Walnut Creek High School - Anvil Yearbook (Walnut Creek, OH)

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VIE A ID II3'D 'D Ili BRIEF HISTORY OF WALNUT GREEK Walnut Greek was laid out in 1826, with Sam Robinson as surveyor. J. B. Schrook, George Kaser, and David Funk also helped to plan the town and lay it out. The first house was not built, however, until l837. David Fate built and lived in the first house, he also became the first justice of the peace. . After several more people had built homes here, small business places started here and there. Soon there was a Cooperage, where Mr. Ridle now has his shop owned by Noah Troyer. A person by the name of Darredinger had a buggy shop where the garage is standing now. There was also at one time a tannery where Lester Flinner's barn is standingg a hotel where they live, owned by Andrew Gable. Ferd Scarr had the first butchershop which stood where W. R. Mastfs barn stands. The first store was in the cellar of the Jaberg house. Later, however, it was moved to the place where the bank is, and still later, where W. R. Mast's old store stood. The first school house, which was a town school builde ing, stood across the road from Leander Wilhelm's house. The school house was not there very long, however, there was another one built behind the house where Mr. and Mrs. John Harris live now. When that school building was no longer good enough, they built a new one where Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan Troyer live. In l909 a two-room building was built on the grounds on which the high school now stands. In l936 the people built a real school, so they said. That is the school we are using now. The first name Walnut Greek ever had was New Garlise. The time came when the people of the town wanted a post office. Before New Garlise could have one, it's name had to be changed because there was also a New Carlise in Clark Township that had a post office. The people of the town got together to decide upon a new name. They reasoned like this: the town is in Walnut Creek Township and the Walnut Greek is so close by, so why not call it Walnut Greek? The people agreed to this name so they were ready for the post office. There was no special building for the post office at first, but they had it in the houses. The first post office Walnut Greek had was a house at the site of Lister Gerberfs home now with Melchair Buzzerd as the first post master. The last church service held in a house was in the year 1862. They then went to the church which stood where Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Troyer used to live. There used to be a cemetery behind the house, but during the Givil War the ll QI 41 1D -

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if IYIEAXIIQ :Bo-onli THE WALNUT CREEK HIGH SCHOOL Previous to the year 1915 when Percy Miller was teaching the upper grades he gave the upper grade students work equivelant to the ninth year, as, Algebra, German, Literature. This work was not recognized by the state since no high school had been established. A third grade high school was started in 1915-16 with Mr. Beechy as teacher. This lasted two years, 1915-16-17. Miss Nellie A. Yoder was added to the teaching staff for 1917-18, when the school was made a second grade high school. In 1923 it became a first grade school with three teachers. The new school building was erected during the summer of 1925. In the fall of 1957 the six-six plan was adoptedg that is, six years of grade school and six years of high school. Because of the in- crease of students and extra teacher had to be added to the teaching staff. We now have four high school teachers and quite an active, indus- trious school. illdfilf ll QI 4 'D i

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VIE A ID IBD 1DIIi BRIEF HISTORY OF WALNUT CREEK, CON5T bodies were taken out and laid elsewherer There was another church which stood where Emanual Hershberger lives. The oldest house that is standing in Walnut Creek to- day is the building W. R. Mast used to have for his hard- wares The oldest house in town that has never changed hands, or has always been in the hands of the same family, is the house in which the post office is now. That house and the house in which Thomas Troyer used to live are the two log cabins of Walnut Creek. Dr. Je A. Mast was the Walnut Creek's first doctor. He had his office where W. R. Mastfs new store is. The doctor s office was later moved to the house which is now occupied by Mr. and Hrs. Wilbur Hostetler. Then Dr. Stucky cameg he also used the same office. Drt Hide was in part- nership with Dr. Stucky for a while. After Dru Hide left Dr. Doornblazer became Dr. Stuckyfs partner. After several years, Dr. Doornblazer established an office of his own where Mr. Ridle has his shop. Then came Dr. Olmstead, using the same office, and after him came Dr. Bahler. Our town has been exceedingly fortunate in having had resident doctors almost continually, a rather unusual thing for small villages. Although the town has as yet very few businesses which employ many people, it is continually growing as is evidence by the new buildings being erected. The scenic beauty of its surroundings shall, no doubt, always be a factor induc- ing people to establish homes in Walnut Creek. INGIDENTS OF LONG AGO The AbsentHMinded Reverend The pastor of the Walnut Creek Church during the first few years of this century was visiting one evening at the home of a church member. One of the children, playing up- stairs, upset an oil lamp. Everyone grabbed buckets, filled them and ran for the fire. But, lo and behold, the pastor found upon reaching the fire that his bucket didn't have any bottom. The First Settler in Walnut Creek Township According to one of our oldest residents, a trapper who came from Pennsylvania, was the first to establish a home in Walnut Creek Township. He built his cabin in a clearing near the now abandoned Mast's School. He obtained his living by trapping the numberous wild animals which roamed through the forests at that time. ll QI 41 'D