Marion High School - Cactus Yearbook (Marion, IN)

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X L Rf A . at-S654 P so that when Astronomy is studied by the aid of the fine telescope, the property of the High School, practical work can be done. The same is true in Physics and Botany. The work is being done with apparatus and books and personal investigation, where formerly it was done through books alone. The past year the School Board has fitted up a splendid laboratory for doing elementary work in Chemistry. Regarding the character of the work, it is not wise to say too much about our own products, but it is only just to record that the excellence of the work done in the Marion High School, by teachers and pupils, is recognized throughout the State both by public school and by university men. The graduates are always sought for and given the first places when they leave us for higher work. This short history woutd be incomplete without mention being made of the general H esprit de corps which pervades the entire High School. It is due to this high spirit of things that so much can be accomplished of more than ordinary worth. The honor of being the first graduate of the schools belongs to Miss Alice Davis. From 1877 to 1883 there were no graduates. With the removal of the High School again into the Seminary building came new life, and on the 22d of May, 1883, the second graduating class was sent out, consisting of seven young ladies, as follows: Lettie Case, Ada Ehelman, Annette Reynolds, Birdie DeLong, Lillie Wilkie, Lida Larrick and Sallie Clothier. The work so well begun was pushed vigorously in the High School during the years 1883, '84, '85, '86, and deserves special mention for its character and direction. During those formative years a foundation was laid which has been of great service ever since. The graduates by years and classes are as follows: 1877, 13 1883, 73 1884, 93 1885, 113 1886, 143 1887, 153 1888, 123 1889, 103 1890, 53 1891, 53 1892, 93 1893, 213 1894, 163 1895, 203 1896, 18: 1897, 23: a total of 196. Beginning with the school year of 1890-91 Cno reliable data earlier than this is to be hadj and including the current year, there have been 252 boys and 399 girls, or 651 individual pupils who have taken either a whole or partial course in the High School. A mere mention of so many different pupils taking the work will faintly indicate the far-reaching influence of the school power and its possible consequences. Mention is made elsewhere of persons serving early in the town's history as school trustees, and it is fitting that a list of the men who have served in like capacity later should be a part of this sketch. For it is because of all that they have done that we have and are what we are as a system of public schools. Beginning with the earliest official records available, June, 1877, the following men have served as School Trustees of Marion: D. H. Horner, H. F. Clunk, George Sweetser, Isaac Vandevanter, I. W. Miles, L. M. Overman, R. W. Bailey, T. D. Tharp, I. H. Wigger, E. Kitch, Elkanah Hulley, Dr. M. M. Wall, Simon Goldthait, W. D. Weaver, Isaac Smithson, George Webster, Jr., and Dr. J. H. Forrest. The length of term served by these gentlemen varies very much. L. M. Overman was elected to 'fill a vacancy September, 1879, and served until January, 1880, when he resigned. This is the shortest term noted among the different trustees. The longest term of service belongs to Elkanah Hulley, who has served continuously since his election in December, 1883. The present Board of Education is composed of Messrs. Hulley, Webster and Forrest, who take great interest in school matters, and are striving to make it possible for the young people of the city to have as good high school opportunities as are afforded anywhere in the State. The writer of this is aware that in the preparation of a short history there will be, doubtless, many imperfections. The information has been gathered from numerous sources, but in all cases has been verified as far as possible before using. All available facts have been used, and yet no doubt much valuable and interesting information has escaped notice. While collecting the data necessary for this article and in its construction I was impressed that it would be a very wise as well as a very valuable thing for some one to write out quite fully the educational history of Marion. It should be done before many years, or much of the material for a full account would not be obtainable. Those who have so kindly assisted me by suggestion or notes or otherwise 1 wish to thank sincerely for all their aid. It is to be hoped that this chronicle of past events will inspire its readers to greater action, for to-morrow is made possible by what is past. WELFORD D, WEAVER, 6 A i 'FX , - D! 1 f-VF -' - X la? Wx - 1 67 k 1 C M34 - ps i A 'iff' 'V ' N ,. ' 4 ' Z A. W' N

