses for
Tiosa area.
Thus Dennis Foor was consolidated out of three schools. He attended Sand Hill
for one year, then went to Tiosa six years 1917-23, then attended old
Whippoorwill three months, then new Whippoorwill the rest of the year, then went
to Richland Center High School.
When they remodeled Richland Center School in 1923, the bell was removed from
the tower. The bell was a huge "dinner bell" with a clapper inside. It
was so heavy it would take three or four men to move it. It was placed outside
the janitor's room above the entrance. Some high school boys stole it and buried
it in a field, where it lay until it was plowed up by Charlie Morgan. His plow
caught the edge of the bell and it ruined his plow.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 51, pp 40-42]
Builders Take Notice. I will receive bids until the 13th day of July next for
the building of a school house, one and 1/4 miles north of the Tippecanoe forge
on the Michigan road, on the old site known as the Sand Hill School House, in
District No. 7, Fulton County, Indiana . . . Plans and specifications may be
found at T. C. Shore's, Abel C. Hickman's and with the undersigned, in Richland
Township . . . William Sturgeon, Trustee. June 27, 1861.
[Rochester Mercury, Thursday, June 27, 1861]
Mr. J. F. Robbins wields the scepter at the Sand Hill school.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, December 4, 1873]
The Sand Hill school opened the 1st of December with an enrollment of 35. The
teacher, Jefferson Robbins, is exciting an interest in all.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, December 11, 1873]
At the spelling at Sand Hill . . . Mr. James Dudgeon and William Wright both
claim the honors of spelling them down. They are both pupils of the Sand Hill
school.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, January 8, 1874]
Mr. T. J. Robbins, the young man who just closed a successful term of school,
at the Sand Hill school house, in Richland township, we are told will resume the
study of medicine under Dr. A. H. Robbins of this place. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, February 26, 1874]
Miss Ella Wilhelm is teaching our district school. . .
--- Mr. C. Knott, accompanied by the Messrs. Ault and Ross, of Rochester, came
over and assisted in organizing a Sabbath school at the Sand Hill school house.
. .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 12, 1877]
School opened last Monday morning with Miss Sweet as teacher.
[Stringtown Gossip, Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, April 20, 1878]
The Debating Club has fizzled out.
Under the supervision of S. Cavenger, Stringtown will have a singing school.
[Stringtown Gossip, Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 29, 1878]
Sand Hill can boast of having the best school this winter, that has been
taught here for a number of years. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, February 22, 1879]
SAND RIDGE SCHOOL [Rochester Township]
Teachers: F. M. Ernsperger; Rufus McClung
SAW MILL SCHOOL [#8] [Rochester Township]
Located S of Rochester E side SR-25 at 100S.
Also known as Ellsworth School.
__________
[photo] Sawmill School, District No. 8 was on Indiana 25 at north edge of
County Poor Farm. Souvenir, Oct 2, '99 - April 21, 1900, given by Otto McMahan,
teacher]
[FCHS Quarterly No. 71, p. 21]
__________
SAWMILL SCHOOL
By Shirley Willard
Sawmill School got its name from being next to the sawmill a mile south of
Rochester on [SR-25]. The sawmill was built by Rueben and Calvin Van Trump
before the Civil War and purchased by William Downs and wife Susan Brown Downs
in 1866. The first school there was a wooden structure located on the west side
of [SR-25] where the south edge of New US-31 crosses over now. It was probably
built about 1850, but being in a low spot, it often was surrounded by water. So
in about 1870 they built a brick schoolhouse on the rise north of the present
highway garage on the east side of SR-25. It is shown as school no. 8 in the
1876 and 1883 atlases of Fulton County.
All of William Down's children went to Sawmill School between 1870 and 1890.
Lilly Maude Daowns Lowe, Almeda Downs Blackburn, John Downs, James Downs, and
Kenneth Downs. Other families whose children attended were Beecrafts, George
Black, Enoch Mow, Andrew Jackson Haimbaugh, and Jacob Stevens. Nellie Stevens,
born in 1868, attended Sawmill and later married dentist James Leonard Babcock,
who was mayor of Rochester 1934-38. At his death Nellie became Rochester's only
lady mayor, serving to the end of her husband's term, Oct.-Dec. 1938. Estella
Mitchell (Mrs. R. P. True) taught there. Bell Bernetha, sister of Judge [Harry]
Bernetha, taught at Sawmill for a time before she became chief operator at
Rochester Telephone 1896.
From Rochester Sentinel, Oct. 20, 1877: "Sidney Moon was engaged to teach
the winter term of school at the Sawmill schoolhouse just south of town. Sid is
a good practical teacher and an accomplished manipulator of the rod in dusting
the boys' breeches."
Rochester Union-Spy, Feb. 28, 1879: "Ex-sheriff S. R. Moon, teacher of the
sawmill School south of town, will celebrate the last day of school with a
public dinner and a dramatic entertainment. 'Paddy Mile's Boy' is the play
named, and prospects are that the entertainment will be highly entertaining.
None but those invited will be expected to partake of the public dinner."
Sawmill School was closed and torn down around 1900. Otto McMahan taught at No.
8 or Sawmill School 1899-1900 and may have been the last teacher. James Downs
took over the sawmill and paid tuition for his children, Warren Downs, Ruth
Downs Richardson, Clifford Downs, Leah Downs Smiley, Marjorie Downs Fred, and
Morton Downs to go to South School (later called Columbia) in Rochester.
The sawmill too has disappeared. . . . The sawmill closed in 1949 when James
Downs died. . . .
[FCHS Quarterly No. 71, pp 20-21]
At the spelling school held at Ellsworth School House, onmile south of town,
last week, John H. Pyle, teacher, Mrs. Wm. Downs proved to be the best speller .
. .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, January 2, 1873]
A. F. Bowers is master of the situation, at present, at the Saw Mill school
house.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, December 4, 1873]
Ed. Horton will teach at the Sawmill school house this winter, south of town.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, November 5, 1874]
The Saw-mill school house is being fenced in. Every one in this township
should be served the same way.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, November 19, 1874]
The second teachers' institute for those teachers west of the Michigan road,
in this township, will be held at the Saw Mill school house, one and one-half
miles south of Rochester, on next Saturday.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, January 22, 1875]
"The Ellsworth" is the name of a literary society that meets at the
saw mill school house, one mile south of Rochester, every Friday evening. . .
William Walters is President.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, March 19, 1875]
The summer term of school taught by Miss Ella Kewney, at the saw mill, one
mile south of town, closed last Friday with a grand dinner in the grove. The
school of Ella Barb, at Prairie Union, closed last Saturday with like
ceremonies.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, July 9, 1875]
Miss Ella Kewney, who taught the summer term is now engaged teaching a fall
term of school at the saw mill school house.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, October 15, 1875]
A Mr. Hoover from Ohio will train the young ideas at Union this winter, Abe
Bowers will swing the birch at the Saw-mill school, Miss Maggie Blacketer will
dust the jackets in the new district near Wm. Davidson's and John Davidson will
"rule" the young Antiochers.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, December 3, 1875]
Charley Plank will "teach the young ideas" where, when and how to
shoot at the Saw Mill School; Curg. Rannells swings the birch at Mt. Zion; Ches.
Chinn manipulates the rod away down in Wayne; Frank Dawson will "walk their
chunk" at Prairie Union -- and Able Bowers will introduce the apple-eating
system at Millark.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 25, 1876]
The Sprinkleburg literary society meets on Tuesday night. Ellsworth, on
Friday night.
"Resolved that man hath immortality here on earth," is what engages
the Mt. Zion debaters just now.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, March 3, 1876]
Chas. K. Plank has been engaged to teach school this winter at the Sawmill
school house, south of town. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, October 27, 1876]
C. K. Plank has control of the Sawmill school, land if it is possible for a
teacher to succeed in a large school with no apparatus and the scholars scantily
supplied with books, and this in a house with scarcely seats enough to
accommodate the pupils, then we would say that Mr. Plank is successful. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, February 10, 1877]
A good many years ago Miss Maggie McClung, now Mrs. Jesse Shields,
established the custom of giving a sumptuous dinner on the closing day at
Prairie Union, as did Miss "Dot" Ernsperger, now Mrs. Bates, at the
saw mill school house south of town. . . Our young friend, B. F. Dawson, was the
teacher at Prairie Union during the past winter. . . . Programme: . . . . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 17, 1877]
Charley Plank says he has taught his first and last school. He does not
believe he was cut out and trimmed for a rural teacher. Like "Nasby,"
he would rather be postmaster. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 24, 1877]
There is to be a Sunday school picnic held at the saw mill (Ellsworth) school
house, in the near future.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, July 14, 1877]
The Sunday school at Ellsworth school house, just south of town, was largely
attended last Sabbath.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, July 28, 1877]
The new brick school house near the Poor House is fast approaching
completion.
[Rochester, Union-Spy, Friday, October 5, 1877]
Sidney Moon has engaged to teach the winter term of school at the saw mill
school house just south of town. Sid is a good practical teacher and an
accomplished manipulator of a rod in dusting the boys' breeches.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, October 20, 1877]
S. R. Moon is teaching a good school in the new school house just south of
town on the Michigan road. It is a new business for Sidney.
[Rochester Independent, Saturday, December 15, 1877]
The township institute will be held at the Saw Mill school house, one mile
south of town, next Saturday.
[Rochester Independent, Saturday, December 22, 1877]
S. R. Moon's school at Downs saw mill, will hold their closing exercises next
Saturday. . .
[Rochester Union Spy, Friday, March 22, 1878]
Miss Lizzie Edminister [will teach a term of school] at Saw Mill school
house. . .
[Rochester Union Spy, Friday, April 12, 1878]
The patrons of the Saw Mill school were lucky in securing the services of
that excellent teacher, Mr. S. R. Moon. Sid. . . will organize and conduct a
debating society at the school house. . . The first meeting will be held Friday
evening, January 17th.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, January 17, 1879]
Sidney R. Moon's school at the saw mill, south of town closed yesterday with
appropriate exercises pleasing to the children.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 15, 1879]
Sidney R. Moon has returned from his western trip and will teach the saw mill
school just south of town this winter.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 8, 1879]
The Saw Mill School was so named because it was next to the sawmill. The
first school was probably built about 1850, on the west side of SR-25 where the
south edge of 31 by-pass crosses over now. The structure was wooden, and in a
low place often surrounded by water. About 1870 a brick school was built on the
east side of SR-25, on a rise just north of the Fulton County highway garage.
The school sire and other acreage is now owned by Dr. Joseph Downs Richardson,
great-grandson of William Downs.
Sawmill School was closed and the building torn down before 1900. There were few
children in the immediate neighborhood. The closest schools were Union and
Ebenezer.
[Downs Family, Ruth Downs Richardson, Fulton Co. Folks, Vol. 1, Willard]
SAYGER SCHOOL [#14] [Henry Township]
Located NW corner of 900E and Division Road.
Built before 1876.__________
[photo] Sayger's School. Back Row: Vera Richter, Vernie Burns, Claude Burns,
Willa Pearson, Mary Seifert, Orville Moore - teacher, Lucy Burns, Goldie Burns,
Minnie Swartzlander, Vernon Kindig, Robert Burns. Front Row: Max Feece, Bina
Swartzlander, Marion Burns, Sarah Burns, Blanche Swartzlander, Ruth
Swartzlander, Clorice Nye, Louella Burns.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August, 1969, No. 1, p. 17]
[photo] Saygers School 1920. Front row: Ross Keel, Ralph Funk, Ina Swartzlander,
Howard Swartzlander, Marjorie Barr - visitor.Row 2: John Andrew Barr, Jewell
Smiley - teacher, Donald Morris, Lester Burns. (Photo: Ina Swartzlander
Hatfield)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 43, p. 51]
DISTRICT 14 - SAYGER'S SCHOOL
By Velma Bright:
Sayger's School was located about two miles north and three miles west of Akron.
On December 21, 1867 Henry Township purchased one-fourth acre of land from Moses
and Polly Sayger for a sum of five dollars for the purpose of erecting a school.
This school was still in use durng the 1922-23 school year. As records are not
available for the next year, it is not known whether school was held there or
not. It was out of existence in the 1924-25 school year. The building is still
standing.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August, 1969, No. 1, p. 17]
SAYGER'S SCHOOL
By Ina Swartzlander Hatfield as told to Velma Bright
I attended Sayger's School for all but the 7th and 8th grades.
There was a pump outside the school and we all would pump water from the pump
and drink from the same tin cup.
One year there were only seven pupils in the school and all were boys except me.
My father went to the Trustee and told him that he wanted a lady teacher that
year. Miss Jewell Smiley from Rochester taught that year. The boys would take
her horse and put it up in Funk's barn. She drove over in a horse and buggy each
day from Rochester.
I was usually a well-behaved student but one time I helped the boys put a mouse
in the teacher's desk drawer. She was scared to death when she saw the mouse.
That was one of my bad tricks. The teacher was Glenn Wilhoit. I was good the
rest of the year.
We used to play "Andy Over," "Stink Base," and a lot of
games. The teacher always played too. The teacher was always out at recess with
the children.
There was a low place across the road where the water would stand and in the
winter when it was frozen over, the Funk boys would skate on it. They were good
skaters. The rest of us played on it without skates on our lunch hour.
We had a long stove with two lids on it. The pupils took turns putting wood in
the stove. The teacher brought his or her lunch in a dinner pail with a bottle
or tin of coffee. The teacher would always set the coffee on the stove and keep
it hot until noon.
We had a big dictionary on a stand in the room. If you didn't want to study you
would go up there and pretend you were looking up a word.
Math was my good subject so when I got my work done I could help the others who
were younger than I. Of course, I really liked that.
We would have Christmas programs. The neighbors and parents came to the program.
Some of the men came too. Pearl Kessler played the organ and Pearl, Evelyn
Werner and I sang one time. At one program we gave "The Old Woman in the
Shoe" and I was the old woman. I wore a dress that came down to my shoes
and those that saw me said they would never have known me. We usually had a
program on the last day of school too. One thing that stands out in my mind was
that Miss Smiley took us in her car to Akron to the movie theater and we saw
Mary Pickford. This was on the last day of school. This was really great. I was
in the 5th grade.
We would have box socials and cake walks. One time Ralph Funk received a box of
candy for being the best speller in the school. I won a prize at one of the
socials for having the nicest box there.
On or near the last day of school we would bring our little brothers and sisters
to visit school.
We had outside toilets and it always seemed they were located at the coldest
spots on the school ground. Of course, the boys were always throwing snowballs
at the girls' toilet.
The teachers that I had were Ethel Kuhn, Pearl Kesling, Jewel Smiley, Bill More,
Kenneth Oliver, Glenn Wilhoit and Helen Waite.
The Akron Library has a souvenier end-of-school booklet for Sayger's School,
Sept. 30, 1907 - Apr. 3, 1908, when Leah Platt Bahney was the teacher. It lists
school officers, Albert Cook, trustee; Charles Swartzlander, director; and John
C. Werner, county supt. Pupils: Eva Burns, Gladys Kindig, Willa Pearson, Mabel
Snider, Vernon Kindig, Sadie Shireman, Max Feece, Minnie Swartzlander, Bina
Swartzlander, Lucy Burns, Gail Nye, Mary Siffert, Luella Burns, Oval McIntire,
Byron Snider, Robert Burns, Clorice Nye, and Marion Burns.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 43 pp 50-52]
__________
It is only necessary to say of No. 14 that the school is organized, well
governed and well taught . . . F. N. Richardson is the teacher.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 16, 1876]
__________
Teachers:
1876-77: F. N. Richardson
1896-97: Alwilda Mae Woods
1897-98: Worthy Shewman
1898-99: Jerome Swihart
1899-00: J. C. Swihart
1900-01: Nellie Noyer
1901-02: [omitted]
1902-03: J. C. Swihart
1907-08: Leah Platt Bahney
Kenneth Oliver
[FCHS Quarterly No. 41, pp 37-39]
PARTIAL LIST OF TEACHERS, DISTRICT 14, SAYGER'S SCHOOL
Homer Ball, Bertha Bryant, Gladys Dawson, Lillian Dawson, Ethel Higgins, Blanche
Kesling, Pearl Kesling, Gladys Kindig, Cecil Kuhn, Ethel Kuhn, Nancy Jane Moore,
Orville Moore, William Moore, Nellie Noyer, Nellie Onstott, Fannie Robbins,
Jewell Smiley, Dayton Swihart, J. C. Swihart, Walter Swihart, Helen Waite.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August, 1969, No. 1, p 23]
SCHOOL BELL [Rochester Township]
The bell for the new Rochester township school building arrived today. It was
made at Hillsboro, O., and the purchase price was $50. The bell alone weighs 294
pounds and, with the attachments, weighs 450 pounds. The furnace for the
building is expected at any time.
[Rochester Sentinel, Monday, November 25, 1901]
SCHOOL DOOR CANTEEN [Rochester, Indiana]
Located NW corner of 7th and Jefferson [626 Jefferson], former K.K.K. lodge
bldg.
See Robbins Residence.
__________
SELECT NAME FOR NEW YOUTH CENTER
Mrs. A. C. Bradley, president of the Youth Canteen movement in Rochester,
announced today that the name selected from the many submitted for the new
recreation center is "School Door Canteen." Two high school girls
entered the prize winning name and each will receive a six months membership to
the youth center. The two entering the name "School Door Canteen" are
Camille Thompson and Lola Lang, both currently enrolled in Rochester high
school.
The committee to select a name met Sunday and drew all entries, definitely
deciding on two which were submitted to the student council for final choice.
[The News-Sentinel, Wednesday, March 8, 1944]
CANTEEN FORMAL OPENING TO BE HELD TUESDAY NIGHT
The formal opening of Rochester's School Door Canteen, which is located in the
old Robbins homestead, north of the Methodist church, will be held Tuesday
evening, April 11th, from seven to ten o'clock. Rochester residents and business
men are cordially invited to attend the opening.
After a few weeks of renovating and redecorating, the entire downstairs of this
spacious old home has been made most liveable and presenatble by the school
youngsters themselves. The canteen will be open three nights per week and on
Sunday afternoon from 2 to 5 o'clock. On Wednesday and Friday evenings the hours
will be from 7 to 10, and on Saturday evening the rooms will be open from 7 to
midnight.
Mrs. N. O. Nelson will be in charge of the canteen on the week-day evenings and
Mrs. Ted Olsen will supervise the play and activity on Sunday afternoons, it was
stated.
Included in the forms of recreation will be table tennis, various games and
contests of skill, juke box dancing and soft drinks and candies will be
available to the patrons.
The student council of the canteen is comprised of Fred Mitchell, chairman, Gene
Humphrey, "Bill" Myers, Nedra Zimmerman and Jane Ann Smith.
Officers for the canteen during the coming year are: President, Mrs. A. C.
Bradley; Directors, Bill Delaney, J. M. McCarty, A. V. Purdue, Mrs. L. V.
Louderback, Ed Clay, and J. Van Fassen.
[The News-Sentinel, Monday, April 10, 1944]
HOLDING CO. PURCHASES SCHOOL DOOR CANTEEN
The recently-formed School Door Canteen Holding Co., Inc, announced the purchase
of the School Door Canteen building and property from Martin W. Ivey, at a
stockholders' meeting held at the canteen Thursday evening.
It was disclosed that today 351 shares, par value of $10 each, had been taken by
various business firms and individuals who are acting as sponsors for the
canteen, which is located on the northwest corner of Jefferson and Seventh
streets. More shares are available to anyone who wishes to assist in this worthy
project and can be obtained at either of the local banks.
Officers Elected
Following a meeting of the board of directors officers were elected as follows:
Mrs. A. C. Bradley, president; Orvan Van Lue, vice-president; Hubert Taylor,
secretary and John Vernon, treasurer.
The board of directors is comprised of C. E. Gilger, Fred Fraser, Orvan Van Lue,
Hubert Taylor, Mrs. Ray Myers and Mrs. A. C. Bradley.
Following the business meeting refreshments were served.
Several improvements are being planned for both the bilding and grounds, it was
stated.
[The News-Sentinel, Friday, April 27, 1945]
SCHOOL EXAMINATION [Richland Township]
The Trustees of Richland Township [met] Saturday, the 5th inst.
Mr. Sturgeon called the meeting to order, and it was organized by the choice of
Mr. Wilson as President, and Messrs, Blodget and Ralstin as Vice Presidents. . .
.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 12, 1859]
Richland Township, Feb. 22d, 1862. . . . at the Center School House and Mount
Pleasant Church . . .
The exercises were opened by the following remarks from William Sturgeon, the
present Trustee: . . . .
. . . . on motion of Morris Blodgett, William Sturgeon was called to the chair,
and T. J. White, Secretary.
A committee of five was then appoointed by the chair, to report the further
order of the day. The committee consisted of William McElfresh, Morris Blodgett,
Peter P. Meredith, Moore Ralstin and John McElravy . . .
After dinner addresses by the Hon. Judge Miller, and Rev. N. L. Lord.
A private school being in attendance, on motion of J. E. Bonewitz, it was
admitted to a seat in the examination . . .
. . . Four was then called and appeared upon the state, with John W. Blodgett,
their teacher . . .
Number Five was then called . . . their accomplished teacher, Mr. J. E. Bonewitz
. . .
. . . eighth . . . teacher Miss Rachel P. Meredith . . . address by Mary Davis .
. .
The numbers being again called declamations were offered by R. N. Woodruff,
Davis and Ralstin . . . Number eight . . . teacher, Miss R. P. Meredith . . .
After comments by Morris Blodgett and the chair, the meeting adjourned. William
Sturgeon, Chairman. T. J. White, Sect.
[Rochester Mercury, Thursday, March 13, 1862]
SCHOOL TORN DOWN [Fulton County]
OLD SCHOOL HOUSE TORN DOWN -- WAS BUILT IN 1854
This week saw the passing of a historical landmark on the Anna KILER farm six
miles northeast of Rochester when one of the original old, "one room"
school houses, that was built before the Civil War was torn down. This school
was built in the then standing forest and was made of logs and has withstood the
ravages of time since it was erected in 1854.
Attention to the passing of the 75 year old landmark was brought to The
News-Sentinel by Donald CARLSON, young son of Mr. and Mrs. O. R. CARLSON of this
city, who was visiting relatives in the community and witnessed the tearing down
of the building. The boy in searching the premises for relics came upon
newspapers which were tacked to the walls and ceiling to help keep out the cold
winds from blowing through the cracks between the logs. The papers were yellow
and stiff with age, one being the Cincinnati Messenger printed in 1854, and the
other being a Rochester weekly printed in 1847, but the name could not be made
out.
Donald was particularly interested in the building as the log school was built
on the farm of his great-great-grandfather Wright. His great-great-grandparents,
George and Jane PERSCHBACHER, attended the school during their youthful days and
later Mr. Perschbacher was the teacher there for several terms.
Some of the logs were found to be black walnut and in an excellent state of
preservation. One old desk made of logs was also found and preserved. The school
had a dirt floor and the windows which were few in number were very small.
[The News-Sentinel, Thursday, July 11, 1929]
SCHOOLS CONDEMNED [Fulton County]
TWO COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE CONDEMNED BY WILLETTS
As the result of State Inspector Willetts' visit to this county, the two story
frame building at Tiosa has been condemned. The school building at Sand Hill, a
one room frame building was condemned 10 days ago.
The school building in the village of Tiosa is about 30 years old. It is not
modern and in the opinion of the inspector it is unsanitary. A new building will
have to be constructed. The building at Sand Hill has been constructed for years
but is in a fair state of repair. A brick structure will be erected to take its
place, probably during the coming summer.
[Rochester Sentinel, Wednesday, April 14, 1915]
SCHOOLS SOLD [Fulton County]
FIVE BUILDINGS SOLD
Five dismanteled school buildings, owned by the county, have been sold by
Trustee M. C. Reiter. The buildings were located at Green Oak, Prairie Union,
Ebenezer, Mud Sock and Toby.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, September 17, 1920]
FOUR ONE ROOM SCHOOLS SOLD BY TRUSTEE FOSTER
Four of the remaining one room schools in Rochester township were sold Saturday
afternoon by Trustee William Foster. The schools sold were the Orr, Oak Grove,
Antioch and the Sprinkleberg. The Screetch Owl school which was also advertised
for sale was not bid in. Rather than have the same re-appraised Trustee Foster
will wreck it and sell it for what he can get.
Abandoned schools under the law have to be appraised and cannot be sold at less
than two-thirds of their appraised value, which included the land on which they
stand or approximately a half acre in each instance. The Mt. Zion school is the
only one room school left in the township and it will be sold next year. The
pupils formerly taught in one room schools are receiving instructions in the
four consolidated schools in the four corners of the township.
Ralph Weber purchased the Orr school, which was appraised for $100, for $75.
Mrs. Conrad the Oak Grove school, which was appraised for $200, for $225. Tom
McMahan the Antioch school, which was appraised for $165, at $110 and Mrs. Ora
Stengle the Sprinkleberg school appraised at $200 to wreck the buildings for
$134. The purchasers all plan to use the material thus derived in other
structures.
[The News-Sentinel, Monday, August 8, 1927]
SCOTLAND SCHOOL [#6] [Union Township]
Located at E edge of Kewanna, S side of 250S at 850W.
Built before 1876
-Or- Located E side of 800W, at approximately 350S.
Built between 1876 and 1883.
-Or- Located approximately NE corner of 400S and 800W.
Built before 1876; abandoned between 1883 and 1907.
See: Leiter, Jeremiah
__________
SCHOOL DAYS AT PRAIRIE UNION, LUCERNE, KEWANNA,
SCOTLAND AND PRAIRIE GROVE
By Pearl Mutchler Hiland
Although a teacher's license could be had without more than high school if able
to pass written tests given by the County Superintendent, I took 12 weeks normal
school training. I received my first teacher's license, after a spring and
summer course at Rochester College, from Mr. Arthur Deamer, Fulton County
Superintendent.
The subjects were arithmetic, grammar, U. S. history, physiology, geography and
reading; also a grade was given in writing, based on the neatness and legibility
of the whole manuscript. Spelling or othography, as it was called on the
license, was based on a minus one for every misspelled word in the whole
examination. These grades were averaged and added to the grade in pedagogy and
personality given by the County Superintendent. These grades were averaged and
multiplied by 2 (I think) which would be one's daily pay. Anyway, mine came out
$2.10. I remember thinking as I walked home from my first day - "Happy Day!
I've earned $2.10! It's a shame to take the money for something I like to do so
well." Of course, there were other days when I felt I well earned the
money. But $2.00 would buy a lot of things in those days - 1906.
SCOTLAND SCHOOL
I was hired by John Gorsline, Union Township Trustee, to teach at the Scotland
School, one mile east and one and a half miles south of Kewanna. The very nice
group of children from good families were Alice and Florence McCay; Nellie,
Walter, and Maggie McCoy; Lucille Polen; Howard and Nettie Hickle; Frank, Arthur
and Edna Calvin; Bessie and Carl - stepchildren of Major Fuller.
An exciting thing - Nettie Hickle fainted but we had had a lesson in physiology
the week before that told what to do. I laid her on the double front seat, her
head hanging over the end, and told her brother to bring water from the bucket
in the vestibule to wet her head and face. She soon revived but remained quiet
for the rest of the day as there was no way to let her parents know.
There was one girl in the 8th grade and one in 2nd; no beginners and no 6th
graders. Sometimes those in 3rd and 4th could be combined for part of their
subjects.
The school building was on a plot of ground given by Mrs. Calvin's father - a
Mr. Toner (not Al) on the west side of the road. There were trees and the usual
toilets on the back of the plot, and not much playground. The boys sometimes
climbed the fence to play ball in the field. Water was carried from Calvin's,
the house nearest to the south. Walter McCoy was my janitor. He carried out the
ashes from the big coal-and-wood-burning stove that sat in the middle of the
room, swept the floor, carried in wood and kindling to make the fire in the
morning. I paid him 50 cents a week and he was glad to get it.
My second teacher's license was issued by Mr. John C. Werner, County
Superintendent. He was from Aubbeenaubbee Township, I think, or the community
north of Bruce Lake. This license was for 12 months. There were 6 months, 24 and
36 month licenses with corresponding pay. Few six months licenses were issued by
then (1906) but once school terms were only that long as boys were needed on the
farms in fall and spring.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 46, pp 40-41]
SCOTLAND SCHOOL
By Edna Calvin Comer:
Scotland School, District No. 6, was located between the William Calvin's and
Major Fuller's houses on the west side of county road 800W between 300S and
400S. This was a mile southeast of Kewanna.
The building was made of wood and was built in 1902 or 1903. My first grade
teacher was a woman, a Miss Harrington. Other teachers were Albie Patty, Edna
Talbott, Pearl Mutchler, Maggie and Walter Lamborn.
The school was nice on the inside - with a big round oak stove used for heating.
Often gypsies would stop and camp on the school grounds in the summertime. The
school yard was quite large.
Games they played were ante over, different ball games, and tag.
Some pupils who attended the school there were the McCoy children: Walter, Floyd
(Bud), Lela, Maggie and Nellie McCoy (Gordon); Hickles: Charles, Nettie, Simon
and Howard; Polens: Bill, Clint, Lucille (Vause), Raleigh, and George; Slicks:
Stella, Vida Slick McKinsey, Emma, Leslie and Jay; the Calvin children: Bertha,
John, Frank, Perry, Arthur, and Edna.
A big dinner brought in by the different families and a program by the pupils
was held at the end of the school term.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 46, p. 44]
__________
Samuel Barger [has charge of] Scotland.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 6, 1873]
SCREECH OWL SCHOOL [#13] [Rochester Township]
Located W side of 375W 350S.
Built between 1883 and 1907.
__________
Della Miller went to Rochester College and got a teacher's license. She
taught at Green Oak 1904-06 and at Union School south of Rochester 1906-08. . .
. She came back home the next year and taught at Screech Owl one-room school
west of Rochester for five years 1910-15.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 58, p. 28]
Teachers: Clara Hatfield, around 1886-88.
Cora Pownall, (Mrs. Finney), 1899-1900.
SELECT SCHOOL [Rochester, Indiana]
J. Mackey, A. M., will commence the Spring Term of his Select School on Monday,
March 7th. Teachers wishing to pursue their studies farther will do well to
attend Mr. Mackey's school. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, February 26, 1859]
Miss C. E. Dinsmoor will open a Select School Monday Sept 5th next in
Wallace's Hall.
Mr. L. D. Willard will open a Select School in this town at the Odd Fellows Hall
on Monday, August 29, 1859.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, August 13, 1859]
School Notice. Miss Mattie V. Ernsperger will open a Select School on Monday
September 5, 1859, in the room over I. W. Holeman's Drug Store . . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, August 27, 1859]
Miss Fairbank opened a Select School in Wallace's Hall, on Monday last . . .
Mrs. Gilbreth has opened a Select School for children in a room nearly opposite
the Mercury office . . .
[Rochester Mercury, Thursday, April 12, 1860]
Select School . . . Mill L. Fairbank will again open a select school in
Wallace's Hall, on Monday, the 13th day of August, 1860. Rochester, July 27,
1860.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, August 4, 1860]
Select School. Miss L. Fairbank will open a Select School in Wallace's Hall
in Rochester, on Monday, December 17th, 1860 . . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 15, 1860]
Select School . . . in the Odd Fellows Hall in Rochester . . . N. L. Lord.
[Rochester Mercury, Thursday, December 20, 1860]
We spent an hour one day last week in the Select School taught by Miss Lakin,
in the south part of the village. . . .
[Rochester Mercury, Thursday, June 6, 1861]
Select School. Miss M. M. Lakin and Miss J. Tinsley will open a Select School
on Wednesday, February 12, 1862, in th lower rooms of the Rochester Public
School Buildings.
[Rochester Mercury, Thursday, January 30, 1862]
Select School . . . Miss Jennie Tinsley opens a select school next Monday. .
. .
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, May 22, 1862]
Miss Jennie M. Tinsley would respectfully announce . . . that she will open a
Select School at the Public School Building, in Rochester, on Monday, September
8th, 1862 . . . Rochester, Aug 21, 1862.
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, August 21, 1862]
Select School . . . Mrs. E. T. Grover. Rochester, August 20, 1863.
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, August 20, 1863]
Select School. Miss C. E. Buesing will open a Select School in Dr. Mann's
Building (over Fromm's Store) . . . Rochester, Aug. 27, 1863.
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, August 27, 1863]
Our citizens will be pleased to learn that Mrs. E. F. Grover has decided to
open a Select School on Monday next, at the Public School building . . .
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, March 31, 1864]
Select School. Miss T. J. Barnett wishes to inform the citizens of Rochester
that her school for small scholars commences Monday, August 29th, at the Union
School House . . . Rochester, Aug 25th, 1864.
Select School. Mrs. E. F. Grover . . . will open a Select School at her
residence near Odd Fellows' Hall, on Monday, Sept 12th, to continue 9 weeks . .
.
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, August 25, 1864]
Select School . . . E. C. Udall. Rochester, March 9th.
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, March 9, 1865]
Notice. . . . I will open a select school at the school house in Rochester,
on Monday, the 7th day of August, 1865. . . Geo. W. Schilling. July 13, 1865.
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, July 13, 1865]
Select School. A second term of select school will be commenced by E. C.
Udall, from Vermont, at the School House, in Rochester, on the 28th of August,
1865. . . This may certify that Miss E. C. Udall is an experienced teacher . . .
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, July 27, 1865]
Select School. Mr. O. Henderson will open a select school on Monday March
12th in the school house . . .
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, March 8, 1866
Select School. Mrs. Irving will open a Select School in the primary
department at the school house in Rochester . . .
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, March 29, 1866]
Select School. I propose opening a select school in the School building in
Rochester, March 27th 1867. . . Angie Moore.
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, March 21, 1867]
Select School. Mrs. Irving. . . intends taking up a Select School in the
building on Main street, opposite John Shore's Grocery Store, commencing Monday,
April 15th 1867.
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, April 4, 1867]
Select School. The fourth term of the School taught at the Mammoth Building
will commence April 5th and continue eleven weeks . . . J. E. Hilton, Teacher.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, March 18, 1869]
Select School. The 4th Term of the school taught in the Mammoth building,
will commence April 5th, and continue eleven weeks . . . J. E. Hilton, Teacher.
[Rochester Standard, Thursday, March 25, 1869]
Select School. . . . The Fifth term of the Select School taught in the
Mammoth Building will commence August 30th, and continue eleven weeks. . . J. E.
Hilton, Teacher. Rochester, August 19.
[Rochester Standard, Thursday, August 12, 1869]
Miss J. E. Hilton will re-open school in one of the unoccupied rooms in the
Public School building, April 11th, and continue eleven weeks . . .
[Rochester Standard, Thursday, March 24, 1870]
Mr. T. C. Wood, of Crown Point, takes charge of the schools for the summer.
He comes recommended as a good teacher. The term will open on the 18th day of
April.
[Rochester Standard, Thursday, March 31, 1870]
Prof. C. T. Wood, of Crown Point, this State, 2will open a select school in
the Public School building in this place, on Sunday next. . .
[Rochester Standard, Thursday, April 14, 1870]
Select School . . . in the Union School Building, Rochester, commencing
September next. . . E. L. Yarlott, a graduate of Defiance (O.) College. . .
[Rochester City Times, Thursday, June 30, 1870]
Select School. . . Miss J. E. Hilton will re-open School August 29th, 1870,
in Odd Fellows Hall. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, August 19, 1870]
Select School. Miss J. E. Hilton will re-open a Select School, August 29th,
1870, in the Odd Fellows Hall. . .
[Rochester City Times, Thursday, August 27, 1870]
W. H. Green Will organize a class in English Grammar, Monday evening, March
13th. . . at the school house in this place . . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 11, 1871]
Miss Ella Rex teaches a class in vocal music, at the Seminary . . .
--- N. G. Hunter has organized a class in penmanship . . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, September 9, 1871]
Frank Haimbaugh will commence a ten weeks term of select school at Kewanna
next Monday. After that time he will act as Principal of the regular term at the
same place. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, August 24, 1878]
SHADY DELL SCHOOL [#4] [Wayne Township]
Located NE corner 1100W and 550S.
Built between 1876 and 1883.
__________
Miss Eva Baer, daughter of John U. and Sarah J. (Bockover) Baer, born in
Kewanna in 1883, graduated from common school in 1900, went to Rochester College
taking a six weeks course. She came to Liberty with one year of experience,
after teaching one year at Shady Dell School. The school term of which she
taught at Liberty for one year was from Sept. 30, 1901, to Mar. 21, 1902. She
then taught four years, at the District No. 10, the Feidner School and two years
at the Smally School (1904-1906), all one-room schools located in Wayne
Township. She married Verdie Lee (V.L.) Barker on April 11, 1906, and
discontinued teaching following their marriage.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 52, pp 56-57]
SHANGHAI SCHOOL [Aubbeenaubbee Township]
See Mt. Hope School.
SHEETS SCHOOL [Henry Township]
Also known as Fan School.
Located N side of 250S at approximately 760E.
Built before 1876; abandoned between 1876 and 1883.
School houses in the Sheets settlement are getting plenty. Three within a
mile and a half of each other. That must be a good neighborhood for children.
[Akron and Vicinity, Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, April 30, 1875]
Jacob Whittenberger, the school trustee of Henry township, has given notice
that he will let the contract for the building of a new brick school-house in
the Sheets neighborhood, on the 25th of this month. The building is to be one
story, 24 by 32 feet.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, May 21, 1875]
SHELLBARK SCHOOL [#3] [Newcastle Township]
Located NW corner 500E and 500N.
Built between 1876 and 1883.
__________
Marjorie Jones Bryant shared her recollections about Shellbark school:
"I started to school in the Shellbark school in 1901 (I think) and just
went until Spring when we moved from Grandpa Deamer's farm. The land for the
school, so they told me, was off the Farry farm. Ora Alspach Caslow told me that
Uncle George Deamer taught at Shellbark in 1898 and Maud King in 1899, then Mr.
Byers, my first teacher. Some of the families that attended Shellbark were the
Ellis children (Maggie, Clarence, Linas, Mary -- I believe there were more), Ora
and Clint Alspach, Henry Alspach, Charles Farry. Before 1901 there were Hal
Bybee, Maud Gordon, and I imagine, Frances Montgomery and the Walch children.
Esther Deamer also started there."
It is believed that Shellbark closed the spring of 1907. Mr. Norvannah M. (Pete)
Alber recalls that his family moved to Newcastle township that year and located
just across the field from Shellbark schoolhouse. If it had been open, they
would have attended there, but instead the students were carried by horsedrawn
hack to Talma.
Alber remembers that the Shellbark schoolhouse was later moved to another
location on the Farry farm to be used as a chicken house.
Shellbark school was located on the northwest corner of 500E and 500N. Shellbark
was built between 1876 and 1883 as it was absent from the 1876 Atlas but listed
in the 1883 Atlas.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 25, p. 8]
__________
School District No. 3, New Castle Township Report [shows 37 enrolled] . . .
"that we invite Mr. Shafer to teach for us next winter . . ."
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, March 13, 1873]
Miss Ella Barb will soon commence the winter term of school at the Shellbark
school house.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 10, 1877]
Miss Lillie Haimbaugh will soon commence the spring term of school, at
Shellbark school house.
[Rochester Independent, Saturday, March 23, 1878]
Miss Sarah Haimbaugh is teaching an extra good trm of school at Shellbark
school house, two miles west of this place.
[Bloomingsburg Items, Rochester Independent, Saturday, April 27, 1878]
Rev. Asa Bachelor, of Rochester, preached a splendid sermon at Shelbark
school house one mile and a half southwest of this place, last Sabbath a week.
[Bloomingsburg Items, Rochester Independent, Saturday, June 8, 1878]
SUGAR GROVE SCHOOL [Henry Township]
SIXTEEN SCHOOL [ - - - - - ]
Some of the winter schools in this section of the "moral vineyard"
have been taken for the winter. Miss Waugh has the "16" school; Miss
Huffman the Windfall, and Simon Bybee the Greenhill school. Your humble servant
will teach the "young idea how to shoot," at the brick school house in
District No. 7 just across the line in Marshall county. Jacob Martin who
attended the Rochester high school this fall, lwill teach at the Goodwin school
house in the same county.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 15, 1879]
SLICK SCHOOL [#10] [Union Township]
Also called Mt. Carmel School.
Located SW corner of 950W and 50S.
Built between 1876 and 1883; abandoned between 1883 and 1907.
SMALL POX SCHOOL [Aubbeenaubbee Township]
See Paw Paw School
SMALLEY SCHOOL [#8] [Wayne Township]
Located E side of 500W at 800S.
Built between 1883 and 1907.
Moved to Marshtown about 1913.
Burned 1921.
__________
R. W. Cox has charge at No. 8, and with the exception that the order was not
quite as good as it might have been, the school was in good condition. Rufus
instructs well.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, February 24, 1877]
Miss Eva Baer, daughter of John U. and Sarah J. (Bockover) Baer, born in
Kewanna in 1883, graduated from common school in 1900, went to Rochester College
taking a six weeks course. She came to Liberty with one year of experience,
after teaching one year at Shady Dell School. The school term of which she
taught at Liberty for one year was from Sept. 30, 1901, to Mar. 21, 1902. She
then taught four years, at the District No. 10, the Feidner School and two years
at the Smally School (1904-1906), all one-room schools located in Wayne
Township. She married Verdie Lee (V.L.) Barker on April 11, 1906, and
discontinued teaching following their marriage.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 52, pp 56-57]
Teachers: Willie Nickels
SMITH SCHOOL [Pulaski County]
We understand that a Farmers' Grange has been organized at the Smith School
House, three miles west of this place, and is already in successful running
order. Some 30 or 40 persons have already joined, and their numbers are
receiving daily accessions.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, September 18, 1873]
SOUTH GERMANY SCHOOL [#5] [Richland Township]
Located corner of 200W and 500N, across from Grand View Evangelical Church.
Built in 1880.
__________
[photo] This picture of South Germany or No. 5 school was taken in 1894. Row
1, seated from left to right: Clem Miller, Omer Mow, Charley Rhinesmith, Lee O.
