A History of the Big Walnut Local School District

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (1)

A History of the Big Walnut School District (cover)

A History of the
Big Walnut Local School
District
By Anita Hartsook Robinson
1983

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (2)

A HISTORY OF THE

BIG WALNUT LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

BY

ANITA HARTSOOK ROBINSON

1983

FOR

EDUCATION 818

DR. B. GORDON

THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY


A History of the

Bib Walnut Local School District

by

Anita Hartsook Robinson

1983

for

Education 818

Dr. B. Gordon

A History of the

Big Walnut Local School

Line drawing of an eagle
1961 Flame

Anita Hartsook

1983

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English

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31019968

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (3)

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I express my gratitude to the following people and insti-

tutions for supplying me with the information in tracing the

history of the Big Walnut Local School District.

Beardsley, Sue - clerk-treasurer - Big Walnut School Board

Brehem, Polly - local historian

Campbell, Helen - retired teacher

Cole, Leah - retired teacher

Edwards, Rachel - Sunbury Community Librarian

Fissel, Louise - long time resident of Galena

Grove, Delno - long time resident of Harlem Township

Grumney, Carolyn - teacher - Souders Elementary

Hartsook, Sylvia - teacher - Big Walnut Elementary

Miller, Dr. Richard - current Big Walnut superintendent

Morris, Kerfoot - former Big Walnut school board member

Schultz, Doris - Delaware County Library Historian

Smith, Helen - retired teacher

Souders, Hylan - retired Big Walnut superintendent

Sunbury News

Whitney, Teresa - Sunbury News

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (4)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Delaware County . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2

Primitive Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-4

Galena . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-9

Harlem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-13

Sunbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-16

County Offices - Superintendent . . . . . . . .17-21

Consolidation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22-32

Future Plans - Statistics - Footnotes . . . . 34-35

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (5)

Delaware County

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (6)

Delaware County is centrally located within the state of
Ohio bordered by Franklin County to the south, Licking and Knox Counties to the East, Morrow and Marion Counties to the North
and Union County to the West.

The following maps of Delaware County show the location of
the Big Walnut Local School District. 1


Map

1. This map depicts the location of the schools before cosolidation.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (7)

This map show the location of the schools in the district
as they appear today following consolidation.

Map

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (8)

Primitive Schools

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (9)

The forefathers of Delaware County declared in their ordi-
nance of 1787: "Knowledge, with religion and morality was
necessary to the good of government and happiness of mankind and
that school and the means of education should forever be encour-
aged." This declaration led to the the building of primitive schools
throughout Delaware County. these schools sprang up as pioneers
settled throughout the county. [2]

Primitive schools were erected by volunteered labor. Gen-
erally these schools were as follows : logs were cut 16' or 18'
lengths. Broad boards composed the roof and each had a rude fire-
place. the doors were typically clapboard. The windows, if any,
were covered with greased paper to allow light to filter through.
The student seats were benches fashioned from small trees. The
typical reader consisted of The New Testament or Old English
Reader. Grammar was scarcely taught. These schools were made
by subscription of $1.00 - 2.50 per student for a three month
period. [3]

The schools which replaced the primitive schools were the
"one-room" school houses. These structures began replacing the
primitive houses in Delaware County in the early 1800's. The
typical structure was 22' by 36' from outside to outside. The
frame was brick and more than one window was installed to allow
for proper ventilation,. Each building had one door, a chimney
and there was generally a blackboard inside. The following photo
is that of a typical one-room school house. [4]

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (10)

photo

One-Room School House

Delaware County - Then and Now
1976

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (11)

Galena was founded in 1809 by the Reverend Gilbert Carpenter
from Wilksbarre, Pennsylvania. The village was orginally named
Zoar but this was changed to Galena in 1834. Galena is situated
between the Little and Big Walnut Creeks. In 1826 the first
school was housed in the first floor of the Masonic Lodge. The
earliest public building on on record was an old log house situated
near the site of the present school building. This building was
used as a church and a school. It is believed that this log
structure was built years before the platting of the village in
1816. Upon constructing the replacement of this log structure
it was found that the site was that of Indian burial ground.[5]

In 1867 a portion of the present Galena building was built.
The school was described as follows in the 1880 History of Delaware
County: The building in the special district of Galena is sit-
uated near the square on a dry knoll which commands a fine pro-
spect of the Big Walnut Creek and the range of hills beyond.
It is a square, surmounted by a cupola. There are three depart-
ments, with a principal, and two assistants, who receive $70 and
$30 per month respectively. The latest enumeration showed 145
persons eligible for school privileges. The enrollment reaches
125, with an average attendance of 110.[6]

The following school guidelines were copied from papers
of F.A. Carpenter now in the possession of Mrs. Robert Lacher.

