In Randolph County, Ward Township’s District 11 schoolhouse was commonly known as Shakerag. The schoolhouse sat on Benjamin Clevenger’s land in 18741, but a community called Goodfield sprung up around it. Goodfield consisted of several homes, a mill, and a Christian Church2.
Over time, the burgh -and the school- got its bizarre name in reference to a farmer’s wife who commonly shook a white rag to signal the men to come home for dinner while they worked3.
The school, a frame structure, closed in 19184. Its students were split between new consolidated in Deerfield and Saratoga5.
Goodfield doesn’t exist anymore. Despite that, the old District 11 schoolhouse still stands as a home at the crossroads of County Roads 750-North and 200-East in Randolph County.
Sources Cited
1 Griffing, B. N. (1874). Ward Township. An atlas of Randolph County, Indiana . map, Philadelphia, PA; Griffing, Gordon, & Company.
2 Tucker, E. (1882). History of Randolph County, Indiana. book. Chicago, IL; A.L. Kingman.
3 Cupp, D. (1986, June 15). Father Sits With Son on Saratoga Town Board. The Muncie Star. p. 10.
4 Hinshaw, G. (2008). A History of Education in Randolph County, Indiana. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
5 Public Education in Randolph County, Indiana. 2018. Sharing history for 68 years in Randolph County, Indiana. Randolph County Historical Society and Museum. Web. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
