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MIDDLETOWN HISTORICAL SOCIETY
"Linking the Past with the Present for the Future"
 

Suggestive Materials for the Teaching of Local Social Studies with
Illustrations from the History and Geography of Middletown, Ohio
by George C. Crout

The settler of the Miami country had a great respect for the values of an education; they looked upon it as the means by which they could raise their whole plane of living to a higher level. When a band of brave pioneers made the first settlement of the Miami Valley at Columbia or Fort Miami, they made plans for the education of their children. A Mr. Frey, a young gentleman from New Hampshire, opened a school in one of the blockhouses of the fort which when built had been designed for that purpose. This was the first school taught in the Miami Valley.

When the first settlement was made at Middletown, our New Jersey forefathers looked forward to the day when a school could be opened to furnish their children with an education. Since the idea of using public funds for the support of education had not yet been accepted by the people of our country, it was quite natural that Middletown should have as its first school a private pay school to meet the early education needs of the community. Thus it was in 1805 that a one-room pay school was opened in the Vail Mills, on West Third Street, now Central Avenue, on the East bank of the Miami River. This room, formerly part of a woolen factory was taught by Middletown is first teacher, Master Beers.

The following year 1806, on the "Smoothing Iron Lot" located at the Junction of Yankee Road and Main Street a log cabin was converted to school use. Half of the cabin served as the home for the teacher who was Marsha Wilson. Another private school was soon started an the Miami shore opposite the Vail mills.

In these early schoolhouses, the children had few comforts. The benches were made of logs which the pioneers had split in half with the straight side smoothed by an axe. Books a were kept along side the pupil so the crude benches served as seat and desk. The boys sometimes lined their pants with buckskin to protect themselves against splinters as well as the teacher hickory stick.

The arrangement of these early schoolrooms was simple. The open fire place at one end of the room provided heat for the 20 by 30 foot building. At the other end was found a small platform on which the master's desk was located. Placed before this platform was a long bench, which was the recitation bench on which the particular class which was to recite the lesson came before the teacher. Here the scholars were questioned about the day's assignment. Since there was no graded school, each group bed little of the teacher's time. But while one class was reciting the rest of the pupils were at work on long assignments. Of course, there were many who finished their work and listened as other groups recited getting a preview of the following year's work. Around the wall were boards, painted black, on which some of the children would cipher.

The early school terms usually ran about 12 weeks, but if the money gave out before then the teacher would close school and try to get one opened somewhere else. Teachers got in plenty of hone visitation for they often lived with the families whose children they were teaching--this was part of the instructor's pay. The teachers were paid so little that this was the only way, they could afford board and room.

Since bells were scarce in the West, the school was called to order by the teacher's pounding a stick on the side of the school building. To add a little gaiety to the drab pioneer schoolroom, usually during the year there would be a lock-out, when the teacher would find the schoolhouse door barred to him. The master would gain admittance only after promising a treat to his students, a treat which would consist of a big apple or a cake of delicious maple sugar. On the whole, the pioneer teacher, who was known as the Master was highly respected.

The pioneer school curriculum consisted of the three R's-- reading, writing and arithmetic. School supplies were small indeed. Unruled paper, called foolscap was used sparingly. Each pupil would obtain from a friendly carpenter a ruler and with a bar-lead pencil would carefully rule his own precious paper. A goose quill or feather made an excellent pen, and each pupil had to learn to use these pens as a part of writing instruction. The teacher mixed the ink from ink powder. Blotting, sand served the function of the modern blotter. Each child was to make his own copybook, which consisted of folded sheets of foolscap, cut into uniform size, stitched together and bound with a brown paper cover. Penmanship was considered so important that special schools teaching this subject alone were organized. Arithmetic was usually done on the pupils' slate with a slate pencil.

While such, a program met the needs of the people of pioneer era, it was very meager, and would certainly be inadequate in the modern world. The early pioneer knew the program was not sufficient but he had little time and little money for schools, but he did dream of the day when educational facilities could be improved.