At a meeting to the directors of Sub-district number two
of Berkshire Township, Delaware County Ohio, held on the 29th
day of August, 1873, the following rule for the government of
the school of said district were adopted, to wit: No person

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (12)

afflicted with any contagious disease shall be permitted to
attend school. Second: It shall be the duty of the teacher to
protect the school property from injury or defacement: to prevent
all unnecessary talking during school hours; to prevent pupils
from rising or leaving seats without permission; to to prevent all
running and boisterous play within the school house; to prevent
the use of profane or immoral language by pupils; and to prevent
pupils from indulging in any immoral conduct whatever. Third:
Should any pupil refuse to to obey any of the rules of the school,
it shall be the duty of the teacher to inform the directors of
such refusal forthwith, and it shall be the duty of the directors
to expel from the school, for the remainder of the current term,
all pupils who shall refuse to comply with the rules. Fourth:
The following text books shall be used, and no other, in the
school to wit:

Orthography McGuffey

Reading McGuffey

Arithmetic, Written Ray

Arithmetic, Mental Stoddard

Geography Guyot

Grammar Harvey

Music Blackman


Fifth: The sexes shall have separate recesses. [7]

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (13)

GALENA

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (14)

In the early 1900's the Galena School flourished as a
preparatory school for teachers. At that time there was a state
law whereby townships had to pay the tuition for students passing
what was know as the Boxwell Test to go to a high school, if
that township had no high school. Galena had a better preparatory
course than many others in the county, so many came to Galena,
secured lodging and board in different homes and remained for
their courses. In 1920 the school was remodeled and again in
1950. The school has undergone additional modifications over the
years.8 The Galena building remains in use today, housing the
sixth grade for the district. this build is the oldest
school building in Delaware County still in use today. [9]

Photo

Galena School as it appeared in the 1951 Big Walnut Year, Book.
The cupola was removed in 1951 due to instability. I.C. Guinther
was the first superintendent.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (15)

Photo

April -1983

The Galena Building was remodeled in the 1950's adding a locker
room, cafeteria and an additional classroom. the sixth grade
class is presently housed here.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (16)

Photo

April - 1983

The bell from the cupola was saved and erected at this site
in front of the school where Walnut and Harrison Streets converge.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (17)

Harlem

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (18)

In 1848-1849 two villages in Harlem township were laid out -
one was named Harlem and the other was named Centerville (later
to be changed to Center Village). The first recorded information
of a schoolhouse was built after the close of the War of 1812.
This was a primitive structure as described earlier. This school
was located at the site of the Harlem Chapel. David Gregory of
Berkshire was the first teacher. Before 1908 a school was built
in Center Village at the site of the present Harlem building.
This school had two rooms. One room held grades 1 through 8
and the other was the high school. There was a pot belly stove
in each room. At a later date two more rooms and a library were
added. In 1913 a second building was constructed which was a
five room brick structure. In 1923, the present Harlem school
was built in front of the this building. At this time both buildings
were used for schooling. The old building housed grades 1-6 and
the newer building housed grades 7-12. [10]


Photo
Harlem School 1933 (Delno Grove - photo)

The senior class of 1933 is viewed in the above photo dedicating
a new flag pole. [11]

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (19)

Photo
Demolition of Center Village School
Bring Back Memories

Photo
Needed No More
After 58 Years

Center Village School, construct-
ed in 1913. Is shown as it is
giving way to the demolition crew
who have contracted to have the
building down by school opening date.

This building was constructed on
the site of the first building torn
down to make room for this brick.
Lower photo shows the east front
door of the building.


Sunbury News article from Delno Grove - date unknown.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (20)

(Continued from previous page)

While children in the area pre-
pare to return to school, the old
Center Village at Center
Village is being "opened".
Open to the sky. Open to the
memory of childhoods gone by. Me-
mories vary to some degree and the
exact date of the building of the
schools of the past has been impos-
sible to establish; but questioning
various citizens has caused a great
deal of interest and perhaps some-
one will be able to come up with
the date and other information which
should take its place in history of
our Harlem township schools.
The old school is being torn down
in the interest of safety in the com-
munity. It hasn't been used for
masses or meetings since 1951- '62.
Despite the Big Walnut Board of
Education attempts to seal the
aging structure off from vandals
by boarding it up and posting warn-
ing signs, vandalism has been a recur-
ing problem and worry for both
neighbors and officials.
The five-room structure ( )
housed youngsters. I-n Harlem Dis-
trict which became a part of Big
Walnut Local Schools in 1952.
Mrs. C.R.Grove of Galena tells
that her late husband, Cleveland,
graduated from the old school form-
erly, on the site in 1908. This was
a two-story frame building facing
north, she tells.
It was a second class school hav-
ing only three years of high school
work. Floyd Buell and Leland Paul
were both members of the last class
to graduate from this old build-
ing. Two of the instructors in the
old building were reported
to have been Ernie Baldwin and
Fred Manawalt.
Dean Cook recalls he was hauled
to Johnstown in the year 1910, '13
to school while the old Center Vil-
large brick now being (?) built.
His father, John Cook, was on the
board of education.
Mrs. Flo Fairchild of Sunbury
had her 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th years
at Center Village in the old building





















