RESEARCH
Darrtown's Earliest Schools
"In the spring of 1806, the first school was made up in this part of the township and taught by George Howard. The house stood a quarter of a mile northwest the center of the town. It was a log building, with a large fireplace in one end, logs cut out for windows, roof covered with clapboards, which were held down by weight-poles. This house lasted and was used for twenty-five years.
Among the teachers were John Blackburn, Enoch Morris, and Robert McManus, an Irishman, who was a fine scholar and a gentleman. The Irwin boys, the Kegards, Stouts, Haynes, Prices, and the Darrs were among the scholars.
The second schoolhouse was a frame, which stood on the public square, erected in 1830, or thereabouts. Abram Darr and Philip Brown were among the first teachers. This building was used for about eight years.
For the third schoolhouse, the Darrtown people had frame building, which stood near Darr’s distillery. The house is now used for a dwelling, near the center of the town. William Hewett and David P. Nelson were two of the first teachers.
The fourth school building, a frame, was erected about 1848, and occupied a site two hundred yards west of the center of the village. This building was used until the present brick was put up, with an Odd Fellows' hall above, but which has been sold to the school directors for school purposes. Richard Chambers and Gardner Darr were among the first teachers. Mr. Cornelius Jones, of St. Charles, is the present teacher. There is an average of seventy scholars."
Webmaster Note:
The description of Darrtown's earliest schools that appears at the right was excerpted from the Darrtown section of Milford Township history at the Rootsweb site. For the full article, see:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohbutler/cyc/562.htm
It seems that the Darrtown schools preceded schools in other parts of Milford Township. The first Darrtown school is dated 1806; Collinsville's first school teacher is recorded as 1818; and the village of Somerville was not laid-out until 1831.
To see a map of Milford Township school sites, visit: "Map of Milford Township school sites."
Early (undated) Images of Milford Township School History
ABOVE: Elsie Fillager is seen as the third student from the left in the first row. The date and the location of this photo is unknown. This image was donated by Harry Fillager in June 2012.
ABOVE: Elsie Fillager is seen as the second student from the left in the third row. The date and the location of this photo is unknown. This image was donated by Harry Fillager in June 2012.
This history section provides access to the following TWO TYPES of records and recollections; published and personal.
(2) PERSONAL:
School related memories are offered by Hazel Green, Fred Lindley, and Fay (Dees) O'Brien; see the "Recollections page."
School related information also appears at the Marie Schmidt biography page.
(1) PUBLISHED:
Several published news articles about the Darrtown schools have been located and POSTED BELOW.
"COLLINSVILLE
Hot Lunches to Again be Served
The Collinsville school opened on Tuesday, September 1 with a total of 105 pupils. MIss Nellie Campbell - Grades 1, 2, and 3 with an enrollment of 33 pupils; Miss Leron Campbell - Grades 4 and 5 enrollment of 39 pupils; Mrs. Ethel Finlay [1] - Grades 6, 7, and 8 enrollment of 33 pupils [2]. Both the Primary and upper grade rooms had perfect attendance for the first week. The intermediate room had only one absent.
During the last school year, the boys and girls took subscriptions for the Country Gentleman. Twenty-five of the reading circle books for Children's LIbraries adapted to each grade were bought with the money. These books were in the library for the first day of school. John Smith, Albert Lindley, Fred Grothaus, and Russell Bowman had each read three books at the end of the first week.
Supt. Roker called at our school on Tuesday and Friday of the first school week.
Mothers' Club Busy
The Mothers' Club has been very busy for the last month in canning a supply of food for the hot lunch. Canning day No. 1, 174 quarts of peaches, 5 quarts jelly, and 23 glasses jelly; canning day No. 2, 157 quarts of apple sauce, 6 quarts jelly, 12 glasses jelly, and 28 cans peaches; canning day No. 3, 39 quarts apple sauce, 21 quarts apple butter, 23 quarts green beans, 8 quarts jelly; canning day No. 4, 48 quarts of corn, 21 quarts of beans, and some jelly.
