The village of Trask was founded in at a prominent intersection in Grant County’s Jefferson Township. Eventually, it became the spot where State Road 26 and US 35 crossed. Its unusual name came from Dr. Ezra Trask, an early physican who lived nearby1. Unfortunately, things dried up after the post office moved to Matthews in 19012. Twelve years later, Isaac Carter sold land to the township for a new school3.
The 1913 schoolhouse was known as New Mulberry. It combined the “Old” Mulberry school, which stood a mile and a half south, and the Jefferson Township District 5 school, which sat a mile and a half west4. With two large rooms, a central hallway, and a full basement, New Mulberry was thought to be one of the most modern rural schools of its day4.
Students attended New Mulberry through eighth grade and left for high school in Matthews or Upland until 1934, when the Matthews building was converted into an elementary5. It’s unclear when the New Mulberry schoolhouse closed, but it was still home to regular Farm Bureau meetings and events through the 1930s6.
In 1954, William French relocated his wrought iron furniture factory to the old schoolhouse after his building in Matthews burned7. Today, the structure is a home.
Sources Cited
1 Tillman, R. (1989, May 3). Seen and Heard in Our Neighborhood. The Muncie Star. p. 4.
2 Schladen, M. (1995, May 19). Keeping it on the map. The Muncie Star. p. 7.
3 Gadbury, E. (1995, May 9). Marker Dedication Is May 20. The Upland Courier. p. 8.
4 Hillman, R. (*1989, May 5). Seen and Heard in Our Neighborhood. The Muncie Star Press. p. 4.
5 Spurgeon, B. (1987, July 27). Seen and Heard in Our Neighborhood. The Muncie Star. p. 4.
6 Upland (1932, April 13). The Muncie Star. p. 14.
7 Hillman (1990, May 2). Seen and Heard in Our Neighborhood. The Muncie Star. p. 4.