...was built, but he has never learned which McElwee. He also insists that the first building was two- story brick, contrary to the belief of some older residents.
Mrs . Frances Mallow, present
principal at Harlem Elementary,
recalls the late Mr. Laymon of Cen-
ter Village telling her years ago
that one school burned. No verifi-
cation could be found to this and he...

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (21)

Photo

Harlem School - April 1983

The Harlem School received two classrooms and a kitchen in 1956.[12]
The above photo depicts the school as it stands today. The
school was closed in 1969 and sold by the Big Walnut Local School
district to Harlem Township. The building and five acres on which
it stands have since been sold to private industry.[13]

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (22)

Sunbury

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (23)

In 1816 the village of Sunbury was founded by William and
Louis Myers. The first school was situated on the southeast
corner of the square. This building also served as a church.
In 1868 a second school was built at the present site. This
building was used as an elementary school and the second floor
of the townhall was utilized as the high school. The following
information was documented from the 1880 History of Delaware
County. There are two special school districts in this township
organized in 1868,both of which are furnished with fine buildings,
(This makes reference to the building at Galena as well as Sunbury.)
The one at Sunbury is a a brick structure, somewhat in the form of
a cross. The main arm extending from east to west, is about
38' by 48'; the arm crossing this at right angles in the center
in 13' wide, and projects 24' in front and 13' to the rear. There
are accommodations for four departments, but only three have as
yet been used. The building stands upon a prominent site, north
of town, is ornamented with colored brick, contains a cellar under
all, and is considered by enthusiastic citizen as the finest
outside Delaware. It cost $5,000 and was built in 1873. Just
before the building was completed a fire broke out in it and
threatened to destroy it, causing a loss of some $400 to the
contractor. The enumeration of the district is 181. The average
attendance in the winter is 120, and about 100 in the summer.
A gentleman is employed as principal, and two ladies as assistants
in other departments. The salary of the former is fixed at $600
for the school year of nine months. The other teachers are
paid $30 a month.[14]

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (24)

In 1913 more rooms were added to the front of the elementary
building. The lower floors were used for the elementary and
the upper floors were used for the junior and senior high. The
"Sheep Shed" was built to the west of the elementary school in 1934.

In 1924-25 the Sunbury high school was built. 1910 was
the year that athletics were introduced. The first sport was
baseball followed by basketball in 1915 and football in 1926.

There was an addition of classrooms and a cafeteria in
1956 as the old building was razed. Then in 1974 the Sunbury
building underwent some major renovations: a media center
was added along with a teacher's lounge and a new heating
and ventilation system was installed. From 1977-1983 this
building has housed the district's 7th and 8th grades. [15]

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (25)

Photo
Sunbury Elementary
1978
G.K. Sharp
Superintendent

Photo
Sunbury High School
1924-1925

Photo
Sunbury School
April 1983

The wing on the back of the building included a cafeteria along
with several classrooms which was completed in 1956. Today this building houses the 7th and 8th grades of the district.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (26)

County Offices
Superintendent

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (27)

The Delaware County Offices of Education was formed by
legislative action in 1914. The purpose of this office is to
serve as a directing force in school district organization.
At one time Delaware County had thirteen small districts all of
which were small. It was the action of the county office which
brought about the consolidation of these smaller districts into
three larger districts. Consolidation had been the key to a
more efficiently and satisfactorly run school.[16]

The Delaware County Office of Education has had many changes
over the years. This office is the district representative of
the State Department of Education. The county office coordinates
all countywide school activities. The responsibility of reor-
ganizing school districts is theirs but this plays a very minor
role. The county office supplies the following services to the
county schools:

-school psyclologist

-speech and hearing therapists

-EMR work-study coordinator

-curriculum coordinator

-reading specialists [17]

The following three pages outline the responsibilities of
the County Superintendent as required by law of the state of Ohio.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (28)

Services of the County School Office
To the School Districts of Delaware County
(offices are located in the basement of the courthouse,
corner of North Sandusky Street and Central Avenue,
Phone number is 362-1901)

Required by Law of the County Superintendent

I. State Department of Education

A, Collects information for reports from local schools
1. average daily membership
2, attendance figures (days absent, days present, etc.)
3. financial statistics (tax rate, valuation, etc.)
4. transportation (bus cost, miles, numbers transported, etc.)
5. elementary principal reports (teacher & building information)
6. high school principal reports (teacher & building information)
7. annual statistical reports (attendance, membership, etc.)
8. other miscellaneous, as requested.

