Pittsboro High School - Progress Yearbook (Pittsboro, IN)

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Maude had the distinction of being the first girl in Indiana graduated from a certified high school. Two members of this class lived to observe the 50th year of their graduation, and were honored with a special program at the Alumni Banquet, and presented with a volume of Ernie Pyle's books. They were Norman Worrell and Maude Newman. In 1898, under the principalship of Professor j.M. Matheny, another class of graduated, 4 boys and a girl: Tom L. Dillon, Murat Keeney, Fred Worrell, Dr. Aubrey Pebworth and Miss Mary Dugan. Miss Dugan was the last surviving member having died a year ago. Teachers during these early years include, in addition to the ones named, j.C. Smith, F.C. Thomas, T.C. O'Mara, john Moore, and john Sullivan. Graduation exercises were always a very important social affair as well as an exhibition of high caliber education. Formal programs were sent to friends containing a list of faculty members and the entire program. The local paper, The Pitts- boro Sun always gave eloquent descriptions of these impressive ceremonies. Usually held in the Christian Church due to its being larger, the procession of faculty and graduates entered to a burst of music, Qsometimes violin music by the Montani Brothers of Indianapolisj In the program of 1898, County Supe1'intendent j.C. Hostetter, Trustee Bnnnfield, and Professor Matheny added dignity to the procession. Invocation was by Professor Alonzo Norman of Central Normal College. Following are the speeches which the graduates of 1898 udeclaimedv so impressively. Dr. Aubrey Pebworth spoke on uThe Mighty Hopes that Make Us Men. Tom L. Dillon ably discusses, according to the news item, The Mormtains Would Not Go to Mohammed, so He Must Go to the Mountainsf' Fred Worrell who was destined to die while still a very young man spoke on The Thermopylae of Life,', emphasizing the necessity of a good education to be a winner in the struggle of life. Murat Keeney was the hit of the evening with his subject The Mill Streams that Turn the Clappers of the World, Arise in Solitary Placesf, Miss Mary Dugan dealt with social questions on the theme More Worship the Rising than the Setting Sun. The old building, Number 6, erected in 1879 was showing definite signs of deterioration by the middle of 1900's and there was agitation for a new building. Richard Lee Dillon, trustee, thought the school should be more centrally located so he selected the present site, a very unpopular choice with most of the tax payers who called it a frog pond because of the poor drainage. Construction was begun and the cornerstone was laid in the summer of 1913. It was a gala day for Pittsboro, with a speaking, a band and a parade from the old building in the east end of town to the new structure. In September 1913 the high school started in the long frame building called the Cooper shop which had been used as an annex. There were 27 pupils, 16 freshman, 5 sophomores, 4 juniors and 2 seniors. james William Wester-field was princi- pal and Edith McCl1mg, an alumni from PHS was teacher of Latin, English and History. It was fun for the pupils with 2 teachers conducting classes at the same time. In spite of the confusion, occasionally boys went to sleep and dropped their books in the coal bucket. Or the Physics class placed their equipment to pump water into Mr. Westerfieldis stiff Katie . QA hatj The new building was completed by the New Year and the grades as well high school made the big move. It was the finest building anyone had ever seen. Four large classrooms downstairs were for the grades, Q2 grades to each roomj. Two large class rooms and the long assembly room upstairs were used by the high school. There was a stage for plays, small rooms for offices, spacious halls and wide stairs, a well equipped Domestic Science and playroom in the basement. A new Claypool piano was purchased from proceeds made from a production Abe Martinis Weddingi' put on by parents and friends of the school. Box suppers, beauty contests, and other entertaimnents brought in more money for added equip- ment. Credit can be given to Mr. Dillon for his good judgment and excellent choice of materials. The grade building although 52 years old, has served well. Although the enrollment was small, Pittsboro entered all the county contests and won first in most of them. One girl took drama lessons in Indianapolis and won first with Ben Hur's Chariot Race , Paul jordan sang i'When the Bell in the Light House Rings Ding Dongn and won county wide fame, Carroll McDonald, a tall senior, excelled in many things, singing orations, and did equally well with high jump and shot put. Sarah McClain Money was the music teacher during those years and she has been followed by many outstanding music teachers to whose dedication and interest the students owe much of the success they have had in county musicals, district and state contests. We mention Mrs. Lucille McRoberts Baker, Miss May Nennecker, Mrs. Aleta Thompson Schultz, Miss Barbara Beatty. The present teachers, Miss Barbara Wilson and Mr. Robert Lang are setting high standards for music students. Another era began for Pittsboro High School in 1921 when the present high school building was completed. Mr. Otha Dale was trustee and therehad been a big debate about whether to build or not to build. Classes met in the fall before the building was finished and teachers and pupils had to compete with the noise of hammers and the smell of new plaster and paint.

