Center Township’s District 8 school, known as Clay College, was dedicated in 1880. It was replaced by a two-story frame building known as Forest Park that sat on West Eighth Street near South Rochester Drive in Muncie. Unfortunately, the schoolhouse was overcrowded and unsanitary. It was condemned several times before it finally closed2.
The oldest four-room portion of the extant Forest Park school was built in 1914 for nearly $11,0003. The building was called Wilson Elementary, but regained its initial name after a larger Wilson Junior High was erected nearby. At a cost of $30,000, the building was expanded to the south in 1939.
Partially funded by the WPA, Forest Park’s first addition was two stories and consisted of three classrooms and a gymnasium4. Twelve years later, a single-story wing with five classrooms, two kindergarten rooms, a clinic, and restrooms was added5.
Along with Riley Elementary and McKinley Middle School, Forest Park Elementary was closed in 19846. That year, the Willard Street Separate Baptist Church purchased the school for $15,0007.
SForest Park has served as the Muncie Delaware County Senior Center since 1993. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places last year.
Sources Cited
1 Hazel College (1880, December 29). The Muncie Morning News. p. 4.
2 Circulate Petition For New Building (1913, February 27). The Muncie Star. p. 1
3 Award Contract For Forest Park School (1914, August 14). The Muncie Star. p. 12.
4 Dedication Exercises For Community Room And Gym At Forest Park School Are Tonight (1939, June 2). The Muncie Star. p. 12.
5 Maxwell, C. (1951, February 9). Forest Park Plan Also Gets The Go-Sign. The Muncie Star. p. 9.
6 Metzger, J. (1984, January 18). Forest Park Parents Upset by Proposal to Close School. The Muncie Star. p. 6.
7 Terhune, K. (1984, October 24). Willard Baptist Church buys Forest Park School for $15,000. The Muncie Evening Press. p. 2.
