Pittsboro High School - Progress Yearbook (Pittsboro, IN)

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Pittsboro High School History I n Reirorbecl The history of Pittsboro High School is more than a collection of dates and statistics which inform readers of its begin- ning, growth, and transition into a more complex system. This is, rather, an attempt to picture an era in the life of this community and describe school days which are so much a part of the memory of every man, woman, boy, or girl who were pupils in our school. Omissions and mistakes may occur in this narrative, but its main purpose is to create a certain nostalgia in the heart of every graduate, knowing that this is the last year for the existence of Pittsboro High School. For several years we have been a part of Tri-West Hendricks High Schoolv in name, but now in a few months it will be a reality. Our Beginningr When the earliest settlers in Middle Township, Hendricks County, bought land and built their homes, which in most cases were simple cabins, their first concern was the establishment of Clmrches, the next, provision for the education of their children. Soon log or frame one room buildings were erected, followed in a few years by one or two room brick buildings. The first school in Middle Township was taught in 1835 by a man called John Lineberry who received a salary of S10 a month. The school was located about 2 miles south of Pittsboro on the farm of Samuel Hill, probably near the present home of Tom and janet Love. He had 15 pupils. There is a record of another early school in 1837 taught by a man named Elias Leach, in a cabin one mile northeast of Pittsboro on the Warrick Farm. The building was later moved and is said to be part of a barn on the Ernest Baldauf farm. Boys and girls in the neighborhood attended the nearest school. Under Indianais constitution of 1852, the civil township was the school unit and taxes were levied for school purposes. Within 5 years Middle Township had built nine school houses. Miss Eva Pebworth, prominent primary teacher and an authority in local history, identified some of these schools and their locations. fMiss Pebworth is an aunt of Mrs. Edna McChmgj, She mentioned the Hughes School, on the farm of Charles Graham, Caledonia, on the south west corner of the Edgar Parker farm, Pierson, in the neighborhood of Harold Wayne Broyles home, Quebec, standing south of the Alvin Swain home, Spicklepoint, south of the Boone County line, north of former Troth home, Tamarack, on the farm belonging to Catherine Coleman, and two others which are still standing, Tout School on the farm of lay Warren, Ninn- ber 3 on the Frank MeClung farm, east of Harold Waters home. It is said that at one time country schools dotted the township, proving the eagerness of children and young people for an education. There were also Subscription Schools, made up of pupils who paid a certain sum for a few weeks of extra teaching during the sunnner months. Mrs. Nelle Weaver taught a subscription school at Spicklepoint when she was 15 years old for the sum of 81.50 per pupil. The following is a bid on the building of a school house. The lowest bidder was a man by the name of Dennis Clark. His bid was 327425. Notice I will sell at public auction on May 4, 1860, in the town of Pittsboro, to the lowest bid- der, the building of a school house, said house to be 22 by 28 feet, studdiug 10 feet long 'with center sill. Seven windows, 12 lights, I0 by 12 glass with sufficient number of seats and desks, 2 coats of paint on the outside and black boards on the inside, the builder to furnish all good material, except nails, glass, and locks which will be furnished by the trustee. Said work to be done in a good and workmanlike manner by November 1, 1860.7 The addition of desks and blackboards marked quite an improvement as pupils had used their own slates and sat on benches made of split logs. The teachers all had the same motto, Spare the rod and spoil the child. Their Word was law and when a child was punished at school, he usually received another one at home. School terms seldom exceeded 3 months, then in 1873 were lengthened to 5 months. Teachers pay was usually about 82.00 a day, was increased slightly during these early years. 11

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Yearbook staff members are Qstandingl Mike McKee, john Ashley, Dan Tucker, Janice Hettenvan, and Bill O'Connor. fSeatedl Kim Trent, Editor, Mrs. Purdy, Faculty Advisorg Vikki Hicks, and Kim Gibbons. The Progress '75 Staff The other members of the yearbook staff are fstandingj Suzie Koontz, Billy Ray Alexander, and Brian English, Assistant Editor. QSeatedj Lisa Watts, Dave Flowers, Becky Swain, Phyllis Allen, and Vickie Bennett. Members of the staff Who are not in the picture are Suzie Eaton, Rosetta Nickerson, Patsy Reimer, Brenda Gregory, joe McCullough, Terry Hammons, LuAnn Blanton, and Fred Groves. ,.., Q S , ,L ,,.,,,.,,,,.,., X 5 x .- XFX H Q: S 3 3 95? l A

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