Before becoming Madison Elementary School, the Warsaw school was known as West Ward.
This fall, Madison will not only get a brand new building, but after 138 years on Union Street, the elementary will move to a new location on West CR 300N.
A homecoming-style open house is planned for the old Madison, 201 N. Union St., from 1 to 3 p.m. May 15. Past and present teachers, staff, students, parents and the community are invited. A reception for present and past teachers and staff then will be held from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Staff members Marlene Byers and Karen Sproul provided some history on the school. Some additional history was uncovered in the Sesquicentennial Edition of the Times-Union published in July 2004.
"I think what makes it cool is we have fourth- and fifth-generation kids going here," said Byers.
As examples, she said several generations of nurse Jennifer Byall's family and teacher Honey Lou Neff's family attended Madison.
In 1872, West Ward was built. The two-story brick building was built on Union Street when the area was called Thralls Grove. It served grades one through five, with boys on the north and girls on the south side, and had outdoor facilities. Byers said the original building started where the current library is now, near the road.
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".
Byers said she talked to some women who remember going to West Ward in the 1930s. The women remembered a pump organ being in each classroom, and a teacher coming in to each class to give lessons. They remembered the outhouses, and boys chasing girls with snakes they got from the snake pit. Teachers were very strict, and students always did what they were told.
In 1954, the new building 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.
On a plaque inside the school for the 1954 dedication, it says the Superintendent at that time was Carl W. Burt. School board members included O. Ray Miner, Clarence E. Cox and Robert E. Delp. The engineer for the West Ward school was D.H. Lessig Engineers.
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.
The 100th anniversary of Madison was celebrated in 1972.
At some point, an artist painted characters like the Road Runner and Wile E. Coyote on the walls at Madison. Byers said all she could find out was that the artist signed some of them with "Busz." She couldn't figure out who did them.
She also doesn't know when the school system chose school mascots.
"Everyone remembers just always being Madison Cardinals," Byers said.
Thirty-one years later, in 1999, a gym was added, a bus turn-around was put in and the kitchen was enlarged.
Currently, Madison's principal is Jacob Hoag, who was hired in 2009 and is serving his first year at the school. Before him, Bill Landrigan, Tom Kline and Deb Blatz served as interim principals after Jeff Neumann left during the 2008-09 school year. Prior to Neumann were Steve Hassinger and William E. Farrar.
There is a painting of Farrar inside the front doors of Madison near the office. Underneath the painting, it says Farrar was a teacher and principal at the school from 1954 to 1986.
Former Warsaw Schools Superintendent Dr. Lee Harman served as part-time principal at Washington and Madison elementaries during the 1969-70 school year.
Over the years, Byers said Madison had many basketball wins and city championships, even before the school had a gym. The school always did well in district activities.
The Madison PTO, Byers said, has always done a lot of good things for the school. The playground equipment came about as part of the PTO's efforts, and they're big supporters of Madison athletics.
Madison has had several Partners in Education over the years, including R.R. Donnelley and MutualBank. Many businesses have supported Madison over the years, Byers said.
"We've had a lot of community support throughout the years," she said. She also praised the work of the custodial staff, volunteers, bus drivers and coaches over the years who have contributed much to Madison.Dorothy Hogan wrote the Madison school song. The lyrics are: "On dear Madison, on dear Madison, Honor is our goal! For our colors, red and white, We pledge our heart and soul! We are with you, we are for you Always everyone; Loyal daughters, loyal sons Of Madison!"
The Madison staff and administration hope those "loyal daughters, loyal sons" will come to the open house May 15.
Find Madison on Facebook under "Madison Elementary - Go Cardinals!!!"
