Madison County, Indiana - Chapter 41, 1897

Chapter 41

The history of the i^ublic schools of Anilcrson aiul ,\nderson township is in niLinv respects essentially the history of the public schools throuj^hout the county. In a previous chapter the progress made by the public schools in general has been given and it is only necessary here, therefore, to mention such matters of interest as relate to the schools of Anderson in particular.

The first school in Anderson township was taught by Richard Treadway in 1888. The school house was made of logs and was situated on what is now known as Central avenue, between Tenth and Eleventh streets. Col. Ninevah Berry subsequently taught school in this house. A few years later a subscription was raised and a frame school house was erected near the northwest corner of what are now designated as Delaware and Eleventh streets. This building was used for several years as a school house, but was afterward remodeled and converted into a residence. It still stands and is one of the oldest frame buildings in Anderson. The first teacher who taught in this building was .Samuel Brattan. He was followed by Seth Smith, Jones R. Daily and others. The first professional teacher to practice his profession in Anderson was O. P. Stone. He came to Anderson in 184(5, and taught regularly until 18ri8. The Hon. James W. San.sberrv also taught school about this time. Other old-time teachers were Messrs. S. W. Hill, Pentecost, Hoxhurst, I. N. Terwilliger and Misses Hudson, Bowman and Burns.

In 1828 the Legislature passed a law authorizing the erection of county seminaries at the public expense and in 1849 a two-storj' brick seminary was erected on the site of the present building at the corner of !Main and Twelfth streets. The building was forty feet square with an east and west hall extending through it. The ground was donated for school purposes by Newell Williams and ^Viulrew Jackson. I'liis building was destroyed by tire in 185(3 and another was erected on its site, w-hich in the course of time (1889) was torn down to be replaced by the present edifice, which was known as the High School building until 1890, when the- imposing structure which now stands between Twelfth and Thirteenth street.s and just east of School street, was erected. In 18(58 a twostory brick building was erected by the school trustees at the north-east corner of Seventh and Milton streets. The trustees at that time were N. C. McCu Hough, Dr. B. F. Spann and C. Kirlin. This building was used for school purposes until 1895, when it was torn down and the- present spacious building erected.

From 1802 - 5 Joseph Franklin had charge of the public school, there being but one in Anderson. In 1868 Mr. Franklin erected a frame building on the west side of Delaware street between Eleventh and Twelfth streets, where he conducted a graded school successfully for several years. He was assisted by Miss Genevieve Robinson, who had charge of the primary department. From 1868 to 1871 , the schools were superintended successfully bv Charles Hewett, T. C. Davis, II. M. Rust and W. R. Myers. From 1871 to 1878 there were no superintendents. In 1878 the schools were reorganized and J. X. Study was appointed superintendent. It was during this year that the Anderson High School was organized. The enumeration at that time was 1,033, and the school en rollment 640. Five years later the enumeration was 1,208 and the enrollment 902. The trustees at this time were, James Battreall, W. R. Myers and Dr. C. S. Burr. The first class was graduated in 187() and consisted of four young ladies. The commencement exercises were held in the old Union Hall at the south-east corner of Main and Eighth streets. Mr. Study resigned the superintendency in 1877, since which time R. I. Hamilton, A. J. Dipboye and J. S. Carr respectively, have been appointed to the position. Prof. Carr is the present efficient superintendent. He is assisted by Mrs. Sarah Tarney Campbell.

population increased. This 3'ear the sum of $3,250 was paid to tlie teachers every school month. Besides the buildings already mentioned, three others have been erected since 18SK), namely, the Hazelwood building in 1891 ; the Central avenue building in 1892; the " Columbia "" in 1893. Another handsome edifice is now being erected on Columbia avenue, wiiich, when completed, will make seven model buildings. The estimated cost of these buildings is placed at -'i>178,CK)0. It can be safely affirmed that no citv of equal size in the State has better school accommodations, or better schools for that matter, than Anderson. Nothing has been spared to place the schools upon a high plane of excellence, and the success that has attended the efforts of the officers and teacheis in this direction is not only a matter of gratification to the friends of education, but merits the highest praise. The Board ot Trustees at present is composed of Messrs. S. M. Keltner, C. ^\'. Prather and George Q_uick. the latter gentleman succeeding Mr. \V. T. Durbin. who was prominently connected with the Board for several years and took an active part in providing adei[iiate school accommodations for the youtii of the city.

Tile number of persons in Anderson township entitled to the privileges of the schools outside the city is, at this time, 990. The township owns fifteen buildings, all of which are brick, and employed eighteen teachers the past j-ear. The enrollment in the township schools is steadily increasing, and next year twenty-one teachers will be employed. The schools, both in the citv and township, have been well managed, and to the credit of all concerned, are in a flourishing condition.