B. Certifies training and salary of every certificated person
C. Determines number of teacher units for school foundation program
(basis of of all state monies)
D. Receives and transmits all state funds to the local schools and state department in
securing rehabilitation aid and other school matters.

II. Board of Education

A. Acts as Clerk of the County Board of Education
1. prepares budget
2. Responsible for administering consolidation and transfer
of local school districts
B. Recommends for employment and direct all staff members of the
secretary etc.
C. Holds annual meeting of local Boards of Education
D. Arranges for local clerk's books auditing by the State Auditor's
office.

III. local Executive Heads and Teachers

A. Nominate all principals and teachers
B. Certification of teachers
1. applies for temporary certificates
3. keeps file of certificates of all teacher
4. certifies to local clerks the minimum salaries to be paid
C. Maintains teacher personnel record for all local schools
1. contract
2. training
3. experience
4. salary
D. Prepare and maintains a list of substitute teachers
E. Keeps sick leave record of all teachers and employees. (each clerk certifies.)

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (29)

IV. Instruction and Curriculum Development

A. Prepares a county course of study or curriculum guide (developed
by teachers and supervisor, approved by the State Department of
Education
B. Supervises instruction in local school (supervisor)
C. Textbook adoption (selection by teacher committees)

V. Pupil Personnel

A. Maintains file of all pupils enrolled in local schools
B. Maintains file of pupil membership books (class registers) for all
local schools
C. Maintain file of six weeks attendance reports
D. Issues working certificates and reports all certificates to the
State Industrial Commission
E. Signs all high school diplomas and eighth grade promotion certi-
ficates.

VI. Transportation

A. Approve application for school bus purchases
B. Issues certificates to bus drivers
C. Arrange for annual inspection of buses by the State Highway patrol
D. Issue permits for out-of-county extra -curricular bus trips.

VII. Surplus Supplies

A. Lunchroom - Processes the distribution of surplus commodities to the
lunchrooms of the local schools, St. Mary's, Delaware City Schools,
Children's Home, and the County Home.
B. Surplus Property- accepts all federal surplus property for the
local schools and is responsible for financing and distribution.

Additional Services of the County Superintendent

1. Forms and Supplies to Local Schools

A. Those Furnished include: teacher record or grade books, class
registers (attendance and membership), cumulative record folders,
report cards, scholarship record sheets, six-weeks' attendance
reports, enrollment sheets, bus permits, eighth grade promotion
certificated, eighth grade stats tests, senior starts tests.
B. Those available include: teacher contract forms, salary notice
forms, non-certificated employees contract forms, teacher certi-
ficate application blanks, college catalogues, award certificates,
file of all textbooks.
C. Other forms of supplies requested by the local districts.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (30)

II. Pupil Personnel

A. Serves as clearinghouse for scholarship information
B. Cooperates with County Health Department
C. Promotes and arranges for annual College Night
D. Cooperates with County Agricultural Extension office in promoting
Conservation Day
E. Cooperates with all social agencies in county including Mental
Health , Retarded Children, Speech and Hearing Clinic, Welfare
Department
F. Promotes and assists with inter-school athletics and play-days
G. Promotes and assists with special education and kindergarten
classes for all local schools
H. Assists in development of testing program for intelligence,
achievement, attitude measurement
I. Promotes the use of various scholarship tests from the State
Department of Education (local schools purchase and administer all
except eighth grade and senior tests)

III. Teacher Personnel and Professional Growth

A. Interviews teachers for referral to local schools to to fill vacancies
B. Cooperates with Delaware County Teachers Association
C. Promotes off-campus extension classes
D. Collects membership dues to D.C.T.A., O.E.A., and N.E.A.
E. Assists in selection of delegates to the N.E.A. and O. E. A.
conventions and the Conference of Instruction
F. Promotes workshops and teacher meetings
G. Coordinates work of the local schools by regular meetings with
executive heads
H. Attends professional meetings on local, state, and national level
I. Publishes and distributes a monthly bulletin to all teachers and