Walters, Henry Altide, Clyde R. Walters. Row 2: Mary Easterday, Ola Wagoner,
Eunicde Easterday, Irvin Walters. Row 3: Della Wagoner, Esther Rhinesmith, Floyd
Mow, Charley Altide. Teacher: Charley Anderson. (Rev. Clyde Walters' photo]
[FCHS Quarterly No. 20, p. 15]
[photo] Germany School in Richland Township 1907. Row 1: George Myers, Vernie
Bowen (note the string to keep his new pocketwatch from getting lost), Walter
Kale, Mary Kale, Virgil Gilcrist, Alpha Overmyer, Nellie Kale, Ralph Ault. Row
2: Herman Ault, Nellie Overmyer, Grace Hassenplug, Ray Bowen, Maine Overmyer,
Dollie Kale, Howard Ault, Howard Overmyer, Alonzo Guise - teacher. Row 3: Ralph
Overmyer, Grace Crum, Gladys Harpster, Nannie Easterday, Louis Anderson, William
Overmyer. (Photo: Vernie Bowen)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 48, p. 4]
[photo] Germany School, 1908. Row 1: Alpha Overmyer, Byron Gilcrist, Byron
Hassenplug, Clarence Kuhn, Ethel Babcock, Esther Wagoner, Irene Easterday. Row
2: Vernie Bowen, George Myers, Howard Overmyer, Virgil Gilcrist, Ray Wagoner,
Nellie Kale, Mary Kale, Walter Kale. Row 3: Della Babcock, Alonzo Guise -
teacher, Grace Babcock, Dollie Kale, Earl Carter, Don Wagoner, William Overmyer.
(Photo: Vernie Bowen)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 48, p. 5]
__________
THE GERMAN COMMUNITY IN FULTON COUNTY
By Shirley Willard
A settlement of largely German people in the northwest part of Rochester
Township and across the Tippecanoe River in Richland Township contained a number
of schools, churches, and other sites named Germany. There was even a Germany
Bridge and Germany Telephone Exchange, and of course, Germany Station on the
Erie Railroad.
Germany School (District no. 5 in Richland Township) was called South Germany
School by some. It was located on the corner of 500N and 400W on the west side
of the road. Vernie Bowen wrote about it in FCHS Quarterly 48 and Rev. Clyde
Walters wrote about it in Quarterly 20.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 61, p. 3]
SOUTH GERMANY SCHOOL
By Rev. Clyde Walters:
This school was located two miles west from Grand View Church and Whippoorwill
school house, just north of the T road and just preceeding the turn of the road
west. It was on the west side of the road. The crumbled foundation now marks the
location, which is now grown over. A 10-acre lake is now in the low ground just
west of the school site. Most of the ground was farmed at that time except in a
real wet season. An attempt was made to drain this area some years ago and since
that time the low ground has sunk declaring a lake the year around.
Water was a precious item in those days at the school. It was carried from the
Johnson farm west of the school.
Miss Jenny Kiler from Tiosa taught two summer terms of school (about two months
in the summer). She boarded and roomed around among the school families. The
school was entirely supported by the school families.
The larger boys within the community usually came to school in the winter months
of December, January, and February, after the crops were harvested. Then they
quit school in spring again to get the crops out. Some of these boys caused a
problem, were hard to discipline. Very few of them finished seventh and eighth
grades. Those who did would begin in the winter where they left off in the
spring.
In the beginning of the morning classes, teacher Charley Anderson always began
the day with reading from the Bible some portion of Scripture and offering
prayer.
Other teachers were Alonzo Guise, Clarence Mow, Harold Weir, Dell Kessler, Rea
Fultz, Dean Mow, Otto Bueller, and Bessie Overmyer. South Germany school closed
in 1922 and the children went to Richland Center.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 20, p. 14]
REMINISCENCES OF FULTON COUNTY'S ONE-ROOM DISTRICT SCHOOLS:
Germany, District 11 and Dead Man's College
By Vernie Bowen
With great pride we can look back upon the one-room district school for the
important role it has had in the civic, social and economic progress of our
country. I count it a distinct privilege to have lived during a part of this
unique epoch of community, state and national growth and to have been involved
both as a pupil and as a teacher of the "one-room district school".
Its origin dates back to the log school house which our forefathers attended
during the pioneer days of our country. Soon after Indiana became a state, in
the year 1816, the legislature, acting upon constitutional authority, took the
initial steps in providing for the uniform system of education. Each township
was divided into school districts and authorized to provide for an elementary
school in one of them. As social, scientific, and industrial progress developed,
there became a greater demand for an expanded school program. To meet this
demand, it became necessary to consolidate school districts into larger units,
staffed by teachers who had extended their education into new fields of
learning. Thus began the gradual disappearing of the one-room schools.
Memory of my first experience with the "one-room district school"
takes me back to the Pleasant Hill School in Perry Township of Miami County,
Indiana. Here I, with three brothers and two sisters, all older than I, attended
during my first two years of school (1903-05). Henry Berger was the teacher. The
family moved in the spring of 1905 to a farm in Richland Township of Fulton
County, Indiana.
GERMANY SCHOOL (1905-11)
That fall my three brothers and I enrolled in the district school known as
Germany School in Richland Township. It was from this school that I, six years
later, received my elementary diploma and became eligible to enter high school.
It was my good fortune to have had during these six years, four very capable and
understanding teachers. As I remember it, Clarence Mow was my third grade
teacher (1905-06). Alonzo Guise was my teacher for the fourth and fifth grades
(1906-08), Harold Weir for the sixth and seventh grades (1908-10), and Lee
Beehler for the eighth grade (1910-11). The enrollment varied from 20 to 30
pupils whose ages ranged from six to sixteen. Occasionally there would be pupils
under six and one or more over sixteen.
The Germany building was a frame structure of the average size and shape, built
on a stone foundation, on the south side of approximately an acre lot. It was
situated on the inside corner formed by a right angle bend in the road (500N and
400W). Its length extended from north to south, contained just one room, and had
four windows on each of the east and west sides. The slate chalk boards, black
boards as they were called, extended across the north end of the building and
across a couple of the wall panels between the windows. A section of the floor
about seven or eight feet wide across the north end of the building was about
six inches above the rest of the floor. In the middle of this platform was the
teacher's desk and chair. Some book shelves were attached to the wall above the
east end. A folding map case was attached to the wall above the black board. The
building was heated by a woodburning stove, located on a zinc-covered stove mat
in the center of the room. There being no wood shed, the wood was corded along
the fence south of the building. It was carried in, as needed, by the teacher
and pupils. Other equipment, besides the stove with its slightly-bent poker
lying beneath, consisted of shelves for lunch pails along the south wall on each
side of the door, a few maps, a globe, a few books including a large dictionary,
a couple of pictures on the wall above the blackboard, and the school desks.
These were a combination type, seat and desk, all wood structure, and wide
enough to accommodate two pupils. Usually only one pupil was assigned to a desk;
only when the enrollment demanded was there more than one. The desks, varying in
size, were arranged in two rows on each side of the room facing the blackboard.
The one at the back of each row was a seat with no desk attached. At the front
of the double row of seats on one side of the room was a long seat (no desk)
which was often used to assemble a class for recitation.
The door, which was covered on the outside with flooring boards, was on the
south end of the building. In front of the door was a plank porch deck with one
step at the front and one at each end. During the fall of 1907 or 1908, a well
was driven south of the steps. Until then water was carried in a pail from the
nearest farm house, that of Albert Easterday, who lived about one-fourth of a
mile from the school. This was done by the older pupils, who were always glad to
do it, especially if they could do it on school time. The pail of water was kept
on a bench by the entrance. Hanging on the wall above the bench were a couple of
tin cups, a wash pan and a towel. Needless to say, the cups were used most.
Possibly the most distinguishing feature of the "one-room school
building" was the school bell. The one on the Germany School, like the one
on most of the one-room buildings, was housed in a cupola-like structure on top
of the entrance end of the building. It was manipulated by a rope extending down
through the ceiling. In the morning at about 8:30 the sound of this bell could
be heard at a distance of more than a mile away, signaling the approaching time
for school. The bell was rung again at 9:00, the time for school to start. It
was also rung at the end of each recess and noon periods to call the children
from the playground. The teacher usually rang the bell, but occasionally would
grant permission for a pupil to do it.
The school ground was bounded on the east and north sides by a road and on the
west and south be a field. The road really enlarged the area for play,
especially for soft ball. This, when the weather permitted, was the game we
enjoyed most, girls as well as boys. Usually those interested in playing were
divided into two groups by two, usually boys, alternately choosing sides.
However, sometimes no teams were chosen and each player was on his own. Starting
in the field he would work his way up to the bat by advancing one position on
each out. There were two in the batting position and the one making the out
would go to the field. Most of us liked this arrangement, for we would have the
chance to play each position and too, fewer players were needed. The ball was
hard, made by winding the thread of a raveled sock around a small solid rubber
ball, and then stitching it on the surface with cord or fish line. The bat was
made from a straight tree limb or a second-growth sapling.
Most of the boys had sleds, all hand made, and when there was sufficient snow,
spent most of the noon hour and recesses coasting on the hill in the road south
of the building, and on the playground which sloped diagonally from the building
to the northwest corner of the lot. The ride was lengthened by finishing on or
along the road. To give the sleds increased acceleration we often watered the
packed snow on the upper part of the slope. There was a pond in the field
adjacent to the school ground where we often spent the noon hour skating and
sliding on the ice. Inclement weather, which prevented outdoors activity,
created problems, especially for the teacher. Twenty-five or thirty children, of
varying ages, confined to a single school room for one hour, demanded some
special planning for an organized group activity in which pupils in the varied
age levels could and would participate. Blindfold tag, animal guessing,
Blackboard games, spelling and ciphering contests were a few of the activities.
The daily program was written on one of the blackboards at the side of the room.
Reading, arithmetic and history were the forenoon subjects: grammar, geography,
physiology, writing and spelling were the afternoon subjects. Subjects for the
first, second and third grades were confined to reading twice a day, writing,
spelling and arithmetic. With one teacher and this many subjects it was
necessary to have short recitation periods. These varied from five to fifteen
minutes, depending upon the subject and the number of pupils in the class, which
varied from one to five or six. The day began with some form of opening
exerciess: singing, story telling and Bible quotations were the most usual
forms. To save time and extend the recitation periods some class subjects
alternated during the week. The writing period, the same time for all classes,
was 10 to 15 minutes in length. The upper grades had practice books, called
"Copy Books", but for the lower grades, the teacher placed on the
blackboard the exercises and copies that they were to do.
I don't recall that any of my elementary teachers ever had any serious
disciplinary problems. They followed regulations, but set few rules; however,
they did insist on keeping busy and doing what was known to be right.
Infractions from this were given immediate attention. It was not infrequent to
see some pupil standing in front or in the corner of the room. Pupils also
disliked losing their play period or recess or noon. Too, we realized that the
old maxium of "Spare the rod and spoil the child" had not become
obsolete. I do look back with great respect to all my elementary teachers for
the good discipline that they maintained and for the respect for both people and
property that they instilled in the minds of their pupils.
The school term began each year on the first Monday in September and lasted
seven months with vacation days being Christmas to New Year's Day, Thanksgiving
and the day after. If for any reason any other day was missed, the time was made
up, either on Saturday or at the end of the school year. There were very few
days that I missed during the six years that I attended Germany School and very
few times that I did not walk the one and one-half miles to and from school.
Occasionally when it was extremely cold and the snow was deep and drifted, my
father would take us, my brothers and me, to school in the bob sled. He would
pick up all the other children along the way and come after us in the evening.
The last day of school was always an enjoyable occasion, with a carry-in dinner
at noon and a school program in the afternoon. Parents brought filled baskets of
food; they really knew how to prepare those pumpkin and cherry pies. Tables were
made by laying boards across the tops of the school desks. After the meal the
tables were cleared and the parents, children and a few guests assembled to
enjoy a program. The teacher tried to have every pupil involved in some way in
the program. At the close of the program, parents were called upon to voice
opinions in regard to the school term, as well as the activities of the day.
It was a rather well established custom for some of the parents, once a term, to
invite the teacher to their homes for the night. This had some merit, for it did
establish a good teacher-pupil-parent relationship, which helped solve a good
many problems before they developed.
To enter high school it was necessary not only to have completed all eight
grades of elementary school, but to pass an examination covering the subject
matter studied. Such an examination was held in each township, usually at the
high school building, soon after all of the schools were out. These examinations
were supervised by the township trustee, high school principal, or someone
appointed by the trustee. I remember distincly the day that I took this
examination. Nearly every teacher in Richand Township was there, for each had
pupils taking it. The teacher's presence tended to make his pupils feel more
confident and at ease. The manuscripts were graded by the county superintendent,
who then was J. C. Werner. The results of the exam were mailed directly to the
pupils taking it. I watched daily for the mail carrier, waiting anxiously for an
announcement of my grades. It was a great thrill to know that I had passed the
test and was then eligible to enter high school in the fall of 1911.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 48, pp 3-8]
__________
Otto Beehler taught at South Germany School before 1922, was principal at
Whippoorwill, then principal at Tiosa 1928 while his wife Bessie taught fourth
and fifth grades at Tiosa. Then Otto taught seventh grade at Columbia School in
Rochester 1928-40 and grade six at Lincoln School in Rochester 1928-40 and grade
six at Lincoln School 1940-43.
[Mary Rosella Beehler Reinhold, William Amel Sausaman, Fulton Co Folks, Vol. 2,
Willard.]
SOUTH LIBERTY SCHOOL [Liberty Township]
South Liberty Union School is again in a flourishing condition under the
management of J. W. McDougal. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, June 26, 1873]
Mr. M. Jakeway will teach the South Liberty school this winter.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, December 11, 1873]
The South Liberty school is in a flourishing condition. Mr. Jaqua knows how
to teach a good school. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, January, 29, 1874]
SOUTH MUD CREEK SCHOOL [Rochester Township]
Located NE side of 100N at approximately 450W.
Built between 1883 and 1907.
__________
[photo] South Mud Creek School, District no. 8, 1897. Front row: unknown,
Mellie Woodcox Ysberg, 4 unknown, Ray Woodcox, unknown, Ruth Mathias Castleman,
Ray Eddington. Row 2: teacher, Willie Kennel, Harl Woodcox, Mae Mathias Moore,
Sam Woodcox, Phila Kennel, Pearl Trickle, Minnie Mathias Marsh. Back row:
unknown, [ - - - - ] Crabill, Delno Crabill, 2 unknown, Charles Mathias. (Photo:
Ida Burwell)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 61, p. 59]
[photo] Minnie Mathias and Ora Marsh's wedding picture June 24, 1906. Minnie
taught at South Mud Creek School. She was born in 1881 and died in 1967. (Photo:
Agatha Marsh)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 61, p. 60]
__________
SOUTH MUD CREEK SCHOOL
South Mud Creek School, District no. 8, was a wood frame building on the north
side of county road 100N half way between 400S and 500S. It was built between
1883 and 1907 because it appears in the 1907 atlas but not in the 1883 atlas.
Teachers were Effie King, Minnie Mathias (Mrs. Ora Marsh), Anna Glick, Frieda
Gonce, Orville Moon, Wesley Mathias, Arthur Metzler, and Otto McMahan, who had a
two-wheel cart and horse which he drove to school.
Ida Moore Burwell's mother, Mae Mathias, graduated from Rochester Normal
University and taught at South Mud Creek School. Ida's uncle Earl Mathias took
German at Rochester Normal University and did not have to study because his
mother spoke German and the children all learned to converse in it at home.
Oren Mathias attended South Mud Creek School about 1907-09. He was too young to
attend school in 1907 because he was only five years old, but his brother Harry
would not stay at school but would run away and come home. So Oren attended
school to accompany his brother. There was a young woman teacher one fall who
could not handle the pupils; she quit after a couple of weeks. So the trustee
hired Otto McMahan to come teach and he had ORDER! Otto got a Model-T Ford to
drive to and from Germany (Burton) School.
There was a water pump in the yard. The school had a good-sized yard for the
kids to play in. They played ball games, fox and goose, and blackman. They used
to go sledding east of the school on a hill that sloped down to Mud Creek. With
ice on the hill you could sled "pert near" the creek!
Oren's father, William Mathias, lived a quarter mile north of the school.
Everybody walked to school.
Inside the school there was a shelf by the door for the lunch boxes and hooks
for the coats. There was a platform for the teacher's desk. The blackboard of
real slate was behind the teacher's desk. There were lanterns on the walls for
meetings held there at night. There were two wood-burning stoves, one toward the
front and one toward the back. A woodshed stood near the northwest corner of the
school. And of course, two out-houses were in the back. The school had a bell on
top.
On the last day of school the parents would carry in dinner and the pupils
would give a program.
After the school was closed it was moved 80 rods west and then north up a lane
20 rods to Mason Gothrup's farm. There it became a home. Harry Darnell remodeled
it in the 1950's by putting in a basement, adding a kitchen on the north, and
putting partitions in it. Melvin Murphy owns it now. It is on the north side of
100N half way between 400W and 500W, back a long lane.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 61, pp 58-60]
SOUTH MUD LAKE SCHOOL [Liberty Township]
See Lake School
SOUTH PIN HOOK DISTRICT [ - - - - - ]
Miss Bessie Sweet, who taught two very successful terms of school in the south
Pin-Hook district, is better qualifiying herself for the profession by availing
herself of the advantages of the Kewanna Normal.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, August 13, 1875]
SOUTH SCHOOL [Rochester, Indiana]
See Columbia School.
SPELLING SCHOOLS [Fulton County]
The Tidal Wave of Orthography Strikes Rochester. . . Two Spelling Matches at the
Court House. . .
It struck Rochester on Friday evening, March 12th. . . The members of the
Presbyterian church were the first to take active steps toward organizing a
spelling class. . . [many names listed].
The spelling contest at the court house Monday evening, was also well attended.
. .[many names listed]
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, March 19, 1875]
Spelling School No. 3 . . . last Saturday evening, under the auspices of the
Rochester Lyceum. . . [many names listed]
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, March 26, 1875]
Spelling School No. 5. . . Saturday Night, March 28. . . Col. K. G. Shryock,
umpire; Rev. R. D. Utter, pronouncer, Frank Ernsperger and Enoch Sturgeon,
captains . . .
The following . . . have been chosen from the out townships to spell for the
"belt:" [many names listed]
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, March 26, 1875]
Spelling School No. 5. . . at the court house last Saturday evening . . .
Erpsperger's Class: . . . .; Sturgeon's Class: . . . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, April 2, 1875]
Spelling School No. 4. . . arranged by the ladies of the Presbyterian church,
took place at the Court House, Friday evening, March 265h . . . Judge Keith,
Umpire; Rev. F. M. Elliott, pronouncer; Rev. A. V. House and Col. Shryock,
tallymen; W. J. Williams and T. J. McClary, captains. . . [many names listed]
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, April 2, 1875]
Spelling School No. 6. . . at the public school building, Wednesday evening,
March 31 . . E. E. Cowgill, umpire; W. J. Williams, propounder; and Revs. F. M.
Elliott and R. D. Utter, Judges. . . [many names listed]
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, April 9, 1875]
SPRINKLEBURG SCHOOL [#2] [Rochester Township]
Located N side of 50S at approximately 450E.
Built between 1876 and 1883.
__________
[photo] Sprinkleburg School, District 23, Rochester Township 1920-21. Front
row: Herbert Myers, Frances Sibert, Clarabelle Myers, Mary Edna Ducker, Florence
Ducker, Berniece Bick, Vernice Brunson, Richard Rogers, Geraldine Nelson,
Catherine Myers, Jessie Rogers, Alfreda Henning, Lee Becker, Porter Sibert. Back
Row: Walter Becker, Luroy Bick, Lois Shobe, Elma Myers, Mable Shobe, Lola Bick,
Estil Ginn - teacher. (Photo: Jessie Rogers Young)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 46, p. 3]
__________
SRINKLEBURG SCHOOL
By Jessie N. (Rogers) Young
Sprinkleburg School, District 23, was a one-room school that stood on the north
side of county road 50 South, about midway between 400 East and 500 East in
Rochester Township, Fulton County. I have been unable to find the exact date of
its construction, but it was back before the turn of the century, possibly about
1885.
At night, sometime before I started to school, a storm hit the area and crushed
the belfry and part of the roof, thus saving the students from injury. Until the
building was repaired, the students went to Mt. Zion school, which was roughly
two miles away; and, later they went to an improvised school in a house near
Lake Manitou.
The school building was constructed from medium red bricks and had brown trim
around the windows and doors. Heavy wire netting was attached securely over the
windows to protect the glass from flying balls and stones. The entrances
consisted of a double door with white panels at the front and a single one in
the rear of the oblong structure. Across the interior front of the building were
three small rooms; the middle one was the entrance area over which the belfry
stood and in which the bell rope hung. On either side were cloakrooms -- one for
the small children and the other for the older ones. Each cloakroom had a window
that looked out upon the narrow dirt road that was about 50 feet from the
building. In each cloakroom plain wooden shelves stood in one corner, and a
small mirror hung on the wall. As each student arrived in the mornings he placed
his lunch bucket on a shelf in his respective cloakroom, his coat and hat on a
wall hook, and his overshoes on the floor, except when the weather was extremely
cold. On those occasions, the lunch buckets were set along the wall near the
stove in the schoolroom to keep the food from freezing; and the students brought
their wraps in to warm them before they started to walk homeward.
There were entrances from each cloakroom into the schoolroom; and between those
doors, the blackboard stretched its stately panels as though it had absorbed the
knowledge of the three R's and held its mastery over the students. Over and
above it was Old Glory with 48 stars, and on either side were pictures for
decoration that had been bought with the income from a box social.
Just below the blackboard and in the center of the area between the doors there
was an almost-square platform on which the teacher's desk and chair and the
wastebasket stood, and there was space on the other side of the desk for the
students "to stand on the floor," when they misbehaved.
Between the venitian-blinded windows - four on each side of the room,
blackboards on which permanent schedules were written added an authoritative
atmosphere; for there was the program for each day of school - even including
the recess and noon hour breaks.
To the rear and in the northeast corner of the room hung an L-shaped cupboard
that served as the library. Inside, there were shelves that were filled with
reference books; and there was room for one teacher's paddle. Next to this
library and in front of the window in the rear end of the building there was a
built-in dictionary shelf, and on it was a large volume of Webster's Dictionary.
Whenever the students found unfamiliar words, they were required to make a list
on a piece of paper and to look up their meanings.
Then a few feet from there, the Round Oak stove did its best to heat the
schoolroom. The older boys carried in large chunks of wood from the barn-red
woodhouse that stood just behind the school and just out from the rear door. The
large chunks were piled along the back wall, and when it was extremely cold
outside - and inside - the students placed these cut-up logs on end around the
stove and sat on them while their classes recited. The other students doubled up
in the seats that were nearest to the stove; and, often they wore their heavy
coats to keep themselves a little warmer. In those days everyone wore
long-sleeved and long-legged underwear and other extra clothing along with
high-topped shoes and boots.
On the west wall and to the back of the room there was a series of maps of the
continents of the world. Each one of the "leaves" in the map case was
heavy and separated as leaves in a book. On stormy days the students had fun
when someone called the names of cities or countries for them to find. Of
course, everyone tried to locate the places before his peers could find them; it
was just another challenge.
In the east and west walls next to the floor were register grates, the last
remains of a heating system that did not prove successful. Some of them had
shutters on the backs that kept out the cold and mice that came from under the
building, but the others were like conductors of cold from the North and open
gateways for the rodents.
That caused another hazard for some of the students who were afraid of mice, for
the boys would torment them whenever they could. One boy put a dead mouse down a
girl's neck, scaring her almost into hysterics when she realized what he had
done.
From the west to the east side of the schoolroom, about six rows of desks and
seats ran parallel with each other and faced the front of the room. The small
units were on the west side and gradually became larger as they were placed side
by side towward the east. All of the rows had a seat on the first desk, since
each piece was a desk and a seat; and, putting one behind the other, these units
made places for the students to sit and study. The teachers used these front
seats in two ways - for class recitation and for punishment. It was just as
painful "to sit on the front seat" as it was "to stand on the
floor."
Outside of the building to the back of the schoolyard and on the right and left
of the woodshed were the outside toilets for the girls and boys, respectively.
They were oldfashioned, barn-red, pit-type toilets; and when the regular roll of
toilet paper was used there was none in reserve the students used paper from the
wastebasket or catalogue paper from home, hiding a spare reserve in cracks and
between the sheathing and the shingles of the roof.
The well was a few feet from the east side of the school building; and we pumped
our drinking water from it, using the same tincup for all of us. In the winter
the teacher heated snow in a bucket when it was necessary to thaw out the pump;
for there were times when the water "was not let down" before leaving
the school at night.
Around the building and scattered over the grounds were large trees, and a few
of them are still standing. In that setting the old schoolhouse had a restful,
beautiful aura that made one cherish it as a part of himself. The playgrounds
around the schoolhouse seemed to have a natural division. The large area east of
the building was the "athletic area" where the boys played baseball
and basketball, and the smaller areas served as places to play
"Blackman;" "Tag;" "Motion;" "Run, Sheepy,
Run;" and many other games for girls and small children.
As a rule along in October the school put on a box social with a cakewalk and a
fish pond; and that brought in money with which something could be bought for
everyone's enjoyment. Once the teacher bought framed pictures to decorate the
walls and later he bought a phonograph and records.
Sprinkleburg was one of many one-room schools that were scattered over the
countryside, and each one was identified by a name and a district number. One
teacher taught all eight grades, acted as janitor, "refereed" the
playground fights to maintain safety, patched up scratches, and solved the
problems of discipline. The most common methods were using "applied
action" with a whip or a paddle, making the offenders stay after school to
write an assigned sentence numerous times to drive home the point in question,
making the offender "sit on the front seat" or to "stand on the
floor" at the front of the room.
In the beginning of my attendance at Sprinkleburg, the teachers had difficulties
in getting to the school, as did the students. Some of them lived in Rochester
or in distant areas too far to walk; and they either had to board and room in
the neighborhood or to drive a horse and buggy - that is, until the Model T's
helped out. One teacher rented a stall in a neighbor's barn that was near the
school, and the boy from that family took care of the norse morning and night.
This young woman's horse was a former racer, and when it was hitched to the
buggy it was plain to see that it still had plenty of speed. Some oberrvers
thought that it was "running away," as the saying went.
Some of the older students - both girls and boys - vied for the teacher's good
will by carrying in wood, by tending the stove, and by sweeping the floor at
recess. How much it changed the normal situation is not known, but the efforts
were sometimes obvious.
In those days the beginning teachers were about four years older than the oldest
students. A short summer course in a nearby college after their own graduation
from high school was the only requirement for permission to teach the following
fall. Naturally the students were constantly trying to see how far they could go
and get by with their mischief, and finally it became a real problem. The women
teachers were unable physically to handle the older boys who were bigger than
they were, and gradually things got out of hand. Fights occurred often, windows
were broken, some of the students were constantly taunted by their peers, and
for them school was torture.
That, however, came to a screeching halt in 1919 when the school got its
first-for-a-long-time man teacher. This young man had taught in a larger school
before his services in the Navy during World War I, and his methods put the fear
of the consequences into the minds of the offending students.
At the beginning, he outlined his plan of discipline, brought a paddle with a
hole in it to school, promised to use it one anyone - a girl or a boy if that
person disobeyed him, and set up a code of behavior that brought the student
body into a well-behaved bunch of kids. As I recall, the paddle lay on the shelf
all year without use.
Of course this teacher had a special ability in relating his experiences in the
Navy. Besides having an impressive physique of his own, he told about the
physical training techniques which made supermen out of his peers wherein they
could snap a leather belt in two by putting it around their chests and taking
deep breaths. Other stories about his experiences subdued the "problem
kids" until they were afraid to dare him, for with all of the warnings they
knew that they would lose. Besides, the beholed paddle was a real threat to the
seats of their pants!
Following this teacher, a slightly older man who had several years' experience
and a reputation for "keeping order" came to Sprinkleburg. His
approach was different, but he was firm in his command and able to deliver the
consequences if anyone disobeyed him. A few demonstrations kept things in good
order after they learned their limit, and going to school was becoming an
enjoyable experience for the taunted ones of former years.
For the last two years of my grade schooling, another young man began his
teaching career. He was almost as young as the older students, but he had a way
of his own to handle the problems, as a rule without physical combat. Only once
do I remember his use of switches to correct the ways of some naughty boys;
otherwise, he made the students want to be good and congenial with each other.
All was well, and I cried when school was out in the spring of 1923, for I
realized that my grade-school days were over and that I faced a different type
of school and another chapter in my life.
One of the most dreaded experiences for everyone, including the teachers, were
the Red Cross nurse's unannounced visits. Upon her arrival, we knew that we were
doomed to remove our shoes and to reveal the holes in our stockings and socks;
and there was no fun in standing before our peers to undergo the routine height
and weight taking, to have our eyes, ears, and tonsils examined, and to have our
hair parted with toothpicks in a search for lice. Besides all of this, she made
a decree that the windows should be down at the tops to give good ventilation
even when it was cold outside and when we had enough trouble to be comfortable
without open windows.
It so happened that this one particular nurse had several undesirable habits and
attitudes, as far as the kids and the teacher were concerned; and we had been
prompted to alert the teacher if any of us saw her sneak in in her Model T
coupe.
I shall never forget the day when she did just that. Every hand went up, and
fingersnapping filled the air.The Red Cross nurse had arrived! The windows were
closed, and everyone was as snug as the proverbial bug in the rug.
The teacher's first thought was to get the windows down, but he did not realize
that his stove-pokered jerks on them would make telltale noises as they opened.
By the time that the nurse entered the schoolroom with her equipment, the
"fresh air" was chilling everyone into a shiver, but that was not all
that was cold. She drew herself up to all of her "official dignity"
and said, "Mr. -----, I want to compliment you on your fresh-air
school." The ventilation had come too late, and we felt sorry for the
teacher.
The school enrollment varied from 12 to 23 students while I attended there;
sometimes, there were no students for some of the grades, or there was only one
student for a whole grade. Families moved into and out of the area each year,
for they were constantly renting or buying farms, as they became available. This
situation and the fact that no pictures of the groups were taken during three
terms of my eight years have made it impossible to remember the names of
everyone who attended there, and I regret that I did not get a picture of one of
my teachers.
I asked about the ones who had taught at Sprinkleburg previous to my attendance
there. My sources of information are very limited and may not be correct, for
there are so few people living who had contact with the school previous to my
going there. Also, the memories of the ones to whom I talked are not as fresh as
they were years ago. Clyde Bick Sr. is 90 years old and was a former student
there in 1891. He and his wife are the sole survivors of the parents whose
children went to that school when I did. Mr. Bick gave me the names of some of
the early teachers, and they are: Stella Keel; the Sibert girls whose surviving
relatives do not know which ones -- Irma, Leona, or Susan -- taught there; Doc
Doublas; and Milton Whittenberger.
Mrs. Arthur Shore (Reba Moore) was a former student and teacher in the early
part of the century; and she said that Ezra Jones was a teacher, also.
In 1913, my parents and I moved into the Sprinkleburg neighborhood; and my
mother was acquainted with Fred Deardorff who was teaching at the school in 1913
or 1914. I was not old enough to go to school yet, but Mr. Deardorff invited me
to the Christmas program and gave me some candy and an orange. His sister Ethel
took me with her, and my "first day of school" was an exciting
experience that I never forgot. I can see myself yet, as I tiptoed down the
aisle to a seat, lest I make a disturging sound. Yes, my mother had instructed
me to be quite; and I did my best to obey.
After I started to school, teachers were the Misses Alice McClurg, 1915-16; Alta
Sayger, 1916-18; Mildred Neerman, 1918-19; Ralph Hoffman, 1919-20; Estil Ginn,
1920-21; Fred Van Duyne, 1921-23; and Scott Savage 1923-26. This finished the
list of teachers from approximately 1885 to 1926 when the old school was closed
to open no more. Shortly after the closing, the building was razed; and the
materials were hauled away for the construction of a house in another community.
Now, only a few trees mark the site, but those who went there know that
Sprinkleburg, District 23, once stood, with all of its beauty and grandeur, in
the midst of them. Even yet, it seems that a part of me still lingers at the
spot where the old schoolhouse stood.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 46, pp 3-9]
__________
SPRINKLEBURG SCHOOL TEACHERS
By Reba Moore Shore
Reba Moore Shore compiled the following list of teachers at Sprinkleburg School:
Marion Fultz 1897-98, Ezra Jones, 1898-01, Stella King (later Mrs. Cross, Dr.
Milo King's sister) 1901-02, Fred Richardson 1902-03, Stanley Stinson (cousin of
Dr. Dean Stinson) 1905-06, Fred Deardorff 1906-07, James R. Moore 1907-10, Helen
Levi 1910-11, Reba Moore (later Mrs. A. B. Shore, sister to James, Levi P. and
Robert P. Moore) 1911-13, Fred Deardorff 1913-14.
Miss Josie Davidson's school closed last Wednesday. She taught the school in
district number two, which now has an enumeration of 31 male and 21 female
scholars. Her wages for teaching this number of children four months - $50.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, July 22, 1871]
Miss Mabel McQuern is to "swing the birch" in the Sprinkleburg school.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, April 9, 1874]
Lime Brackett is to teach our winter school.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, October 29, 1874]
Miss Mabel McQuern taught A. F. Bowers' school last week while he was
"courting."
[Sprinkleburg items, Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, January 22, 1875]
Miss Jo Davidson is elected to teach our summer school. An application from
Miss Ella Wilhelm came one day too late. Miss W. is a fine scholar, and has a
splendid reputation as a teacher.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, March 26, 1875]
The Manitou Debating Society has been resurrected, and, on each successive
Saturday night, our echoing hills and dales resound with the thunders of wind,
wit and wisdom.
Last Saturday night Sprinkleburg elected a teacher for the winter school. There
were five applicants for the position, each of whom had warm friends to battle
for them, but, after considerable "wire-pulling," Miss Sarah McMahan
proved to be the lucky man, receiving 14 of the 20 votes that were cast. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, November 5, 1875]
Sprinkleburg is organizing a literary society.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, February 4, 1876]
The Sprinkleburg literary society meets on Tuesday night. Ellsworth, on
Friday night.
"Resolved that man hath immortality here on earth," is what engages
the Mt. Zion debaters just now.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, March 3, 1876]
A large flake of plastering broke from the ceiling in the Sprinkleburg
school-house, a few nights ago, and fell on Mrs. Newton McQuern and her young
babe who happened to be sitting directly under it. The child luckily escaped
injury, and the only result was a big scare and a Sunday-go-to-meeting bonnet
knocked all to smash.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, March 3, 1876]
Miss Ella Willhelm, the teacher of the Sprinkleburg school, has been
seriously ill for several ldays past and but faint hopes are entertained of her
recovery. Miss Mabe McQuern has taken charge of her school.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, July 14, 1876]
Miss Ella Wilhelm is convalescent and intends to complete her term of school
teaching which lacks one week of completion.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, July 29, 1876]
Miss Sarah McMahan will swing the birch in the Sprinkleburg school next
winter.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, October 27, 1876]
There was quite a pleasant singing at Sprinkleburg school-house last Sunday
evening. There will be another one next Sunday evening.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, November 31, 1876]
The brick work of the Sprinkleburg school-house is completed. The work
reflects credit on the contractor.
[Rochester, Union-Spy, Friday, October 19, 1877]
Jennie Kofel teaches the summer school in Sprinkleburg. Mabel McQuern teaches
the Home district.
[Rochester Union Spy, Friday, March 29, 1878]
Rev. S. F. Hershey has been engaged to preach at Sprinkleb'g school house. .
.
Miss Mary Sperry will teach the Sprinkleburg school this winter, A. F. Bowers at
Union, and Curg Rannells at Mt. Zion.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, November 15, 1878]
A few more vigorous prosecutions will teach boys and shallow-minded men that
they cannot disturb public meetings without paying the penalties therefor. This
week Bruce Moore had the pleasure of paying $17.75 for his bad conduct at the
Sprinkleburg Literary Society. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 15, 1879]
Teachers: Fred Van Duyne, 1921-25
STANLEY SCHOOL [#11] [Liberty Township]
Located N side of 500S at approximately between 150W and 200W.
Built between 1876 and 1883.
__________
[photo] An old fashioned schoolma'rm looked like this. This is Ella New, who
taught at Frear's school, Reed's school and District No. 11 school. (Photo:
Donna Williams.)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 21, p. 14]
[photo] District No. 11 school 1915-16. Row 1: Victoria Cunningham, Ila
Sutton, Olive Baker,Kenny [Abbott], Harold Abbott. Row 2: Frank Sutton, Gerald
Cunningham, Darwin Baker, Harry Sutton, Marcelle Cunningham, Carrie Easterday,
Dorothy Cunningham. Row 3: Wayne Sutton, Arthur Abbott, Ed Easterday, Tom
Abbott, Harry Vanice, Vernie Bowen - teacher (his first year). (Photo: Vernie
Bowen)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 21, p. 16, also FCHS Quarterly No. 48, p. 9]
[photo] District No. 11 school about 1887. Only four people have been
identified. The third man from the left is Dora Collins. Back row: unknown,
Betsy Mars Pepper, Minta Wildermuth Enyart, and Rinda Collins Oliver (born
1869). (Photl: Mrs. Ralph Shelton).
[FCHS Quarterly No. 21, p. 17]
[photo] 1949 reunion of District No. 11 school at French Severns' home
brought together these former pupils. Row 1: unknown, Bertha Carter Willard,
unknown, unknown, Minty Wildermuth Enyart, Elnora Fry Arven, Bertha Kochenderfer
Clemons, Betsy Mars Pepper. Row 2: Omer Rouch, Wayne Sutton, Frank Sutton, Floyd
Wildermuth, Donna Marsh Eytcheson, Gail Charles Brown, unknown, unknown, Lonnie
Leavell, Garry Apt. Row 3: Herschel Clemons, G. Cunningham, Arthur Abbott,
Eugene Gordon, John Gordon, Frank Gordon, William Abbott, Cecil Greene. (Photo:
Eugene Gordon).
[FCHS Quarterly No. 21, p. 18]
DISTRICT 11 SCHOOL
By Lois Wagoner and Shirley Willard
District No. 11 school was located on the north side of road 500S about two
miles west of state road 25. It was bult between 1876 and 1883, and was also
known as the Stanley school because it was close to the Stanley home. It was a
brick building.
Helen Willard Morris has the autograph book which belonged to her grandmother,
Bartha Carter Willard, and was a birthday present Nov. 21, 1894. Bertha attended
District 11 school and many of the autographs are by her schoolmates: F. J.
Goss, Gireth Green, Pearl L. DeWeese, Norah Fry, Bertha Carson, Bertha Graham,
John Chambers, Mona Staley, Maudie Taylor, Pearl Trickle, and two teachers: 1894
W. T. H. (probably Will Hanson) and 1895 Edwin Allen.
Edwin Allen wrote this autograph: "Oct. 9, 1895. Bertha, so live that each
low descending sun Find some worthy action done. Your teacher, Edwin
Allen."
Autographs range from silly to religious. Nellie Shelton, Green Oak wrote:
"Nov. 25, 1895. Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ rest and abide
with you ever and forever. Amen."
An unsigned autograph: "Eye, ear and tongue; Guard well these busy three;
for alas, they can unruly members be. I'll bet you $4.73 you can't guess who
wrote this. It's yer feller."
D. W. Tellers of Akron drew a pretty design of hearts centered by D.T. + B.C.,
June 14, 1897.
Stella (no last name given) wrote this cute poem June 6, 1895: "Remember me
well in mind, That a jolly young man is hard to find, And if you find one jolly
and gay, Hang to his coat tail night and day. If your hold would start to slip,
Grab another and let it rip."
F. J. Goss wrote: "School House No. 11, Jan. 3, 1894. May your life be like
arithmetic, pleasures added, sorrows subtracted, joys multiplied, and cares
divided."
Some shy character who signed his initials W.S. wrote: "Oct. 20, 1895. Some
girls are sweet, Some girls are bitter, Don't squeeze a girl, If her clothes
don't fitter."
Noah Gottschalk wrote: "Nov. 8, 1895. A man of words, And not of deeds, Is
like a garden, Full of weeds."
Mona Staley wrote: "Oct. 9, 1895 Long may you live, Happy may you be,
Sitting on the wood cord, Drinking pepper tea." Across the corners of the
page she wrote "Forget me not" and "Remember your
schoolmate."
Gireth Green wrote: "Jan. 7, 1896. Dear Friend Bertha, I love you in my
heart, I love you in my liver. If I had you in my mouth, I would spit you in the
river. Compliments of your schoolmate."
Gerreth Apt wrote: "When you get old and cannot see, Put on your specs and
think of me."
Bessie Gregory wrote: "Feb. 8, 1895. The taller the tree, The thinner the
bark, The prettier the girl, The harder to spark."
Elmer Rouch, Rochester, wrote: "Sept. 9, 1895. Friend Bertha, Crackers are
dry and so is cheese. So is a kiss without a squeeze." And he signed his
name "Mr. Elmer Rouch."
Other autographs were written by Miss Nellie Miller, Clara Townsend, A. E.
Hoffman of Rochester, Mrs. Elisha Jones and Bertha's cousins Harold and Russell
of Dayton, Ohio; John A. Calentine of Wagoner (RR station and post office north
of Macy), W. E. and Sam and Doc and E H Trickle of Bearss (a post office near
Reiter school in Rochester Township), Nellie Vanblaricom of Rochester, Sarah E.
Shriver, Mary Carson of Fulton, F. Felts, Harry Knowland of Manchester, Tenn.;
Dora Wines of Macy, Catherine and Mattie F. Newcomb of Green Oak, John Gracive,
William and Mrs. Hartgrow of Green Oak, Ethel Martin of Rochester, Art Stevens
of Bearss, cousin Carrie Carter from Gordon, Neb.; Wilson Orley of Sid Conger
(another name for Sugar Grove, which had a school and post office south of
Athens), Berton Apt, Hoddred Bonham of Fulton, Bessie Gregory of Fulton, Virgil
Edminister, Grace McIntire of Bearss, Edward Stevens, Ella Eber, Effie Green,
Charlie Nellans of Bearss, Ollie C. Aden, Dorotha Pontious, Maud Green of
Fulton, Eugene Gordon, Lona Henderson, Mattie Chambers of Walnut, Ind.
Teachers at District 11 school were Betsy Mars Peppers, Ed Allen, John Kent,
Elmer Hanson, Will Hanson, Edgar Rans, Ethel Martin Rish, Emma Van Buskirk,
Mattie Chambers, Ella New, Mary Stevens, Mabel Easterday Reed, Thomas E. Reed,
Ollie Trout, Vernie Bowen, and Gail Oliver Shelton. Mary Stevens taught her
first year when she was only 16 years old.