The ladies are planning to serve hot dinners beginning November 1 and continue through March. [3]
Our eighth graders from last year have all found their places in various High schools. Robert Shaw, Lewis and Warren Fisher, Evan Cain, and Arnold Lambert have entered Milford Township High school at Darrtown; Paul Gerber at Middletown; Howard Goldsmith at Oxford, and MIldred Cox and Robert Winters at Seven MIle."
Webmaster Notes:
Regarding the news article at the left...people who attended the Collinsville School in the 1940's recall...
...[1] Mrs. Ethel Finlay as a teacher. Mrs. Finlay occasionally substituted for sixth grade teacher, Mrs. Virginia Teckman, during the late 1940's. The two other teachers named in the first paragraph are not known. (However, some research about Nellie and Leron Campbell led to the notes that are listed below, opposite the image of the 1930 Federal Census.)
...[2] classrooms at Collinsville School with two grade levels (1 & 2) (3 & 4) and (5 & 6). As students, we had no idea that, some 20 years earlier, the school had classrooms with three grade levels each; nor did we image having 33 or 39 pupils to one classroom / teacher.
[3] This news item about the "Mothers' Club" confirms that the ladies of Collinsville school were engaged in providing hot lunches to the Collinsville students - for five months of the school year. This all occurred before the Federal Lunch Program for schools.
The image of the 1930 Federal Census (left) is included because it provides information about the teachers whose names appear in the "school news" paragraph above.
This census report confirms that Nellie B. Campbell lived at the Robert Finlay residence as a "Lodger." The original record shows that her occupation was "teacher."
"Extra Info" - Roberta Russell, also listed as a lodger at the Finlay home, was also identified as "teacher." Miss Russell would become the wife of Milford Township resident, Howard Laughln.
Somerville and Collinsville School News
From Hamilton Evening News - 1929, April 11
"In The Rural Schools of Butler County
SOMERVILLE
Purple Stock is Boosted
"With probably the best track team in her history, Ol' Somerville High will be a favorite in Butler County's sixth annual track and field meet, May 3, at the great Butler county fair grounds. With every man on the squad showing up better each day, the Purple Stock is being sent sky-high." [1]
...portions of article deleted for brevity...
"COLLINSVILLE
"Both the primary and upper grade rooms have had perfect attendance for this week.
Our school has received a charter from the state, rating us as a first grade elementary school." [2]
...portions of article deleted for brevity...and privacy...as the article includes a list of the results from a spelling test - by grade levels, with names of students placing first, second, and third.
And, then, the following sentence appears:
"The results of the Otis Intelligence Scale given in the primary room are as follows…" [3]
1926 School News
1929 School News (item A)
Webmaster Notes:
[1] The Somerville portion of this news article goes on to to describe individual exploits…of athletes with the following family names that have been long associated with the northeast corner of Milford Township: Brenan, Buell, Bell, Withrow, Ponder and Hageman. Also, there is a later reference to the "Purple Flyers." So, it appears that the Somerville School may have been known by the color purple.
[2] It seems that Ohio rating local schools is not unique to the 21st century. At least, the Collinsville school earned a rating of "first grade."
[3] The reference to the Otis Intelligence Scale is significant by 21st century standards. Imagine the firestorm (i.e., law suits) that would follow, if today's school officials released (and newspapers published) student intelligence scores! And, yes, the 1929 newspaper account listed student names!
"DARRTOWN
Box Social Planned
Last Friday, the Darrtown nine gained another rung of the ladder in their effort to win the county baseball cup a second time [1], when they defeated the Monroe lads to the tune of 7 to 4.
Hanover, of the western division, has not been defeated by any other team in that section. However, the Darrtown boys traveled to Hanover two weeks ago and found them to be easy marks, the score being 19 to 5 in Darrtown's favor.
Darrtown and Monroe were tied for first place in these side of the county, but Friday's game puts Darrtown in the lead.
