Community leaders have long been concerned with the education of the children of Allen County. Following the importuning of Miami Chief Jean Baptiste de Richardville, Reverend Isaac McCoy, Baptist minister and missionary, arrived with his family in the spring of 1820 with the purpose of beginning a school. Taking up residence in the recently decommissioned fort, Reverend McCoy opened Fort Wayne’s first school, exactly 203 years ago today, on May 29, 1820. Raised in Pennsylvania and Kentucky, McCoy became consumed with improving the condition of the Native Americans. When the school opened in 1820, the student population was comprised of ten English, eight Native Americans, six French, and one African-American. With the hiring of a permanent teacher, the number of students reached its peak of fifty. Though it was only in existence for two years, the McCoy School forever changed the educational landscape of Fort Wayne. Today we commemorate Fort Wayne’s first school and schoolteacher. #sociallyhistory
Education of the county’s children has long been of utmost importance for our local leaders. The first schools in the county were established by the different religious communities present in Allen County. Since 1837, the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod has been one of the many communities to offer educational opportunities to our local children. January 21-27 is National Lutheran Schools Week. It “provides more than 1,800 preschools, elementary schools and high schools with the public opportunity to proclaim and celebrate God’s work among us in schools of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.” In celebration of this week, today we share some items from our collection from our local Lutheran schools. #sociallyhistory
For most children in Allen County, mid-August can mean just one thing – the beginning of the school year! Every year thousands of local students head back to the numerous schools located in Allen County. The roots of our local schools began in 1853, as a result of a petition from a citizens’ committee to the Common Council. Education has taken place in multi-room brick buildings, down to humble one-room township schools. From the time the schools of Allen County began, they have grown to serve our communities and still faithfully shape the minds of our students. Today we wish all the students of Allen County a successful school year! #sociallyhistory
As the school year begins for the children of Allen County, it is important to remember that public school were once the exception and not the normal in our communities. The progress for establishing free, public schools moved slowly in Allen County. Amos Richey, Sr. carried this silk banner when he was ten or twelve years old at the head of processions calling for the establishment of free, public “common schools” in Allen County, one of which was located at the home of Mr. A. M. Hulburd at the corner of West Wayne and Ewing Streets. Many years later, while on a visit to New York City, his old school master remembered Richey had carried the banner and gave it to him to bring back to Fort Wayne. The banner was originally double sided, with “Republicanism” and “Education” painted on the other side. The halves were separated for preservation and display. The common school movement finally succeeded by appealing to fears that church-related schools were not teaching children proper American values. The first permanent public school building, a three-story brick building known as the Clay School, opened on the corner of Washington and Clay Streets in 1857. With the opening of the first public school, Fort Wayne Community Schools was established, and for 166 years has built a heritage that is closely interwoven with the growth and development of Fort Wayne and surrounding areas. #sociallyhistory
On December 15, 1871, the first edition of Edward Eggleston’s The Hoosier School-Master was published. The Hoosier School-Master was lauded by early 20th-century critics for its depiction of rural American life, written with a Hoosier sentimentality. See December 15, 2017 post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook.
It was even made into a movie The Hoosier Schoolmaster by Lewis D. Collins Publication date 1935
In 1817, a new council house was built in Fort Wayne as a two-story log structure later used for a school house on page 238 and page 244 names Rev. and Mrs. Isaac McCoy founders of the first school May 29, 1820 in the settlement, page 258 around 1823 Hugh B. McKeen opened a school in the old fort, page 280 The County Seminary was the first brick schoolhouse in 1825 in Griswold's The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Historical Note — The schools of Ft. Wayne date back to 1825; it was not, however, until 1852 that the schools came under the school law of the state, putting into effect tlie present state school system. First trustees: Hon. Hugh McCulloch, Charles Case and Wm. Stewart. City had a population of 4,000 with many school children, a. tuition fund of $300, no school building and no funds witli which to erect one. They rented a house in the eastern part of the city of Alexander McJunkin, and one in the western part and employed Mr. Maliurin and Mrs. Hulburd as teachers; the McJunkin building was located on the w. side of Lrafayette between E. Wayne and E. Berry. First school buildings erected were the Clay and W. Jefferson. First superintendent, Rev. Geo. A. Irwin, followed by S. S. Green, James H. Smart, Dr. John S. Irwin and J. N. Study. Prior to 1852, schools were private and church schools. Among the first teachers were Rev. Isaac McCoy, John P. Hedges, Henry Cooper, Mr. Augliinbaugh, Mr. Beggs, Smallwood Noel, James Requa, M. F. Barbour and Miss Mann (later the wife of Hon. Hugh McCulloch). F'irst school house, built in 1825, stood at the rear of site of present county jail; was called the County Seminary.
