The Mail-Journal, Volume 23, Number 22, Milford, Kosciusko County, 28 May 1986 — Page 46

THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., May 28,1986

28

Education important in Milford

By JERI SEELY No one really knows when or where Milford High School had her beginnings. A number of small schools were located on the town’s Main Street. The first is believed to have been on South Main and was where the home of Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Richardson now stands. No date is found. Logic, however, says Milford had a school soon after it was laid out. After all, it is a known fact that William Felkner built a school in the township in the fall of 1835 with J. G. Woods being the teacher. Why then, would the residents of the town of Milford not have a school for their children? Later a red school house was erected on North Main Street. This school house was torn down and what was known as the white school house was erected on the lot north of the United Methodist Church site. The next building to be used was on the corner of Emeline and James. It burned to the ground. It was in 1878 that a two-story brick school building was completed. It was serve the students

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of the community until a new building was constructed in 1914. It was also in 1878 that Milford’s school was graded. A commission was received in 1911, through the untiring efforts of Superintendent James Shepherd. An interesting note in the history of the Milford schools is the fact that between 1883 and 1886 Herman Wilke was principal and Henrietta Treesh was a grade teacher. They married at Milford and later became the parents of a son, Wendell A. Wilke, a candidate for President of the United States in 1940. Henrietta became the first woman to be admitted to law practice in Indiana. A New School Dedication ceremonies for the school were held on December 18, 1914. The following spring the whole town turned out for the laying of the cornerstone. It was May 15 and the Masons were in charge. It was a very impressive ceremony and was on the school grounds with a stage being constructed to accomodate the officers who had charge of the activities and the ladies who sang.

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It was very impressive. The large crowd gathered uptown and marched in a long procession to the school, being led by the band. The first high school commencement was held in the building on May 1, 1915. Before that commencement exercises were held in the Methodist Church. The building which was built in 1914 only saw the leadership of six principals — James Shepherd, 1908-1915; Thomas Berry, 1915-1917; Alva Stout, 1916-1935; Lloyd Eherenman, 1916-1935; Harold Young, 1935-1959; and Donn Kesler,

MILFORD SCHOOL BUILT IN 1878

1959-1968. Kesler is now vice principal of Wawasee High School and MHS graduate Ned Speicher is WHS principal. Hoosier Hysteria Hoosier Hysteria has been evident in Milford for years. The first basketball games played in Milford were in the school “gymnasium” located in the basement of the school. It would, years later, become the school’s cafeteria and science room. The gym floor was about four feet lower than normal floor area. In the early 19205, basketball games were played in the old Milford Sale pavilion, located on the southeast corner of Emeline and James Streets. That building now houses Levemier’s Body Shop. While the old (and cold!) pavilion had no dressing rooms, the local team dressed in a nearby house. The county basketball tournament was played there in 1922. Work began on the new Milford High School gym and community building in 1924. When completed late that year this building was easily the best gymnasium in the area. In 1925 the county tournament was played in the gym. That was also the year Milford won the county, sectional and regional tournaments and the

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“preen farm boys” joined the fi bled “Sweet 16“ at Inti: anapolis. Vincennes upset ft ilford in the old fairgrounds cow barn. 26-31. Members of that longremembered team included Harry and Roy Schultz, Eldon ftiler, Royal Sechler, Harold Burns, Noble Miller and James Fammon. In 1946 Milford coach Arlo Eeiswanger put together what v as to become another winning team for MHS. With Carl Speicher and his brother Louis aid Donnie Wolferman, all three s >phomores, spearheading the t am, they won the sectional tournament. This winning trio, with Dick f alser and Phil Beer, won the sectional in 1947. The three returned as seniors in 1948 and had as fellow regulars I ick and Ben Kaiser. Subs were Jack Klopenstein, Duane ( ‘Skip”) Graff, Harry Orn and lalph Clawson. They won 25 s raight games before falling in tlie first game of the Fort Wayne regional. Monroeville was the v ictor 51-47 Robert Bushong was c oach in 1947-48. The MHS band was organized (Continued on page 29)