Culver Grade School Construction 1952

1938 - Aug 24 Plan New School Building with $80,000 Grant

1946 - Jan - 30 - Grade School Building Condemened by State for Use After Present Term.

1946 - Sep 18 - State Tax Board Gives Approval to Sinking Fund For New Grade School

1950 - March 29 - School Officials Retaining Bradley as Architect for the New Grade Building

1950 - July 26 - Present Plans For New Grade School To Be Built Next Year

Plans for the proposed new Union township grade school building are in the preliminary stages and Architect LeRoy Bradley of Fort Wayne has already submitted plans to Trustee Maurice Curtis and members of the Township Advisory Board.

Mr. Curtis appeared before the Culver-Union Township Planning Council last evening where he explained various problems and told of the preliminary work and plans. Mr. Bradley, who has been retained as the architect, showed preliminary drafts of two alternative floor plans and discussed various features of the building.

It is expected that the construction work on the urgently needed new building will be initiated next spring or just as soon as finances are available. Mr. Curtis explained that the sinking fund which was established in 1947 now amounts to $106,000 and an additional amount to be received this year would swell the total to $124,869. It was indicated that the cost of the grade school building would be $240,000.

The projected plans as now laid out call for an L-shaped building to be joined to the high school building on the northeast corner. The east section will run approximately 220 feet north with another section running to the west. The modern structure provides for brick exterior with appropriate trim, and aluminum windows combined with glass brick.

There will be 20 classrooms, each large enough to accommodate a capacity of 40 students. The rooms are approximately 22x 34 feet. There are ample provi'sions for music, art, health, and perhaps later an auditorium, on the site of the present grade building.

The floor plan arrangement will permit the present grade building to used until the new building is ready for occupancy. While the financial picture has prevented the realization of the new buildofficials believe that with the sinking fund together with a bond levy the building can be started next year.

The present grade school builderected in 1906, was condemned more than four years ago as a fire hazard. Unable to build because of financial limitations, township officials met the repair and structural requirements of the state, at that time, but permission to utilize the building was granted only in lieu of steps to be taken towards the erection of a new building.

To temporarily relieve crowded conditions a quonset type of building was erected last year.

1950 - Oct 25 To The Citizens of Union Township

It has been called to my attention on several occasions recently that there is considerable loose talk on the part of a few individuals which need be answered.

It has been indicated by certain individuals at recent public meetings that I, as Trustee, in collaboration with the Advisory Board, have performed certain acts detrimental to the development of our schools and our township government. I do not object to any personal attacks as long as they are based on facts, but when they are contrary to the evidence of the facts and particularly when they jeopardize the future of our school program I feel that they should not go unanswered.

"Most cf the destructive criticism second, towards the plans for the new elementary school building; third, the question of when the grade school building can be erected; and finally, the purchase and purpose cf the purchase of land adjacent to the school.

Aims

As a farmer, I object to any criticism which attempts to sectionalize Union township into groups such as the Lake group, Academy, Town and Rural, for we are all working for a school and a program which will serve all as cne community. We need to work together instead of some pulling one way and some the other.

The need for a new grade school building everyone, fortunately agrres with. Some have saif that the Trustee and Advisory Board have impeded, or stoon in the way of a new building. This is absolutely untrue. The record shows that following a condemnation of the building by the State Fire Marshall a thorough. study was made as to the possibilities of bonding the township to start a new building for the grades.

Legally we were prevented from doing so because of limitations imposed by law. We met t ne recommendations of the State Fire Marshall by making the grade school building termprarily safe until such a time that funds would be available to erect a new structure.

Sinking Fund

In 1947 a sinking fund was established in which each taxpayerr paid a special tax of $1.O0 per $100 assessment on their property. In 1948 the rate was reduced to 75 cents as a result of a ruling by the Attorney General.

Because of overcrowded conditions and to meet an emergency an agricultural shop building was erected in 19499. It is at present housing, during the emergency, the music department.

Some time ago we interviewed several architects, asked them to submit plans in keeping with state regulations and local need, and in the spring as a result of study, Leroy Bradley of Fort Wayne, was retained as architect for the new building. This has been reviewed in the paper and before publice before public groups, in fact this summer I requested that leaders of all civic groups meet, where Mr. Bradley presented alternate building plans.

As to when the buildingc can be erected is a question which incolves availiable finance. The total amount in the sinking fund at the present time is $106.OOO as was published on July 26th. By the end cf the year additional amounts to he received should increase the total to #124,869.

