In 1949, the IPS School Board announced plans to replace the portable classrooms at 401 North Arlington Avenue with a brand new building to be completed in 1950. The new structure received the name of Anna Pearl Hamilton School in honor of a beloved former teacher who passed away in 1948. Besides naming the new school for Miss Hamilton, the local PTA also purchased a Clifton Wheeler painting in her honor titled "Early Spring." The new building would house 13 classrooms and cost $440, 000. It was only the second school built by IPS since the end of World War II. Christian and Barbara Kuhner Delker provided the land for the new structure. The old Delker farmhouse was torn down at 6026 Pleasant Run Parkway South Drive to make way for the very modern and sleek looking brick structure. School officials named the new auditorium in the structure after the Delkers.
On June 1, 1950, Irvington residents and IPS officials gathered to dedicate the future school with the laying of the cornerstone. J. Dwight Peterson, President of the Board of Commissioners, gave the principal address at the dedication. Other speakers that day included Mrs. Olma Bruck of 52 South Audubon who was the Vice President of the school board at the time; the PTA President, Mrs. Pearle Hazenfield who lived at 58 North Arlington Avenue, and Principal Cathryn Boggy. Inside a copper box, officials placed a Bible, an American flag, local newspapers, a history of the PTA, a shiny nickel, various photographs, and signatures of the current students and staff at School #77. They then placed the box inside the cornerstone with "1950" etched into the limestone.
Donn Richardson, who grew up at 477 North Audubon Road, has many memories of the new school including the Cold War era duck and cover drills. Later, instead of going under their desks, they drilled by going into the locker rooms in case the Soviets decided to drop an atomic bomb on Indianapolis. Mr. Richardson chuckled that one day a teacher turned off the lights, but one wise guy in the crowd decided to pass gas. Needless to say, that ended the darkened-room-practice drill. If the Soviets were to have ever flown over Irvington, they would have clearly noticed a light on in the locker rooms at School #77.
 |
| On June 1, 1950, local residents gathered for the cornerstone laying of the new School #77 at 6040 E. Pleasant Run Parkway South Drive. (photo courtesy of Donn and Carolyn Richardson) |
 |
| On the stage for the cornerstone laying of the new IPS #77, also known as the Anna Pearl Hamilton School, local officials gathered on June 1, 1950. Cathryn Boggy was named as the principal of the new school. She is sitting in the second row next to an identified child and is looking at the photographer. In the front row (left to right): Horace Boggy, Emil Schaad, Pearle Hazenfield, Olma Bruck, and J, Dwight Peterson. (photo courtesy of Donn and Carolyn Richardson) |
 |
| Miss Ruby Wells, a teacher at the Anna Pearl Hamilton School, gathered her students for a Christmas photo in the winter of 1958. None of the students have been identified yet, but we hope to find the names. (photo courtesy of Donn and Carolyn Richardson) |
 |
| IPS no longer possesses the Anna Pearl Hamilton School, also known as #77. It now belongs to the Irvington Charter School (photo taken in 2012) |
I am indebted to Donn and Carolyn Richardson for their stories and photographs. Donn grew up at 477 North Audubon Road and attended School #77.
No comments:
Post a Comment