New Washington High School - Highwayman Yearbook (New Washington, IN)

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New Washington High School-1926-1984 Out PasteA Strong Foundation for the Future The first school buildings in this area were built of logs abOut 1816. Schools were dark and gloomy with greased paper for windows, Split logs for seats and slate to write on. Early teachers were paid just 504: a day. Log schools were later replaced by frame and cement block buildings. The town of New Washington was laid out in 1815 with a Square in the center oftown on which was to be a building for school purposes. The first school building for advanced study fpast the eighth gradel, the Presbyterian Academy, was built in 1850. In 1893-94 the Old building was torn down and a new building erected which is Currently the Masonic Lodge. The first class was graduated in 1909. There were 9 Students in class and one teacher, Professor Murphy, who taught all of the Classes. Classes were basic- reading, writing, arithmetic, and science until a home economics teacher was add- ed to the staff in 1913. In 1918, all senior girls were required to make their Ownle graduation dresses as Caps and Gowns were not used for graduation until 1923. The first consolidated school house was built in New Washington in 1926 on the present site of New Washington High School. Grades 1 through 8 were held at the five area schools of New Market, Marysville, Otto, Hibernia and Bethle- hem. High School students were sent to New Washington to attend grades 9-12. In 1920, Mtjohn C. Allen became principal and remained so until 1945. These were the days during the depres- Miss Ora Hooker with her first class at New Washington. sion and most families were very poor, but self sufficient. Even families who lived in town had a garden, a cow for milk, and generally a few chickens.