Former School To Become Gateway Grove
January 5, 2021 at 1:44 a.m.
Former School To Become Gateway Grove
By David [email protected]
Gateway Grove is a residential development taking place on the site of the old Madison Elementary School, according to a news release Monday from Cary Groninger, G & G Hauling & Excavating. This development consists of single-family homes and townhomes within walking distance of downtown. To promote strong community bonds, the houses are situated around common areas where they can hold neighborhood events.
According to the release, “The old Madison school left behind a legacy of serving the surrounding neighborhood and the community as a whole. In the spirit of Madison’s legacy, this development strives to be an agent of positive change in the community by building housing for new families and adding amenities that will promote a more active lifestyle. The Madison gymnasium will not be demolished with the hope that it will operate as an amenity for the whole neighborhood.
“The demolition of the school will begin this week. Because this building is the site of many fond memories, we are providing an opportunity for residents to come by and collect a brick if they would like one. These bricks will be located off Union Street on the south end of the property, outside of the construction fence.”
Bricks will be available tentatively beginning Tuesday, Jan. 12, after 8 a.m.
Construction is planned to begin in the second quarter of this year. Currently, the developers are working through the approval process and “we look forward to keeping everyone updated as things at Gateway Grove progress,” the release states.
West Ward School was built on Union Street in 1872. The two-story brick building was built on Union Street when the area was called “Thralls Grove,” according to a May 7, 2010, Times-Union article. It served grades one through five, with boys on the north and girls on the south side, and had outdoor facilities.
Theodore Dreiser, author of "An American Tragedy," lived in Warsaw for four years, from 1885 to 1889. His family moved to Warsaw when he was 14 and he attended school at West Ward, living across the street from the school, and at Warsaw High School. He died Dec. 28, 1945, seven years before "A Place in the Sun,” based on his novel "An American Tragedy," won an Academy Award.
His brother, Paul Dreiser, was a famous song writer; one of his compositions was the Indiana state song "On the Banks of the Wabash.”
In 1954, the new building at 201 N. Union St. was dedicated and the old one torn down. Built directly behind the old location, the single-story brick building had a main hallway and what served as both the gym and cafeteria for many years.
The PTO eventually felt the names of West Ward, West Wayne, Center Ward and East Ward were confusing. In 1960, the PTO asked elementary school students to vote for new school names, choosing names from deceased presidents. West Ward became Madison, West Wayne became Washington, East Wayne became Jefferson, East Ward became McKinley and Center Ward became Adams.
In 1968, a library and classroom were added on, as well as a wing on the east and west sides of the building.
In 1999, a gym was added, a bus turn-around was put in and the kitchen was enlarged.
As the 2009-10 school year closed, it was also the last year for Madison Elementary to be at the 201 N. Union St. location. A new Madison was built at 1436 W. CR 300N, Warsaw, and classes began at that location in fall 2010.
The former Madison site became Gateway Education Center.
The Gateway Education Center was closed at the end of the 2019-20 school year due to the cost of the expected repairs.
In July 2020, the Warsaw School Board approved an offer from Groninger for the school property on North Union Street for $100,000 with a $20,000 endowment to the building trades program, according to a Times-Union article.
For more information, contact G & G Hauling and Excavating at 574-267-3570 and ask for Leigh or Cary Groninger; or email [email protected].
Gateway Grove is a residential development taking place on the site of the old Madison Elementary School, according to a news release Monday from Cary Groninger, G & G Hauling & Excavating. This development consists of single-family homes and townhomes within walking distance of downtown. To promote strong community bonds, the houses are situated around common areas where they can hold neighborhood events.
According to the release, “The old Madison school left behind a legacy of serving the surrounding neighborhood and the community as a whole. In the spirit of Madison’s legacy, this development strives to be an agent of positive change in the community by building housing for new families and adding amenities that will promote a more active lifestyle. The Madison gymnasium will not be demolished with the hope that it will operate as an amenity for the whole neighborhood.
“The demolition of the school will begin this week. Because this building is the site of many fond memories, we are providing an opportunity for residents to come by and collect a brick if they would like one. These bricks will be located off Union Street on the south end of the property, outside of the construction fence.”
Bricks will be available tentatively beginning Tuesday, Jan. 12, after 8 a.m.
Construction is planned to begin in the second quarter of this year. Currently, the developers are working through the approval process and “we look forward to keeping everyone updated as things at Gateway Grove progress,” the release states.
West Ward School was built on Union Street in 1872. The two-story brick building was built on Union Street when the area was called “Thralls Grove,” according to a May 7, 2010, Times-Union article. It served grades one through five, with boys on the north and girls on the south side, and had outdoor facilities.
Theodore Dreiser, author of "An American Tragedy," lived in Warsaw for four years, from 1885 to 1889. His family moved to Warsaw when he was 14 and he attended school at West Ward, living across the street from the school, and at Warsaw High School. He died Dec. 28, 1945, seven years before "A Place in the Sun,” based on his novel "An American Tragedy," won an Academy Award.
His brother, Paul Dreiser, was a famous song writer; one of his compositions was the Indiana state song "On the Banks of the Wabash.”
In 1954, the new building at 201 N. Union St. was dedicated and the old one torn down. Built directly behind the old location, the single-story brick building had a main hallway and what served as both the gym and cafeteria for many years.
The PTO eventually felt the names of West Ward, West Wayne, Center Ward and East Ward were confusing. In 1960, the PTO asked elementary school students to vote for new school names, choosing names from deceased presidents. West Ward became Madison, West Wayne became Washington, East Wayne became Jefferson, East Ward became McKinley and Center Ward became Adams.
In 1968, a library and classroom were added on, as well as a wing on the east and west sides of the building.
In 1999, a gym was added, a bus turn-around was put in and the kitchen was enlarged.
As the 2009-10 school year closed, it was also the last year for Madison Elementary to be at the 201 N. Union St. location. A new Madison was built at 1436 W. CR 300N, Warsaw, and classes began at that location in fall 2010.
The former Madison site became Gateway Education Center.
The Gateway Education Center was closed at the end of the 2019-20 school year due to the cost of the expected repairs.
In July 2020, the Warsaw School Board approved an offer from Groninger for the school property on North Union Street for $100,000 with a $20,000 endowment to the building trades program, according to a Times-Union article.
For more information, contact G & G Hauling and Excavating at 574-267-3570 and ask for Leigh or Cary Groninger; or email [email protected].
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