Versailles High School - Portal Yearbook (Versailles, OH)

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Page 10 THE VERSAILLES ings have served these folks, and the present building is one of the finest in the town. Emmanuel Lutheran Church was next organized, and dates its beginning back to 1884. Services are held each Sunday, and much interest is manifested. The Frenchtown Catholic Church, as we have already mentioned, was organized at about the same time as the local Catholic Church. This has a large congregation, and sendees are held regularly with a large attendance always present. In visiting the township’s cemeteries, one can readily see who were many of the pioneers that gave this community its beginning. Many of the early settlers were of French, German and Irish descent. The French, German and English languages were in use here for many years, but at present the English language prevails. The first school was built where is now the home of Frank Near-garder, on East Water Street. This first school is described as having a great fireplace, clapboard roof, a door of heavy boards with wooden hinges and a leathern or flaxen string to lift the latch. Windows, with sticks at short intervals, to which greased paper was fastened, let in the light and sunshine. The last surviving teacher of the first school was the late Aunt Sally Wilson, mother of J. M. Wilson. The second school was located about a square east of the first, just north of where is now the Worch Lumber Yard. The next school was taught in a building at the point where is now the 3-story building on East Main Street. The fourth school was located on a lot where is now the Buckeye Overall Co. building on West Main st. This house is said to have been low but roomy. It was also used as a place of worship by the Methodists for a short time, when they were building a church. Many of these early schools were subscription schools, and the teachers were paid salaries from ?10 to $20 a month. One teacher is said to have taught several days for twenty-five cents. School was in session for only a few months at a time. John Robinson is said to have been the first schoolmaster of the community. Schools were also organized in the township at an early date, and at present eleven teachers have charge of educational affairs in the township. The first improved school in the town was built on the north-east corner of the present school lot, it being a 2- story, two-room building. Later a frame building was also placed west of the other, and both served for a number of years. In 1876, the 3- story brick building was erected to take care of school affairs, and this served the district for more than half a century. After a number of attempts, a bond issue was voted in 1926 for a modern and up-to-date structure, and in 1928 the present commodious building was erected. Temporary quarters were secured in several buildings in the central part of the town, to be used as school rooms while the work of building the new school structure was in process. On January 3, 1928, school was called to order in the new building. On January 13, 1928, the dedication was held, and today Versailles and community boast one of the best in Western Ohio. The Village of Versailles was incorporated June 5, 1855, the name

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THE VERSAILLES Page 9 THE HISTORY OF VERSAILLES Having decided to change the name of our Annual, we think it appropriate to give a short historical sketch of Versailles and Wayne Township. Prior to the year 1800, many Indians roamed over the territory that is now Darke County, and a number of these had their camp in Wayne Township. “Mad Anthony” Wayne, after whom the township was named, was instrumental in ridding the county of Indians, and by the Treaty of Greene Ville in 1795. opened up the whole North-West to settlement by the whites. The year 1805 marks the time when a number of people from near the present site of Pleasant Hill, Miami County, Ohio, made their way up the Stillwater River, to Swamp Creek, and up Swamp Creek to the place that was in the future to be Versailles. The village was laid out in proper form in 1819 by Silas Atchison, one of the land owners, and was known by the name of Jacksonville, being named after Andrew Jackson, then a war hero and later President of the United States. The early pioneers soon found the need of churches and schools, and in the year when the town was laid out, a Baptist Church was built in the south-west part of the township, and is said to have been the second in the county. A Christian Church was organized in 1821 by Rev. Samuel Kyle of near Piqua, and at the time was known as the New Light Denomination. This building was located on the lot where is now Black Swamp Cemetery; several other buildings have been in use by this denomination, and at present they have one of the best church buildings in town. A Catholic Church was erected in 1838 on the lot where is now St. Valbert Cemetery, and its first pastor was Rev. Father Louis Navarron, a native of Canada. Settlers from Russia, Frenchtown and Jacksonville worshiped in this structure until about 1849, when each of the three towns decided to have a church of its own. Th first local church was located on the rear of the lot now owned by Mrs. E. C. Manier, and was once used as a Baptist Church. In 1888 the present brick building was erected, and since then numerous improvements have been made, and today it is one of the best in the community. A Methodist Church wa s next organized, the year being 1847; in 1883, the present brick building was erected and dedicated, under the pastorate of the late M. M. Markwith. St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, located in the south-east part of the township, was organized and the church building erected before the early sixties, and for many years it was a prosperous and growing church. At present services are held there once a year. In the beautiful cemetery adjoining, sleep many of the early pioners who settled the south part of the township. The Webster M. E. Church was organized in the pioneer days of that village, and at present services are held at regular intervals. Trinity Lutheran Church was another of the early churches to have our attention. This organization dates back to before the Civil War, and today is one of the strongest churches in the northern part of the county. Several build-

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THE VERSAILLES Page 11 being changed from Jacksonville to Versailles. Peter Frantz, a native of France, suggested the name, and it was adopted without any opposition. The name, “Versailles”, was also given to the railroad station, and in due time the postofiice was changed from Jacksonville to Versailles. The Bellefontaine Indiana Railroad was started and finished in the early fifties, and this at once made the future of Versailles. Elevators were erected, stores enlarged, and business in general improved. A second railroad, known as the C. H. D., was built in the early ’80’s and for more than forty years served the community well. It was finally abandoned, the tracks torn up, and all property removed. Other improvements have been made in the town from time to time, but none more important than the Municipal Electric Light and Waterworks plant. The Versailles Electric Light and Waterworks plant was finished in 1901, and to duly commemorate this great event, a glorious Fourth of July celebration was staged, and many former Versailles folks were present to enjoy the day. A grand parade was given, showing the industrial advancement of the town. Two days later, Saturday afternoon, July 6. 1901, fire broke out in the west part of town, in the old Schelicl Mill. A high wind soon had the town at the mercy of the flames. Six business blocks, 38 residences, and many smaller buildings were consumed by the Big Fire. The loss was about $350,000. Much suffering and hardship were endured by the citizens affected, and help from neighboring communities was at once offered. The spirit of Versailles was still alive. John Kleinschmidt, one of the best known business men of the town, started to make plans to rebuild even before the bricks were cold, and thus encouraged many others to do likewise. Out of the ashes of the Old Versailles soon arose the bigger and better New Versailles. In 1913 another trying hour for this section of Ohio was at hand. The Big Flood of 1913 did not affect Versailles as it did other towns in the Miami Valley, but Versailles at once offered assistance to all who were in need of it. Versailles has had five newspapers in its history. The first was known as the Versailles Independent, owned and edited by Cook and Wade. This paper was founded in the early part of 1875. The next newspaper to serve Versailles was the Versailles Policy. At one time it was owned by a Mr. Linn, and later by D. W. K. Martin. It is now owned by The Versailles Policy Publishing Company, under management of L. J. Gunckle. The next paper to make its appearance was the Versailles Banner, edited and owned by Messrs. Radabaugh and Fahnestock. This paper later sold its holdings to The Policy Publishing Co. About a year ago, another venture was made in the newspaper field with the first appearance of The American Deaf Citizen, of which Roy B. Conkling is editor and L.J.Gunckle, manager. This paper is edited and published especially for the Deaf and partially Deaf, and now has