Peru High School - Narcissus Yearbook (Peru, IN)

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THE NARCISSUS OUR HIGH SCHOOL two paved state roads cross at right angles in the heart of the business district. Keeping abreast with the times an airport has been established, just outside the city limits, thus, making accessible air transportation to the citizens of' the commun- ity. To note vividly the progress in transporta- tion that has come to this community one can go two miles east of the city and there see the strides that transportation has taken during the past decades. Here one sees the Wabash river, the Wabash-Erie Canal, the Wabash Railroad, the Wabash Valley Traction, the new paved State road. and flying overhead the modern air liner. A great impetus was given to the schools of this section of the country by the Ordinance of 1787. This Ordinance stated that land grants should be set aside to provide for a system of free public schools in each county. However, it was not until 1833 that a school was established within the limits of Miami County. In that year a school was conducted during the winter months in a log cabin that stood on the site of the present village of Mexico. In 1834, William Smith, who had opened the school on the present site of Mexico in 1833, open- ed the first school in Peru. This school was locat- ed on Third Street in a log building 18x24 feet. As was the case in most early schools Smith oper- ated this school on the subscription plan, each pupil being required to pay a tuition fee of S'b2.50. The teacher. however, frequently experienced dif- ficulty in collecting his fees, as many patrons in- sisted on paying with produce. During the decades that followed the school system of Peru grew from this one room school into the present day organization which consists of six elementary buildings, operated by the city school board, two Parochial schools, operated by the Catholic and Lutheran churches and a Junior and Senior high school, operated by the school board. Thus, every advantage for a free educa- tion is offered to the youth of this community. Industrially Peru has grown from the agri- cultural stage, in which grinding was the chief in- dustry, to an important railroad and manufactur- ing city. The industrial importance of Peru has been stamped indelibly upon the minds of past CContinued on Page 65 . i .R ,ww M nl?.-W Page Three

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THE NARCISSUS p OUR POST OFFICE , OUR COMMUNITY A great city is that which has the greatest men and wcmzenv-Wlzritmcm. QN October 23, 1826, the Miami Indians unpro- testingly, if grudgingly, ceded to the United States a large tract of land which included the present Miami County. Peru, the county seat, was the first section of the county to receive per- manent white settlement. The section of land on which Peru was plotted, came into the possession of John B. Richardville, an Indian chief, who deed- ed the land to Joseph Holman for the considera- tion of five hundred dollars, the transaction re- ceiving the approval of John Quincy Adams, Pres- ident of the United States, on March 3, 1828. This original plotted area is now included between Main street and the river and between Holman and Lafayette streets. From a small village in 1828, Miamisport, as Peru was then called, has grown into the beautiful Peru of today which, according to the 1930 cen- sus consists of some twelve thousand inhabitants, Thus, during the past decades Peru has made a steady growth in population. Likewise, in order to keep her transportation system, educational in- stitutions, industries, and social institutions apace with the increase in population, Peru has expend- ed large sums of money and an astonishing amount of energy. During the early days the Wabash river furn- ished the sole outlet for the commerce of this vicinity. However, in the early thirties the Wa- bash-Erie Canal was completed, opening another artery to the commerce of Miami County. The canal soon gave up a large part of its traffic to a swifter carrier in 1846, for in that year the old Peru and Indianapolis Railroad was chartered. In 1856 the Wabash Railroad, a railroad that sounded the death knell for the Wabash-Erie Ca- nal, was opened for traffic. When electric trans- portation made its advent, in the late nineties and the early nineteen-hundreds, Peru was honored by having the Union Traction, the Wabash Valley Traction and the Winona Traction enter her lim- its. The city has likewise been honored by having Page Two

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THE NARCISSUS G. .W. YOUNGBLOOD A Challenge TO live in the twentieth century should be a challenge to each high school student. With the advantages offered by modern inventions and discoveries, high school students have greater opportunities for growth and development than have ever before been afforded. With better buildings, better equipment, better trained teachers and greater per capita wealth, more is expected of you. Your parents appreciate the blessings that result from physical, mental, and moral growth, and have a wider vision of education. They are very anxious that you take advan- tage of educational opportunities. Are you measuring up to these tremendous responsibilities? Many of you, leaving school, will become the success- ful and honored citizens while others will be content to live the selfish life. As the Narcissus mirrors the activities of our school, so will the annals of your community in the next decade measure the outgrowth of these activities. Parents have sacrificed much for their chil- his school. his parents, and his God with a worth- dren. It is hoped that every student will honor while life. He profits most who serves best. G. W. Youngblood. V292 SCHOOL BOARD A. H. COLE, O. B. ANDREWS, H. A. THRUSH, GLADYS McDOWELL, Secretary President Treasurer Clerk. Page F 11'