HISTORY OF ORANGE COUNTY
CHAPTER 9

ORLEANS TOWN SCHOOLS

In the fall of 1823, the people of the town of Orleans resolved to establish a school. They accordingly fitted up a small house which stood near where Walker’s store now stands. Here the schools of the town had their humble beginning, with John McClane as the first teacher. The patrons were the Webbs, Lewises, Searses and Brookses. There is probably no person now living who attended this school. Mr. McClane was succeeded as a teacher by Jonathan Prosser, who opened a school on the Conder property, about the year 1826. Patrons same as above. John H. Steers was also a pupil of this school. Mr. Prosser was an extra good teacher of penmanship. Samuel Webb who was probably the best penman ever in Orange County, received his instruction in this school. Samuel Steel succeeded to the management of the school in 1830. He taught but one term. In 1831 the citizens, under the leadership of Joseph Crawford and John Sears, built a schoolhouse on the public square, where the school building now stands. This was the first school building in the town of Orleans. It was a hewed log structure twenty feet square. Had glass windows and "split poles" for seats. The first teacher was George May. He had charge of the schools for two years. A Mr. White of Crawfordsville, Ind., Isom Procter, John Johnson and a Mr. Reeding were also teachers of this school. Thomas Dias was teacher here about 1835 or 1836. In order to get even with the boys who "turned him out" for a Christmas trick, he had bogus writs issued for them, but the joke turned upon the Constable, who served the writs in good faith, thinking they were genuine.

The course of study in these schools embraced reading, writing, spelling and arithmetic; occasionally a teacher was secured who could teach grammar. The patrons were the Searses, Crawfords, Williamsons, Cooks, Webbs, Kimblys. Moyers, Freemans, Merricks, Worrellis and Brookses. That all earthly things must perish was clearly illustrated here. After a time some persons concluded that they were tired of seeing the old schoolhouse with its homely walls and coarse furniture, so they went quietly and tore it down while those who would have hindered slept. Some persons were very indignant at this, but nothing came of it, as there was an abundance of time for their anger to cool before they discovered who did the mischief. Another school was that of A. F. Allen, who was for many years a well-known and honored citizen of Orleans and Orange County. His school was opened in 1839 and continued for two years. This school was noted for the thoroughness of the instruction and practical business like manner in which it was conducted. Among the patrons we notice the names Sears, Webb, Moyer and Steers. Gen. W. T. Spicely was a pupil of this school, and owed much of his success in after life, to the thoroughness of the instruction received here. The citizens of Orleans did not have a separate vote upon the subject of free schools, but their vote being taken in connection with Orleans Township that result very nearly shows the sentiment in regard to free schools in the town. Orleans not being an incorporated town, came under the control of the Township Trustees at the passage of the school law of 1852. The Board of Township Trustees established three public schools in the town, building two small frame houses and using the old Methodist Church for a schoolhouse. These houses were afterwards replaced by three larger and more substantial frame buildings. The first free schools were opened in the fall of 1855. Length of session sixty days. Isaac Albertson, William Jones and John White, were the first teachers.

THE ORLEANS ACADEMY

The above-named school was established in 1866. The building was erected by a joint stock company, at a cost of $8,000. It was the purpose of the company to establish an independent academy entirely disconnected with the public schools. Prof. John M. Bloss, afterward Superintendent of Public Instruction of Indiana, was the first and only Principal of the academy as an independent institution. The opening of the Orleans Academy was a progressive step in the schools of Orange County. A very considerable part of the patronage at first came from the ex-soldiers; young men whose education had been entirely neglected by the requirements and services of war, and who came earnestly desiring to make up for lost opportunities; added to these was a class of young men and women who were preparing for the position of teachers in tbe common schools. The work of this institution was comprehensive and thorough. It furnished to the public schools of Orange County a class of teachers whose work and worth will long be remembered by the friends of education. By a union with the public schools of the town in 1870, the academy was practically superseded by the Orleans Graded School, with Prof. Bloss as Superintendent, and John J. Lingle, assistant, the High School and Grammar Department being taught at the academy, and the lower grades at the different public school buildings. This arrangement continued until 1872, when the Town School Board purchased the academy building of the stockholders, since which time the town schools have been taught at that building. The educational advantages afforded by the town of Orleans are good, the public schools being kept open from seven to nine months each year. The high school is well equipped and doing good work. Thirteen ladies and eight gentlemen have graduated from this department.

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