Schulteiss and Starr formed Monroe's battery, while Alston [2] and Smith [3] handled the Monroe batters for Darrtown. Alston struck out 10, but Schulteiss succeeded in fanning only 2 of Darrtown's batters.
Wright [4], of Darrtown, landed a three bagger and Alston a two-base hit. Alston, Wright, Betz [5], Smith, and Decker [6] each counted 2 hits out of four times at bat. Warren, of Hamilton, officiated.
Darrtown is booked to play Jacksonburg next Friday, unless different arrangements are made.
Box Social
On Friday evening, April 19 at 8 o'clock, the Junior class will be in charge of a box social and entertainment at the school building.
The eighth grade will present a play, 'Welcome, Miss McGregor.' The characters are as follows:
Katherine Parker: Hilda Withrow
Both Collard: Gustabel Bradbury
Richard Parker: Woodrow Whitehill
Jerry Tensdale: Paul Krebs
Clyde Harrison: Glen Ward
Elsie Wessel: Helen Bufler
Edward Carston: Garland Wyckoff
Jack Morris: James Irwin
Miss McGregor: Mary Bennet
Madge Muggins: Glenna Pierson
Nellie Burke: Florence Gault
The Juniors will present a play, "Cappy Explains." The characters are as follows:
John Sterling: James Pierson
Ann Sterling: Josephine Bradbury
Dorothy Gray: Margaret Grothaus
Kent Leighman: Eldon Betz
Olga, the maid: Eva Cain
Cappy: Wilbur Smith
Jerome Long, undertaker: James Harris
Miss Patterson: Lela Alexander
The Detective: Robert Shaw
The Eel: Paul Gerber
Following the plays, the well-filled boxes brought by the girls will be auctioned off. Ice cream and soft drinks will be on sale. Everyone is assured of a pleasant evening's entertainment."
"Radio
The science class installed a radio [7], kindly loaned by Mr. Wiley and tuned in, Thursday afternoon, to the "School on the Air." The students particularly enjoyed the interesting and instructing talk on the Geography of the Netherlands, by Professor McConnett of Miami."
1929 School News (item B)
Webmaster Notes:
[1] See image of the 1928 Darrtown High School championship baseball team.
[2] Walter "Smokey" Alston
[3] Wilbur Smith
[4] Clarence Wright
[5] Eldon Betz
[6] Clifford Decker
After reporting on the junior class box social, the news article continues with a list of "Class Ranks" - which reports the names of students ranked number one through number three (and four in two instances).
Baseball teammates, Walter Alston is listed among the ranked seniors; Raymond Wiley among the sophomores; and Clifford Alexander among the freshmen.
Lela Alexander (who would become Mrs. Walter Alston) was listed among the ranked juniors.
[7] Just as schools today try to keep up with technology (computers, Internet, etc.), the schools of 1929 were also trying to stay abreast of recent developments. In this case, the item of interest was...the radio!
Notice that the radio was not owned by the school; it was on loan from Mr. Wiley.
1930 School News - Two news items!
From: Hamilton Evening Journal - 1930 / December 5
"DARRTOWN
Thanksgiving Program
An interesting program in keeping with the Thanksgiving season was presented by the Senior Class at Darrtown on Wednesday morning.
Orchestra selection: School orchestra
Bible Reading: Edna Weibel
Prayer: School
A song of Thanksgiving: School
Story of the First Thanksgiving: Howard Fox
Orchestra selection: School orchestra
Original poems, by seventh grade pupils: Mildred Harris, Gladys Ledwell, and Martha Grothaus
Thanksgiving story: Luella Bowers
Song, "Landing of the Pilgrims" : Senior class
Original poems by the eighth grade pupils: Carl Hayes, Frances Lang, and Arthur Fulmer
Thanksgiving stories: Ernest Tackett and Helen Geisler
Song, Thanksgiving prayer: Senior class
Contest: Words formed by the letters in "Thanksgiving"
Pep meeting leaders: Jessie Lindley and Ralph Reynolds
Basketball with Okeana
In spite of bad weather, the boys and girls basketball teams and their enthusiastic followers journeyed to Okeana on Thanksgiving eve. The girls played a fine game, but were defeated by the Okeana girls. The boys, in a close and fast game, suffered their first defeat of the season by a score of 25 to 20. The teams hope for different results when they play Okeana on January 9. On Friday evening, December 12, the boys' and girls' teams will play Monroe.
