West River Township’s District 11 schoolhouse, known as Catey’s, was originally located on the east side of what’s now South County Road 425-West, just southwest of the town of Carlos1. A replacement was built in 18712 across the road from its original location3.
Some of the first teachers at Catey’s later rose to prominence in Randolph County politics. The school’s alumnus included lawyers Lon and Tom Hutchens, county clerk Alonzo Farquahr, and Judge Alazon Bales4.
The District 11 school was condemned in 19115, but six years passed before it closed. In 1917, it and the Botkin school at District 3 were shuttered when a consolidated establishment was opened in Bloomingport6. It’s likely that students of the Catey’s school sent to the building at Carlos, which was operated jointly by West River and Washington townships7.
Today, the old Catey Schoolhouse has been enlarged. It’s in use as a home.
Sources Cited
1 Warner, C.S (1865). 1865 Wall-Map of Randolph County. C.A.O. McClellan & C.S. Warner. Waterloo, Indiana. map.
2 Hinshaw, G. (2008). A History of Education in Randolph County, Indiana. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
3 Former Students Of Two Schools in Bygone Days Near Carlos To Hold Reunion Sept. 5 (The Richmond Palladium-Item. p. 20.
4 (See footnote 3).
5 School Buildings Are Condemned (1911, April 19). The Winchester Journal.
6 School Contract Awarded (1917, June 18). The Muncie Press. p. 2.
7 Carlos School Will Not Be Built Now (1920, July 1). The Winchester Democrat.
