History High-lights School 44

Nurse's room - 114 - 115 - 116 - 117 - 118 119 Kindergarten downstairs, and 218 Art - 219 - 220 - 221 - 222 - 223 upstairs.

1965 - 1966 - Winter. Building painted.

1966 - School Library opened.

1967 - Fall. Four portable classrooms.

1967 - Sun. Oct. 8. Mr. Tetrick's death.

Introduction

Throughout the writing of this history, the principal, Miss Geraldine Eppert, and the teachers, Miss Alice Clare, Miss Hazel Lamson, and Miss Marjorie Woodruff, have drawn upon memories and data. The data was obtained from the minutes of the meetings of the School Boards throughout the years.

It is a privilege of the authors of this history to express their gratitude and to acknowledge their obligation to the following patrons who gave, so unstintingly, of their time to assist in this work: Mrs. Althea Johnson Crippen, Mrs. Fred Peters, Mrs. John M. O'Connor, Mrs. Otto Rosemeyer, Mrs. William Taylor, Mrs. H.P. Williverth, Mrs. Charles Owen and Mrs. Willard Webb.

The Original Building 1896 - 1907

The original school 44 was built in 1894 on the northeast corner of the Moller dairy farm at 19th and Harding, then known as Sherman Avenue.

The school was outside the city limits, but was classed as a city school. Pupils living on the west side of Sherman Ave. had to acquire permits from the trustee in order to attend. The school was annexed to the city in 1896. The Board of School Trustees paid $6,476.40 to the School City of Indianapolis at that time. April 22, 1897.

The building had four rooms and was of brick construction. Only the two lower rooms were completed. The rooms were heated by large sheet iron stoves. On windy days the flames shot out the stove door as far as three feet making it hazardous. The school acquired the name of the "old fire trap" from the firemen, as it caused them to make many trips.

There were no lights of any kind in the school. The grounds were fenced in with an iron gate at the front entrance. The grounds in the rear of the school were divided into playgrounds by a high board fence. The boys played on the north side and the girls on the south side.

A few years later the upper rooms were finished and two portable buildings were added in 1902. This was for the higher grade children who had been going to #4 and #41.

On June 1, 1904 a fire occured at school 44 cuasing a damage of $500 or $600. The children were housed in other buildings until the school term closed. One of the buildings was the shooting pavilion at 21st and Sugar Grove. Another was at 19th and Sugar Grove - southwest corner. This bulding is still standing.

The grounds at 21st and Sugar Grove were considered a good location for a new school 44. The German Park Association owned this ground.

They agreed to sell this ground for the new school site on Dec. 28, 1904 for $4,300 taking the property at 19th and Sherman in part payment of $1,300 and agreeing to let the Board use the property for two years rent free. This made the Board make a payment of $3,000 to the Board of Directors of the Indianapolis German Park Association.

Finally the old site was traded