Scholastic Rank
Several changes were made in the class rank of individual pupils, when the grades for the past six weeks were given out. Names intentionally omitted here; however, the original newspaper article listed the first four students for each grade levels 8-12.
Junior Class Sweaters
An order of brand new wool sweaters, which have pervaded the school building, was easily traced to the members of the Junior class, who were strutting about, adorned with their handsome black class sweaters, with the scarlet, chenille "M" and the numeral "32." [1]
Banking Banner
The seventh and eighth grades are to be commended on their thrift habits, having won the banking banner for the past two weeks."
1931 School News
From the November 9, 1931 edition of the Hamilton Daily News
"DARRTOWN COURT SKED ANNOUNCED
With the close of the baseball season, the interest is turned to basketball at Darrtown school and the pupils are looking forward to a busy and successful season. The following schedule will be followed by the Darrtown teams this year:
Nov. 13 - Seven Mile
Nov. 20 - Okeana
Nov. 25 - Ross Township
Dec. 4 - Open
Dec. 11 - Somerville
Dec. 18 - McGuffey
Jan. 8 - Okeana
Jan. 15 - Open
Jan. 22 - Monroe
Jan. 29 - Seven Mile
Feb. 5 - Ross Township
Feb. 12 - Fairfield
Feb. 19 - Open
Feb. 26-27 - Tournament
On Thursday, Oct. 29, the Darrtown and Somerville teams met at Darrtown to play off the tie of the first game. At the end of the second inning, the score was 2 to 2 and it was necessary to call the game, because of darkness.
The hot lunches were begun on Monday, November 2. An attractive and nourishing menu has been planned for this month and many children are buying their lunches."
1938 School News
From the Hamilton Journal and Daily News ~ Saturday, May 28, 1938
"Wayne and Milford Diplomas Presented
Commencement exercises were held Friday night for Wayne High school in the Wayne HIgh school auditorium and for Milford High school in the Darrtown Lutheran Church."
(...Wayne school news omitted from this website…)
"Dr. Walter L. Collins, president of Wilmington college addressed graduates of Milford High school in exercises in Darrtown Lutheran Church. He was presented and introduced by C.H. Williams, superintendent of Butler County schools.
The program included Processional, "Festival March, " Weber; orchestra, "Air de Ballet," Gluck; invocation, Rev. Floyd S. Webb, pastor of the Darrtown M. E. church; salutatory, Robert Howard; clarinet solo, selection from "Lonisa de Montford," Bergson, Donald Seibert, accompanied by Mrs. Carl Seibert; class address, "We Build the Ladder by Which We Rise," Nancy Robinson; orchestra, "Cossack Dance," Moussorgsky.
The presentation of diplomas was by John Burkhart, superintendent of the school; a selection by the orchestra, "The Commander," Brockton, and benediction closed the program.
The class roll includes: James Arnold, Frederick Baecker, Edith Bryant, Emily Bryant, James Cornelius, Kathryn Dynes, Mary Alice Fisher, Lorraine Gerber, Wilber Gibson, Robert Howard, Melvin Leslie, Lee McWhorter, Nancy Robinson, and Carlisle Wolfe."
Webmaster Note: The "Anecdotal Record" at the right was exceprted from a page of text that was among several historical documents that Harry Ogle contributed to the Darrtown.com website in January 2012.
Neither the author nor the date of the anecdotal record was identified. However, within the article, there are two instances where present tense is used, with references to the year, 1947.
The anecdotal record, which was identified as "Page 10" and titled "Institutions," had the appearance of having been typed on a manual typewriter and, presumably, was someone's attempt to record the history of how and why the Darrtown high school was closed.
