Waynetown Despatch, Waynetown, Montgomery County, 13 June 1913 — Page 2

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HISTORY OF COUNTY

CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE

est of the four lodges, was organized in 1892 and used as their meeting place the old building now used for the Grenard garage until in 1907 when

they constructed their present lodge jjea

was laid, the town was incorporated. It took in 148 1-2 acres of land and had at that time a population of 270 inhabitants and as there was another Middletown in the state it was incorporated under the name of Waynetown.

Not long after this, in 1875, a newspaper was started by Charley Crowded and was called "The Clipper." It waii more of an advertising sheet, however, and only a few issues were printed. Then shortly after this, Mr. Crowder, together with Mr. Henry, founded the "Banner" and issued it for about nine month's. It was then discontinued for a time until again taken up by C. F. McCleary, who, however, faile:! after a few months. It was then taken in charge by Riley T. Runyan, who succeeded for a time in making it ii newsy little sheet and a credit to the town.

In 1881 a brick school building was constructed to displace the old frame structure. The new building was two stories high and was considered very roomy and convenient at that time, but as the same building is still used as the "temple of learning" it has long since outlived its usefulness. Prof. Charles McClure was the firs) superintendent of the schools in this new building.

history of Montgomery

Following

school building

building on Main street. pleted. The length of the building In 1873, shortly after the railroad ...

county,

written in the same year but shortly before the building of this school house says that the town at that time contained nine stores, a flouring miK, a planing mill, two saw mills, a newspaper, three churches, the Methodist, Missionary Baptist and Christian, and directly counteracting these, three sa loons. At a still later time, however. we find that there were as many as six saloons in the town at one time It continued wet though with not s* many saloons all the time until 1900 when they were remonstrated out o1 the town by the citizens and from tha time no saloons have ever been locai ed in the town.

The Waynetown Banner, of which we have spoken before, having beer discontinued and a, few other news paper ventures having been tried without much success, the Despatch was started in 1892 by John W. Smak The paper was necessarily not very large to begin with but it has grown in size and circulation until at the present time it is much better than the ordinary run of small local papers.

Shortly after this, in 1894. occurred the most disastrous fire from which the town has ever suffered. It started from the explosion of a gasoline •grove ,'trtne refer^of a store and before it could be checked, over half a block of the business parC'-of the town was consumed. It was, howeveT, are many fires, a blessing in disguise, for with one exception, the building? which were destroyed, were "ramshackle" frame structures and after the fire those that were built up were all substantial brick buildings.

In 1906 the old "Steel House," a hotel, and one of the first buildings to be constructed in the town, was torn down and a new hotel known as the Wayne, erected by a stock company. The new home of the Red Men lodge was then built on the site of the old hotel.

By this time many additions had been made to the old town and the population increased accordingly, so that at this time it is a thriving little town with some 900 inhabitants thoroughly up-to-date in all lines, business and otherwise.

The residence district of the town is very beautiful, especially in summer as the streets are for the most part lined with a growth of sturdy maple trees. There are a goodly number of business houses in the town and all the business men seem to have an enterprising and progressive spirit. Probably the only drawbacks to the place are the old school building and a poor lighting pystem but we have assurance that a new and modern building is soon to be erected to supercede the old school house and we hope that the other defect will soon be remedied.

An Old Student Writes. The following letter received a short time after the old school reunion which we proposed to give if the school edition is still as fresh and good as ever and will do you good:

I wish to express myself as a nonresident yet within the circle of the home comers. Surely the people of Waynetown entertained us in the very best manner. I do not remember when I enjoyed myself as I did at the Old School Reunion and Home Coming. To look ahead thirty-two years seems along time, but to view it from the past seems short. It was ou the morning of Oct. 10,1881, that the old bell called us to books for the first time, and we marched in to the taps of that memorable old drum. I hid a complete list of the names of my class mates but have lost the list and can recall only part of the class Ase.Williamson, Jennie Sumner, Minnie Landman, Lew Landman, Hettie Steele, Ettie Bittle, Flo Henderson, Mrs. Hays, Anna Darnell, Georgia hooper, John Fowler, John Sharkey, George Baldwin, Charley Baldwin, Lew Green, John Green, and Hate Harvey. Little did we think while we were attending school for the first

^y-*7st'.

