The Vidette-Messenger Centennial EditionThe 1936 special edition celebrating Porter County's centennial year . . . .
The following article has been transcribed from the August 18, 1936, issue of The Vidette-Messenger, published in Valparaiso, Indiana. This particular special edition focuses on Porter County's centennial celebration and contains a 94-page compendium of Porter County history up to that time.
Return to the index of articles from The Vidette-Messenger's Porter County Centennial special edition.
Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso,
Porter County, Indiana; August 18, 1936; Volume 10, Section 2, Page 14.
City's Modern School System Dates From 1871; Enrollment 400; Prof. Banta Was
Head
While the first
school in Valparaiso was built in 1837 on the site of the present Presbyterian
church on ground owned by Dr. Seneca Ball, school development in the city did
not begin to assume a place in local affairs until 1870, when Valparaiso school
authorities purchased the building and grounds of the Valparaiso Collegiate
Institute, located on the site of the present Central Junior high school for the
sum of $10,000.
The organization of the present graded school system in Valparaiso in 1871 was
the birth of Valparaiso City Schools. The same year an imposing public school
edifice, the Central building, was erected, which in size and elegance, was
unsurpassed in the state.
The need for additional facilities was manifest and pressing. The only buildings
in the city were four small structures, capable of accommodating in the
aggregate 240 pupils.
On two occasions it became almost a matter of necessity on the part of the
trustees to avail themselves of the room afforded by the Roman Catholic,
Methodist and Presbyterian school buildings by having the teacher of those
schools; so that while they were on without any change of administration or
influence they were supported out of the public school fund. Technically,
perhaps this was done according to law, but in violation of the spirit, an early
historian commented.
The construction of the Central school, since razed for the present building, in
1904, was an event of 1871 when it was opened for its construction marked an
epoch in the history of local schools.
Thus the Valparaiso public schools became a reality.
Thomas G. Lytle was mayor of Valparaiso when the new school was erected. Members
of the city council were M. L. McClelland, Don A. Salyer, T. A. Hogan, C.
Weaver, A. L. Jones and Michael J. O'Brien. School trustees were A. Freeman, T.
T. Maulsby and Benjamin Wilcox.
Bonham and Winslow were general contractors on the building; Shade and Gregg had
the brick and stone contract; James O'Keefe the painting and R. Rose, of
Chicago, was architect. Mr. Rose was also architect on the present Porter county
jail built in 1870.
The building, comprising 1,017,000 bricks and 150,000 feet of lumber, covered
with a French mansard roof, ornamented by two quadrangle towers, 100 feet high,
on either end, and a veranda on the east side, ?? feet wide and 60 feet long,
presented a sightly appearance on the outside, but for the purpose for which it
is used it is faulty in design and construction, a historian declared.
Nevertheless, the style of architecture of the building was after a light, airy
Parisian mode and was a complete combination of symetrical proportion
substantially built of brick strengthened with stone and 30 in pilasters.
Several entrances were reached by easy flights cut from choice Joliet stone.
The building contained sixteen magnificent study rooms, with intermediate floor
on the second floor and an assembly room 64x36 feet, and a large restroom. Four
hanging chandeliers provided light.
The 100 foot towers on either side of the building were visited by hundreds of
persons who were able to get fine views of surrounding country. Wheeler and
Wanatah could be seen without a glass and the dark woods of Jasper county were
clearly discernable.
When the graded system was organized in 1871, the enrollment was about 400. This
included a number of graded children, who were afterward taken out and sent to
the Lutheran church. For the school year of 1878 and 1879, the total enrollment
was 720.
In 1881 and 1882, the enrollment reached 742, but owning to the prevalence of
epidemics the attendance maintained was only 466. The number of teachers the
first year was ten. In 1882 the number was increased to 16.
A curious phenomenon occurred in connection with this graded school, namely, the
accumulation of a surplus tuition fund, which in space of three years, amounted
to about $15,000, and that without the levying of any tuition tax. Inquiry into
the cause of so strange an accumulation of funds led to the conclusion that the
enumerator had probably, by some oversight, taken the names of the children from
abroad, who were attending the normal school.
Regarding the accumulation of surplus funds an early historian said:
"It is now understood that such mistakes will be carefully guarded against
hereafter, the custody of so much money causing no little perplexity to the
board."
When the Central school was built in 1871, William H. Banta became
superintendent of Valparaiso City Schools. For twenty-six years he remained at
the head of the local system. High school principals who served under him were
James McFetrich, Mrs. W. H. Banta, Miss Susie Simms and Walter H. Evans, now
judge of claims, New York city.
During the last two years of Prof. Banta's regime, first steps were taken to
relieve the congested condition of Central school, which housed not only the
high school, but all grades. The Columbia school was projected during 1892, at a
cost of $14,000.
Charles H. Wood succeeded Prof. Banta in 1894 as superintendent, with Miss
Rebecca Bartholomew as principal. During his administration of affairs the
Gardner school was built in 1899 by Kirk & Foster at a cost of $12,000.