Vernie Bowen, whose son is Governor of Indiana now, wrote in his Bowen Family
story in Fulton County Folks Vol. 1: :I attended Valparaiso University the
summer of 1915 and taught my first term of school the following winter (1915-16)
at the one-room school known as District No. 11 in Liberty Township. I had 18
pupils and all eight grades. George Black was the trustee. I received $2.25 per
day plus 10 cents per day for doing my own janitor work. The length of the
school year was seven months. I had room and board for $2 per week of five days
with Mr. and Mrs. Dave Staley, who lived just across the road from the school.
Each Monday morning I either drove a horse and buggy or rode my bicycle the
distance of 20 miles (from his parents' home in Richland Township). On cold
mornings it was necessary to be there in time to warm the building with the old
wood-burning stove by eight o'clock. This was a memorable year in my life.
Teaching and meeting my own responsibilities presented many new challenges,
which I must accept and dared not fail."
Pupils were Dorothy Bramblett Johnson, Albert Headley, Rosie Headley, Bertha
Clemans, Al Trickle, Will Trickle, Doc Trickle, Ed Trickle, Pearl Trickle
Essick, Sam Trickle, Ed Tetzlaff, Nora Fry Arven, Myrtle Fry Stetson, Vernie Fry
Goodner, Ida Tetzlaff Kline, Mike Terrell, Mabel Mason Terrell, Donna Marsh
Eytcheson, Ed Easterday, Fred Easterday, Paul Wheadon, Mary Wheadon Townson,
Fanny Krathwohl Sturgeon, Pearl Krathwohl Graham, Ruth Krathwohl, Edith Thompson
Wilson, Walter Weiss, Margaret Green Osgood, Cecil Green, Lillie Green, Girth
Green, Effie Green, Eddie Ulch, Estella Zimbo Stevens.
Also Nona Reed Minter, Mary Carson, Bertha Carter Willard, Zelpha Stevens Petty,
Stella Stevens, Art Leavell, Lon Leavell, Omer Rouch, Vuel Rouch, Nancy Jackson,
Urbin Jackson, Otis Jackson, Luther Jackson, Clarence Jackson, Russel Trout,
Murrel Trout, Victoria Cunningham, Gerald Cunningham, Marcelle Cunningham,
Dorothy Cunningham, Illie Sutton Becker, Frank Sutton, Wayne Sutton, Harry
Sutton, Jesse Sutton, Harry Vanice, Tom Abbott, Arthur Abbott, Harold Abbott,
Carrie Easterday Siders, Oliver Baker, Darwin Baker, Ruth Marsh Leavell.
This is from a 1907 District No. 11 school souvenir belonging to Thelma Reed
Johnston. Her father, Thomas E. Reed, was the teacher. Pupils were Minnie Reed,
Russel Trout, Otis Jackson, Eddie Easterday - first year; Zilpha Reed, Edith
Thompson, Ada Marsh, Luther Jackson - second year; Marion Marsh Jewel Olson -
third year; Freddie Easterday, Alice Abbott, Carrie Olson, Floyd Marsh, Johnny
Tyrell - fifth year; Clara Olson, Ruth Marsh - seventh year; William Abbott -
eighth year.
At an auction held Dec. 27, 1926, C. D. Overmyer bought the old school building
for $51.
This report was taken from the memorabilia of Mr. and Mrs. Gene Gordan and their
daughter, Mrs. Donna Williams. A 1949 Sentinel story by Phillis Onstott tells of
a reunion of pupils and teachers of old No. 11, which was held at French
Severns' home on the Elmer Apt farm west of the school.
"Nothing occupies quite the same place in a person's heart as his memories
of former school days. Proof of this was found in the reunion of old No. 11
school last Sunday at the home of Mr. and Mrs. French Severns. Over 100 people
from all over the US. met to reminisce about the good old days.
"Following a basket dinner, the group settled down to discuss the events of
the past years.
"The wrinkles and graying hair seemed to drop away with the tales of
childhood excapades.
"Many of the older pupils remembered a merry-go-round that was made of logs
floated for a mile down the nearby ditch. All the boys remembered how they
locked or smoked the teachers out of the school house until they were promised a
treat at Christmas. The teachers, although they protested loudly, really didn't
mind this bit of horseplay on the part of the youngsters.
"Fights were a popular recreation of the recess hour. Many times the boys,
and sometimes even a few girls would file back into the class room with torn
clothing, missing teeth or swelling eyes. When they weren't scuffling, the
energetic boys and girls built play houses in the nearby woods which were to
last for the entire school year.
"The water bucket with its tin dipper occupied a prominent place on a
wooden bench at the rear of the room. This was often times the meeting place of
the restless for note passing or hurried conversations.
"Persuading the teacher to join the games called for great diplomacy. The
larger boys would fill the woodbox, fire the stove and the girls straighten the
room if the teacher promised to play Fox and Goose with them at recess.
"Four members of one class were still living in 1949, all over 80 years of
age. Present were Mrs. Rinda Collins Oliver, Mrs. Minta Wildermouth Enyart of
Fulton and Mrs. Mary Black of Rochester. Mrs. Jane Hoover was not able to
attend. Teachers present were Mrs. Betsy Mars Pepper, past 80 years old, Mrs.
Ethel Martin Bish, Mrs. Mable Easterday Reed of Fulton, William Hanson of Peru
and Mrs. Gail Oliver Shelton of Rochester.
"Letters were read from former pupils in Washington, Missouri, Michigan,
Illinois, Colorado and Indiana.
"Herschel Clemans of Hopeville, Ga., came the farthest distance, Gerald
Cunningham of Ft. Wayne was the youngest pupil, and Mrs. Mary Black was the
eldest present.
"Those attending were Mr. and Mrs. William J. Leiter, Flora; Mr. and Mrs.
Bert Stevens, Mr. and Mrs. Loyd Werner, Lon Leavell, Mrs. Zilpha Petty all of
Peru; Frank and Wayne Sutton and families of Lucerne; Mrs. Estella Zimbro, Mrs.
May Perkins, Mrs. Hazel Lane and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Miller all of South Bend;
William Abbott and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Eytcheson, Mrs. Zilpha Poorman,
Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Reed, all of Fulton; Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Green of Gary; Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Brown of Macy; Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Cunningham of Ft. Wayne; Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Goss of Plymouth.
"Attending from Rochester were Mrs Bertha Carter Willard, Mrs. Nellie
Stevens Babcock, Mr. and Mrs. John Gordon, Mr. and Mrs. Gene Gordon and son, Mr.
and Mrs. Frank Gordon, Mr. and Mrs Omar Rouch, Mr. and Mrs. Cecil McCroskey, Mr.
and Mrs. Marion Murden, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Baggerly, Mr. and Mrs. Floyd
Wildermouth, Mr. and Mrs.Wilson Trout, Mrs. Bertha Clemans, Dee Clemans and son,
Mrs. Nona Reed Minter, Mrs. Vernie Fry Goodner, Mrs. Myrtle Fry Stetson, Gerry
Apt, Ed Tetzlaff and Mr. and Mrs. French Severns and twin daughters."
They continued holding reunions at the city park in Rochester. In 1949 Mrs.
Clarence (Mabel Easterday) Reed was elected president with Mrs. Paul (Illie
Sutton) Neff as secretary-treasurer.
In 1950, with 80 in attendance, they enjoyed a delicious dinner with Rev. Lyman
Goss, from Clarkston, Washington, a former student, offering prayer.
In 1951, sixty were in attendance and enjoyed another wonderful day. William
Abbott was elected president and Gerald Cunningham secretary-treasurer. 1951 saw
the same officers presiding and about 50 in attendance.
1953. Wayne Sutton was elected president and Mrs. Clarence Reed
secretary-treasurer. 1954. Darwin Baker was president, Lawrence Siders
vice-president and Mrs. Marcelle Secrist, secretary-treasurer. 1955 the same
officers were elected with 45 in attendance.
In 1956 there were 42 present. Vernie Bowen was elected president; Mrs. Mabel
Reed vice-president and Mrs. Wayne Sutton secretary-treasurer.
Vernie Bowen recalls that something prevented his attending the reunion in 1957,
and there were so few in attendance that the reunion was dropped.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 21, pp 13-19]
REMINISCENCES OF FULTON COUNTY'S ONE-ROOM DISTRICT SCHOOLS
By Vernie Bowen
Up until the week before school started, in the fall of 1915, I had not been
assured of a teaching position, county superintendent, Henry L. Becker, seemed
to feel that there would be an opening somewhere in the county. He urged me to
attend the week of County Teacher's Institute, which was held each year during
the week prior to the beginning of school. This I did and was thankful for it,
for on Wednesday of that week I received a telephone call from George Black,
trustee of Liberty Township, stating that he needed a teacher for the District
11 School and would like an interview with me. On Saturday I drove, horse and
buggy, to see Mr. Black at his home and signed my first contract to teach a
seven month term at $2.35 per day. I was to receive 10 cents per day extra for
doing my own janitor work. Previous teachers at District 11 had stayed at the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Dave Stanley, who lived just across the road from the
building. Mr. Black arranged with them for me to do the same. This I gladly
accepted at $2.50 per week (five days) for board and room. They were wonderful
people. I enjoyed their hospitality and friendship very much.
The District 11 School building was a brick structure, built on the southeast
corner of approximately one acre of ground, located on the north side of the
east and west road (500S), three miles northwest of Fulton. Other than being
made of brick, this building was quite similar in size and arrangement to the
Germany building. A vestibule with a plank door enclosed the entrance. Stone
slabs served as steps at the vestibule entrance. One of these slabs now serves
as a front step to the Log Cabin Museum in Rochester. The building faced the
highway and sat three or four rods back from it. The playground extended to the
west. The toilets were back of the building. My father brought me to school the
first day. With a horse and buggy, it was necessary to start early to make the
16 mile trip. We started at 4:30 in the morning and arrived at the building at
about 7:30. Already there were two or three pupils waiting, eager to be the
first to meet their new teacher. They also were hoping to get a choice of seats.
Eighteen pupils enrolled that day. The accompanying picture shows 17. One was
absent the day that the picture was taken. There were no pupils for the sixth
grade. The enrollment in each of the other seven grades ranged from one to four.
Learning from the teachers that I had while in the elementary school, I found it
convenient to combine and alternate some classes. Too, my program or schedule of
classes for the day was quite similar to that which my former teachers had used.
One thing that, while a pupil, I did not recognize as being a problem was
sharpening pencils. Pencil sharpeners then, especially in a one-room country
school, were unknown. The only available tool for this job was a sharp knife.
Some of the older boys had pocket knives of their own and sharpened their own
pencils. But for the girls and younger boys, I did it for them.
Providing the noon activity on cold and stormy days was another problem which
required some special attention. Again, I profited by the experience of my
elementary teachers, for I planned about he same indoor and outdoor activities,
although I gave less attention to softball because of a small playground and
fewer pupils. We did enjoy skating and sliding on the nearby pond. Staying so
close to the school made it quite convenient in several ways. I could get the
fire started in the wood-burning stove earlier in the morning and spend more
time at the building preparing for the next day.
This being my first year teaching, I found it necessary to do a considerable
amount of studying and lesson planning. Some lesson plans and outlines had to be
written on the black board and there was no time during the day to do it.
Erasers had to be dusted, black boards cleaned, and a supply of wood by the
stove for the day, as well as a pail of fresh water, to start the day. It was no
small concern for the small children, some five and six years old, to walk to
and from school on cold, stormy days from home one-fourth to one and one-half
miles away. One cold snowy morning a six-year-old girl came with her hands so
cold they appeared to be frozen. I did not let her get near the stove until I
had applied snow packs to her hands and warmed them slowly. No serious condition
developed.
A few experiences, none of which became a disturbing problem remain in my memory
and are related to this first year of teaching. One occurred the week before
Christmas. That day I did not carry my lunch so went across the road to Mr.
Stanley's to eat. When I returned, the pupils were all inside and had barred the
door so that I could not get in. I knew that this was an annual custom here at
#11, so was not much surprised. They said to get in I would have to promise to
treat at Christmas. This I had planned to do, and in fact had already bought the
treat and intended to keep it a surprise to them. After kidding them a while, I
promised to try to persuade Santa to make a special delivery on Friday before
Christmas. I am sure that I got as much kick out of this prank as they did.
Another memorable experience was putting together a Christmas program which was
attended and enjoyed by most of the parents. I, too, recall that the next
morning after Halloween, when I came over to the building to open it for the
day, I discovered that both toilets had been turned over with the floor-side
down. I did not let this disturb me, for no damage had been done and this was a
common Halloween prank in every rural community, and this time I was on the
receiving end of the act.
The last day of school was another high point in my memory of the year teaching
at #11. The parents provided a carry-in dinner which, they had hoped, but
without success, to do as a surprise to me and to the pupils. Carry-ins and
dinners on the last day of school then were common and expected as an
appropriate event of the school term. This day was very much like those that I
had experienced when a pupil at the Germany School. We, the pupils and I, were
prepared to round out the day with a program consisting of recitations and a
brief one-act play.The program was concluded with the customary remarks from
some of the parents.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 48, pp 8-11]
__________
School is still in progress, but will close soon. The teacher, Will
Clevenger, has been successful. . . .
[From Pin Hook, Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, March 5, 1874]
A school meeting was held in this place, last Wednesday evening, for the
purpose of selecting a teacher for the summer, and resulted in choice of Miss
Lizzie Sweet.
[From Pin Hook, Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, April 9, 1874]
Miss Mollie Brown, the accomplished young idea trainer in district eleven,
adjourned her school last week sine die. Mumps in 'er troat.
[Pin Hook Points, Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, April 23, 1874]
STAYTON/STATON SCHOOL [#7] [Henry Township]
Located NE corner of SR-14 and 900E.
__________
[photo] Stayton School in the fall of 1910. Front row: Newton Johnson, Don
Merley, Hugh Cloud, Nyle Merley. Row 2: unknown, unknown, Everett Johnson, four
unknowns, Devon Nicodemus. Back row: Wilbur Harter, Ezra Bryant, Sarah Merley,
Jessie Miller (later Mrs. Marvin Clemans) - teacher, Thelma Putman, Maggie
Johnson, unknown. (Photo: Ralph Whittenberger)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 43, p. 59]
[photo] Stayton's School - About 1916. Back Row: Harold Kuhn, Mabel Keesey,
Martha Townsend, Margaret Smoker, Nola Clingerman - teacher, Marie Davis,
Blanche Smoker, Estel Moore, Doris Keesey. Front Row: Harold Utter, Arvin
Putman, Edward Davis, Thelma Smoker, Wilbur Utter, Fred Keesey.
FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August 1969, No. 1, p. 12]
__________
DISTRICT 7 - STAYTON'S SCHOOL
By Velma Bright
On February 17, 1844, John and Mary Stayton gave sixty square rods of land
located three miles west of Akron on State Road 14, on land presently owned by
Henry Hartman, to Henry Township for District 7 School. This school was known as
Stayton's School and the last year this school was used was 1919-20.
FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August 1969, No. 1, p. 12]
STAYTON'S SCHOOL
By Margaret Slaybaugh as told to Velma Bright
I attended Stayton's School for a couple of years. The school was located west
of Akron on what is now State Road 14. The pump was in the school yard so we
didn't have too far to carry the water. I was in a class by myself. Many times
you were the only one in a certain class. My teachers were Blanche Kessling and
Marjorie Rentmore. It was around 1917 and 1918 that I attended there.
One thing that I especially remember was that we made a playhouse out of old
rails. We would go in the playhouse and close the rail door during recess; then
when the bell would ring some of the children would have to open the door for us
as we told them we couldn't get out.
We would open the windows in nice weather and stand in the window at recess,
pretending it was a stage and putting on programs. We also played a lot of ball.
One thing that always remained in my mind is that a certain child cheated one
time so the teacher made her go to the board and write HONESTY IS THE BEST
POLICY until the whole board was filled.
We also had box suppers to raise money for the school.
Some f the families were the Odie Keesey family Arvid Putman, Edward Davis and
our family (Charles Smoker).
Editor's Note: The Akron-Mentone News Jan. 10, 1980, had the following paragraph
under its "This Was News" 60 years ago column: "The Staten school
house, west of Akron, caught fire from the stove and burned to the ground. Rex
Johnson and Orville Moore discovered the blaze as they were passing. They
stopped and with the aid of Frank Merley, Trustee William Morrett and E. O.
Strong, who were called, every effort was made to extinguish the blaze. The
stove fell thru the floor and set the entire floor ablaze." (This was in
Jan. 1920.)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 43, pp 58-59]
__________
Our school commenced this week under the supervision of L. Noyer. Maggie
Davis teaches at Staten and Billy Strong at Miller's school house.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, April 22, 1876]
Miss Clemans at No. 7 must contend against many difficulties. The house is
old and very poorly furnished. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, January 20, 1877]
The Trustee is building a new brick school house on the site of the old Staten
school house. The old one has been moved to one side to serve the purpose of a
wood house. . . [Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 3, 1879]
Mr. Morris is teaching the Staten school this winter. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 13, 1879]
Sixty square rods of land for the school donated by John N. Stayton on
February 17, 1844. Built before 1876, probably when the land was donated. It was
a one-room building, probably built of unhewn logs. The seats were built of
slabs, split from logs with pegs fastened in the slabs as legs. For windows,
holes were cut in the rough wall, which were filled with rags in the winter. The
doors were large and clumsy, moving on wooden hinges. The floor was puncheon and
the room was heated by a wood stove. The patrons cut enough wood for the term of
three months. This wood was usually corded back of the schoolhouse to be carried
in by the teacher, who was also the janitor. At the time the school was started,
Indians and deer abounded in the surrounding countryside. The roads were mere
wagon trails. The path past the school was probably the largest in the
neighborhood. Homes of the children were very scattered, some being two and
three miles from the school.
Three district trustees were selected from the neighborhood to select a teacher
who was paid with surplus products of farmers and hunters. Teachers were boarded
by patrons in turns. The schools were subscription schools run by money the
patrons donated. One of the first teachers at Stayton School was John Davis. At
Christmas he treated the pupils to fried donuts and apples. This was quite a
treat because of the scarcity of apples. The pupils and teacher furnished their
own drinking water until after the next school building was built. Schools were
not compulsory and often children stayed at home to help their parents.
In 1860 James Dawson was trustee, and by then schools were run by the township.
He built the first frame building for Stayton's School, which was a vast
improvement over the original.
In 1872 a brick building was built by Jacob Whittenberger, who was then trustee.
The subjects studied were spelling, arithmetic, grammar, geography, writing and
history. At the end of the term the teacher gave the pupils rewards of Merit
Cards, which were report cards. Often school was closed when public funds ran
out. Teachers were poorly paid, averaging $15 per month for all grades.
In 1900 a new brick building was built. Around 1920 it burned from unknown
causes, and very few items were saved. John Stayton had made provision that when
the land was no longer used for school purposes, it would go back to the farm.
[Mrs. Robert McGriff and Mrs. Ralph Stayton, Stayton Family, Fulton County Folks
Vol. 1, Willard]
__________
Teachers:
1896-97: John Krieg
1897-98: Alwilda Mae Woods
1898-99: H. A. Bright
1899-00: Dot Bowen
1900-01: [omitted]
1901-02: [omitted]
1902-03: Rose Anderson
1903-04: Rose Anderson
1904-05: [not listed by school]
1905-06: [not listed by school]
1906-07: [not listed by school]
1907-08: Fay Studebaker
[FCHS Quarterly No. 41, pp 37-39]
PARTIAL LIST OF TEACHERS, DISTRICT 7, STAYTON'S SCHOOL
Rose Anderson, Dot Bowen, Nola Clingerman, Edna Glassford, Blanche Kesling,
Julia Larue, Estel Perry, Mearle Potter, Fred Rowe, Sam Shesler.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August, 1969, No. 1, p 22]
STEVENS SCHOOL [Aubbeenaubbee Township]
The Steven's school house is supplied with window shutters, which are an
adornment and protection.
[Leiter's Ford, Rochester, Union-Spy, Friday, November 2, 1877]
Leiter's Ford, Jan. 19, 1878. Institute convened at Steven's school house at
ten o'clock a.m. . . . [names mentioned] J. G. Goucher, teacher of that place;
Mr. Boyce; Wm. Moon; R. B. Minton; Mr. Ellis; J. C. Miller; Mr. Allen; S. J.
Barger; R. B. Minton. . . Adjourned to meet at Hay's school house, 2nd Saturday
in February.
[Rochester Union Spy, Friday, February 8, 1878]
SUGAR GROVE SCHOOL [#6] - [Henry Township]
Located SE corner 800E and 250S.
Built between 1876 and 1883.
__________
[photo] Sugar Grove, one of the one-room schools of Henry Township. (Photo:
Akron Library)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 54, p. 48]
[photo] Sugar Grove School House.
[photo] Sugar Grove School - about 1910. Back Row: Louise Shriver, Mary Burns,
Claude Johnson, Bill Riley, Edson Bowen, Worth Long, Hazel Johnson, Orville
Moore - teacher. Middle Row: Roscoe Sowers, Percy Bowen, Blanche Laird, Fern
Bowen, Goldie Smoker, Mabel Shriver, Marie Tracy, Leona Rickle, Jesse Burns,
Earl Rickle. Front Row: Kinsman Bowen, Jesse Johnson, Dorothy Shriver, Margaret
Smoker, Marie Shriver, Glen Wilhoit, Mina Shriver, Mildred Smoker, Nancy Bowen,
Mary Maby, Blanche Smoker.
FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August 1969, No. 1, p. 11]
[photo] Grade School basketball wasn't unheard of in 1920, as this photo from
Sugar Grove School, located southwest of Akron, indicates. From left: Max Burch,
Estil Moore, Charlees McCay, Myron VanLue, Verl Burns, Lawrence Kindig, Lester
Sowers, Lester Kindig, and Seth Carpenter - coach and teacher of all eight
grades. (Photo: Naoma Burns Calloway)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 42, p. 43]
[photo] Sugar Grove School 1924-25. Row 1: Deloise Keesey, Leon Kindig,
Delford Bowen, James Shaffer, Byron Burch. Row 2: Ralph Maby, Ernest Smoker,
Lewis Meredith, Estil Burch, Orville Churchill, Opal Smoker, George Maby,
Bernice Kindig, Richard Moore, Freda Wilhoit. Row 3: Kenneth Moore, Harvey
Burch, Ann Meredith, Freda Smoker, Parentha Kindig, Thelma Maby, Mary Moore, Don
Keesey, Vorse Burch, Joy Hammond - teacher. (Photo: Bernice Kindig Fenstermaker)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 42, p. 44]
[photo] Sugar Grove School 1927. Front row: Charles Beatty, Glen Powell,
Leona Bowen, Mary Ruth Berger, Geneva McMan, June Coplen. Row 2: Kline Beatty,
Ernest Smoker, Wayne Coplen, Charles Coplen, Delford Bowen, Boyd Powell. Back:
Ruth Bowen - teacher. (Photo: Ruth Bowen)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 42, p. 45]
DISTRICT 6 - FAN SCHOOL OR SUGAR GROVE SCHOOL
By Velma Bright
In 1842 Jerome and Ann Hoover sold lot No. 12 in the town of Troy to Henry
Township for a sum of ten dollars for District 6 School. This was evidently the
Fan School. The township Trustee at the time was John Gould. The town of Troy is
not listed in any plat book of Fulton County but there were towns laid out in
the early days which eventually went out of existence. A post office and a store
are known to have been at this place. The Fan School was located about four and
one-half miles west and two miles south of Akron. In 1876 the Fan School was
still at this location. Leticia Reed, grandmother of Fern Bowen, was the last
eacher at the Fan School and the first eacher at Sugar Grove.
In 1883 the school was located one-half mile east of the Fan School and was
called Sugar Grove. This was the last one room school in the township to be
closed. 1931-32 was the last school year. Evidently school was held longer in
this district than any of the districts in the township besides Akron.
FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August 1969, No. 1, p. 12]
At the close of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries in the
southwestern part of Henry Township stood three fairly new, brick, large
one-room schools: namely Millark, Antioch, and Sugar Grove. Sugar Grove was
perhaps the best planned and constructed of the three. It had a beautiful stone
wall as a foundation. It had a basement in which was a furnace and a pump.
Antioch had a pump on the school grounds while Millark had no water supply on
the school property.
Sugar Grove was located at the intersection of what is now county roads 800E and
250S on the southeast corner. Antioch was on road 700E half way between 250S and
150S. Millark was on county road 350S at the south end of 650E.
Each school was equipped with a belfry containing a bell, the ring of which
could be heard throughout the community. Each school had a fairly large
playground. Back of the school building on each side of the playground stood two
wood buildings answering for rest rooms. The one on the right was for the girls
and the one on the left was the boys'. On each side of the entrance to the
school building was a cloakroom. The one on the right was the girls' and the one
on the left was the boys'. Sugar Grove's and Antioch's cloakrooms had a window
and were well lighted while Millark's were narrow and dark.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 41, p. 43]
SUGAR GROVE SCHOOL
By Scott Johnson as told to Shirley Willard
Scott Johnson was born 1890 in the first house east of Athens or at his
grandmother's across from Antioch school.
The first Sugar Grove school was a brick building, length east and west 35 feet,
width north and south 30 feet. It had five rows of seats east and west, wide
enough for two pupils, seat folded up.
Teacher's desk and blackboard were on east wall, windows on south and north
walls, door and road on west. The pot-bellied stove was in the middle. Teacher
or pupils would put wood in the stove. Wood was furnished by the township
trustee.
A knife was used for a pencil sharpener. Teacher's desk was in the middle of the
front and the dictionary stand was in the northeast corner.The windows had
roll-down blinds. Later they got second issue blinds, that rolled from the
bottom or top and could be operated with cords and located anywhere on the
window to keep sun-light from the pupils' eyes and still let in daylight.
There was a woods on the west and east sides of the school. The teacher would
send a pupil out to cut a whip for him to whip a pupil with. If the pupil did
not want his friend whipped badly, he would weaken the whip so it would break
quickly.
The schoolyard had a ball diamond on the north side.
The first school was torn down about 1905-06, then a new brick school was built
on the same site. It had a basement with a well and hand pump in the basement.
The basement had stone walls. No indoor plumbing - they still used outhouses.
Jerome Johnson had the farm on which the school stood. He might have sold or
donated or leased it for the school. For a long time Scott Johnson was informed
that schools could not revert back to the farm but now they are all being
claimed by the original farm as property.
Scott had to take 8th grade over twice because they would not give him advanced
schooling at Sugar Grove. Then when they put him in 8th grade for the third
time, Scott's father put him in Akron school. So Scott had Charles Daniels only
a short while and then went to Akron. In 1906 at Akron Leslie Busenberg was
Scott's teacher.
Scott Johnson donated two of his end-of-school souvenir booklets, 1904 and 1905,
to the FCHS museum. The 1905 booklet for Sugar Grove or District No. 6 school
lists Vernon Miller as teacher; A. Deamer, County Superintendent; A. Cook,
trustee; N. Noftsger, director; and Mr. Slick truant officer. Pupils: Grade
VIII: Mary Noftsger, Ethel Johnson, Ben Bacon, Roscoe Burkett, Scott Johnson,
Laura Mossman, Ellis Riley. Grade VII: Blanch Riley, Leila Biggs, Stella Burns,
May Bowen, Claude Putman. Grade VI: Rex Johnson, Dessa Rickel, Zina Mossman,
Roscoe Mitchell, Samuel Burkett, Kitty Bowen. (No Grade V listed) Grade IV:
Frank Goltry, Claude Johnson, Mary Burns, Hazel Shriver, Omer Shriver, Charley
Bowen, Alice Young. Grade III: Willie Riley, Folen Putman, Percie Bowen, Charley
Shriver, Mable Mossman. Grade II: Velda Putman, Daisy Mitchell, Maggie Goltry,
Sarah Tompson. Grade I: Floyd Craig, Jesse Burns, Hazel Johnson, Mable Shriver,
Leona Rickel.
The enrollment at Sugar Grove declined until it was discontinued in 1932 and the
pupils taken to Akron school. Ruth Bowen was the teacher 1927-31. Enrollment in
1929-30 was only 13. In 1930-31 the enrollment was 15. In 1931-32 the enrollment
was 20 and Phyllis Gaerte was the teacher. Sugar Grove was closed in 1932.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 42, pp 42-46]
BALL, MILLARD, SUGAR GROVE AND HAUN SCHOOLS
By Loyd Swick
When I was 21 years old I first taught school at a log schoolhouse called Bunker
located 40 miles north of Hannah, Wyoming. The next year I came back to Fulton
County, Ind., to teach at Millark school 1924-25. I bought a new 1924 Ford
Roadster for $365 and drove it to Millark and to teach at Sugar Grove the next
year 1925-26. Then I bought a new Chevy to drive to Haun school 1926-27. My
salary was $100 a month for eight months teaching.
When I taught at Sugar Grove, we played basketball against Millark, taught by a
friend of mine, Frank Funk. When I taught at Haun, my team played against Sugar
Grove. But these are the only one-room schools I know of that played basketball.
We played outdoors with a backstop fastened to a pole.
Sugar Grove was a bigger school in that it had a basement with a furnace, a
water pump, and a place to play indoors. I told the children to each bring his
own tin cup instead of all using the common cup.
Haun school had a hack, but Millark and Sugar Grove did not.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 42, pp 41-42]
__________
Miss Reed is engaged on her fourth term at No. 6. . . The school at this
place is large, but well governed. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 30, 1876]
__________
1895-96: Nettie Runkle
1896-97: Mrs. Runkle
1897-98: Etta Runkle/Edna Shipley ?
1898-99: Stella King/Arthur Rhinesmith ?
1899-00: Edna Shipley/Fred Moore ?
1900-01: J. W. Swihart/Harry Ginther ?
1901-02: Jerome Swihart
1902-03: Bertha Bryant, Principal/Lessie Moore (Mabe) ?
1903-04: Ray Newell
1904-05: Vern Miller
1905-06: Charles Daniels
1906-07: [omitted]
1907-08: Harry Ginther
[FCHS Quarterly No. 41, pp 37-39]
1929-30: Ruth Bowen, (1-8) 13.
1930-31: Ruth Bowen. Com. (1-8) 15.
1931-32: Temp. Phyllis Gaerte, Com. (1-8) 20.
1932-33: Discontinued.
[F.C.H.S. files; FCHS Quarterly No. 42, p. 44]
PARTIAL LIST OF TEACERS, DISTRICT 6, SUGAR GROVE SCHOOL
Dot Bowen, Ruth Bowen, Seth Carpenter, Frank Dillman, Phyllis Gaerte, Joy
Hammond, Lessie Moore, Orville Moore, Ray Newell, Leticia Reed, Edgar Runkle,
Ray Shelton, Edna Shipley, Jerome Swihart.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August, 1969, No. 1, p 22]
In 1932 it was the last one-room school in Fulton County to close.
Teachers: Reece Augustus Oliver; Ray Issac Shelton, 1915-16
SUMMIT SCHOOL [#11] [Henry Township]
Located SW corner 1500E and 300S.
Named Summit School was named for the hill on which it was built.
Built between 1876 and 1883; abandoned between 1883 and 1907.
Another school, same name, Located NW corner 1500E and 300S.
Built between 1883 and 1907.
__________
[photo: Sumit School 1905-06. Front row: Thelma Krieg Ferree, Willie Kroft,
Kenneth Oliver, Ida Sippy (later Mrs. Cecil Brooks, died in 1918), Robert Sippy
(died in 1964). Row 2: Lola Bitters Judd - teacher, Amanda Kroft, Berdla
Bammerlin, Valure Bammerlin, Docha Sippy (later Mrs. Ray Shewman). (Photo:
Thelma Ferree)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 42, p. 47]
[photo] Summit School, 1914-15, Russell Shipley, Teacher. Back Row: Wilbur
Kreamer, unknown, Marguerite Sippy, Mamie Smith, Ruth Kreamer, Edna Brown,
Thelma Krieg, Anna Kroft, Russell Flohr, Albert Bammerlin, Willis Eber. Front
Row: Unknown, Valentine Smith, unknown, Vernon Flohr, David Sippy, Charles
Shipley, Robert Flohr, Ralph Rader, Robert Bammerlin, Rex Rader.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August, 1969, No. 1, p. 15]
__________
DISTRICT 11 - SUMMIT SCHOOL
By Velma Bright
Records show that Summit School, located two miles south and two and one-fourth
miles east of Akron, was not in existence at this site in 1876. It was in
existence in 1883 and held school for the last time in 1924-25. In 1898 a brick
building was built replacing the frame structure. This building is still
standing.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August, 1969, No. 1, p. 15]
SUMMIT SCHOOL
By Treva Morris Klein
Summit School was named because it was on a hill, the highest point in the
community. Some said it was the highest point between Chicago and Lima, Ohio,
but this is doubtful. In the "History of Akron 1836-1936" by Ina
Brundige, she has a different explanation, which is probably the correct one. A
family living near this small lake named it Summit Lake. This family had lived
in Summit County, Ohio, so they just began calling the Lake Summit. So since
then the lake and school, which was near the lake, have been known as Summit
Lake and Summit School.
(Editor's note: Summit School was located on the west side of 1500E at the
corner of 300S. In the 1883 atlas it is on the south side of 300S but in the
1907 atlas it is on the north side of 300S. It is not shown at all in 1876 atlas
so evidently it did not exist yet.)
The Summit School building, located in the southeast part of Henry Township. was
not the simple oblong building of a one-room school. It was a larger building
with a large vestibule, a belfry with the school bell, and a two-room basement
with a furnace. There were two stairways that led to the basement rooms. The
bell rope dangled over one of these stairs. The bell was rung at 8:00 and 8:30
a.m., then at noon and recess time. Once the boy who helped with the janitor
work (Everett Shaffer) got to school before the teacher did; yes she walked too.
So he and his brother, Kenneth, set the clock ahead so they could ring the 8
o'clock bell before the teacher got there. He still likes to tell this joke.
There were hooks for the coats and a place for the water bucket in this part of
the building.
The main room was rather spacious. There were blackboards on the north and west
sides of the room. In the nothwest corner were large shelves for library books
of which there were several. On the east side there were large windows and most
of the south side was cupboards for the lunch buckets.
This brick building is still standing having been made into a dwelling. It was
built in 1898 to replace a frame school building. For many years this frame
building stood on the first farm west of the present building. The George
Kinders used it as a dwelling, until they built a new house.
The games the pupils played were many. The outdoor games were Ante over, London
Bridge, blackman, zippy (zipping a stick through the air), Hide and Seek, a ball
game with two bases was "long town," and with four bases was
"round town." In the winter Fox and Geese, sliding down a hill in the
field across the road onto a frozen pont, and skating was enjoyed. In inclement
weather games such as charades, Simon Says, Thumbs Up, etc., were played in the
basement. Blackboard games such as Jack (tic tac toe - if nobody wins, then Jack
wins), Going to London, and a dot game were played.
There were classes for all eight grades if there were pupils for them. Everyone
walked to school, some as far as a mile and half or maybe farther. In stormy
weather parents would bring to school their children and come and get them when
it was time to dismiss. They used either a buggy, a sleigh or a bob sled.
Agustus Oliver taught at Summit in 1912-13. It was at this time that the Erie
Railroad was double tracked. There were work crews that came along and did a lot
of this work. So there were pupils of Italian descent who came to school. One
name we remember was Romicone. There were girls Carrie and Rose and boys John
and Loddy.
Some several years later Mr. Oliver went to the Phillippines to teach under an
arrangement with the U.S. Government. He was gone many years. In fact he married
and had a family there. Finally they all came back here to live. His widow is
living a few miles from the Summit School.
Delno Whitcomb was trustee and Henry L. Becker was the county superintendent.
Mercie Coffin gave spelling awards at Christmas and at end of school 1913-14.
They were pretty colored cards (8 x 10) with scenes of farm life.
Other teachers of our time were Roy Groninger, Frank Dillman, and Russell
Shipley.
A minister of the Wesley Methodist denomination, Rev. Brown held Sunday School
and church services for a period of several years, 1910-16, at the school house.
Most of the people, parents and children attended these services.
Another community affair that comes to mind was a basket dinner on the last day
of school. Parents and friends would come with well-filled baskets and tables of
a sort were set up outdoors and a good time was had by all.
The last year of school here was in 1924-25. It was my first year of teaching.
This was over 50 years ago. There were 15 pupils in grades one through four and
one boy in grade seven. This boy helped with the janitor work especially the
furnace.There was a pump organ that was used in the Christmas program. It was on
an afternoon that several friends and parents came to enjoy the program at the
1924 Christmas time.
Success grades were issued to teachers back then. The grade was based on
teaching power 45%, government 35%, and general characteristics 20%. Teaching
power included preparation of lessons, skill in presentations and results
obtained. Governent meant discipline or control of pupils. General
characteristics included personality, professional and community interests and
citizenship.
Families that attended Summit School: William Bammerlin, Jacob Eber, Emory
Ferree, Charles Flohr, John Kreamer, George Krieg, U S. Kraft, Chester Morris,
Charles Rader, Lewis Shaffer, Jessee Shriver, Elec Wideman, Charles Gearhart,
George Lukens, and Sherman Sippy.
The following notice was in the Akron News Jan. 1, 1970, referring to 60 years
ago or 1910:
"Mr. Roy Groninger is teaching this winter at Summit, a school that had
been vacated for 2 years. But population has shifted about until Roy is said to
have the largest school in the township with an enrollment of 34 and a good
average attendance. This is a case which produces some evidence that a public
school once well located, should not be permanently abandoned, except only in
rare cases. Hoosier population shifts about, a neighborhood may be without
children one year but in a year or two be well supplied."
[FCHS Quarterly No. 42, pp 46-49]
SUMMIT SCHOOL MEMORIES
By Ralph Rader
My brother, Rex Rader, has related some interesting facts about Summit School
which was located four and one-half miles south east of Akron. The brick
building (1898) replaced a frame one which was across the road. My father, C. E.
Rader, attended the frame building with George F. Kinder as his teacher in 1882.
Our teacher was Russell Shipley in 1915, who taught four generations of my
family.
My brother and I walked a mile to school, usually being joined by C. E. Flohr
children: Russell, Vernon, Robert and Iva. There were no school hacks. One time
our father came after us in the bobsled after a big snow storm. There was straw
in the wagon box and horse blankets to cover us. All children going our way were
taken also. Mny times, when walking, disagreements arose which ended in fights.
Usually, all was forgotten by the next morning.
The wood for the long iron stove was kept in the basement. Many times the stove
was used to dry wet clothes when students broke through the ice or were engaged
in snowball fights.
A small entrance room kept our wraps from the school room. The water bucket and
dipper were also placed here. Everyone drank from the same dipper.
The school had grades from one to eight with about 25 in attendance. All eight
grades were taught in one room by one teacher.
We had spelling bees and "ciphered" at the blackboard. There were
pull-down maps for learning the location of other states and counties.
And always, a strong hickory "gad" was kept in plain sight as reminder
of what would happen if you misbehaved. I have seen the teacher hit the floor
with the "gad" rather than the pupil, but the results were most
effective, especially if you were the culprit!
There was always something exciting happening, or it seemed exciting to us. One
day a girl said she had taken poison. The teacher, Russell Shipley, took her to
the nearest farm house, gave her milk to counteract the alleged poison, then
took her home in his buggy. We enjoyed a long recess while this was happening.
The girl got well.
The girls played most of the games played by the boys and they were good in all
games.
We played a game called Zippy. A short stick about eight inches long, a forked
stick two to three feet long and another stick two to three feet long were the
playing equpment for this game. Any number may be on a team. A small hole is dug
in the ground, which is the goal. The captain of each team, from a determined
distance, throws the small stick toward the hole. The one coming nearest the
hole gets his team to be first. The person at bat lays the small stick across
the hole with the forked stick, flips the short stick to the team in the field.
If the stick is caught, the batter is out. Three outs cause teams to change
position. If the short stick is not caught, it is thrown toward the long stick,
which is placed across the hole. If the long stick is hit, the distance from the
hole to the short stick is measured by the long stick. Each length of the long
stick is a point.
If the batter has not been put out, he throws the small stick up and tries to
hit it with the long stick. If he missses he is out. If he hits it and it is not
caught, it is thrown toward the batter and he tries to hit the short stick. If
he misses or hits it behind the hole, he is out. If the stick is not caught, the
distance between the short stick and the hole is measured for points.
If the batter is still batting he now places the short stick in the hole with
one end sticking out. He hits the small stick on the end, and as it goes up in
the air he tries to hit it again. If he misses, or the short stick is caught, he
is out. If he hits the small stick and it is not caught, the distance from the
small stick to the hole is measured for points. If he has not committed an out,
he has batted his turn and the next team member takes his turn.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 42, pp 49-50]
SUMMIT SCHOOL GAMES
By Rex Rader
In thinking back to the school activities at Summit, the first thing that comes
to mind is the winter sport of sledding down the hill in the field south across
the road from school. The marsh pond at the foot of the hill was another fun
place. The activity here started with the "dares" on the first rubbery
ice of late fall. These "dares" usually ended with cold, wet feet and
legs. When the really cold weather came this pond was our main place for ice
skating at every noontime.
Outdoor games included "round town" ball, using any available ball,
rubber or string. There were two other games which I have never heard about in
any other area. The one game being "Zippy" which my brother Ralph
plans to describe for you, and the other one is "Duck on Davy" that is
played as follows:
Let us assume that 10 youngsters decide to play this game. Each one would find a
rock (Duck) weighing around 1/2 pound. The "Davy" would be a large
flat-top rock on the school yard. As I remember the order of the play was this
--
1. Each person throws his rock (Duck) to get as close as possible to the large
flat rock (Davy).
2. The person whose rock (Duck) is the farthest from the "Davy" is the
"it" person.
3. The "it" person places his rock (Duck) on the large flat rock
(Davy).
4. The remaining players stand at a line about 10 feet from the "Davy"
and try to knock the "it" player's rock of the "Davy."
5. The players then try to pick up their "Ducks" and get back to the
base line without being tagged by the "it" player. When the
"it" player's "Duck" has been knocked off the
"Davy," he cannot tag another player until he has placed his
"Duck" back on the "Davy."
6. Any player tagged by the "it" player becomes the next
"it" player.
[FCHS Quaterly No. 42, pp 50-51]
MEMORIES OF SUMMIT, BALL AND BETHEL SCHOOLS
By Daisy Young Bucher as told to Velma Bright
I started to school when I was five years of age. I went to Summit School. There
was a new boy who came to the school from Disko so the boys chased this boy out
on the ice. They threw stones and broke the ice around him and he was stranded.
This scared me about to death.