Public Schools start on page 67, Parochial Schools on page 75, and Colleges on page 77.
December 7, 1846Caleb Mills authored the first of his anonymous letters to the Indiana General Assembly calling for the establishment of a public school system. He cited that only one in seven Hoosier adults could read. He also wrote that only 37% of Indiana children attended school and, of those, most attended only a few weeks a year. Mills would author six anonymous addresses to the General Assembly between 1846 and 1851, each spurring the body to take action for public education. Learn more about Caleb Mills' involvement with public schools in the ebook above or go to: Caleb Mills and the Indiana Free School Law in the Indiana Magazine of History journal in the archives at Indiana University Scholarworks posted December 7, 2018 by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook.
In January 1849, the Indiana legislature passed a law establishing free common schools (where students didn't have to pay tuition to attend). To raise the funds, free white landowners were assessed a 0.1% property tax each year, plus a flat tax of 25 cents. This law came 6 months after a hotly-contested state referendum on free schools had passed with 56% of the vote. Source: General laws of the state of Indiana, passed at the thirty-third session of the General Assembly (Indianapolis: John D. Defrees, 1849). From FRIDAY FACT posted September 12, 2014 by the Indiana Genenealogical Societyon Facebook.
In 1853, somewhere in Fort Wayne, a procession was held celebrating the opening of the first free public school in the city. Read the rest of the story from1853 silk banner has another side by Frank Gray published May 21, 2013 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
1857, February 9 - Clay School built at the Northwest corner of Clay Street and Washington Boulevard was the first school built by the Fort Wayne Public School System. Discussed December 27, 2024 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.
The education of the children of Fort Wayne has long been of utmost importance for our community. It is important to remember that public schools were once the exception and not the normal in our city. The first permanent public-school building, a three-story brick building known as the Clay School, opened on the corner of Washington and Clay Streets, exactly 167 years ago today, on February 9, 1857. The school originally had 11 rooms with seating for 495 students. It was later expanded with the addition of another classroom in 1866. Our first public school was destroyed by fire on February 22, 1894 and rebuilt in the same year at the same location. This second Clay School has 12 classrooms and was also later expanded with the addition of a gymnasium and auditorium in 1916. After serving the children of Fort Wayne for a combined 71 years, the Clay School was closed due to safety concerns by the school board at the conclusion of the 1927 – 1928 school year.#sociallyhistory
Clay School - dedicated February 9, 1857, at the corner of Clay and Washington. Picture from "The Pictorial History of Fort Wayne, Indiana, by B.J. Griswold. #TBT.
The Original Clay School building on page 433 of The pictorial history of Fort Wayne, Indiana : a review of two centuries of occupation of the region about the head of the Maumee River by Griswold, B. J. (Bert Joseph), 1873-1927; Taylor, Samuel R., Mrs, Publication date 1917, an Archive.org. Same image shared May 15, 2014 by FWCS, Fort Wayne Community Schools on Facebook.
When Eric Vanstrom came across what was once known as District School No. 4 in Aboite Township, it was in desperate need of repair. “When we got the schoolhouse you could see daylight through the roof. Most of the plaster had fallen down. The bell tower had caved in quite a bit,” Vanstrom explained. Over the course of several years, Vanstrom and his wife transformed the schoolhouse into a modern home, complete with amenities one would expect in the 21st century. The now-three thousand square foot home has materials repurposed from the original schoolhouse, such as the cherry wood floor. The Vanstroms also removed the plaster covering the walls and exposed the original brick. The main living area contains chalkboards found in the schoolhouse, with some original writing that could be over 80 years old. Where they couldn’t re-purpose materials originally found in the schoolhouse, Vanstrom gathered materials from reclaimed barns and other old buildings in northeast Indiana and throughout the Midwest. 21Country: Making a 140-year-old schoolhouse into a home Gabe Prough January 15, 2021 21AliveNews.com.
1888, April 26 newspaper item:
Miss Bertha Evard, teacher in a country school 10 miles from Ft. Wayne, was burned to death Wednesday evening. The lady was sitting by the stove in her school room after the scholars had been sent home when her clothing caught fire. In an instant she was enveloped in flames, and ran down the road to a neighborhood house, fainting at the threshold. Her arms and limbs were frightfully burned. Death speedily came to her relief. The unfortunate girl was a graduate of Ft. Wayne College and was universally respected. Source: Crawfordsville Star newspaper, April 26, 1888 page 3, contributed August 22, 2017 by Karen Zach a fellow INGenWeb county co-ordinator.