The projected plans call for an L,shaped building with brick ex-terior, aluminum windows combined with glass brick. As far as finances will permit there will be 20 classrooms, each accomodating 35 students, rooms will be approximately 21 x 34 feet. There will be ample provisions for recreation, art and music. It is hoped that the building can be started early next year.

There has been some undue caustic comment regarding the purchase of land. Briefly this is the story, the site occupied by the presentt high school and elementary school is 4.4 acres About three years ago, following approval by the Advisory Board, and after legally notifying the taxpayers, the township purchased from the Methodist Church approximately three-fourths acres of land. On Nov. 18. 1949, due to a requirement set up by the Division of School House Planning, and upon approval by the Advisory Board, a plot of ground 6.2 acres located northwest of the presemt school ground was purchased.

It should be noted that the Indiana State Assembly In 1949 empowered the State Board of Education to establish a Department of School Buildings and School Grounds. The law made it legally necessary to have the approval of this department before any steps could be taken towards construetion of any school building. Formal application for the building of an elementary echoed here was filed and approved some time ago.

As can be seen from the above statements Culver has a fraction over eleven acres. Tne minimum standard requirement is five acres for an elementary school and ten acres for combined elementary and high school. The law further states that for each 100 enrollement the school is required to have one acre ef aadditional land.

I have prepared this ttatet"er;t in the interests cf government in our township.

Respetfully Submitted. Maurice Curtis, Trustee, Advertisement.

1950 - Dec 13 Plan for New Grade Building to VBe Presented Wec. Night

A public meeting of vital importance to every patron of the Union Township schools and to all taxpayers will be held at the Community Building next Wednesday evening, December 19, at 8:15 p.m.

Under the sponsorship of the Union Township Parent Teachers Association, plans for the new grade school building will be presented at the meeting and methods of financing will be presented by Township officials.

The meeting will be of particular importance to every free holder ince the Township Advisory Board and the Trustee have initiated plans for advertising to sell bonds thus necessitating the circulating of petitions so that work on the new school building can be inaugurated.

The decision to hold the meeting came at the close of a conference between township and school officials, who met with the Union Township Civic Planning Council last Thursday evening. The Planning Council is representative of all civic groups in the township.

Confer With Planning Council

Maurice Curtis, trustee, had asked to meet with the Planning Council so that the preliminary plans might be presented. Those attending the preliminary confer ence were so impressed with the possibilities of the plans that they went on record as approving a public meeting to be sponsored by the Parent Teachers group. Roy Bradley, of Fort Wayne, retained some months ago as the architect for the building, pre sented preliminary sketches.

Among those attending were Mr. Curtis, members of the Advisory Board, Dan Shaffer, superintendent of Marshall County School?, F. M. Annis, representatives of Culver City Club, League of Women Voters, P. T. A., Lions Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion Chamber of Com merce, Farm Bureau, and the Lake Maxinkuckee Association.

Mr. Bradley explained various features of the proposed building, types of construction, and probable costs. The preliminary floor plans will be shown in next week's Citizen. Structurally, the building is L-shaped and would tie on to the present high school building at the north side.

It would run north in front of the present grade school building to a point near the outer driveway a wing would go to the west. In the completed building there would be provisions for 18 class rooms, together with special rooms including, a recreation room, audio-visual room, a farm shop, a library, principal and trustees offices, and a teacher's room.

Classrooms

The classrooms would be 30x22 and are of sufficient size to provide amply for a maximum of 35 students each. Restrooms for the lower grades would be adjacent to the rooms and lockers for the younger students would be provided within the room. The building would be of concrete and Steele construction, Mr. Bradley pointing out that the only wood would be the doors.

The present grade school building would remain standing and be used until the new building is completed.

Projecting plans to future years, where the grade building now stands would be the site for an auditorium. At present time school and public meetings are held in the High School study hall and injthe Comm unify Building.

Sinking Fund

In discussing the financial aspects, Mr. Curtis pointed out that by the close of this year there would be $125,000 in the sinking fund. By the close of 1951, when the 75 cent levy for the sinking fund expires, there will be $168,000 in the fund. By placing a 2 per cent bond levy on the civil and school township there would be slightly more than $400,000 available for the building program.

It was explained that such a bond istie could be retired in 10 years and the tax rate would be lowered from its present 75 cent levy to approximately 65 cents.

Architect Bradley pointed out that the front wing consisting of 10 rooms and service rooms, would cost $247,000. The complete building, providing for I8 classrooms wo.ild cost $364.500.