I attended the Akron schools after this first year.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 42 p. 51]
Billy Strong has been designated as teacher of the Summit School. Billy is
young in years, but no doubt will give satisfaction, as he is a young man of
good habits and a firm believer in progression.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, April 8, 1876]
A. C. Mayswingle teaches the Summit school, Henry Township. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, January 20, 1877]
__________
Teachers:
1896-97: George F. Kinder
1897-98: Edna Shipley
1898-99: Amy Shesler
1899-00: Amy Shesler
1900-01: Charles Daniels
1901-02: [omitted]
1902-03: Lola Judd
1903-04: Lola Judd
[FCHS Quarterly No. 41, pp 37-40]
PARTIAL LIST OF TEACHERS, DISTRICT 11, SUMMIT SCHOOL
Webster Blasdel, Loyd Carpenter, Mercy Coffin, Charles Daniels, Frank Dillman,
Roy Groninger, Lola Judd, Fay Morrett, Treva Morris (last teacher), Bessie
Rader, Amy Shesler, Russell Shipley.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 6, August, 1969, No. 1, p 22]
TALMA HIGH SCHOOL [Talma, Indiana]
TALMA SCHOOL BURNS DOWN; LOSS $17,000
The Talma high school building in Newcastle township, constructed in 1904 at a
cost of $15,000, burned to the ground Friday night. The conflagration was
caused, it is thought, from the fire started late Friday evening in the vaults
by the janitor.
The blaze was not discovered until eleven o'clock, when Fred Barr and Lowell
Smith, returning from a basketball game at Mentone, saw the fire in the basement
of the building. The lower part then was a mass of fire and nothing could be
done to save the building as Talma only possesses one 15 gallon chemical tank.
Soon after discovery several hundred people gathered to watch the flames which
in an hour were leaping forth from every window. The entire interior work made
of wood was soon consumed and the brick walls tumbled in with the exception of
part of the south wall, which is still standing.
In 1904, $10,000 was appropriated to construct a high school building, but later
$5,000 more was given to complete the work. The structure contained four large
rooms besides a basement. Samuel Thompson, the janitor, thinks that the vaults
must have been poorly constructed as they were supposed to hold fire without
endangering the building.Two hundred and twenty-five students attended the
school. Provision will be made soon for their accommodation.
Kessler and Miller, who carried insurance on the building, reported this
(Saturday) morning that the township will recover $9,000. They claim that the
loss will aggregate $17,000 because of the modern equipment which had been
placed in the building within the last few years. Trustee Charles Jones said
that a new building will be constructed shortly and until it is completed the
old building and the lodge room in Talma will be fitted for school purposes.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, Nov. 20, 1915]
TALMA SCHOOL [Newcastle Township]
Located NE edge of Talma on SE side of SR-25
Built in 1903, and burned down in 1915.
__________
[photo] Talma High School graduating class of 1914. Front row: Florence
Alber, Lefa Grove, Cleo Byrer, Faye Bryant, Ruth Peterson, Marjorie Jones.
Back row: Ester Meredith, Hobart Rogers, Dessie Matthew, Harry Champ, Eva Gross.
This was in a box of pictures Ernest Hoover got from his aunt, Cleo Byrer
Kallenback. (Photo: Ernest Hoover)
[FCHS Images No. 2, p. 90]
[photo] Talma basketball team 1944-45 included (front row) Bob Green Devon
Shipley, Harond Long, Kenneth Smiley, Clifford Morris, (back row) Robert
Herendeen, Skip Jameson, Bob Long, Dick Notz, Dale Peterson, coach Kermit
Biddinger.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, cover]
[photo] Talma's first schoolhouse is snown at right. Schuyler Tipton lived
there after it was no longer a school, located on northwest corner of county
road 600N. Kids playing on the car are L. V. Teeter on the left, Ted Hubbard
behind the wheel, the rest unidentified. (Photo: Ralph Hatfield)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, p. 12]
[photo] Talma school before 1903, later the Baugher building. (Photo: Ralph
Hatfield)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, p. 13]
[photo] John W. Irvine, driver of school hack to Talma, stands by his team,
while Martha Townsend poses by the hack. The picture was taken by Maleta Kiler
Snyder in front of her home on the east side of 350E a half mile south of 550N.
Notice Maleta's shadow. (Photo: Agnes Harshman)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 64-65, p. 118]
[photo] Talma school built in 1903 is seen behind Lefa Grove in 1908 Model A
belonging to Dr. S. R. Fish. (Photo: Ralph Hatfield)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, p. 14]
[photo] Talma school burned Nov. 1915, the night before Thanksgiving. Its
location was the same as the new Newcastle Community Center. The arch had to be
dynamited to clear away the rubble, but it had already pulled away from the
building and the front door hadn't been used for several years. (Photo: Ralph
Hatfield)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, p. 14]
[photo] Talma grade school Jan. 13, 1905. Row 1: Anna Jones - Teacher; Fred
Barr, Gladys Coplen, Scott Nellans, Fern Deamer, Zelpha Emmons, Edna Alspach,
Grace Byrer "Cottontail", Lefa Emmons. Row 2: Ralph Hatfield, Arthur
Hatfield, Varl Dunlap, Oliver Mathews, Roy Mathews Rolla Feiser, Henry Alspach,
Esther Deamer, Lannie Feiser, Bill Grass, Dessie Mathews. Row 3: Oscar Baker,
Eva Kessler, Viola Stamer, Marguerite Helmick, Russell Kalmbacher, Edna Yantiss,
Fawn Fore, Edith Haimbaugh, Faye Emmons, Eva Gross. (Photo: Edna Haimbaugh
Carey)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, p. 15]
[photo] Talma high school - Jan. 13, 1905, is written on the blackboard. Row
1: Teacher Aaron Bowman (seated); Thorton Umbaugh, Edna Barr, Orah Grove, Fred
Umbaugh, Willie Fore, Lloyd Eherenman. Row 2: Dallis Zolman, Iva Hatfield, Dean
Kiger, Oliver Zolman, John Thompson, Rex Haimbaugh, Del Bybee, Scott Bowen,
Golda Emmons, Vern Emmons. Row 3: Mary Nellens, Ching Coplen, Grace Partridge,
William Dunkin, Elmer Ellis, Dessie Emmons, Earl Packer, Edna Haimbaugh (the
girl with the highest pompadour in school). (Photo: Edna Haimbaugh Carey)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, p. 16]
[photo] Talma girl's basketball team 1912: Faye Bryant, Eva Kessler, Lefa
Grove, Coach Agnes Sharp (now Mrs. Dow Haimbaugh), Lucile Haimbaugh, Alice
McClurg. (Photo: Edna Carey]
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, p. 16]
[photo] Talma Junior High Co. champions Jan. 18, 1954, defeated Kewanna at
Whitmer gym by a score of 44-31. Row 1: Steve Coplen, Bob Horn, John Mathews,
David Sperry holding trophy, Bob Deamer, Rick Holloway, Bill Rogers. Row 2:
Kermit Biddinger - coach; Larry Mikesell, Jerry Busenberg, Dick Peterson, Chuck
Coplen, Bill May, Jesse Rogers, Donald Jordan. (Photo: Mrs. Kermit Biddinger)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, p. 17]
[photo] The Talma basketball team of 1937 is pictured above, as shown in the
Talma Tales of Time yearbook belonging to Maleta Borden. Row 1: Maurice
Peterson, Herman Mathews, Carl Grass, Harold Myers, John Price, Earl Zimmerman -
student manager. Row 2: Don Safford, Raymond Kalmbacher, Jim Good, Paul
Boganwright, Don Gross, Don Onthank, Clarence "Dutch" Witham - coach,
and Charles Rogers.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 40, p. 15]
[photo] Talma School in 1937. This building was destroyed by tornado Apr. 3,
1974. (Photo from 1937 yearbook belonging to Maleta Borden.)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 40, p. 17]
__________
The Kingman 1883 Atlas of Fulton County shows District School No. 7 to be
located on lots 9 and 10 south in the village of Bloomingsburg. January 25,
1896, the name of Bloomingsburg was changed to "Talma".
According to Ralph Hatfield, a longtime resident of Talma, Talma's first school
was located in a house on the northwest corner at county road 600N and state
road 25 about three lots west of 25. Schuyler Tipton lived in the house after
the school was no longer used; it was moved south and to the east side of 25
before Tipton made it into a house.
The next school was a two-story brick building located on lots 9 and 10, south
side. Asa and Minerva Coplen had sold the lots to Conrad Haimbaugh, trustee of
Newcastle Township, on July 8, 1874, to be used for a school site. This school
was discontinued in 1903 because of lack of space to take care of all the
pupils. It consisted of four rooms, large halls, a bell room and much wasted
space. It housed grades 1 thru 8 and the first three years of high school.
Grades 1 to 3 were on the first floor and the others were on the second floor.
After discontinuance the building was bought by Henry Baugher for use as a
blacksmith shop and buggy sales display on the first floor; the second floor
being used by various organizations as a meeting hall. The building was later
converted into a home by Lou Grove, probably in the 1940's and stands today as a
stucco, one-story structure.
In 1903 a new school was built on Highway 25 jus northeast of the former
building. It was a large, two story structure with a high arch at the front
entrance. Shortly after its construction, the building started to pull away from
the arch and the front door could not be used for several years. The building
was all but domolshed by fire the night before Thanksgiving, November 1915, but
the arch withstood the blaze and had to be dynamited away.
The next school building was not finished until 1917 so in the meantime classes
were held in a garage building located next to Hatfield's, in the Methodist
Church, and in two lodge halls located over the Hatfield grocery and the Earl
Chapman Hardware. The high school classes were held above Chapman's
grocery-hardware. Ralph Hatfield recalled that there was quite an intense debate
about where the new Newcastle School building should be built. Some thought it
should be on a location south of Talma, about the center of the Township.
Finally it was decided to build on the same spot where the old brick building
stood. The new school was also made of brick and was used and stood until the
April 3, 1974 tornado. The lumber used in the gym floor and bang boards was
donated by Hatfield and Lou Grove.
Ralph Hatfield also tells of school incidents he recalls: "A male teacher
four or five years older than I wanted to date my older sister, Iva, but she
would not date him so he took his spite out on me. I was having a hard time in
school because of it. Anyway, I went to Dr. Bowman to learn algebra; he taught
me more in five minutes than the teacher did in a year. The next day I won the
algebra contest at the board and the teacher got mad and said that I had
cheated. I went to Doc Bowman and we went to the trustee. Then the trustee, Doc,
and I went to school. The trustee didn't even knock, but went in and bawled the
teacher out. Doc said, "You weren't such a good student yourself,
------." Doc had been my teacher's teacher.The next year that teacher
wasn't back. Then when I was a senior he came back to teach at the school and
made my life miserable. He knocked into me on the basketball floor and that
night 20 boys walked him home and invited him not to come back. Five years later
he saw me on the street sidewalk, and walked over and twisted my cheek. I beat
him up. The boys had to pull me off him. He twisted my cheek again so the boys
let me go and I beat him some more.
"Some years later I was playing cards above the store with the telephone
operator and the children came in and laid their books in the middle of the
floor and announced that they had all been expelled. Lloyd Ehernman was
principal at the time and he expelled all the kids in the school who had BB shot
in their pockets because some of the pupils had gotten caught throwing BB shot
at a teacher who wore thick glasses (Hobert Rogers)."
Hatfield also recalls that his Aunt Clara Dellinger was the first teacher in the
state to get a pension. She taught at Prill School in 1900 and went to school
herself every summer for six weeks at Terre Haute. Her father took her to Prill
school neighborhood to board with someone either Sunday evenings or Monday
mornings, and she lived there all week.
Mrs. Kermit (Allene) Biddinger offers the following information about Talma
School. "The old gymnasium of the Talma School was in the basement of the
building and water seepage made it necessary to have the wooden floor replaced
occasionally. The walls were brick on three sides. A door in one corner of the
floor entered the furnace room and a player would run through this with the
least shove. The ceilings were low with obstructions of lights, plumbing and
rafters. On the north side were cement bleachers that would accommodate 125
persons or so. The score-keepers were hoisted into a small cage on the opposite
wall and used cards to denote the score. The showers were in an adjoining room
and were sure to produce cold water - this was an added feature around 1925. The
floor playing size was approximately 24 x 60 feet.
Many fine ballplayers are well remembered by their classmates and fans. During
the years 1925-28 when Elmer Norris was principal and coach: Sid Dick, L. G.
Alber, Devon "Spud" Eaton (deceased), Charles Green, Bill Coplen,
Howard Tobey, Herman Barkman, Robert Messmore and Clarence Withan are among
those who posed a threat to their opponents.
The 1929-30 team coached by Leon Kotterman had a varsity of nine seniors and one
junior with a good season's record. This was a class of 20 students, the largest
to graduate up to that time. Players included Leroy Norris, Harold Utter, Howard
McGown, Everett Busenburg, Palmer Warren, Aubrey Kelly, Everett Rathfon, Wayne
Bernard, Alvin Fenney and Edward Miller.
New and larger gymnasiums were being built and by 1944 it was impossible to
secure a coach with the facilities offered; also schools were refusing to play
return games in the small, hazardous gyms. Attendance was growing and enthusiasm
was great. David Swihart was trustee and he asked Kermit Biddinger, a resident
in the township and in-law by marriage, if he would coach the boys one night a
week. Mr. Biddinger was principal and coach of Burton School some 14 miles away.
He consented but there were no funds appropriated for a salary so he furnished
transportation and his service gratis. The team had good potential and the
following year (1945) he resigned at Burton and came to Talma as coach and 7th
and 8th grade teacher and remained until 1957.
It was necessary to schedule games away and only one game, 1944-45, with Macy
was played on the home floor. Most times our return games were played on the
opponent's floor which gave to them a great advantage. The team had a fine
record of wins and lost to Akron in the county tourney by a one-point overtime.
The 1944-45 basketball schedule listed matches with Macy, Richland Center,
Leiters Ford at Burton, Tippecanoe, Kewanna, Beaver Dam, Claypool, Fulton, Tyner
and Akron.
After the ballgames meals were prepared by mothers or friends for players, yell
leaders and others and served at the school. If games were played on Friday and
Saturday, Mrs. Biddinger often took the basketball suits, sox and towels home
and washed them, hung them in her basement to dry and pressed them for the next
event. The coach used his car to pick up players who needed transportation,
mileage was never reimbursed and a new car was needed quite often as a result of
additional travel. Playing games away from home and paying rental left the
athletic funds very low - with the expense of referees, equipment, etc.
(Mr. Biddinger was dedicated to the teaching profession for 42 years until his
death in 1961 at which time he was assistant principal at Rochester Junior High
School, held in Lincoln School.)
Mr. Biddinger coached until 1947 and then assumed the junior high athletic
program. Ronald Mallot in 1947 coached the high schol softball team to its first
county championship, winning over Akron. Team members were Wayne Baker, Sonny
Green, Robert Peterson, Raymond Shoemaker, Carlton Clemens, Arnold Snipes, Gene
Stavedahl, Fred Richardson, Nolan Sigler, Lowell Long, Charles Waltz, Gene
Overmeyer, John Lewis, Leonard Staldine, Byron Riffle, Robert Duzan, Eugene
Riffle, Ivory Snipes, Kermit Zent, Lowell Hisey, Joe Shivley, James Garber, Joe
Good, and Mickey Eaton. The team name was "Talma Hickories".
A new gymnasium was built in 1949 and dedicated January 15, 1950. A capacity
crowd witnessed a ballgame between Talma and Richland Center, who won. Charles
Green was trustee and Ronald Mallot was the coach. (Editor's note: The new gym
cost $64,000. John Pugh was the general contractor and Lewis Kline did the
electrical work. During the 1956-57 school year, when Wayne Mikesell was
township trustee a runway was built from the gymnasium building to the school.)
Activities boomed with more space and the athletic program with it. The music
department under Mrs. Gilman (Edith) Carlson (deceased) produced a fine girls'
chorus. The needs for the larger facility made one a little sad to think so many
years were wasted in the opportunities afforded students.
In January 1954 the Talma Junior High had a joy of being county basketball
champions under the coaching of Mr. Biddinger. Years before a championship was
won with Omar Haimbaugh as coach. The game was played in Whitmer Gym; his father
John Haimbaugh was township trustee and died (February 27, 1940) in the final
minutes of the game with a heart attack.
"I am sure more championships were produced after this time until the
school was destroyed by the tornado April 3, 1974," Mrs. Biddinger
concluded.
In 1963 Talma and Akron of Fulton County, and Mentone, Burkett, Beaver Dam, and
Atwood of Kosciusko County joined to form the Tippecanoe Valley School
Corporation. Grades 1 thru 5 were then held at Mentone, as were the high school
classes. Grades 6, 7, and 8 were held in the Talma School building (built in
1917). The 1974 tornado forced the moving of these classes to Mentone also;
scattering some of the lower grades into quarters in the Methodist Church in
Mentone, the Mentone Youth League building, and the Mentone Fire Station to
accommodate the extra classes formerly held in the Talma building. In January
1975 the new building for Tippecanoe Valley High School was opened and occupied.
Grades 1 thru 8 attend Mentone and Akron.
Willis Bowen remembers that in 1926, when he began teaching at Talma, the high
school was quite small, enrollment totaling only 48. Twenty-four of that
enrollment were freshmen. There were only eight teachers on the entire staff.
Bowen states, "There was no year book and no senior trip. Our
extra-curricular activities were quite limited. We just taught school." He
later decided to leave teaching at Talma to avoid being a coach. (Editor's note:
Yearbooks called "Talma Treasures" were printed from 1937; the
schoolpaper "Talma Tiger Tales" was usually monthly.)
Miss Flavilla Tracy contributed the following information about Talma School:
"I taught grades 1, 2 and 3 at Talma. It was a brief period however. I
finished the term for Anna Jones in the spring of 1908. There were 43 children.
Since that time I have had thousands of school pupils.
"I will undertake to recall some of the names in this particular 1908 group
- Malita Kiler (married Willard Snyder), Elizabeth Larry, Wonda Bowman (a nurse,
I think her married name is Kinny), Isabelle Drudge (Mrs Peterson) and, I think,
Isabell's cousin, Bernice Kessler, Tural Foor (married Everett Kessler), Blanche
Barr (she had an older sister Edna and a brother Fred). There was Russell
Kalmbacher and his little brother, and two cute little red-headed Surguy bosys
who lived north of the river. Others were Ethel, Edith and DeVon Haimbaugh,
Oscar Baker and Leah Kepler. There were Fieser children who lived south of
Talma. They invited me out to supper one evening. Mrs. Fieser served such
delicious home-canned peaches.
"Grades 4, 5 and 6 were taught by Clyde Fish. He married a Bosenberg girl
and was later a doctor in South Bend. The school principal was Wesley Kaley. He
taught grades 7 and 8.
"The Talma school building was a three-room structure. It burned some years
later. I don't recall the names of the janitor and the hack drivers, but I do
remember how hard I worked at dismissal to have every child in his wraps and
ready to start home. Some of those little ankles were so weak and wobbly I
feared I would never get all those heels settled in all those overshoes before
the hack driver justly lost his patience.
"When the children became restless, as children often do, I would have them
all stand. With each stationed by his particular desk, they would follow my
leading in gymnastic exercises. I stressed the value of deep breathing. The
children enjoyed this exercise game. Sometimes little Devon Haimbaugh would hold
up his hand. When he had my attention and permission he would say, 'LET' S
BREATHE!'
"Newcastle Township teachers had Saturday Institutes once a month. Since I
was there such a short time I attended but one or two sessions. These sessions
were the forerunners of the two-day institutes held each fall now. Aside for W.
A. Kaley and Clyde Fish, the other teachers I remember attending institute at
that time were Elma Barr (later the wife of Rev. Elmer Jones) and Rex Haimbaugh,
brother of Dr. Dow Haimbaugh.
"Teaching at Talma was a pleasant experience. During the week I lived in
the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Sutherland. They were so very kind to me. She
always spoke of me as 'my girl". Mr. Swonger was the Newcastle Township
Trustee. For the perhaps 33 teaching days I received almost $38.
"I taught only the one year in Talma and then one year in Aubbeenaubbee
Township. John C. Werner was the County Schools Superintendent at that time.
Following those two years I taught in Rochester, Delphi, Evansville and lastly
20 years in the music department of the South Bend school system.
"My wisely-chosen parents were Frank S. and Elmanda (Powell) Tracy. I had a
younger sister, Ruth. Our first school teacher was our father and our first
music (reed organ) teacher was our mother. These devoted parents decided they
should locate where there were better educational advantages for their two
children. Consequently they rented out their farm, four miles east of Macy and
moved to Rochester in April, 1903. The city high school and Rochester College
lured them there.
"The school year of 1903-04 my father continued as a county school teacher,
this time in Fulton County. His trustee asked him to accept a school several
miles from Rochester and explained it had a reputation for being a bit
difficult. Regardless of weather the pupils always locked the teacher out at
Christmas time and demanded promise of a treat.
"Father accepted the assignment. He chose to be prepared for their best
behavior and bought a quantity of candy. Ruth and I helped him sort, wrap, and
sack a nice treat for each pupil.
"A few days before the Christmas vacation my father sensed something was
brewing. One noon after pupils and teacher had each eaten his box or bucket
lunch the children went to the playground. As usual my father went to feed Dot,
his faithful horse. When he started back to the school building, he noticed the
children had suddenly decided to go inside. That is when he began to execute his
premeditated plans. He stopped at the cord of wood to select a good strong
stick. Upon reaching the door he found it locked. The pupils began to yell,
'Treat! Treat!' They continued the uproar. Suddenly all was quiet. Father
explained, 'Everyone stand back. I am going to knock this door in and I don't
want anyone to be hurt. Do you hear me?' He heard them scamper. Having
previously located a weak spot in the thin panel he struck. One lick did the
trick. Father calmly told them to each go to his own seat. The remainder of that
noon hour was spent studying - or pretending to study. The Tracys enjoyed candy
many weeks!
"My sister, Ruth, and her husband, Dr. Kline M. Richardson (both deceased)
each taught near Rochester. Ruth was at Prairie Union, west of the old
fairgrounds and also had the primary room at consolidated McKinley School east
of Rochester. When a young man, Dr. Richardson was principal of McKinley. That
is where their romance started.
"Because so many in our family were Fulton County teachers, you will
understand why I do have so very many memories. . . , Flavilla Tracy concluded
her 11-page letter.
Allene Biddinger talked to Charles Good and submitted the following. Charles
Good came to Talma in 1931 from Warren, Indiana, as a high school teacher of
math, physics, manual arts, and sciences and taught until 1963 when the school
was reorganized. His 32 year of teaching in one system is somewhat of a record.
He was a graduate of Purdue University (1919) and taught five years at Warren.
Lou Grove was Newcastle township trustee when he came to Talma. Housing was a
problem so Mr. and Mrs. Charles Good and their two children (Jim, 5th grade and
Rosalie, 5 years old) shared a double occupancy with the trustee's mother, Mrs.
Simon (Lizzie) Grove, the first year. After Mrs. Grove's death, the Goods
remained in the same location until the April 1974 tornado destroyed the house.
Mr. Good now has a mobile home on the same spot. A son Joe was born in 1932.
Mrs. Good also was a teacher and taught business a couple years during the war.
She is now deceased as is their son, Jim.
Mr. Good was famous for telling ghost stories and sometimes would have to escort
the local kids home at night because of their fear. He remarked about several
larger families and having taught most all their children and later their
grandchildren! Jay long's six or seven, Ethel Smiley's five, Boganwright's six,
Caslow's five, Dick Morris' five, Jack Holloway's four, Harley Mathews' four,
Clarence Pfeiffer's four and many others.
Talma students made a tiger mascot on wheels and Linda Lukens engineered the
painting and decoration.
In a small town melon patches are always a temptation. Charles Good recalls that
one year an especially spunky neighbor boy plugged all his melons and turned
them over so Mr. Good would not notice. Of course all the melons spoiled. The
boy also shot at the cabbages with a BB gun and every time Mrs. Good would be
praparing a cabbage for eating BB shot would fall out of them.
Principals during Charles Good's years at Talma School were Durward Conrad,
Henry Delong, Mrs. Dessa Fultz, Sam Brewer, Walter Jones, Ronald Mallot and
Lloyd Harrell.
Eva Starner Smith recalls skating on the Tippecanoe river was a passtime at
recess for some of the older students.
E. H. Alber drove a hack for Talma for 15, maybe 18 years.
Elmer Zimmerman taught at Talma in 1897, when the town was still known as
Bloomingsburg. In 1896 the town name was changed from Bloomingsburg to Talma.
Teachers at the Talma School before 1903 were Arthur Deamer, Dr. Aaron Bowman,
Ida (Tippy) Scott, Cynthia Cramer Deamer, and Maud Montgomery.
Teachers at the Talma School from 1903 to 1915 were Anna Jones Haimbaugh
(primary), Myrtle Morts Bevilheimer, Elmer Sullivan, W. A. Kaley, J. W. Byrer,
Cleo Hatfield Teeter Nye, Ruth Jones Clymer, Dr. Dow Haimbaugh, Agnes Sharp
Haimbaugh, Dr. Clyde Fish (8th grade), Lloyd Eherenman, Ed Riddle, Frances
Elliott McMahan, Lena Barkman, Flavilla Tracy, Elma Barr Jones, Mary Nellans
Bryant, Loren Bryant, Hobert Rogers, Don Garber, and Clara Mae Robbins. Dr.
Aaron Bowman also taught high school 1904-05.
Hugh McMahan was teaching in Talma 1918 to 1919. In 1926 Willis Bowen was the
high school principal. The high school teachers were Leon Kotterman, Edith Lind
and Josephine Gorman. J. O.Wilson taught 7th and 8th grades. Melita Kiler taught
5th and 6th, Olive Colen taught 3rd and 4th, and Mary Norris taught 1st and 2nd
grades in 1926. Other teachers at Talma after 1915 were Kermit Biddinger, Dutch
Withan, Lena Barkman, Herman Barkman, Mrs. Floyd [Dorothy] Kindig, Walter Jones,
Fred Safford, Deward Conrad, Mark Tucker, Lloyd Harrell, Bill Schroer, and Ron
Malott. Charles Good taught at Talma from 1928 to 1968.
Vance Fenstermaker attended Talma High School 1909-1913. He recalls the hack
carried the grade school pupils to school but the high school students usually
drove a horse and buggy or rode horses to school. "There was a barn behind
the schoolhouse and we were each assigned a stall there. I would drive my buggy
straight into the barn as I reached school and unhitch the horse. We each
carried a sack with hay, corn or oats in it and when lunchtime came we would go
out and feed our horses. Then after school ended for the day, I just had to
hitch up and head for home," said Fenstermaker.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, pp 11-21]
__________
Our young friend F. L. Wagoner is teaching the Bloomingsburg school this
winter. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, December 24, 1875]
1902-03: Roy Jones; M. Montgomery, Asst.
[F.C.H.S. files]
The new Newcastle Township school was completed in 1917. Gymnasium was added
in 1940.
The last school building destroyed by tornado April 3, 1974.
The blooming and cozy appearance of Frank Wagoner's rural college at
Bloomingsburg indicates a regular and daily attendance of "big girls"
and harmony of the fair sex generally.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 20, 1876]
The school at Bloomingsburg is under the management of Mr. J. B. Davidson. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 23, 1876]
Mr. Wagoner, of Ohio, is our school-teacher. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, February 11, 1876]
Abe Bowers will teach at Millark, John Rouch at Prill's and John Davidson at
Bloomingsburg.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, November 3, 1876]
School commenced on April 9th with Miss M. L. Nellans as teacher, and as this
is her first school we hope that she may be instrumental in advancing her pupils
in the paths of usefulness and knowledge.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, April 21, 1877]
The school at this place, Miss Mary L. Nellans teacher, closed last Friday.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, July 7, 1877]
N. J. Clymer is teaching singing in this place.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, September 8, 1877]
Wm. Windbigler has commenced to teach a two month's term of school in this
place.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, September 29, 1877]
F. Montgomery has been selected teacher here this winter.
[Rochester, Sentinel, Saturday, December 1, 1877]
Our school has been in progress for one week and is doing well. F. Montgomery
is teacher.
[Rochester, Sentinel, Saturday, December 8, 1877]
Frank Montgomery, our school teacher is on the sick list. We have a good
school.
[Rochester, Sentinel, Saturday, January 5, 1878]
F. Montgomery is teaching a first-class school in this place.
[Bloomingsburg Items, Rochester Independent, Saturday, January 19, 1878]
Mr. Dover is starting up a singing school here.
[Rochester Independent, Saturday, February 9, 1878]
L. Shaffer's school closed last Friday. . .
[Rochester Independent, Saturday, March 9, 1878]
Miss Clara Rowley [will teach a term of school] at Bloomingsburg. . .
[Rochester Union Spy, Friday, April 12, 1878]
I. Doren is teaching his second term of singing school at this place.
[Rochester Independent, Saturday, April 13, 1878]
Miss Clara E. Rowley is teaching the spring term of school at this place and
is using her utmost endeavors to instruct the young and impress on their minds
the value of education.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 18, 1878]
We hear that Miss Clara Rowley is giving the best of satisfaction with her
school at Bloomingsburg, as is also Miss Allie Edwards, at Black Oak.
[Rochester Independent, Wednesday, May 22, 1878]
Miss Clara Rowley closed a very successful term of school at Bloomingsburg
yesterday afternoon.
[Rochester Independent, Saturday, June 29, 1878]
Wm. Windbigler will teach the fall term of school at Bloomingsburg.
[Rochester Republican, Saturday, August 31, 1878]
Wm. Windbigler is teaching a subscription school here this fall.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, September 21, 1878]
We have not got any one to teach our winter school yet. Will some one apply
for the place that is capable and willing to do his part? Bloomingsburg is not
as hard a place as it once was. . . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 16, 1878]
The school at this place is progressing finely. Mr.Goucher of Leiter's Ford
is teaching... There was a Literary Society organized for the benefit of the
school last week . . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 14, 1878]
The Bloomingsburg Literary Society recently vetoed the "Flat" money
theory.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, January 3, 1879]
The blind Hoover Bros. gave a concert at Bloomingsburg school house last
week. They gave good satisfaction.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, February 15, 1879]
A Card. We would respectfully return thanks to the patrons of the school and
citizens of Bloomingsburg generally, for general courtesies and kindness during
the past winter. . . J. T. Coucher, Teacher.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 22, 1879]
Miss Minnie Stradley teaches at the Grove school; Miss Clary Orr at Sixteen;
G. W. Tipton at Windfall or No. 9; a Miss Rowley at Barkman; Miss Emma Orr at
Dover; Miss Blacketor is teaching the Bloomingsburg school.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 7, 1879]
TALMA HIGH SCHOOL
TEACHERS
The first school was located in a house on the northwest corner at county road
600N and State Road 25. The next school was a two-story brick building located
on lots 9 and 10, south side. In 1903 a new school was built on Highway 25, just
northeast of the former building. The building was all but destroyed by fire the
night before Thanksgiving, Nov. 1915. The new school was built on the same
location and finished in 1917. The school was destroyed by the tornado on April
3, 1974.
1896-97: Prin. E. E. Zolman.
1897-98: E. E. Zolman.
1898-99: Prin. A. L. Bowman.
1901-02: Prin. Arthur Deamer.
1902-03: Prin. Ray Jones; M. Montgomery, Asst.
1903-04: Prin. Maud Montgomery; Clyde Fish, Asst.
1915-16: Lloyd B. Eherenmann, Prin., Math., Sc., 5; Edward Riddle, Eng., Lat.;
Harry Long, Ind. Arts; Edna Umbaugh, Dom. Sc.
1917-18: L. B. Eherenmann, Prin., Physics, Hist.; Lester Laird, Math., Man. Tr.;
Edna Umbaugh, Lat., Hist.; Velma Pletcher, Eng., Dom. Sc.
1918-19: Hugh McMahan, Prin., Man. Tr., Ag., Comm., Arith.; Eunice Ross, Hist.,
Botany; Edna Umbaugh, Lat., Math.; Rosella Stoner, Eng., Dom. Sc.
1929-30: Enrol. (1-8) 143, (9-12) 64. Prin. Leon Kotterman, Soc. Sc., Manual Tr;
Mary Shively, Eng., Lat., Hist.; Chauncy Goodman, Math., Sc., Phys. Ed., Coach;
Mildred Tobey, Eng., Sc., Phys. Ed.; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Ernest Anderson, 5-6;
Annabelle Mentzer, 3-4; M. Olive Coplen, 1-2.
1930-31: Enrol. (1-8) 156, (9-12) 61. Prin. Duard Conrad, Soc. Sc., Lat., Coach;
Harry D. Keasey, Man. Tr.; Mary Shively, Eng., Lat.; Lois E. Purlee, H.E. Biol.,
Com., Arith.; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Herman Barkman, 5-6; Alice Hendrickson, 3-4;
Mildred Goodman, 1-2.
1931-32: Enrol. (1-8) 157, (9-12) 62. Prin. Duard Conrqad, Lat., Hist.; Charles
J. Good, Sc., Math., Man. Tr.; Margaret Mace, Eng., H.E.; Mary McCord, Lat.,
Eng., Math.; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Herman Barkman, 5-6; Evadean Halterman, 3-4;
Ruth P. Gillam, 1-2.
1932-33: Enrol. (1-8) 144, (9-12) 71. Prin. Duard Conrad, Soc. St., Phy. Ed.,
Coach; Mary McCord, Eng., Math., Lat.; Martha Hoge, H.E., Eng., P.E.; Charles
Good, Sci., Math., Ind. A.; Donald Kanouse, 7-8; Herman Barkman, 5-6; Evadean
Halterman, 3-4; Ruth Gillam, 1-2.
1933-34: Enrol. (1-8) 153, (9-12) 70. Prin. Duard Conrad, Soc. St., Phy. Ed.;
Isabell Farry, Eng., Soc. St., H.E., H.; Charles Good, Sci., Math., Ind.A.; Mary
McCord, Eng., Lat., Math.; Clarence Witham, 7-8; Herman Barkman, 5-6; Evadean
Halterman, 3-4; Ruth Gillam, 1-2.
1934-35: Enrol. (1-8) 146, (9-12) 62. Prin. Duard Conrad, Soc. St., Phy. Ed.,
Lat.; Alice Conrad, Eng., H.E., Soc St. H.; Charles Good, Sci., Math., Ind. A.;
Dorothy Dow, Eng., Soc. St.; Clarence Witham, 7-8; Herman Barkman, 5-6; Evadean
Halterman, 3-4; Ruth Gillam, 1-2.
1935-36: Enrol. (1-8) 126, (9-12) 62. Prin. H. E. DeLong, Soc. St., Lat.; Martha
Hoge, Eng., H.E., Phy. Ed.; Charles Good, Sci., Math., Ind. A.; Omer Haimbaugh,
Math., Sci.; Clarence A. Witham, 7-8, Phy. Ed.; Herman Barkman, 5-6; Thelma
Sanders, 3-4; Ruth Gillam, 1-2.
1936-37: Enrol. (1-8) 121, (9-12) 60. Prin. H. E. DeLong, Soc. St., Lat.;
Charles J. Good, Ind. A., Sci.; Omer L. Haimbaugh, Math., Sci.; Martha Hoge,
Eng., H.E., Phy. Ed.; Clarence Witham, Eng., Soc. St., Com., Phy. Ed.; Herman
Barkman, 5-6; Thelma Sanders, 3-4; Charlene L. Safford, 1-2.
1937-38: Enrol. (1-8) 104, (9-12) 61. Prin. H. E. DeLong, Soc. St., Lat.; Chas.
J. Good, Sci., Math., Soc. St.; Omer L. Haimbaugh, Sci., Math.; Martha Hoge,
Eng., H. Ec., Phys. Ed.; Clarence A. Witham, Com. Eng., Soc. St., Phys. Ed.;
Herman Barkman, 5-6; Thelma Sanders, 3-4; Charlene L. Safford, 1-2.
1938-39: Enrol. (1-8) 108, (9-12) 66. Prin. H. E. DeLong, Soc. St., Lat.;
Charles J. Good, Math., Sci., Ind. A.; Omer Haimbaugh, Math., Sci.; Martha Hoge,
Eng., H. Ec., Phys. Ed.; Clarence A. Witham, Com. Eng., Soc. St., Phys Ed.;
Herman Barkman, 5-6; Thelma Sanders, 3-4; Charlene L. Safford, 1-2.
1939-40: Enrol. (1-8) 100, (9-12) 62. Prin. H. E. DeLong, Lat., Soc. St., Phys.
Ed.; Chas. J. Good, Ind. A., Sci.; Omer L. Haimbaugh, Math., Sci.; Martha Hoge,
Eng., H. Ec., Phys. Ed.; Glen D. Law, Com., Soc. St., Engl; Herman Barkman, 5-6;
Thelma Sanders, 3-4; Charlene L. Safford, 1-2.
1940-41: Enrol. (1-8) 87, (9-12) 61. Prin. Mack Tucker, Math.; Chas. J. Good,
Ind. A., Sci.; Glen D. Law, Com., Soc. St.; J. Edwin Perkins, Eng., Soc. St.,
Phys. Ed.; Maxine Royer, H. Ec., Mu., Phys. Ed.; Herman Barkman, 6-7; Thelma
Sanders, 3-5; Charlene L. Safford, 1-2.
1941-42: Enrol. (1-8) 89, (9-12) 49. Prin. Mack Tucker, Com.; Chas. J. Good,
Sci., Ind. A., H.S.; Chas. J. Good, Sci., Ind. A., H.S.; C. O. Lemert, Eng.,
Math.; J. Edwin Perkins, Eng., Soc. St., Lat., Phys. Ed.; Lura Wiggins, Eng, H.
Ec., Mu.; Ruth Keebler, 6-7; Carol Biddinger, 3-5; Charlene Safford, 1-2.
1942-43: Enrol (1-8) 80, (9-12) 42. Prin. Mack Tucker, Com.; Ermal Fishbaugh,
Eng. Sp., Mu.; Dessa Fultz, Eng., H. Ec.; Charles J. Good, End. A., Sci., Math.;
O. C. Lemert, Math., Soc. St., Eng.; Ruth Keebler, 6-7; Carol Biddinger, 3-5;
Mary Lukens, 1-2.
1944-45: Enrol (1-8) 96, (9-12) 45. Prin. Dessa A. Fultz, Lat., H. Ec.; Edith W.
Bailey, Eng., Soc. St.; Helen Baney, Com., Mu.; Chas. J. Good, Math., Sci., Ind.
A.; Kermit Biddinger, 7-8, P.E.; Ruth E. Keebler, 5-6; Iola Nadine Sriver, 3-4;
Mary E. Lukens, 1-2.
1946-47: Enrol. (1-8) 110, (9-12) 47. Prin. S. H. Brewer, Soc. St., P.E.; Dessa
A. Fultz, Eng., H. Ec.; Charles J. Good, Math., Sci., Ind. A.; Ruby Good, Com.,
Patricia L. Parker, Mu., B.; Kermit Biddinger, 7-8; Nadine Sriver, 3-4; Mary E.
Lukens, 1-2.
1948-49: Enrol. (1-12) 176. Prin. Walter Jones, Soc. St.; Dessa A. Fultz, Eng.,
H. Ec., Lat.; Charles J. Good, Math., Sci., Ind. A.; Ronald D. Malott, Com.,
P.E.; Charlotte Leakey, Mu., B.; Kermit Biddinger, 7-8; Ruth Keebler, 5-6;
Nadine Sriver, 3-4; Mary Norris, 1-2.
1949-50: Enrol. (1-6) 102, (7-8) 29, (9-12) 52. Prin. Samuel H. Brewer, Soc.
St., H.S.; Ralph L. Boling, Com., P.E.; Edith M. Carlson, Mu., B.; Dessa A.
Fultz, Eng., H. Ec., Lat.; Charles J. Good, Math., Sci., Ind. A.; Kermit
Biddinger, 7-8; Ruth Keebler, 5-6; Nadine Sriver, 3-4; Mary Norris, 1-2.
1950-51: Enrol. (1-6) 109, (7-8) 29, (9-12) 44. Prin. Samuel H. Brewer, Soc.
St., H.S.; Ralph L. Boling, Com., P.E.; Edith M. Carlson, Mu., B.; Dessa A.
Fultz, Eng., H. Ec.; Charles J. Good, Math., Sci., Ind. A.; Kermit Biddinger,
7-8; Ruth Keebler, 5-6; Nadine Sriver, 3-4; Mary Norris, 1-2.
1951-52: Enrol. (1-6) 114, (7-8) 30, (9-12) 55. Prin. Ronald D. Malott, Com.;
Edith Carlson, Mu., B; Dessa A. Fultz, Eng., Lat., H. Ec.; Charles J. Good,
Math., Sci., Ind. A.; William Schroer, Soc. St., H. S., P.E.; Kermit Biddinger,
7-8; Ruth Keebler, 5-6; Vera A. Conn, 3-4; Mary E. Norris, 1-2.
1953-54: Enrol (1-6) 121, (7-8) 34, (9-12) 52. Prin Ronald D. Malott, Com.;
Dessa A. Fultz, Eng., H. Ec.; Charles J. Good, Math., Sci., Ind. A.; William
Schroer, Soc. St., P.E., H.S.; Edith M. Carlson, Mu., B.; Kermit Biddinger, 7-8;
Ruth Keebler, 5-6; Vera A. Conn, 3-4; Lena Barkman, 2-3; Mary E. Norris, 1.
1955-56: Enrol. (1-6) 100, (7-8) 33, (9-12) 57. Prin. Ronald D Malott, Com.;
Kermit Biddinger, Math., Soc. St., P.E., H.S.; Joyce Bresson, Eng., Sci., H.
Ec., P.E.; Marjory Frederick, Eng., Mu., B.; Charles J. Good, Math., Sci., Ind.
A.; Florence Hill, Eng., Lang.; William Schroer, Soc. St., P.E., H.S.; Clifford
Koch, 5-6; Lena Barkman, 3-4; Mary E. Norris, 1-2.
1956-57: [changes noted in supplements] Prin. Lloyd Harrell.
1957-58: Enrol. (1-6) 85, (7-8) 49, (9-12) 63. Prin. Lloyd W. Harrell, Bus., Dr.
Ed.; Joe A. Barnett, Soc. St., H. S., P.E.; Opal Carpenter, H. Ec., P.E.;
Marjory Frederick, Math., Mu., B.; Charles J. Good, Math., Biol., Phys., Ind.
A.; Doris Hindman, Soc. St., Eng. H.S.; Dorothy Kindig, Eng., Fr.; Clifford
Koch, 5-6; Lena Barkman, 3-4; Mary E. Norris, 1-2.
