Bob KIST and Phil KABEL talking Winchester schools in 1946. Bob was with the Winchester Journal-Herald, Kabel was head of the county Welfare Dept, with an office in the courthouse and also the county historian.
Kist: In rambling around I dropped in to have a chat with Phil Kabel. In his reminiscing he told about the old schools in Winchester:
First was the little log cabin school that stood at the northwest corner of the intersection of North East and East Washington streets where Dr. BRENNER's clinic now stands. (103 North East St. is the School Superintendent's office today, 2020.)
Then the little one room school house on the back lot where Aunt Hannah MARLATT lived on East North street. (133 East North, the northwest corner of North East and East North, across from the library.)
Then the little building that stood on the lot later occupied by Aunt Lou WAY on South Main street where the Summers mortuary is now located. (313 South Main street, a private residence now. Behind and close to this brick house is a huge Oak tree. This has to be the largest Oak in Winchester if not the county.)
Then the little brick building that until recently stood on the lot on Will street back of the Walter PARRY home.
Then the brick school house on North Main street, the home of old Doc HIATT, (Terry and Nikki ALFREY today), the man who built the little colored church many years ago where the Perry BAKER hatchery now stands. ( The hatchery was on the north side of the Union City pike just as you start around the curve between what is now Goodrich Park and the horse track where race horses were trained. WCHS High School is there now. I think John HOUSEL's son lives in the house today. One of the buildings is still standing, the brown, glazed block brooder house north of their home.)
The little school house is now used as a residence, and the old church now stands west of Winchester and is occupied as a home by one of our progressive young farmers. (The church was on the grounds where Troy PUCKETT's dairy and house were. All were torn down when the Japanese auto parts plant was built.)
Then the Old Seminary that stood on the south side of West Franklin street. (The seminary was on a large lot on the south side of W. Franklin just as you start the curve towards the Village Pantry. The building was a one story brick, measured 35 feet by 45 feet and cost $2,300. It was built in 1841 and was closed and sold in 1851. There was a CARTER Bros. Woolen Mill and then a Wagon company there for awhile.) Telling about the Old Seminary girls, Kabel said that they were some of the finest old ladies of our community, Aunt Belle EDGER being the last of these.
Then the old Central school which was erected in 1867 and was dismantled when the Carnegie Library was built, about the first graduating class in 1875 consisting of one boy, Will MONKS, and one girl, Alice KIZER, and their course of study, two of the subjects being "Evidence of Christianity" and "Navigation." Phil said they probably needed to study navigation as the east side of the public square on down to Salt creek was a swamp. (If you are at the Washington & Meridian street intersection and look in all four directions, the streets run downhill towards either Salt creek, Sugar creek, White River or south to the Wildcat Ditch that runs thru the golf course. All of the area around Winchester was low and wet. South Meridian was known as the "Mud Road.")
Then the old South Ward and North Ward. The South Ward school was on the northwest corner of S. Main and Orange street. A small city park is there now. The North Ward school was on the southwest corner of N. East street and Third street. John and Jason MYERS have a garage there today.
Then the high school building that was destroyed by fire on the site where our present high school is located (1946.)
Then the Francis E. Willard and the last one, the Morton school in 1916.
Phil said their old swimming hole was the big Willow tree in White River just north of the old colored church, and the one thing he recalls was the big sign that stood in front of the church ; 'Cease to do evil and learn to do good."
Phil thinks that Percy GOODRICH will remember this sign, as he spent many of his boyhood days on the farm just across the road from this old church. He also opined that he went to school in the third story of the old Central school and "when the wind blew it rocked like a boat." (Who remembers the swaying hallways in the old Winchester High School?)
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Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990
Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"
Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.
Read page 303-374 to learn about "School History."
Read page 304 to read the article "Oldest School Record" as submitted by Philip Kabel. It is details of the file found in the Randolph County recorder office.
Read page 323 to read the article "White River Township" which is a list of school names and addresses. Also read the article "Winchester Public Schools" for a list of school names and addresses.
Read page 324-326 to read the article "Winchester Schools" that includes photos of early schools. It is noted the article was originally written by Oscar R. Baker in 1934.
Read page 326 to read the article "Old Settlers Girls Reunion" to learn more about the school located west side of Winchester.
Read page 184 to read the article "Records of Physician's License Law 1897 Randolph Circuit Court." It is noted to list Brenner, Andrew Max. It is noted to list Hiatt, John A.
To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop or send an email to arrange placing a mail order.
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