Our early statesman had even the need for an educational program in the West as is evidenced by the Land Ordinances of 1785-87 which provided that "lot number sixteen of every township for the maintenance of public schools within the said township" should be reserved for the support of schools. (1) In each township 640 acres was thus ear-marked. This Land ordinance was followed by the Ordinance of 1787 which stated; "religion morality and knowledge being essential to good government.. and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be encouraged." (2)

Ohio became a state in 1803 and in the first constitution the educational precedent set in the early ordinances was followed for Article VIII, Sec. 3 read:

Religion morality and knowledge being essentially necessary to good government and the happiness of mankind, schools and the means of education shall be encouraged by legislative provision not inconsistent with the rights of conscience. (3)

Three years later on January 2, 1806 the legislature passed an act which had as its purpose the organization of a common school system for the State of Ohio. It provided for the incorporation
of a township as follows:

As soon as there are twenty qualified electors in any original surveyed township of six miles square or fractional township within the state wherein there is the reserved section number 16 granted by the Congress of the United States for the special use of schools; they are hereby authorized under the provisions hereafter provided, to elect three trustees, and one treasurer for the purpose of taking into their care the section above mentioned, who shall be a body politic capable of suing and being sued, pleading, and being impleaded. (4)

In 1806 trustees were permitted to divide the township into districts for the establishment of common schools, but it was not mandatory. In 1814 the trustees were by law forced to divide the township. Into school districts upon application of six landholders.

It soon became evident that the schools of Ohio could not be on operated on the meager revenue provided by using the funds form the sale or lease of school lands. On January 22, 1821 the first school law "with teeth" was enacted, providing that every township be divided into school districts, and that the property of all persons in the district be made liable for the support of the schools in that district. This was followed in 1825 by a bill which was passed to provide "for the support and better regulation of the Common Schools. This law provided that the townships be laid off in school districts, which would be managed by school officers elected by the people for that purpose. It also provided that teachers should be certified by a county board of examiners and that funds be raised to support this educational program. The county commissioners were instructed to lay a tax for school purposes to an extent of one-half mill on the dollar valuation.

Thus it was that in 1827 School District Number 3 was created to include Middletown and the adjoining area in the township.

In Middletown, however, there were still no free schools but there was a public school to which any parent could send a child, providing tuition was paid. In 1815, Middletown progressed from the make-shift room and the log schoolhouse to a real brick schools built solely for school purposes on a plot of land set aside by the original owners of the town site.

The school was built on the original Vail's plats which had been set aside for school purposes by Middletown's founder, Stephen Vail. This site was at the corner of Main and Manchester, which is still school property being the location of North School. This brick building was 20 by 30 feet, one story high. At one end of the room was the huge fireplace later to be replaced by a stove. The regular day school, spelling bees, religious meetings and singing schools were held in this building.

From 1835 to 1838 there was a movement throughout the United States for a free public education program, and people began to feel that regardless of the wealth of the parent that each child was entitled to a common school education. Nothing less would do in a democracy. The State of Ohio in response to this demand saw that some supervision was needed to insure the carrying out of school laws, so on March 22, 1837 the legislature created the office, Superintendent of Common Schools. Samuel Lewis began his brilliant career in the cause of Ohio education on April 1, 1837. In 1838 through his efforts a state levy was passed giving the schools a fund of $2,000,000 a year.

Under the stimulus of the work of Lewis, the Old Brick became a free school, and thus the first free, public school opened in Middletown in the year 1837. Joseph Gailbreath is given the honor of being the first teacher in Middletown to be paid from public funds.

Many objected to the free schools, for those who had no children could not see why they should be forced to spend tax money to help the children of others. It was not this opposition, however, which forced the closing of the public school. It was the Panic of 1837 which hit the whole country, and with a decrease in public revenues, it became necessary to do away with the free school, and people with children enrolled were asked to pay a tuition fee.

According to the Census of 1840 in Middletown there were five primary, and common schools, which bad a total of 110 pupils at "public charge*" There were two universities or colleges with a total of 254 pupils, and there was a grammar school with 62 pupils. (5) In 1843 there were 352 pupils enrolled In the local schools.