The plans will be submitted to the required state authorities for approval. In the meantime, the Parent Teachers Association will organize a committee of persons who will carry petitions seeking signatures of freeholders. Lovina Wes-on, president of the local PTA, will appoint the committee of canvassers soon.

Present School Building

The present grade school building was condemned more than four years ago as a fire hazard, unable to build because of financial limitation, township officials met the repair and structural requirements of the state, but permission to utilize the building was only granted in lieu of steps to be taken toward the erection of a new building.

In 1947 a special tax of $1.00 for each $100.00 assessment first appeared on local tax duplicate; and monies from the special tax were earmarked for the present sinking fund. In 1948 the rate was reduced to 75 cents. The present building was erected in 1905.

1950 - December 20 - Present Building Plans at Public meeting Tonight

Architectural plans and methods of financing the new grade school building will be presented this evening by township officials at the Community Building. The time of the meeting has been set for 8 p. m. and all patrons and freeholders are urged to attend the conference. At the request of representatives of several township civic organizations the Union township Parent Teachers Association is sponsoring the meeting.

Mrs. Oscar Wesson, president of the PTA, will present officials who will in tarn present the plans.

Preliminary architect's drawings for the proposed grade school are shown on page 8 (sic 18 2nd section) of the second section of todav's Citizen Preliminary Architects Drawings For Proposed Grade School

1951 - Jul 18 - The State Tax Board gave formal approval last week for additional appropriations from the lcal school and civil township amounting to $110,000 each to be applied on the contruction cost of a new grade school building her.

1951 - Sep 12 - The representatives of the town of Culver,, Union township, the Govenror's office, and the State Federation of Labor met during the past week and failed to agree to minimum wage scales for two local public projects, the new elementary schol building and...

1952 - Jan 2 - Award Cnstuction Contoract For New Grade School Building to Local Firm

Low Bid Of $386,330 On 22-Room Bldg.; Construction Starts Soon

The contract for the construction of the new elementary school building here has been awarded the Russell L. Easterday Construction Company of Culver. The local firm was awarded the contract by Trustee Maurice Curtis and members of the Advisory Board, at the close of the special meeting held here last Thursday where the several bids of competing firms were reviewed.

The Easterday Construction Company's combined bid of $386,220 for the general contsruction, the heating, plumbing, and electrical work was lowest among the submitted.

Gratified With Bid

Generally speaking Trustee Curtis and officials were gratified with the results of the total cost figures, for the accepted bid will permit carrying out the complete architectural plans for the building within the limits of the funds available.

It had been feared increased building costs would make necessary several construction curtailments.

Russell Easterday indicated work on the 22-room L-shaped building would start as soon as weather permits. "We will order materials immediately," he stated.

It was indicated that other things being equal the north wing the building, which is to be erected first, will be ready for occupancy late this fall.

The old grade school building which has served since 1906 will then be razed to permit the erection of the rsdt wing.

Building Specifications

L. Roy Bradley, of Fort Wayne, the architect for the badly needed structure. Completely fireproof, it will be of concrete steel construction and modern in all respects. The exterior be of red brick with stone trim. The building will be an inverted "L' with the front or East section having a frontage of 240 and the North section a length of 142 feet.

The building will provide for 17 regular classrooms each approximately 22x32 feet, sufficently large to adequately take care of a maximum of 35 students each.

There will be a 30x60 ft. recreation room on the second floor a companion 30x60 ft. room on the first floor which will be used as an Industrial Shop combined with a Vocational Agricultural Shop. There will be a library with built in shelving, a music room, an art room, a principal's office, and an office for the trustee.

Aluminum Windows

Aluminum ribbon windows will fronted above by glass block the type which provides for directional lighting. Specifications call for acoustical tile celling; steel lockers; and fluorescent classroom lighting.

Heating will be from the central power plant where the present boilers will be increased in size to provide the necessary capacity. Plans also call for the present basement of the old grade building to he used as storage area for the schools.

Building Project Development

unds for the construction of the grade building were made available through the establishment of a sinking fund over five years ago and through the sale of civil and school township bonds this last fall.

The present grade building was condemmed by the State in the early 1040's as being structurally unsafe for school purposes.

Unable at that time to bond the township for sufficient funds to erect a new building, permission was granted to establish a sinking fund and to take certain steps to make the building usable until such a time as a new one could

be erected.

Final Phase

Start of the construction will mark the beginning of the final chapter in achieving the long awaited building.