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NORMAN WORRELL-father of Dorothy Worrell Watson, Doris Cline and Woodrow Worrell. CARY JOHNSON KIRK-mother of George and John Kirk, and Ruth Servies. Grandmother of Glen Servies. IENNIE QANEQ HALFAKER SLAGLE-mother of Vivian Slagle Myers. WILLIE WORRELL HARRY HOAK GRACE BRUMFIELD HENSLEY-Aunt of Ion Bromfield, TV star. EFF IE WILLS WATERS-mother of Lucille Waters Wood, Leon Wa- ters Gregg, Harold Waters, Hollis Waters, grandmother of Charles Wa- ters, Mary Lou Waters Fox, Duane and Donald Waters. MARY QMOLLIEQ TOUT ASHBY-mother of Blanche Ashby, Inis Ashby Bach, Ruth Ashby, Hollis Ashby, and Clarence CBabej Ashby. DAISE DILLON BUERGELIN-aunt of Edgar Parker, Chester Parker, Marvin Weaver and Frances Fisher. GRACE IANES HYER-sister of Alice lanes Kirk. ALICE IANES KIRK-mother of Mary Kirk Iordan, Claire Kirk West, Sam- Kirk, Morris Kirk and Wallace Kirk. None of them graduated from PHS. SALLIE PHILLIPS WATTS-mother of Melville, Necillus and Hazel Watts, aimt of Elizabeth Yeager Dillon. CHARLES KRESS-uncl of Carroll Kress and Crystal Kress Halfaker. IDA IORDAN DARNELL-sister of Cary Iordan Kirk, mother of Mar- garet Martin. NORA WILLS DUDLEY-aimt of Maxine Wills Carter, jean Myers, Lester Wills, Lawrence junken, Elmer, Marvin and Wayne Wills. ELSIE RICH MCCOUN IAMES FLAHERTY-afterward a high official in Fidelity Trust Com- pany in Indianapolis. EDGAR BEAMAN-father of Doris Beaman, Lawrence Beaman, Edgar Eugene Beaman and Frances Beaman Parsons. CHARLES JONES Miss Mamie Reynolds continued to be the teacher for the first two terms. After the first year over Bmmfield's store, the high school was moved to the hall over the Sawyer block, fthe present storehouse of the Gregory storej on the south west corner of the intersection. Professor A.L.H. Miller became principal. In the fall of 1897, the high school was finally moved to the public school building in the east end of town and it remained there until 1912 when the building known as school number 6, was condemned and torn down. 1897 was a momentous year in the history of the high school for the first class graduated: Oscar Reynolds, Charles Kress, james Flaherty, Norinand Worrell and Maude Hughes Newman. IV

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In due time, everything was finished and it seemed very plush, with a large stage for plays, two large assemblies, a Commerce Department, a well equipped kitchen and a large room in the basement for recreation, now the cafeteria. The only criticism was the formation of the Junior High School when the 7th 81 8th grades were brought into the high school. Protests were loud and long by those who thought their children were not getting the proper amoimt of time for English, Literature, and Spelling, which previously had been taught daily, but now 2 days a week. Complaints that high school students couldn't read blamed it on the new fangled Junior high school. Teachers in the teens, and 20's were Otha Nichols, Principal, Roy Leak, Helen Webb, Mayme Nichols Brill fstill livingj, Betty Gutherie, Genevieve Allen, C.M. Spall, Milby Stroud, Willa Swain, Josephine McCord Stevenson, L.V. Phillips, George Russell Hamilton, Shirle Essig, Alice Piersol, Claude Linton, Blanche Ashby, Frances Weaver Fisher, Leslie Lewis, Paul Linton, Katie Paige, Everett Watson, Frank Glen, Otho Breck, Ione Gentry, Mary Lewis, Jeanette Hampton, Mr. McNamara, Cecil Kelso, and Mr. Glenny who sued the township for his pay. One principal remembered was Lee Ezra Michael who believed that students should concentrate on preparing lessons for the next day. He had very definite ideas and intended that the seniors should spend their money for a curtain for the stage. The seniors had different ideas. It being the era of the Ku Klux Klan, the Wave of Patriotism swept over the senirs