Arthur A. Hughart became superintendent in 1902, succeeding Prof. Wood. Mr.
Hughart served until 1912. During his regime, the old Central school built in
1871 was replaced by the present Central building costing $80,000. Edward Wilson
and J. H. Wilson, of this city, were the contractors. Miss Nona McQuitken began
as principal under Superintendent and was later succeeded by eugene Skinkle.
Prof. Hughart left Valparaiso in 1912 to become superintendent of the
Coffeeville, Kansas, schools, and he was succeeded by Prof. Eugene Skinkle, then
principal, Homer M. Jessee, of Mooresville, Ind., assumed the principal's post.
After serving for three years, Supt. Skinkle died, and Chauncey W. Boucher, who
was one of the instructors at Valparaiso University in the eighties, and later
conducted normal schools at Muncie and Marion, Ind., became head of the local
school system.
When the Central school was being built, school sessions were held in the Armory
building on Franklin avenue, and in the rooms in the upper floor of the Bornholt
building, now occupied by the First Federal Savings and Loan association.
In later years when the city schools were unable to accommodate the increasing
attendance the old Valparaiso Elks' lodge building was used for school purposes.
The building was destroyed by fire and the grade pupils who attended lost all
their books and other school property.
On September 17, 1919, the school board, looking ahead to the time when a new
high school would be built, purchased of L. D. Wolf, of Los Angeles, Calif.,
formerly of Valparaiso, the property at the southwest corner of Washington and
Chicago streets, for $8,260. As this was not sufficient ground under the new
school laws passed later, the board sold the property to A. C. Smith, and then
acquired the Ball property on North Napoleon street through condemnation
proceedings. Later additional property was purchased of Lewis E. Myers.
Professor Boucher may justly be called the father of the city's school system.
During his administration the $80,000 Banta grade school building in the first
ward, and the new $250,000 Valparaiso high school and $112,000 gymnasium were
built, the Banta school in 1924 and the high school and gymnasium in 1927 and
1928 respectively.
During the period of fifteen years which Prof. Boucher was at the head of the
city schools, the enrollment showed a big increase and high school graduating
classes began to assume big proportions with each passing year.
In 1930 Prof. Boucher was honored when the Valparaiso high school and gymnasium
was dedicated in his name. The gymnasium is now called Boucher gym.
Upon retirement of Prof. Boucher as head of the city schools in 1930, Roy B.
Julian, of Bedford, Ind., principal of the high school in that city was named
his successor. Superintendent Boucher died in 1932.
Superintendent Julian is now serving in that capacity. Homer M. Jessee is
serving as principal and will soon enter his 25th year.
At the present time there are fifty-eight teachers employed in the local school
system, with 1,769 pupils enrolled, of which 630 are in high school. The plant
comprises six large buildings, a strong contrast to the small one-room
structures of the early days of the city. Eight men are employed as janitors,
and the school term is nine months. The classes range from Kindergarten to the
twelfth grade.
The high school is approved by the North Central Association of Colleges and
Secondary schools, and courses offered are: General Arts; College Preparatory,
Commercial, Home Economics, and Industrial Arts.
The increase in high school graduates has been marked during the last half dozen
years. In 1931 seventy-nine seniors comprised the class, while in 1936 the class
numbered one hundred and nineteen.
Valparaiso's school plant is valued at more than half a million dollars.
Bonded indebtedness on the local schools decreased steadily despite the costly
building program back in 1927 and 1928. The bonded debt of July 1, this year was
$49,500, of which $9,500 is on the high school and $40,000 on the gymnasium. All
of this will be retired in three years.
Today the public schools of Valparaiso operate on virtually a cash basis -- a
remarkable state of affairs for a tax-spending body. No tax anticipation
warrants have been issued to carry on the schools during any school year.
Under the direction of the late Superintendent Boucher and Superintendent
Julian, with the aide assistance of Principal Jesse, an important cog in the
local school system, the Valparaiso schools have gone forward in numerous lines
of activity.
For some time the school has published its own paper, and a school year book,
the Valenian. Late day scholastic interests include classes in journalism,
dramatics, public speaking, home economics and the manual arts. Music
organization has also been stressed, including the organization of a splendid
band, choruses, and glee club groups and instrumental ensembles.
Health and public safety have likewise been stressed in the schools of late
years. A school nurse, constantly guards against contagion in the schools and a
well organized boy patrol system minimizes the chance of traffic mishaps to
small children in crossing streets near school buildings.
Kindergartens have been for some years a part and parcel of the program in the
Central and Banta buildings.
Under its capable instructors, the Valparaiso schools has established
educational standards ---?--- and extra-curricular accomplishments through the
years. Championship in district and regional basketball competition have been
common. Valparaiso graduates have always ranked high at state universities,
indicating the splendid caliber of educational background to be obtained in this
city's school system.
Truly, Valparaiso schools are institutions of which the city may justly be
proud.
Article transcribed by Steven R. Shook