To fill the gap between the elementary schools and colleges there developed in this part of the country, private schools known as academies. The term "high school" was first applied to privately supported schools. In 1833 Nathaniel Furman, a teacher and scholar of fine reputation, had established his academy, called the Middletown High School. Both a common school and a high school education could be obtained at the academy. Mr. and Mrs. Furman and Miss Lucretia Willamson were early teachers at the school.

On October 26, 1835 Nathaniel Furman advertised:

Having removed his Boarding School to the town of Middletown, Butler
County, wishes to dispose of his establishment in the town of Springdale...NB A few more Students can be accommodated in my family those designed for college will be preferred. (6)
Mr. Furman who ran his school here from 1833 to 1849 at which time he moved to Hamilton was well liked and respected. His school was well known and students were enrolled from other states. Master Furman insisted on good discipline; he was austere and severe in his methods. When the boys came to class with dirty hands the professor used water and soap on them and substituted a corn cob for a scrub brush. As the final dirt came off so did some of the skin but the boys who had his hands scrubbed by the master, took care that they were clean thereafter. An old bell in front of Furman's a Academy, located on the west side of Broad right off Central, was hung between two posts, some twenty feet high, was set up near the corner. (7)

Middletonians were proud of their high schools and the editor of the local paper remarked: "We have in Middletown an excellent High School under the preceptorship of an able and experienced teacher..." (8)

In 1838 Mr. Furman thanked the people of Middletown for the "liberal patronage" he had received. He said that he had commenced the spring session In April with comparatively few of the village children, and that he thereby could give his family students as well as others "preferring to support his Select Seminary to the common free schools of the dis- particular attention. (9) He still had room for a number of boarders to be accommodated "in his family" on very modest terms. He promised to spare no effort or expenses to maintain the reputation of his institution.

The vacation months at that time were July and August, and the first session of school began the first Monday in September. The tuition paid amounted to $6.50, $8.50, $10.50 per session of 22 weeks, agreeable to the age and studies of the scholar," (10)

Furman's High School conducted an evening school also. Regular lectures in grammar, natural philosophy, chemistry, and other subjects were given on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings of each week; these lectures were free to all the pupils of the seminary. Those who did not attend the school regularly could attend the evening lectures for $5.00 per session. (11)

In July registration was begun and the books of the school were opened, and those who wished to attend the academy were asked to register. Furman pointed out that It was to the advantage of the parents to pay the tuition in advance, so as to start the children at the commencement of the term, and to insist on regular attendance. A primary school was to be operated "should 25 small children be entered, a separate apartment and Instructor will be assigned to them, and their improvement guaranteed." (12) Soon the academy had outgrown its original quarters and was moved to a two story frame building.

Students who excelled in their studies were permitted to address an assembly of citizens at the end of the session. In 1840 this examination of students was to begin on January 27th, and continue for a week. Any local citizens interested in "the cause of education" were invited to attend the examinations. The class was "of young gentlemen of good moral characters, and superior talents" and when they had passed their examinations they were qualified to enter the study of law or medicine without incurring the expenses of any other collegiate course.," (13)

An obituary of David A. Conrey, who died May 28, 1839 at his home near Chester, gives a description of the perfect student of that time. David Conrey was a student at Middletown high school. This tribute was paid to him:

whose exemplary conduct.. diligent attention to study, preserving industry, and unostentatiousness piety, not only serve to endear him to all his class-mates and acquaintances, but to excite no ordinary feeling of respect, esteem and affections in the minds of instructors. Ever kind obedient affectionate, and highly talented, hg constantly claimed highest rank in his classes; and truly we can say, he was all we could wish a child or student to be... (14)

In 1840 the director of common schools of this district announced that it would be expedient to suspend the schools from April until October, for public funds for that purpose were running low. But it was not necessary for the pupils to lose the advantage of education during the summer months for Miss Josephine Anderson, who had taught the female public school last session, was to commence a Private Female School if enough pupils could be obtained for the school. She taught reading, writing, arithmetic, geography, grammar, history, astronomy, and philosophy to the higher classes. Reading, writing and arithmetic were taught in the middle school. One afternoon a week she promised to devote to teaching the pupils needle work free of charge. The editor of the paper, who recommended this school, said that her charges were in perfect keeping with the "hard times*" For a session of five and one half months to enroll for the higher classes cost $5, the middle I classes $4.50 and the smaller classes $5.00. The number in the classes were to be limited. (15)