IV. Liaison and Mediator

A. Confers with local boards on school problems
B. Confers with local boards and administrators on new building
construction
C. Confers with executive heads on school problems
D. Confers with parents, boards of education, teachers, and adminis-
trators involved in disputes and disagreements
E. Serves local schools through liaison with welfare groups,
governmental agencies, and business organizations

V. Public Relations

A. Inform the public through all news media of the activities,
purposes, and objections of all the local schools
B. Provides information to all regarding district boundaries.
C. Works with Delaware County Council of Parent-Teachers Associations
D. Arranges for visitation week

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (31)

The first county superintendent was Paul M. Lybarger.
Succeeding superintendents in order were Edgar Law, Henry Main,
Guy McFarland, R. B. Warner, Maurice Levy and the current
superintendent Smith Runyan. [18]

It was the action of the Delaware County Board of Education
in January 1950 which resulted in the consolidation of Galena
and Sunbury to form the Big Walnut Local School district. The
Harlem School district consolidated with Galena and Sunbury in
1952.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (32)

Consolidation

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (33)

The Big Walnut Local School District was formed by
legislative action of the Delaware County Board of Education in
January 1950. The Galena and Sunbury districts were abolished
and the new Big Walnut district of land and possessions was formed
On January 23, 1950. 19 The district was given its name "Big
Walnut" because the Big Walnut Creek flowed through both
communities. The following citizens which were appointed by the
county office made up the districts first board of education:
Wendall Day, Owen Meredith, Kerfoot Morris of Sunbury and
Millard E. Draudt and Paul Zwayer of Galena. The newly formed
board chose Mr. Marvin Miller as the new district supeintendent. [20]

For the first year of consolidation some necessary reshuffling
of students was necessary. the high school students attended
Sunbury and the 7th and 8th grades were together at Galena. The
total enrollment for that first year of consolidation was 912. [21]

Proceeding the consolidation, the Sunbury had already
purchased a 56 acre land site south of town in preparation for
building a new high school. They had also passed two bond issues
in preparation for the new facility. Galena likewise had passed
a bond issue with the intent to build a new elementary school,
however, a site for this new school had not been purchases. By
merging into a new district the time and need for a new high school
was right. In that Sunbury had purchased a 56 acre site the
decision was made to construct the Big Walnut High School on
this site.

On October 27, 1950, A. D. St. Clair of the State Department
of Education broke ground at the site of Big Walnut High School.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (34)

All of the students of the district, many residents and board
members Morris and Zwayer attended the ceremonies. [22]

Newspaper clipping
Sunbury News October 26 1950

Public to See Ground Broken, for New Big Walnut High School Building

Ground will be broken for the
new Big Walnut High School build-
ing at a public ceremony on the
new site south of Sunbury tomorrow
afternoon, Friday at 2:00 o'clock.

All students in the Big Walnut
schools at Galena and Sunbury will
take part in the ceremony and the
public is invited. A. D. St. Clair
of the State Department of Educa-
tion, G. E. McFarland, county sup-
erintendent of schools, and members
of the Big Walnut board of educa-
tion will be on the program an-
nouces Supt. M. H. Miller of Big
Walnut schools. Mayor Paul Evarts
of Galena and Mayor Cecil Townley
of Sunbury will take part in the
ceremony.

Most places of business in the
school district will be closed from
1:45 to 2:45 to give merchants and
their staffs an opportunity to attend
the ground breaking.

The Big Walnut marching band
will lead a parade of students from
the school to the new school ground
for the program.

Starting Construction New
Knowlton Construction Company,
building contractor, are moving
equipment to the site this week and

(middle column unreadable)

(partial last column)

and the land purchased for the
$7,000. this leaves
building.
The board of education explains
for the completed
building and be approximately
.

Junior High in New Building
Enrollment in the grade schools
at Sunbury and Galena continues
and these are becoming
crowded. Original plans had called
for high school classes only in the
building but the board of edu-
cation in session Tuesday evening
decided to put the junior high
and eighth grades in it.

Our building at Galena and
Sunbury will too crowded with
all eight grades and we will have
to make room in the new building
for the seventh and eighth", explains
Meredith, board president.
The small bond issue that we are
selling will finance the wing of class
rooms to make room for these stu-
dents", he told the News.

(unreadable)

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (35)

Sunbury News Jan. 26,1950

COUNTY BOARD CREATES NEW DISTRICT HERE
BOARD MEMBERS, NAME CHOSEN FOR DISTRICT

Merger of the Sunbury and Galena school districts
into a new district and abolishment of the Marlboro school
district is being announced by the Delaware county board
of education.

The board's action abolished the present Sunbury and
Galena school districts and Fcreated the new district of their
lands and possessions. The county board, named the new
district the Big Walnut Local School District.