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it will appear when

what it will be iike when com-

feetj ani the widfch feefc

time in the new building that wc would attend the last day thirty-two years hence. The people of Waynetown have reason to feel proud of the vvay they entertained the wanderers. The time was tco short. We had so nany questions to ask, so much we .vanted to know of our old friendn \vhere they were, what they were loing and how time was serving them. \Ve expected a good time but our xpectations were far excelled by the •eception we received. Some of the ild class had not met for more than a quarter of a century. I wish that we had the power of old Joshua, and could have lengthend the day, so we have lingered around awhile longer and recalled to memory the good times we spent at the first term of school. It seems that time has treated the old class of 1881 very kindly, and that thfty have made, ajairly-^ofl success^ii if"'irn'wnnking over the number in the class death has also been kind to us and has invaded our $3$ka but ajfeur times. I do not want to make this letter too long, but I want to thank the people for the good time we enjoyed May 1, 1913.

W. F. GERHARD, '81.

Mellott, Ind.

The Seniors and Their Plans for the

Coming Year.

Charles L. Zuck "Energy". Class President '13. "Merchant of Venice" "In Plum Valley," "Friend of the Whole Family," -'Little Red Mare." Basket Ball '13, Base Ball '12-'13. Scholarship, Hillsdale, Michigan.

Nellie Bunnell, "Boozy", Vice President '13, High School Pianist '11-'12 '13. '-In Plum Valley." Friend of Whole Family." "Trouble at Satterlees." Will probably enter Indianapolis Conservatory of Music.

Leslie Hayes, "Zip", Secretary '13. "Merchant of Venice," "In Plum Valley." Basket Ball '12-'13. Base Ball '10,-'11-'12-'13. Will probably enter Wabash.

Virgil Hays, "Runt." "Merchant of Venice," "In Plum Valley." Latin Ability. May attend Wabash.

Laurence Rivers, "Flumnia." "In Plum Valley." "Merchant of Venice" Mathametical Ability. Has not as yet decided whether he will go to college or not. If he does however Wabash College is assured of his attendance, and will make agriculture his life's occupation,

Paul Harvey "Karvey" "In Plum Valley." "Merchant of Venice" Basket Bail '13. Will finish his studies ip Indiana University.

Ray Thompson "Nig" "In Plum Valley," Manager base ball team '13. Base ball '12-'13. Will enter Wisconsin University.

Waneta Stockdale "Skeet." Vice -President '12. "Merchant of Venice" "In Plum Valley "Trouble at Satterlees" "Friend of Whole Family" Oxford Scholarship. Has entered Indiana University and later will finish her course in Oxford.

Lucy Switzer, "Lucinda." ''In Plum Valley," "Merchant of Venice" Will probably enter Indiana State Normal..

Waneta

Bard, "Neta" "In Plum

Valley," "Merchant of Venice." Will enter Purdue this fall.

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SOHETHINQ ABOUT THE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING

cipal's

completed, ami the following features The Assembly-room will b„47feet7 eolor.^

in its construction will help our away inches by 64 feet including a stage 14 from home friend's to gather some

feet

inches deep by-35 feet long.

THE NEW SCHOOL BUILDING AS IT WILL APPEAR WHEN COMPLETED.

The entire length and width is exca- training room the domestic science an 1 gravel. Two pieces of steel 50 vated for abasement and the building room and kitchen, lavatory room, fe tin length and each weighing four two story in highth over the basement engine and fuel rooms and closets, an 1 a half tons, suports for the assembwill contain sixteen rooms classed The gymnasium will be 47 feet 7 inches ly room floor over the gymnasium^ is as follows: On the first floor there by 64 feet without an obstruction any- apart of the steel to be used. Two will be six class rooms and the suber- where. The outside basement walls cars were used in shipping them. W. iutendent's room, with the assembly are all of cem?nt the brick to be used L. Combs is the contractor, but the room mid-way between the first and in the construction of the building-are brick and stone work will be in charge second floors. On the second floor the Brazil clay repressed brick of a of Howard Works.