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Both of these gentlemen were re-elected the following year to the same positions. In 1879 they were succeeded by Irving W. Barnhart as superintendent and Frank R. Osborn as assistant to the principal, Mr. George Osborn having been elected to the county superintendency. It was during the administration of these gentlemen that the schools became so overcrowded that to relieve the conditions the Presbyterian Church was rented for High School purposes. October 10, 1879, the school was moved into the church and remained there until March 27, 1882. While in the church the principal and assistant were again changed. It was at this time that A. H. Hastings was elected superintendent, Phariba White principal of the High School and Mary Lomax as her assistant. In the spring of 1882 the new brick buildings in North and South Marion were completed. The schools were reclassified and readjusted. Bythis change the High School was enabled to return to the old Seminary building, which it did April 3 of this year. While there had been some progress made in grading, with the new and additional accommodations, Superintendent Hastings and his assistants did much to bring the schools up to a better standard of work. Mention is made in the school records that in August, 1882, Superintendent Hastings presented a Course of Study and Rules and Regulations, which were adopted by the Board of School Trustees. All of this paved the Way for the coming of Hamilton S. McCrae, his wife, Emma Mont McCrae, and Alva Graves, who became Superin- tendent of Schools, principal and assistant principal of the High School, respectively, in the fall of 1883. The High School remained in the old Seminary building, with Mrs. Mc- Crae as principal, Mr. Graves as assistant principal, and Superintendent McCrae teaching part of the time until the beginning of the school year of 1887-88. Again needing more school room, the third story of the Tharp block, corner of Fourth and Branson streets, was rented for High School and eighth grade use, the High School to use the assembly and recitation rooms and the grade to use the room at the west of the assembly hall. The latter part of the winter of 1887 Superintendent 1VIcCrae was taken seriously sick, and John K. Waltz was appointed to finish his work for that school year. The sick- ness of Superintendent McCrae proved to be fatal, and Mr. Waltz was continued as superintendent until his death, which occurred in March, 1890. During the summer of 1887 Mrs 1VIcCrae resigned as principal of the High School to accept a position in the faculty of Purdue University. Mr. Graves was advanced from the assistant's place to that of principal, and Miss Lucy M Parker became his assistant. The work in the Tharp block was done under many disadvantages, but the workers did the best they could under the circumstances, and hoped for a better condition of affairs. While located here the new growth in the school incident to the discovery of natural gas was very distinctly felt, and the crowded conditions demanded another move. This time the school went into two suites of rooms in the Charles block. The change to this building was made late in the fall of 1889 The school cont1nu-d to grow in numbers so that each succeeding year the great need of a large building for High School use was being felt more and more. While in the Charles block Mrs E. C Gear and Mr. A. W. Moore were principal for one year each. While here, also, an additional teacher CMiss Minnie Tresslarj was added to the force The increase in numbers increased the work in the different branches, so that distinct departments were now outlined. Here the school worked and waited for the completion of the High School budding This was ready for use in September, 1891. The building was formally dedicated by an address given by President john M. Coulter of the Indiana State University and a reception given to the citizens and teachers by the Board of School Trustees. In a few days the work opened for the year with Mr. Russell Bedgood as principal and teaching Latin, having for his assistants Mr. Alva Graves, Mathematicsg Misses Minnie Tresslar, English: Herriott C. Palmer, History, and Frances Anderson, Science, making five teachers doing high school work. This number has since been increased to seven, and the school year of 1897-98 will need nine teachers, requiring ten rooms in which to do the work The corps of teachers and assignments for the current year are as follows: Mr. Virgil McKnight, principal and teacher of History, Civics, Ethics and Botany, Physical Geography and lgebra Miss Cora Bennett, Lating Miss Edith Beck, English and History. Mr. Bedgood was principal for nearly three years, W. J. Williams working three months of the last year in his place. September, 1894, Mr. F. M. Ingler became principal and continued as such for two years, when Mr. McKnight, the present incumbent, was elected With the mention of the election of Welford D. Weaver in 1890 to succeed Superintendent Iohn K. Waltz, all of the persons related to the schools as superintendent or principal of, assistant, or teacher in the High School, have been noted. Should there be an omission or error, it has been due to imperfect information. In 1889 the course of study was changed from three years of work to that requiring four years for completion. The enriching and lengthening of the work brought new con- Y 553 il?-A I it fs . xuf - I G..g..jjIffr ...N W , . f 13, fxdence in our results among school people. Every year the departments are being better defined and better work is being done. Gradually the material equipment is added, ff ' in 5 me , ri S 'k 3, bs.:- Psychologyz Mr. Alva Graves, Mathematics: Mr. Gilbert A. Morris, Physics, Chemistry and Constitutional History: Miss Minnie Tresslar, Englishz Miss Carrie A. Reynolds, 4 2

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if 'r lv as El? ,Qi ti 1 ,pn fb Q V ' K- 41 Rf Qt' 1 e' 45152, Q' 'F an , inf, 5 171. V. Q, U ,,, ...Q X 'xil If :rx 1 . 'Wr- 4., up ix- V11 si' 4 ' it X time kr. IJ. - ,-3 X V. ri- ' 8 I l WELFORD D. WEAVER. ' ' ' ELFORD D. WEAVER was born in Tyrone, N. Y., July 10, 1856. He came with his father and mother to Indiana when a mere child, locating near Q Hardenburg, in Jennings County. Here on his father's farm, and in a shop and store in Vernon, he spent his boyhood and younger manhood. His education as was obtained in the country school during winter terms and by two years of study in the graded schools of Vernon, which was supplemented by work in Franklin College from 1879 to 1883. During the time spent in College six years of collegiate work were finished. In September, 1883, he was ordained a Baptist minister in Pueblo, Colorado, and remained in that state as pastor of the Baptist church in Grand junction until the spring of 1885. In the summer of '-ii? A5-ij this year he came to Marion to organize a Baptist church, of which he became pastor. He Was selected some years later a member of the school board, and in that capacity evinced an interest in the city schools. Upon the death of Mr. John K. Waltz, who was then the city school superintendent, the other members of the school board delegated Mr. Weaver to take the place of superintendent for the unexpired part of the school year. Mr. Weaver's term as school trustee expired at this time, and Mr. Isaac Smithson succeeded him on the board. A little later in the summer he was elected superintendent of schools, and began his Work July I, 1890. In this capacity he has served seven years. 7