 |
||||
 |
 |
|||
 |
||||
 |
 |
History
of
South Spencer County School Corporation
|
||||
|
|
|||
|
||||
|
|
| |
Instead of writing a history of South Spencer, we present a series of articles and web pages about the history of the school corporation. Every effort has been made to present accurate information concerning the past of South Spencer. However, anyone who conducts historical research will find many different interpretations of the facts. These articles are no different. They are presented as they were written in the past. For example, several articles state that Grandview High School burned in 1942. Actually, it was 1943. Other inaccuracies may exist. The reader can develop his own history by gleaning the articles. A look back at the final years of Grandview High School and the 50 year reunion programs by Raymond Dawson, "The Way It Was", can be found on the Alumni Association page. Questions or more Detailed Information? Take our History of the Corporation Quiz. Send answers to Raymond Dawson. |
| |
1. A selection from History of the Academies of Indiana by John Hardin Thomas. Prepared as part of his requirements for Master of Arts, in the School of Education, Indiana University, 1914. A copy of his thesis was obtained from IU in the fall of 2004. It would have been 90 years old at that time. Parts of the thesis that pertain to Rockport, Rome, and the Academies in general, have been copied and donated to the Genealogy Room, Spencer County Library, Rockport Branch by Raymond Dawson. John Hardin Thomas died in Louisville, KY, January 11, 1957. His obituary was in the Rockport Journal, January 18, 1957. Funeral services were held at Boultinghouse Funeral Home. Burial was in Sunset Hill Cemetery. Thomas, 78, taught at New Albany High School for 27 years and retired in 1951. He formerly taught in the Spencer County Schools and at Medora and Kokomo. He held A.B., B.S., M.A., and L.B. degrees from Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana. He was a native of Rockport, Indiana. His wife was Mrs. Anne E. Stuteville Thomas. 2. A selection from History of Warrick, Spencer and Perry Counties, Indiana, Goodspeed, 1885. This selection deals with the Rockport Academy, or Rockport Collegiate Institute. More information can be found in the Goodspeed book for sale at the Genealogy Room in the Rockport Public Library. 3. Rockport Collegiate Institute First Graduates This selection shows one of the first diplomas from the Rockport Collegiate Institute. In addition, a graduation program from June 17, 1868 describes the first commencement from the Institute. 4. Olde Rockport Pioneer Cemetery web page. This was the first cemetery in Rockport and contains the remains of Daniel Grass, the pioneering founder of Rockport. The cemetery is located behind the school corporation office. 5. A New School Building, from The Rockport Journal, June 22, 1900 One to be erected on the East End of the College Lot. This building became known as the Washington Building. 6. What the Beeches Saw, by Eugenie Strassell, Class of 1916, Rockport High School, Beech Leaves, 1916, with insert by Kate Milner Rabb, Class of 1882. The Beech Leaves was the name of the Rockport High School yearbook from 1916 until 1949 when it was changed to Retrospect. The original name was selected because of the number of large beech trees growing on the school campus. After the name was changed, the school paper became known as the Beech Leaves. Some of the old beech trees are still growing on the site which is now the location of Rockport Elementary. This article describes, in a literary style, the history of Rockport Collegiate Institute/Rockport High School. Eugenie was the Co-Literary Editor of the first yearbook in 1916. According to the September 24, 1920, Rockport Democrat, Dale schools organized its first girls basketball team with Eugenia Strassell as coach. 7. Spencer County Schools, from The Rockport Journal, March 11, 1921, by David H. Morgan. A history of the early schools from the settlement of the state to the Civil War. This interesting, first-person account describes teaching techniques, school houses, salaries, and names of the early teachers for all of Spencer County. Typed as the article appeared in the newspaper. 8. Grandview High School, Class of 1943 website. This is the year that Grandview High School burned. Many of the students transferred to Rockport High School. 9. A Timeline History of Rockport High School, from 1867 to 1997. This timeline was developed for a plaque dedication program held at Rockport Elementary, the original site of Rockport High School, on April 2, 2005. A plaque marking the location of the school was placed on a column on Walnut Street. The left column, donated by the Class of 1932, and a bench from the Class of 1928 is all that remains of the old campus.  In 2004, a member of the Spencer County Historical Society spearheaded an effort to rebuild the second column. Rockport High School alumni contributed and it was completed in August, 2005.   The plaque on the right contains a poem by Eugenia Strassell. She was a 1916 graduate of Rockport High School. The poem appears in the second R. H. S. yearbook in 1917.
