Mishawaka High School - Miskodeed Yearbook (Mishawaka, IN)

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MISKODEED The Mishawaka Schools The early history of the Mishawaka schools was evidently in accord with the times ; very primitive and limited. It remained so, until about fifteen years ago, when an increase of school buildings was de- manded by the incipient booming of the city. The first school teaching in Mishawaka was car- ried on in a private home, which stood where the Farm- ers ' Merchants ' Bank is now located. A small class of pupils was taught there as early as 1834, by a certain Miss Sheldon. The first school building was built one year later, on what is now the northwest corner of Union and Fourth streets. This was a small frame building consisting of one room. The first teacher was Miss Thatcher, who taught there for three years. A Select School was opened in 1843, by George Merrifield in the Methodist church. The church was located on Main Street, but was destroyed by the fire of 1872. In 1844, a scholarly man by the name of Butts, began a school in a building which stood Avhere the hom e of M. W. Mix is now located. The first school made of brick was built in 1848, on South Main street, just north of the New York Central railroad tracks. This five room edifice was known as Institute No. 1. Mr. Butts, who had formerly maintained his own school, was at this time employed by the city as superintendent. He had three assistants, Jacob Merrifield. Jefferson Merrifield, and Miss Skinner. Just to get an idea of the salaries, Mr. Jefferson Mer- rifield was paid sixty-eight dollars every three months. In 1854. Mr. Foster was employed as principal of the school at $850 per year. One assistant received forty dollars every three months, and another six dollars a week. Institute No. 1 was used until 1868, when the so-called High School was built, This $50,000 building, which is now known as Main School, was the pride of the 1.800 people of Mishawaka, Mr. Vincent Brunner, who has been writing a History of Mishawaka, tells of a fire in the early seventies which broke out in the High School. He was one of the boys who assisted to put it out by helping to pump the hand engine down at the creek which flowed where the Christian church now stands. At that time whenever there was a fire, the church bells rang, and the [Page 6]

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LEGEND OF BOOKS a BOOK ONE Within Our Walls 1? BOOK TWO Fame, Honor, Game ■8 BOOK THREE Life As We Like it 8 BOOK FOUR In The Limelidht BOOK FIVE Our Advertisers [Page 5]

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MISKODEED hand pump was run out of the hose house, and then manipulated by volunteers. The first school on the north side of the river was situated in an oak grove. This was located about where the Clark ' s Metal Last Factory now stands. The school was later sold for fifty dollars. In 1866, where the new portion of Battell School is now situated, Mr. Abner Pettit built a two-story frame school. This building had only four rooms, but four years later, an addi- tion was built on the north side of it. This school served as the North Side school until the Battell School was erected in 1900. Miss Philips had been and is the faithful principal. It was in the North Side school, and later in the Battell School that Miss Lydia Brinnsmaid taught for fifty years; in some cases through the third generation — until 1916. Bingham school was built in 1897. Mrs. Rose Grimes was the first principal. Miss Hannah Lindahl is principal there now. During the last fifteen years, Mishawaka has been booming so, that more schools were necessary to accommodate the in- creased number of children. Within this period, not only have the South Side, Beiger. new section of Battell, Logan Street, and Portable schools been built, but also the High School which is in present use. In 1911, when the High School was first occu- pied, it was entirely adequate. However, an increased enroll- ment has urged the completion of the new High School, which will be ready for use next fall. The new High School is evidence of Mishawaka ' s great progress in education. LlLLAH STUDLEY tPage 7]