1959-60: Enrol. (1-6) 79, (7-*0 29, (9-12) 71. Prin. W. Bruce Bland, Bus. Ed.;
Opal Carpenter, H. Ec., P. E.; Marjory Frederick, Mu., Eng.; Charles J. Good,
Math., Ind. A., Donald Lau, Eng., Bus. Ed.; Larry Sparks, Coach, P.E., Soc. St.;
Wm. Snyder, Asst., Coach, P.E., Sci., Dr. Ed.; Gene Fisher, 5-6; Lena Barkman,
3-4; Mary E. Norris, 1-2.
1961-62: Enrol. (1-6) 91, (7-8) 22, (9-12) 69. Prin. W. Bruce Bland, Math.; Dean
Day, Coach, P.E., Soc. St.; Marjory Frederick, Engl; Charles Good, Math., Ind.
A.; Dana Hartong, Soc. St., Sci.; Nancy Hostetler, Comm.; Jane McIntire, H. Ec.,
P.E.; Catherine White, Mu.; Gene Fisher, 5-6; Lena Barkman, 3-4; Mary Norris,
1-2.
[F.C.H.S. files]
Teachers: Lloyd Eherenman was principal 1913-18; Louisa Medora McMahan; Mary
Lukens taught grades 1 and 2, 1947-48 Edith Haimbaugh Smiley, 1918-19; Omer
Haimbaugh, math and coach, 1935-40; Flavilla Tracy, temporary, spring of 1908;
Clyde Fish,
grades 4, 5, and 6, [1908 ?]; Ruth Whittenberger
Hack drivers: Boke Starner; Delmar Hudkins; George Entsminger.
[Frederick Eherenman Family, Lloyd Eherenman, Fulton Co Folks, Vol. 2, Willard]
See Bloomingsburg School #7; Kewanna School
TALMA HIGH SCHOOL
ALUMNI
1903
Wilbur Cox, 1228 Columbus, Elkhart IN 46514
1907
Grace Hisey
Edna Carey, 920 Wabash Ave., Rochester IN 46975
1910
Omar Waltz
1911
Leah Bass, Fort Worth TX 33011
Eda Waygandt, Box 96, Union Town OH 44685
1913
Nora Brockey, Cardinal Nursing Home 1121 E LaSalle St., So Bend IN 46617
c/o Farmers & Merchants Bank, Rochester IN
1914
Eva Grass, 319 S. Center St., Apt 1, Plainfield IN 46168
Marjorie Bryant, c/o Wayne Smith R. 7 Box 501-C, Rochester IN 46975
Mr. & Mrs. Raymond Rogers
1915
Eloise Long, 1555 N. Main 217E, Frankfort IN 46041
Ralph Lewis
Vivian Umbaugh, c/o Don Umbaugh, 6859 20B Rd, Argos IN 46501
1916
Donald Coplen, 4607 W 60 Terrace, Mission KS 66222
1917
Ralph Jones, R. 2, Argos IN 46501
1919
Eva Killian, Brewster Center 264 North Mohican St, Brewster OH 44613
Ruby White, 117 W. Catalpa Dr., Mishawaka IN 46544
1920
Omar Cox, 626 Baldwin St., Elkhart IN 46514
Isabelle Peterson, R. 1 Co Rd 900E, Mentone IN 46539
Deceased
Tural Kessler
1921
Leo Long, 308 S. Broadway, Peru IN 46970
Lena Barkman, 1569 Aztec Circle, Naperville IL 60540-1205
Charles Essig, 1015 Pontiac St., Rochester IN 46975
Howard T. Horn, 13706 G 98 Av, Sun City AZ 85315
1922
Bernice Zolman, 309 Arctura Ave. S., Clearwater FL 33515
Audra Troyer, 15601 Montroe Ave., Cleveland OH 44111
Virl Fore, 1511 Roosevelt Dr. Noblesville IN 46060
Grace Chapman, 1836 E. Beardsley Ave., Elkhart IN 46514
Maude Cox, 301 N. Morgan, Mentone IN 46539
1923
Vera Mathewman, 1822 Milburn Blvd., Mishawaka IN 46544
Mary Pittman, 230 Stanley, Mishawaka IN 46544
June Kalmbacher, Tippecanoe IN 46570
Donald Jefferies, #26 Monestead, Decatur IN 46733
Carl Batz, 5011 Grand Ave., Western Springs IL, 60558
1924
Ignota Lee, 64 Cherokee, Sebring FL 33870
Donald Barkman, Green Croft Center, Apt. 705, 500 S. Main, Elkhart IN 46514
1925
Helen Brown, Box 115, Mentone IN 46539
Mary Konneck, 4 Seasons Estates Lot 35, Rochester IN 46975
Howard Tobey, 1201 Jefferson St., Rochester IN 46975
1926
Winfred Quigley, 2656 Fairway Ave. S., St. Petersburg FL 33712
Robert Messmore, 2867 Westbrook Ave., Indianapolis IN 46241
Laurence Jackson, 7148 Grand Ave., Hammond IN 46320
Chloe Housour, 156 Locust Apt 109, Elkhart IN 46514
Roy Dick, R. 5, Rochester IN 46975
Dorothy Paig, Lawrenceburg IN 47205 [moved]
Ernest Anderson, 1603 S. Maple St., Urbana IL 61801
Harold Fenstermaker, 2638 N. Fair Oak Ave., Tucson AZ 85712
1927
Opal Kunce, 1529 Silver St., Elkhart IN 46514
William Maxwell, 924 Lincoln Rd., Kokomo IN 46901
L. G. Alber, R. 5 Box 102
Rochester IN 46975
Wilson Mercer, R. 7 Lake Manitou, Rochester IN 46975
1928
Homer Graffis, 1303 Westchester Dr., North Manchester IN 46962
Artimus Coplen, R. 5 Box 437, Rochester IN 46975
Dorothy Schrer, 2120 N. Bainbridge Center Rd, Caloma MI 49098
Helen Murphy, 108 Murray St, Chila Vista CA 92010
1929
Reba Isley, R. 1 Box 254, Silver Lake IN 46982
Edith Milkovith, 2225 Olmsted R., Kalamazoo MI 49001
1930
Hope Waldo, 8803 Madison Ave., Apt. 108 D Bldg 2, Indianapolis IN 46227
Palmer Warren, 3429 Brentwood Ave., Indianapolis IN 46236
Willard Cook, 502 Keller Ave., North Judson IN 46366
Robert O'Neal, R. 1 19988 S. Hickory Rd., Argos IN 46501
Carey Landis, R. 2 Box 135, Claypool IN 46510
Aubrey Kelly, R.1 Old U.S. 31 S., Plymouth IN 46536 [moved]
Leroy Norris, R. 1 Box 349, Mentone IN 46539
Harold Utter, 204 N. Tucker, Mentone IN 46539
Beulah LaCrosse, 1454 Longfellow, So. Bend IN 46615
Thurle Alber, 428 W. 7th St., Rochester IN 46975
Alvin Finney, 1512 Arrowhead Dr., Rochester IN 46975
Mr. & Mrs. Delbert Hunter, R. 2, Rochester IN 46975
Mr. & Mrs. Von Kochenderfer, 314 Westwood Lane, Rochester IN 46975
Everett Rathfon, R. 2, Rochester IN 46975
1931
Dale Cook, 212 Autumn Trail, Pt. Orange FL 32079
Rosella Doran, 918 Park Dr., Lebanon IN 46502
Mary Mowiser, 335 W. Church St., Argos IN 46501
William Walters, R. 1, Mentone IN 46539
Annabelle Cotner, 429 Mathews, Kendallville IN 46755
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Miller, R. 2 Box 69, Akron IN 46910
Mr. & Mrs. Lavoy Hoffman, R. 2 Box 244 A, Rochester IN 46975
John McGowen, 1829 Hudson St. Corpus Cristi TX 78416
1932
Adraen Daran, Palum River Mobile Park R. 2 Box 1665 D-8, Naples FL 32079
Alonzo Haimbaugh, Star R. 1 Box 270, Inverness FL 32650
William Witham, 530 Main St., Dyer IN 46311
Howard McGowen, 20639 Michigan Rd., Argos IN 46501
Gerald Sullivan, R. 1, Argos IN 46501
Lavers Utter, R. 2, Rochester IN 46975
Doris Craig, R. 1, Yettersburg [Veedersburg ?] IN 47567
Mary Engler, Box 62, Dayton IN 47941
1933
Rev. Vonald Hoffman, 18 A Court M Laurel Broom, Bricktown NJ 08723
Louise Caslow, 1020 Mozart St., Tell City IN 47586-1739
Ruth Sedan, R.3 Box 180, Archbold OH 43502
Louis Perkins, R.1, Mentone IN 46539
Merle Wilson, Mentone IN 46539
Walter Safford, R.2 Box 130, Akron IN 46910
Levoy Partridge, 2600 High St. Rd, Logansport IN 46947
Chloris Barkman, R.5 Box 536, Rochester IN 46975
1934
Dorothy Bowmman, 301 Emery Dr., Daytona Beach FL 32018
Velma Gardner, 7401 E. 19th Rd., Argos IN 46501
Herbert Kubley, Argos IN 46501 [moved]
Wilvin Teel, R.1 Box 96B, Milford IN 46542
Dale Wagoner, PO Box, Akron IN 46910
Charlene [Mrs. Earl] Bailey, R.5 Box 24, Rochester IN 46975
Lorene Foor, R.5 Box 271, Rochester IN 46975
Margaret Masters, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Keith Walburn, R.1 Box 357, Rochester IN 46975
Tressa Eiler, 1555 N. Main St., c/o Wesley Manor, Frankfort IN 46041-1199
Elton R. Nelson, R.3 Box 91, Milace Minn. 56353
Harold Kubley, 308 Catherine St., Washingto IL 61571
1935
Eli Partridge, 472 N. Harbor Dr., Indian Rock Beach FL 33535
Vernon Towne, R.3 Box 281A, Zionsville IN 46077 [moved]
Trella Kennedy, Pilgrim Manor, Plymouth IN 46563
Marquerite Sperry, 19170 W. 6th. Rd., Plymouth IN 46563
George Utter, 421 S. Walnut, Plymouth IN 46563
Glendola Alber, 728 W. 7th Rochester IN 46975 [deceased]
Dorothy [Mrs. Clarence] Horn, 1220 Washington St., Rochester IN 46975
Elizabeth Rogers, 1310 Jackson Blvd., Rochester IN 46975 [moved]
Gerald Miller, R.6 #5 Partridge Rd., Springfield IL 62707
William Warren, 3441 E. Van Buren St., Phoenix AZ 85008
Daniel Caslow, 14343 N.E. Siskiyou Crt., Portland OR 97230
1936
Irene Caslow, 28 Lee Ave., Apr 101, Washington DC 20013 [moved]
Harold Alspach, PO Box 31304, Temple Hills MD 20748-0304
Harold Alspach, PO Box 31304, Temple Hills MD 20748-0304
Francis Rogers, 3525 Mumper Rd., Springfield OH 45502-8630
Faye Miller, 525 S. Main, Bourbon IN 46504 [moved]
Arguil Sumpter, R.2, Plymouth IN 46563
Margaret Southers, R.1 209 83 Elm Rd., Tippecanoe IN 46570
Wilford Teel, $.5 Box 208, Warsaw IN 46580
Mr. & Mrs. Marion Leininger, R.2 Box 150, Akron IN 46910
Byron Gordon, R.5 Box 517, Rochester IN 46975
Ignota Vandergrift, Movile Ranch SP. 27 18250 N., Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix AZ
85032
1937
Velma Horn, Mentone IN 46539
Harold Myers, 10089 Charles St., Osceola IN 46561
Florence Flory, R.2 58640 Peach Rd., So. Bend IN 46600
Hazel Kercher, R.1, Roann IN 46974
Maleta and Charles Borden, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Mary & Fred Oden, R.5, Rochester IN 46975
Ruth Fisher, 69628 67th St., Hartford MI 49075
Donald Onthank, R.3, Newton IA 50208
1938
Jean Walburn, R.6 Box 963, Pensacola FL 32507
John Caslow, 2200 NE 33rd Ave. Apt 17-D, Ft. Lauderdale FL 33305
Fern Swihart, 202 W. Maple Argos IN 46501 [deceased]
Helen Meyers, Mentone IN 46539
Mary Pirka, 710 N. Mason, Mishawaka IN 46544
Mark T. Virgil, 521 Napoleon Blvd., So. Bend IN 46600
Doris Eshelman, R.1 Box 272, Rochester IN 46975
Clovis Peterson, R.5, Rochester IN 46975
Louise Roth, 427 Dountdess, Polas Verdes Est. CA 90274
1939
Rosella Benefeil, 5650 Fall Creek Rd., Indianapolis IN 46220
Mary Dinwoodie, 354 Green Acred Dr., Valparaiso IN 46383
Elnora Craig, R.1, Mentone IN 46539
Eva Smith, Mentone IN 46539
Charles Rogers, PO Box 198, New Carlisle IN 46552-0198
Raymond Kalmbacher, R.1, Rochester IN 46975 [moved]
Mr. & Mrs. Maurice Peterson, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
1940
Mary Gray, 4701 Ballard Rd., Lot 111, Ft. Myers FL 33905
Albert Safford, 6002 Ralston Ave., Indianapolis IN 46220-2354
Kathryn Kubley, R.1, Argos IN 46501 [moved]
Martha Johnson, Bourbon IN 46504
Charles Alber, 267 Main, Rochester IN 46975
Keith Hisey, R.5 Box 51, Rochester IN 46975
Martha Jefferies, 1217 Lake Shore Dr, Rochester IN 46975 [moved]
Bertha Johnson, R.5, Rochester IN 46975
Frances & Ernest Miller R.4, Rochester IN 46975
Robert Teeter, R.7 Box 401, Rochester IN 46975
Vera Terry, R.1 Box 244, Tell City IN 47985
1941
Orville Long, 6207 18th St E., Ellington FL 33532
Richard Smiley, R.2, Argos IN 46501
Dale Chapman, Ireland Rd. R.2, Mishawaka IN 46544
Louise Ganshorn, 1547 Cove Place, Mishawaka IN 46544
Helen Cox, R.1 6689 Old US 31, Plymouth IN 46563
Herbert Myers, 10924 Lincoln Hwy, Plymouth IN 46563-9076
Emil Grass, 108 S. Tuxedo Dr., So Bend IN 46614
Eileen Bryant Kaley, 26073 Lake Wood Dr., So Bend IN 46628
Mr. & Mrs. Harold Meiser, R.5 Box 105, Rochester IN 46975
Mr. & Mrs. Wayne Mikesell, R.5 Box 209, Rochester IN 46975
Merle Long, 212 W Riverside Dr #A-6, Jeffersonville IN 47130
Betty Norris, 4135 N. 57th Way, Phoenix AZ 85000
1942
James Rogers, R.1, Mentone IN 46539
Rollie Surguy, 524 Nancy St., Warsaw IN 46580
Robert Squires, 417 Dalgreen Ave., Ft. Wayne IN 46800 [moved]
Gene Tippy, 2312 W LaFountain St., Kokomo IN 46901-1465
Mr. & Mrs Maurice Coplen, R.2, Akron IN 46910
Calvin Mikesell, R.5 Box 357, Rochester IN 46975
Virginia Weidner, 404 W. 9th, Rochester IN 46975
Joe Boganwright, 1301 Tripoli Trail, Grand Prairie TX 75050
June Miller, 1119 N. 46th St., Phoenix AZ 85008
1943
Mr. & Ms. Oliver Clayburn, 1253 Twp Rd 1536 R.1, Ashland OH 44805-9736
Edward King, 1308 Madison, Rochester IN 46975
Merle McGowen, R.5 Box 486, Rochester IN 46975
Mary Jane & Alonzo McIntyre, 1302 Jackson St., Rochester IN 46975
Lowell Pfeiffer, 04361 Winfeild Rd, Winfeild IL 60190
1944
Dorothy McPherson, 130 Crestwood Lane, Lexington TN 38351
Betty Hutchinson, R.2, Bourbon IN 46504
Rosa Welch, 33105 Woodmont Dr., So Bend IN 46614
Donn Nichols, 3725 Place Drive, Ft. Wayne IN 46806
Wendell Grass, R.5 Box 170, Rochester IN 46975
Sheldon Mikesel, R.5, Rochester IN 46975
Elvira Reed, R.6, Rochester IN 46975
Donna Neil, 400 N. Washington St., Brazil IN 47834 [moved]
Harold K. Long, 44323 Hanford Apt 4, Plymouth MI 48170
Frances Rosseau, 1412 S. Van Couver, Kennewick WA 99336
1945
Mrs. Erie Bontager, 1717 Morton St., Elkhart IN 46514
Betty Scott, R.1, Tippecanoe IN 46570
Kenneth Smiley, 319 Michall St., Logansport IN 46947
Betty DeMein, 518 W 5th St., Rochester IN 46975-1224
Robert Green, 726 Wabash Rochester IN 46975
Richard Notz, 1303 Madison, Rochester IN 46975
Robert Long, Space 71, 1119 A 46th St., Phoenix AZ 85008 [moved]
Bob Herendeen, 745 21st St., Santa Monica CA 90402
Arthur D. Peterson, PO Box 60993, Sacramento CA 95860
1946
Lois Everhart, 2946 Ashley St., Kingsport TN 37664 [moved]
Donald Long, 633 BExford Dr., Perrysburg OH 43551
Julia Faulkner, R.1, Bremen IN 46506
Harold Long, R.2, Etna Green IN 46524
Don Baker, R.1, Tippecanoe IN 46570
Bonnie Shafer, 1621 Ranch Rd., Warsaw IN 46580
Paul Ridenour, 4115 Fellows, So. Bend IN 46600
Bonnie Brown, 1420 N McCann St., Kokomo IN 46901
Mellvin Collins, 1407 Washington, Rochester IN 46975
1947
Lillian Hutchins, Box 2197, 1100 S. Broadway Apt 107, Lantana FL 33460
Lillian Porter, PO Box 237 Byrdston TN 38549-0237
Von Perkins, 20680 Louise Lane, So Bend IN 47714
Richard Duzenbery, Box 498, Akron IN 46910
Carol & Virgil Cooper, R.5, Rochester IN 46975
Claude Jameson, R.5 Box 182, Rochester IN 46975
Franklin Long, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Don Snipes, R.5 Box 148, Rochester IN 46975
Mary & Robert Kale, 515 W. 6th. St., Rochester IN 46975
1948
Eugene Riffle, 4450 Cosner, Lake Station IN 46405
Maxine Yoder, 29853 R.6 Riveira Dr., Elkhart IN 46542
Juanita Evans, 8805 Huguenard Rd., Ft. Wayne IN 46818-9406
Alma Lemeron, R.1 Box 245, Winamac IN 46969
Arnold Snipes, R.4 Box 22, Rochester IN 46975
Mickey Eaton, 5965 Chandler Dr., Rockford IL 61111
Donna Walton, 2227 N. Northcrest, Peoria IL 61604
Charlotte Massey, 28 Delgado Ln, Not Springs Ark 71909-3709
Raymond Shoemaker, 25128 Carson St Apt L, Hemet CA 92343 [moved]
Carlton Clemans, 9113 W. Ave. E-8, Lancaster CA 93534
1949
Wayne Baker, Menton, IN 46539
Leonard Staldine, 19335 Montross DR., South Bend,IN 46600
Mary Sulivan, R.1, Denver, IN 46926
Barbara Hunter, R.1, Roann, IN 46974
Sue & Joe Barts, R.1, Rochester IN 46975
Shirley McCreary, R.3 Box 394, Escanaba MI 49829
Chuck Waltz, 211 W. Corona Rd., Tuscon AZ 85706
1950
Marilyn Miller, 12835 SW 21st St., Miami FL 33175
Wilma Outler, 1809 Edison St., Griffith IN 46319
Jim Smiley, Argos IN 46501
Marilyn Miller, Inwood St., Elkhart IN 46514 [dup of first name in list?]
Joe Good, PO Box, Mentone IN 46539
Fred Richardson, R.1, Tippecanoe IN 46570
Charles F. Green, 1408 W. Tanager Dr., Warsaw IN 46580
Carol Crawford, 19770 Gilmer St., So Bend IN 46614
Joe Shivley, R.2, Akron IN 46910
Betty Crissinger, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Bob Duzan, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Charlotte & Herman Mathews, R.1, Rochester IN 46975
Donna & Jeff Olinger, R.1, Rochester IN 46975
Linda Kurtz, 1115 Olive Branch L.N., San Jose CA 95120
1951
Barbara Reese, 108 W. Liberty, Bourbon IN 46504
Lowell Long, 640 N. Franklin, Mentone IN 46539
Gene Stavedahl, Mentone IN 46539
Carole Florian, R.4, Walkerton IN 46574
Ivory Snipes, 6508 Goodrich Dr., Ft. Wayne IN 46808
Lowell Hisey, R.5 Box 90, Rochester IN 46975
Kerit Zent, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
1952
Richard Utter, Mentone IN 46539
Sarita Foegley, 52200 Lilac Rd., So Bend IN 46628-4014
Robert Kramer, R.7, Rochester IN 46975
Sidney Alber, R.5, Rochester IN 46975
Carol Azbell, R.1, Scipio IN 47273
Geneva Hildabrand, 426 Main St., Attica IN 47918 [moved]
Joyce Morgan, R.4 Box 451, Marion IL 62959
Roger Goodman, R.7 Box 218 Lanting Lane, Long View TX 75610
Bertie Eisert, 5280 Scarsdale Circle North, Reno Nev 89509
1953
Marilyn Phillips, 5365 Troy Urbana Rd, Casstown OH 45312
Evelyn Walker, 19446 Ethan Allen Lane, Westfield IN 46047
Juanita Utter, 17034 S. Michigan, Argos IN 46501
Dean Cox, 626 Baldwin St., Elkhart IN 46514
Joan Tharp, 59321 Mayflower Dr. So Bend IN 46619
David Leininter, R.2 Walnut St., Akron IN 46910
Lola & Harold Collins, 1216 Jackson Blvd., Rochester IN 46975
Marilyn & George Halterman, R.1 Box 266, Rochester IN 46975
Marion Holloway, R.5 Box 481, Rochester IN 46975
Barbara Myer, 4504 Congress Dr., Midland MI 48640
Dixie Mitchell, PO Box 24431, St. Paul MN 55124-0431
Nancy Rarrick, 3524 Lakeside Dr., Rockwell TX 75087
Shirley Overmyer, 3764 Central Park #13, Las Vegas NV 89109 [moved]
1954
Phyllis Hall, 6433 Buttonwood Dr., Noblesville IN 46060
Annabel Marshall, R.1, Mentone IN 46539
Jim Meredith, Mentone IN 46539
Sandra & Robert Daake, R.5 Box 183, Rochester IN 46975
Bill Richardson, 7522 S. 10th St., Kalamazoo MI 49002
1955
Nancy Ebersole, 7 W. McKendimen Rd, Vincentown NJ 08088
Jeanette Neureuther, 4958 Tim Tam Trail, c/o J. Clementson, Blasdell NY
14219-2634
Noran Wagoner, 20247 N. 31, Westfield IN 4674
Harold Melton,4920 N 1000 E, Brownsburg IN 46112-9702
Carolyn Griffis, 105 W. Jackson St., Bourbon IN 46504
Harold L. Smith, R.1 County Lane Estates, Knox IN 46534
Sue Curtis, R.7 River Lawn Addn., Warsaw IN 46580
Don Duzenbery, 803 E. Rochester St., Akron IN 46910 [moved]
Marlene & Kenneth Bathrick, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Carol & Donald Feltis, R.5, Rochester IN 46975
Kermit Grass, 1500 Mitchell Dr., Rochester IN 46975-2441
Kay & Arnold Horn, R.5 Box 411, Rochester IN 46975
Dale Ladson, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Norma & Larry Murray, 500 Clay St., Rochester IN 46975
Patsy Utter, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Lyle Vandermark, R.2 Box 208, Rochester IN 46975
Kenneth Grass, R.1, Twelve Mile IN 46988
1956
Mable Paul, R.1, Grovertown IN 46531
Fred Kindig, R.1, Mentone IN, 46539
Mr. & Mrs. Larry Stavedahl, R.1, Mentone IN 46539
Albert Snipes, 510 W. Prairie St., Warsaw IN 46580-4426
Martha Melvin, R.1, Columbia City IN 46725
Janice & Phil Pratt, R.2 Box 243, Rochester IN 46975
Sara Bunch, 68814 So.Shore Dr., Edwardsburg MI 49112
1957
Jerry Duzan, R.3 Box 48, St. Augustine FL 32084
Steve Coplen, 106 Estells Ct., Florence KY 41042
Karen Fleck, Lakeland Hills, Reynoldsburg OH 43068
Robert Jordan, 438 Kelly St., Hobart IN 46342
David Busenburg, R.1, Mentone IN 46539
Ronnie Jones, 1906 Rd 225 West, Warsaw IN 46580
Monte Sriver, 19880 Yoder St., So. Bend IN 46614
Deloris Feldman, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Nettie & Larry Fisher, R.5 Box 168, Rochester IN 46975
Mitzie Savage, R.1, Rochester IN 46975
Larry Simpson, R.5 Box 318, Rochester IN 46975
Mr. & Mrs. Kenneth Grass, R.1, Twelve Mile IN 46988
Ted Stavedahl, 3330 Magnums Way, Redding CA 96003-1873
1958
Loretta Miller, 944 Wisteria Buena Vista, Lakeville MA 02346
Linda Fuller, 5331 Troy Rd., Springfield OH ?5502
Larry Mikesell, 6724 Waycross Dr., Ft. Wayne IN 46816
Sharon Beaman, 1604 N. McCann, Kokomo IN 46901
Charles Coplen, R.2, Akron IN 46910
Jack Horn, R.2 Box 321, Akron IN 46910
Mary Jo Wilson, Box 144, Fulton IN 46931
Robert Deamer, R.6 Box 45 Shorewood Estates, Rochester IN 46975
Patricia & Mark Kistler, 504 Fulton, Rochester IN 46975
Bill Rogers, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Jesse Wagoner, 1025 Oak Lane, Algonquin IL 60102-2355
Danny Wenger, 7971 S. Lamar St., Littleton CO 80123
1959
Jerry Busenburg, R.2 Box 94, Shipshewana IN 46565
Carolyn McElreath, R.2 c/o Howard Reed, Rochester IN 46975
Doris & Robert Newcomer, R.1 Box 56, Rochester IN 46975
Mr. & Mrs. Richard Peterson, R.2, Rochester IN 46974
Mr. & Mrs. Robert Peterson, R.4 Box 23, Rochester IN 46975
Janet & Michael Weber, R.7, Rochester IN 46975
Janalene Hopping 2805 Airway Rd, Dice Acre, Muncie IN 47304
Shirley Wolf, 2643 Thunderbird Trail, Lambertville MI 48144
Karen Danielsem, Star Route 4578, Spooner WI 54801
Don Jurdan, 801 S. Harrison Apt 711, Olathe KS 66061
John Mathews, 4707 Birdwell Lane, Bossier City LA 71110
Eugene Scott, Shaclow Canyon Rd., Brea CA 92621
1960
Catherine Keele, 7 Wisteria Lane, Hamilton Square NJ 08690
Frances Griner, 4502 Rushing Rd., Lakeland FL 33805
Mary Unzicker, Glaypool IN 46510
Janet Ewing, 4.1 Box 245, Etna Green IN 46524
Karen Guffey, 1024 E. Ft. Wayne St., Warsaw IN 46580
Joan Kay, 230 S. Roosevelt, Warsaw IN 46580 [moved]
Nancy Alt, R.9, Columbia City IN 46725
Bernice Kline, 1024 Applewood Rd, Fort Wayne IN 46825-3706
Jerry Finney, R.2, Akron IN 46910
Dora Jones, R.2 Box 334A, Akron IN 46910
Mr. & Mrs. Dale Gordon, R.5 Box 413, Rochester IN 46975
Wally Pfeiffer, R.2 Box 342, Rochester IN 46975
Kathryn Young, 1569 Aztec Circle, Naperville Lane IL 60540
1961
Nancy Derck, R.1 Box 4, Antwerp OH 45813
Nancy Trump, R.1 Box 180 Tippecanoe IN 46570
Charles Ellison, R.2, Akron IN 46910
Donna & Richard Arven, R.5 Box 29, Rochester IN 46975
Jerry Eaton, R.t Box 510, Rochester IN 46975
Joyce & William Lewis, R.5 Box 259, Rochester IN 46975
Mike Pfeiffer, R.6 Box 65, Rochester IN 46975
Jeanette Shoemaker, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Jim Dick, 623 South 56th St., Omaha Neb. 68106
1962
Kathy Leath, 101 Little John Court, Nitereill FL 32578
David Coplen R.1 24279 CR.27E, Elkhart IN 46514
Devon Rensberger, 254 W. Indiana Ave., Nappanee IN 46550
Louise Grillum, R.6 Chapman Lake Park Warsaw IN 46580
Dennis Miller, R.7, Warsaw IN 46580 [moved]
Cheryl Rose, R.2, Warsaw IN 46580 [moved]
Jon Smith, R.7, Warsaw IN 46580
Gary Mikesell, 745 Hickory Lane, Berne IN 46711
Sharon Sterk, Athens IN 46912
Juanita Stinson, R.4 Kewanna IN 47939
Ronald Bryant, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Ray Duzan, R.5, Rochester IN 46975
Linda & James Erp, R.5 Box 423, Rochester IN 46975
Linda Weaver, 913 E. Clover St., Rochester IN 46975
Katherine Rus, 2309 Paradise Peak Cn, Baldwin MO 63011-1806
Ershel Carlile, 1716 College, Rochester IN 46975
1963
Haila Oneal, 567 Weber Rd., Greenfield IN 46140
Kathleen Carter, Williams St., Argos IN 46501
Dotti Mays, 1200 Egbert Ave., Goshen IN 46526
Gary Harvey, 19130-1 Tarman St., New Paris IN 46533
Don Craig, R.1, Mentone IN 46539
Linda Gothan, R.1, Mentone IN 46539
Karen Holloway, Box 101 E. Jackson St., Mentone IN 46539
Janet Swanson, R.9 Box 301, Warsaw IN 46580
Sharon Puterbaugh, 16 Jean Ave, Apt. B, Peru IN 46970
Jim Barkman, Box 186-A, Rochester IN 46975
Roy Calvert, 1314 Franklin St., Rochester IN 46975
Mary Dittman, R.2, Rochester IN 46975 [moved]
Judy Duncan R.5, Rochester IN 46975
Jim Johnson, R.5, Rochester IN 46975
Gene Koch, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Terry Leininger, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Barry Peterson, R.2, Rochester IN 46975
Mr. & Mrs. Keith White, R.5 Box 506, Rochester IN 46975
Alice Vining, 22 W 365 Hackberry Dr., Green Ellyn IL 60137
[Talma High School Alumni Mailing List]
TAYLOR SCHOOL [ - - - - - ]
Quite a sensation was raised at the Taylor School house, two miles north of
here, on last Sunday evening. Some of the boys who had been prosecuted for
misconduct some two weeks berfore, concluded that they would have revenge, and
some three or four went for Aaron Packer, and used him rather rough for a short
time until assistance came. Prosecute them again and keep it up until they learn
to behave.
[Bloomingsburg Crumbs, Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, April 19, 1879]
TIOSA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL [Richland Township]
[photo] Tiosa School 1909. The teacher, Florence Meiser, is in the center of the
back row by the window. Front row: unknown, Charlie Foster, Mildred Wright,
Lelia Barnhart, Forrest Clymer, unknon, Alta Alderfer Hiatt, Marie Barnhart,
Glenn Alderfer Hartman. Row 2: unknown, Vern Alderfer, Carl Alderfer, unknown,
Roy Hubbard, Marie Wynn, Pearl Wright Bowen (mother of Gov. Otis Bowen), unknown
- face hidden, Eva Hubbard, Ethel Foster. (Photo donated to FCHS by Eva Glenn
Alderfer Hartman, South Bend.)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 68, p. 111]
[photo] Tiosa School grades 1-2-3 in 1918-19. Front Row: Margaret Halterman,
Raymond Wynn, Dennis Foor, Helen Cook, Ray Metzger, Lee Metzger, Edward Miller,
Floyd Kindig. Row 2: Martha Eash, Gladys Kale, Ralph Conaway, Allen Turner, Dean
Rhodes, Opel Anderson, Omar Anderson, Edna Halterman. Back Row: Robert Lewis,
Cleon Kindig, Helen Beck, Edna Beck, Edna Eash, Donald Miller, Charles Kindig,
Ethel Foster - teacher. Reflected in the windows are the Tiosa Brethren Church
(left) and Mrs. McNeely's house (right). (Photo: Dennis Foor)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, p. 76]
[photo] The second Tiosa school, grades 1-8, taken in 1922. The teachers are
from left to right: Robert Long, Catherine Leonard Howard, Dean Mow, custodian
Esra Leedy. Student identifications are as yet incomplete. (Photo from Rochester
Museum).
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 8, September, 1972, No. 3, p. 32]
[photo] Tiosa School 7th & 8th grades, Apr. 10, 1924: Front: Joe Conaway
(Ralph's little brother). Front row: Bernice Walter Cummins, Mable Kale, Edna
Beck, Ralph Conaway, Donald Morgan, Martha Eash, Gladys Kale, Margaret Halterman
Newman. Row 2: Robert Long - teacher, Louise Baldwin, Russell Dunfee, Edna Eash,
Robert Lewis, Helen Beck, Fred Smith. (Photo donated to FCHS by Phyllis Pearson)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 62-63, p. 26]
MORE ON WHIPPOORWILL AND TIOSA SCHOOLS
Dennis Foor recalls that in 1916 Sand Hill, Red Brush and Tiosa one-room schools
all consolidated into a new Tiosa School on a five acre lot. This was such a big
playground that the kids playing in the northwest corner could not hear the bell
but would see the other children going in the school and thus knew the bell had
rung. The bell was a large brass round alarm bell about 12 inches diameter. It
was struck by a metal arm that hit the outside of the bell and would go
"clack clack clack." The bell was in the hallway by the drinking
fountain. There was a pile of rails on the northwest corner of the school yard
and the kids would build a house of them and cover it with grass.
Dennis attended Sand Hill School and was sent to Tiosa after the consolidation.
Several people opposed building the new school at Tiosa. Parlee Foor (Dennis'
father), Orville Miller, John Beck and others went to Indianapolis to try to get
the new school built closer to Sand Hill where they wanted the new school. Still
others wanted to keep the old Tiosa School, such as Harrison Wynn and Dr. L. C.
Meek.
In the fall of 1923 pupils from Germany School and all those living west of 50W
(west of Sand Hill) went to Whippoorwill School. So Dennis was consolidated into
a different school again. He only attended old Whippoorwill School three months
and the new Whippoorwill School opened Dec. 1, 1923, so he went to yet another
school. The new Whippoorwill School cost $20,000 to build but was used only
seven years.
Why was a new Whippoorwill School built and used for only seven years? There
were several prominent and influential people who wanted a new school at
Whippoorwill, including Bill Miller, Harry Overmyer, and Chancey Hiatt. The
trustee, Howard Reed, wanted to wait a couple of years and put all the children
in Richland Center School. Several people opposed building a new Whippoorwill
School. But those who wanted a new school won out and the new Whippoorwill was
built.
Dennis remembers attending a meeting at the new Whippoorwill School around 1930
in which Richland Township trustee, Oscar Scott, pointed out the defects of the
school, though it was only a seven-year-old building. There was mortar coming
out from between the bricks. It was said that this was the fault of the
architect who insisted that they use the mortar that had sat and dried out over
noon hour instead of making a new batch. And the flat roof leaked because the
drain holes had filled with leaves and then formed a lake on the roof and froze
and pushed the roof away from the wall and split the roof. J. Howard Reed, the
trustee who had built the school, had Dave Beehler the janitor clean the leaves
out. But the new trustee, Oscar Scott, hired a new janitor, George Morris, and
he did not clean out the leaves so the roof began to leak.
In 1926 the Richland Township trustee moved the Whippoorwill and Tiosa 7th and
8th grades to Richland Center School. Their desks were moved too. Dead Man's
College was closed then too. That was the first year that high school students
were allowed to ride the school buses. Chancey Hiatt and Bill Miller were the
bus drivers for Whippoorwill, while Jess Waltz and Frank Ball drove buses for
Tiosa area.
Thus Dennis Foor was consolidated out of three schools. He attended Sand Hill
for one year, then went to Tiosa six years 1917-23, then attended old
Whippoorwill three months, then new Whippoorwill the rest of the year, then went
to Richland Center High School.
When they remodeled Richland Center School in 1923, the bell was removed from
the tower. The bell was a huge "dinner bell" with a clapper inside. It
was so heavy it would take three or four men to move it. It was placed outside
the janitor's room above the entrance. Some high school boys stole it and buried
it in a field, where it lay until it was plowed up by Charlie Morgan. His plow
caught the edge of the bell and it ruined his plow.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 51, pp 40-42]
The young orators of this community are holding debates at the Tiosa school
house.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, December 25, 1873]
Rev. A. Miller, of the Dunkard faith preached an interesting sermon. . . at
the Tiosa school house on last Sunday evening. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, February 19, 1874]
The Tiosa school is under the management of W. H. Riley, assisted by Miss
Minnie Ball. . .
--- Teachers institute at Tiosa, Ind., Jan. 13, 1877. . . [names mentioned]:
Supt. Myers, E. C. Martindale, Miss Minnie Ball, F. E. Zechiel, W. H. Riley, J.
L. Martindale, Miss McMahan, E. T. Henderson, Mr. Carr, W. A. Dillon, C. S.
Knott, J. W. Heffley.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, January 20, 1877]
Wm. Riley is teaching an excellent school at this place. As teacher, Riley is
a success.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, February 3, 1877]
The Tiosa school, taught by Sarah McMahan, is far superior to that of the
spring term.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, September 29, 1877]
Mr. Wm. Riley will teach the winter term of school here.
[Tiosa News, Rochester, Sentinel, Saturday, November 17, 1877]
Joint Institute Richland and Newcastle Townships. Tiosa, March 8, 1879. . . .
[names mentioned]: Trustee Dillon, of Rochester, Superintendent Myers, Mr.
Gould, Miss McMahan, Mr. Bury, C. B. Pendleton, J. L. Martindale.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, March 15, 1879]
Miss Ella Barb's school closed this week . . .
Miss Sallie McMahan has been chosen teacher for our winter term. She has taught
here before and gets an unanimous vote.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, October 25, 1879]
1916-18: George Riddle
1929-30: Enrol. (1-8) 48. 8 mos. Nellie Newhouse, 4, 5, 6; Mary Lenore Smith, 1,
2, 3.
1930-31: (Com. 10-8) 40. Nellie Newhouse, 4, 5, 6; Mary Lenore Smith, 1, 2, 3.
Cont. Com. (1-6) 26. Nellie Newhouse, 4-6; Mary Lenore Smith, 1-3.
1931-32: Enrol. (1-6) 26. Nellie Newhouse, 4-6; Mary Lenore Smith, 1-3.
1932-33: Discontinued.
[F.C.H.S. files]
TIOSA HIGH SCHOOL [Richland Township]
Located NW corner of 200E and 700N.
Built between 1876 and 1883. Closed in 1933
[photo] diploma of Otto Smith showing photo of class: The first senior class
of Tiosa High School in 1902. Row 1: Otto Smith, Faye Wright, Milo Mechling (he
later became a teacher at Tiosa, probably about 1904). Row 2: Albert Carrithers,
Metta Kinley, Clarence Mow, Raymond Anderson, Salene Palmer, Harry Giddinger.
The signatures at the botton are C. A. Pendleton - trustee, Orion M. Miller -
principal, and W. S. Gibbons - county superintendent.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 20, pp 20-21]
[photo] Ona Anderson Hedrick had a new white dress with a white ribbon for a
belt and whte hightop shoes in 1917.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 20, p. 22]
[photo] Old Tiosa school in 1912. Retha Pratt was the teacher. Row 1: Daurcy
Wright, Don Alexander, Lloyd Mechling. Row 2: Ella Riddle, Grover Warren,
Evadean Leedy, Orris King, Fay Wolford, Fred Barnhart, James Palmer. Row 3:
Jessie Wright Mertens, Ona Anderson Hedrick, Medrith Wright, Mabel Foster, Mabel
Wright, Hazel Sharp Andrews, Mary Ruth Meek, Rethal Drew Osborne, Effie Borden
Suddith. Row 4: Madge Alexander, Mabel Shelly Palmer, Lela Barnhart, Carrie
Sharp, Elizabeth McClure Pheister, Freda Bott Irvine, Lala Baldwin Overmyer,
Geneva Baldwin Leedy. (Ona Hedricks' photo)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 20, p. 24]
TIOSA SCHOOL
By Shirley Willard
The old wood frame school at Tiosa was built between 1876 and 1883. It was
located on the northwest corner of county roads 200E and 700N, north of the town
of Tiosa, where Bill Lewis lives now in a house he built.
The school had two rooms, one upstairs and one down. Grades 1 to 4 and the
primer class were in the lower room, while grades 5 to 8 went upstairs. The
upstairs was used for a high school until 1902, when they were transferred to
Richland Center school.
Ona Anderson Hedrick remembers sliding down the banister and playing baseball
with a borad for a bat. There were outdoor toiltes, of course. Commenceent for
eighth graders was held in the Tiosa Brethren Church. Ona had a new white dress
with a white ribbon for a belt and white hightop shoes in 1917.
In 1910-11 some of the Sand Hill pupils were taken to Tiosa school on Henry
Alderfer's hack. Oran Leedy was one of the pupils and says the Sand Hill kids
went back to Sand Hill School the next year.
Tiosa teachers were Selena Palmer (Scott) 1910-12 primary grades, Hugh Guise
1910-11 upper grades, Retha Pratt 1912-13 and second half of 1914-15 primary,
Ruth Whittenberger 1913-14 primary, Milo Winn 1912-13 upper grades, Billy Foster
1913-15 upper, Carmen Palmer 1914-15 primary. When Billy Foster was elected
trustee of Richland Township in the fall of 1914, he promised Carmen Palmer he
could make her the principal and teacher of the upper grades, so when he took
office in January 1915, she moved upstairs. Retha Pratt came to finish the year
as primary teacher. Billy's son Orie Foster was principal 1915-16 while Carmen
Palmer went back downstairs to teach primary again; then she went to Richland
Center to teach 1916-18. She came back to Tiosa to teach 1918-22. Carmen (Mrs.
Otto Kath) says she graduated from Richland Center which offered only three
years of high school, so she had to go to Rochester high school for the fourth
year. Because Richland Center was not accredited, she had to go to Rochester an
extra semester. Then she went to Valparaiso College for a summer course and
became a teacher after passing the exam. That was all the education required to
become a teacher at that time.