10. Plans Made To Preserve Famous Rockport Tree, from February 28, 1958 The Rockport Journal. 11. History of Rockport-Ohio Township Schools, from February 11, 1955 Centennial Edition The Rockport Democrat. By Roy D. Bauman. Typed as the article appeared in the newspaper. 12. Early Rockport Schools, from 1968 Rockport-Spencer County Sesquicentennial book. By Ellen Squier Brown. Typed as the article appeared in the book. 13. Pushed Aside by Progress, from The Evansville Sunday Courier and Press, February 10, 1957. By Paul Dewig. This article contains many humorous reminiscences of the students who attended Seminary School. Typed as the article appeared in the newspaper. 14. A selection from The New School - Pro and Con, from The Rockport Journal, December 16, 1960. The construction of Rockport Ohio-Township Elementary School. In 1971, six classrooms and restrooms were built on the southern end of the school. In 1986, five classrooms and restrooms were built on the northern end. In 2007-08, more classrooms and major renovations were made. Typed as the article appeared in the newspaper. 15. A selection from Plans Made For Luce Township Grade School, from The Rockport Journal, February 24, 1961. Typed as the article appeared in the newspaper. In 2007-08, more classrooms and major renovations were made. 16. An image from New Parochial School, from The Rockport Journal, March 10, 1961. Picture scanned from microfilm. From St. Bernard's Web Page, 2005: Saint Bernard Catholic School first opened its doors in 1877, as a boarding school operated by the Sisters of St. Benedict from Ferdinand, Indiana. It was a one room school with emphasis on English and German. Also offered were instruction in needle work and music. 17. Ohio Township P.T.A., from 1969 Founder's Day notes by Ellen Joyce Brown, Historian, 1969-70. Typed as the notes appeared. 18. Silver Dale School, from School folder in Genealogy Room, Rockport Library. By Mrs. Charles F. Addie Brown. Typed as the article appeared in the folder. 19. History of Luce Township Schools, from February 11, 1955 Centennial Edition The Rockport Democrat. By Mrs. Emma Yeager. Typed as the article appeared in the newspaper. 20. Short History of Schools in Southern Luce Township, from 1968 Rockport-Spencer County Sesquicentennial book. By Hazel and Joe Mattingly. Read about The Hoodoo Wagons. Typed as the article appeared in the book. 21. History of Hammond Township Schools, from February 11, 1955 Centennial Edition The Rockport Democrat. By Lola Ayer. Typed as the article appeared in the newspaper. 22. Early Grandview Schools, from 1968 Rockport-Spencer County Sesquicentennial book. By Ray Lewis Woolfolk. This article describes the Grandview Chautauqua held between 1912 - 1929. Typed as the article appeared in the book. 23. Historical Survey of Education in South Spencer County (42 Page PDF) By Richard Hedrick, Administrative Assistant, South Spencer County School Corporation, 1990. This report was written as a part of an overall assessment of the quality of our programs and the serviceability of our buildings and facilities. 24. On November 16, 2008, a re-dedication and open house was held after renovations of Rockport and Luce Elementary schools. Below are images of the programs given out at the ceremonies. Original Rockport Elementary dedication program from November 18, 1962. Rockport Elementary re-dedication program from November 16, 2008. Luce Elementary re-dedication program from November 16, 2008. 25. South Spencer Administrators, from 1962 (PDF). Consolidation of Luce, Ohio and part of Hammond Township schools took place January 2, 1965. |
