|
|
|
HISTORY
 |
|
|
|
When the early settlers arrived in sufficient numbers, one of their first
community projects was to build a school house and a church. Often the same
building served both needs. Many youngsters attended school only during the
winter months when farm work was less demanding.
Previous to the winter of 1874-75 children living in Florence and Northwest
townships could attend any number of small country schoolhouses scattered
around a few miles outside of Edon.
The first schoolhouse in the area is thought to be a small log building built
in 1841 in the northwestern part of Northwest township on land owned by Isaac
Parsons. The first teacher, Miss Abigail Hills, taught ten students for two or
three months during the winter of 1841-42. Shortly after the organization of
the school another small log schoolhouse was built in 1843 on section 32 in the
northwestern part of Florence Township. Lawyer Welch of Bryan was one of the
first teachers. A teacher could expect to be paid about $1.00 a week for two or
three months of the year.
In the following years other small log schoolhouses sprung up near Union
Corners, Singers Corners and New Berlin. During 1850 the twelve mile square
school district was divided and schoolhouses were built in all directions a few
miles outside the town of Edon. Then in 1875 Solomon Metzler was employed to
teach in a large room in the Sheline Hotel. Others who later taught in small
schools around the town of Edon were Mrs. Hattie Miller and William Holmes.
On March 10, 1876 the following men were selected to the first Board of
Education: J. G. Cameron (president), James Garside (clerk), James Robinett,
Andrew Sheline, William Latimer, Jonathan Burke. These men on April 10, 1876,
authorized a tax levy of 3 mills for tuition and contingency fund and 4 mills
for a building fund. Only half of the Edon citizens voted on the levy which
would raise $1,500.00. Thirty-one voted for the levy and thirteen against. A
dispute arose between two factions of citizens. One group wanted the school
situated in the eastern part of town on the Gearhart lots and the other group
wanted it located on the Garwood lots in the western end of town. Finally,
after considerable maneuvering, the questions was submitted to a vote, and
carried by a majority of seven in favor of the western location in the Garwood
lots.
A brick two-story school building was erected in the fall and winter of 1876 by
Andrew Sheline for $2,000.00. September, 1877 found a total of 122 students
enrolled. Each year the enrollment increased until in 1889 a larger structure
was built and used until January 1904, when the building burned
Professor O. E. Ewan came to Edon in the fall of 1904. Besides holding the job
of Superintendent of Edon Schools, he was also one of the high school faculty
with the help of Mrs. Ella Gearhart Messner, the 7th and 8th grade teacher. Mr.
Ewan’s job was even more burdensome since the school was burned down the
previous January and the classes were taught in various buildings around town.
Despite these many obstacles, it was through the efforts of Mr. Ewan that Edon
High School was given a charter as a third grade high school. The following May
of 1905 its first class of four members graduated. By January of 1905 the
school had been rebuilt.
Eventually Edon High School received a first grade charter and the State
required the school to expand and employ more teachers. So in January 1920, the
Edon School Board authorized the erection of a temporary building, on a lot
north of the school house. This building, know as the “Sheepshed,” was a
one-story frame building with three stove-heated rooms. The “Sheepshed” housed
the first six grades.
In this same year, 1920, the village and township districts consolidated to
become the Florence-Edon School District. Gradually, the country schools were
abandoned and the students were brought to town for their schooling.
School enrollment kept increasing and it became necessary for the school to
expand. This time a house was purchased for use by the newly formed Home
Economics department. Called “The Cottage,” it was located west of the
“Sheepshed” and was purchased from Eli Sheline. At this same time adjoining
property was purchased and later in 1936 an auditorium was built on that land.
During the decade of the 1930’s many things changed. In 1931, the old high
school was modernized; the outside plumbing disappeared. “The Cottage” was
moved and in the fall of 1936 a new building including the auditorium was
dedicated. The class of 1937 was the first to hold their graduation exercises
in the auditorium, instead of one of the local churches. The first cap and
gowns were worn by the class of 1938. The home economics department occupied
the northeast corner in the auditorium addition and other classrooms were
located along the north wall under the auditorium seats.
The west wing was added in 1939-40. This addition provided classes, offices,
farm shop, and a new home economics department. The “Sheepshed” was torn down
and the elementary grades moved into the old high school.
“The first school in Cooney, a log structure built in the mid-1800’s, was
replaced by a one room brick building in 1879. It was called the Center School,
probably because the crossroads was the center of Northwest Township. By the
early 1900’s the name of the school had been changed to District #5. As the
population of the township grew, there was also a need for a larger school to
meet the educational needs of the children. Eventually, at a Grange meeting in
1937, the cost of a new school was discussed. Northwest Township would pay
$17,000.00 of the total cost of the school, which was $33,000.00. By 1938 the
land for the school had been purchased from the Mettler family at the southwest
corner of Cooney, and the building of Northwest School had begun. This project
was part of the Work Progress Administration (WPA). The school was completed in
1939. Approximately one hundred students were enrolled, from first through
eighth grade.” (Barbara Fogel. A Place Called Cooney, Ohio) In 1956 the
Northwest School District and the Florence-Edon School District were
consolidated and the Edon Northwest School District was formed.
In the summer of 1957, the old high school in Edon was torn down and a new
elementary building erected. The building was used as the Edon Middle School,
with grades 1 – 8 occupying it. During the construction of the building, high
school classes were held in various churches.
A new addition was added to the Northwest Building at this time and both
buildings were dedicated on August 24, 1958. Additional classrooms, a
cafeteria, library, industrial arts, and gym were added to the Edon building
and dedicated on April 23, 1967.
At the being of the 1969-1970 school year the decision was made to move all the
students in the school district in grades 1 - 4 to the Northwest Building and
all students in Kindergarten and grades 5 – 8 to the Edon Building. In 1986,
the kindergarten was moved from Edon to the Northwest Building and the middle
school in Edon became grades 4 – 8. Bus garages were added in 1985 at both
sites (Cooney and Edon).
The Flower property was purchased in 1987. This is the lot immediately west of
the high school where the lighted flag pole and message board was erected in
1989.
Throughout the years, St. Joseph’s Catholic School at Blakeslee has provided
instruction for the first eight grades. In 1959, a new building was built
adding four classrooms and a large cafeteria. A kindergarten class was added in
1989. Prior to this kindergarten students attended the Edon School.
|
|
|
|