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.
Continue reading “Wabash Township’s New Corydon schoolhouse in Jay County”
Washington Township’s first purpose-built schoolhouse was constructed in 1839. Another near what later became the community of Wheeling followed the next year. A primitive affair, the building featured notched logs slathered with mud above simple, puncheon floors. Wheeling’s Methodist congregation met there until about 18711.
Continue reading “Washington Township’s Wheeling schoolhouse in Delaware County”
Randolph County’s District 9 school was built in 18611. More than a hundred and sixty years later, it still stands on North Main Street in Winchester, just north of West 3rd Street.
Continue reading “White River Township’s District 9 schoolhouse in Randolph County”
Washington Township’s District 12 schoolhouse was located in Bloomingport, a small community between Lynn and Carlos alternatively known as Bloomingsport or Blooming Port1. It was built in 1879.
Continue reading “Washington Township’s Bloomingport schoolhouse in Randolph County”
White River Township’s District 1 school was commonly known as “Lost,” thanks to its location in a dense forest1. Originally serving District 4, the schoolhouse sat on land owned by G.W. Bousman2.
Continue reading “White River Township’s Lost schoolhouse in Randolph County”
White River Township’s District 15 schoolhouse first stood on land owned by W.S. Green just south of Sparrow Creek1. Over time, its patrons began to refer to the establishment as the Green or Green’s Station school2.
Continue reading “White River Township’s Green schoolhouse in Randolph County”
The early history of Newton County, Indiana, is dramatic. Although it was first formed in 1835, the county was abolished and combined with Jasper County four years later. In 1859, a new version became the last of Indiana’s counties to be formally organized1. Commissioners chose the town of Kent to be county seat in June 18602, and the current courthouse was finished forty-six years later.
Continue reading “The Newton County, Indiana Courthouse (1906-)”
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.
Continue reading “Ward Township’s Shakerag schoolhouse in Randolph County”
Ward Township’s District 5 schoolhouse is one of the best-restored in Indiana. Originally a frame building that stood east of Clear Creek1, the school -commonly called Jackson after the farmers who owned its land2– was relocated to its present site in 1891.
Continue reading “Ward Township’s Jackson schoolhouse in Randolph County”
Wayne Township’s Compromise school might be the best-preserved old schoolhouse I’ve ever come across. The tidy, brick building sits about two-thirds of a mile east of Randolph County’s modern Jericho Friends Meeting House.
Continue reading “Wayne Township’s Compromise schoolhouse in Randolph County”