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

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During these years, convocation was held every Wednesday morning which in- cluded a program made up of some scrip- ture reading, music, and often readings or a speech by students with a moral or philosophical lesson. The high school boasted having an or- cheStra and well organized basketball pro- grams for b0th boys and girls. The girl's team wore uniforms of long bloomers and blouses with high round necklines and 1'. length sleeves. Girls uniforms changed in the early 30's to allow long shorts and sleeveless t0ps. Most teams fur- nished their own uniforms. On May 13, 1935 the original school house burned down and classes were held in various churches until the school was re-built and moved into in 1937. New Washington High School was thought of as a Second Home by its students who took great pride in the school. Students kept the school neat and Clean. There were rarely any markings on the desks or lock- ers. In the 305 a community program was a traditional event once each semester. It was a talent show, similar to our present jarnbouree. Hot dogs cost about St and gasoline was sold for 6 gallons for $1.00. Students enjoyed school basketball games. camping and cooking out and 0- casionally seeing a movie shown at the Old school house fnow the Masonic Lodge buildingj P3331 ' .. ' At: a... w .. :rr'r' ' 3x H.-' - .' l'-!' The first Fall Festival was held in 1940. New families were moving into the area with the building of the Charlestown Powder Plant. High school boys often dr0pped out of school to join the armed forces and World War II. Gasoline, cof- fee, sugar, and other foods were rationed as a result of the war. Classes took turns selling home made ice Cream at the bas- ketball games to make money. Class members brought the ingredients: milk, eggs, and precious sugar er5. Grace Barnes remembered a time when one class accidentally substituted salt instead of su- garj In the early 4015 the junior Class was allowed $30.00 to Spend on the erSr. Prom. They chose a Hawaiian theme and spent hours making palm trees, their own memory books, and borrowed a large white guitar from a Louisville department store display for decorationjunior meth- ers cooked chickens, donated vegetables, home made cakes and ice cream to make the prom as elegant as possible. The prom was held in the science room on the second floor fcurrently the art roomy. Frank Sinatra and Perry Como were popu- lar recording idols. The hot lunch program was started in 1946, the first annual, The Highwayman, was published in 1947 and the PTA was organized. Mr. I.L. Baker became the prin- cipal in 1950 and was until 1973. The first basketball homecoming This building is presently the Masonic Hall but was originally the Presbyterian Academy, the first school in New Washington. It also served as a m0vie theater for a time. queen was crowned in 1954. Freshmen were initiated into high school, called Green Freshmen and were made to dress up in strange Clothes and bow to upperclassmen on request. Long skirts, saddle shoes, and bobby socks were in style for girls. Boys wore black pants and white or pink long sleeve shirts. jeans were worn mostly at home and always rolled up. Rock and Roll, was new. Ricky Nelson and Elvis were favorite music makers and drive-in movies were popular weekend retreats for teenagers. The first five graduating classes of New Washington pose for their portrait.

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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.

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Basketball and school athletic events were the popular gathering places for NWHS students. Mike and Irene's Res- taurant and the Drug Store in town enter- ' tained the students of the 505 with a soda fountain, a juke box and tables for card games. TV. was new and popular shows were Westerns, cartoons, and variety shows. The Bunny Hop was a popular dance that everyone danced to whenever they heard the song on the radio, regard- less of where they were Students remember crowding around the TV. in the early 60's to watch the launching of the first rocket which marked the beginning of space explora- tion. TV. was used as a teaching aid in history in 1962 and p0pular music changed with the arrival Of the Beatles in 1964. Boys started letting their hair longer, girls were wearing shorter skirts, and Presidentjohn F. Kennedy was assassinat- ed. Most of New WashingtonIs students worked on the area farms when not cruis- ing the parking IOt. In 1967 the new wing was built which included the office, cafe- teria, 4 classrooms, and book store. New Washington became part of Greater Clark County School Corporation in 1969 and students were no longer allowed an open campus during lunch. By 1970, girls were allowed to wear pants to school, the high school and the elementary school became separate units and most students were concerned with the Viet Nam War. 1971 graduates listened carefully to the radio for their draft Iilottery number which de- termined who would be sent to the war. The first computer report cards were is- sued and junior High became the Middle School to include the sixth grade. All of the small elementary schools were closed by 1974 and students were tran5ported to New Washington. In 1981 computers were introduced to the curriculum. Ground breaking for the new school building was held December 6, 1982. Hibernia School consolidated 4 one room schools in Owen T0wnship. Oscar Bussey shovels coal to heat Marysville School. The Otto School combined five one room schools in 1927. mama , 2 HIBERNIA In 1865 Owen Township had six one room rural schools. They were $41 Shiloh, $42 Beech Grove, 7943 Vaught, 544 Golden Valley Hater FairviewI, 55 Bull Creek iBareI, and 7546 Haymaker IGiltnerl Num- bers 5 and 6 became a part of Charlestown Township about 1900 and the other schools consolidated into Hibernia School which was built in 1950 and used until 1974 when the students moved to New Washington. MARYSVILLE Marysville School was built in 1935 for grades 1-8. There were three rooms and three teachers. Marysville students were moved to New Washington in 1972. OTTO The Otto School was built in 1927 and combined five one room school houses. They included 543 uIn the Woods, 7545 Flint Ridge, IIThe Brick , Camp Creek and Bethlehem. Otto school closed in 1967, sending its students to New Washington. 2,, rmw-wywmwws,, N a WM, wwmmw w rwwumw WW wwzwwwwmxw i g... s.c whammryw:Wwwwiwwwxzwxswxmwwwmrazszsuvmawwa W V wmwm