Greentown Historical Society featuring county’s educational past

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Did you know there once were 27 one-room schoolhouses in Howard County? Actually, they were contained in just three eastern townships – Liberty, Union, and Jackson. There were many more schools scattered across the county.

This year, the Greentown Historical Society is remembering the area’s academic past with a special exhibit which opened on April 4. It was designed with the nation’s 250th birthday in mind, but it is very focused upon eastern Howard County, and more specifically, its many schools.

The artifacts, maps, and descriptions recall what Indiana looked like at its inception in 1817 as well as the earliest depictions of Howard County as settlers began staking claims along the Wildcat Creek in 1848. The county was one of the last to be established, as it was a reservation for the Miami tribe prior to its adoption as a political subdivision.

Initially, eastern Howard County was encapsulated in a single township – Green Township – which is where the town of Greentown got its name. It later was broken into three townships, and the 1877 plat map on display as part of the exhibit shows the boundaries; most of which remained static to the present day.

But the exhibit is less concerned with property lines and more enthralled with the schools. In an effort to properly depict the educational history of the community, the historical society gave a call out to residents for artifacts – school jackets, senior cords, floorplans, and photos of the schools. And the community responded.

Hung around the main display room are letter jackets, emblems, corduroy pants and skirts, and plenty of maps, artwork, and descriptions aimed at recapturing some of the county’s educational past.

There is apparel from Jackson Township High School, for instance, along with Union Township and Greentown High School, which preceded Eastern High School. And there are plenty of Eastern items on display, along with a little Taylor High School apparel, as the eastern part of Taylor Township once belonged in Liberty Township.

“It’s really been interesting to learn about the one-room schools all right,” said Paul Harper, one of the curators who worked on the exhibit. “I’ve got some names of schools, but I don’t know exactly which one was which. That’s what got me started.”

Harper said he tracked down as many residents as he could who might have some memories to share, and he even enlisted the aid of Howard County Historian Gil Porter. While some information was uncovered, there is still much that isn’t known about the history of the schools. Yet, there is plenty to learn and enjoy in the exhibit.

For his part, Harper traces his family in Howard County back to 1858, when the family of his great-grandfather located to Greentown.

“They all had jobs here in town for the most part,” said Harper. “And even back then, grandpa had the farm, but he also had a number of other jobs. Having many kids, it took him a lot of jobs to make a living.”

Harper has shared his stories for the exhibition, but he hopes that Greentown area residents will add to the history already collected. There are many stories to be told, and since the exhibit will remain on display throughout 2026, there are opportunities to add artifacts, recollections, and other features. It is a living exhibition.

The exhibition is available for viewing on Saturdays and Mondays from 1-4 p.m. The Greentown Historical Society is located at 103 E. Main St., in Greentown. For additional information, call 765-628-3800, email office@greentownhistoricalsociety.org, or visit www.greentownhistoricalsociety.org.