Today Howard School was Dedicated
The following information is taken directly from dedication pamphlet given out at today's ceremony.
Howard School, officially Perry Township School No. 1, is a one room, brick schoolhouse, located east of Boone County roads 750 South and 450 East. This beautiful red brick schoolhouse sits in its original rural location surrounded by picturesque farmland as it did during the period 1881 through 1916 while it served the educational and gathering needs of the local community. On its eastern boundary is the historic Howard Cemetery, with burials from the 1830's.
Since 2004, community minded citizens have worked to restore the deteriorated building and furnishings to their original condition. The schoolhouse will be a living history museum for use by school children and other groups.
History
After its 1916 closing, Howard School received little attention. It had been essentially undisturbed except for occasional storage of grain and other farm material. On occasion it has been surrounded by pastured hogs or cows and more often by fields of grain and corn. In 2004 siblings owners Kenneth Washburn and Kay Seymour offered to donate the building and about one acre of surrounding property for community use.
The history-or perhaps prehistory-of Howard begins with White Lick Settlement. White Lick got its name from a salt lick at the stream which became known as White Lick Creek. Ancient Americans, then the Miami Indians and later European hunters sought animals attracted to the salt lick.
As the area developed, with settlers, roads and a changing commerce, the settlement moved away from the creed to the nearby roadway, currently State Road 267. Beginning in the 1830s the settled community became know as Fayette. However, it was recognized as the "White Lick Post Town" until 1903 by the U.S. Post Office Department.
John B. Howard was an original settler to White Lick/Fayette. Howard cleared land for a farm and in March 1837, purchased 80 acres, from the federal government, including the land where Howard School was later to be located. John Howard became a prominent member of the community. He is the first person found listed as trustee of Perry Township.
Although the White Lick/Fayette community had numerous churches and businesses, including black smith, doctors, and merchants, Perry Township was and still remains a rural farming township. The first Perry Township subscription school, which required students to pay for services, was established in 1836. There were also some other early private schools. The public school system began to function after the Indiana General Assembly passed in 1852 school law. The current brick building replace a earlier wooden school building built after passage of the 1852 law.
The original wood framed Howard School building was likely one of three erected in 1855, since it was designated No.1, served the township's most populated area and was located on the land of John B. Howard, who was likely Trustee. Because the Boone County Courthouse burned in 1856, original documentation for the first school was lost. State School Examiner Reports show in 1854 there were no schools and no teachers in Perry Township. In 1855 examiner's report shows three frame schools were erected. The report for 1857 shows four public schools in "good" condition. The current brick Howard School building was most likely constructed in 1881. An early Boone County School Superintendent directed old school records covering 40 years following the year 1873 be taken from his office and a storage room to be destroyed. No records which specifically relate to construction of the existing building were found. State Examiner Reports show all township school buildings were frame through 1878; but brick buildings were being constructed. Newspaper articles describe construction of the brick school at Fayette in 1881.
Howard School served the White Lick/Fayette community for educational and gathering purposes until 1916. Gathering purposes included "singings" and "moot courts" along with family dinners and activities associated with the school. The year 1916 marked the end of the district school system in Perry Township. Alumna Hazel Tharp says she and other children left Howard School for Christmas vacation in 1916 and returned to the consolidated Perry Central School.
Howard School Restoration Group
Board Members
Clifford W. "Jack" Belcher
William A. "Bill" Coan
Elaine Dickerson
Bonnie Kincaid
David Sherrieb
Dan Tyler
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