Ruth Foster taught the primary grades 1916-17. George Riddle was principal
1916-18, teaching the upper grades. He was principal when the school was moved
into the new building at the end of 1916.
Tiosa's new brick school opened in January 1917. It had three rooms above ground
level with an open stairway up to them. These were the class rooms for three
teachers, one for grades 1-2-3, one for grades 4-5-6, and the principal who
taught grades 7 and 8. In the basement were only two play rooms, one for boys
and one for girls, though they sometimes played in the same rooms. There was
also a furnace room and two restrooms. The school was located about
three-quarters mile south of the old school and was across the street from the
Tiosa Brethren Church. When it oppened in January, the children had to walk on a
board across the muddy yard to reach the school. George Riddle was the first
principal at the new Tiosa school. Lee Beehler [taught] grades 4-5-6, Ruth
Foster grades 1-2-3. Other teachers were Clara Mae Robbins 1918, Grace Mowrer,
Ethel Foster, Clifford Koch. Dean Mow was principal and 7th and 8th 1918-22,
Carmen Palmer Kath taught 4-5-6, and Ethel Foster taught 1-2-3 1918-19. Robert
Long was principal 1922-23, Evadean Leedy 1-2-3 1926-28. Otto Beehler was
principal 1928, and Otto's wife, Bessie Beehler, taught grades 4-5-6. Leo
Beehler was principal 1929. Nellie Newhouse taught 4-5-6 1929-33.
The seventh and eighth grades and their desks were moved to Richland Center
school in 1926. Grades 1 to 6 continued at Tiosa until 1933 when they too were
transferred to Richland Center and the Tiosa school was closed. Eighth grade
graduation was held at the Richland Center Methodist Church until the new gym
was built in 1940. Neither the graduating eighth graders nor the seniors wore
robes. The girls wore white dresses and the boys wore suits.
Frank Ball drove a horse-drawn hack to Tiosa. From about 1928-35 Harry Osborn
drove a motor bus to Tiosa and Richland Center. Because he drove two routes, 5
or 6 kids waited at Tiosa school while he took the busload home, then came back
for them and took them home. After the Tiosa seventh and eighth graders were
transferred to Richland Center, Vernon Scott also drove a bus to Tiosa, where
the big kids got on Osborn's bus to go to Richland Center.
Janitors at Tiosa were Jim Hubbard, later Ezra Leedy, and the last several years
of Tiosa school's existence, Henry Overmyer.
Tiosa school playground included a teeter-totter. The kids played tag and other
running games more than anything else. Tiosa did not have a ball team to play
against other schools.
After closing in 1933, Tiosa school was torn down and the bricks were used to
build Babcock's locker plant (now Babcock's Marina) at Lake Manitou. Jim Lewis
built a house on the foundation of the school and still lives there. It is a
coincidence that Catherine Osborn (Mrs. Robert Lewis) attended Tiosa school and
her father drove the bus, and now her two sons live on the sites of the two
Tiosa schools.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 20, pp 22-25]
Corrections: Richland Township held high school in Tiosa school, separated by
a partition from the grade school. High school was on the east side of the
partition and grade school on the west side. There was a rcitation room on the
south, according to Hazel Conaway.
The high school of 1902-93 was also held in Tiosa school, but there were only
three seniors, all girls: Faye Gordon, Gertrude Packer (still living in Culver),
and Lefa Wright, older sister of Rena Wright, who is known to many as a
Rochester high school English teacher. Unlike the first graduating class, these
girls did not receive a fancy pictorial diploma, just a piece of paper, really
no diploma at all.
The next two years Richland Township high school was held at the County Line
school, but it was called Richland Center High School. Rev. Clyde Walters
writes: "Charley Emmons was the high school teacher. The new high school
was in the process of construction at Richland Center, the grades of Richland
Center being transported to Tiosa grade school, Grand View school, and Dead
Man's College. Err Biddinger and Howard Dickey were the total senior class of
1904. Jesse Dickey, Milo Wynn, and Lawrence Hackett were the graduates of 1905.
"I Had my first year of Richland Center high school at County Line
building. There were 18 of us in the first year of high school: nine girls and
nine boys. Seven boys and one girl graduated in 1906 from that class of 18
beginners: Guy Babcock, Charles Maple, Charles Meiser, Edgar Moore, Harry
Osborn, Etta Overmyer, myself, and Harold Weir. Our second year of high school
was held in the new building at Richland Center. High school occupied the second
floor and the grades were on the first floor."
[FCHS Quarterly No. 21, p. 38]
First graduating class of Tiosa High School, 1902: Otto Smith, Faye Wright, Milo
Mechling, Albert Carrithers, Meta Kinley, Clarence Mow, Raymond Anderson, Selene
Palmer, Harry Biddinger.
[Harry Everett Biddinger, Biddinger Family, Fulton Co Folks, Vol 2, Willard]
1896-97: F. M. Fultz.
1897-98: Arthur Deamer.
1898-99: Arthur Deamer.
1901-02: O. M. Miller.
Otto Beehler taught at South Germany School before 1922, was principal at
Whippoorwill, then principal at Tiosa 1928 while his wife Bessie taught fourth
and fifth grades at Tiosa. Then Otto taught seventh grade at Columbia School in
Rochester 1928-40 and grade six at Lincoln School in Rochester 1928-40 and grade
six at Lincoln School 1940-43.
[Mary Rosella Beehler Reinhold, William Amel Sausaman, Fulton Co Folks, Vol. 2,
Willard.]
Lee Beehler taught at Sand Hill one room school 1919-10 and 1912-16 in
Richland Township, then was principal at Tiosa 1929.
Teachers: William Foster; Otto Beehler, principal 1928; Bessie Beehler, 4th
& 5th grades; Lee Beehler, principal, 1929
TIOSA SCHOOL [Tiosa, Indiana]
WOULD STOP SALE OF SCHOOL BUILDING
John B. Williams, of near Tiosa, Friday filed a petition in court to prevent
William Foster, trustee of Richland township, from selling the old school
building at Tiosa. When the township officials recently completed a new school,
they decided to sell the old building, but Williams now claims that the
structure belongs to him, asserting that it reverts back with the land. The land
reverted back to the farm, when it was given up for school purposes. The
building is probably worth $400. The case will be decided in court.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, January 12, 1917]
TIPPECANOE SCHOOL [Rochester Township]
See Ernsperger School
TIPTON SCHOOL [Newcastle Township]
UNION SCHOOL [Rochester, Indiana]
The Union School has been in session over two weeks. . . The Board of
Instructors consists of Principal, N. L. Lord. Assistants Miss Carrie Dinsmore,
Mrs. Mary P. Fuller and Miss Mary Lakin.
There are now in attendance about 180 pupils, and the number will doubtless
reach 200 before the middle of the term.
[Rochester Mercuty, Thursday, November 6, 1861]
Union School. The spring term of this School will commence Monday, April 20
1863 . . . W. H. Hazelton Principal, Miss J. M. Tinsley, Intermediate
Department. Miss Lucy B. Clouse, Primary Department. Rochester, March 5th, 1863
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, March 5, 1863]
Union School was located about 100 feet north of the corner of 150S and
Wabash Road on the west side of the Wabash Road just north of US-31 By-pass
south of Rochester. Union was probably built about 1870, was used as a school
until 1918, and was torn down in 1964. A hole was dug and the bricks were shoved
in and buried by Charlie Ogle with his Allis Chalmers tractor with a front end
bucket.
Lucy Blackburn wrote: "My father, the late William Blackburn, was born in
1870 and he received all of his schooling at Union. I Remember stories he used
to tell about various happenings. I recall him telling how much difficulty they
had in keeping a teacher, as many of the children, especially the older boys,
were hard to control. He told how many they had in one year, and finally they
got a young man by the name of Doc Douglas who was able to control the big kids.
Later they had Alwilda Edwards, who proved to be a very good teacher. She was
later married to Jud Dillon and after his death she married the late Henry
Barnhart.
"I started to school there in 1901 and my first teacher was Lillian Mow
(Mrs. Charles Sturken). Other teachers I recall were Bell Jewell (later Mrs.
Fenstermaker) her sister Ida Jewell who later married Dr. F. C. Dielman, Faye
Hultz (Mrs. Carl Van Trump) 1904, Edna Sheets, Charles Hower, Della Miller
1906-08, Ada Southard (Mrs. Otto Sherbondy) 1909-11, Marie Foglesong 1915 (?),
Fern Wright (Mrs. Glen Hoss) 1912-13, and Fred Deardorff 1911-12.
"There was no bus or horse-drawn hack. Everyone walked to school and many
of the teachers even walked from Rochester. If the weather was bad, the teachers
often roomed with various people.
"They always had what they called a school director. This man would see
that the school was clean for the fall opening, and that fuel and other supplies
obtained. The one-room school was heated by a pot-belly stove in the middle of
the room. My father and the late Bruce Lowe would take turns being director (no
pay) for many years.
"One fond memory I have is the big dinner on the last day of school. All
parents would come, bringing all kinds of good food, which would be placed on
boards laid on top of the seats for tables. Following the dinner there would be
a program given by the children, and report cards distributed. Usually school
would be out the latter part of March."
Other teachers were Elva Snyder Wagoner 1915-16, Mazie Davis 1917.
[Unpublished article by Shirley Willard]
UNION SCHOOL [#6] [Rochester Township]
The farmers in the neighborhood of Union School House on the Michigan Road
are trying to establish a Grange; we believe it has proved a failure so far.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 15, 1873]
Union school will open on next Monday, with Miss Sallie McMahan as teacher,
this being her seventeenth school, and her fifth term at Union; but we were
reliably informed that she is going to leave off teaching this fall, and going
to Sanantonia, Texas. . . . we cannot refrain from congratulating Mr. A. Ultz on
securing such a prize.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, April 9, 1874]
A Mr. Hoover from Ohio will train the young ideas at Union this winter, Abe
Bowers will swing the birch at the Saw-mill school, Miss Maggie Blacketer will
dust the jackets in the new district near Wm. Davidson's and John Davidson will
"rule" the young Antiochers.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, December 3, 1875]
On next Monday, the 16th, our friend W. E. Smith, better known as Joe Smith,
will commence teaching the fall term of school at the Union school house,
situated a short distance south-east of Rochester . . . He has taught some two
terms heretofore. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, September 13, 1878]
Miss Mary Sperry will teach the Sprinkleburg school this winter, A. F. Bowers
at Union, and Curg Rannells at Mt. Zion.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, November 15, 1878]
The Rochester township Teachers' Institute, conducted by Trustee Cates, was
held at Union school house on last Saturday. Almost every district was
represented. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, January 17, 1879]
Della Miller went to Rochester College and got a teacher's license. She
taught at Green Oak 1904-06 and at Union School south of Rochester 1906-08. . .
. She came back home the next year and taught at Screech Owl one-room school
west of Rochester for five years 1910-15.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 58, p. 28]
Teachers: Laura Virginia McMahan completed her schooling there, and later taught at the same school; Cora Pownall, 1898-99; Belle Jewell Fenstermacher in 1901; Lillian Mow Sturken in 1901
UNION TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS [Union Township]
[photo] Union Township teachers about 1905. Front Row: Elmer Cook, Blanche
Baldwin, Edna Talbott, Clyde Henderson. Row 2: John Gorsline, John Lisey, Floyd
Leasure, Frank Collins, Roy E. Cannon, Earl Heimburger, Albie Patty. (Photo
donated to FCHS by Mildred Sparks Tomlinson)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 45, p.72]
[photo] Teachers of Union Township 1916-17. Front row: Dola Garman, Louise
Gorseline (Collins), Chloe Ewing (Johnson), Dottie Reese. Middle row: Theresa
Weir, Mrs. A. C. Wright, Beatrice Black (Felder), Rayne Miller, June Willoughby.
Back row: Eldon Walters, Arthur Felder, Olvyn Troutman, A. C. Wright, Plaudia
Enyeart, Van Tuyl Gillespie. (Photo: Robert Miller)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 48, p. 77]
The first school building in Union Township was built in 1840. It was a log
cabin.
The township was divided into three school districts on July 25, 1840. District
#1 was constructed on land donated by Stephen Bruce. In 1844 District #2 built
their first school house on land donated by James A. Carter. Both buildings were
made of hand-hewn logs.
THE MONGER SCHOOL
Compiled by Banjamin Barrett Fort
Union Township is situated in the western part of Fulton County and contains an
area of 42 square miles. On account of the level character of the land much of
it was originally classed as swamp land and a large amount of artificial
drainage has been necessary to save and render fertile and valuable thousands of
acres of land.
Prior to the year 1837 the territory now constiting Union Township remained in
the possession of the Indians and Chief Kewanna was one of the 30 Indian chiefs
as frontiersmen in Union Township and no white man had come to invade their
hunting grounds. Pioneers John Troutman, Michael Troutman, Thomas Barnett and
Isaac Cannon purchased tracts of government land in this township in 1836 and
brought their families in 1837 for permanent occupancy and to begin the labor of
converting the land into farms. There were others who came immediately afterward
to unite with them in this common cause.
For several years after the first white settlers came to Union Township their
only roads were Indian trails. One of these (now State Road 17) branched off
from the Michigan Road at a point about eight miles from north of Logansport and
led in a northwesterly direction to the shores of Kewanna Lake, a favorite
camping ground and trading post used by the early French and Indian traders.
Located in the extreme northwestern part of the township this was the location
where a treaty was signed with the Indians and Chief Kewanna in 1837 removing
the Potawatomi Indians from the district. Now known as Lake Bruce, it received
its name from the Stephen Bruce family that settled there in 1837 and made the
first improvements.
The early white settlers in Union Township were interested in education for
their children. On July 25, 1840, trustees met and divided the township into
school districts and shortly afterwards a log school house was erected by the
citizens a mile west of the present site of Kewanna. District school trustees in
1840 were Joseph Clayton, James Maxey, and Mark Moore for District 1; Jacob
Curtner, John Shoup and Stephen Bruce for District 2; Junior Lathrop, Greenup
Troutman, and Joel H. Davis for District 3. (Quoted from Kingman's 1883
Historical Atlas of Fulton County, Indiana, pg. 54.) District Number One
included the northeastern part of the township District Number Two the
northwestern part of the township; District Number Three, and a short time later
District Number Four, to include the south half of the township where the first
school in District Number Three was erected in 1841 near Kewanna. In 1842 the
first school in District Number Two was erected on land donated by Stephen Bruce
near Lake Bruce. In 1844 the first schoolhouse in District Number One was
erected on land presented to the township by James A. Carter at Bruce Lake
Station.
By 1844 there were 166 pupils taught in Union Township in the different school
districts. Township funds without a tuition fee were not sufficient to cover the
expense of teaching but parents, because of the desire to educate their
children, found a way.
The log school houses in the 1840's had slab seats, puncheon floors and six-foot
fireplaces, for stoves and furnaces were not yet made for such purposes. The
building had a shake roof, held on by weight poles. Union Township in Fulton
County in the 1840's had considerable swamp land, and in this marsh was the home
of thousands of muskrats, so on nice warm days, when the marsh was frozen, all
the large pupils, boys and girls, would be out spearing rats. Therefore, when
they came to school again it was in evidence we need spend no money for perfume.
In the 1840's the countryside in Union Township was heavily timbered with
hickory, walnut, oak, ash, elm and other varieties. The walnut trees which were
burned would today sell for more than the farms. Educational privileges were
meager but promising. There was no need of truant officers to compel children to
attend school. Children were glad to have the opportunity to go to school, but
there was public money for only three months in a year. A well-qualified lady
teacher would get 75 cents to $1.50 per week, and board around with the pupils.
Many of the children walked two or three miles to school, part of the way
through the forest.
By 1851 there were now eight school districts in Union Township. Many of the log
school houses had by now been remodeled into frame buildings as neat and
comfortable school houses into which school was supposed to be conducted six
months of the year. The revised Indiana State Constitution of 1851 laid a tax on
all people to provide an education for the young boys and girls of the
respective townships in all the counties in the state of Indiana.
The story of the development of the county school system is one of increasing
progress from the earliest schools. Shortly after the dawn of the century
prominent educators laid before the people of the rural communities the system
of consolidated elementary schools which had been devised after careful study
and experiment. The advantages of the consolidated school lay in the fact that
not only could the best accommodations for the children be supplied but also
more specialized teaching could be secured, making it unnecessary for one
teacher to supervise the work of eight grades as was necessary under the small
school systems.
By 1922 Union Township had undergone many changes. Kewanna by 1900 had witnessed
its first high school graduating class at the local school constructed in 1891.
By 1916 Kewanna school had deteriorated to such an extent a new school had to be
constructed in 1917. According to the Kewanna Herald Sept. 20, 1918, some of the
township schools had become obsolete and from four of the ten township schools,
the children were being hauled to Kewanna to attend school. Those schools closed
at that time were Ireland, Mt. Carmel, College Corner and Scotland. The township
schools that hadn't consolidated by 1918 were Jubilee, Lake Bruce, Prairie
Grove, Bruce Lake Station, Russell, and Monger.
Fulton County was fortunate to have as county superintendent of schools John C.
Werner during the period when the era of consolidated schools dawned. During the
years of his service as county superintendent of schools 1907-13 four
consolidated schools were built in the county situated at Athens, Tiosa, Mount
Olive, and the McKinley school at Rochester.They were added to the list of six
comparatively new high schools at Akron, Grass Creek, Fulton, Kewanna, Leiters
Ford and Richland Center already built in the county.
The rapid building of consolidated schools within such a relatively short period
of years brought forth quite a bit of complaint from the taxpayers of the
county. By 1918 the county superintendent of schools, Thomas T. Berry, was
unable to secure the funds for any enlargement of the system on broad lines. He
did, however, build the new Woodrow School in Rochester Township in 1917.
Consolidation had been considered for sometime in Union Township between Monger
School and the Russell School to favor all the pupils and the need in the
township to support jointly only one school in the area. The Russell School was
located on State Road 14 at 775 West where the Pinhook Grange Hall is presently
located. It was agreed upon that area students one year would attend the Russell
School and the next year the Monger School. In 1922-23 Monger School classes
were discontinued and then students attended Russell School with Mildred Britton
as the teacher. In 1923-24 the reverse took place with Mildred Britton the
teacher at Monger School, and Russell School was not in session.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 49, pp 54-56 and pp 68-69]
UNION TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
Memories of Union Township schools continue in this issue.
According to the 1883 Historical Atlas of Fulton County, Union Township was
divided into three school districts July 25, 1840, and shortly after the first
log schoolhouse was erected a mile west of Kewanna. This would be about a half
mile south of Ireland School on the Robert Miller farm.
District no. 1 included sections 1, 2, 3, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15; its
trustees were James Maxey, Joseph Clayton, and Mark B. Moore. District no. 2
included sections 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 16, 17, 18; its trustees were Jacob Curtner,
John Shoup, and Stephen Bruce. District no. 3 included the southern half of the
township; its trustees were Junia Lathrop, Greenup Troutman, and Joel H. Davis.
In 1841 District no. 4 was formed from a section of District no. 3, and a
schoolhouse was erected in section 26. That would be about a mile east of
Kewanna near the later Scotland School. The first schoolhouse in District no. 1
was erected in 1842 on land donated by Stephen Bruce. In 1844 a similar building
was erected in District no. 2 on a lot donated by James A. Carter. (This school
was at first known as the Carter School, later as Bruce Lake Station.) On Aug.
28, 1844, Vincent McCoy, treasurer of Union Township, reported that the township
had received tuition of $22.25 from the County Commissioners and $12.81 from the
Treasurer of Fulton County, and that there was due the township $55.81 on sundry
notes. In that year the total number of children attending school totaled 166,
and the revenue being insufficient, the deficiency was made up by private
parties.
The revised Indiana Constitution of 1851 provided tax support for schools and
made the schools free to all. At that time Union Township was divided into eight
school districts but unfortunately the atlas does not name these schools.
The 1876 Indiana Atlas shows seven schools in Union Township and while it does
not give their names, we know they are Lake Bruce, Munger, Davis, College
Corner, Ireland, Polecat, and Scotland. No doubt Kewanna had a school in town
too but this is not shown in the 1876 atlas.
The 1883 Historical Atlas of Fulton County shows the same schools as the 1876
atlas plus four more: Bruce Lake Station, Prairie Grove, Mt. Carmel or Slick,
and Kewanna or district no. 5 on the southwest corner of South and Toner
streets. (South Street is two blocks south of Main Street.) That makes 11
schools in Union Township.
The 1907 Fulton County Atlas shows 12 schools in Union Township. Russell and
Jubilee are new, while Slick or Mt. Carmel and Polecat are gone. It shows
Kewanna School at the north side of town where it is now, but it also shows a
one-room school at the west edge of Kewanna on the south side of the Main Street
just west of the cemetery. As no one seems to remember a one-room school in this
location, we wonder if perhaps this was an error. 1907 is not so long ago but
what someone should remember.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 48, pp 65-67]
UNION TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
There were 14 schools in Union Township: Bruce Lake, Bruce Lake Station, Munger,
Jubilee, Polecat, Prairie Grove, Scotland, Davis,Russell, Slick or Mt. Carmel,
Ireland, College Corner, Kewanna, and an unidentified school (District No. 6) on
800W about a mile south of Kewanna. Also, Greenland School was just across the
road in Pulaski County, so children from Union Township attended it.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 44, p. 47]
UNION TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
There were 14 schools in Union Township: Jubilee or Polecat - District No. 1,
Bruce Lake Station or Carter - District No. 2, Ireland - District No. 3, College
Corner - District No. 4, Scotland - District No. 6, Jackson or Davis - District
No. 7, Monger or Munger - District No. 8, Prairie Grove - District No. 9, Slick
or Mt. Carmel - District No. 10, Russell, Lake Bruce, Kewanna (which was
District No. 5?) and an unidentified school east of Kewanna on the south side of
250S across from the T formed with the Tamarack Road.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 45, p, 59]
1921-22 UNION TWP. TEACHERS
Catherine Crabill Kough found the following article while researching in the
microfilms of the Kewanna Herald, dated Stpt. 9, 1921:
"Here is the official line-up of the schools of Kewanna and Union Township
which opened Monday morning: Kewanna School - A. Carl Wright, principalj June
Willoughby, assistant principal; Eleanor Murphy, instructor; Maude Conrad, music
and domestic science; Vernie Bowen, lmanual training and 8th grade; Elmer Cook,
6-7; Jessie Teter, 4-5; Helen Gould, 2-3; Delilah Kingery, primary and first
grade. Township schools: thomas E. Reed, Jubilee; Nellie Hendrickson, Prairie
Grove; Ruth Graham, Russell; Lora Hoover, Monger; Ella Koenig, Bruce Lake
Station; Florence Steinke, Lake Bruce. Hack drivers: L. W. Wilkinson for Ireland
vicinity; Tone Wilson for Slick vicinity; Henry Eiseman for College Corner
route; Albert Bruce for Scotland route; Bud Rans for old Davis District,
northeast. Charles Showley and Steven Fansler haul to Lake Bruce and Eli Woodcox
hauls to Monger."
Nov. 14, 1921, Kewanna Herald: "Miss Florence Steinke, teacher at the Bruce
Lake School announces that a Box and Pie Social will be given at that school
Tuesday night, Nov.15th."
[FCHS Quarterly No. 45, pp 59-60]
VAN TRUMP'S SCHOOL [Rochester Township]
Debating Club at Van Trump's School House has been organized for weekly
discussion during the winter.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 21, 1863]
WAGONERS STATION SCHOOL [Miami County]
Also called Hopewell School
We attended Sabbath School at Wagoner's Station school house last Sabbath, and
were much pleased to see how well it was conducted.
[Wagoner's Station Clippings, Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, April 17, 1873]
Our school opened this week with a good attendance, and under the skillful
management of Miss Emma Robbins [who] has won for herself the approbation of
most of the people in our district, having taught three terms of school here
before. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 15, 1873]
We learn that Miss Robbins is opposed to the Singing Club holding their
meetings in the school house, but we can hardly believe it, for we have
entertained a very high opinion of her heretofore, and do not think she would be
so selfish as to grumble about having to sweep the floor once a week when she
gets $2.40 per day for doing it. - J. Yost Wheatley.
[Wagoner's Station News, Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 29, 1873]
Miss Lida Stradley is going to be a school marm.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 29, 1873]
A school meeting was held at this place, and Frank Cunningham was elected to
teach the term. He proposes to teach for $1 per day, and also boards himself in
the bargain. Pretty cheap.
The singing school was reorganized last Thursday evening. J. A. Wertz conductor.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, March 26, 1874]
Mr. Frank Cunningham is teaching the school at Hopewell. He is a pleasant,
intelligent young man, well fitted for his position, and we predict for him a
brilliant career. -J. Yost Wheatley.
[Wagoner's Station Chips, Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, May 14, 1874]
G. D. Jameson is our school teacher. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, November 12, 1875]
WALNUT SCHOOL [Marshall County]
A Miss Reynolds, of Plymouth, is the teacher elect of our public school for the
spring and summer session.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, April 18, 1872]
WALTON SCHOOL [Rochester Township]
Teachers: J. S. Rannells
WAYNE SCHOOL [#9] [Wayne Township]
Located at NE corner of 600W and 725S.
Built between 1883 and 1907.
__________
Persons who have an ear for music should attend the singing school at the
Wayne school house, and hear Prof. Studebaker give instructions in vocal music.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Friday, April 2, 1875]
The Wayne school is under the control of M. C. Cooper. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, February 10, 1877]
Teachers: Willie Nickels; Sarah Ellen Julian.
WAYNE TOWNSHIP SCHOOL [Wayne Township]
SCHOOL HOUSE BURNS
School house number four in Wayne township burned to the ground Sunday night.
The loss will be over $700. It was insured for $400. The cause of the fire is
unknown.
[Rochester Sentinel, Monday,August 17, 1914]
WEBBER SCHOOL [ - - - - - ]
There was no preaching at the M.E. Church on Sunday, the 9th inst. in
consequence of the minister having to hold the regular quarterly meeting at the
Webber School House, 9 miles north-west of here . . .
[Fulton Splinters, Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 22, 1875]
WHIPPOORWILL SCHOOL [Richland Township]
Located at NE corner of 200W and 500N
Built between 1876 and 1883. Another source reports that it was built in 1880.
Still another source reports that it was built in 1916 by Milo Cutshall,
contractor of Akron. [Jacob Cutshall Family, Marie Cutshall Hand, Fulton Co
Folks, Vol. 2, Willard]
Closed in 1933.
__________
[photo] Whippoorwill School 1893, Teacher George Marshall. Back row l-4:
Frank Steininger, William O'Blenis, Dave Beehler, John Marshall, Vern Alexander.
Fifth row: Rose Hassenplug, Lydia O'Blenis, Charles Mow, Milo Steininger, Jay
Trimble. Fourth row: Emma Miller, Bertha Van, Martha Miller, Nettie McClure,
Mollie Olds, Jet Alexander. Third row: Hattie McClure, Lydia Miller, Marie
O'Blenis, Hattie Alexander, May Briney, Charles O'Blenis. Second row: Elbe
Beehler, Elbe Hassenplug, Pearl Mac Alexander, Bert Mac Alexander, Bert
Overmyer, Lola Steininger. First row: Lizzie Burkett, William C. Miller, Milo
Meehling, Clarrie Alexander, Mamie Overmyer, Elbe Adamson.
[FCHS Quarterly Vol. 8, September 1972, No. 3, p. 27]
[photo] Whippoorwill School c. 1903. Back Row (numbers 1-8): Elmer Burkett,
Clyde Easterday, Fred Armstrong, Lee Beehler, Arthur Dillon, Sarah O'Blenis,
Edna Beehler, May Zink. Middle Row (numbers 9-16): Mary Beehler, Floyd
Easterday, Arlie Steininger, Dell Zink, Ethel Trimble, Bessie Beehler, Ethel
Easterday, Clem O'Blenis. Front Row (numbers 17-26): Clyde Beehler, Ida Beehler,
Louise Armstrong, Katie Wynn, Marie Trimble (born in 1897), Carl Alderfer, Ray
O'Blenis, Willie Marshall, Lee Alderfer, Frank Marshall. Actually it looks line
no. 1 - Elmer Burkett is in the middle row, and no. 9 - Mary Beehler is in the
front row. Sarah O'Blenis born in 1888, is the mother of Eloise Cook, who lent
this photo.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, p. 63]
[photo] "Whippoorwill school March 1, 1905, C. L. Mow, teacher" is
printed on the slate. Front Row: Clarence Mow - teacher, Fred Miller, Clyde
Beehler, Kline O'Blenis, (next 8 children are seated) Harvey Miller, Lee
Marshall, Grace Herbick (Steininger), Dean O'Blenis, Earl Beehler, Ruth Beehler
(Nellans), Esther Beehler (Stone), Robert Reed, (last 2 boys are standing)
Claude Easterday, William Wynn. Middle Row: Frank Marshall, Dean Mow, Lee Mow,
Mary Beehler (Thompson), Ruth Ellis, Martha Miller, Clem O'Blenis (behind0, Ida
Beehler (Utter), Claude Marshall (behind), Anna Kerler (Weir), William Miller,
Katie Wynn (Personette). Back Row: Floyd Easterday, Bessie Beehler (Barkman),
Minnie Miller, Ethel Easterday (Kindig), Willis Davis, and Clyde Mow. Built
before 1883, this school closed in 1933 and the children went to Richland
Center.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, p. 64]
[photo] Whippoorwill School Feb. 22, 1907. Front Row: (3 girls with slate):
Sarah Marshall O'Dell, Alta Beehler Rouch holding slate, Madge Corbett Becker.
Row 2: Kline O'Blenis, Blanche Wynn Butler, Clara Munn Keesey, Ruth Beehler
Nellans, unknown, Grace Herbick Steininger, Otto Beehler, Earl Beehler, Alva
Fisher, Claude Easterday. Row 3: Bob Reed, Clyde Beehler, unknown, Anna Kerler
Weir, Archi Krause, Esther Fox, Forrest Fisher, Lee Marshall, Esther Beehler
Stone, Willie Wynn. Back Row: Clarence Mow - teacher, Lee Mow, Frank Marshall,
Henry Krause, Ray O'Blenis, Dean Mow, Claude Marshall, Clem O'Blenis, Bessie
Beehler Barkman, Katie Wynn, Louise Armstrong, Mary Beehler Thompson. (Photo:
Alta Rouch)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, p. 65]
[photo] Whippoorwill School 1914 with Orie Foster, teacher. Front Row: Wilma
Zink, Treva Fisher, Lloyd Sanders, Edith Alderfer, Albert Miller, Ruth Fultz
Pierson, Edna McGriff DuBois, Walter McGriff, Fay Hiatt Van Scoik, Obed
Hassenplug, Harley Rice, Max O'Blenis, Ralph Alderfer, Lee Wynn. Row 2: Ethel
Munn, Kline O'Blenis, Thelma Miller Richards, Charles Zink, Carl Sanders, Opal
Fisher Anderson, Georgia Munn Alderfer, Berniece Clark, Clara Beehler Overmyer,
Mable Hassenplug, Dee Hiatt. Row 3: Dean O'Blenis, Hazel Krause, Madge Corbett,
Alice Wright O'Dell, Alta Alderfer Hiatt, Cleo Wynn, Orie Foster - teacher, Vern
Alderfer. (Photo: Edith Alderfer Clevenger)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, p. 67]
[photo] Whippoorwill School 1915, with George Riddle as teacher. Front row
(kneeling): 1. Lester Alderfer, 2, Donald Fisher, 3, Obed Hassenplug, 4. Max
O'Blenis, 5. Loyd Sanders, 6. Lovell "Pete" Calvert, 7. Lee Wynn, 8.
Albert Miller, 9. Ralph Alderfer. Row 2: 10. Wilma Zink, 11.Ruth Fultz, 12,
Treva Fisher, 13. Edith Alderfer, 14, Ethel Munn, 15. Harry Krause. 16, Fay
Hiatt, 17. Robert Calvert, 18. Leo Beehler, 19. Lola Munn, 20. Rethal Beehler,
21. Alva Rice, 22. Georgia Munn (behind), 23, Helen Goss, 24. Hope Haney (in
front in black), 25. Carl Sanders. Back row: George Riddle - teacher, 26.
Margaret Goss, 27, Alice Wright, 28. Hazel Krause, 29. Paul Fisher, 30. Alta
Alderfer, 31. Dee Hiatt, 32. Clara Beehler, 33. Mabel Hassenplug, 34. Glen
Alderfer, 35. Thelma Miller, 36. Berniece Clark, 37. Opel Fisher, 38. Charles
Zink, 39. Dean O'Blenis. (Photo: Edith Alderfer Clevenger).
[FCHS Quarterly No. 53, p. 79]
[photo] Playing "Duck on Davey" at Whippoorwill School 1920. In
front is Rethal Beehler Evans. Behind her from left are Lola Munn Smith, Aleta
Ruth Hassenplug Beach, Fay Hiatt Van Scoik, Ruth Fultz Pierson, Irene Sanders
McGee, Clara Beehler Overmyer, Edith Alderfer Clevenger, unknown partly visible,
Lillie O'Dell Williams with her back to camera. (Photo taken by Alta Beehler
Rouch)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, p. 69]
[photo] Whippoorwill School 1920 with Clarence Mow, teacher. Front Row:
Clarence Hiatt, Lloyd Beehler, Lester Beehler, Lester Alderfer, Ervin Jay
Sanders, Lovell "Pete" Calvert, Herschel "Bill" Mow. Row 2
(short row): Florence Alderfer, Fern Hiatt, Margaret Foster. Row 3: Robert Mow,
Joe Sissel, Louis Foster, Irene Sanders, Bob Sissel, Fern Wynn, Thelma Mehling
Kanouse, Eunice Parman. Row 4: Lloyd Sanders, Lola Munn, Charlotte Stickler,
Weldon Sissel, "Jack" Ferman Mow, George Foster, Max O'Blenis,
Clarence Mow - teacher. Back Row: Dora Parman, Fay Hiatt, Rethal Beehler, Edith
Alderfer, Ruth Fultz, Lee Wynn, Ralph Alderfer. (Photo: Clarence Hiatt)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, p. 70]
[photo] Playing "Drop the Handkerchief" at Whippoorwill School
1920-21, when Clarence Mow was teacher again. Going around the circle from left
along front: Leo Beehler, Harry Krause, three unknown because back is turned to
camera, Callie O'Dell, Fay Hiatt, Edith Alderfer, Clara Beehler, Rethal Beehler,
Ruth Fultz, Lola Munn, Irene Sanders, Albert Miller, unknown, Ralph Alderfer,
Obed Hassenplug, two unknowns, Joe Sissel, unknown part of head shown, back to
Leo Beehler again. (Photo: Alta Rouch)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, p. 66]
[photo] School hack driven by Clara Fletcher 1920-21 to Whippoorwill. Front
Row: Pete Calvert, Robert Sissel, Edward Polley, Joe Sissel, Bob Calvert,
Herschel "Bill" Mow, Lola Munn. Back Row: Ferman Mow, Weldon Sissel,
Ruth Fultz, Clara Fletcher - driver. (Photo taken by Gertrude Sissel, lent by
Joe Sissel) The buckets sitting on either side of the steps are lunch pails big
enough to hold lunch for a family of several children.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, p. 68]
[photo] Old Whippoorwill School after it was closed in 1923 and replaced by
the new brick Whippoorwill School. Leaves obscure the belfry on top of the roof
at the front. This photo was taken in 1937. (Photo: Esther Barkman Buck)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, p. 71]
[photo] The new Whippoorwill School, built 1923, was a two-room school with a
full basement, furnace and running-water restrooms. (Photo by John Hiatt,
teacher in 1928-29)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 51, p. 42]
[photo] Whippoorwill School 1923 with Bessie Burkett, teacher. Front Row: Jay
Sanders, Clarence Hiatt, Samuel "Buster" Smith, Theodore Stickler,
Harold Kistler, "Dee" DeForrest Kistler, Herbert Metzger, Melvin
Parman, Sam Parman. Row 2: Floyd Beehler, Dean Rhodes, Lester and Lloyd Beehler
- twins, Paul Metzger, Edward Polley, Joe Sissel, Dave Putnam. Row 3 (short
row): Esther Barkman, Mable Alderfer Armey, Sylvia Polley Myers, Fern Hiatt
Barker, Jane Mow Barts. Row 4: Arvilla Polley Quackenbush, Theodora Stickler
Woodcox (twin to Theodore), Virginia Parman (twin to Melvin), Merriem Barkman,
Louise Nicodemus, Florence Alderfer, Lucille Nicodemus, Mary Putnam, Aleta
Hassenplug, Emanuel Kistler. Row 5: Teacher - Bessie Burkett Good, Dennis Harold
Foor, Thelma Mehling Kanouse, Fern Wynn Bryant, Irene Sanders McGee, Marjorie
Putnam, Eunice Parman, Anna Parman. Back Row: Beecher Rhodes, Charlotte
Stickler, Dora Parman, Lester Alderfer, Bonnie Smith, Robert Sissel, Herschel
Mow. (Photo: Joe Sissel)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, p. 80]
[photo] Whippoorwill School 1926-27. Front Row: Richard Overmyer, Robert Batz,
Theodore Stickler, Leon Leffert. Row 2: Mae Overmyer, Margaret Stickler, Arvilla
Polley, Esther Barkman Buck, Marceille Anderson, Delta Sanders, Louetta
Alderfer, Paul Overmyer. Row 3: Jay Sanders, Theodora Stickler, Bob Overmyer,
Charles Gibson, Merriem Barkman, Cecil Kline, Herbert Metzger. Row 4: Samuel
Smith, Floyd Beehler, Fern Hiatt, Annabell Sutton, Paul Metzger, Sylvia Polley,
Florence Alderfer, Mable Alderfer, Lydia Barkman. Row 5: Joe Sissel, Edward
Polley, Lester Beehler, Herschel Gibson, Thelma Mehling, Charlotte McMillian,
Lorene Batz. Back Row: Bessie Overmyer Beehler - teacher, Dave Beehler -
janitor, Mable Hassenplug - teacher. (Photo: Joe Sissel)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, p. 72]
[photo] Whippoorwill grades 1, 2, 3 in 1938. Front row: Max Batz, Normabelle
Overmyer, Richard Smith, Harold Lloyd Miller, Helen Overmyer, Kathleen
Rookstool, Imogene Anderson, Helen Mow, Robert Sixbey, Ruth Barkman. Row 2:
Louetta Alderfer, Harry Sult, Ralph Bitterling, Paul Overmyer, Joel Weir,
Margaret Stickler, Robert Reed, Richard Polley, Clara Mae Overmyer, Arden
Beehler. Back row: Mabel Hassenplug - teacher, Lydia Barkman, Mondo Thompson,
Richard Overmyer, Edward Lee Mow, Elnora Bitterling. (Photo: John Hiatt)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 51, p. 43]
[photo] Whippoorwill grades 4, 5, 6 in 1928. Front row: Wilbur Stone, Charles
Gibson, Leon Leffert, Esther Barkman, Rena Harris, Delta Sanders, Frank Graves.
Row 2: Mabel Alderfer, Nyla Stone, Mildred Waltz, Marceille Anderson, Florence
Alderfer, Robert Batz. Row 3: Theodore Stickler, Francis Harris, Ervin Jay
Sanders, Merriem Barkman, Theodora Stickler. Back row: Samuel Smith, George
Morris - janitor, John N. Niatt - teacher. (Photo: John Hiatt)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 51, p. 43]
[photo] Whippoorwill School 1928-29. Front Row: Arden Beehler, Harry Sultz,
Ralph Bitterling, Harold Miller, Max Batz, Richard Smith, Joel Weir, Paul
Overmyer, Bob Sixbey. Row 2: Louetta Alderfer, Ruth Barkman, May and Fay Palmer
- twins, Imogene Anderson Leedy, unknown girl, Geraldine Mow, Ruth Miller Zentz,
Helen Mow McGriff. Row 3: Mable Hassenplug - teacher, Lydia Barkman, Delta
Sanders, Clara May Overmyer, Margaret Stickler, Kathleen Rookstool, Normabelle
Overmyer, Helen Overmyer, Leon Leffert, John Hiatt - teacher. Row 4: Berniece
Thompson, Elnora Bitterling, Merriem Barkman, Theodora Stickler, Ed Mow, Richard
Polley, Richard Overmyer. Back Row: Israel Smith, Mondo Thompson, Esther
Barkman, Bob Batz, George Morris - janitor and his dog. (Photo: Esther Barkman
Buck)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, p. 74]
[photo] Last year at Whippoorwill School, 1932-32, grades 1-6. In the fall
the children were bussed to Richland Center School. Front row: William Mow,
Robert Mow, Mansford Norris, Gus Habig, William Bass, Richard Sheetz, Dale
Bitterling, Raymond Cooper, Wilbur Overmyer, Junior Overmyer, Everett Bass. Row
2: Harry Sult, Wilma Overmyer, Violet Bitterling, Bernice Hiatt, Betty Jane
Norris, unknown, Josephine Mow, Kathryn Hiatt, unknown. Row 3: Max Batz (sitting
on banister), Geraldine Mow, Ruth Miller, Normabelle Overmyer, James Norris,
Helen Overmyer, Helen Mow, Louetta Alderfer, Imogene Anderson, Robert O'Dell
(sitting on banister). Row 4; Lulu Wilnetta Hiatt, Paul Overmyer, Royal McNeil,
Ruth Barkman, Harold Miller, Joel Weir, Arden Beehler. Row 5: Robert Reed,
Jessie Bass, Louise Holman - teacher of grades 1-2-3, George Morris - janitor,
Dollie Miller - teacher of grades 4-5-6, Ralph Bitterling. (Photo: Ruth Miller
Zentz)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 51, p. 40]
__________
WHIPPOORWILL SCHOOL
Compiled by Shirley Willard
Whippoorwill school and church were named for a bird that sat on top of the
school and sang to the men who were building it, so the story goes. Down through
the years there have been three school buildings, all very near each other and
succeeding each other. The first Whippoorwill School is found in the 1876
Indiana Atlas, located on the southeast corner of 500N and 200W. In the 1883
Fulton County Atlas we find Whippoorwill School on the northeast corner of the
same intersection, so apparently there was a new school built (or possibly the
map is wrong). The third Whippoorwill School was built about a quarter mile
south, on the southwest corner of 450N and 200W. The first two were wooden
buildings and the last one was of bricks.