This anecdotal account seems authentic, as the information that appears on the other pages in the collection of papers contributed by Harry Ogle is consistent with records that are available from the Milford Township section of the US GenWeb Project.
A hand-drawn pie chart that accompanied the anecdotal record indicated the following percentages in 1947:
"40% to Seven Mile
40% to Stewart
10% to McGuffey
10% elsewhere (Hanover, Hamilton, etc.)."
Given the apparent authenticity of this anecdotal record, it is included here as additional information about the closing of the Darrtown High School.
The Closing of Darrtown High School - An Anecdotal Record
"In 1938, the only school existing in this town, was condemned by the state authorities.
For several years, it had been debated as to whether this school would continue or not. Two small towns within Milford Township, Darrtown and Collinsville, carried on their school system as one unit.
Both towns had a school building, but neither of these buildings was large enough for the grade school and high school students from both towns. Some adjustment had to be met, as to the division of students.
For about ten years, the first six grades went to Collinsville school and the last six grades went to Darrtown school. Although the first six grades are going to Collinsville school to this day (1947), there are a number of reasons why the Darrtown school was condemned.
In the first place, the student enrollment of this school was very small, which meant that it received inadequate support from the state and thus could not be rated as a grade A school. When it finally closed, the main reasons given were that was not absolutely fire-proof, and the physical educational facilities were not up to standards.
The outcome was that all the students, in this part of the township, from grades six to twelve, had to be divided up and sent to schools nearest their homes. Half the pupils were sent to Oxford schools (they had their choice of McGuffey or Stewart) and the other half to Seven Mile high school. "
From: Hoosier State Chronicles / Indiana’s Digital Newspaper Program
The Richmond Palladium (Daily)
Vol 45, Number 199, 29 June 1920
Villages Wrangle Over School Consolidation
OXFORD, O., June 29.
Darrtown and Collinsville, two villages in Milford township, have become involved in a school wrangle because of the consolidation of the high school of the two towns, owing to the scarcity of school children. Darrtown has eight children; Collinsville has 22. Beginning this fall, school will be held in Collinsville. and it has been arranged to transport the children of Darrtown free of charge. Next year the school is to be held in Darrtown; that is, if the scheme of the board of education carries. The whole proposition will be defeated, because Darrtown people say they will not permit their children to go to Collinsville. but will send them to Oxford instead.
See a reprint of the original article at: Villages wrangle - 1920
1920 School News
1916 School News
From the Richmond Palladium (Daily) / Volume 41, Number 173, 7 June 1916
DARRTOWN SCHOOL BOARD OPENS THREE YEAR HIGH SCHOOL
OXFORD, O., June 7. The board of education of Darrtown, five miles east of Oxford, has decided to open a three-year high school next fall. A $5,000 addition is being erected to the school building. Two new teachers have been employed for: next year, Miss Marie Beaton and Miss Sara Roudebush, of Oxford, both this year's graduates of the teachers' college, Miami university.
1918 School News
Richmond Palladium (Daily) / Volume 43, Number 325, 28 November 1918
FLU AFFECTS TOWN
OXFORD, O, Nov. 28. Influenza has broken out to an alarming extent in the village of Darrtown, five miles east of here. More than half the people in the town are afflicted, and there are many cases in the country roundabout. The village schools have been closed.
1919 School News
Richmond Palladium (Daily), / Volume 45, Number 31, 17 December 1919
SCARLET FEVER CLOSES SCHOOL
OXFORD, O., Dec. 17.
The public schools at Darrtown, a village five miles east of here, have been closed on account of scarlet fever. Only one case Is known to exist, but as this child was In school until the day before she was confined to her bed, the board of education thought it best to close the building.
1909 School News
From the News-Herald / Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio / December 02, 1909
"Prof. Andy Lemon, superintendent of the schools at Darrtown, spent from Wednesday until Sunday morning visiting relatives here and at Allensburg. He was accompanied by his wife."