Financing has been a chief stumbling block. Back in the '30's the erection of a new grade building was blocked by Advisory Hoard action in refusing to accept a Federal grant of $S7.000.

In 1950 citizens carried petitions under the direction of the Union Twp. Parent Teachers Association, to secure sufficient freeholder signatures to permit the bonding of the township. Because of tightened building restrictions it became necessary to get Federal, approval for the allocation of steel.

Official approval and the j necessary allocation permit finally came through in November. It is believed that only the failure of the delivery of certain critical materials including steel will slow the construction progress on the building.

The Kasterday combined bid of$386.330 represented a considerable saving over the individual bids on four phases of the project.

1952 - April 23 - Architect's Perspective of New Grade School Building

Pictured here is the perspective of the new grade school building by Architect LeRoy Bradley of Fort Wayne. Work is progressing rapidly on the north wing of the building which was started early this year The perspective is from School Street at the northeast corner.

The L-shaped 22 room structure will be modern in every sense of the word and completely fireproof. It will take the place of the present grade school building which was erected in the early 1900's and was condemmed several years ago by the State Fire Marshall. The present grade school building will be razed when the north section of the new build ing is completed.

The east section of the building will connect on to the present high school building. A recreation room, an agricultural shop, an audio-visual room, and commodious classrooms are among the features of the structure.

1952- Jan 7 Start of the New Grade School Building, Jan. 7. - First ground broken at the site here is pictured above as workmen start the removal of play ground equipment. The photo taken the first day of operations on January 7 shows Russell Easterday construction workers with pneumatic drills breaking the frozensoil and concrete base holding the "Jungle Gym". In the first ten days, workmen have already made great headway. Ecavation was completed yesterday and footings for the walls are being poured. - Citizen Jan 16, 1952

Foundation being poured:


1952 - Jan 9 - Traffic on School Street From 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. On School days.

The diagram above illustrates the area along school street the new traffic regulations which go into effect today. Between 3:30 and 4:00 p.m. each school day the street will be open to one-way (southbound) traffic only. Parking will not be east side of School Street facing the school buildingbetween 8: a. m and 4:00 p.m. Barriers will be placed at the Lake Shore Drive entrance to School Street and also at the north entrance during the designated half hour each afternoon, Signs will traffic. School busses will load at the curb along the west side School Street just in front of the buildings.

Construction work on the new grade school building which was started this week by the Russell L. Easterday Construction Company has made necessary emergency traffic regulations along School Street.

Township and school officials met with town of Culver officials Monday night where it was agreed that beginning today only southbound cars and busses would be permitted along School Street from the intersecting street just south of College Avenue (Summit Street) and extending to Ohio Street from 3:30 to 4:00 p. m. each school day.

Northbound cars will not be permitted to enter School Street at the Lake Shore Drive entrance during the specified half hour period. The ruling means that school busses all headed south will now pick up their respective loads along the curb in front of the school building.

Also effective at once is a new no parking rule along the east side of School Street directly across the street from the school from 8:00 to 4:00 p.m. Maurice Curtis, trustee, has pointed out that school bus drivers are not to park their busses at the loading location before 3:40 in the afternoon.

The construction program will prevent the use of the north walk extending along the old school driveway from the building to the street. In the interests of safety all persons are urged to observe closely the new rêgulations.

The marked cross walks are to be used only in crossing the streets and autoists are reminded that the speed is 15 miles per hour in the school zone.

The traffic regulation will extend through to the end of the present school term.

Plans call for a new driveway to serve the building which will be built during the summer. The new black top drive will come from Slate Street to the rear of the buildings. Trustee Curtis met with County Commissioners this week and arrangements were made for the roadway

1952 - Jul 9 - Progression of construction photos below taken on June 27 :

	workmen are shown onf the second floor level of the structure.
the construction of the north wing of the new building

1952 - Nov - the old high school of 1906 which had been used as the elementary from about 1921 was razed except for the basement area the so called "tunnel" so many of us remember. Ground was broken for a new grade school building on the area just north of the high school.

1952 - Grade Students Take up Residence in Completed Wing of New Building

1952 - Nov. 12 - Old grade school being razed

It was dedicated on Tuesday Evening, November 17, 1952

Therefore when we build let us think we build forever. Let it not be for present delight…not for present use alone. Let it be such a work as our descendants will thank us for, and let us think, as we lay stone on stone, that a time will come when those stones will be held sacred because our hands touched them or that men will say as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, "See! This our fathers did for us."

- John Ruskin, Copy of the dedication booklet for the new elementary building.

School Playround photos