New Corydon is Jay County’s oldest community. Platted in 1844 but settled much earlier1, the town eventually grew to feature two mills, a tannery, groceries and general stores, and doctors2. Today, it consists of five blocks of homes, the New Corydon Bible Church, and a landmark two-room schoolhouse.
A schoolhouse appears to have been established in New Corydon sometime between 18763 and 18874. Serving Wabash Township’s District 2, the present structure was completed in 19005.
The New Corydon school was different than most rural schoolhouses: it had two rooms and, at least initially, acted as a non-commissioned high school6. The institution served only elementary-aged students by the time it closed in 19587.
The schoolhouse was used by the New Corydon Community Club after it was shuttered. In 2001, the organization was awarded nearly $4,000 to repair the building’s roof and belfry8. The following year, they obtained a $5,600 matching grant to conduct further exterior repairs9.
Sources Cited
1 Jay, M.T. (1922). History of Jay County, Indiana: Including Its World War Record and Incorporating the Montgomery History, Volume 1. Historical Publishing Company [Indianapolis]. Book.
2 Shepherd, S. (1969, July 9). Jay County: Jigsaw Puzzle of Crossroads Hamlets. The Muncie Star. p. 15.
3 Indiana Counties 1876 (1876). Baskin, Forster and Company [Chicago]. Map.
4 Atlas of Jay County, Indiana [1887). Griffing, Gordon & Co. [Philadelphia]. Map.
5 Shepherd, S. (1970, May 31). Bells No Longer Summon Children to Rural Schools. The Muncie Star. p. 29.
6 Jay, M.T. (1922). History of Jay County, Indiana: Including Its World War Record and Incorporating the Montgomery History, Volume 2. Historical Publishing Company [Indianapolis]. Book.
7 McBride, M. (1996, December 9). 175 years later, New Corydon still navigating. The Muncie Star Press. p. 23.
8 Grants awarded to Jay County projects (2001, July 28). The Muncie Star Press. p. 8.
9 Portland Foundation funds 17 new projects (2002, February 7). The Muncie Star Press. p. 9.