Mr. Robert C. Ramsey began a night school in Middletown in 1840 for the young men of the village. He opened the school December 24th of that year; the subjects which he taught were: writing, arithmetic, geography, English grammar, mensuration, surveying, algebra, geometry. The quarter was to consist of 13 weeks, and the men were to attend school three nights each week. (16)

Mr. Furman's Select Seminary, or high school, grew to be much larger and more important. To the regular classes in the English and Classic department, he added other subjects, which included: the German language, drawing, music, guitar or piano. A professor had been engaged to teach music; the cost for 48 lessons over a period of three months was $10. The master advertised that parents were aware of the advantages of "placing their children where they must be obedient and studious and where there are other classes of intelligent young ladles and gentlemen." (17)

Nathaniel Furman decided to move his high school to the county seat Hamilton, and in 1851 Middletown High School opened the winter session, September 29th, with a new principal, who was considered well qualified for the post. Rev. John B. Morton thus began a grand career in Middletown. He did as much as anyone to raise tile cultural standards of this community and gained the love and respect of all. He continued his private school in his own home and in the Presbyterian Church of which he was minister. He was noted as a scholar educator and minister.

The tuition per quarter in the English Department in 1851 was $3 or $4 according to the grade of scholarship, and tuition in the Classical Department was $5. Mr, J. B. Morton warned that "no deductions made for absence except in cases of protracted sickness." (18)

At the same time Master Bridges was teacher at the public school, the "Old Brick." He sometimes had some pretty rough sessions, and one time the boys tore out a corner of the schoolhouse to get in for mischievous purposes. Mr. Bridges was handy with the hickory stick, as was most teachers of that time, and stern and severe in his punishments.

There was a great deal of competition between the public and the private school of J. B. Morton. The phrases in common use at the time "Morton's Cats" and "Bridge's Rats" give an idea of the rivalry between the students enrolled in these two schools.

Thus from 1837, with the exception of the interruption of a few sessions the free public school was well established in Middletown. When necessary, public funds were supplemented by tuition fees, but the idea of the free school was well implanted in the mind of the citizens of this community.

By 1838 the district school was too large to be accommodated in one room. Mr. Elliot was employed to teach the younger pupils in the unoccupied building which had been the Juniata Iron store near the Oglesby-Barnitz Bank: Josephine Anderson took over the older students when Mr. Gailbreath left. She was assisted by Mary J. Gibson. Miss Anderson, who later became Mrs. Mitchell, thus began her public school teaching career in Middletown, a career which was to cover 43 years of devoted service to the youth of the community.

Then, in 1840, the free, public school system of Middletown consisted of two buildings, each one room. In the "Old Brick" built in 1815 was the principal teacher and an assistant, and in the rented room was the primary school.

In time the Juniata Iron Store room was replaced by the Barracks a two story frame building which after some time was moved to the present site of the Odd Fellow's Temple.

From 1837 until the early fifties there were two types of educational programs in existence-- the public and the private school. When Nathaniel Furman left Middletown in 1849, it was an indication of a change and a decline of the private academy. True, J. B. Morton continued the Academy idea in his Middletown High School for some years, but he specialized In advanced subjects filling the gap between the elementary school and the college or university. The growth of the common school in Middletown is indicated by the fact that in 1849 the public schools took over Furman's rooms on the west side of Broad. With this addition room, Mrs. Josephine Mitchell started the first graded schools for the community.

The decline of the private school and the emergence or a strong public school system was brought about by laws being written by the Ohio state Legislature. In the development of the local system of schools can be seen the far-reaching effects of what was accomplished in the cause of public education at Columbus. On February 21, 1847 our legislators wrote the epitaph of the private school in the "Akron Law", so named because the city of Akron was where it was first used.

This law was to have far-reaching effects in every district of the state, and was to make possible the development of a complete public school system, and in 1848 the general law provided that the same privileges granted to Akron could be extended to any incorporated town or city in the state whenever two-thirds of the voters petitioned the City Council for a graded school.