Our ACGSI Members Only page for E. Harper Funeral Home, in New Haven, indicates Bertha Celia Evard was only 17 years old, daughter of James Evard, and died April 18, 1888. Bertha Evard was probably at Milan Township School and buried in Bowers Cemetery where James Evard and Corrilla his wife are also buried.
Our ACGSI Cemetery Record match date and age, while DAR cemetery photo date August 19, 1898 and age 23 years and Find A Grave same date age 23 years disagree? BTW - there is an Evard Road a mile or so northwest of the cemetery near Shoaff Park in St. Joseph Township.
TUESDAY TIDBIT: In 1890, the Indiana State Board of Health did a statewide survey of schools. They found that 71% were poorly ventilated, 30% had an unsafe water supply, and 10% had no outhouse or lavatory.
Source: Ninth annual report of the State Board of Health of Indiana, for the fiscal year ending October 31, 1890 (Indianapolis: William B. Burford, 1891).
The survey also found that many schoolyards had cows and pigs wandering in them, because no fences had been put up.
Horse-drawn school hack full of children on their way to school near Westphalia, Indiana, 1915. [ Vigo Township, Knox County ]
A kid hack was a horse-drawn vehicle used for transporting children to school in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States. The word "hack," meaning a horse-drawn cab, is short for hackney carriage. The vehicle was actually powered by both horses and mules and was usually loaded at the rear to avoid frightening the animals. In those days, most elementary school children in rural areas attended one-room schools. A typical kid hack would serve all the farms in the area of the school, and usually transport under 20 children.
The horse-drawn kid hack is considered to be the precursor to the modern yellow school bus. As early as 1914, versions of kid hacks were attached to early motor vehicles by the Wayne Works in Richmond, Indiana. As motorized trucks became more commonplace in rural locations, detachable wooden kid hack bodies were made so it could be removed when the truck was in other use. Around 1927, much heavier all-steel bodies were introduced for this purpose by Wayne Works and other companies. Permanently mounted on the truck chassis, the combined vehicle became known as a school bus.
The Wayne County Historical Museum in Richmond, Indiana has a restored horse-drawn "kid hack" on display. Copied from Kid hack on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
The first record of pupil transportation at public expense was at Quincy, Mass., in 1869. For nearly 23 years, such transportation was confined to the New England states. Then, in 1892, Kingsville, Ashtabula county, Ohio, decided to try the experiment and the Wayne Works built its first "kid hack."
Consolidation of rural schools proved sound but, because of the lack of good roads and adequate, rapid transportation, as well as the tendency to resist any change in the educational system, such consolidation necessarily proceeded slowly. For another 23 years this same type of "kid hack" provided the only regular transportation, and not until 1914 were roads sufficiently improved that automobiles came into sufficiently general use to receive serious consideration as an economical means of pupil transportation.
In that year, the Wayne Works built its first school bus, a wooden body, designed to mount on an extended Ford Model T chassis. The entrance door was at the rear and it was provided with four lengthwise, padded seats. Only seasoned strong hardwood that could withstand unusual strain were used. They were liberally reinforced with strap iron and so well constructed that we know of such bodies in continuous service for more than 20 years, wearing out four or five chassis in that time. (To Be Continued)
Allen County, Indiana school directory (1897) school personnel lists of names in an Archive.org
An accumulation of annual school directories, typescript or photocopy of typescript. Titles vary: Allen County directory, 1897 ; Allen County teachers for ..., 1898/1899 ; Allen County teachers, 1899/1900-1900/1901 ; Allen County school directory, 1901/1902, 1904/1905-1907/1908, 1909/1910, 1913/1914 ; Allen County teacher's directory, 1902/1903-1903/1904, 1908/1909, 1915/1916-1920/1921 ; Allen County teacher's school directory, 1910/1911, 1914/1915 ; Directory of Allen County teachers, 1911/1912...
Allen County, Indiana school directory (Volume 1897-1921)school personnel lists of names in an Archive.org. Differenet copy of same book above.
An accumulation of annual school directories, typescript or photocopy of typescript. Titles vary: Allen County directory, 1897 ; Allen County teachers for ..., 1898/1899 ; Allen County teachers, 1899/1900-1900/1901 ; Allen County school directory, 1901/1902, 1904/1905-1907/1908, 1909/1910, 1913/1914 ; Allen County teacher's directory, 1902/1903-1903/1904, 1908/1909, 1915/1916-1920/1921 ; Allen County teacher's school directory, 1910/1911, 1914/1915 ; Directory of Allen County teachers, 1911/1912...
