Louisiana Avenue between Indiana & Fifth Streets

First Schoolhouse

Built in 1849, the first public school building in town was this two-story frame, 60 by 90 feet in size. Albert D. Wright, who was to die in the cholera epidemic 5 years later, was the first superintendent of Union School, with 50 enrolled pupils. Three young women were the first high school graduates.

Louisiana Avenue between Indiana & Fifth Streets

Second Schoolhouse

In 1868, nearly 20 years after it was built, the original school building structure was enlarged and drastically remodeled to this version with three stories, a new bell tower, and brick outer walls. It had six classrooms, a laboratory, an office, and two recitation rooms. In 1894, the school burned down. Rebuilding began quickly, and classes continued in the Town Hall in the interim.

Five Points Road

Adam Hazel Farmhouse

This nostalgic photograph shows what a typical area farmhouse and front yard looked like ca. 1850. It was the home of German-born Adam Hazel and was originally a log house sitting on a dry spot in the Black Swamp south of town, although by that time the swamp was being slowly drained. The picture was probably taken by an itinerant photographer before home cameras were common.