A home at the northwest corner of Washington and Elm Streets in rural Gaston, Indiana, is one of the community’s most impressive landmarks. It’d be a remarkable structure even if it was built yesterday, but the house has a history unlike any other in town: in 1880, it was erected to serve as Washington Township’s District 10 schoolhouse.
Gaston was first called Snagtown1. Later known as New Corner, the community was home to thirty-five residents, a doctor, a sawmill, two churches, and a handful of mechanics by 18582. It also featured the school, and that’s where I come in.
In 1880, officials completed the “neat brick building3” at Washington and Elm, and farmer Luther E. Shirley served as its teacher the following year4. The township used the schoolhouse until 1899, when a two-story school with a basement and open belfry was built just behind it. In 1913, the old school was acquired by the Independent Order of Odd Fellows to become the organization’s new lodge.
New Corner was renamed Gaston in 1901 after the Cincinnati, Richmond, & Muncie Railroad was extended through town6. The community became the commercial hub of Washington Township over time, and rural schoolhouses began to consolidate into Gaston’s new high school. In 1924, it was dramatically expanded and altered to accommodate the influx of students7.
Nothing remains of the old Gaston High School today aside from the 1924 addition. In 1966, Gaston High School combined with nearby Harrison Township High School to form the Harrison-Washington Community School District. Most of the old school was demolished, but a civic group purchased the surviving structure to serve as a community center in 19698. It’s closed to the public now, but I’d love to have a look inside!
Gaston’s 1880 school still stands proudly half a block east of the town’s only stoplight. After the Odd Fellows sold the building to Dr. Fred and Lillian Langsdon in the early 1930s, their efforts to transform the building into a home won Better Homes and Gardens‘ national remodeling contest prize9!
In addition to living there, Dr. Langdson used the old schoolhouse as his professional office until his death in 1965. Childs and Gifts have ensured the home’s preservation. Today, the 146-year-old landmark remains a home- one with much more history than most.
Sources Cited
1 Greene, D. (1947, June 17). Seen and Heard in Our Neighborhood. The Muncie Star. p.
2 Kemper, G. W. H. (1908). Education in Delaware County. In A Twentieth Century History of Delaware County, Indiana, Volume 1 (Vol. 1, p. 252). book, Lewis Publishing Company.
3 White, C. (1949, July 2). Prosperous and Friendly, Gaston Beats Big City, Residents Say. The Muncie Evening Press. p. 16.
4 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 (pp. 268–269). book, Kingman Brothers.
5 Gift, P. Memories of Gaston (2023, April 4). My land abstract mentions ownership by Washjngton School Township August 4, 1880 and later ownership by New Corner Lodge No [Comment]. Facebook. Retrieved September 28, 2023.
6 (See footnote 2).
7 Teachers will view new school. (1924, November 6. The Muncie Morning Star. p. 5.
8 Civic Group Agrees to Buy Gaston School. (November 7, 1969). The Muncie Star. p. 26.
9 Once it was a brick schoolhouse, but now it’s impressive home of Gaston doctor. (1937, March 6). The Muncie Evening Press. p. 14.
