Since 1964 was the last class to graduate from Vernon High School, they honored the history of their school in the school yearbook. I have taken the information they provided and will be adding some small things in this presentation. In most cases spelling was the way it was in the yearbook a few times I did correct obvious errors, questions or comments are in purple.
Sheila Kell

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    Wilbur N. Gannon, North Vernon was the oldest living graduate of Vernon High School, having graduated from the county seat with the class of 1889.   There were three members of the class incuding Mr. Gannon, Rev. George Henneger and Miss Nellie Wagner.
    In recalling his high school days at Vernon, Mr. Gannon noted he rode horseback to school each day from the Sullivan Ford.  His family lived on the farm owned in 1964 by Waldo Randall. At that time the shool was only a four-room structure and was on the same site as the present building.

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    The High School had traveled a long way since the first gratuating class in 1880. Out of the shadows of the many people who have inhabitated the halls of Vernon High School has come the realization of many dreams.
    The first school was a log cobin donated by John Vawter in 1817 and was taught by Joel Butler. The next grade school was a little cabin up against the railroad bank. Joel Butler's grand son taught in that building and later founded Butler College in Franklin.
    The next teacher was Mrs. Rebecca (Hammond) Lard, who lived by the school, kept boarders, and taught school. The first common school is credited to John Vawter and the early Baptist teachers. They did not spare the rod and spoil the child.     The first school of "Higher Learning," was started in Vernon in 1822, known as the Jennings County Seminary, closely related to the Presbyterian Church. The parsonage was across the street from the church (which is still standing) and the seminary was across the street from the parsonage. This was the old school where the gym stood later. In 1822, Rev. John Finley Crowe was named as the first teacher of Latin, his successor was Mr. Daniel Lattimore. What became Hanover College had at first been planned to be located in Vernon, but the location at Hanover was easier to reach due to being closer to the Ohio River. The next teacher was Prof. Hamant; next Mrs. Stevens. Mrs. Stevens was sent to enlighten the west by a benevolent New England Society. Each year a day was declared by students as snake killing day.
    The old Seminary one of the very early schools, was a two story brick building, one room on each floor. Each room had a fireplace at the west end. The seats were very long benches, two of them reaching length of the room. The desks were the same length with a little space between, in front of these desks were long benches without backs, upon which was seated the unfortunates who did not write or sipher, their feet dangling some inches from the floor. First teachers Mrs. Stevens and Mr. Hamant. In 1842 Mr. Beck, introduced Algebra.
    The Academy was first a subscription school charging $2.00 for a term of thirteen weeks.
    In 1842, Hanover College directly supplied the head for the Academy;
    In 1843, William Butler taught Classical Subjects. In 1845, the Rev. A.J. Dunning arrived he was a most gifted scholar in ancient and modern languages. He permitted a girl to enter a Latin Class with the boys. With him education took on a new meaning. Mr. Dunning had night classes in Chemistry. His wife taught French and Botany. Many noteworthy citizens came from the school and were known as the Dunning boys and girls.

    A new Academy opened in 1859 with Prof. Phillips; associated with him was Mrs, Collins, a former Vernon Girl. The next was Prof. Venerable from Cincinnati. He insisted on self-expression in dramatic exercise, and debating. Friday afternoons were spent with literary entertainment.
    Following the Civil war the teachers were, A.M. Weston, W.H. McCoy and Annie F. Carney. She left a permanent impression on the young. She taught twenty-seven years. Sone of her descendants in the Vernon school during it last year of 1964 were: Linda, Allen, Blaine, Paula & Phillip Carney and Patty, Marilyn and Joe Biehle.
    The first recorded graduating class from a three year course was in 1880, with nine grabuates, Chapin Wagner, Frank Wagner, Walter Mitchel, Grant Baughn, Ellard Bailey, Mary Bundy, Lulu Earwood, Emma Hinchman, W.S. Almond. The 1881 class: Carrie Dowd, Mary Moore, Emma Wagner, Joe Earwood. The 1884 class; May McCaffrey, Mary Collett, Carrie Hill, Selma Carlisle. The 1884 class Henry Rust and Josie Bundy.

