Redkey volunteers commemorate school site (05/20/06)

REDKEY — A monument to school memories in Redkey is taking shape, brick by brick, on the former site of the old high school here.

However, while the construction work got under way this week, fund-raising efforts are not yet complete.

Volunteer coordinator Jim Barrett explained that donations so far total about $4,500, but another $2,500 to $3,000 is needed to meet the overall goal. This will provide enough funds for a slate-style roof on the approximately 14-foot tall structure which will include the original bell from the school building as well as a light fixture from the RHS study hall.

Most of the donations so far have come from the Redkey Alumni Association.

Anyone wishing to make a contribution may send it to the Redkey Alumni Association, P. O. Box 621, Redkey, IN. 47373. For more information persons may contact either alumni association treasurer Sandy Kirby at the Redkey Town Hall, (765) 369-2711 or Barrett at (765) 369-2122.

Meanwhile this week volunteer laborers started putting bricks in place and mounting the large piece of limestone, reading “Redkey Public Schools,” which used to hang above the original school’s door.

The limestone, broken into four pieces, was recently retrieved by Redkey residents from the Jay County Historical Society where it was being kept in storage. The cracks will eventually be patched, Barrett said.

He explained that the historical society agreed to let the Redkey High School alumni members have the sign if they promised to erect it as close to the previous site of the high school building as possible.

Barrett and his volunteers readily agreed. This week it was mounted into place by volunteer bricklayers Gene Stigleman, Sonny and Royce Champ, with help from other town residents including Tom Bonvillian, Steve Dull, Randy and Eric Young.

While materials such as bricks and mortar for the project had to be purchased, all the labor is being supplied for free, Barrett said.

It reflects nicely on a small town of modest means like Redkey, that so many people have come together to volunteer to do something like this, Barrett said.

He noted that once the project started to take shape, Redkey area residents Bill and Sharon Watson stepped forward to say that they had the old school bell in storage.

Mr. and Mrs. Watson agreed to allow the bell to be incorporated into the monument if a satisfactory shelter could be enclosed around it.

Barrett concurred with this request, pointing out that plans call for putting the bell back in working order, too.

In addition Redkey area resident Jack Hammond has donated three of the school building’s old cornerstones and they are also being incorporated into the monument.

Ideally, organizers would like to collect enough money to set up a fund to cover future upkeep, insurance and electricity expenses, too.

Barrett added that his group would like to eventually erect a plaque, including a picture and a brief history about the school next to the monument which is being located approximately where the old school building once stood.

That is near the site of the present town hall and police station, 20 S. Ash St.

The original school was built in 1893 at a cost of about $25,000. It served the young people in the community until 1975 when the high schools in Jay County were consolidated into one school.[[In-content Ad]]