Days Gone By Ina Staunton

Thursday, July 17, 1975 -- Dipping into Old Man Mose's Bucket -- In my reminiscences of Staunton I believe that a brief history of the educational facilities would possibly not be amiss. Although I was past school age when I came to Staunton, I have naturally been keenly interested in the community schools, and largely through the courtesy of the late Mrs. Jessie S. Sparr, I was able to learn much of the early school history of the community's efforts to make available an adequate education for the young residents throughout the years.

According to the meagre records, it is evident that the first school teacher was William Willcox, who taught a number of youngsters, probably in private classes, beginning in 1822, In 1828 a log school house was built on a tract which is now the old City Cemetery. This was later replaced with a larger building of hewn logs, plank floor and shingle roof. In 1855 a school district was organized, and a three-story brick building was erected, with outside stairs leading to the upper rooms, located at the corner of Mill and Edwardsville streets, where later the Presbyterian church stood for many years.

In 1874 District 5 was discontinued, and designated as District No. 1, and the facilities were overcrowded, and in 1880 a new building was erected on an acre of ground donated by the late Hampton Wall, at the intersection of Henry and Hibbard Streets. This was of 7 rooms. In 1892 a high school was opened, and the first high school class was graduated in 1895. In 1909 another building was erected, four rooms, and called the "primary building," and in 1914 plans for another building were started, to be located at Pennsylvania and Caldwell streets, known as the North School. This building was converted into the Community Memorial Hospital in 1946, the conversion being completed in 1949.

In 1922 a high school district was organized and a temporary building was erected on North Deneen street, and later a new high school building was erected. In succeeding years the original building was provided with necessary additions.

In 1954 a bond issue was passed, the proceeds to be used in the construction of a new elementary school building and a modern gymnasium, to be located to the south of the high school. This was completed and used at the start of the 1956 term.

Thus we now have a fine elementary and high school,with ample space for an athletic field, play areas, etc. Educational facilities in Staunton are augmented by two fine parochial schools, St. Michael's, occupying a building adjacent to St. Michael's Church on East Main Street. The Zion Lutheran school, located on West Henry street, also has an adequate building. The two parochial schools have classes from the first to the eighth grades, and provide highly adequate elementary education.

Thursday, July 24, 1975 -- Dipping into Old Man Mose's Bucket -- In my reminiscences in this column in the past, I have on occasion mentioned the various business establishments which have made Staunton an important trading center for this area. One of the reasons is that we have always had the advantage of well managed and dependable financial institutions, at least years ago.

In 1912, when I came here as a printer at the Star-Times, two banks were operated, one being the Wall, Quade & Co. bank at the corner of Main and Elm streets, where now the Jubelt Bakery store is located.

The other was that of Wall & Co., located just across the street in the building now housing the Discount Store. The Wall & Quade bank later was changed to Wall, Luker & Co., with the late Chas. R. Wall being joined by the late Edw. C. Luker. After a few years in the Quade Building, the bank was reorganized as the Staunton National Bank, and moved to the comparatively new Luker, Moehrman, Schmidt building, practically across the street at the northeast corner of Main and Elm Streets. Some years later the First National Bank was organized, with C.F. Hackman, Herman Fritz, H.J. Burns, and other prominent citizens, as the incorporators.

Both these banks prospered. When the depression of the late 1920's and the 1930's caused many banks to fail, after having been closed on March 4, 1933, the First National was able to fully open in less than two weeks. The Staunton National Bank also was able to open for new business, but the current deposits were "frozen" but released after a period of months. I believe that in the late 1930's, or thereabout, the First National and the Staunton National were merged under the name of First National Bank in Staunton, using the remodeled quarters of the Staunton National Bank at the corner of Main and Elm Streets. The quarters of the former First National Bank were later occupied by the Fischer Insurance Co. The First National Bank in Staunton continued to prosper, and a few years ago a new bank building, modern in every detail, was constructed on the former Schultz property at the corner of Elm and Pearl Streets.

I cannot recall the exact date, but some years ago another new and modern bank building was constructed on West North Street, for use by the First Community State Bank. This bank also has enjoyed a steady growth under capable management.

In addition to the two banks, we also have the Staunton Home Association, which also organized about 1900. For many years this building and loan facility occupied the ground floor of the building at the southeast corner of Main and Elm streets, moving across the street to the building vacated by the First National Bank. This firm is also solidly based, and has contributed much to Staunton's progress.