Eloise Cook has a badly beat-up photo of Whippoorwill School c. 1900. The
teacher is Howard Reed. Eloise's mother, Sarah O'Blenis, born 1888, is in the
photo, and looks to be maybe 10 or 12 years old, so the picture may be
1898-1900.
Esther Barkman Buck has her mother's 1902 diploma from Whippoorwill signed by
Del Kessler, the teacher. Esther's mother was Esther Mehling, the daughter of
Henry Mehling, and they lived just across the road from Whippoorwill School. In
fact, the school was on her father's farm. Esther Mehling's school books are
still in the possession of her daughter, Esther. Some of the books had
autographs which are printed here because they are probably by her school mates
and teachers.
"Remember me in Friendship, Remember me in Love, Remember me, dear Esther,
Until we meet above - Muriel Trimble."
"Eyes were made to see, Cheeks were made to blush, Arms were made to
incircle the waist, Lips were made to - oh hush! - G. W. Zink."
"If you see a frog up in a tree, Shoot him down and think of me. - L. G.
Walker."
"Long may you live, Happy may you be, When you get married, Come and see
me. - L. A. O'Blenis."
"I'm drifting down life's river, In a little bark canoe, I hope you have a
pleasant time, With room enough for two. - C.A.T."
"Strive to keep the golden rule and get your lesson well at School. - Faye
Wright."
One of the school books has a label glued in the front that says: "This
book has been well kept. Official Approval. School Economy. W. S. Gibbons, Co.
Supt. 1901-02." The spelling book is dated Dec. 14, 1897, and the second
reader is dated Mar. 12, 1895; these dates are hand-written in the front,
probably by Esther Mehling.
The school's daily schedule is printed carefully in a child's handwriting: 9:40
exercise, 10:10 spelling, 10:45 reading, 11:00-11:10 recess, 11:25 arithmetic,
11:45 English, 12:00-12:30 noon, 12:45 hygiene and health, 1:00 geography,
1:15-1:30 recess, 1:30 art, 2:00 dismissed. That seems like a surprisingly short
school day, which makes us wonder if the child was merely dreaming of what she
wished the school's schedule was.
William C. Miller told about attending Whippoorwill School in his autobiography
printed in Fulton County Folks vol. 2. George Marshall was the teacher in 1898
and a photo of him and his pupils is printed on page 374. Del Kessler was the
teacher in 1901, and Alvin Hiatt taught there the next year. Both were good
teachers who allowed Bill Miller to come back to school, even though he was 20
years old, to study at his own pace and complete the 7th and 8th grades. Bill's
grandfather, Conrad Meehling, donated the land for the Whippoorwill School to be
built in 1872 or 73. Bill drove a school bus for Richland Township 21 years,
1923-50. He first drove a bus for the Whippoorwill School, later for Richland
Center.
Early hack drivers (horse and hack) included Lee Mow (a brother to schoolteacher
Clarence Mow), Charlie Munn, Bert and Clara Fletcher (parents of Clarence
Fletcher). Chancey Hiatt drove one of the first buses when they switched from
horses to motorized bus. Bill Corbett was a hack driver from Mount Nebo area to
Whippoorwill. He had to quit because he got consumption (TB).
Clarence Fletcher recalls early Whippoorwill teachers: Lee Marshall, Claude
Marshall, and George Riddle 1916-17 [?]. Although his parents drove the school
hack, Clarence had to walk because they lived only a half mile south of the
school. The Fletchers and the Mows were close friends, so they named their son
Clarence after Clarence Mow.
Irene Sanders as a little girl rode to Whippoorwill School with teacher Harley
Anderson in his horse and buggy - or sleigh in winter. They would go across the
fields over the snow instead of going by the road. And of course, to keep warm
they covered up with a big buffalo robe. Irene won many spelling bees and
recalls competing with the South Germany School. The South Germany kids walked
over to Whippoorwill for spelling bees and contests in the afternoon. Later her
husband, Clifford McGee, drove the school bus for Lee Mow to Richland Center.
Alta Beehler (Mrs.Dwight) Rouch attended Whippoorwill starting in 1907, when she
had Clarence Mow as her first grade teacher. She also had Harold Weir and Orie
Foster as teachers. Clarence Mow wrote in her autograph book:
"Whippoorwill, Mar. 27, 1908. There is a place for my name in your album.
Is there a place for my name in your heart? There's a place for us both in
heaven, Where true friends never part. Habit is a cable; we weave a thread of it
every day, and at last we cannot break it. Youth is an opportunity to do
Something and become Somebody."
Howard Weir says his brother, Harold Weir, taught at Whippoorwill three or four
different times. He also taught at Sand Hill, Shanghai by the Mt. Hope Church in
Aubbeenaubbee Township, Germany, and Dead Man's College. Their mother, Sarah Mow
(Mrs. George Weir) taught at Whippoorwill 1886-87.
Clarence Hiatt attended both the old wooden Whippoorwill and the new brick
Whippoorwill schools. He described the old wooden school as follows. It had a
large stove at the middle of the rear part of the room. This stove had a sheet
metal jacket eight inches away from the stove to help spread the heat. There was
a well on the southeast corner of the school about 10 feet from the building.
Water was brought in a bucket and the children all drank from a common dipper.
There was a blackboard across the north end of the school room. A dais about
eight feet wide was constructed across the north end of the room for the
teacher's desk. This dais was one step high. A dictionary on a stand and a book
case stood on the west side of the room, also an open cabinet for the pupils'
dinner pails. There were five windows on both sides of the school. The seats
were wooden and folded up. Some were double and some were single seats.
Inside games they played were marbles and mumblety peg, which made the floor at
the west end of the dais all splintery from the knives. They also played tag.
Outside they would slide down the hill a half mile to the east. By the hill
there was a pond which they skated on. They also played "duck on rock"
which resulted in smashed fingers as they each tried to place their little rock
on the big rock. They played baseball with a homemade bat and ball, anti-over
the schoolhouse (but they were hampered by the fence being too close to the
building) and blackman.
They also played in the church yard of the Grand View Evangelical Church next
door to the school.
There was a bell in a steeple on the south end of the school. The bell would
turn over and stay upside down so a kid would have to climb up and turn it over.
Of course, the kids liked to do this, so they turned it up on purpose.
There was an out-house to the north, with a partition between to separate boys
from girls. One seat went clear across. The boys would poke the girls and make
them yell. The pump was in front of the out-house.
Clarence Hiatt recalled his teachers as follows: Harley Anderson 1918-19, Orie
Foster 1919-20, Clarence Mow 1920-21, Bessie Rinker 1921-23, Bessie Burkett
1923-24.
Clarence Mow was killed in an accident in the summer of 1921. He was 32 years
old and had four children: Ferman, Herschel, Ophelia Jane (Barts), and Charles.
His brothers were Clayton, Clyde, Dean, and Lee Mow.
Clarence Mow was quite a character and well remembered by all his pupils. He
once got angry at a misbehaving girl and swung her around and her foot dented
the stove jacket. He was a strict disciplinarian. He was also very fair, as he
would advance pupils from one reader to the next and not hold them back.
Clarence Mow taught it Bidwell School in Richland Township 1902-03, Whippoorwill
1904-05, Germany School 1905-06, Whippoorwill 1906-07. He went to Michigan and
taught there for 10 years, about 1908-18. Upon his return he again taught at
Whippoorwill.
Bob Mow is another former Whippoorwill pupil with fond memories of the old
school. He recalled putting Thelma Mehling Kanouse's hair in the ink well. He
got a licking every week from Clarence Mow, the teacher. Clarence Mow was a
cousin to Bob's father, and he wanted it plain that he showed no partiality to
relatives. He paddled with a board. Another time Bob put a pin in his shoe and
jabbed Thelma in the rear as she sat in the seat ahead of him. Of course, he got
another licking.
One time Clarence Mow brought in a cow horn and put it on the stove. At noon it
was hot and had become jelly so he ate it. He told the kids it was good and
offered them a bite but no one would taste it.
Jay Sanders recalls having Clarence Mow for a teacher at Whippoorwill, too. Jay
rode with Clarence Mow to school, riding in Clarence's lap as he drove his old
touring car. Jay recalls that when your class had to recite, they went to one
side to form a group.
Like all one-room schools, Whipoorwill had box socials, programs, and big
last-day-of-school dinners which the whole community carried in. One program
that Clarence Hiatt recalls was advertised as a bridal program, but it turned
out to be a joke.When they raised the curtain, there hung a horse's bridle!
Ralph Alderfer ran traps on his way to attend Whippoorwill School. One morning
he caught a skunk in his traps and got sprayed so he couldn't go in the school.
He was janitor for the school when Bessie Rinker was the teacher. He lived a
mile and a quarter northeast of the school and was the son of Clint and Nettie
Alderfer. His sister Edith (Mrs.Walter Clevenger), recalls having Lee and Claude
Marshall as teachers, both the same year as one substituted for the other. She
remembers having Earl Beehler for a teacher because he nominated her for
"prettiest girl" for the Box Social that year, but she doesn't know
which year it was. Harold Weir, Orie Foster 1914, and George Riddle 1917-18,
were other teachers she had at Whippoorwill. Harley Anderson, the teacher
1918-19, had to go into the Army for World War I and left in April before school
closed in the spring. They did not get another teacher so school closed early.
Anderson gave each pupil a souvenir with his photo on it and a list of pupils
attending Whippoorwill that year.
The old Whippoorwill School was condemned in 1922. A man from the State
Department of Education brought the condenation papers to the school and gave
them to the teacher. As the teacher stood at the door with the condemnation
papers, the students applauded. The man then nailed the papers to the door.
The old Whippoorwill School reverted to the Milo Mehling family as it was on
their farm. Mary Beehler (Mrs. Henry) Mehling lived in the school 1924-27. Her
son-in-law, Charles Barkman, put a partition from east to west across the school
room so Grandma Mehling could live in the north half until she died in 1927.
Then it had the windows boarded up and was used for storage of corn and oats and
hay. Mr. Charles Barkman had it torn down in 1963 and the lumber stored in a
barn where some of it was ruined by leaks. The good lumber was sold in the
Barkman's sale. It was purchased by Arnold Van Lue, who used it to build a sheep
shed at his farm near Gilead. A man named Biddinger got the wooden threshold
from the old school, as he came one day and said his father had taught school
there. (This was probably Russell Biddinger, whose father, Harry Biddinger,
graduated from Tiosa in 1902 and was the first principal of Richland Center High
School in 1905).
The new brick Whippoorwill School was built in 1923 and occupied by pupils the
first of January 1924. It was built by Kindigs (the round barn builders) and
because Clarence Fletcher lived nearby, he was hired to help build it as a young
man.
Clarence Hiatt was in the 8th grade and remembers the move from the old school
to the new. All they moved were the books; the desks all stayed in the old
building as they had all new desks in the new school. The new Whippoorwill
consolidated two one-room schools: Whippoorwill and South Germany, a school that
was located less than two miles weest of the new Whippoorwill. Sometimes known
as Germany (rather than South Germany) this school was on the northeast corner
of 400W and 500N, a mile north of the Tippecanoe River.
The first teachers at the new Whippoorwill School were Otto Beehler, who taught
grades 5 to 8, and Bessie Burkett, grades 1 to 4. Beehler was the current
teacher at Germany School and Burkett was the teacher at old Whippoorwill. They
taught from Jan. 1 to the time school was out in the spring.
Other teachers at new Whippoorwill School included Otto Beehler grades 5-8 and
Mabel Hassenplug grades 1-4 1924-25, Otto Beehler 5-8 and Mabel Hassenplug 1-4
1925-26 (7th and 8th grades of both Whippoorwill and Tiosa were transferred to
Richland Center in the fall of 1926; their desks were moved too), Bessie Beehler
(Otto's wife - they traded schools so he taught at Tiosa that year) 4-6 and
Mabel Hassenplug 1-3 1926-27, John Norman Hiatt (his father substituted for him
when John was sick) 4-6 and Mabel Hassenplug 1-3 1928-29, Dolly Miller (Mrs. Al
Peconga) 4-6 and Zula Long 1-3 1929-30, Dolly Miller 4-6 and Zula Long 1-3
1930-31, Dolly Miller 4-6 and Louise Holman 1-3 1931-32. Thanks to Ruth and
Esther (Barkman) Buck, who still have their report cards from Whippoorwill
School to verify the list of teachers for the last five years. Ruth was in the
4th grade at Whippoorwill and then took 5th grade at Richland Center School, so
she remembers for sure exactly what year Whippoorwill closed.
For 1930-31. . . Whippoorwill [had] 34 [students]; 1931-32 . . . 45.
Whippoorwill School was closed in 1932 and the pupils bussed to Richland Center
School. The Whippoorwill School was only nine years old and it seemed a terrible
waste to several members of the community to close such a new school building.
Three men, Milo Mehling, Chancey Hiatt, and Howard Reed - the Richland Township
trustee, went to Indianapolis to the Dept. of Public Instruction to try to seve
Whippoorwill School. They presented their case and a petition signed by many
Richland Township residents, but all to no avail. "They just laughed at us
and said little schools have to go," the men reported when they got back
home.
The only thing wrong with the new Whippoorwill School building was that the roof
leaked in one spot. The shingles were blown up, causing the leak which could
have easily been fixed. Nevertheless, this relatively new building, once the
pride of the community it served, was torn down in 1938. The steps were taken to
the new Loyal (or Burton) store owned by Boyd Henderson. Clifford McGee and Rex
Moore tore Whippoorwill down and used the bricks to build a house east of
Rochester on Indiana 14. It is located on the north side of the highway, a
quarter mile east of the corner with 500E (also called Mt. Zion road). The stone
of this house came from McKinley School, closed in 1931, and the bricks and
hardwood floors came from Whippoorwill. Clifford McGee took the dated step from
Whhippoorwill sidewalk and put it in his own sidewalk to the house across the
road from the school. Doug Lehman lives there now. The date carved in cement was
1923. This had been the last step of the sidewalk and was closest to the road at
Whippoorwill School.
The new Whippoorwill School was not a one-room school but a consolidated
two-room school. It consolidated the pupils from South Germany and the old
Whippoorwill Schools. It was made of brick with a full basement and
running-water rest rooms. On the south side of the basement was a large
recreation room where there were basketball hoops attached to the walls. It had
a 10-foot ceiling so it was like a small gym. Big last-day-of-school dinners
were held there. On the north end were the furnace rooms. There were two
furnaces to provide hot-water heat. Between the furnaces and the recreation room
were the rest rooms, girls' on the west, boys' on the east. There was also a
coal bin and a janitor's room. There were basement windows on each side of the
front door - in fact there was only one door and that was toward the road.
On the ground level there were two class rooms, two cloak rooms, and two sets of
stairs (one for boys and one for girls) leading down to the basement, as well as
one stairway up the center to the classrooms. The classroom for grades 1 to 3
was on the east side and for 4 to 6 on the west. The classrooms had a blackboard
on one wall only, so there was no more blackboard space than in the old school.
And Clarence Hiatt thinks the new school did not have as many windows as the old
school. There were windows on the west, north and east sides which lit the
cloakrooms, but there were no windows on the south side, which was the back of
the classrooms. All the seats were single seats - no more double seats like in
the old school. There was twice as much room for playing outdoors. They planted
maple trees in the school yard, one of which is still standing. The Germany
school bell was moved and erected on a cement platform on the ground east of the
door instead of in a bell tower as in the old Whippoorwill School. Near the bell
there was a man-hole cover that led to the basement which was used for a coal
chute.
Being a bigger school, they had a full-time janitor. David Beehler was the first
janitor 1924-26. George Morris was the janitor 1927-30, coming in when they got
a new trustee, Oscar Scott.
Ruth Barkman Buck has a collection of The Crier, a monthly newspaper
mimeographed by Richland Township Schools 1930-32. This included news from
Whippoorwill and Tiosa schools and the community, even some church news. The
following is from The Crier Feb. 1932:
Whippoorwill 4-5-6
"The first of February we started a 'Heart Spelling Contest' and a
'Barnyard Contest.' Any student receiving 100 in spelling got a heart; any
student receiving 100 in any other subject got an animal to put into the
barnhard. Royal McNeil received the most hearts in Spelling.
"We have been having a Good English Drive the past month and since everyone
fears making a mistake in English we have found our students to be more quiet at
noons and recesses. Wilnettea Hiatt has made 6 mistakes in English, the least
that has been made; Ralph Bitterling made 227 mistakes.
"The Fourth Grade have completed drawing and painting four different groups
of states, placing correctly the capitals, important cities, rivers and
mountains.
"After drawing and painting an industrial map of South America 4 ft. long,
3 ft. wide, the Sixth Grade just completed pasting the products on it.
"The Sixth Grade completed the parts of speech last week. They are now
having a review by using the First Grade flash cards."
Ruth Buck recalls the big snow of 1929 which caught many people away from home
and unable to get home through the snowdrifts. Esther and Ruth and Miriam
Barkman (sisters) were attending Whippoorwill School and couldn't get home, so
they went to Elba Hassenplug's (father of teacher Mable Hassenplug) to spend the
night. Hassenplugs lived east of Whippoorwill. Some pupils stayed at
Steininger's, which was next door to Hassenplug's. Some walked across the fields
to get home, but the roads were snowed full and no vehicle could get through.
Lee Mow's school hack of kids was snowed in for three days and stayed at
Hassenplug's. There were 10 kids on the hack, including Bob Reed, Ed and Dick
Polley and Ed Mow.
Irene Sanders McGee recalls another big snow. She was working at the pickle
factory in Rochester and caught a ride with Lee Mow, who delivered groceries for
Perschbacher's Grocery. Lee loaded the bobsled and took groceries to
Whippoorwill Corners and they got home about midnight.
Dennis Foor lived in the same house but went to four different schools when a
boy in Richland Township. His home was on the Foor family farm located on 50W a
half mile north of 450N. His parents were Parlee and Essie Foor. He had four
older brothers: Osa, Ferman, Jesse, and Jim. Dennis first went to Sand Hill
School 1916-17 for his first grade. Then he was transferred to Tiosa 1917-23,
riding in buses driven by Roy Halterman, then George Holloway and son Harry
(George had the contract but Harry did most of the driving), Frank Ball and his
son Delmar.
When the new Whippoorwill School was built in 1923, kids near the border between
the schools were transferred there. Dennis lived five miles from Tiosa but only
3 miles by road from Whippoorwill (only 1-1/2 miles across fields). Dennis rode
the school bus driven by Chancey Hiatt to Whippoorwill for his 8th grade, and
then entered Richland Center High School in the fall of 1924. Dennis had to
provide his own transportation to school for his freshman and sophomore years,
so he drove the family horse, Billy, and the buggy.
Richland Center School had two buggy sheds, one the regular barn which had a
wide drive where students could park the buggies and drive the horses in beside
them; the other a lean-to built onto it. The lean-to was a less desirable place
to park because it held buggies only and you had to put it in by hand or unhitch
and drive the horse around to the barn. There was room for only four buggies in
the barn, so there was a daily race to see who would get there among the first
four and get to park in the barn. Dennis was always among the first four not
only so he could park in the buggy barn but also so he could play basketball for
half an hour before school started.
Racing to school sometimes caused problems, such as the time Harry Overmyer was
racing with a two-wheel cart and almost hit Howard Weir who was walking along
the road. Osa and Ferman Foor had a horse that would balk if it was not the
first to go out of the barn, so Osa would push Marie Trible back so Ferman could
hitch up and get old Dick out of the barn first.
The last two years Dennis attended school, he got to ride the school bus
1926-28. Up until then it was not customary for the townships to provide
transportation for high school students. Howard Reed, Richland Township trustee,
decided to haul high school students in the buses because of pressure put on him
by parents, particularly Mrs. Clayton Fletcher. Ruth and June Fletcher's older
brother had graduated and they had no buggy so they were going to go to Argos
High School and live in town uhnless Reed allowed them to ride the bus. Aleta
Ruth Hassenplug, Irene Sanders and Opal Miller needed transportation, too.
Sanders' horse was mean and had reared up in the buggy shed and bent the axle on
Riley Rhodes' buggy so Irene couldn't drive it to school. Trustee Reed thought
and thought, and finally decided that the best solution was to let the high
school kids ride the buses. They could ride to Whippoorwill and Tiosa and then
be trnsported to Richland Center. Tiosa bus drivers were Frank Ball and Jesse
Waltz while Whippoorwill drivers were Chancey Hiatt and Bill Miller. So in the
fall of 1926 Reed transferred the 7th and 8th grades from Tiosa and Whippoorwill
to Richland Center and set a new precedent of providing school bus
transportation for high school students. When he went to a meeting of other
township trustees later that fall, he really "caught fire" from all
sides because other parents were saying if Richland Center high school kids
could ride the buses at taxpayer expense, why couldn't the kids in other
townships? Eventually this was what happened.
Germany School and Whippoorwill School were only a mile and a half apart on the
same road. In 1923 the buildings were condemned. Howard Reed, trustee, wanted
them to hold off for two years and he would bus them to Richland Center. But
people insisted on a new school so the new Whippoorwill School was built in
1923. It was a brick two-room consolidated school with running water restrooms,
furnace in the basement. But it was only used a few years and closed in 1932.
The trustee in 1932, Oscar Scott, called a meeting and told the people that
Whippoorwill was condemned because of bricks coming loose and falling from near
the roof.
Richland Center School built a new gymnasium in 1916. Dennis Foor used to have a
copy of Country Gentleman magazine issued in the 1930's that stated that this
was the first gymnasium built on a country school in the whole U.S. It was a
community project so as not to cost too much. A collection was taken up and many
people contributed. Jerry Overmyer donated logs which Dave Fry sawed in his
sawmill east of the school to be used for frame lumber. Charley Maple,
principal, designed the gym, which was about 80 x 40 feet and built like a barn.
It had bleachers along one side. High school students (like Dan Cook) helped
build it by volunteering to work, as did many of the men of the community. In
about 1930 when Jack Dudgeon was principal, a hole was cut in the east side of
the gym and a stage and bleachers were added.
This gymnasium was torn down and replaced by the present gym before 1940.
Clifford McGee and Rex Moore tore it down and sold the lumber to Dr. Dick
Stinson to build a barn 2-1/4 miles north of Athens, which is still standing.
McGee still has the big padlock and key and a basketball hoop from the gym. He
uses the padlock on his gas tank.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, pp 61-79]
WHIPOORWILL SCHOOL 1927-28 and 1928-29
By John Norman Hiatt, teacher
The Whippoorwill schoolhouse was erected in 1923 at the crossroads about 1-1/2
miles north of the Pendleton Bridge and about 3 miles west of the Michigan Road
later called U.S. 31 and now better known as Old 31. It was on the southwest
corner of 200W and 450N. The top story consisted of two class rooms, cloak rooms
and a wide hallway. The lower floor had a playroom, two toilets, two coal
furnaces a coal bin and the water pump. The playground though ample in size had
very little playground equipment. The usual outdoor and playroom games were
enjoyed. Bus drivers were Leo Mow and Wm. C. Miller. The janitor was George
Morris, a favorite among the pupils. George often bought chewing gum from the
huckster wagon and gave all the pupils a stick of it.
One very warm day the windows were all opened to admit cooler air. Leo Mow, a
bus driver, stopped out along the road and told the janitor that a skeleton had
just been found in the gravel pit south of the school and on the west side of
the road. We overheard this and immediately went to look at the bones. Some
pupils shuddered, some wanted to touch the skeleton, some didn't even want to
look at it. This became a topic for the community to discuss but no one ever
could figure out just whose bones they were.
On another occasion we were taking a nature study trip into a nearby woods.
Children, as usual, like to run, climb trees, etc. One discovered a grape vine
in a large sassafrass tree and ran ahead and shook the vine and was startled
when a flying squirrel sailed out of it toward the group. It lit on the
teacher's trouser leg, ran up to his shoulder and sailed off to a tree, then
another tree, etc., until out of sight. This was the first time they ever saw a
flying squirrel.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 51, pp 42-44]
WHIPPOORWILL SCHOOL
By Lloyd Beehler
I can remember my father telling of attending a public meeting across the road
where the Whippoorwill Church was located to decide whether to build a school
for the children of that area. He was very amused at one father speaking in
behalf of the new school who said, "Look at all the kids running around
here and I notice there are good prospects for more."
My father told of visiting that new school several years later when my brother,
Otto, was a student there. he said that his feet nearly froze from the air that
came up through the flooring.The next day he visited the trustee to gripe about
the situation. Soon after, during Christmas vacation a new floor was laid across
the original floor boards, thus cutting down on the air drafts.
Heating was done with a huge wood stove surrounded by an iron jacket to keep
those located near it from "roasting". I loved to be near it as you
could "act up" without the teacher seeing you.
The teacher was paid 10 cents per day to do the janitor work: sweeping, firing
the stove, bringing in wood, and cleaning. Boys often were awarded the privilege
to bring in the wood. We enjoyed doing it if it were during school time.
Box socials were held during the year to make money for equipment, etc. Besides
selling food boxes brought by the young ladies and bought by the young men,
there were cake walks, and contests for the prettiest girl and laziest man.
Most of the pupils walked to school and I was one of them. There was one
"hack" pulled by two horses that took those who lived farthest away.
Our road would get real muddy in spring and the hack would get stuck. Bill
Miller, the hack driver, used to pay me a dime a day if I would walk, so he
wouldn't get stuck.
I have heard that Harold Weir and Billie Foster were teachers at the
Whippoorwill School. My first teacher was Harley Anderson.
Since the teacher had eight grades to teach, I have always marveled that we
learned anything. First and second grades were dismissed most of the afternoon
to go out and play when weather permitted. No doubt the teacher wished for fair
weather as badly as did the pupils.
I can remember our playing outside was curtailed for a while because one of us
brought matches to school and set leaves on fire, nearly getting a standing
field of corn on fire.
At noon, all 50 pupils in the school played either baseball, Dare Base, Skunk
Base, and the most popular was Gould. To play Dare Base you had two groups, each
with their own base, like a tree or post or other object, where they were safe
if they touched the base. You had to get off your base and tag others before
they could get back to their base; thus they were tagged and went over to your
side. The object was to get everybody on one side, which would be the winner. It
involved a lot of daring and arguing as kids would taunt each other, calling
each other sissy if they stayed too close to base. Skunk Base was very much like
Dare Base but they had a "skunk base" or prison to keep the ones who
had been tagged. Gould was a similar game in that you had bases where each group
was safe and could not be tagged, but there were five or six groups, each with a
separate base. If a person was touched, he came to the side of the one who
tagged him. If you ran three times around someone's base without getting tagged,
all the kids on that base had to come to your side.
Ringing the bell was a prize for the best pupil in spelling, arithmetic, or
conduct. Quite often the "lucky one" would pull the bell rope too
hard, thus turning the bell over. Then one of the bigger boys had to go up
through the cover boards, up thru the attic and return the bell to its rightful
position.
Our enrollment was usually between 40 and 50 students. For several years that
enrollment contained three sets of twins. They were the Stickler twins, Theodore
and Theodore; the Parman twins, Melvin and Virginia; plys my brother Lester and
myself.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 50, pp 79-81]
MORE ON WHIPPOORWILL AND TIOSA SCHOOLS
Dennis Foor recalls that in 1916 Sand Hill, Red Brush and Tiosa one-room schools
all consolidated into a new Tiosa School on a five acre lot. This was such a big
playground that the kids playing in the northwest corner could not hear the bell
but would see the other children going in the school and thus knew the bell had
rung. The bell was a large brass round alarm bell about 12 inches diameter. It
was struck by a metal arm that hit the outside of the bell and would go
"clack clack clack." The bell was in the hallway by the drinking
fountain. There was a pile of rails on the northwest corner of the school yard
and the kids would build a house of them and cover it with grass.
Dennis attended Sand Hill School and was sent to Tiosa after the consolidation.
Several people opposed building the new school at Tiosa. Parlee Foor (Dennis'
father), Orville Miller, John Beck and others went to Indianapolis to try to get
the new school built closer to Sand Hill where they wanted the new school. Still
others wanted to keep the old Tiosa School, such as Harrison Wynn and Dr. L. C.
Meek.
In the fall of 1923 pupils from Germany School and all those living west of 50W
(west of Sand Hill) went to Whippoorwill School. So Dennis was consolidated into
a different school again. He only attended old Whippoorwill School three months
and the new Whippoorwill School opened Dec. 1, 1923, so he went to yet another
school. The new Whippoorwill School cost $20,000 to build but was used only
seven years.
Why was a new Whippoorwill School built and used for only seven years? There
were several prominent and influential people who wanted a new school at
Whippoorwill, including Bill Miller, Harry Overmyer, and Chancey Hiatt. The
trustee, Howard Reed, wanted to wait a couple of years and put all the children
in Richland Center School. Several people opposed building a new Whippoorwill
School. But those who wanted a new school won out and the new Whippoorwill was
built.
Dennis remembers attending a meeting at the new Whippoorwill School around 1930
in which Richland Township trustee, Oscar Scott, pointed out the defects of the
school, though it was only a seven-year-old building. There was mortar coming
out from between the bricks. It was said that this was the fault of the
architect who insisted that they use the mortar that had sat and dried out over
noon hour instead of making a new batch. And the flat roof leaked because the
drain holes had filled with leaves and then formed a lake on the roof and froze
and pushed the roof away from the wall and split the roof. J. Howard Reed, the
trustee who had built the school, had Dave Beehler the janitor clean the leaves
out. But the new trustee, Oscar Scott, hired a new janitor, George Morris, and
he did not clean out the leaves so the roof began to leak.
In 1926 the Richland Township trustee moved the Whippoorwill and Tiosa 7th and
8th grades to Richland Center School. Their desks were moved too. Dead Man's
College was closed then too. That was the first year that high school students
were allowed to ride the school buses. Chancey Hiatt and Bill Miller were the
bus drivers for Whippoorwill, while Jess Waltz and Frank Ball drove buses for
Tiosa area.
Thus Dennis Foor was consolidated out of three schools. He attended Sand Hill
for one year, then went to Tiosa six years 1917-23, then attended old
Whippoorwill three months, then new Whippoorwill the rest of the year, then went
to Richland Center High School.
When they remodeled Richland Center School in 1923, the bell was removed from
the tower. The bell was a huge "dinner bell" with a clapper inside. It
was so heavy it would take three or four men to move it. It was placed outside
the janitor's room above the entrance. Some high school boys stole it and buried
it in a field, where it lay until it was plowed up by Charlie Morgan. His plow
caught the edge of the bell and it ruined his plow.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 51, pp 40-42]
The common schools of the township have nearly all closed. The greater part
have been highly successful. Germany and Whippoorwill closed with the plaudit
from their patrons, "Well done, thou good and faithful servants."
--- J. L. Martindale's school closed at Whippoorwill on Friday last . . . a
splendid dinner and a jolly time.
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, February 27, 1873]
L. Lewellyn McClure got the job of building Center and Eidson school houses -
Center at $980, and Eidson at $650. Worley got the Whippoorwill at $680.
[Richland Locals, Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, May 29, 1873]
The Whippoorwill school house will be completed and ready for school on
Monday the 22d. Mr. Cavender is their teacher. . .
[Rochester Union-Spy, Thursday, December 25, 1873]
Sol Cavender is organizing a singing class at Whippoorwill.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, October 16, 1875]
__________
1888: George Marshall
1915-16: George Riddle.
1929-30: Enrol. (1-8) 44. 8 mos. Dollie Miller, 4, 5, 6.; Zulah Barkman Long, 1,
2, 3.
1930-31: (Com. 1-6) 34. Dollie Miller, 4, 5, 6; Zulah Barkman Long, 1, 2, 3.
1931-32: Cont. Com. (1-6) 45. Dollie Miller, 4-6; Louise Holman, 1-3.
1932-33: Discontinued.
[F.C.H.S. files]
Otto Beehler taught at South Germany School before 1922, was principal at
Whippoorwill, then principal at Tiosa 1928 while his wife Bessie taught fourth
and fifth grades at Tiosa. Then Otto taught seventh grade at Columbia School in
Rochester 1928-40 and grade six at Lincoln School in Rochester 1928-40 and grade
six at Lincoln School 1940-43.
[Mary Rosella Beehler Reinhold, William Amel Sausaman, Fulton Co Folks, Vol. 2,
Willard.]
Teachers: Otto Beehler; Bessie Beehler; George Marshall; Del Kessler; Alvin
Hiatt; Louisa Medora McMahan; George Riddle, 1914; Harley Anderson 1916-17.
Bus drivers: William C. Miller; Cliff McGee; Walter Burkett; Chauncey Hiatt;
Harry Halterman.
WHITE OAK SCHOOL [#8] [Newcastle Township]
Located 550N and 600N at approximately 700E.
Built between 1876 and 1883; abandoned between 1883 and 1907.
Another school, same name, located W side of 675 at 600N.
Built between 1883 and 1907.
__________
WHITE OAK SCHOOL
By Sandra Hartlerode
The former White Oak schoolhouse is located on the Delbert Hunter property on
the southeast corner of county roads 675E and 600N in Newcastle township.
Originally the schoolhouse was located further east on the property. It was
built when the land was deeded to the Newcastle Township trustee January 8,
1874, and was used as a schoolhouse until 1893 when it was sold and moved to its
present location. It was then converted into a dwelling. Since that time it has
been remodeled and is used as a home. The present owners are Delbert and
Geraldine Hunter.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 27, p. 24]
WHITE OAK SCHOOL
by Geraldine Haimbaugh (Mrs. Delbert) Hunter
The records show that White Oak school was deeded by Alexander Barrett to the
Trustee of Newcastle Township, January 8, 1874 (Deed record #1 page 358 on
January 14, 1874). Description - Part of the northwest quarter of Section 17,
Township 31 north, range 4 east. Beginning on west line of said section 70 rods
from the northwest corner of said section, thence south 10 rods, thence east 8
rods, thence north 10 rods, thence west 8 rods to place of beginning. Note: This
deed to be in force as long as said lot is used for school purposes and at the
expiration of such time to revert back to the grantor.
Peter W. Busenburg asked for the school lot back September 29, 1910 as school
had been abandoned. The 65 acres was then sold to William Deamer September 29,
1910.
The White Oak School, as it was named, was made of yellow poplar and was moved
from its location to a new location behind Delbert and Jerry Hunter's present
house. It was made into a 7-room dwelling and used until removed again about 40
rods west on the west side of 600N at 675E. The frame was still very good and
has been resided and roofed and is still being used as a dwelling. The White Oak
schoolhouse building has been used now 100 years and is still good and stands
only about 60 rods from its original place. I lived with my folks (Agnes and Mac
Haimbaugh) in the White Oak home from age one to three and a half years. Maude
King Blue is the only teacher known to have taught at White Oak.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 25, pp 9-10]
White Oak school is getting along pretty well, so we hear.
[Bloomingsburg Items, Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 26, 1877]
The school at White Oak closed Wednesday, June 20th. The school was taught by
W. H. H. Barkman.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 30, 1877]
The White Oak School was opened last Monday morning by Si. Bybee as teacher.
[Rochester, Sentinel, Saturday, December 8, 1877]
Miss Lina Waugh is teaching the summer term of school at White Oak.
J. Tipton is teaching singing at White [Oak] school house south-east of this
place one and a half miles.
[Rochester Independent, Saturday, April 20, 1878]
The dramatic club will give an entertainment at White Oak this evening; free
for all.
[Bloomingsburg Items, Rochester Independent, Saturday, April 27, 1878]
WHITE WALNUT SCHOOL [#3] [Rochester Township]
Located NE corner of 500E and approximately 150N.
Built before 1876; abandoned between 1883 and 1907.
__________
McKINLEY COMMUNITY ONE-ROOM SCHOOLS
Pucky Huddle, White Walnut, Black Walnut [sic], Little Egypt
By Shirley Willard
Before McKinley School was built in 1901, there were four one-room schools
serving the community northeast of Rochester.
White Walnut, District No. 3, was located on the Fort Wayne Road too. It was
built before 1876 (it appears in the 1876 atlas) on the northeast corner of 500E
and the Fort Wayne Road. C. M. Gibbons was the teacher 1898-99. The school stood
on a bend in the Fort Wayne Road west of Dr. Dean Stinson's house on the north
side of the road. Marvin Van Lue, born 1895, attended this school for a half
term in 1901. Fred Moore was the teacher. McKinley School had just been
completed and he was transferred there, where Trella Harter was his teacher.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 62-63, pp 73-75]
__________
Elder Thompson, late of Kosciusko county, will preach at the White Walnut
school house, on Saturday evening, Sept 24th, and Sunday morning, Sept 25th, at
11 o'clock.
[Rochester Chronicle, Thursday, September 22, 1863]
Miss Dora Pyle has the school at White Walnut school house, three miles
northwest of Rochester.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, April 28, 1877]
In our items last week we stated that the White Walnut school house was
located three miles northwest of Rochester. It should have read northeast of
Rochester. . .
--- Miss Dora Pyle has been chosen to teach the summer school at White Walnut
school house, three miles northeast of Rochester. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, May 5, 1877]
White Walnut school, three and one-half miles east of Rochester, Miss Dora
Pyle teacher, closes next Thursday.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, July 14, 1877]
WHITMER GYMNASIUM [Rochester, Indiana]
Located SE corner of Sixth and Fulton Streets.
Demolished.
Presently used as Arboretum by Fulton County Public Library.
__________
Woodrow Wilson School . . . built . . . by C. V. Kindig and Sons, the family
that built so many round barns, Reiter School and Whitmer Gym. . .
[FCHS Quarterly No. 34, p. 26]
Bye and bye Rochester built a new high school (1912) with a small gynasium
that for a number of years resounded to cries and shrieks of the male and female
gender as Rochester's first high school basketball team won or lost an
encounter. Rochester went basketball crazy and has almost never recovered from
the epidemic. Still later, a new gymnasium (Whitmer - 1922) was finagled through
the organization of a local stock company when tax dollars were not available.
Now this structure is found inadequate and most any day a furore will be raised
to build larger and better.
[Earle A. Miller, The News-Sentinel, Thursday, July 30, 1959]
WILDERMUTH SCHOOL [Richland Township]
Located N side of 350N at 300W.
Built between 1876 and 1883.
__________
RUSSELL SCHOOL
By Zora Neff (Mrs. Hugh) Wilson and Shirley Willard
Dean Neff adds the following memories: I attended Wildermuth School on the Olson
Road by the Tippecanoe River for my first grade when I was only five years old.
I was sent to school at that young age to accompany my sister, Zella, who was a
year and 10 months older than me. We walked one and a half miles to school. As
we walked, other children would join as we passed their houses, so we all
arrived at school together. Wildermuth School faced south toward the road, had
no cloak rooms, only hooks on the walls for the coats. I don't remember the
teacher or anything much about this school as that was long ago in 1897.
(Editor's note: Wildermuth one-room was located a half mile east of the Germany
Bridge.)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 45, p. 66]
WILDERMUTH OR TIPPECANOE SCHOOL
Wildermuth School, also called Tippecanoe because it was near the river, was on
the north side of the River Road (now called Olson Road) across from 300W. This
was a mile north of the Burton Church, about half way between the Pendleton
Bridge and the Germany Bridge. It is shown in the 1883 and 1907 atlases and was
officially the District no. 6 school.
The last three teachers are the only ones known: Margaret Stockberger 1909-10,
Reba Moore Shore 1910-11, and Grace Dillon 1911-12. The school was closed when
the new Burton consolidated school opened.
In the Moore Family history printed in Fulton County Folks, vol. 1, Reba Moore
(Mrs. Arthur B.) Shore wrote: "After attending Rochester College for four
years, I received my diploma in August 1910. I continued my education and became
a teacher. During the winter of 1910-11, I taught at school no. 6 located along
the Tippecanoe River just north of the Burton Church. Robert Wiley (should be
spelled Wylie) was trustee and J. C. Werner was superintendent during 1910-11.
The mode of travel at this time was by railroad so my brother Levi would take me
to Athens on Monday morning to catch the early milk train on the Chicago and
Erie Railroad. I would ride to Germany Station, the name of which was later
changed to Pershing and then to Loyal. At the present time it is non-existent. I
would walk to my school carrying my suitcase. During the week I roomed and
boarded at the home of Clinton (should be Clayton) Hoffman, and then home again
for the weekend."
Reba walked a half mile from the school to the Hoffman farm. She had a room to
herself but no heat, so she would take her corset to bed with her so it would be
warm when she put it on in the morning. Mary Mackey Hoffman was very good to
Reba and was a good cook.Either she or Reba packed a lunch for her to take to
school each day. The children all walked to school and carried their lunches
too.
Once Glen Eshelman, an 8th grade pupil, met Reba at the depot and carried her
suitcase for her. The train had both freight and passenger cars, but there was
no heat so it was a cold ride in winter. Spurlocks owned the general store at
Germany Station and sometimes Reba would stop there. The train would stop
whenever necessary to pick up cans of milk from the farmers. Spurlocks owned the
general store at Germany Station and sometimes Reba would stop in there.
The pupils played in the schoolyard. Sometimes they played with a ball and bat.
Sometimes they played "Blackman." At Christmas Reba gave them a teeat:
a snack with an orange, peanuts, and hard candy. There were no box socials or
any carry-in dinners. The pupils helped by carrying the firewood and cleaning
the blackboard at recess.
One day a 4th grade girl, Doris Leiter, told her that she had a new baby
brother. She asked Reba to write down all the names of boys she could think of.
On the list Reba included Burdell, the middle name of her boyfriend and future
husband, Arthur Burdell Shore. That is the name the mother chose for Stuart
Burdell Leiter, born Jan. 9, 1911. He is still living in Rochester today. Other
Leiter children who attended school that year were Page, Cecil, and Olive, the
children of Eli and Florence Leiter.
Goldie and Gladys Garner were also pupils there that year. Gladys married Vernon
Castleman and is the mother of Frances (Mrs. Parke Baxter) and Carolyn (Mrs.
Nelson Hunter), Rochester.
Goldie moved to California and married Ellis Zahniser. See separate story about
her [in FCHS Quarterly No. 61, pp 63-65]. Glen Eshelman was in the 8th grade and
his step-brother, Clarence Calentine, was in the 7th grade.
One day Goldie Garner was naughty and had to stand by the teacher's desk for
punishment. This disgraced her so she ran home at recess. In a little while she
came back and said her father had spanked her and sent her back to school.
That's the way discipline was in the old days: the parents backed the teachers.
Two of the older boys, Glen Eshelman and Clarence Calentine, were bad one day so
the teacher expelled them. They cussed as they walked away down the road. That
night Glen came to see Miss Moore; he apologized and asked her for a date. She
said, "No, teachers do not date pupils." The other boy did not
apologize but came back to school and behaved. Many years later when Miss Moore
was Mrs. A. B. Shore and working in his clothing store in Rochester, Clarence
came in and asked if they knew a Miss Moore who was the teacher at the old
school by the river. Reba said yes, she was that teacher. He said it had
bothered him all these years and he wanted to apologize.
