Linton High School

Linton School (Stockton twp) –1st school house was made of logs and was at what is now 1st & A Street and was used till after the Civil war. The little log schoolhouse built by John Wickcliff Wines.

1828 marked the official beginning of formal education in Stockton Township.

In the early 1840s, the first schoolhouse was built in the city of Linton at the corner of First and A Streets, Northeast. The log school was used until 1859 when John Wolford and his father built a frame school. The new school was destroyed by fire in 1860. Out of necessity, the old log schoolhouse built in the 1840's was once again used for educational purposes.

A new school would not be built until 1866 because the quiet life of Linton was interrupted by the Civil War. At the end of the Civil War, a new building was erected in 1866 on Northeast Third Street between Vincennes and A Streets, where Kramer Oldsmobile now stands and was used until 1881.

1881 - part of the present property near Central School was purchased and frame building was erected. The first two-story frame schoolhouse in Linton was built at a cost of $1,500. The school was located at Second and A Streets, Southeast, which is now a city parking lot. This site would become the focal point for education in Linton for years, as additional buildings would later be located at this central location. It was in this school building that John L. Cravens introduced high school work into the curriculum, providing a higher level of education for the youth of LintonCravens was assisted in his teaching duties by three of his pupils: Joseph Haseman, Walton E. Stover, and Joe E. Turner.

1886/7 - a store building was used for high school

1887 - frame building built on "main" school ground between Vincennes and SE "A" Sts. and between 1st & 2nd Sts

1890 purchased a 2 story frame building and moved it the "main" location; in 1920/21 land was purchased at "H" & Main St.

1893 All buildings were tore down or moved from "A" & 1st St. A new school called Central was built. I was a A two-story brick building was erected on the site. As this was the first brick school to be built in Linton, the residents considered it to be a stately structure--extremely large in size when compared to the previous school buildings.

Once located in the new building, high school work took on a new and better-organized form. The first high school commencement at Linton High School was an educational milestone. The graduating class consisted of only one person, Miss Jennie Rector and took place in 1895 or 1896.

In 1897 an addition was built on to the existing building, and the high school occupied the second floor.

In March, 1899, the structure was destroyed by fire.

Plans were made to provide for both elementary and secondary education in the same building. Thus a new school was built in 1900 on the same site as the previous building had been located before the fire. This two-story brick building was known as Central School.

The new building of Central opened in 1900; the school was commissioned in 1901.

In 1905 a two-story brick structure was built beside Central School on the corner of A and First Streets, Southeast. This building was known as Linton High School. For the first time, the high school had its own building.

By the early 1920's Linton High School had became overcrowded. Plans were formulated to build a new high school. During the building of the new school, some students were taught at the public library, located on the corner of East Vincennes and Northeast First Streets. Also during this time, all reference work was done at the city library. The drama performances were held at the Old Grand Opera House, located at the corner of First and A Streets, Northeast, because facilities were not available at the school.

The school board purchased land at H and Main Streets, Northeast in the Island Coal Company Addition. According to Mr. Battershell, architect, a land dispute developed before the school was built. Originally an old barn stood where the school was built. However, the civic-minded Haseman family donated land for the building of the new high school. Haseman Grove on Fourth Street, Northeast, stands as a reminder as a portion of this donation.

This was at the end of North Main Street and was a three-story brick structure described as:

The structure had three full levels with a basement located immediately below the auditorium. The basement level housed the gymnasium and the boiler. The interior walls were coated with a mixture of plaster and water mixed with horsehair and pig hair to make the plaster stronger.

Along with the new school came a new name; the official name of the school was Linton-Stockton Joint High School but the words "Linton-Stockton High School” were carved into the limestone over the entry way at the front of the school.

The original clock, which was installed when the school was built, was located on the south wall of the hall on the second floor. Built-in trophy cases flanked each side of the clock.

The clock equipment was ordered on June 14, 1922, from the Standard Electric Time Company. The firm sent two copies o the contract, dated July 7, 1922, which were addressed to James T. Roach, Trustee, Linton Township High School. One copy was to be signed and returned while the second copy was to be retained by the school for its records.

The contract stated that the cost of the clock system, which included the delivery and installation, was $975. The master clock was described as a 60-beat, self-winding timepiece with a hard oak clock case having a medium finish, which measured 19 ½ inches by 63 ½ inches. The regulator consisted of a wooden rod attached to a metal disc, which formed the pendulum.

The minute-interval master clock having two circuits, which connected to the 17 secondary clocks, operated the bell system. It was equipped with an automatic shifting device for silencing the bells at night, on Saturdays and Sundays, or for any 12-hour period desired.

The secondary clocks (also known as slave clocks) had matching 17-inch square wooden oak cases, which featured 12-inch dials. Installed in each of the secondary clocks was a high resistance buzzer. Moisture, temperature, or vibration did not affect the secondary clocks, which were located in the classrooms. As the master clock controlled these clocks, they were considered to be foolproof, requiring little or no attention.

The clock was made by the Springfield Electric Time Company, which was founded by Charles Warner. The clock came with came with a one-year warranty against all electrical and mechanical defects.

