In 1874, Monroe Township’s District 1 school was located on Isaac Lenox’s land just southwest of where it stands today1. The schoolhouse -probably a frame building- was built in 1854 by Lewis Rees, who was paid $2242. No trace of the structure remains today.
Valentine G. Carmichael was the teacher of District 1 in 18813. His family owned land just northwest of the school in sections 34 and 354, and it’s likely that this association provided the common name for the schoolhouse.
In 1907, a new state law forced township trustees to abandon a schoolhouse after its average attendance dropped below twelve students5. The District 1 schoolhouse fell victim to the new standard and consolidated into Cowan after that school year. Its last teacher was S. Horace Weber of Oakville6.
After its closure, the building was apparently converted to a dwelling in 19297. As was the case with other schoolhouses in Delaware County like Harrison Township’s District 6 building, the roofline and windows of the former District 1 school were dramatically altered during its conversion to a home.
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 Helm, T. B. (1881). Mount Pleasant Township. In History of Delaware County, Indiana: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers. book, Kingman Brothers.
3 (See footnote 2).
4 Griffing, B. N. (1887). An atlas of Delaware County, Indiana. map, Philadelphia, PA; Griffing, Gordon, & Company.
5 Kemper, G. W. H. (1908). Education in Delaware County. In A Twentieth Century History of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume 1. book, Lewis Publishing Company.
6 Delaware County Public Schools. (1907). School directory, Delaware County public schools, Delaware County, Indiana 1907-1908. Muncie, IN.
7 Delaware County Office of Information & GIS Services. (2021). Parcel ID: 1135400001000. Delaware County, Indiana Assessor. map, Muncie, IN.