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is a drawing of the new there will be six clasi rooms, the prin- rather brownish color. For trimmers

room

and the high school study

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the same will be use a uis

700,000

brick

The seating capacity will be about also three carload Of stone,

,00 for the room. SCi" *et of lumber or^

400 tor the room, xne basement will ieei ui iu^^. ,.h include the gymnasium, the maual carload of cement anc oa san

O. L. OSBURN, TRUSTEE OF WAYNE TOWNSHIP.

Trustee O. L. Osburn is a homegrown product, having been born in this township, about forty-one years ago. When his present term as trustee expires in 1915, he will have served Wayne township fourteen years in public office four years each as township road supervisor and assessor and six years as trustee. His efficiency up to the present time has never been questioned by a single act. His early education was in our township schools finishing with a three year high school course here in the old school building just torn away to give place for the new building which he is now so deeply, interested in

erecting for the present and future

Manual Training, Domestic Science and Agriculture will be additions in our school work with the completion of the new building. Departmental work will be adopted from the 5th grade up. THE OLD SCHOOL BUILDING THAT HAS JUST BEEN TORN AWAY TO GIVE PLAGE FOR THE NEW ONE

o(- the bm]dlng'on

90carload—will

school interests. Beside attending to the duties of the trustee of the township Mr. Osburn is largely interested as a contractor in road building, cement work and in the management of the Waynetown Tile Company Factory. At present he has contracts for building three gravel or stone roads, a seven and onehalf- mile county ditch and a large cement job on the east township line road. He is today under the heaviest bonds for the faithful discharge of his obligations of any man in the township and perhaps in this county. He is single but a mighty busy man, but not too busy to be pleasant and courteous to every one

ftgtW"1*'

apare

needs of the town and township tion in a business way.

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and a little time to

to talk over a business proposi

Vfir

Din'! Leave school Too Early.' L. W. Landman, an old

direp^ngAme^ca»8

ateat rajl^ ddfe88

here

the occasion 'of the "oM »"»ool

be used home coming, 'had occasion to a

200,000 dress himself to the boys of today

WQuld m"r®'

like to give a message

to the young boys at home based enI tirely upon actual knowledge gained

by experience. Do not leave school stories high, and was considered at

too early. Opportunity is greater today for success than ever in our history, and I am sure that Waynetown has young men in it's midst today who can

fill

world's work

any position in the

they but take advant

age of their opportunity. Success is merely the result of constant application to duty, (he concentration of effert, and persistent plugging in other words, hard work backed up with good .common schooling. The trouble with young men in small towns, is thair extreme liklihood of falling into indolent ways and taking life too easy. My experience in employing young men today i9 that they wish to commence at the top. They want to know how much the position pays, how many hours they must work, and how many month's vacation they are entitled to. These boys will never be a success! The spirtt which wins for the young man today is the one that asks for an opportunity and I wish to impress upon the young men that in this busy day, if they get an opportunity, that is all they can ask and it is then up to them to apply themselves to it, which .will bring success if they but work."

In conclusion Mr. Landman said: "I have anticipated this day with keener pleasure than you can imagine It is a great holiday for me. There is seldom a day goes by but that I think of my boy hood days in Waynetown, and I regret that my work is so exacti'lgthatl am not permitted to come here at least once a year. I realize that you have no occasion to ever t'link of me, but on the other hand I do find myself tl inking of you, and although it is necessary to tear down the Id scool-house in order to find an excuse to come hom-j. I must

admit, although it is a sacrilige, I am glad the old building is coming down for the pleasure it gave me in being with you today."

