Borden High School - Echoes Yearbook (Borden, IN)

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150 J359 was ever present throughout its entire history. The building was described as one of the finest in the state. In size it was exceeded by others, but in finish, furnishings, and beauty, it had no superior. It was built of brick two stories above the basement which supplied room for a large laboratory; and towering above the roof was the observatory. The first curriculum of the school was purely 'normal'illits character. J. G. Scott was the first principal. He was assisted by Jessie Morris and F. E. Andrews. Professor Borden, who was ex-assistant state geologist at that time, gave valuable lectures in the field of natural science. Upon the coming of Professor F. M. Stalker, the second principal, the school was raised to the grade of a college. In 1888 Professor W. E. Lugenbeel became the third principal and introduced the modern languages and sciences. Then in 1899, Professor H. A. Buerk, the fourth principal, adopted the final curriculum which was more democratic in the increased possibility of granting students that combination of studies which were best calculated to secure the fullest development of their abilities. Professor J. O. Engleman was the fifth and last principal of the Borden Institute. The students at Borden Institute enjoyed the following advantages: the finest geological cabinet in the state; a choice library of two thousand volumes; a complete line of philosophical and chemical apparatus; a complete museum of curiosities from all parts of the world; every facility that could be obtained from any partcnfthe world was supplied when needed. The students were engaged in many other activities of the community. One of these was the voluntary fire brigade. At this time the water supply of Borden was obtained by pumping water into a large reservoir which had been constructed on the summit of the high hill just above the college building. Professor Borden was a great believer in universal education, and had a great faith that all classes of students would be greatly benefited and that society itself greatly blessed by the attempt of even those who were limited in their interest and intelligence. The institution tried to serve all. The bright, the average, and the slow found a welcome, and were given personal attention and encouragement. Also the instruction was so organized as to prepare for a subsequent study of ureprofessions; such as, engineering, law, medicine, theology, commerce, and teaching. For many years Professor Borden had contemplated a separate building for the library and geological collection which he had gathered on all his journeys in this country and Europe. They consisted of a large assemblage of fossils, minerals, curios, rare books, and manuscripts. He realized that to preserve them he must have a separate building of some kind, and he spared neither pains nor expense to this end. His thoughts turned to his ancestors, to his parents who had penetrated the wilderness, and wrought with sterling manhood and womanhood, for the future of their descendants. In 1900 he built upon the site of his parent's home a memorial, the Museum, where he placed his collection. The lesislature in 1889, wrote into law the guarantee that all children of school age should have an opportunity to get an education in the higher branches. Many townships, however, had no organized high schools and were

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AWWoi .Borden and the Borden Institute In the midst of a secluded valley of the Silver Hills lies the little village of Borden, nestling so peacefully among the wooded hills with the Silver Creek flowing by and carrying with it no suggestion of those far away days of hardships and sacrifices. About the year 1816, John Borden, Jr. from Rhode Island, journeyed to Indiana, and located upon several tracts of land in Wbod Township, County of Clark, where he platted a small village of a few blocks, the lines of which ran parallel and at right angles to Silver Creek, now falsely called Muddy Fork. This he named New Providence in honor of the most important city of his native state. Among the earliest settlers were John wood, after whom the township was named; Henry Dow; James Braman; William Packwood; Samuel Halett;John, James, and Thomas McKinley. But it was the Borden Family that played the outstanding part in the annals of New Providence. The most persistent member of this family was William W. Borden, whose personality is indelibly impressed upon the town, its institutions, and the people. The school advantages were restricted, and public schools were unknown. A subscription school was formed each year for the fall and winter. Such schools were not graded, nor were the textbooks uniform. The first school that William W. Borden attended in 1818, was held in a log cabin, built in the shape of a triangle. The floors and seats were of pundheons. The writing desk, consisting of a board resting on pins driven into logs, was arranged near the window, and there only was writing to be allowed. The second school was put up in 1827; and the third in 1868. Finally William W. Borden learned much that was to be learned in this village school. He then went to Salem, Indiana, to become a student in the washington County Seminary. After three years at the Seminary, he went to the University of Bloomington, Indiana, where he finished his education. Believing that a liberal education is the best preparation for the struggles of life, he encouraged the erection of a college building in his native town, New Providence. It was the Borden Institute, located on the crest of a hill in an immense park. The history of Borden Institute is largely embodied in the life and spirit of its founder. It should be remembered that it was he who first conceived this glorious enterprise. His clear and powerful mind planned and organized it in every detail; and his generous nature almost wholly supported it. ' The Borden Institute seems to have materialized from the New Providence Normal that was established Aprilz 1883, and incorporated January 10,188h. During the spring and summer of 188L, actual work on the building was begun, and the corner stone was laid September 6,188h. The dedication of Borden Institute took place on July h, 1885. Thus the Institute was launched in the spirit of high ideals and came into existence with the best of motives which

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150 J359 forced to transfer their advanced students to high schools inother townships. wood Township was in this group. By request the management of the Borden Institute provided, in the fall of that year, a complete high school course for the graduates of the township district schools. The trustee of wood Township constituted the high school department a part of the school system under his supervision, and all graduatesciftownship schools were entitled to admission. For a few years after the closing of the Borden Institute in 1906, the opportunity of pursuing a course of study beyond the elementary school was not very encouraging at Borden. A three year high school, however, was then maintained through these years, housed in various buildings in the town, and under the capable leadership of such teachers as Beorgia Bellows, Harrison Toney, and David La Duke. By a special act of the.state legislature approved March 2, 1911, the township trustee was given the right to use the Borden Institute building for a high school although it was privately owned and located in an incorpo- rated town maintaining its own schools. In the fall of 1911, the school was opened with an enrollment of twenty-five pupils, as a four year certified high school which gave graduates the right to enter the Normal schools for Class A training to become teachers. During the first three years after the certification of the school, the length of the term was seven months. With the opening of school in the fall of 191h, a term of eight months was maintained; and the school was placed on the basis of commissioned high schools. The commission, however, was not granted until 1919. Much of the credit for the establishing of a commissioned high school should be given to Professor Clem Jordan, whose able leadership and untiring efforts during his seven year tenure as principal, did much for advancement in the educational opportunities of the young people of the community in whom he was always interested. When the school was finally commissioned, the graduates were given the recognition equal to that of.graduates of any other high school in the state and enabled them to enter the state universities without examination. This rating has been maintained through the intervening years to this writing. If the school term should be extended'kinine months and some other improvements made, it is possible to raise the rating to a continuous commissioned school with some improvement in the educational opportunities offered. On the occasion of the annual commencement exercises in 1929, Mrs. Emma Dunbar Borden Robb, widow of Professor Borden, donated the school building and ten acre campus, which had been the home of the Borden Institute and the beginning of the high school, to the citizens of wood Township for a high school. The name was changed to the Wh. W. Borden High School as a living memorial to the generous spirits of the two individuals who have meant so much to the young people of the community. In 1931 the seventh and eighth grades were transferred to the high school which was then organized as a six year high school and the work was departmentalized giving the students the advantage of instruction under teachers who had special training in each subject.