Reba Shore recalls that this was a wood frame schoolhouse painted white.
There is no photo of the school but Reba gave us a verbal picture as follows.
There was a platform or 6 foot long box that served as the front step; it had no
roof so you couldn't call it a porch. The school faced south so the door was on
the south end of the building. There were windows along both sides but not on
the ends. At the north end there was a platform for the teacher's desk and
blackboard. A shelf of books served as their library. The desks were in rows,
each desk attached to the seat in front of it. In the middle of the school stood
the pot-bellied wood-burning stove, a Round Oak stove. The pupils were arranged
by grade, with the little ones in front, middle grades (3-4-5) in the middle,
and the bigger children (grades 6-7-8) in the back. Reba taught there only one
year and she did not have many children in each grade. There was only one in the
8th grade, two or three in the 7th, etc.
The teacher rang a hand bell to call the children in from recess and to open
school in the morning. To begin the day, they stood and said a prayer and pledge
to the flag and sang popular songs of the day. The children did not want to be
late and miss this as they enjoyed it very much. Reba says that's why she still
believes in prayer in school.
There was a water pump on the east side of the school, and of course, two
privies in back, one for boys and one for girls.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 61, pp 60-62]
WIND FALL SCHOOL [Newcastle Township]
Located SE corner of 800E and 400N.
Built before 1876; abandoned between 1883 and 1907.
__________
Newcastle Township Institute, Bloomingsburg, Dec. 12, 1874. . . following
teachers present: Miss Lou McMahan, Miss Sallie McMahan, Messrs. McClary,
Bitters, Dillon, Haimbaugh and Montgomery. . . to meet at the Wind Fall School
House, District No. 9, on Saturday, January 16, 1875.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 19, 1874]
W. H. H. Barkman has charge of School No. 9, Newcastle township . . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, December 23, 1876]
Our school in District No. 9, conducted by Wm. McMahan, is moving along
satisfactory to the householders. . .
[Items From Bigfoot, Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, February 3, 1877]
Miss Minnie Stradley teaches at the Grove school; Miss Clary Orr at Sixteen; G.
W. Tipton at Windfall or No. 9; a Miss Rowley at Barkman; Miss Emma Orr at
Dover; Miss Blacketor is teaching the Bloomingsburg school.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, June 7, 1879]
Some of the winter schools in this section of the "moral vineyard"
have been taken for the winter. Miss Waugh has the "16" school; Miss
Huffman the Windfall, and Simon Bybee the Greenhill school. Your humble servant
will teach the "young idea how to shoot," at the brick school house in
District No. 7 just across the line in Marshall county. Jacob Martin who
attended the Rochester high school this fall, lwill teach at the Goodwin school
house in the same county.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, November 15, 1879]
WOODROW SCHOOL [Rochester Township]
Located NE corner of Old US-31 and 300S
Built 1917.
No longer in existence.
$18,000 FOR NEW SCHOOL HOUSE
An $18,000 bond sale for a centralized school building to be built on the Wm.
Brubaker farm, a mile north of Green Oak, has been advertised by Twp. Trustee
Wm. K. Stevenson, the bids to be received not later than February 3rd. The
building will be erected some time during the coming summer and is to be
completed by the opening of the 1917 fall term of school.
[Rochester Sentinel, Thursday, January 11, 1917]
BIDS RECEIVED HERE ON NEW GREEN OAK SCHOOL
Bids were received Friday afternoon by Township Trustee Wm. Stevenson and the
Advisory board for the new township school building to be erected on the road
one mile north of Green Oak. The bids on construction follow: C. V. Kindig $14,
634, Wm. Cooper $16,247, Milo Cutshall $16,586, A. A. Gast and Son $16, 917, A.
L. Turner $18,558 and States Construction Co., $21,517. The bids for heating ran
in the neighborhood of $4,000 with A. C. Freese apparently the lowest bidder.
The big contract went to Kindig.
[Rochester Sentinel, Friday, March 23, 1917]
GREEN OAK SCHOOL CONTRACTS
Township Trustee, W. K. Stevenson, Tuesday closed a contract with C. V. Kindig
to build the Green Oak school house for $13,638 while Arthur Freese will install
the heating and plumbing for $4,608. The building is to be completed by
September 1st.
It will contain four rooms and a basement and will be located one mile north of
Green Oak on the Peru road. Mr. Stevenson had some trouble with the plumbing and
heating contract and Mr. Freese did not furnish a bond until the last minute.
John Troutman and C. V. Leonard went on his personal bond for the amount of the
contract.
[Rochester Sentinel, Wednesday, April 4, 1917]
NEAR RIOT OCCURS AT WOODROW
A near-riot occurred Tuesday night at Woodrow school, near Green Oak, on the
Peru road, over a basketball game between the grade schools of Woodrow and
Burton which resulted in a victory for the Burton boys by the score of 24 to 17.
The teams had met several times before and the count on the number of games was
nearly a tie, which caused much of the rivalry.
During the first half Russell Miller, son of county surveyor Clem Miller, who is
a player on the Burton team, was being closely guarded by Hayward of the Woodrow
team. Miller insisted that his opponent was holding him and it is said finally
became angry and threw Hayward.
This incensed the janitor of the Woodrow school, Wm. Brubaker, who jumped onto
the floor and it is reported hit the Miller boy who is 12 years old. At this
Vernie Bowen, principal of the Burton school, went down the floor to
"get" Brubaker, who saw him coming and "squared" for him.
Finally after the principal of the Woodrow school, Verne Miller and the boy's
father, Clem Miller, were all out on the floor and the matter was adjusted. The
first half was then finished.
Between halves it is understood Brubaker sent representatives to Miller and
asked him if he could not square it some way to keep it out of court, and Miller
told them that if he would make an apology to the audience he would consider the
matter closed as far as he was concerned. This Brubaker did. Now it is not known
whether Bowen, principal of the Burton school, will file charges against
Brubaker or not for hitting a minor, which is a very serious offense. Bowen had
jurisdiction over the Miller boy at the time the game was played.
[Rochester Sentinel, Wednesday, March 3, 1920]
[photo] Bessie Platt in her Ford Roadster in Bloomington, Ill., 1914. She
taught school there until she moved to Grass Creek in 1927. Later Miss Platt
taught at Woodrow School. (Photo: Elsie Wharton Turner)
[FCHS Images No. 1, p. 69]
[photo] Vern Noyes stands by his bus in 1958. Noyes drove a bus to Woodrow
School 1936-59. He drove a bus the longest of any Woodrow drivers and with no
accidents. (Photo: Vern Noyes collection, given to FCHS)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 34, p. 31]
WOODROW SCHOOL AND ITS ONE-ROOM PREDECESORS
By Shirley Willard
Woodrow School was officially named Woodrow Wilson School in honor of the
President when it was built in 1917, but it was always called just Woodrow
School. Woodrow was four miles south of Rochester on the northeast corner of Old
US-31 and 300S. The foundation is still standing but the building has been gone
for several years.
Woodrow was a consolidation of four one-room schools: Ebenezer, Union, School 16
or Mt. Tabor, and Green Oak. Two other one-room schools had existed in that area
and been torn down before Woodrow was built: Mudsock and Sawmill.
Mt. Zion School closed in 1927 and its students went to Woodrow. Sprinkleburg
also closed in 1927 and its students went to McKinley School, which closed in
1930, sending its students to Woodrow, Lincoln and Columbia grade schools. Thus
Woodrow contained students from nine former schools.
[Unpublished article by Shirley Willard]
WOODROW SCHOOL
By Shirley Ogle Willard, Woodrow Graduate of 1951
Woodrow School was a consolidation of 4 one-room schools: Ebenezer, Union,
School 16 (also known as Mount Tabor), and Green Oak. Two other schools had
existed in that area and been torn down before Woodrow was built: Mudsock (also
called Elm Glen) and Sawmill.
Woodrow was built in 1917 by C. V. Kindig and Sons, who also built Whitmer
Gymnasium in Rochester, Reiter School, and many round barns. The land was lent
by William H. Brubaker. Woodrow is four miles south of Rochester on the
northeast corner of Old US-31 and 300 South. It was named in honor of President
Woodrow Wilson.
Mt. Zion School closed in 1927 and its students went to Woodrow. Sprinkleburg
also closed in 1927 and its students went to McKinley School on the Fort Wayne
Road, which closed in 1930, sending its students to Woodrow, Lincoln and
Columbia Grade schools. Thus Woodrow contained students from nine schools.
Woodrow opened for the first time in January 1918. Dean Mikesell was the first
principal at Woodrow; the next year he went to be a soldier in World War I and
died of influenza. Mikesell taught grades 6, 7 and 8. Marie Turner taught grades
1 and 2, and Agnes McKee taught 3, 4 and 5. That year there were only three
teachers; later there were four and in the 1950's there were sometimes five
teachers, depending on enrollment.
The first bus drivers were Morton Ford, Boyd Hayward, Bill Ball and Pete Lowe.
They drove horse hacks that seated 20 students and had three or four carbon
heaters under the floor. The driver rode inside with the reins going through a
slot in the front.
About 1920 they started to use motorized trucks with a bus body. They stored the
bus bodies in a garage at Woodrow during the summer until 1936, when they
started leaving them on year around.
Bill Brubaker was the first janitor from 1918 to 1924. Other janitors were
George Overmyer 1925-32, Elmer Newcomb 1933-37, Harry Shafer 1938-39 and spring
of 1952, John Ebersole 1940-51, Guy McMillen 1952-59, when the school closed in
1959. During its 42 years of operation, Woodrow had only six janitors.
The hot lunch program was started in 1946. Kids paid 15 cents a meal. Mary
Sampsel and Mrs. John Ebersole were the first cooks, serving 100 children. At
first one cook was hired and one mother volunteered. Later two cooks were hired.
Other cooks were Delores Hudkins, Mrs. Arthur Durkes, Mrs. Florence Brubaker,
Dorothy Chapman, Mrs. Bob Tharp, Donna Newcomb, Mrs. Richard Graves, Ruby
Goodrich, and Elsie Widows.
Woodrow's Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) was very active. For meetings they
would open the doors between the class rooms on the north side, making one big
room. Later they had meetings in the gym. Programs varied from band concerts to
minstrel shows to movies. The PTA sponsored the hot lunch progran.
For the Christmas program a stage was erected temporarily across the south end
of the gym. Miss Platt's room gave a toy band concert. The seventh and eighth
grades gave a play. The third, fourth, fifth and sixth graders sang songs or
played music. In the early years Bill Ball played Santa Claus. In the 1940's and
1950's Charlie Ogle dressed in a red Santa suit, which fit his roly-poly figure
perfectly.
Athletics included softball, basketball, and track played against Burton,
Reiter, Lincoln, Columbia, Talma, Richland Center, Kewanna, Grass Creek, Macy,
and Fulton. No admission was charged at the games, which were always played on
week nights, leaving weekends for the high school games.
The last day of school each spring meant a carry-in dinner and a program. Report
cards and attendance certificates were given.
Eighth grade commencement was held in Rochester for the whole county until 1922.
Then a township and city commencement was held at Whitmer gym 1926 to 1950.
Girls always wore white dresses for commencement.
Woodrow was closed in 1959 and sold to Henry Hartman of Akron. Then he sold it
to Marburger Packing Plant of Peru, which planned to convert the building into a
meat packing plant. They gave up after digging down on the east side of the
building because they discovered that the water pipes were under the gym floor
and would freeze if a locker was installed. Jerry Hubuson of Syracuse bought it
next. Finally in 1976 a demolition team from Kokomo bought it and tore it down.
The playground around Woodrow contained one and a half acre. In 1930 it
contained four swings, one ocean wave (a merry-go-round that went up and down as
well as round and round), one slide and three trees. There were two baseball
diamonds, one on the north side and one on the east side of the school. The big
diamond on the east side was used for competition between schools, and also for
track practice.
Woodrow had four classroos on the second floor and two offices, each up a tiny
stairway, one on the south side and one on the west side. The office on the
south side had a telephone and was used as sick room.
On the ground level there were two restrooms, the girls' on the south side and
the boys' on the north side. Two large stairways led down to ground level on the
south side and on the west side. Also on the ground level were a kitchen
(originally home economics room) and a shop to teach seventh and eighth grade
boys woodworking and mechanical drawing.
The gym was sunk below the ground level and hard large cement steps to serve as
bleachers. There were basketball goals on the north and south sides.
The name "Woodrow School 1917" was engraved above the door that faced
highway 31. In its 42 years of operation, Woodrow graduated an estimated 840
eighth graders and probably had over 1,000 pupils. We will never forget dear old
Woodrow and how we used to yell: "One, two, three, four, Who you gonna yell
for? Woodrow, that's us."
[FCHS Quarterly, No. 34, pp 27-29]
WOODROW SCHOOL - PART 2
By Shirley Willard
This is a continuation of the history of Woodrow Elementary School, which was
published in FCHS Quarterly 34 in 1878.
The hot lunch program at Woodrow was started in 1946 by Mildred Van Duyne, who
borrowed $200 to start it. Up until then the pupils were treated to a hot meal
one day a week or once or twice a semester, when mothers would get together and
cook hot soup, bringing the vegetables from their own gardens. The pupils ate in
their class rooms. But when the hot lunch program started, a room on the ground
level was converted into the kitchen and lunch room.
Federal aid was six cents a meal per pupil plus commodities from surplus
agricultural program. Kids paid 15 cents a meal. Mary (Mrs. Homer) Sampsel and
Mary (Mrs. John) Ebersole were the first cooks. They served 100 kids. At first
they hired one cook and one mother to help. Later they hired two full-time
cooks.
Other cooks included: Mrs. Richard Graves 1949-51, Ruby (Mrs. Charlie) Goodrich
1950-51, Elsie (Mrs. Harry) Widows, Donna Newcomb - 1950, Delores Hudkins
1951-52, Mrs. Art Durkes 1953-58, Mrs. Florence Brubaker (or McMillen) 1951-55,
Dorothy Chapman 1956-58, Mrs. Bob Tharp 1959.
James "Doc" Newcomb furnished lumber and he and Ed Polley, Walter
Garrick, Devane "Babe" Felts made tables.
The custom of making soup once in a while for the pupils began in 1921. At first
they had a kerosene stove, and no hot water. The government paid only for white
milk so some children brought their own cocoa to stir in it and set the cans in
window sills.
Home economics and sewing were taught in the kitchen, beginning in 1927.
Principals at Woodrow were always men. Dean Mikesell was the first principal at
Woodrow School in 1918, but he taught only half of the year. He went into the U.
S. Army for World War I and died at Great Lakes Naval Base of influenza.
Vern Miller of Athens was the second principal, completing Mikesell's term and
continuing on the next year 1918-20.
Ray Shelton became principal in the fall of 1920, but he taught only two weeks,
and resigned during school closing diphtheria epidemic. Shelton took the job of
mail carrier.
Orville Foor, of Macy, was principal 1920-1937, but he never had a teacher's
license. There was a mix-up because a man with the same name had attended
Manchester College and died.
Roland Meiser was principal 1937-39, Clifford Baggerly 1939-51, Kenneth
Overstreet 1951-54, Scott Savage 1954-56, and Chauncey Oren 1957-59 when Woodrow
was closed. Kenneth Overstreet was fired by Rochester Township Trustee, Taylor,
for wanting to keep Woodrow and not consolidate with town schools.
For several years there was a school battle in Rochester Township. The country
people wanted to keep their small schools: Woodrow, Reiter, and Burton. The
consolidation issue was placed on the ballot three times and was voted town
every time. But Indiana State Law gave the trustee the power to close the
schools even though the majority of the people voted against it. So trustee
Henry Skidmore closed the three country schools in 1959.
Rochestr built two new elementary schools, Columbia and Riddle. To make room for
the "country" kids, a new addition was built at Riddle School but it
wasn't ready in the fall of 1959, so Reiter continued until 1960. There was much
bitterness over this forced consolidation. Some people did not speak to the
Skidmores or any of their relatives for the next 10 years!
To keep the town schools from getting the equipment they had paid for, the local
PTA hid the electric potato masher and mixer, etc. That way the community still
had it for community get-togethers. For many years this equipment was kept at
Opal Sherrard's house where they were handy for the Green Oak Club and the Home
Circle Club.
[Unpublished article by Shirley Willard]
WOODROW SCHOOL TEACHERS
Jan. - April 1918 Deam Mikesell 6-7-8, Agnes McKee 3-4-5, Marie Turner 1-2.
1918-19: Vern Miller 6-7-8, Agnes McKee 3-4-5, Marie Turner 1-2.
1919-20: Vern Miller 6-7-8, Bess McKee 3-4-5, Anna Myers 1-2.
1920-21: Ray Shelton, Orville Foor 6-7-8, Alice Lowe 3-4-5, Herma Wolf 1-2
1921-22: Orville Foor 6-7-8, Alice Lowe 3-4-5, Herma Wolf 1-2.
1922-23: Orville Foor 6-7-8, Alice Lowe 3-4-5, Vida Carey 1-2.
1923-24: Orville Foor 6-7-8, Mildred Robinson 3-4-5, Vida Carey 1-2.
1924-25: Orville Foor 6-7-8, Mildred Robinson 3-4-5, Agnes Shields 1-2.
1925-26: Orville Foor 6-7-8, Margaret Carruthers 3-4-5, Agnes Shields 1-2.
1926-27: Orville Foor 7-8, Agnes Shields 4-5-6, Maude Sturken 1-2-3.
1927-28: Orville Foor 7-8, Ruth Carruthers 5-6, Narcissus Sowers 3-4, AGnes
Shields 1-2.
1928-29: Orville Foor 7-8, Ruth Carruthers 5-6, Nar Sowers 3-4, Agnes Shields
1-2.
1929-30: Enrol. (1-8) 164. 8 mos. Prin. Orville Foor, 7-8; Esther Thrush, 5-6;
Narcissus Sowers, 3-4; Bessie Platt, 1-2.
1930-31: (Com. 1-8) 71. Prin. Orville Foor, 7, 8; Esther Thrush, 5, 6; Narcissus
Sowers, 3, 4; Mrs. Paul Whitcomb, 1, 2.
1931-32: Cont. Com. (1-8) 96. Prin. Orville Foor, 7-8; Esther Thrush, 5-6;
Kermit Biddinger, 3-4; Bessie Platt, 1-2; E. F. Fisher Music Supervisor.
1932-33: Cont. Com. 1-8. 96. Prin. Orville Foor, 7-8; Yetta Entsminger, 5-6;
Grace Eash, 3-4; Bessie Platt, 1-2.
1933-34: Cont. Com. 1-8. 104. Prin. Orville Foor, 7-8; Isabelle Rans, 5-6; Mary
Jane Hood, 3-4; Bessie Platt, 1-2.
1934-35: Cont. Com. 1-8. 93. Prin. Orville Foor, 7-8; Isabelle Rans, 5-6; Helen
Barkman, 3-4; Bessie Platt, 1-2.
1935-36: Cont. Com. 1-8. 105. Prin. Orville Foor, 7-8; Isabelle Rans, 5-6; Helen
Barkman, 3-4; Bessie Platt, 1-2.
1936-37: Cont. Com. 1-8, 101. Prin. Orville Foor, 7-8; Isabelle Rans 5-6; Helen
Barkman, 3-4; Bessie M. Platt, 1-2.
1937-38: Cont. Com. 1-8. 104. Prin. Rolland Meiser, 7-8; Isabelle Rans, 5-6;
Helen Barkman, 3-4; Bessie Platt, 1-2.
1938-39: Cont. Com. 1-8 108. Prin. Rolland Meiser, 7-8; Isabelle Rans, 5-6; Sara
Jane Zimmerman, 3-4; Bessie M. Platt, 1-2; Audrey Kassebau, H. Ec., Mu., Orch.
1939-40: Cont. Com. 1-8. 113. Prin. Clifford Baggerley, 7-8; Charles Mow, 5-6;
Isabelle Rans 3-4; Bessie M. Platt, 1-3; Ida Kathryn Moore, H. Ec., Mu.
1940-41: Cont. Com. 1-8, 98. Prin. Clifford Baggerley, 7-8; Charles Mow, 5-6;
Isabelle Rans, 3-4; Bessie M. Platt, 1-2; Gertrude Klingaman, Mu.
1941-42: Cont. Com. 1-8. 98. Prin. Clifford Baggerley 7-8; O'Neill York, 5-6;
Isabelle Rans 3-4; Bessie M. Platt, 1-2; Gertrude M. Klingaman, Mu.
1942-43: Cont. Com. 1-8. 114. Prin. Clifford Baggerley, 7-8; Isabelle Rans, 5-6;
Mabel Gaumer, 3-4; Bessie M. Platt, 1-2; Gertrude M. Klingaman, Mu.
1943-44: Clifford Baggerly 7-8, Isabel Rans 5-6, Esther Thrush 3-4, Bessie Platt
1-2.
1944-45: Cont. Com. 1-8, 119. Prin. Clifford Baggerley, 7-8; Jane Kemper, 5-6;
Esther M. Thrush, 3-4; Bessie M. Platt, 1-2; Edith M. Carlson, Mu.
1945-46: Clifford Baggerly 7-8, Jane Kemper 5-6, Esther Thrush 3-4, Bessie Platt
1-2.
1946-47: Cont. Com. 1-8, 115. Prin. Clifford Baggerley, 7-8; Jane Kemper, 5-6;
Esther Thrush, 3-4; Bessie M. Platt, 1-2.
1947-48: C. Baggerly 7-8, Jane Kemper first semester 5-6, Kenneth Overstreet
second semester 5-6, Esther Thrush 3-4, Bessie Platt 1-2.
1948-49: Cont. Com. 1-8, 105. Prin. Clifford Baggerley, 7-8; Thelma Saffordd,
5-6; Esther M. Thrush, 3-4; Bessie M. Platt, 1-2; Esther S. Lyle, Mu., B.
1949-50: Cont. Com. 1-8, 128. Prin. Clifford Baggerley, 7-8; Jane Kemper, 5-6;
Esther M. Thrush, 3-4; Bessie M. Platt, 1-2; Edith M. Carlson, Mu.
1950-51: Cont. Com. 1-8. Enrol. (1-6) 116 (7-8) 23. Prin. Clifford Baggerley,
7-8; Jane Kemper, l5-6; Esther M. Thrush, 3-4; Bessie M. Platt, 1-2; Edith M.
Carlson, Mu.
1951-52: Cont. 1-8. Enrol. (1-6) 76, (7-8) 26. Prin. Kenneth Roy Overstreet,
7-8; Jane Kemper, 5-6; Esther Thrush, 3-4; Virginia B. Jackson, 1-2; Edith
Carlson, Mu.
1952-53: Kenneth Overstreet 7-8, Jane Kemper 5-6, Esther Thrush 3-4, Virginia
Jackson 1-2.
1953-54: Cont. 1-8. Enrol. (1-6) 114, (7-8) 26. Prin Kenneth R. Overstreet, 7-8;
Jane Kemper, 5-6; Esther Thrush, 3-4; Mary J. Van Duyne, 2; Virginia B. Jackson,
1; Carl Doherty, Mu., B.
1954-55: Scott Savage 7-8, Jane Kemper 5-6, Esther Thrush 3-4, Florence Long
1-2.
1955-56: Cont. Com. 1-8. Enrol (1-6) 135, (7-8) 26. Prin. W. Scott Savage, 7-8;
Jane Kemper, 5-6; Esther Thrush, 3-4; Isabelle Grove, 2-3; Florence Long, 1;
Donna Lee Dawald, Mu., B.
1956-57: Scott Savage 7-8, Jane Kemper 5-6, Esther Thrush 3-4, Hazel Chaney 1-2.
1957-58: Cont. Com. 1-8 Enrol. (1-6) 87, (7-8) 12. Prin. Chauncey Oren, 6-8;
Jane Kemper, 4-5; Esther Thrush, 2-3; Hazel Case Chaney 1-2; Donna Lee Dawald
Mu. B.
1958-59: Chauncey Oren 7-8, Jane Kemper 5-6, Esther Thrush 3-4, Hazel Chaney
1-2.
[F.C.H.S. files and FCHS Quarterly No. 34, pp 29-30]
WOODROW BUS DRIVERS
1918- Ed Tetzloff
1918- Morton Ford
1918 Boyd Hayward
1918- Bill Ball - the first to get a motor truck in the 1920's.
1918- Pete Lowe
1918-20: Mrs. Milton Whittenberger took over Boyd Hayward's
1920-24: Merley and Elma Dawson
1919? Chauncey Nye
------ Charlie Piper - substituted
1928-31: Elmer Newcomb
1931-32: Lee Shobe
19??-31: Ovie Hobbs. His bus upset in Mt. Zion mill pond and sank to bottom in
spring of 1929 or 1930. Bus was empty; no one hurt.
Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Smith
Wilfred Guise
1934-47: Ray Cook
19??- 44: Bill Brubaker
1936-47: Orville Gilliland
1936-59: Vern Noyes - drove the longest and with no accidents.
1940-55: Howard Tobey
1944-59: Ira Baker
1937-47: Devane "Babe" Felts
1947-59: Charlie E. Ogle. Continued to drive bus until 1966 after Woodrow
closed.
1955-Christmas 1957: Calvin Braman
1949-59: Howard Taylor. Continued to drive bus to new schools in town.
Christmas 1957-1959: Jim Tobey.
At first the buses were horse-drawn "hacks".
During the 1930's they started bussing to the high school in Rochester. [motor
buses]
[FCHS Quarterly No. 34, p. 31]
Teachers: Alice Lowe Newcomb; Thelma Sanders Safford; Orville Foor; Ray Issac Shelton, 7th & 8th, fall of 1920 two weeks, closed for diphtheria epidemic, did not return; Mary Jane Hood Van Duyne, 1933-34 and 2nd grade, 1953-54
The nine of us [Seymour Blacketor children] enjoyed the unique experience of
having Orville Foor teach us in our seventh and eighth grade years. Soon after,
Mr. Foor retired from the teaching profession, but he never lost interest in us
and followed our varied paths. Mr. Foor also coached the Woodrow basketball and
baseball teams and all three of the boys, Merle, Otto, and Hugh Robert, played
under his expert coaching. Woodrow also had a girls basketball team. Usually the
girls played the first game and the boys the second. Ethel, Bonnie and Bernice
played under the following coaches: Agnes Shields, Yetta Entsminger, and
Narcissus Sowers.
[Horatio Seymour Blacketor, Ethel Blacketor and Norabelle Krom Bryant, Fulton Co
Folks, Vol. 2, Willard]
I helped C. V. Kindig & Sons build Woodrow School in the summer of 1917.
Woodrow was actually Woodrow Wilson School in honor of President Woodrow Wilson,
but only "Woodrow School" was put on the stone above the main entrance
facing highway [Old US-31]. Woodrow replaced several one-room schools: Ebenezer,
Green Oak, School 16 or Mount Tabor, Mudsock or Elm Glen, Union, Mt. Zion,
Sprinkleburg, and also absorbed some of the pupils from McKinley School when it
was closed in 1930. -- Ferman Powell.
[Thomas Powell Family, Maxine Heckathorn et al, Fulton Co Folks, Vol. 2,
Willard]
WRIGHT SCHOOL [Newcastle Township]
Located SW corner 550N and 350E.
Sometimes called the Gordon School (after the first teacher0.
Hulings Miller, father of Cincinnatus Miller, (Joaquin Miller), "Poet of
the Sierras," taught at this one-room school.
Mr. Miller had purchased his farm from a Mr. Culver in 1848, and re-sold it back
to Mr. Culver in March, 1852, leaving Fulton County for California.
Built before 1876; abandoned between 1876 and 1883.
Teachers: Robert Gordon (first teacher); Hulings Miller; George Perschbacher
1857-61.
OLD SCHOOL HOUSE TORN DOWN
WAS BUILT IN 1854
This week saw the passing of a historical landmark on the Anna Kiler farm six
miles northeast of Rochester when one of the original old, "one room,"
school houses, that was built before the Civil War was torn down. This school
was built in the then standing forest and was made of logs and has withstood the
ravages of time since it was erected in 1854.
Attention to the passing of the 75-year old landmark was brought to The
News-Sentinel by Donald Carlson, young son of Mr. and Mrs. O. R. Carlson of this
city, who was visiting relatives in the community and witnessed the tearing down
of the building. The boy in searching the premises for relics came upon
newspapers which were tacked to the walls and ceiling to help keep out the cold
winds from blowing through the cracks between the logs. The papers were yellow
and stiff with age, one being the Cincinnati Messenger printed in 1854, and the
other being a Roches ter weekly printed in 1847, but the name could not be made
out.
Donald was particularly interested in the building as the log school was built
on the farm of his great-great-grandfather Wright. His great-great-grandparents,
George and Jane Perschbacher attended the school during their youthful days and
later Mr. Perschbacher was the teacher there for several terms.
Some of the logs were found to be black walnut and in an excellent state of
preservation. One old desk made of logs was also found and preserved. The school
had a dirt floor and the windows which were few in number were very small.
[The News-Sentinel, Thursday, July 11, 1929]
THE WRIGHT SCHOOL
By Waldo Adams
The school taught by Hulings Miller and attended by his son Cincinnatus H.
(Joaquin) was known as the Wright school. Its location was determined with
considerable accuracy because of its peculiar situation. A schoolmate stated it
was located in the southeast quarter of Section 15, and the farm purchased by
Miller was in the northwest quarter of Section 15.
The schoolhouse was described by the schoolmate as being located across the road
from the farm residence but in the southeast quarter of land owned at the time
by the Wrights. Since a public road also forms the boundary and central point
between the two diagonal sections the school grounds can only be at a very
definite spot.
No exact date can be determined for its erection. The closest estimate seems to
center around the years 1840 to 1845. It is known that it was erected before the
present Wright farmstead building, which were built in 1852.
The building was rectangular shaped and covered with sawed weather boards. It
was not built of logs. It had no belfry or bells. The teacher probably had a
hand bell which served the purpose of calling the pupils from play. No one could
recall of a well being there. Water was probably carried from the farm homes
nearby.
Mrs. Bonine recalled that her father George Perschbacher moved the school
building to the Wright farmstead, which he then owned and converted it into a
storage for grain. It was originally floored, having joists and foundation
stones beneath. It did not have puncheon floors.
She recalled the building, when used as a school, had a long wood-burning stove
capable of burning the long lengths of wood cut in those days. The building was
standing and used as a storage as late as 1930. Mrs. Bonine confirmed the
original location as described earlier by Mrs. Swanger.
Mrs. Snyder, the present owner of the old Wright Farm, recalled that the second
location of the building was somewhat in front of the farm home, much to her
mother's annoyance. Mrs. Kiler was the daughter of Mr. Perschbacher and the
mother of Mrs. Snyder.
The building was torn down in the 1930's and the materials were used to
construct a garage which still stands near the Wright farm home. Ralh Hatfield
of Talma recalls the old schoolhouse setting very near the old Wright home
during the 1930's.
The Wright farm, now owned by Mrs. Snyder, presently is occupied by the Calvin
Mikesell family. It is north of the Tippecanoe river from the Sheward bridge
crossing. The Wright school was located at the T-road intersection north of the
Mikesell residence which is the intersection of County Road 375E with 550N. The
Hulings Miller homestead now is the Mrs. Lloyd Ritchey farm, north of the
T-intersection.
[FCHS Quarterly, December 1964, pp 5-6]
WRIGHT SCHOOL
By Shirley Willard
Wright one-room school was built in 1842 on the southwest corner of 375E and
550N. It was named for James Wright, who owned the farm on which the school
stood (in the northwest corner of their farm.) The school was rectangular shaped
and covered with sawed weather boards, according to Waldo Adams, who wrote about
it in the first FCHS Quarterly (Joaquin Miller story 1964). Wright school is the
school referred to in the Joaquin Miller historical marker by the bridge on
state road 25 three miles southwest of Talma. It was not built of logs, had no
belfry or bells. The teacher probably had a hand bell which served the purpose
of calling thhe pupils from play. No well was dug there; water was probably
carried from the farm homes nearby. The school had a long wood-burning stove
capable of burning the long lengths of wood cut in those days. It had a wood
floor with joists and foundation stones beneath. It did not have puncheon
floors.
A famous poet attended Wright school as a boy. Cincinnatus Heiner (penname
Joaquin) Miller attended Wright from 1848-52, and his father Hulings Miller was
the teacher. The subjects studied by the pupils were the three R's with spelling
and geography taught less frequently. Saturday night spelling bee's were common.
Joaquin recalled that his brother, John D., was frequently a winner, but not
Joaquin. Slates were in common use for practice exercvises but quill pens and
oak-gall ink were reserved for the writing exercises. The ability to make a
writing pen out of a large feather was one of the requirements for a
schoolmaster of those years. The quill pen used by Joaquin is said to be located
in his museum home overlooking San Francisco Bay in Oakland, Calif. His double
slate was given to a schoolmate, Lucinda Culver, when the Millers left to go
West in 1852. She gave it to the Rochester high school library in later years. A
fire which damaged the library in 1950 also destroyed the slate. It was a double
slate with binding around the wooden frame and hinged so that the two writing
survaces could be closed like a book.
George Perschbacher and Jane Wright were also classmates of Joaquin Miller. When
the Millers arrived in Sacramento, California, in 1852, Joaquin wrote a letter
to Jane Wright. George and Jane were married when they grew up. Many years later
in about 1908 George Perschbacher and his second wife (Jane had died in 1887)
visited Joaquin, then a famous poet in Oakland, Calif. This interview was
reported in the Rochester Republican newspaper.
Wright school was closed before 1883 and the building moved by George
Perschbacher to the Wright farmstead, which he then owned and converted into a
storage for grain. It stood somewhat in front of the farm home, much to the
annoyance of Perschbacher's daughter, Mrs. George (Anna) Kiler. From Kilers the
ownership passed to their daughter, Mrs Willard (Malita) Snyder and to their son
George Snyder. The building was torn down in the 1930's and the materials were
used to construct a garage which still stands on the farm, where Calvin Mikesell
lives now. His son Denny Mikesell recently bought the farm but Calvin still
lives there.
When the school was torn down in the 1930's, a story appeared in the Rochester
Sentinel about the boy Donald Carlson finding old newspapers dated 1847 and 1854
which were tacked to the walls and ceiling to help keep the cold winds from
blowing through the cracks. Some of the logs were black walnut and in excellent
state of preservation. One old desk made of logs was also found and preserved,
according to the newspaper story. We have not been able to locate the desk so do
not know if it still exists. The windows were few in number and very small.
Donald Carlson was the great-great-grandson of George and Jane Perschbacher.
Robert Gordon was the first eacher at Wright school and it was therefore called
Gordon by some people. The 1883 Historical Atlas of Fulton County says that the
school was built on the John Culver farm but this refers to the man who lived on
the farm in 1883, not the man who owned the farm when the school was built.
George Perschbacher taught at the Wright school for four terms approximately
1857-64. No one knows the names of any other teachers but the three mentioned
here.
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, pp 21-22]
YALE SCHOOL [#5] [Newcastle Township]
Located SW corner of 800E and 500N.
Children from Big Foot attended.
Built between 1883 and 1907. One-room school.
__________
[photo] Yale school. (Photo: Mrs. Earl Zent)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, p. 25]
[photo] Paul Myers, Earl Coplen, Harold McIntyre, Bernard Rogers, Harvey
Smith and Elma Bybee Zent strike mischievous poses in front of Yale school
approximately 1915. (Photo: Bernard Rogers)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, p. 26]
[photo] This was the bus or hack that took children to Yale school, driven by
Warren Ensminger. It was used to pick up children living over a mile from
school. The rest of them walked to school, or if storming, the parents took
them. . . sometimes. (Photo: Mrs. Earl Zent)
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, p. 27]
__________
YALE SCHOOL SERVED THE BIGFOOT COMMUNITY
By Harry Long
Yale school, District No. 5, Newcastle township, was located a few rods west of
the crossroads west of Sycamore cemetery. It was a brick, one room building with
the usual large wood burning stove located in the center of the room.
When I started to school in 1901, the teacher was Jerry Byers of Talma. He had
only 48 pupils scattered through all eight grades. Some of the pupils who were
older than I were Walter and Zora Coplen, Mary and Maggie Laird, Bessie Tipton
and LaVerda Anderson.
The other teachers I remember were Bert Myers, Dow Haimbaugh, Rex Haimbaugh,
Loren Bryant and Lloyd Eherenman.
[FCHS Quarterly, December 1966, p. 9]
YALE SCHOOL
By Dow Haimbaugh
Located one mile north of Bigfoot and two and a half miles north of Lakeview
school, on the [SW] corner of 500N and 825E, Yale school provided for all
grades. It was the largest district school in the township, built between 1883
and 1907. It replaced the first Yale schoolhouse which was built before 1876 on
road 550N about one-fourth mile east of 825E. (Editor's note: The first
schoolhouse was abandoned when the new one was built.)
Some of the patrons I remember were the Leard, Miller, Long, Coplen, Entsminger,
Haimbaugh, Tipton, Rogers, Batz, Anderson, Busenburg, VanDorn, and King
families.
We always had spelling school (contest); Leslie Leard and his sister were the
winners the year I taught at Yale. We had school straight through holidays; no
vacations except for Christmas Day, same as at Lakeview.
On one Friday afternoon a month we had entertainment, singing and memorized
speeches. On the last day of the school year the mothers brought food for the
noon meal and what a noon meal we did have!
We used slate pencils and slate boards. The pencils were very hard and never
needed sharpening. You would clean your slate by spitting on it and wiping it
off with your shirt sleeve or hanky. Lead pencils were sharpened with a knife.
Some of the other persons who taught at Yale were Jerry Byers 1901, Bert Myers,
Rex Haimbaugh, Loren Bryant, and Lloyd Eherenman 1911, Marjorie Jones Bryant
1914. I, Dow Haimbaugh, taught there during the 1906-07 school year. I rode a
horse or walked the 2-1/2 miles to school.
Leslie Leard went on to become a medical doctor and practiced in Kosciusko
County. One time some men came into his office and wanted some facial changes
made so they would not be recognized. He refused and they gave him an awful
beating!
Hobart Rogers went on to become a medical doctor also and practiced in
California.
Emory and Roy Anderson, who lived in Bigfoot, both were graduated from the
McKilip's Veterinary College in Chicago. Emory practiced in Mentone and Roy in
Rochester and Argos.
Mary Isabell Drudge Peterson recalls that her father attended school at Yale.
Often one would provoke laughter from the local residents by announcing to a
stranger that one was a graduate of Yale, meaning Yale of Newcastle township
instead of the famous university as the stranger would assume. She also
remembers that the school was heated by one stove in the center and how cold it
got in the schoolroom during the winter. As a young woman, she taught at Yale in
the years 1920-21 and 1921-22. "It was customary in those days for the
teachers to play with the children during recess and lunch. We often played
baseball and on nice days we would sometimes take our lunches to the nearby
woods to eat. I was unable to teach after 1922 as I married Joe Peterson that
year and as was the custom of the time, women were not hired to teach in the
schools once they were married," stated Mrs. Peterson. That was the year,
according to Mrs. Peterson that Yale school was closed and the students
transferred to Talma.
Mrs. Earl Zent (Elma Bybee) attended school at Yale. She offers the following
information. "My sister said Lloyd Eherenman taught the year before I
started to school (1911). I was in the first grade in 1912 and the teachers at
Yale during my eight years there were Zora Coplen 1912-13, Marjorie Jones Bryant
1913-14, Dessie Mathews 1914-15, Donald Coplen 1915-16, Ethel Haimbaugh Parker
1916-17, Martha Rhinehart (1/2 year) 1917, Estel Fish (1/2 year) 1918, Isabelle
Drudge Peterson 1920-22.
Mrs. Earl Zent found the following article in her scrapbook. It is a newspaper
clipping from the Rochester Sentinel, Voice of the People: "The Right
Brand. Editor Sentinel: It is one thing to display patriotism from the lapel of
your coat, but it is quite another to substantiate it from the trousers' pocket.
It is one thing to proclaim our patriotism from the platform and it is another
thing to let our dollars talk for us. One kind stirs us on the surface resulting
in tears, cheers and spread-eagle oratory. The other stirs us deeply enough that
our pocketbooks are moved resulting in sacrifice of time, money and talents.
"I wish to call attention to the brand of patriotism found in a little red
country school of Newcastle township. Five days of each week "Old
Glory" waves from a flag staff standing near the building, reminding us
that the free public school system of the U. S. has been won by sacrifices made
under the flag and will be protected by the same kind of sacrifices if need be.
But the patriotism of the pupils and teacher of Yale school does not end with
the waving of flags. Within the last two weeks, as rural carrier, I have
delivered to them twelve War Stamps and have given to the government $49.50, the
cost price of these twelve stamps. I don't know how many more Yale is going to
buy, but I do know that already they have invested in the War an average per
scholar of $2.35. Of the 49.50 invested, 41.25 is the investment of the
students, one lad, Truman Waltz, taking $20.60 worth of stamps.
"Yale may never produce an all state athlete or an all night
"Frat", but it is a pretty safe guess that they will produce some
All-American citizens. This genuine brand of patriotism reflects credit on the
community, the school, and its teacher, Don Coplen." The letter was signed
by Rural Carrier No. One.
The following is quoted from Volume 3, Number 3, Fulton County Historical
Society Quarterly dated December, 1966. It was contributed by Harry Long.
"Yale School, District No. 5, Newcastle township, was located a few rods
west of Sycamore cemetery. It was a brick one-room building with the usual large
wood burning stove located in the center of the room.
"When I started to school in 1901, the teacher was Jerry Byers of Talma. He
had only 48 pupils scattered through all eight grades. Some of the pupils who
were older than I were Walter and Zora Coplen, Mary and Maggie Laird, Bessie
Tipton and LeVerda Anderson.
"The other teachers I remember were Bert Myers, Dow Haimbaugh, Rex
Haimbaugh, Loren Bryant and Lloyd Eherenman."
[FCHS Quarterly No. 24, pp 24-27]
Teachers: Lloyd Eherenmen, 1910-12.; William Bertram (Bert) Myers,
1903-04-05; Ethel Haimbaugh Parker, 1919
See First Yale School
YELLOW CREEK SCHOOL [Newcastle Township]
Miss Emma L. Pyle will teach the summer term of school at Yellow Creek school
house, in Newcastle township. . .
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, April 28, 1877]
Yellow Creek school, taught by Miss Emma L. Pyle, will close next Friday.
[Rochester Sentinel, Saturday, July 14, 1877]