CCHS History 3

Other Early Schools

East Ward, built in 1882, was at what is now the corner of North Madison & East Jackson Streets. When it was razed in 1919, Charley Thomson used some of its bricks to erect a building at 309 W. Van Buren Street for his new automobile dealership, Whitley County Motor Sales. Redman Plumbing and Heating now occupies the building.

South Ward, built in 1876, was located at what is now the corner of Chicago and Ohio Streets. It was later replaced by McLallen School:

McLallen School was built in 1913 at 307-309 Hanna Street:

The first public school building in Columbia City, erected in 1847, was on the south side of the 200 block of West Ellsworth Street:

Prior to 1845 two small buildings for county officials were built on the southwest corner of Van Buren and Chauncey Streets, where Flox's Department Store was located for many years & now occupied by Estlick Insurance. In 1845 Warren Mason rented the north room in the Jury House for $2.50 and taught a three-month term of school, In 1846 Jacob Wunderlich was given permission to teach a term in the Jury House, provided that he furnish stove pipe and not occupy the room while court was in session. He also paid $2.50 rent.

The first high school was a private one in 1858 sponsored by Isaiah B. McDonald in a building where later the Clugston Hotel stood. It proved quite popular, and at the end of the term in March 1860, there were 174 enrolled at a cost of $3.00 to $6.00 per term.

In 1873 A. Y. Hooper, an attorney and editor of the Whitley County Republican, established Green Hill Academy. Run by Louisa C. Kinney and Sarah A. Nichols until they sought new opportunities in the West in 1880, the building was then converted to a residence at 319 N. Line Street.