Three members of the present school board
and two from the Galena board were named on the Big
Walnut board. These were Owen Meredith, Kerfoot Morris
and Wendell Day of Sunbury and M.E. Draudt and Paul
Zwayer of Galena.

Abolishment of the Marlboro dis-
trict was made. The section of the
district east of the Olentangy River
was placed in the Ashley district.
Territory west of the Olentangy
River was combined with Radnor
to form another new district that
was named Radnor Local
School District.

Unanimous Vote Cast
These two mergers received the
unanimous vote of the county board
of education attending the meeting.
F.C. Murphy of Trenton township
made the motion to pas the resolu-
tion merging Galena and Sunbury
and it was seconded by W. J.Davis
of Radnor. Paul Bennet of Ashley
and Odell Liggett of Ostrander voted
with Mr. Murphy and Mr. Davis to
pass the resolution, Allen Freeman
or Orange, fifth member of the board,
is in Florida and did not attend the
meeting.
Action to combine Sunbury and
Galena followed presentation of a
petition to the county board by Mr.
Zwayer and others in the Galena
school district asking for the conso-
lidation. The petition contained
Sunbury's 61 square miles and
192 signatures of residents in the
Galena school district and was pre-
sented a month ago. Mr. Zwayer
told the board that he campaigned
for the merge last November when
he led the ticket to be elected to
the Galena board of Education.
The county board points out that
it believes a more economical and
efficient school system will
be obtained by the merger. Big
Walnut creek is the largest stream
in this part of the county and flows
through both Galena and Sunbury
districts.

Largest County District
Merger of Sunbury and Galena
makes the new district the largest
in the county system and one of
the largest in central Ohio.
The Union distri ct composed of
Hyatts and Powell was largest
with 63 miles of territory.

2nd column
Galena's 21 gives the district 82
square miles.
Big Walnut district will have a
tax duplicate of $6,733,748; Sunbury
had $4,866,638 and Galena $1,867,110,
according to figures obtained from
County Auditor James A Samson.
Enrollment at Big Walnut district
will exceed 900 with Sunbury's 635
pupils and Galena's 272.
Harlem May Join
Petitions are being circulated in
the Harlem school district seeking
to join the Sunbury-Galena merger.
Representatives of the Harlem board
of education obtained information
this week relative to the merger
from G.E. McFarland, county super-
intendent of schools.
Sunbury, Galena and Harlem
school boards cooperated last year
to have a survey made of the three
districts in anticipation of consoli-
dation.
Big Walnut School Plans
Members appointed to the Big
Walnut board of education cannot
meet and organize until thirty days
after the merger was made. Present
boards at Sunbury and Galena
schools are dormant during that
period but can meet payrolls and
other necessary operating expenses.
This thirty-day period is granted
by law to permit objectors to file a
remonstrance in an effort to stop
the merger. A remonstrance must
obtain signatures of more than half
of the qualified voters in the newly
created district casting ballots at
the last general election.
The five school board members
appointed by the county will serve
until Jan. 1, 1952. Five members
will elected in November 1951,
two for terms of two years and three
for four years.
Sunbury school has passed two
bond issues for a total of $310,000
to build a new high school building.
The board has purchased 56 acres
at the south of edge of Sunbury as a
site for the new building. Galena
has passed a$75,000 bond issue to
build a new grade school but has
not purchased the site. 'The new
board will build a new high school
on the site south of town and oper-
grade schools in the present
Sunbury and Galena buildings.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (36)

Sunbury News April 27, 1950

Newspaper clipping
(unreadable)



Sunbury New January, 1950

Newspaper clipping
(unreadable)

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (37)

Sunbury News - March 30, 1954

Newspaper clipping
Big Walnut School
Board Holds Meeting
March 30, 1950
Selection of a president and vice
president and other organization
details occupied the new Big Walnut
school district board of education
at their first meeting Tuesday
evening.

Owen Meredith of Sunbury was
chosen president and M. E. Drandt
of Galena was elected vice president
of the new board.

G. E. McFarland, county superin-
tendent, assisted with the organiza-
tion meeting and County Auditor
Samson explained the tax
setup for the new district.

The board plans to hold several
special meetings soon to complete
plans for the new high school build-
ing. Work on the building will
start this spring.

The Big Walnut district was
formed by the merger of Galena
and Sunbury districts by the county
board of education in January, Paul
and Mr. Draudt or the
Galena board and Kerfoot Morris,
Wendall Day, Owen Meredith
of Sunbury were named on the new
board. Plans are under way to
house the high school in the new
building and keep grade schools in
present Galena and Sunbury build-
ings,

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (38)

Sunbury News July 27, 1950

Newspaper clipping
Combines Galena, Sunbury This Year
July 27, 1950

Employment of teachers and plans
to combine the Galena and Sunbury
schools in September were made by
the Big Walnut School district
board of education in special session
last night.

