Oakwood High School - Acorn Yearbook (Fithian, IL)

Page 12 text:

□ THE ACORN □ HISTORY OF THE OAKWOOD TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL District No. 277, Vermilion County. Illinois Oakwood Township High School District was organized at an election held in Muncie, Illinois, on June 5, 1915. Those who favored the establishment of one school in Oakwood Township succeeded after strenuous efforts. The proposition to organize the East end of the Township into a high school district was defeated at an election held on the Saturday next preceding the election at which this district was organized. The District as organized includes the greater portion of Oakwood Township, and a small part of Catlin Township, and comprises sixty-six sections of land. Within its boundaries are the villages of Fithian, Muncie and Oak-wood, and the towns of Bronson, Newton and Brother’s Station. The population of the District, according to the last census, is approximately 2772. An election held on June 19, 1915, for the purpose of electing a Board of Education of said District to consist of one President and six Members, resulted in the election of 0. W. Michael, as President, and C. E. Littell, Eli H. Fox, J. S. Purnell, George P. Vinson, Thomas Oakwood and P. H. Fithian as members. The President and two of the Members of the Board reside in the center of the District, two members reside in the West end of the District, and the remaining two members reside in the East end of the District. The personnel of the Board remains unchanged. The first meeting of the Board of Education was held at the residence of Dr. O. W. Michael in Muncie, Illinois, on June 21, 1915, at the hour of 6:30 o’clock P. M. The Board proceeded to organize by selecting G. E. Littell, as Secretary, and J. W. Johnston, Treasurer of Township No. Nineteen North, Range Thirteen West of the Second Principal Meridian, as the Treasurer to receive the taxes of said School District. The President was authorized to appoint the necessary committees. It was determined at this first meeting that regular monthly meetings should be held at the office of 0. W. Michael, in Muncie, Illinois, on the first Monday of each month, at 6:30 o’clock P. M. The place of holding meetings was later changed to the new school building. At a meeting held on June 28, 1915, the Board adopted the name “Oak-wood Township High School District No. 227, in the County of Vermilion, in the State of Illinois’ ’ as the corporate name of said School District, and all the business of such district since such time has been transacted under that name. The Board having determined that it was advisable to hold school in the east and west ends of the district during the first year, it leased a room in the school building in Oakwood, Illinois, and the building and grounds 8

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□ THE ACORN BOARD OF EDUCATION BOARD OF EDUCATION 0. OFFICERS W. MICHAEL, President Muncie, Illinois G. E. LITTELL, Secretary Fithian, Illinois P. H. FITHIAN THOMAS OAKWOOD ,T. S. PURNELL E. H. FOX GEO. P. VINSON FINANCE COMMITTEES SUPPLIES TEACHERS VINSON LITTELL FITHIAN FOX VINSON OAKWOOD LITTELL FOX PURNELL BUILDING FITHIAN OAKWOOD PURNELL

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□ THE ACORN □ occupied by the First Church of Christ, in Fithian Illinois. Professor Gorman was retained to teach the school in the east end of the District, while Professor Minor was employed to teach the school in the west end of the District. In accordance with the prayer of a petition filed in the office of the Secretary, an election was held on July 31, 1915, at which the voters of the District authorized the Board to purchase a school house site, to build a building and to issue bonds of the District in the sum of $20,000.00; the Wise site, located along the Interurban line about three quarters of a mile east of Muncie, was chosen as the site for the new school building. The site chosen contains about twenty acres of land, most of which is situated east of and adjacent to Stony Creek. A small portion thereof, comprising three acres, lies to the west of Stony Creek. The land is rolling, the soil is virgin, and a portion of the grounds is covered by native forest trees. The highest point on the grounds was chosen as the site upon which to construct the school building. On November 2, 1915, the contract covering the erection and completion of the school building, with the exception of heating, lighting, decorating and ventilating, was let to Wm. C. F. Kuhne, of Rantoul Illinois. Carson-Payson Co., of Danville, Illinois, was later awarded the contract for heating and plumbing, and the contract for wiring the building was let to Marrs-Tanner Co., of Danville, Illinois. The work on the building was commenced immediately after the let. ting of the contract, and on Sunday, April 16, 1916, a great number of people assembled on the grounds to witness the laying of the corner stone. The front portion of the grounds was almost completely covered with the automobiles and carriages of the visitors. There were present three bands, viz.: The Ogden Band, the Fithian Band and the Oakwood Band, all of which rendered excellent music both previous to and after the speaking. The President of the Board delivered a very appropriate address of welcome, which was followed by a report of the Secretary, covering in detail the organization of the District, the election of members of the Board of Education and the acts and proceedings of the Board. This was followed by addresses by O. P. Haworth, County Superintendent of Schools, Everett L. Dalbey, Attorney, and James A. Meeks, Attorney. The speaking was followed by the laying of the corner stone by Everett L. Dalbey. In the corner stone is a copper box, which contains many things which should be interesting to succeeding generations. The crowd was dismissed by the singing of America, led by W. S. Lucas. It was later ascertained that the district had insufficient funds to complete the construction of the school building, and the Board called an election to be held on May 20, 1916, for the purpose of voting for or against the proposition to issue bonds of said School District in the sum of $30,000. At 9