This "Akron Law" provided:

1. The election of a Board of Education of six members who would establish primary and grammar schools; enforce all necessary rules for the government of teachers and pupils; select sites and erect buildings; fix grades; employ teachers; certify to the city council the amount necessary for school expenses; conduct annual public examinations of all schools; and publish an annual report.(19)

This law also provided that a city could be one school district; that everyone was to be admitted to school; that taxes could be levied for school purposes; and that one primary and one central grammar school was to be provided, The Board was given authority to a establish schools of a grade higher than the grammar grades. (20)

Middletown was not a city at that time but a supplementary law passed in 1849 by the State Legislature gave any incorporated town or village of 200 or more persons the privilege of applying the "Akron Law" provisions to any such community. The town councils were to yield their powers over educational functions and the fiscal aspects of school control to a Board of Education. However, the tax rate for schools was limited to four mills.

In the Ohio Constitution of 1851 the interest of our legislators in education was asserted in the Bill of Rights which declared:

Religion, morality, and knowledge however, being essential to good government, it shall be the duty of the General Assembly to pass suitable laws... and to encourage schools and means of instruction. (21)

This was followed In 1853 by a law of far-reaching significance. Quoting from White:

The law of 1853 entirely ignored all special sources of revenue and enacted that 'for the purpose of affording the advantage of a free education to all the youth of this State, the state common school fund should con- of the sum produced by a tax of one mill and a half per dollar on all the taxable property in the State. (22)

It was this law that established once and for all the idea of free public education in the State, supported by funds from the state. It admitted that all communities regardless of effort could not support adequate programs. This idea was later to for the basis of the State Foundation Program of 1935.

In 1852 Middletown took advantage of the Akron law which had been made to apply to smaller communities and separated from the township system to establish its own Union School. District No. 3 became the Middletown public school system. Until 1855 the schools were operated by three directors of education, but In 1855 a Board of Education was elected.

Meanwhile in 1854 the citizens of Middletown saw the need of better school accommodations. The one-room 20 by 30 foot building had long been outgrown, and while it continued in use other rooms had to be rented for school use around town. It was decided that the "Old Brick" had served Its purpose so the school was razed and on the same site a large brick building of four rooms was erected.

On April 13, 1857 the Board of Education consisting of Joseph Sutphin, L. D. Doty, J. B. Cecil, G. B. Houres, Smith Wrenn and W. K. Hinkle met and began a new Minutes Book, the first official record in existence of the local schools. The twelve week term had begun April 19, 1857 and was to continue to June 25th. (23) Mr. Fisher served as teacher of the upper 24 class and also as Principal. (24)

Under branches taught are listed the subjects in which instruction was given by each of the teachers. Reis taught orthography and reading; Mellis, orthography, reading, arithmetic, and writing; Barnette, orthography, reading, writings, arithmetic, and geography; Fisher (principal), orthography, readings writing, arithmetic geography, grammar, algebra, geometry, Latin, composition and elocution; Mitchell., orthography, reading, writing, arithmetic, geography and grammar. (25)

From the above listings it is easy to see the development of a graded course of study. The principal was teaching the older students and while there was no high school at that time, the upper or grammar room was used to offer more advanced instruction than customary.

The local system at that time had five teachers with the following titles: principal, first assistant, second assistant, second assistant in the Primary department, and first assistant to the second assistant in the latter department. The salary scale set up for the school year 1857-1858 was $700 a year for the principals, and $35, $25, $25,and $20 for the assistants in the order named above. The school term was divided into two terms of 16 weeks and the teachers were 26 paid at the end of each term. (26)

The books used were: McGuffey Readers series: Ray's Arithmetic and Algebra; Colton and Fitch's Geography: Pineo's Grammar; Bullion's Latin Grammar and Reader and several editions of Virgil; Goodrich's History of the United States; McGuffey's Speller; Comstock's Philosophy and Milton's Paradise Lost.