Some of the previous teachers were Simon Peter Caress, John L. Cavens, Julia Sheehe Rector

Within the next few years, another change occurred: the high school sports teams known as the Red and Blue became the Miners. The name Miners was chosen to honor the industry that was the main contributor to the growth and economics of early Linton.

A freestanding gymnasium was added 1938/9; and replaced the original gym in the basement described as:

The gymnasium was located about 20 feet below the ground level. The gymnasium had a hardwood floor. There were bleachers on the floor level that were 4-tiers high. the bleachers were located on the north and south walls. A balcony framed the gymnasium with chair-type seats as opposed to bleachers. The balcony was actually at ground level; therefore, one could enter the gymnasium without having to climbing stairs. On the east side there were double doors at the northeast corner. On the south side there were two sets of double doors. On the west side there was a set of double doors on the northwest corner. From inside the building entrance to the gym could be gained through two sets of double double doors in the cooridor on the first floor. Also, leading from the first level were stairs on the east and west ends of the gymnasium. Also on the balcony level a bank of windows were located on the north outside wall to help provide light and ventilation in the gymnasium.

Large steel beams in the ceiling, supporting the weight of the auditorium above the gymnasium could be seen. The basketball goals were located at the west and east ends.

upon completion of the new gymnasium the old one became a cafeteria.

The new gymnasium was described as:

The gym was located about one hundred feet east of the northeast corner of the high school building. Facing south, with two large entrances doors on this side, it presented an imposing appearance. Reinforced poured concrete was used in its construction. Of conservative modernistic design, the 115 by 128-foot structure was a major addition to the school system.

The hardwood basketball floor measured 48 by 80 feet with a 24-foot ceiling clearance which was an enormous improvement

over the previous playing floor facilities. Permanent concrete bleachers supplemented by portable ones provided a seating capacity of 2,500. Underneath the bleachers, which were located on the east and west sides were the girls and boys locker and shower rooms

Also On the north end of the building, extra classrooms were provided for the overflow from the main building. The Industrial Art classes were housed in these facilities. A self-contained heating plant were provided.

Linton Elementary School formed in 1956 consolidated the city and twp. school 1 Aug 1954 and opened 10 Sep 1956. The building was built on the property of the 40 acre campus of the high school.

In 1970 three classrooms, a large music room, foyer, and concession stand were built, attached to the gymnasium.

A major building program was started in 1978 and completed in 1979. More classrooms were added at the gymnasium area. The seventh and eighth grade students were moved to into this area, and it was designated as the Linton-Stockton Junior High School.

A high school gymnasium was included in the overall building plan.

An administrative building was built and as well as a multi-purpose room for the elementary students. Part of this project included construction of a vocational area which included classrooms equipped to teach welding, auto mechanics, drafting, agriculture, and engine repair.

In 1980, the new gym was attached to the east of the old gymnasium, which required a portion of First Street, Northeast by the school, being permanently closed. At which time the old gymnasium became known as the junior high gym.

In the mid-1980s, Dale French was searching for a key to the teacher’s desk in her room. The office personnel suggested that she check the box of assorted keys stored in the safe in the principal’s office. She noticed that one key appeared to be quite different and thought that it might belong to the master clock. She tested the key, and it worked. For many years, the case had been held together with various pieces of tape, judging from the accumulation of old tape along the edge of the door.

The original bell system of the Springfield Clock was disconnected in the fall of 1988. As related:

During the time that the master and secondary clocks were located in the 1921 high school building, the bell system was modified and updated several times. Gradually, the secondary clocks stopped functioning and were removed from the individual classrooms with one exception.

In its place was a bell system connected to the intercom in the principal’s office.

In 1989 this building was cleaned on the outside using pressurized bleach.

During the 1991-1992 school year, James Hegg, high school principal, had someone work on the old clock and got it running. However, the clock would lose about 15 minutes over a period of a week. Eventually it became so unreliable that it was turned off. The bell on the clock could still be rung by hand.

On February 10, 1999, the master clock was removed from the old building by Jerry Decker and Rusty Decker from CDI in Terre Haute, Indiana, who was the contractor responsible for the restoration of the clock. Scott Poe, an employee of Poe Electric Company, assisted with the removal by cutting the electrical wires that lead to the clock.

After the clock was removed from the old building, Lee Whitaker examined the clock and cleaned it, but it needed additional work. Next Jack Jones, a cousin to Waldon Jones whose house was moved for the construction of the new school, did the electrical work on the clock. For the final phase of the restoration, the clock was then taken to a man who lives in West Terre Haute near the Illinois stateline.

Jack Jones said that the date of the clock could be determined by the Roman numerals. On the face of the clock the number four is represented by “IIII” instead of “IV”. The secondary clocks had the same style of clock face as the master clock, only smaller. The back of the clock has cotton-coated wires arranged much like the circuitry of modern electronics.

On April 5, 2000, the refurbished clock was installed in the new school during a hailstorm. Lewis Myers (construction manager), Jack Jones, and Jerry Decker of CDI installed the clock. It was hung on a specially-built form inside the windowed-display cases in the Commons Area outside the auditeria.

In 2000 when the 1921 building was demolished during the summer of 2000, the only remaining secondary was the one mounted high on the wall near the door in Room 204. taught). The clock was removed and saved from the demolition crew

Last updated 22.10.2009