Ironton School

IR Feb. 15, 1872 – History of the Ironton Schools – Number 2
Submitted by Sharon M. Kouns

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The schools began in the year 1852 with the following corps of teachers:  C. Kingsbury, Supt., W. H. Ward, Miss E. A. Rankin, Miss E. M. Wait, and Mrs. Moore.  The Board authorized Mr. John Peters to procure an “infant teacher” at ten dollars a month, but it did not transpire that the glittering prize was eagerly grasped.  Weekly meetings of the teachers, for “consulting and instructing each other” were ordered by the Board – a custom that has been more or less observed to this day.

In March of that year, the Board examined various lots in town, with the view of choosing one for the erection of a school house upon the same, at some future day.  The ground, whereupon the present large brick structure stands, was then selected, and S. R. Bush was appointed a committee to ask the Ohio Iron and Coal Co. to donate the lot for the purpose indicated.

During the first session of the schools, 304 pupils were enrolled.  The little frame schoolhouse was used in connection with the basement story, and a couple class rooms in Spencer chapel.  The audience room was also plastered by the Board, to be used by the schools, and the cost of the work taken out in rent.

In June, the people voted to borrow funds to an amount not exceeding $5,000, for the purpose of building a school house; also, that a tax of three mills be levied for the payment of the loan.

Among several things, about that time, the Board voted to offer W. H. Ward $400 a year for teaching; voted themselves $1.00 per day for services, voted $100 a year for the basement of Spencer chapel and $75 for the frame schoolhouse; voted to give Mr. Kingsbury $600 per annum.

The following are the teachers, who taught the second term, closing in the Summer of 1852, C. Kingsbury, W. H. Ward, Misses E. A. Rankin, Lucy Young, E. M. Wait and M. F. Moxley.

In August 1852, the population of Ironton had increased to nearly 2,000, and the Board, feeling the necessity for more rom, resolved to proceed immediately to the erection of a Schoolhouse, and that C. Kingsbury, Thomas Murdock and S. R. Bush be a committee to superintend the same.

The school in West Ironton was started at this first time, and Miss N. Henshaw appointed Teacher.  A room also rented in Union Block, and Miss Turney opened a school there, under the instructions of the Board.

In October ‘52, the contract for building the brick school house was awarded to Thomas Murdock, his bid being $20.00 less than any other.  The contract, at first, was to build the walls 12 inches thick, but at a meeting of the Board early in 1853, it was resolved to build for the 1st and 2nd stories, 18-inch walls.

The Board seemed to have had considerable trouble in the construction of the brick school house.  After some work had been done in the foundations, the Board found out that the cellar walls were badly built, and that the brick work and the laying of the joists had not been done in a workmanlike manner, and informed the Contractor of the fact, whereupon, he said he would throw up the job.  This he did, and I. Rogers was then employed to get up a plan for a house not to exceed $5,000, for which plan, Mr. Rogers was paid $100.

At the election for Directors in 1853, Thos. Pugh, J. A. Richey, J. Hambleton and Dr. C. Briggs were chosen.

Non-resident pupils were charged in that year 1 1/2 cents per day.  One quarter cent was added a month afterward.

The Board undertook the building of the Ironton school house according to Mr. Rogers’ specifications, entrusting the brick work to Stephen White and the carpentering work to Thomas Winters.

In October, 1853, J. Peters resigned his place on the Board, and Dr. Moxley (do not have end..)

IR May 12, 1892 – The Teacher’s Quarterly Institution will meet at Mt. Vernon furnace, Saturday, May 21, at 9:30 a.m.  Arrangements will be made to take all out from Ironton on the cars at reduced rates.  Particulars next week.