Demotte High School - Keen Keener Yearbook (Demotte, IN)

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Community meetings called Literary Societies were held. All available talent was solicited, in fact audi- tions were granted to each and every one who wished to appear on the various programs. The people economized to the nth degree, even to the extent of having a “township” suit. All those having contributed to the purchase price were privileged to wear the suit when special occasion arose. The township trustee was granted the preference, if more than one wanted to sojourn at the same time. I believe that now the township trustee has to buy his own suit. (Am I right, Mr. Groet?) In 1867 there were 53 pupils enrolled in Keener township schools, between the ages of six and 21 years, twenty-two of whom were in school during the school term of 1867-68. Two schools were available if needed, but only one was in session at this particular time. $52.00 was the salary paid to Miss Emma Downy, and there was a balance of $11.00 in the township treasury. In 1873 the office of School Examiners was discontinued and all records turned over to the County Superintendent of Jasper, who at that time was J. H. Snoddy. His early records were the first authentic reports to be found in the office of the present county superintendent, Ira L. Huntington. There were eleven sources of school revenue, which the State Superintendent of Public Instruction, in his report of 1872, divided into three classes, Productive, Contingent, and Unproductive. Not until 1882 did the grand total of revenue near the ten million dollar level. In that year there was a marked increase of $73,834.42. Jasper county’s share was $45,726.71 for the year. Easier finance, increase in population and a growing demand for more and better schools, had by 1898 given us our seventh and last district school, known as McKinley School, District No. 7. If you will please go back with me in thought to Center School, District No. 3; it is there that we find the nucleus from which our present DeMotte high school or Keener Township Consolidated School, was developed. Center School had had school terms ranging in length of time from three to five months. In 1885 it was chosen as the best building of three, and moved to DeMotte. It was not moved by motor power, neither was it moved by horse power, but by a slow, trusty four-ox team. The new site chosen for the school lot was the southeast corner of the crossing of Lilly and Walnut streets, where the James (Ted) White residence now stands. For five years the old building was used as a one-room school, having an enrollment the last year of 69 pupils, and a term of six months. Center School building was again moved in 1890 and located on the present site of the Henrichs Garage. It was used for some years as a store building. 3

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Keener Twp. School History (Read at the dedication exercises of the new Keener Twp. School building, Oct. 20, 1936.) (By Mrs. Charity M. Wolff) January 9th, 1821, the General Assembly of the state of Indiana provided against “any distinction between rich and poor,” as to their opportunity for free education, which eventuated in the first General School Law of Indiana. Almost every session of the Legislature witnessed the passage of some special or general law relative to school interests in the state. The difficulties in the way of early progress of the school system were numerous and for a time almost in- surmountable. Funds for the paying of teachers and for the erection of school buildings were lacking; qualified teachers were difficult to find, school districts were sparsely settled, school funds were mis-managec and more fatal than all was a strange prejudice against popular education, under the name of “free schools.” The early settlers of Jasper county were progressive and kept pace with the general sentiment of the state in their appreciation of the advantages of good schools. Long before the state could give sufficient financial aid the people had solved the problems for themselves by erecting log school-cabins and maintaining their schools by popular subscription. The pioneers furnished the logs for both furniture and buildings. By the house-raising method they built log cabins and each patron paid the expense in proportion to the number of children, but anything the settler had was valuable, and by exchange the farmer’s produce and live stock was transformed into the children’s education. Barkley Settlement, in Barkley township, had its first school in 1838 and ’39; Blue Grass Settlement opened its school in 1840-41; Rensselaer’s first school was opened during the winter of 1841-42. The slow growth of population deferred the development of these early schools to such an extent that by 1853 there were only eight schools in the combined territory of the present counties of Jasper and Newton. One of these eight schools was the Corn School, District No. 1, in Keener township, located near Wind Mill Hill, about three miles due west of DeMotte. In 1867 the Tyler School, District No. 2, was built one mile north and one mile east of DeMotte. A third district school was erected in 1876 to be known as Center School, District No. 3, located nearly due west of DeMotte, on the land now known as the Frank Mosier farm. In the meantime, the centers of population had shifted. The Corn School, No. 1, was abandoned and the Gleason School replaced it as District No. 1. At this time the schools were partly supported by subscription and by the interested families boarding the teachers their portion of the time, trying at that early date to balance the budget. This was also the time when the spiritual needs of the people were still cared for by the preachers of the Circuit Rider Conference. The school houses were used as churches and general community centers. 2

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A two-story frame building was erected on the former town site; two teachers were employed and school opened September, 1890. Grades one to three, inclusive, were in the Primary room, and grades four to eight, inclusive, were known as the Upper Grades. The Primary was taught by Essie (Fairchild) Erwin, of DeMotte, and the Upper Grades by the late Edward G. Warren, of Lawton, Okla. Their salaries were $1.50 and $1.90, respectively. This two-room frame building was used for school purposes until 1914, when the first portion of the present brick building was made available. A demand for more advanced training had been met. A high school principal and three teachers comprised the new staff and the 1914 Freshman class was initiated. In 1918 DeMotte High School, which was accredited at that time, graduated its first class consisting of three girls. It is pleasing to recall that the three girls qualified and came into the schools as grade teachers. There was no class of 1919, the Junior class of the previous year, consisting of one student, had moved away. In 1920 the standard had been raised, a high school commission had been granted and one student was graduat- ed. It was no longer necessary for the boys and girls of Keener township to go away from home for high school training, or be deprived of the privilege of a high school education. Consolidation was now uppermost in the minds of Keener township’s school people and by 1919 all the country district schools had been closed. An addition was made to the DeMotte school to accommodate the student body and all school children in Keener Township were transferred to Keener Twp. Consolidated. Old Center, District No. 3, had at last reigned supreme. The Six-Six Plan was adopted and an 8-months term mandatory. By 1929 there was an enrollment of more than 300 students, a principal, and eight teachers were contract- ed. In 1933 it was necessary to have more class rooms, and a 2-roomed, frame building was built. These rooms are used for the first and second grades. The DeMotte High School has graduated 17 classes, ranging in number of students from one to 18, in all a total of 147. Of this number, 29 percent have entered institutions of higher learning. Many of the graduates are holding responsible positions in both business and professional fields. In the spring of 1936, this school like the Chambered Nautilus, had again outgrown its confines of building and faculty. A second addition was built, completed for use Sept. 6, the beginning of this present school term. The building in which we assembled Tuesday, October 20, 1936, to inspect, accept, and dedicate. The DeMotte school now has an enrollment of 335. Under the leadership of County Superintendent Ira L. Huntington, Principal Wm. May, and Trustee Simon Groet, twelve teachers are courageously attempting to assist in doing the maximum amount of standardized work at a minimum expense. To be satisfied with present conditions would foster stagnation. To demand more and better things warrant progress. We will mark progress by moving to our new consolidated high school next year. 4