who finally purchased a large American flag and a Bible which cost 82200, an unheard of price then. Professor John Teter followed Mr. Michael, he was a lover of poetry and added a lovely daughter to the ranks of students. During the trusteeship of Robert Parker, two teachers came to Pittsboro High School who may well be added to the Hall of Fame: Earl Freeman and Glen Staton, and the latter remained for many years and is affectionately regarded by all students who ever went to school to him. He was friend, counselor, and teacher. Another worthy addition to the faculty in the twenties was Albert Ross Williams, a graduate of Earlham, he became coach and led the team to victory in the sectional tourney in 1926. He was a good public speaker and added talent and enthusiasm to all school activities. From Pittsboro he went to teach at Manual Training H.S. At present he and his wife are residents of the Methodist Home at Franklin. Former pupils will recall many funny incidents which were a very vital part of school. There was the day, for instance, when the county superintendent and other school dignitaries were invited to visit our school. That was always an impor- tant and extremely stiff-necked occasion with all students on their very best behavior. The night before the visit some fun loving unaturalistl' had sneaked into the building and literally annointed the desks with skimk oil which is noted for its pungent smell. Needless to relate, the visiting day was postponed. Then the birds! A whole bevy of them or so it seemed, though we later found there was only one or two, were turned loose in the auditorium and no one would confess to guilt. A real trial was held with George Reitzel, County Superintendent, present, but to this day, it remains a dark secret. It was not imusual to have a few fisticuffs between teacher and student, for there were no laws then against sparing the rod. It was an unsetting sight to see a teacher apparently tryint to choke a big boy, or bending him back over the stair rail in an effort to enforce obedience. There seems to be no record of any permanent injury resulting from such run- ins',. Whippings, shakings, and suspensions, to say nothing of irate glares were the order of the day. If a kid got a whup- pin at school, another one awaited him at home. That was long before the rights of the individual were recognized. Teachers were fully justified in disciplining pupils, it was part of their education. In 1926, John Paul Girard became principal and stayed for 7 years, much loved by faculty, students and patrons. He and wife were workers in church and community. Other faculty members employed by Harold Knetzer, trustee, during the 30's were Mae Miller, Gail Troyer, Verna and Lynn Turner, Esther McCord, May Nennecker, Helen Haynes Williams, Dessie Miles Martin, Virginia Vannice, Dorothy Corbin and Hortense Guthrie. Jewell Vaughan followed Mr. Girard, coming in 1934, and remaining until he became Hendricks County Superintendent. Ralph Black, hired by Oder Pierson, trustee, then became principal and served ably for 8 years. School felt the impact of World War II with rationing and shortages. Many teachers had entered other areas of work and it was more difficult to hire teachers. Some who were here during this period were Oren Stowers, principal, Mary Bailey, Irene Simpers, Elsa Smelser Majors, Ammy Pfeiffer, Lucille McRoberts Baker, Thelma Clem, Herbert Klausmeier, Virginia Buchanan, Altha Guernsey Leak, Henrietta Davis, Mrs. Nola Stowers, later Pete Fowler, Mrs. Ruth Hess, Lowell QBillJ Kirtley, Robert Leedy, both fine coaches and excellent teachers. In 1945 while Edgar Parker was trustee, William Logan became principal, remaining 10 years. He was a man of many talents, among them the ability to get along well with both teachers and pupils. Under his guidance, the Hot Lunch VI