The Mail-Journal, Volume 6, Milford, Kosciusko County, 9 March 1969 — Page 15

And Then There Was Wnwnsee . . .

It is quite evident that the early settlers of Kosciusko county were concerned about the education of their youngsters as schools were built in each of the settlements as early as the 1830’s The first school house in Milford was located on south Main street, where the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Fuller now stands, in the early 30’s and school was taught by John Woods, one of the first teachers in Kosciusko county. The first school in Tippecanoe township was a “subscription school” and opened in 1838. In the early 1830’s Warren Warner built a cabin as a home then returned to Ohio. In 1838 his brother Thomas K. came to the area and converted the cabin into a school building. He was also the first teacher. * Organized education has been in existance at Syracuse since 1836 with the first school being a log building located at Harrison and Washington streets. About the same time residents of the township transformed a log bam into a school building. Several Schools Several small school houses were used in Milford between the time the first building was constructed and 1878 when a twostory, four-room brick building was constructed just north of the present junior high school building. In 1878 ths Milford school was graded into intermediates and primary classes. There were a total of 100 students in the school system. In 1833 a two-room addition was completed to make the Mil-

"We at United Telephone Company wish to welcome WAWASEE HIGH SCHOOL to the Lakeland area"

| - \ s J’/.-. , . 'I •. " , 5-

. 7 _- .fcgaZsaofc 11 itii __. ~~~ " /.... ■ •" ,X<*S£«. , ■ v *

ford school one of the best equipped in the area. However, it wasn’t until 1911 that, through the untiring efforts of superintendent James Sheppard, a commission was received by Milford high school. v

“Welcome!”

Milford School

The only school in North Webster prior to 1910 was a grammar school which was located on the site of the present Church of God. High school students went to Warsaw. Trustee Henry Strombeck started the building

■■nßMi WIWBUBWIBR BgiminilUli

on the present site of the elemen-tary-junior high school in the year 1910 and upon his death his son, Milo, completed the building in 191)1. During part of 1911 a temporary high school was housed near

United Telephone Company of Indiana. Inc. Bnß A MEMBER OF UNITED TELEPHONE SYSTEM

the lumber yard. There seems to be some discrenancy as to the date in which a four room brick structure was erected facing east Main street in Syracuse. A county historical record states it was built in 1868 while the school’s year book of 1907 states the building was erected in 1874. In 1887 a two-year high school was started in Syracuse with Blanche Sprague becoming the first student to graduate in 1889. In 1902, the old Kern building was moved onto the south end of the school grounds facing Main street and the high school grades, which now followed a fouryear course, moved into the addition. Present Buildings The present junior high school building in Milford was constructed in 1914 and housed the entire school. The major social event of 1914 was on May 15 when the school was dedicated. It was an all-day affair featuring a banquet, parade and laying of the comer stone. The first high school commencement was held in the building on May 1, 1915. Prior to that time they were held in the Methodist church. In 1924 work began on the Milford gvm and when it was completed it was termed one of the best in northern Indiana. In 1925 the county tourney was held in Milford. The school’s old gym was converted into a science laboratory and the west half was eventually made into' the cafeteria. The front portion of the school (Continued on Page 4)