Ligonier High School - Lance Yearbook (Ligonier, IN)

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..e.- .... V ,, , :A - I-'-:Qc-s-X S2121-Y ,D Q NNN ' X . xxx 'r J i I 4 I , . The present High School Building I to permit a removal of part of the central school to the new building. The board objected to the proposition on the ground of being unable to employ an extra teacher. At that time they had employed in the central building, four teachers in addition to the superintendent, whose business it was to supervise the schools and hear classes in the recitation room. The fact was obvious that if a high, school could be organized it would not only stimulate the lower grades but afford the pupils greater advant- ages, and a more methodic system of study. In view of this fact, the superintendent proposed to the board that with their permission, he would organize the highschool in the new building and teach it himself, thus saving the expense of an extra teacher, and giving such attention to the supervision of the schools as his time would allow. To this proposition the board gave their consent, and immediately the high school was organized in the new building with an enrollment of forty pupils. Miss Nye was made principal of the schools in the central building where two hundred pupils were enrolled. OUR SUPERINTENDENTS. As superintendent Mr. Luke was succeeded in 1887 by Mr. Blunt, who served until his sudden death in 1890. Mr. Dolan was chos- I en to fill out the unexpired part of the school yearg he remained in charge during 1 another year. The next superintendent, Mr. Palmer was here for twenty-two years. Since that time the schools have been under the -management of Mr. Elrod, three years, Mr. Kinney two years, Mr. Renkenberger two years, and Mr. Craig three years. U This is Mr. Allen's fourth year as superintendent. For three years before he was U principal of the high school. Miss Alice Vallance, principal of the departmental school, has the honor of being the only 'person who has been with the school under every superintendent of Ligonier schools. She was first a student, then a teacher. Although she taught in New York for eight years it was only during a part ot Mr. . ,W Palmer's term here. - - CONSTRUCTION OF WINGS. In 1911 the wings on either side of the present 5 - high school building were added. During the time that they were under construction S C classes were held in various parts of town, in the rooms over store buildings, in the - : dining room of the Christian Church and in the basement of the library. : E WHAT IS BEING PLANNED. By next year we are hoping to have another ad- U - dition to our high school building not only for school but all community uses. If 5 E present plans are carried out, the new addition will extend north eighty-iive feet and 5 -' consist of two stories, the first to be devoted to a gymnasium, the second to class- S rooms. The third story of the present b'uilding will be torn away, and the as- ., sembly and classrooms on the second fioor enlarged by means of making fewer 3 E rooms and moving partitions. ' ' 3 0 I have given here the past history of our schools and the people who have la- S S bored to make them what they are. This year's story of our dear old L. H. S. is told - E in the following pages. -ROSABELLE M. BRODE. : U u E - : S E 2 M g ll J I ' k - ' W A 3 1,41 Page 29

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r mx U 1- . 1,5 -qt, -ggeaav 6 WI W The present North Side School Building in want of a more commodious schoolhouse, and they advanced the money. In this manner no trouble was experienced in getting money to build the house. The build- ing was to be located upon the pub'lic square, the third story being fitted for a town hall to satisfy objections to transforming the park into a school yard. THE WHITE SCHOOLHOUSE. For a number of years prior to the erection of the brick, the old red schoolhouse was so dilapidated and small that select schools sprang into existence in various parts of the town. Vacant rooms here and there were converted to 'school uses, and the old red schoolhouse was left to the wind, owls and bats. The log and red frame schoolhouses were not the only ones in early years as in 1857, when the north side had become well popul.ated, a frame schoolhouse, a little larger than the old red one, and commonly known as the White Schoolhouse to distinguish it from the other, was erected there and used till 1873 when a new yt one was built at a cost of about three thousand dollars. At this time there were also denominational as well as select schools. The second building was used until 1899 when the present two storied brick building Was erected. HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING ERECTED. The first movement toward the erec- tion of the high school building was a petition presented to the town trustees in U May, 1875, asking that a special ordinance be passed, to issuel town bonds to the amount of ten thousand dollars. The trustees of Perry Township promised to levy for the same amount, to b'e placed with that raised by the town and applied toward - the erection of the building. Definite action on this subject was deferred until April, : 1876, during which time it was thoroughly discussed. During this time it was de- C cided to put eighteen thousand dollars into the schoolhouse, two-thirds of which was : to be paid by the town on account of the greater benefit likely to be received by it. : However, before this debt was wholly liquidated twenty thousand dollars was paid : by the town of Ligonier. During the year of 1877 this building was completed and 1 two rooms furnished. However the schools were still in the central building with E but little prospect of their removal to the new one. E ORGANIZATION OF HIGH SCHOOL. Professor D. B. Luke of Goshen was em- E ployed to superintend the town schools. Within a few weeks after opening the E school it became apparent to him that under the existing conditions good organization : was out of the question, and he urged this fact on the school board, and asked them E : C I E I t . m . . , an I Page 28

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