Cass County, Indiana - Chapter 34: Logansport's Schools, 1913

Schools and means of education seemed to dominate the minds of the pioneers, for scarcely had the town plat been surveyed, April 10, 1828, until we find such sturdy men as Gen. John Tipton, the Indian agent ; Col. John B. Duret, his secretary ; Ma j. Daniel Bell, Jos. Barron, Hugh B. McKeen, Gillis McBean and Dr. Hiram Todd, calling a meeting for the purpose of considering some methods and taking such measures as might be necessary to establish a school, although Logansport then consisted only of a few log cabins surrounded by a dense forest where the Indian and wild beast roamed at will. At a meeting held September 27, 1828, a subscription was raised of $500 of which General Tipton contributed $150, and a building committee was appointed; also one on organization. On the 29th the committees reported, an organization was perfected and the contract let for the erection of a onestory brick building, 20 x 40 feet, containing two rooms, to be built on lot 55, situated on the northeast comer of Poxirth and Market streets, donated by Chauncey Carter, who laid out the town, but in reality owned by General Tipton. The contract price for this, the first public building ever erected in Cass county was $300. The organization thus perfected was known as the Eel River Seminary Society, and it was incorporated under that name January 1, 1829, and John Tipton was its first president.

The building was pushed to completion and the first school in Cass county was opened the first week in March, 1829, with John McKinney, then recently from Detroit, as the first teacher, at a salary of $100 per quarter, and the grades of tuition being $3 and $4 per term. Mr. McKinney remained only one term. The next winter session was for six months, commencing December 8, 1829, with Geo. Lyon as principal and Mrs. J. B. Turner as assistant. The trustees on June 2, 1830, divided the school year into two sessions of five months each. The summer session beginning June 1st, and the winter term December 1st. The school was also divided into four classes, the first to consist of those studying first principles and orthography ; the second of reading, writing and arithmetic ; the third of English grammar and geography ; the fourth of surveying, mathematics and languages.

Rev. H. A. Hunter and Selby Harvy were the next teachers employed. In April, 1832, the name was changed to the Eel River and Cass County Seminary Society, and the building has always been known simply as the old seminary. As the population increased additional facilities were demanded. Accordingly, on November 14, 1836, the society determined to sell the old property and reinvest in more commodious quarters, however, there were various delays and it was some years later before the change was perfected. It was currently reported that General Tipton donated the site for the new building, but if so, no record of thai fact is to be found and after his death we find that on August 11, 1840, the Cass County and Eel River Seminary Association bought of General Tipton's estate the square of ground lying between Thirteenth and Fourteenth, Broadway and Market streets, but the deed was not promptly executed, as was so often the case in early days, and it was not until August 15, 1855, that D. D. Pratt as commissioner, executed a deed for this square to the Cass County and Eel River Seminary Association. In the meantime, however, the society let a contract for the erection of a three-story stone building for the sum of $6,465.11, but there were many extras added thereto. This was a substantial and commodious structure in its day and then stood way up, out of town, in the woods and has always been called the ^ * Seminary .' ' It was first opened for educational purposes in September, 1849, with Rev. M. M. Post, Cass county's first resident preacher, as principal, with several assistants. The title to this property remained in the name of the old society, although under state laws such property was used for public school purposes, until March 28, 1872, when it was, by a smooth piece of maneuvering, conveyed to Logansport Female College. This corpora- tion on March 25, 1873, for the suAi of $12,500, deeds the property to the city of Logansport. The old stone seminary becoming too small for the increasing population, during the year 1874 was replaced by the present substantial brick Central or Lincoln school building, which in this year of 1913 the school board has taken steps to tear down and erect in its place a $175,000 high school building, which seems to be imperatively needed to accommodate the rapidly increasing numbers attending our high school.

Father Post was succeeded in the management of the school in this old stone seminary, under the auspices of the Cass County and Eel River Seminary Society, by Irwin W. Gates and Rev. H. W. Shaw, but later conducted chiefly as a matter of private enterprise, depending for support wholly upon the success of the lessees of the building until the old seminary was finally turned over to the city for a public school.

There was very little public money and only scanty aid given the schools prior to 1862. Up to that time private subscription schools were the only opportunity people had to educate their children, but there were many teachers who opened private schools and others who were employed by a community to teach in a rented room or hall, and we will mention a number of such schools and their locations:

In 1845 John I. Murphy taught school in *' Commercial Row,*' 221 Market street, and Mr. Bamett in the old city hall, 407^^ Broadway. For many years in the forties and fifties, school was taught in the second story of an old frame building that stood on the northwest corner of Fourth and Broadway, by Mr. Rowland, Murphy and others.