The First Commencement. A relic of the first annual commencement of the Waynetown school in the old building ]ust torn away is a commencement pre.s r$ ato^tasured by Jesse Scoonover of near iiafayette. The commencement date is July 9, 1886. It is printed on bristol board, is a folder about 4x6 inches, and is interspersed with business cards on all four pages. It is interesting to note who these business men were: W. S. Britton, corner drug store W. F. Thompson, drugs R. E. Ray, drugs Jas. A. Brant, groceries Webster & Simms, dry goods Willard Fink, buggy painter B. T. Merrell funeral director A. K. Clark, merchant tailor C. F. Huber, baker and confectioner W. L. Hindman, jeweler M. Birdcell & Son, funeral directors R. S. Osburn & Co., ice cream parlors The program begun with music and prayer by Elder W. H. Kerr. The graduates each were on the program with a recitation with music interspersed at intervals. There were eleven graduates: Effie Brant, Mary Kelly, Jesse Scoonover, Fred Shanklin, George Moore, Lucy Stockdale, B. M. Harbergan, Mattie Gault, Will H. Steele, Phoeba Earl, Winfield Fowler. What a lot of memories, happy but mingled with sadness, the above names bring back to many who will read this brief mention of Waynetown's* first annual commencement The event was held at the Christian church and (J. M. Berry is honored with the mention of "programmer"

Trustee O. L. Osburn and Prof. W. C. Gerichs, were in Terre Haute Thursday in the interests of our school year.

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Waynetown

WAYNETOWN SCHOOLS

Fom

'a hasty survey of the history

of (Waynetown, .we find that the first genuine school building of the town proper was built in 1852. It was a two story frame structure, located just south of what is now the intersection of iVine and Church streets. This building did service toward edacating the coming citizens until 1881, when a new building was erected to take the place of the old. The new structure was made of brick, was two

PROF. W. C. GERICHS, SUPERINTENDANT. Prof. Gerichs is a graduate of Indiana University and has received his Master's degree from that institution this week. This is his first year in connection with the school. His favorite subject is History but has divided his time with Physics and Mathematics.

the time very modern, complete, and convenient. It has served as a home, of education up to the present time.

Since 1881 the schools have made a rapid development. Prof. Charles McClure was the first superintendent under the new system, he being followed in order by the group of educational leaders named below H. W. Higgins, J. S. Zuck, M. A. Hester, Ed Harris, Perry Martin, E. E. Vanscoyoc, F. D. Welch and W. C. Gerichs.

It is no mark of discredit to any of these gentlemen to say that no greater strides of advancement have ever been made in the school than that made under the leadership of Prof. E.

KN&W. H.- COWAN, PRINC1 Mr. Cowan is a graduate of College. He has served two years as principal of the schools here. He has been teaching English, Botony and Physical Geography.

E. Vanscoyoc, who was chosen super-., intendent in 1899. During his twelve, years of service, he was such a potent influence in promoting the welfare... of the school that he has been fittingly/,:: called the "Father of the High,School."

From the beginning in 1881, both.,, the common branches and some high

school subjects were taught in the. building, but until the coming of» Prof. Vanscoyoc the work in the ad-'-vanced subjects was unorganized. Immediately on his assuming control,, however, a three year course was es* tablished, as recommended by the State Board of Education, the first .. class graduating a year later. The? class consisted of Orpha Bower man,, Mary 'Groves, Edith Lindley, Gertie. Stockdale and Claude Darnell.

In 1905 the four year course of study was instituted and two years.

ALICE HOGAN, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Miss Hogan is a graduate of Indiana University. This is her first year in the Waynetown School where she has taught Latin, English and Mathematics. ". c*'

later, through the influence of Prof. Vanscoyoc, the school received it3 commission, which has been renewed each succeeding year.

From the beginning until during the past year the school has been under control of the town, but in the sum-'" mer of 1912, the school corporationwas dissolved and the entire control? placed in the hands of Trustee O. L. Osburn. From present indications the high standard of the past tare" not only to be equalled but bid fair to be a new building, modern, beautiful, con-f^J"' venient and complete in every detail will soon, take the place of the structure, which, though dilapidated, is dear to the hearts of many who iiave gone out into the world to exhibit that mark of perfection which the school has placed upon, them^

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