| From the beginning of
the foundation of Chicago Junction, Ohio (Modern Willard), school age children
were sent to the Sykes District in Richmond Township and elsewhere, until
they became so numerous that there was no room for them. Buildings
were then rented for schools until 1880 when the New Haven Township board
erected two school buildings, one on each side of town. In 1883
voters approved Chicago Junction forming its own school district.
Then the voters of two districts and that part of Richmond Township within
the corporation tried to organize into a separate district, but
failed. But on July 7, 1891, a judge ruled to appoint a commission
to annex all territory petitioned, together with several additional tracts
to become a district. In 1886, the voters approved a plan to erect a
central brick building and thus $13,000 worth of bonds were issued to
erect a two story brick building [pictured]. The first session of
school was held within the new Central School building in September,
1888. Additional bonds of $3,000 were sold in order to defray a few
extra necessary expenses. The building well served the district
until it was torn down in 1951.
The following school
superintendents carried on the early school district: 1883-84, Della
Wilcox; 1884-5, E. C. Palmer; 1885-7, M. E. Spahr; 1887-95, J. A.
Pittsford; 1895-1901, A. C. Bagnal; 1901-1906, Ed A. Evans. This
history is based on an account in the first high school "annual"
or yearbook that was published in 1906 and was dedicated to Superintendent
Ed A. Evans who may have served longer.
The first commencement was held
on June 3, 1890 with a class of eight graduates.
Lightening destroyed the cupola
on top of Central School a few years later, and was never replaced |
