The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-02-26

lAA/Av W SCI01ut6u lux Al 1oVO,
AG there has gradually evolved
HNA with the growth Of the city
nvU system Of public schools
which has distinction in the
educational world. Public education
In Richmond is OF necessity closely
tied with that in the state at large so
ton is concerned. but to the people
Of this city history Of its own part
In the work should also be Of interest.
The development IN Richmond of
what became grade school education
has been steady since the pioneer
fathers gof our city rolled up their
sleeves and went to work in groups,
erecting houses Of learning for their
children. In 1854 the first public
school In Richmond was built, and the
following year work In this building.
which stood on the corner Of North
B and Eighth streets, was begun by
the first public school educators of the
city. Richmond has faltered little, II
any. In its steady upward run toward
public education since this first public
school was opened.
Provisions Were Made
A revision Of the school law made
in 184S provided that a school be main
tanned In each district for . term OF
three months each year. to be paid
for from the school fund. BY the fol.
lowing statement it Is seen that Rich
mond took advantage Of this: "The
trustees Of the District south Of Main
street have made arrangements to ex-
pend public money with the different
teachers Of the city. The term begins
the first Monday In September-Job
Borton. Trustee" In 1850 two trustees
were elected: For the district North
OF Main, John H. Hutton; and for the
district South of Main street. John
Finley. They advertised two free
schools, one at the Warner building
and the other at the brick school house
on the public square.
q These schools were good but none
was entirely free until after the const.-
tuition OF 1851 went into effect. This
provided that there should be estab-
lished "a general and uniform system
Of common schools wherein tuition
shall be without charge, and equally
open to ALL"
In 1852, on June IA, law was enact.
ed to carry this into effect.
Educational affairs in the city were
taken under the management OF a
hoard of trustees appointed in 1853.
DR.. Joe. Vale; DR.. James r. Menden-
hall. and James Elder, an editor, form
ed the appointed board. The first pub
lie school was then erected in 1854.
on the corner Of North Eighth and B
streets where the Garfield building
afterwards stood. It was completed
in 1855 and the first public use was
made oft by the teachers institute In
that year. The first free public school
was therefore opened in Richmond In
ahe fall of 1855 in this building. Or
ganization and formation of a system
OF Xenia, O., who was appointed SUI
perintendent. The previous school
had had pupils of stages Of advance
mediately taken up by DR.. Hurry. who
was superintendent for two years.
= New Schools Needed
!, William D. Henkle, who has been
connected with the Greenmount board
ing school, was put in charge Of the
schools in 1878, and in the year 1853
1859 George H. Grant headed the
schools. He conducted successful
subscription school for several years
in the months when the free schools
were not in session. Among the teach
ers employed during the superintend-
ency of these men were. Myron Ed
gerton, Lewis Estes, and G. II. Grant,
Evaline Cox. Jane Way, Clara Rogers.
now Mrs. Commons of Winchester;
Josephine Logan, now Mrs. Bull; Re-
lbecca Johnson, now Mrs. Farnham;
Anna Schofield, Mrs. Hulda Estes and
Susan p owen.
: With the growth OF the town and
the growing attendance at school, es-
pecially public ones throughout the
country, the pupils in the North Eighth
street building began to exceed the
capacity of the building, and other
buildings were gradually constructed.
SAt 1874 South Seventh street, near
South B street, two-story brick build.
ing was constructed, and here some OF
the children living south of Main street
were taught In the old brick build
ing of two rooms which stood on the
Public Square in the First Ward, an
other school was erected and the other
children residing south of Main were
instructed here. Huldah Estes and
susan p. owen were the teachers here
for several years.
Z George P. Brown, who had been
principal at Waynesville, Ohio, was
= employed as superintendent in 1860.
He proposed connection between the
free schools and the pay schools
Through which plan school could be In
session the entire year.
\ Brown Made Superintendent.
y In 1S64-5 Jesse II. Brown, who had
been principal teacher in the advanc-
ed room of the old North Eighth street
schools for the two previous years was
made superintendent.
Z Julia E. Test became principal OF
the first year primary in 1867, teaching
in house number 3.
I In 1869 James McNeill, a graduate
of Antioch college, Ohio. became SUI
perintendent of the schools. He re-
NAMED at the head of the schools for
-four years.
4 John Cooper was called to the SUI
perintendancy In 1873. He was grad
uate of Miami University, Oxford, O.
His entire time was required by the
duties Of his office. Former superin-
ltendents had given some Of their time
to teaching. A thorough system Of