As early as 1874, a Center Township schoolhouse that served District 5 stood on the land of Parker Moore southeast of Muncie on the Burlington Pike1. Initially, the school took on the landowner’s last name. Later on, Parker Moore lent his name to a cemetery and an iron bridge near where East Memorial Drive crosses the White River.
A new water works plant featuring three boilers and pumps furnishing four million gallons of water was eventually established “two miles from the city2.” The water purification plant was immediately northwest of the Moore schoolhouse, so it became known as the Water Works school.
The schoolhouse burned in November, 19013, and the present, four-room building was constructed to replace it. Professor M.M. Bailey was the principal in 1903 and encouraged his pupils to play polo during recess4.
That year, the District 5 Water Works schoolhouse was one of Center Township’s largest in terms of attendance- 190 students went to class in the building. It was only outpaced by the larger schools at District 7, Riverside; District 13, Congerville; District 14, Whitely; and District 15, Normal City5.
The eight-room Robert Louis Stevenson school on Macedonia Avenue was completed for $50,000 in 1918. It absorbed students attending classes at the District 6 Water Works and District 7 Madden/Macedonia Pike schoolhouses6. Today, the old Water Works school is home to two apartments. A log cabin sits out back.
Sources Cited
1 Kingman, A.L. (1874). Map of Delaware County, Indiana : from recent & original surveys, made expressly for this map, drawn, compiled and published by A.L. Kingman and assistants. map, Chicago, IL; A.L. Kingman.
2 The New Water Works. (1889, September 24). The Muncie Morning News. p. 2.
3 Temporary School House (1901, November 23). The Muncie Times. p. 2.
4 50 and 25 Years Ago. (1953, December 17). The Muncie Evening Press. p. 4.
5 Center Township school census outside Muncie. (1903, May 15). The Muncie Morning Star. p. 2.
6 Stevenson School, Finished at Cost of Nearly $50,000, To Be Placed in Use Monday (1918, December 28). The Muncie Evening Press. p. 3.
