Butler High School - Tropaeum Yearbook (Butler, IN)

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A TUI1HITE T Perhaps never before in the history of tin public schools of DeKalb County has it been the good fortune of a school town or city to have tin valiant services of a most worthy janitor for so many years of continued service. The subject of these words of tribute. Mr. Joseph Wyatt, was janitor of the Butler schools for about twenty-four years ' of constant service. Mr. Wyatt proved indeed to be the right man in an impor- .taut place. 11» not only faithfully and patiently attended to the many details of work of the school rooms and premises, but he was constantly looking after the welfare of the pupils and teachers. The comfort of all connected with the school was his delight, lie was a kind and sympathizing friend to all tin pupils and teachers. His council was always good. Pupils never sought in vain when Mr. Wyatt was approached. JOE WYATT At all times In had a kind and pleasant smile for every one of his many friends. No one who knew him best, no one with whom he associated in near relationship, could help but be his friend. His genial good nature and broad minded sympathy al- ways held in store the better elements of friendship. He is missed in the public school by the teachers and pu- pils with whom he mingled. The author of these words writ- ten for the Butler High School Annual does not feel able to word a tribute that can possibly give proper credit for all that he did for the Butler schools in his many years of patient labor, in helping as he did to elevate the better elements of human character. He has gone from among us. but there remains the memory of him and his labors, which memory shall never pass from the minds of those associated with him in the by-gone years.

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HISTORY OF THE VVIumi tin city of Butler was but a pioneer settlement, the little folk of the vicinity attended school in a log building lo- cated on the site now occupied by the Livcrgood bungalow. Miss Susann Norris, a daughter of the man for whom the town was first named, was teacher of this district school. Mrs. Almyra Noels Daily was one of her pupils, both teacher and pupil residing on the opposite side of the street. Miss Norris in a log cabin and Miss Noels in the only frame house of im- portance, it being built by her father, and still stands to test- ify of his good workmanship as it has recently been remodeled into a modern bungalow being occupied by Dr. Samuells. tho the old school building has long since been destroyed. I rom time to time the locality of the school was changed until in 1871 there was erected a square brick surmounted by a similar shaped cupola, in which was placed the hell which has ever since been calling tin- children of tin town to come ami drink at the fountain of knowledge. As the little hamlet grew the enrollment of pupils steadily increased and the school house was found to be inadequate to the demand, hence an annex of two stories was erected, the lower room being used as first primary and the upper for high school grades. It was at this time that the old double seats were gradual- ly discarded for the more easy and sightly single seats. The teachers in the annex were Mrs. Helen Baxter and Prof. Sunders. Among other familiar names on the list of teachers in the school at this time are Amelia Kester. Mary Brundage. Frank Brink and later Detitia Coats Potter. In the year 1890 the seating capacity id’ the school being once more insufficient, a frame structure commodious enough to accomodate another grade was built in the rear of the main building ami here it served its humble mission until it was removed from the grounds with the brick in 1905 to make place for the fine new structure which we now enjoy. A brief description of this school house might be of interest to the youi.y people of the present generation. In the “airlv days' the building was heated by huge cylindrical stoves partly surrounded by a sheet iron shield which was braced to the floor. In close prox- imity stood a voraceous wood box usually filled to the brim 1IUTI.KR SCHOOLS «•arh morning. Double seats, low and broad were used in alii the rooms, each child having a seat mate. The windows too, wore broad and long and composed of many little panes of glass. Muslin draw curtains took the place of blinds, usually presenting a bedraggled appearance by spring. It was necessary for the janitor to go into the high school room to ring the bell, the rope dangling within a few feet of the teachers nose when seated at his desk. Tin- closets and well were out of doors and many a bitter morning paths were made through snow drifts to both, by the janitor. Sometimes the pumps resisted all treatment of thawing, when buckets of water and cups were brought to each room and happy the “big boy upon whom was bestowed the privilege of passing the bucket. As the years advanced this old regime changed. Steam heat was substituted for stoves and a fountain took the place of the pump in the yard. It was at this time that Joseph Wyatt became identified with the school as janitor. During his twenty-three years of service In had watched children in the lower grades, graduate, come back to teach and finally send youngsters of their own to their alma mater. A friend to all’the students, he honor- ably ami creditably discharged his duties until broken in health, he gave up his position in 1914 to the regret of the whole community. Tin present elegant school edifice which furnishes training for several hundred Butler children is splendidly heated, light i'd and ventilated, modern in every respect and nicely equipped for work. Kaeli year a goodly number of students are turned from its halls, who have finished the twelve years course..many of whom return as teachers, others becoming students in higher institutions of learning, matriculating from such schools as the Indiana State University and Normal, also from Ann Arbor and other schools of high repute. Not a few of the Butler graduates are filling positions of trust and integrity and alt vocations of life are followed, farmers, lawyers, teachers ’And housewives predominating. All things considered the Butli r people feel they are fully justified in the pride they iiiahitaW for the schools. •i ..ut V :f

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Faculty