    The teachers at this time were Prof. Almond and Prof. Fenton the classes of 1889 and 1890 graduated from a four roomed brick building located where the gym is in 2014. The building was heated by coal stoves. There were no sports but baseball and marbles. No individual honors were given, as they were all considered equal. For the class of 1899 commencement was held May 9, 1899 in the Baptist church in Vernon. Each student gave an oration for the program. Pride--Wilbur Gannon, Sloth--Nellie Wagner, Possibilities of Man--George Henninger.
    Prof. Almond did not teach Latin and he resigned after three years. The new Prof. Fenton was a Hanover College Graduate, he told the students that one year of Latin would do them no good, he suggested substitution of some other studies. The students selected four year courses in Geology, Astronomy and Botany.
    The class of 1891 was Alice Wagner, Kate Wentzel, Mattie Hand, Alice Rogers, Leland Westover, Albion Kidd. 1892 class Nell Ryker, Maggie Henninger, Gertrude Batchelor, Bert Nauer, Minnie Burkitt, S.W. Conroy. 1893 class Mary Eula Goff, Ralph Carney, Estella Hill, Henry Henninger, Nellie West, Jennie Loftus, Edward Harmon, Carrie Wells, Clarence Harlow. 1894 Annette Batchelor, Frank Carney, Nettie Hessner, Izella Wagner, Anna Wenzel. 1895 - Ella Burk, May Carney, Roscoe Carney, Daily Carrie, Edna Goff, Edward Welker.
    CLASS 1896 - Rose Amos, Helen Batchelor, Thomas Egan, Maude Hopkins, Almeda O'Hair Welker, Mae Pennington, Kathryn Spect, Maggie Trapp, Julia Vann, Mary Pennington.
    The staff of the 1964 yearbook interviewed Almeda O'Hair Welker and she stated the teacher was Prof. Conroy. The only athletics was pitch ball. Activities were orations and debates. Mrs. Welker's statement was "No basketball--kids studied." Our entertainmet was walking out Rock Rest Road and picking flowers. The Commencement program consisted of music by an orchestra from Columbus and an oration by each graduate.     1897 - Ella Walt, Dessie Wildey, Silas Huckleberry, Frank Jordan, Leland Shuck, Roy Hinchman, Harry Hopkins, Arthur Thomas, William Huckleberry. 1898 - Sadia West, Augusta Hessner, John Wagner, Chester Batchelor, Charles Goff, Walter Wilson, J.C. Faris.     The class of 1964 interviewed Louvina Ziegler-Randall who told them that most of the children walked to school, rode horseback, or their fathers brought them in buggies, some boarded and roomed in the winter months. The school occasionally had suppers to raise money. The only musical instrument the school had was an organ, the kind you pump with your feet. Teachers were, Anna Carney, Susie Wohrer, Martin Shepherd, J.C. Farris, Principal. George Guess taught the colored school.
    1900 - Estella Hinchman, Margaret Johnson, Beatrice Callon, Ralph Cotton, Albert Jordan, Bell Batchelor-Dawson, Curtis Russell, Leland Hartwell.     When interviewed Bell Batchelor-Dawson told of teaching nineteen years at Vernon School then substituting thirteen. When she was in school the course of the hight school was still only three years. They went to school in the old Seminary building. All classes were held in one room and one teacher. For entertainment they sang from song books. All students went home after school to do the chores, then study and go to bed.
    1901 - Ruth Law, Mable Bonner, Julia Murphy, Alma Bolser. NO CLASS IN 1902 BECAUSE SCHOOL CHANGED TO A FOUR YEAR COURSE. 1903 - Luella Spaulding, Arthur Shuck, Myra Hinchman, Beryl Hill, Nellie Trap, Will Dawson, M.C. Mitchell.
    Mrs. Myrtle Wilson Griffin of Greencastle provided the picture of her class along with the following information. The teacher was Prof. Chesley Holmes. The activities were baseball and swimming. To prove teenagers had not changed their slogan was.

    1905 - Lulu Herrs, Charles Walt, Anna Spaulding, Fred Young, Logan Lanson, Roy Richardson, Mary Crist. 1906 - Juliet Shuck, Delbert Pfeiffer, Mabel O'Neil, Blanch Hengster. 1907 Eleanor Stillman, William Jacobs, Mabel Johnson. 1908 No Class. 1910 - Naomi Burger and Pearl Earl.
    Naomi Burger Jann wrote and told that she went to Moores Hill College and taught at the Cherry Hill school. There was no organized athletics, they just played ball. They lined up and marched in and out of the building.
    1911 - Fannie Lamb, Catherine Johnson, Oris White.

    Our teacher was Prof. Jackson. I am the only colored boy. During our senior year the boys ERECTED THE FIRST BASKETBALL GOAL POST at Vernon School. We had a ministrel show, under Mr. Jackson's supervision, as entertainment. Mr. Pettiford attended Indiana State College and taught in North Vernon.
    Class of 1913 Everett Ream, Ethel Booth, Gladys Bolden.
    This was the year(1913)that the school board passed a rule where credits for deportment were required.

    1914 - Glena Thomas, Naoma McClure, Mildred Petree, Myrtle Ream, Phyllis Jackson, Maggie Willman, Alpheus Hamrick, Prof. Baily, John Louis Nicholas.     Several members of this class reported that this was the year of firsts. The first picture of a graduating class was published in the Vernon paper. The first school paper was published. FIRST HIGHT SCHOOL PROM WAS HELD AT THE SEMAN HOME. Both boys and girls had a sawdust basketball court in the school yard. There were six senior girls so the team had only six members. Phyllis Jackson was the captain. They wore bloomers and middies as suits. Played boys rules. THE PEOPLE OF VERNON WERE AGAINST GIRLS BASKETBALL. John Grinstead, the brains of the class was president. (? - John not mentioned before)

    A Presbyterian minister coached a basketball team. They went to Madison and played the employees of Craigmont. A chorus was directed by Prof. Jackson. The senior play was "Captain Dick", they performed it at Vernon and Holton. This year there were county track and field meets. The motto was "Perseveramce wins success". FIRST CAPS AND GOWNS WORN.
    Inez Pettiford Jenkins reported they had a strong girls Basketball team, which played boys rules, also against boys. The school building was partially destroyed by a tornado, classes were held in buildings in town. She also stated "the building couldn't stand another class like ours." Jacob McClure reported that he helped Mr. Jackson organize the first BASKETBALL TEAM, THE GYM WAS THE GREAT OUTDOORS. The baseball diamond was on the hill, on the northeast corner of the old building, the street, neighbors yards and gardens.

    For this class Mr. Homer Dell was interviewed and it was found that during this period and previous to this time high school students were not furnished transportation. If they drove a horse and buggy they had to unhitch in the morning and hitch back up at night. The basketball team was coached by Prof. Jackson. If they played Brownstown they would leave in a spring wagon at two in the afternoon and get back at two in the morning. It was easy to play the southern river towns. They would go by train to Madison, then down river to Vevay, Rising Sun and many more. One time they had trouble with the river and just got back in time to go to their morning classes. All practice was still done outside, on their own time. No practice during school. Games were played at Hengstler Hall, if the weather did not permit them to play outside. A tournament was held at Columbus. All teams in this part of the state that could get there played. It lasted a week, Mr. Dell said that someone from Vernon had moved to Columbus, so the entire team went and stayed with them.