The Early Schools of Indiana: From Papers of D. D. Banta—Fourth Instalment by D. D. Banta, published in 1906, from Indiana Magazine of History, Volume 2, Issue 4, pp 191-194. Posted December 15, 2017 by the Indiana Magazine of History on Facebook. They also have an audio version An “Old School” Holiday Tradition published December 24, 2012 on IndianaPublicMedia.org.
One of the oldest brick homes in the city situated on the front of the lot at the southwest corner of Jefferson and Clay streets and another building on the rear of the lot, which was the first school building of the St Mary's Catholic congregation, are now being torn down by William Wonderlin, who has purchased the property. Mr. Wonderlin will erect a modern residence costing $5,000 on the site. The school building was erected about sixty five years ago by the St. Mary's congregation and was used for a number of years before it was converted into a residence.
Back to school - Children used to walk to school, uphill in snow both ways if we are to believe our grandparents. But horse-drawn school buses, then called hacks, made life a little easier for students. Some of the hacks were pretty primitive, being just a wagon with wooden benches and a canvas roof. Motorized buses became the norm and since the late 1930s standards have mandated that school buses be painted "national school bus glossy yellow” since the eye quickly registers the color yellow. Shout out to the bus drivers...the unsung heroes in our school system!
The History of How School Buses Became Yellow Rural educator Frank Cyr had the vision and pull to force the nation to standardize the color of the ubiquitous vehicle, Bryan Greene, Contributing Writer, September 4, 2019
Questa Education Foundation was Established in 1937 by R. Nelson Snider, principal of South Side High School, and later incorporated as the Fort Wayne Educational Foundation, Questa Education Foundation continues the tradition of providing affordable student loans and generous scholarships to support students in northeast Indiana as they pursue their first associate or bachelor’s degree. Copied from Questa Education Foundation About page.
In 1969, about half of all students walked or bicycled to school, but today less than 15 percent of all school trips are made by walking or biking. More than half of all children arrive at school by car, according to the Indiana Department of Transportation.Sidewalks to safely connect northeast schools by Sarah Janssen published May 28, 2013 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
For "Throwback Thursday" we share this article written for the PEOPLE SOUTHWEST through The Journal-Gazette by Tracy Warner on February 11, 1988. Tracy later became Journal-Gazette writer and Editorial Editor, and now works for Indiana and Michigan Power (AEP). We shared pictures before on the McCulloch House on Superior Street, when Tom and Kris Bireley had restored it and we surveyed for them. This article is on the flip side, and mentions one of our long-time clients Bud Hall. It also talks about the City Light property before it became Science Central. BTW....Hofer and Davis, Inc. provided the survey when Science Central took over!
It shows an image of the PEOPLE SOUTHWEST a The Journal Gazette newspaper article by Tracy Warner on February 11, 1988 discussing six old buildings he wrote about four years earlier in 1983, four were vital to Fort Wayne heritage, that were wasting away. Two were still empty in 1988. They were the McCulloch House, the Centlivre Brewery site still standing in 1988 but later demolished, The Edsall House, the Baker Street Train Depot, the Hanna School built in 1905, closed in 1977, city bought in 1979, sold in 1984, bought again in 1986 then demolished in 1987 saving only the arched doorways, a gable, the cornerstone and balustrade; and City Light now Science Central. At the end he mentioned car phones a new technology in 1988!
Huntertown Elementary School, 15330 Lima Road, opened in 1922 as a K-12 school but has evolved over time as the town has grown and its educational needs changed. Today, the school is part of Northwest Allen County Schools and serves children from kindergarten through fifth grade. Copied from Huntertown celebrates its school's 100th birthday by Dave Gong posted December 11, 2022 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
Taking the roads less traveled can reward you with brick-and-mortar history. Milan #7, Brush College School, on the corner of Brush College and Doty Roads, was built c.1902. Vacant now, the building was built in the Italianate style and designed by Fort Wayne architect Henry W. Meyer. The brick, one-room school building has oval arched windows in the front and an oval front doorway. Milan Township’s first school opened its doors in 1857. Over time, 10 school buildings were built, and by 1916 there were only eight teachers for the 10 schools in the district, earning a total of $3,583 for the school year for all eight together. Meyer designed many schools, churches, and the now-demolished Lutheran Hospital on Fairfield Avenue. ARCH is proud to present this edition of Throwback Thursday, part of its work as the historic preservation organization serving the greater Fort Wayne area, made possible by ARCH members and donors. Thank you.
Happy #NationalTeacherDay! Let's take a moment to honor the incredible educators who shape minds and inspire futures. Here's a nostalgic glimpse into the past with a photo from our Community Album, featuring a school in St. Joseph Township back in 1923. Meet Miss Anna B. Cook, the dedicated teacher of this class!
