History High-lights School 44

to the Indianapolis German Association for $1,300 and the present ground was bought for $3,000 making a total cost of $4,300.

After this was settled, the Committee on Buildings and Grounds recommended that a nine or ten room building be created on this place, then [called] [Cerealine] Town. Soon after this the citizens asked that the new building be named Riverside School June 12, 1908.

From a report on School flags Nov. 26, 1907, School 44 had no flag nor means of hoisting one. Mrs. H. H. Pruitt who lived across the street from the school and Mrs. J. M. O'Connor who lived where our library is, made a flag for the bulding. Mrs. Pruitt saw a member of the Park Board and had a flag pole erected.

The first Parent - Teacher Association was organized in 1910. It was called the Community Club, probably because there were

many interested people who helped in many ways to organize the Club, who were not patrons of the school. It was first called the Parent Teacher Association in January 1924.

The first graduating class from the present building was in 1910.

By the fall of 1914, Riverside School was filled to capacity, but it was not until the spring of 1920 that a new addition was proposed. The enrollment of School 44 was so large in the fall of 1920 that it was necessary to have more class rooms. A meeting was called on Tuesday Spectember 28 in the Board Room in the Administration Building by President Mr. Clarence Crippen in which contracts were ordered.

In 1920 a four room addition was made. These rooms were 106 - 109 - 209 - 210. Although the whole of the south end of

the building was torn out and remodeled with the addition of these four rooms, school remained in session. Tarpaulins were raised to keep the dust and bricks from falling inside and many times the entire building shook as the work proceeeded.

A word might be said here concerning the beautiful grove just east of the building which was acquired with the purchase of the grounds. Natural forest trees filled the space which was quite low when the building and gravel terrace were finished but which afforded a perfect stage setting for many beautiful and colorful pageants. The audiences were seated upon the terrace which gave them a fine view. For years the Physical Education Department staged very elaborate and highly finished exhibitions here.

Some time later these lovely

old trees became infected and one and all had to be removed. The playground was filled in level with the terrace and is now one large gravel-covered space.

The South Grove Library was opened on May 11, 1922. A bungalow, located just south of the school building, on the north-east corner of Sugar Grove Avenue and 20th Street was purchased from Mrs. O'Connor. The school children went to the library by rooms, during school time. The librarian told stories to the younger children.

The enrollment continued to increase so that in the fall of

1925 it was necessary to have half day sessions in the lower grades. Two portable buildings of two rooms each were put up just south of the main building and only a few feet north of the South Grove Library. These four rooms housed the second and third grades for eleven years. Each room seated 42 children. A large stove in one corner of each room furnished the heat. These buldings had many disadvantages. They were cold, dusty and hard to make attractive.

The following information was contributed by Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Willwerth, both of whom were Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus for school 44. Page 23 of the Historical [Sketch?] of school 44.