By ORA CALLAHAN
Indiana Correspondent

RUSHVILLE, Ind. — Nearly 125 years after the first students entered the doors of the Goddard Schoolhouse No. 1, this one-room schoolhouse in Rush County continues to serve as a historic educational site today.

The Goddard Schoolhouse was erected in 1885, but closed in 1916. It was rededicated in 1974 and operates as a educational landmark, welcoming visitors from across the county and state.

This one-room schoolhouse was typical of those built in the 1800s to serve the educational needs of young country children grades 1-8. The property was donated or purchased by a township trustee who built and managed the facility.

The Goddard Schoolhouse is located at the intersection of County Roads 475 West and 150 South, about five miles west of Rushville on Old Highway 44 in Walker Township. It was a typical one-room country school, with one teacher who taught all the subjects and grades. In this setting, students had the opportunity to gain knowledge, training, and discipline among their peers.

The property was made available by the Goddard family who were prominent and influential people in the community. The Goddard Cemetery is located about one-quarter of a mile away.

The school had its own outdoor, hand-pump water well and two outdoor, white outhouses on different corners of the property for necessity. This one-room schoolhouse was abandoned in the spring of 1916 after 21 years of service, according to the original deed of the school trustees. The deed later reverted back to the original property owner.

In 1919, Rue Miller, a local farmer who had become the owner through reversion, converted it into a farm-machinery storage building. In this process the north end of the building was knocked out, sliding doors were installed and the bell tower removed. Through the years the building suffered some deterioration, but it remained structurally sound.

In August 1972, the Indiana Junior Historical Society (IJHS) took over management of the building through a lease agreement with the present property owners, Gene Miller and his wife. From that point, members of IJHS began an extensive restoration project, resulting in the building as it is today serving as a museum of education. Some of the restoration work was beyond the skill of high school students, including the reroofing, the replacement of the brick wall in the north end and the plastering.

However, all of the other work was finished by the students under the supervision of Bob Montgomery, a retired IJHS director and Bob Kirby, who was a current director. The IJHS and the Rushville High School History Club serve as curators. It is an authentic restoration of a “turn-of-the-century” country school.

The original bell was found on the floor in one of the cloakrooms underneath a 50-year accumulation of discarded farm machinery, and was reinstalled.

The blackboards are of the same type as those originally installed, using black mortar to plaster them to the walls. The desks are of the same type as were in use during that period. The cloakrooms are as they were originally.

Much of the interior woodwork is original, refinished with varnish. The color of paint in the entrance is the same as those used during the late 1800s.

Most of the books in the schoolhouse are dated between 1885-1916, a few earlier, but none later. The daily program is provided by a teacher who began her career teaching in a one-room country schoolhouse.

While the educational privileges offered in Goddard School may be regarded as primitive today, former Indiana Gov. Roger Branigin said the Indiana District School system was the best system of education ever devised at the time.

“This was an institution for teaching children,” Branigin added.
In doing this restoration, the IJHS received assistance from Lotus F. Miller, a businessman who was the son of Rue and Grace Miller. He attended this school until it was closed in 1916.

He offered a gift of $1,000, along with advice regarding the interior of the school when he was a pupil there. James Associates, Architects of Indianapolis also provided financial assistance.

The bricks from abandoned School No. 7 were given to restore the matching brick on the north end of the building. Bob Waggoner of the Cherry Sampler in Homer, Ind. made the attic ventilators using an original pattern. Other ma-terial items were donated by various people and organizations.

John Wesley Callahan and his wife Madeline (Mull), who were area farmers, had four children who attended the school including Dossie, Harry, Daisy and Maisy, who all walked to the school everyday.

The original antique stove for heating the building was stolen several years ago and has not been replaced.

The rededication of the Goddard Schoolhouse took place on a warm Sunday afternoon, June 9, 1974 by the IJHS, an event sponsored by the Indiana Historical Bureau, the Indiana Historical Society, and the Indiana State Department of Public Instruction. A large crowd was in attendance for the rededication.

In May 1974, the IJHS received a national award from the American Girl Magazine and the National Trust for Historic Preservation for this restoration at an awards ceremony in Washington D.C.

The Goddard Schoolhouse is a tourist attraction for various school groups, organizations, families and many others across Indiana.
Tour arrangements can be made by contacting the Rushville Chamber of Commerce at 765-932-2880.