1199 South Thomas Road Street View photo from Google Maps. Wayne Township District No. 2 School built in 1889. 1890S SCHOOLHOUSE MOVED March 26, 2008 The Waynedale News.com Staff states: The two-room Italianate-style schoolhouse, built in 1892, was decommissioned in 1923. A nearly 128-year-old Wayne Township No. 2 School. In 2008 the school was moved from its original Illinois Road location to 1036 Thomas Road to make room for a shopping center. Since then a cigar club and hair salon have occupied it. After sitting empty for a few years, Ruggio is leasing it for Elevation, which has been open for a few days. Copied from Historic schoolhouse filled with peace Elevation Health Spa holding grand opening today. published July 29, 2017 in The News-Sentinel newspaper. Discussed February 19, 2024 on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.
The red brick Meyer School building still stands just south of Fort Wayneon Winchester Road. It welcomed students starting in 1910 as Pleasant School District #1. This cross-gabled Queen Anne-style structure has an arched brick front entrance with brick trim under the gables. The original building had double doors at the front entrance, but it now has a single door. The windows all have the original stone sills and brick lintels. A bell tower once perched over the front entrance was removed, and today a small cupola with a weathervane gives a nod to the former tower. The school was in use until 1943. The structure now serves as a single-family home. ARCH is proud to present this edition of ThrowbackThursday, part of its work as the historic preservation organization serving the greater Fort Wayne area, made possible by ARCH members and donors. Thank you. (Older photo courtesy of the ACPL).
Pleasant Township School No. 7, a brick school building was built in 1918 at Conners and Yoder roads, the last one-room schoolhouse built in Allen County and the only schoolhouse in the township without a name. 1918 newspapers published notices of solicited bids for the construction of the schoolhouse. Pleasant Township No. 7 continued to operate until 1931. A cornerstone is embedded in the basement floor of Pleasant Township No. 7, noting the details of the building's design and construction. Fort Wayne architects Mahurin and Mahurin designed the building, and Michael Kinder was the builder. The brick schoolhouse replaced a schoolhouse on the property that was deeded to an early settler, Samuel Cary, in 1836. [Kathy] Carrier said there were subsequent owners but no record of who might have sold or donated the property to the school district. Copied from School becomes a home Last one-room schoolhouse built in county marks 100 years by Janet Patterson published May 27, 2018 in The Journal Gazette newspaper. February 15, 2023 post on True Fort Wayne Indiana History on Facebook.
Pleasant Township School No. 3, one-room school house at Smith & Ferguson Roads
This is the Pleasant Township #3 School on Smith Road, across the street from Fort Wayne International Airport, in rural Allen County. I discovered this place when I was in high school, and continued photographing it over the years until it was torn down. The old farmer who owned it took a look at my long hair and asked me if I was a boy or a girl when I asked him for permission to photograph it!
I was never satisfied with most of the photographs I made of this place, because it is set so close to the road. This is one of the last photographs I made of it. It had deteriorated considerably since the day I first found it a decade earlier. There used to be a limestone medallion above the door arch that had the name of the school, the date of construction (1898), and the name of the township trustee. You can see it in this self-portrait that I did years earlier at the abandoned schoolhouse.
September 15, 2020 post on Facebook shows Library of Congress drawing with interior photo and two others.
The schoolhouse was torn down in early 2006. 12-28-2000
Pleasant Township School,Smith & Ferguson Roads,Fort Wayne,Allen County,IN,4 and
Topdown image of Pleasant Township School,Smith & Ferguson Roads,Fort Wayne,Allen County,IN by OldPhotoBank on ebay.
Description of Photograph This is an 8x12 inch Reproduction Photograph made from a high quality scan of the original. When evaluating the quality of the photo, please keep in mind that most photos in our collection were taken over 100 years ago.
Title: Pleasant Township School, Smith & Ferguson Roads, Fort Wayne, Allen County, IN
Creator(s): Historic American Buildings Survey, creator
Date Created/Published: Documentation compiled after 1933
Notes:
Survey number: HABS IN-78
Place:
Indiana -- Allen County -- Fort Wayne
Indiana -- Allen -- Pleasant Township
Latitude/Longitude: 41.13056, -85.12889 ,
Bookmark /in0138/
Let's take a moment to honor the incredible educators who shape minds and inspire futures. 
Here's a nostalgic glimpse into the past with a photo from our Community Album, featuring a school in St. Joseph Township back in 1923. Meet Miss Anna B. Cook, the dedicated teacher of this class! 