The various new subjects were added to the local school's s curriculum as the demand from the public warranted. A committee was appointed on music. This committee headed by Mr. Jacoby was given the authority to hire Mr. Adams, who signed an agreement to give four lessons in vocal music each week for two dollars a week. This was for the school year of 1859. (27)

On 27, 1860 a petition was presented to the Board of Education by the citizens of the District, "praying the Board to organize a department in connection with our public schools to teach the German language." (28) This was favorably acted upon and Fred Buttermiller was appointed German teacher for 40 weeks at a salary of $300.

In December 1860 It was decided to add Chemistry to the High School program, and Porter's Chemistry was adopted as a textbook. A resolution was adopted by the Board of Education appropriating thirty dollars to purchase chemical and philosophical apparatus to be drawn from special fund." (29)

In order to supervise the work of all the teachers on August 14, 1860 the Board appointed the first superintendent of schools. Prior to that time there had been a principal teacher, then principal. The Minutes read: "Rev* W. W. Wynn unanimously appointed superintendent and Principal of the school at a Salary of Seven Hundred dollars for forty weeks*" (30) He was to have general superintendence of all departments. He was also later advised to make out a general report for all the school; the reports prior to this had been made out by each teacher individually and submitted to the board. Things did not go too well with Wynn and he was requested to resign in 1862. In the next ten years he was followed by W. T. Curran, R. W. Hendrickson, Mr. Mendenhall, W. Watkins, D. C. Hanna and A. G. Wilson. It is obvious that tenure in those days for superintendent was pretty short.

It was in 1861 that the f first attempt was made to organize a definite Course of Study. (31)

In 1857 - Rev. A. Guy appeared before the Board and asked that colored children be permitted to attend the local district school. A committee was appointed to investigate the situation and was against such admission but asked Rev. Guy to suggest means of providing for education for colored children. (32) On September 4, 1858 Miss Ella Cubberly was hired by the board to teach colored children. (33) These children were taught in a special room rented by the board, later when a new school was erected in 1871, the colored children were sent to the old Union School building. However, in 1875 colored children were finally permitted to enter the same schools as the whites.

The Board made regular visits to the schools every six weeks to see how things were progressing. (34) In addition to this the general public was invited to attend the examinations held at the end of each term. "Citizens were invited to at tend and participate in these exercises." (35)

The Board also had the problem of small pox which was quite prevalent in the early days. The Board had to appoint a committee to investigate those children who have had small pox, and to decide whether they were to be readmitted to the schools. (36)

The problem of corporal punishment often came before the Board. At one time the Board resolved: "--- should have been punished but the stick used for that that purpose was an improper one, and that hereafter we condemn the ruler as an in instrument of punishment in the schools..." (37) The Board at another time felt that, the teachers were in the habit of using too much severe punishment "in the government of their scholars and was instructed to see that, there should be changes in reference to punishment." (38) The Superintendent was instructed to see that a certain boy was not whipped as it caused the boys' skin to puff up, and it was recommended that other punishment be prescribed. (39)

There was also a great deal of tardiness and the Board started an investigation of this and urged the Superintendent to see that a change was made. In a few months a great reduction in tardiness wad taken place from an average of 48 hours a week to 2 hours a week. The Board expressed appreciation to the Superintendents teachers and pupils "and would also insist[ly] express a hop[e] that parents will visit the schools more frequently, thereby encouraging both teachers and pupils in their good works" (40)

The cost of running the schools in 1860 is given in the following excerpt from the Minutes:

On motion of William Oglesby the Clerk was Instructed to notify the County auditor that thirteen hundred dollars will be required for teaching fund and" three hundred dollars for the contingent fund in addition to the amount on hand to support the schools next year. (41)

The Board faced the continual problem of needing more room for more pupils. This was met in parts although unsatisfactorily, by renting rooms wherever they could be obtained. As early as 1865 the Board saw the need for a new and larger building and a committee consisting of Sutphin, Clark and Cunningham was appointed to prepare and address to the citizens "on the subject of Building a school House." (42) The secretary of the Board was then instructed to put up notices of an election for the purpose of voting a tax to build a now schoolhouse. The proposal went down to defeat twice by the voters but in 1869 it was finally approved and the Board met:

On motion the board proceeded to select a site for a new school building. It was moved and duly seconded that the site for the same be located on the Lefferson tract between the Middletown and Gregory Creek Turnpike and the Yankee Road. (43)

The Board resolved to purchase not less than four sores or more that six acres. It was finally decided to purchase approximately six acres at $1100 an acre.