There was a public school building on the north bank of Eel river, at "the foot of Vandalia street, where Cy McPherson, Mr. Rowland, James Jackson and others taught from 1840-1864 and until the Bates street school was established.

During the fifties the old Methodist church that stood at 212-14 Sixth street was used for school purposes, in which James Jackson taught. In 1851 Wm. P. Kouts had a private school in a one-story brick building on the northwest comer of Tenth and Market streets. In 1849 John I. Murphy held school in a room at 408^ Broadway. The basement of the Episcopal church was used as a school room from 1850 to 1862 by Mrs. Miles, Phoebe Egbert and others. In the year 1837 a Mr. Kitchen kept a private school at 621 North street. In 1849 Miss Merrill opened a private school at 212 Seventh street.

The basement of the First Presbyterian church was occupied as a school room from 1842 to 1852 by James Spiers and others. In the fifties school was taught in an old frame building where the Broadway Presbyterian church now stands. Wm. Mitchell and James Jackson taught a private school at 130 Sixth street where Maurice's butcher shop now stands, during the fifties and about the same time school was kept in the Keystone building, northwest corner of Sixth and Broadway. In 1851 Mr. Lynch and Sophia Smith taught school at 601 Broadway, where the engine house is now located and in 1852 in a building at 630 Broadway, where the present high school building now stands. In 1848 a school was opened in an old building at 603 Market street, where the postofiice stands, and in the early fifties Cy McPherson kept a school at 1215 North street. In 1841-3 Judge Thos. H. Wilson and John F. Dodds ran a private school at 106 Fifth street, where the old Ware house now stands, and E. S. Rice and Wm. Richardson attended ; prior to this they also went to school to W. H. Cole, who taught in the Masonic building, corner of Fourth and North streets.

In 1856 Mrs. Van Norman conducted a private school at 825 Spear street. In 1850 Mrs. J. Howes opened a school at 714 Broadway and Mrs. Vigus at 1100 Broadway. Probably the first colored school was taught in 1859 by Wm. Mitchell in a frame building on Front street, near the foot of Vandalia street, followed by his daughter, Eleanor Mitchell. Schools were taught in early times at the southeast comer of Third and Broadway; 213 Third street; 21 91/2 Fourth street; northeast corner of Third and Broadway ; 455 Michigan avenue, east of Burlington avenue, in Tabertown, where Wm. Mitchell, Mrs. Thorpe, Mr. Henchman, Henry Ball, James Jackson, Cy McPherson, and other pioneer teacher^ wielded the birch.

Prior to 1854 no steps were taken to utilize the provision of the new school law of 1852. That year the first enumeration of school children was taken in Logansport and showed the number to be 1,026, and under the apportionment the city received $566, and there was but one public school building. In 1855 the enumeration showed 1,097 children, of whom 596 attended school during that year and the amount expended for instruction was $1,173. Enlarged facilities seemed to be necessary, order and system began to take shape, and the first assessment to create a public building fund was made in 1855, which amounted to $2,515.30. The following year an equal amount was raised and in 1857 a further assessment of $1,117 was made. During the latter year the expenses were $922, nine teachers being employed at an average of $35 per month. In 1859 the average term of school was sixty-five days; the aggregate attendance was 840, with thirteen teachers.

About 1858 or ^59 two brick school houses, two stories high, were erected, one on Railroad street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, which is still standing but not used for school purposes ; the other on the northwest corner of Tenth and Market, which was occupied until 1891 or '92, when it was sold for a residence purpose. In 1862-3 two additional ward schools, buildings of brick, two stories high, were erected, one on the Point at the lower end of Market street and the other at Eighth and High streets.

At this time steps were taken preparatory to the introduction of the graded system. This work was commenced under the auspices of the board of school trustees, of which Hon. D. D. Pratt was president, with S. T. McConnell and T. B. Helm, county examiners. The first term under the graded system was begun on October 19, 1863, and con- tinued six months, the longest term ever taught up to that date. The grades originally established were four: primary, intermediate, grammar and high school. The first two occupied the ward buildings, while the two latter were taught in the ** Seminary'* or high school building. Thirteenth and Broadway. At this time there was no other superintendency than that aflEorded by the township trustee as director. Finally, on November 2, 1865, the necessity for such an officer became manifest and T. B. Helm was appointed 1)y the school board as the first superintendent of Logansport's schools.

From 1864-66 the schools in the Seminary building were under the management of Prof. Joseph Baldwin as principal and T. B. Helm as teacher of higher mathematics and languages. From this time on the city schools have made gradual progress, both in numbers and efficiency.

