Sweetser High School - Ti Pa Wa Ni Ca Yearbook (Sweetser, IN)

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blacksmith shop, three stores, two mills, a post office, and fourteen dwell- ings. It is located about seven miles northwest of Marion. Sweetser, located six miles west of Marion on the C. Q O. and Penn- sylvania Railroads, was named in honor of James Sweetser, who owned a large tract of land south of the town. On September 18, 1871, Dr. Lanford Plater platted the town of Sweetser. At one time it was a thriving town of about thirty business enterprises among which were listed blacksmiths, a hotel, a butcher shop, a moving picture show, Sweetser Natural Gas Company, Sweet- ser Light Q Fuel Company, and job-printing. Two of the pioneer industries of Sweetser were tile factories, which are no longer in operation. Sweetser is now a wide awake town of about 900 population, with an accredited high school, a very active Methodist church, and several prosperous business concerns. The first church was built by the Methodist Episcopal denomination, in l8h7, on the Whiteman farm, and was known as Pleasant Chape, but long since abandoned. This denomination later established a church in Sweetser. The Methodist Protestants have a church at Jalapa and one at Xount Olive. WThe Church of the Brethern is at Cart Creek, two miles southwest of Jalapa. The first school house was built in 1832, on the Badger farm, later known as the Cretsinger farm. This school house was for many years used as a place for holding religious worship. These first school houses were very rude in structure and had much the appearance of the dwellings of that day. Within, at one end of the room was a huge fireplace, and the furniture was very crude, made by hand. About the only classes worthy of the name were the spelling and the reading classes. Spelling was then held in high esteem, but the method used then would not be received with favor now. All were required to Uspell for headu in classes, and some teachers were quite formal with this exercise. One school exercise, in which all were expected to participate, and one of more general interest, possibly, than any other, and that was Ugeography singing.U And it is surprising to know how much was learned in that way, and how lasting the information thus obtained. All the geographical facts and information were sung or chanted. There were no school bells or hand bells to call the pupils to classes, so the teacher usually hit the side of the building with a boa d and called, NBooksl Booksln In calling the roll at evening, as the name wasfgalled, the pupil walked to the door, faced the teacher, and uncovered, bowed'or courtesidd and passed out of the house. But these methods have all given way to new and generally better ones. A non-commissioned high school was established in Sweetser in 1891, with John O. Spurgeon in charge of the school for the next twelve years with Charles Grindle, James WR Anthony, and A. F. Wharton as successive trustees of Pleasant Township. In 1906 Sweetser became a certified high school and remained so until 1910, when it was commissioned with George E. Carter as superintendent, and Nelson L. Shockey in charge of townshi affairs. Miss Talitha Lines was the first graduate from the Sweetser high School, receiving her diploma with the 1910 class from the township schools at Mount Olive, Mr. Carter then entering a vigorous plea to the township graduates that they support the high school in Sweetser. Many who had high school work under Mr. Spurgeon in Sweetser became teachers in the county. It seems that the com ission was granted December 10, l909, and that Miss Lines graudated at the first opportunity. Mr. Spurgeon was followed by Otho Winger and Mn: Carter before the commission was granted. Pleasant is the historic township of the county. The people are prosperous, are honest and intelligent, and loyal to state and nation. we are proud to be called citizens of Pleasant township.

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