Parochi.Xl Schools

The first parochial school in Anderson was taught by Mrs. Maggie Ryans, //rcMohan, in 1858. The school was taught in the small Catholic church that stood where the present church is located. Mrs. Ryan was succeeded by John Finley, who taught until 186(5, when he left Anderson to join in the Fenian invasion of Canada. Mrs. Patrick Skehan. nee Collins, and Maurice Ferriter afterwards had charge of the school. The attendance at this school has gradually inci^eased until the enrollment now numbers 200 pupils. The church recently vacated at the south-east corner of Fletcher and Eleventh streets has been converted into a school building and is used exclusively for that purpose. The scliool is in charge of si.x Sisters of the IIol)- Cross. Only the primary branches are taught.

Anderson Lihrary

In 1879 a joint stock library association was organized by the public-spirited citizens of the city under the act of 1852 as modified by the act of 1873. Shares were issued at $5 each and a considerable sum of money was raised. Books were purchased and many donations of various kinds of literary works were made by friends of the cause, and for a while the library prospered. But in the course of time interest in the library began to decline and it was finally closed to visitors. In the winter of 1888 the noted temperance lecturer, Francis Murphy, came to Anderson and held a series of meetings, and at the last meeting of the series, which was held in the Doxey opera house, he inaugurated a movement that resulted in the re-establishment of the old library upon a permanent basis. A new association was formed and the books belonging to the old library were transferred to the new organization. Suitable rooms were rented on the north side of the public square, many new and valuable books were bought and M. Milburn, Esq., \vas appointed librarian. In 1891 the library board effected an arrangement with the city whereby the latter assumed control of the library and proceeded to levy a tax for its support. The library now has between four and five thousand volumes and is largelv patronized. The rooms are situated in the Newsom block on North Meridian street and furnished in such a manner as to present an inviting appearance. Miss Anna B. Myers is librarian.

Anderson Normal University

This institution was founded by W. M. Croan and formally opened on the evening of August 29, 189(3. The university occupies the second and third stories of the Opera House block, situated at the north-east corner of Main and Eleventh streets, and on the above occasion was visited by hundreds of Anderson's best citizens, who were no less gratified than surprised that an institution of its character and magnitude had risen in their midst almost unobserved. No appeal for financial assistance was made to the general public to establish this institution, and whatever prominence it may attain will be largely, if not wholly, due to the indefatigable efforts of its founder. The faculty is composed as follows :

President, Win. M. Croan ; Higher Mathematics and Astronomy, George H. Colbert; Pedagogy, J. C. Black; Language, J. P. Mullin ; Literature, Lottie N. Mullin ; Principal Commercial Department, J. Goodwin Perkins; Geography and Mathematics, E. E. Copple ; Chemistry and Pharmacy, W. C. Rousch ; Penmanship, Ellsworth L. McCain ; Musical Director, Chas. Nelson; Elocution and Delsarte, Laura Quick ; Voice Culture, Grace S. Langell ; Conductor Band and Orchestra, Jas. F. Wysong ; Shorthand and Typewriting. Louis J. Weichman ; Military Science, Kenneth M. Burr; Law, John E. Wiley; Fine Art and Drawing, Margaret Beachley.

Some Oi-D Villages Victoria

Only the old-timers and those who are familiar with the early records of the county, are aware of the fact that the site of Anderson is not the only one that was ever platted for a town in Anderson township. In 1838, while the construction of the Indiana Central canal was in progress, John Renshaw platted a town site across White river, where the Anderson cemetery is now situated. A log cabin was erected and the " town " was called Victoria. But work on the canal was abandoned and the hopes that had been indulged in by Mr. Renshaw with reference to his town perished with the collapse of that great public enterprise. He subsequently disposed of the land where the town was located, and Victoria was forgotten.

This was another canal town that was located in Anderson township. It was laid out in July, 1839, by J. W. Alley and was situated two and a half miles west of Anderson on part of the land now owned by J. W. Sausbery, Sr., and used by him as a stone quarry, the quarry having been developed many years after the town site had been platted. Rockport was on the south bank of the canal, and near the Strawtown road, or what is now known as the west extension of Eighth street. Rockport boasted of several houses at one time, but they have long since disappeared.

Eli Gustin operated a saw mill and George Darrow, late of Denver, Colorado, hut at this writing at Montpelier, Indiana, was a merchant and kept a store there. It was a thriving little place, and served as a trading point for the neighborhood.

There is nothing now left to tell where this town was situated, except a vacant piece of ground and a pile of ashes, and the decaying sawdust where the mill once stood.