In 1874 the increased enumeration demanded larger quarters and commodious brick buildings were erected, on Homey street, known as the McKinley school, north side; Tanguy street, named the Jefferson school, this school building being damaged by fire and rebuilt in 1893 with an outlay of $9,000; and on Bates street the Franklin school. In

1888 the latter 's capacity was increased by the erection of an additional building known as the Plum street school, situated, however, on the same lot. In 1889 the Eighth street schoolhouse was replaced by the present handsome building, containing four large rooms, now called the ''Longfellow school," at an expenditure of $10,000. As previously stated, the old stone Seminary at Thirteenth and Broadway was razed in 1874 and the present large central or ''Lincoln school" was erected; contract price, $47,000, which was occupied by the high school until 1894 when the present high school building at Seventh and Broadway was erected of Minnesota red sand stone at a total expenditure of $30,000. * This is a beautiful structure but it has become too small to accommodate the rapid increase in attendance and the school board has arranged, during the coming summer (1913) to tear down the old Lincoln building at Thirteenth and Broadway and erect in its stead, a large, up-to-date high school building with gymnasium, swimming pool, manual training school, reception rooms, etc., which will be kept constantly open to accommodate the public.

In 1892 the Central building became overcrowded and the Tipton schoolhouse was erected on Sixteenth and Wright streets, with an outlay of $18,000. Increased accommodations on the west side being imperative in 1899, the Washington school was built on the south end of Cicott street, the total cost of which was $22,000. The north side having built up rapidly required additional school facilities and the Columbia street building was constructed during the year 1905, the contract price being $11,000. To accommodate the rapid growth of the east end the Daniel Webster building on the corner of Market and Twenty-third street was erected in 1906 with an expenditure of $22,000.

Fifty years ago the city had but one school building, now it has eleven Large, substantial brick or cut stone school buildings, the smallest of which contains four rooms, with a total estimated value of $320,- 000 and still there is a demand for a larger high school building, which the trustees have arranged to build in 1913 at an expenditure of $175,000.

The total enumeration in the city for 1912 was 5,856. The total enrollment in the city for 1912 was 2,911. Number of teachers employed in the city for 1912 was 90, of whom eight are males and eightytwo females. Number of teachers in the high school, eighteen. Number of students in the high school, 462. Number of graduates in the high school in 1912, 68. This is quite a contrast with the first class that ever graduated from the Logansport high school in 1871, which was three and in 1872, five ; in 1873, three ; in 1874, four.

The total cost of the schools in the city last year - $95,728.35. Cost per pupil, $34.05. Length of school term, 180 days. Amount paid to teachers for each day of school, $308.06.

Until the new constitution was adopted in 1852, little attention was paid to normal schools or the education of teachers, but about this time the subject of more competent teachers began to agitate educators and in the summer of 1852 a large number of eminent teachers, from this and other states, met in convention in Logansport, the first teachers' meeting ever held in this part of the state. They were in session several days considering and discussing the subject of school management and instruction, the duties and obligations of teachers and the means whereby they might be enabled to secure better and higher qualifications among the teachers as a profession. Among the eminent teachers present was Dr. Cutter, the author of ** Cutter's Physiology," who delivered a number of interesting lectures. It was well attended by our local teachers and bore fruit in the development of a better educational system. It was not, however, until 1864 that any attempt was made to establish a normal school for the instruction of teachers. In that year Prof. Jos. Baldwin, together with T. B. Helm, opened a normal school, having rented the old seminary on Thirteenth street. This school waa conducted for three years, when Mr. Baldwin went to Missouri. The interest, however, awakened among teachers and educators left a permanent impress upon our schools, and since that time there has been a gradual development of our school system, from the independent district school, where each had its own text books, with no grades and no uniformity, up to our present uniform and eflScient graded system, from the primary or first year on through the eight grades in the common schools and four years in the high school, with uniform text books and a corps of educated and experienced teachers with school buildings furnished with all the aids to impart knowledge, such as blackboards, maps, charts, globes, etc.

The foUawing persons have served as superintendents of the Logansport schools from the first establishment of the office in 1865 to 1913, with date of service:

Prior to 1862, when the first city school board was appointed, the township trustee had supervision over, and management of, the whole of Bel township, including the city of Logansport. About this time, however, the city took charge of its schools and the trustee managed only the schools in Eel township outside the city, which now consist of three schools. District No. 1 - ** Lover's Lane" school, two miles east of the city, was originally a frame house erected in 1842, but later replaced by a brick structure. District No. 2 - in Dunkirk, west of town, is a brick building erected in 1877, and the Hendricks school in Shultztown on the south side, a two-story, four-room brick, erected about 1902 at an expenditure of $12,000. Seven teachers are employed in the township, who instruct 327 students in all the eight grades of the common school branches.

Over fifty years ago, schools were taught in the old frame houses in Taberville on the south side; in Browntown on the west side and Jobtown on the north side, but these old buildings have long since been razed and replaced by the present brick buildings erected in the city after these respective territories were taken into the city.