URL: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038161/1909-12-02/ed-1/seq-1/#words=darrtown%2BDarrtown
1910 School News
From the News-Herald / Hillsboro, Highland Co. Ohio / August 18, 1910
A. V. Lemon, who had been superintendent of the Darrtown schools the past three years, resigned his position recently and will move to his farm north of town within a few weeks.
URL: https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85038161/1910-08-18/ed-1/seq-5/#words=darrtown%2BDarrtown
1924 & 1925 School News
> Click to see an image of a 1924 newspaper article that reports how Milford Township citizens were engaged in discussions about building a centralized high school.
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An Internet search revealed a 1929 news article with additional details about the history of Darrtown schools. Click the following link to access a Darrtown school CHRONONOGY.
Notice the unusual arrangement of having alternating locations for high school attendance.
A news article from September of 1930 announced the reorganization of the Milford Township schools.
Click the link below to see an image of the article.
Click the link below to see some observations about the news item.
This reorganization of grades in the Milford Township schools lasted until 1938, when the high school at Darrtown closed. It appears that, in 1930, the high school faculty at Darrtown numbered four teachers, as did the faculty of the grade school at Collinsville. Collinsville teacher, Miss Roberta Russell married Howard Laughlin and they lived on a Harris Road farm. Collinsville teacher and principal, Miss Marie Miller married Raymond Schmidt of Darrtown (see the Marie Schmidt biography on the People/Individuals page of this website). The Collinsville School was renamed the Marie Schmidt Elementary School in honor of Mrs. Schmidt's 40-some years of service to the Milford Township community.
> Click to see an image of a 1925 newspaper article that reports a fire that destroyed the Collinsville school and led to further discussion of building a consolidated school.
A September 9, 1926 news article (below) lists the faculty of the Darrrtown School (which included a principal, four high school teachers and one primary teacher) and mentions the repairs made to the building, along with the installation of a new heating and lighting system.
FYI... the 1926 primary teacher, Miss Marie Miller, of Reily, Ohio, became Mrs. Marie Schmidt who had 40 plus year career with Milford Township schools and eventually had the Collinsville School renamed the Marie Schmidt School, in her honor.
1922 School Health News
The following link opens an image of the news item - which includes information about a pubic meeting with medical personnel who would explain the results of the examination.
Click the following link to see the current list of persons verified as FACULTY MEMBERS of the Darrtown and Collinsville schools.
To see student report cards used by Darrtown and area schools, click REPORT CARDS.
1898 School News
From the Hamilton Telegraph / Hamilton, Ohio / May 19, 1898
"DARRTOWN: The following teachers were hired at the meeting of the school board here last Saturday..."
Click the following links to see...
Excerpt from the 1930 FEDERAL CENSUS - Milford Twp.- Butler Co. - Ohio
EVEN MORE 1926 School News - How Are Graduates Occupied - after graduation?
Quoting the November 11, 1926 news article at the right - this report "shows how 1926 graduates of rural high schools of Butler County are now occupied."
The list of schools at the left is organized into two sections,labled "grades."
First Grade high schools include: Jacksonburg, Okeana, Oxford, Reily, Somerville, West Chester, and Trenton.
Second Grade high schools include: Hanover, Milford Township (Darrtown), and Venice.
However, within the list, the Milford Township school is identified as a "First Grade High School."
Also, the school year for the Darrtown school seems to read "1928-27."
Further research needed.
Seven of eight Darrtown graduates are listed as occupied at "Darrtown High School."
Perhaps this means that Darrtown school officials failed to submit information about how their graduates were occupied.
The list above reports that some of the graduates were (in November 1926 - when this article was published) occupied at Hamiton High School. [For example, see the Hanover and Venice school lists.]
If they graduated from their respective rural schools, why were they now listed as being "occupied" at the Hamilton High School? Again, further research needed.
RECORDS & RECOLLECTIONS OF DARRTOWN/MILFORD TOWNSHIP SCHOOLS
MORE 1926 School News