The board decided to house all
of the seventh and eighth grades of
the two schools along with other
elementary grades in the present
Galena school in the Galena build-
ing and to combine the two high
schools in the Sunbury building.
The board has been making plans
for this merger in September for
some time.

Combining the two high schools
this fall will give students a larger
choice of study and will enable them
to have access to vocational agri-
culture, home economics, industrial
arts, commercial work and other
courses that will be offered.

New Building Plans Ready
Final plans for the new high
school build are expected to be
completed within a few days and
the board hopes to advertise for
bids on this project as soon as
possible. The district has $384,000
to finance construction of the new
high school building on land pur-
chased at the south edge of Sunbury.

Present plans call for placing all
high school classes in the new build-
ing when it is complete and to
operate grade schools in Galena and
Sunbury buildings that are new
in use, Many improvements are
being made on these buildings this
summer.

Employ New Teachers
Three new teachers were employ-
ed at the meeting last evening. Miss
Audrey Marie Prine of Columbus
was employed to teach vocal music.
Mrs. Lida knight of Columbus was
hired to teach in elementary grades
and Adrian DeBrosse of Minister
was employed to teach vocational
agriculture.

Supt. M. H. Miller explains that
the vocational agriculture depart-
ment will be about one and a half
times the size of regular depart-
ments. Clyde Cross, present Sun-
bury teacher, was employed to
teach half time in the large depart-
ment and Mr. DeBrosse will be a
full time instructor. Mr. DeBrosse
received his degree from Ohio State
University last month.

Miss Prine and Mrs. Knight are
both Ohio State graduates and the
former is working on her master's
degree in music this summer.

Architects for the new high school
building have promised to submit
completed plans within a few days
and the board of education hopes
to start construction this summer if
possible. The new building will be
a one-floor plan and constructed so
that additions can be added easily.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (39)

"New Wigwam"

Picture

Dedication

We, the Senior Class of 1951, dedicate this first Big Walnut Annual, The
1951 Flame, to the success of the newly consolidated school and to all those
who have in any way helped to make this unification a success.

We fully realize that this has taken much effort on the part of our school
board and Superintendent and that it was made possible only through the
support of the citizens of our school district.

As the new building for Big Walnut High School continues toward com-
pletion, we hope that the spirit of unity in the school and between the com-
munities will continue to grow.


(page 2 Flame - First year book of Big Walnut High School)

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (40)

SCHOOL SONG

"Go You Big Walnut"

Go You Big Walnut Smash Right Through

That Line -- Show That Team We're Here

To Win Our Slogan Every time --

Fight! Fight! Fight!


Roll Up That Score Now On To Greater

Fame -- Until The End We're Loyal To

Thee -- Go, Big Walnut, Win This Game!



School Colors - Red And Gold


School Mascot - Eagle

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (41)

Photo
1961 Flame

Alma Mater

Through the years of deep devotion, we will ever
loyal be:
Love and cherish all our memories, of our high
school day with Thee.
And portals we'll remember, friends who made
our lives sublime.
Alma Mater, Alma Mater, praised by forever Thine.

Hail to Thee our Alma Mater, we must bid you fond
Adieu,
May our lives be filled with blessings, and kind
thoughts because of you:
For our deep and lasting affection, in our hearts
for you remain,
So Big Walnut, Alma Mater, Faith Honor to
Thy name.


30

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (42)

In 1952 Harlem was added to the Big Walnut District. With
this addition the district covers approximately 107 square miles.
Of the three county school districts Big Walnut is second in size.
Mr. Marvin Miller, Mr. Hylen Souders and Dr. Richard Miller have
served the district as superintendent.[23]

Photo
Big Walnut High School April 1983


Photo
Significant remodeling took place at the high school in 1963 doubling the size of the building and adding a new library and offices. This view shows a portion of the new offices.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (43)

From 1961-1977 the Big Walnut District acquired 30 acres
at the corner of Miller-Paul Road in Harlem Township. today
this site is the location of the new Souders Elementary which
was built in 1974.