In April 1870 a committee was appointed to devise a plan for a new school house, and the committee was authorized to visit different points to examine school buildings and to report back their findings. (44)

On June 11, 1870:

...it was resolved that a school house three stories in height is to be built containing twelve rooms at a cost not to exceed thirty thousand dollars complete. And Mr. B. Liestner of Hamilton was employed to draw up plans and specifications for same with the understanding that if the draft of building drawn up by him should prove unacceptable to the board, no pay be allowed him for same. (45)

Liestner's plans were accepted and the Board advertised for bids not to exceed $27,500 but no bids were made at that low a figure so the board, with the court's consent, undertook to build the school themselves. This involved no end of detail for the Board. The school was completed in 1872 at a cost of $61,000.

The old four room brick built in 1854 was continued in use for the colored children. This building was valued at $6,250. In 1880 the two buildings owned by the Board were valued at $75,000.

In the now building, now know to all as South, room number 12 was designated as tile High School. In 1866 the Board of Education bad:

Made a now grade called number nine to be composed of all advanced scholars who are prepared to enter upon the following course of two years... (46)

It was at that time the first high school class was organized as a separate unit.

The new building was soon in full use in the ten year period from 1865 to 1875 the school enrollment had risen from 660 to 824, and the daily average attendance from 366 to 574, and the number of teachers from 10 to 15.

The people of Middletown were very proud of the the new building. One writer commented:

The Middletown people are proud of it, and with reason. There is no finer structure of the kind in Ohio. It to situated in a campus of six acres of ground, beautifully laid off and ornamented with trees, walks, and shrubbery. The house is magnificently furnished. The pupils have a library parlors, in which they have the choicest literature in the way of periodicals and books, etc. This last commendable feature was inaugurated by the present efficient superintendent F. J. Barnard. (47)

The schools of Butler County were Considered to be very good. John S. Marshall, in his report to the State Commissioner of Instruction for the year 1874 wrote:

The graded schools of Hamilton Middletown and Oxford are in a prosperous condition. The high schools of Hamilton and Middletown have a thorough course of instructions and the pupils completing this receive diplomas at graduation as in the larger cities of the state. (48)

A great effort was being made to improve the teachers In the public schools. In order to got teachers who were qualified or a least the best qualified, there were appointed three school examiners. The first such board in Middletown was composed of William Moore, Dr. S. Hindman and John McClellan, The first certificate was issued to a local teachers Julia Barnette. (49)

In 1877 came the first compulsory school attendance law in the State of Ohio. Then there was the rapid increase in urban population. Both of these factors resulted in the larger school enrollments in the local schools. This increase of school population made necessary the construction of an eight room. building In the east end of towns now Central School. In 1892 North School was erected on the original school site and the "Old Brick" was torn down. Thus North is the third school house to have been built on the North Main Street site.

When the steel industry moved to Middletown the city continued its move east, and in 1904 old Sherman Building, an eight room brick, was erected, and in 1914 another building was erected on that site.

In 1900, a new high school building costing $60,000 opened on Central Avenue, with an enrollment of 125 students from grades 9 to 12. This is now the City Building. In 1912 Charles Street, now Jefferson, Young Street, and the Manual Training Schools were planned and erected. In 1918 Booker To Washington was begun for tile colored children in South Middletown.

Bonds amounting to $200,000 were authorized by a vote in 1916, but the bonds were not issued due to the war, and plans for school expansion were dormant. After the war, the schools were desperately overcrowded and in 1919 bonds of $500,000 were authorized making a total of $700,0000 for building. This was used to construct Lincoln School, an addition to Jefferson, and a now Senior High.

Before the new Senior High was completed in 1923, half day sessions bad been inaugurated. The new high school originally planned for 1000 pupils was built to accommodate 1,200.

Lincoln School was dedicated April 6, 1923, and in 1924 12 teachers taught 500 pupils in the new building. The portables which had been in use were, taken to Meadowlawn until a new building could be erected there.

