Mishawaka High School - Miskodeed Yearbook (Mishawaka, IN)

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LEGEND OF BOOKS a BOOK ONE Within Our Walls 1? BOOK TWO Fame, Honor, Game ■8 BOOK THREE Life As We Like it 8 BOOK FOUR In The Limelidht BOOK FIVE Our Advertisers [Page 5]

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FOREWORD IN this Miskodeed of 1924 we have not only- endeavored to picture Mishawaka High as it but also to impart our conception of what it may be.° May those of the new high school benefit by our experi- ences which we have represented in this volume. J [Page 4]

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MISKODEED The Mishawaka Schools The early history of the Mishawaka schools was evidently in accord with the times ; very primitive and limited. It remained so, until about fifteen years ago, when an increase of school buildings was de- manded by the incipient booming of the city. The first school teaching in Mishawaka was car- ried on in a private home, which stood where the Farm- ers ' Merchants ' Bank is now located. A small class of pupils was taught there as early as 1834, by a certain Miss Sheldon. The first school building was built one year later, on what is now the northwest corner of Union and Fourth streets. This was a small frame building consisting of one room. The first teacher was Miss Thatcher, who taught there for three years. A Select School was opened in 1843, by George Merrifield in the Methodist church. The church was located on Main Street, but was destroyed by the fire of 1872. In 1844, a scholarly man by the name of Butts, began a school in a building which stood Avhere the hom e of M. W. Mix is now located. The first school made of brick was built in 1848, on South Main street, just north of the New York Central railroad tracks. This five room edifice was known as Institute No. 1. Mr. Butts, who had formerly maintained his own school, was at this time employed by the city as superintendent. He had three assistants, Jacob Merrifield. Jefferson Merrifield, and Miss Skinner. Just to get an idea of the salaries, Mr. Jefferson Mer- rifield was paid sixty-eight dollars every three months. In 1854. Mr. Foster was employed as principal of the school at $850 per year. One assistant received forty dollars every three months, and another six dollars a week. Institute No. 1 was used until 1868, when the so-called High School was built, This $50,000 building, which is now known as Main School, was the pride of the 1.800 people of Mishawaka, Mr. Vincent Brunner, who has been writing a History of Mishawaka, tells of a fire in the early seventies which broke out in the High School. He was one of the boys who assisted to put it out by helping to pump the hand engine down at the creek which flowed where the Christian church now stands. At that time whenever there was a fire, the church bells rang, and the [Page 6]