Photo
Souders Elementary
April 1983

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (44)

West of the old 3-C Highway and south of Sunbury another
land acquisition took place. This is the site of the Big Walnut
Middle School which was built in 1969. This was used as an open
concept environment for the 6th and 7th grades. During 1977
there was an enrollment problem with 700 students at the 6th
and 7th grade levels with a building capacity of 400. At this
time the district reorganized into its present state: 2 large
elementaries (Souders and the old Big Walnut Middle School),
the 6th grade at Galena, the 7th and 8th grades at Sunbury and
the high school. 24

Photo
Big Walnut Elementary
April 1983

(formerly Big Walnut Middle School)
1969-1976

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (45)

Future Plans
Statistics
Footnotes

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (46)

1982-1983 Statistics - Big Walnut Local School District25

Enrollment Staff

Big Walnut Elementary 582 26

Galena - 6th 219 8

High School 715 36

Souders Elementary 452 23

Sunbury - 7th-8th 414 22


Big Walnut Elementary Principal - Mr. Richard Rosato

Galena Head Teacher - Mrs. Alice Chapen

High School Principal - Mr. Charles Workman

Souders Elementary Principal - Miss Melissa Zarich

Sunbury Principal - Mr. George Tumeo


Superintendent - Dr. Richard Miller


School Board Members

Mr. Ned Foreman

Mr. Ray Gollihugh

Mr. James Heine

Mr. William Richardson

Mrs. Phyllis Taylor

Mrs. Sue Beardsley - clerk/treasurer

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (47)

.

Future plans for the Big Walnut school district:
(Delaware Gazaette - May 9, 1983)

Delaware Gazette May 9, 1983
BW plan urges
new high school

By Kathleen Wallace
Big Walnut Schools Superintendent
Richard Miller would like to see the
district build a new high school and
house grades six through eight in the
current high school

Those recommendations will be
among the dozens of discussed by the Big
Walnut Board of Education when it
reviews Miller's 11 page "Blueprint for
Quality Education at its meeting
tonight at 7:30 pm at the high school.
Miller did not place a price tag not set a
time table.

I believe the time has come to set
the direction for the Big Walnut school
system for the future," Miller reports
"There are several reasons for this
belief including my optimism about our
economy, the resulting potential for
rapid growth in numbers, the high
tech/skill revolution and new state
minimum standards.

Miller suggests that the board adopt
long-range plans to build a new high
school for grades nine through 12, move
classes from the Galena Sixth building
and Big Walnut Intermediate into the
current high school, convert the Galena
Sixth building to house the district's ad-
ministrative offices, build a fourth sec-
tion onto the Big Walnut elementary
building and sell the Sunbury building.

"The administration believes that the
Board of Education should actually
work to bring grades six, seven and
eight together again in one school set-
ting," Miller's report states.

The report says expanded high school
facilities are needed to meet both North
Central Acreditation requirements and
the new state minimum standards. in-
cluded among the following inade-
quacies in the high school facility, ac-
cording to Miller, are lack of space for
the library, vo-ag shop area, reading
classroom, gymnasium, locker rooms,
music and dram performance area
music practice area, media area in-
cluding computer center, general
storage, layout area for newspaper,
teacher work and planning offices,
drafting area and science laboratories.

The Big Walnut Elementary building
is now at its capacity, Miller reports.
He also states that the classrooms are
too small and more room is needed for
first aid, psychology and tutoring ser-
vices. Miller said the district will have
to hire at least one school nurse by
September to meet state minimum
requirements.

The plan recommends starting a
computer program at the intermediate
school level, resuming the instrumental
music program in the fifth grade level,
resuming field trips "under a tight set
of guidelines," expanding foreign
language programs to the sixth grade
and adding more languages at the high
school, and introducing keyboards and
calculators to elementary students.

We should be planning fore-school
experiences as a part of our program if
we believe that education is a life long
process," Miller wrote. "We should of-
fer refresher courses for adults . . . for
those who missed out the first
time through or who want to be refresh-
ed. We should be planning enrichment
classes for adults with Otterbein and
Ohio Wesleyan just at the JVS offers
courses through CTI.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (48)

FOOTNOTES

1. Policy Plan, Delaware County, pg. 37.

2. History of Delaware County 1880, pg. 240.

3. Same., pg, 241.

4. Schools of Berkshire Township, 1966.

6. Same.

7. Schools of Berkshire Township, 1966.

8. Welcome to the Village of Galena, 1966.

9. Same

10, Grove, Delno.

11. Same.

12. Souders, Hylen

13. Miller, Dr. Richard

14. Schools of Berkshire Township, 1966.

15. Delaware County Schools Newsletter, 1967.

16. Same.

17. Same.

18. Same

19. Galena Board of Education Minutes, Jan., 1950.

20. Sunbury News, September, 1950.

21. Same.

22. Sunbury News, October, 1950.

23. Delaware County Schools newsletter, 1967.

24. Miller, Dr. Richards.

25. Same.

A History of the Big Walnut Local School District (49)

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