The hamlet of Millville was platted in 1855. Situated halfway between New Castle and Hagerstown on the old Panhandle Route of the Pennsylvania Railroad1, the community was home to a graded schoolhouse as early as 18802. The first iteration of the present school was built in 18933.
The 1893 schoolhouse was a two-room structure. Twenty years after it was erected, the school was enlarged to accommodate a selection of high school classes. Unfortunately, upper grades were short-lived and only lasted until 19154.
In 1937, officials contemplated adding a $35,000 wing to the Millville school to absorb students from two rural schools they hoped to consolidate5. The addition was completed in 19406. By 1961, only a hundred and forty-five students went to school in Millville, five fewer than minimum district guidelines allowed7. The eastern half of Liberty Township, including the schoolhouse, was annexed by Wayne County’s Nettle Creek Schools in 19648.
Nettle Creek continued to operate the Millville school until 1968 when its students were sent to Hagerstown Elementary9. The shuttered schoolhouse and its contents were sold at public auction on October 12, 196810.
The old Millville schoolhouse appears to be used as a home today.
Sources Cited
1 Hazzard, G. (1906). Hazzard’s History of Henry County Indiana, Volume II. 3 George Hazzard [New Castle]. Book.
2 History of Henry County, Indiana (1884). The Inter-State Publishing Co. [Chicago]. Book.
3 Reminiscing with Millville The First One Hundred Years (1954). Indiana Genealogical Society. Web. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
4 (See footnote 3).
5 Will Discuss School Plans (1937, February 24). The Muncie Star. p. 6.
6 (See footnote 3).
7 Redistricting Plans Pushed for Schools (1961, September 21). The Muncie Star. p. 31.
8 Two Meetings Scheduled on School Merger Plan (1963, May 26). The Muncie Star. p. 10.
9 Long Service To Children Will End; Dalton, Millville Schools To Close. The Richmond Palladium-Item. p. 4.
10 Public Auction (1968, October 2). The Richmond Palladium-Item. p. 29.