In 1927 plans were made for Garfield Schools, and in 1930 the two now Junior Highs were opened.

From a small beginning in 1837 the public school system developed in the succeeding years in Middletown so that there were enrolled in the city system 6,000 students using 15 school buildings, instructed by over 200 teachers That was one century of growth.

since the opening of South School in 1872 the following men have served as superintendents of our public schools: A. G. Wilson, A. C. Tyler, F. J. Bernard, B. B. Harlan, James L. Orr, J. H. Rowland, J. W. Mackinnon, J. E. McKean, C. H. Minnich, Arthur Powell, N. D. Wilson, R. W. Solomon and Wade E. Miller. (50)

Middletown also has two parochial schools. Holy Trinity began in 1867 in a frame building which was later replaced by a brick [one] in 1891. St. John's was opened in 1872 and went into the present brick building in 1908. Both of these schools now conduct high schools.

Middletown's last private school was known as the Mercantile and Middletown seminary which was well-known in the sixties. A private German school opened In 1874, but closed its doors after one session.

The present Middletown Business College was activated in 1936, starting in rooms at the YMCA. This is a private college offering accredited courses in business training.

1. E. 0. Randall and J. J. Ryan History of Ohio, vol. 3. (New York: Century, 1912), p. 367.

2. E.O. Randall and E. is Ryan History of Ohio, vol. 3. (New York: Century, 1912), p. 367.

3. E. E. White et. al. A History of Education in the State of Ohio. (Columbus: Gazette Printing House, 1876) p. 10.

4. Ohio Archaelogical and Historical Quarterly, vol. 27, (Columbus, 1918), P. 25.

5. Census of 1840.

6. Hamilton Intelligencer, October 26, 1833.

7. Middletown Emblem, January 7, 1853.

8. Middletown Mail September 21, 1839.

9. Middletown Mail, April 20, 1839.

10. Middletown Mail July 13, 1839.

11. Ibid.

12. Loc. cit.

13. Middletown Mail January 11, 1840.

14. Middletown Mail June 8, 1839.

15. Middletown Mail April 11, 1840.

16. Middletown Mail January 4, 1B40.

17. Hamilton Intelligencer, August 8, 1850.

18. Middletown Emblem January 7, 1851.

19. E. A. Miller, The History of Educational Legislation in Ohio, from 1803-1850. (Chicago: University of Chicago) 1920, No 13, pp. 51-52.

21. Ohio Archeological and Historical Quarterly Vol. 39, Columbus Ohio 1930, p.134.

22. E. E. White, op. cit., p. 35.

23. Minutes of the Board of Education, Middletown, O., July 11, 1857.

24. Loc. cit.

25. Loc. cit.

26. Minutes of the Board of Education, Middletown, O., August 12, 1857.

27. Ibid., August 31, 1859.

28. Ibid., May 27, 1860.

29. Minutes of the Board of Education, Middletown O., December 11, 1860

30. Ibid. August 14, 1860.

31. Minutes of the Board of Education Middletown, O. June 28.9 1861.

32. Ibid. January 70 1058.

33. Ibid., September 4, 1858.

34. Ibid., April 110 1860.

35. Ibid., March 5, 1866.

36. Minutes of the Board of Education, Middletown, O., April 17, 1861.
37. Ibid. May 11, 1866.

38. Ibid. February 5, 1860.

39. Ibid. October 21, 1885.

40. Minutes of the Board of Education, Middletown, O. February 8, 1865.

41. Ibid., January 14, 1860.

42. Ibid., February 8, 1865.

43. Minutes of the Board of Education, August 26, 1869.

44. Ibid., April 16, 1870.

45. Ibid., June 11, 1870.

46. Minutes of the Board of Education, September 7, 1868.

47. History and Biographical Cyclopaedia of Butler County, (Cincinnati, Ohio: Western Biographical Publishing Company, 1882), p. 635.
48. Middletown News-Journal, September 5, 1938.

49. Record of School Examiners of District 3, July 21, 1856.

50. John C. Hover, et. al, Memoirs of the Miami Valley(Chicago: Robert O. Law Co. 1919), p. 470.