School future discussed

Twenty-five years ago this week, the future of a one-room school house was being discussed.

The July 3, 1996, edition of The Commercial Review featured a story about possible plans for the former Salamonia Public School.

Salamonia Town Council and interested residents had met that week with Fred Holycross of Historical Landmarks Foundation of Indiana to learn about what could be done to help preserve the building.

Some initial discussion had involved the possibility of demolishing the structure. But that resulted in some opposition from Salamonia residents and the school’s alumni.

“First you need to determine, ‘What use do we have for the building?’” said Holycross. “And second, ‘What would it cost to make it usable?’”

He suggested a feasibility study of the structure and forming a steering committee for a potential fundraising effort. (Council members noted that with the town taking on a $1.4 million sewer project, funds would likely not be available to rehabilitate the former schoolhouse.) Other suggestions include seeking grant funding.

The schoolhouse that was constructed in 1911 and served students up to eighth grade until 1950, was still adorned with blackboards. An old roll-top desk still sat in the corner of what had been the principal’s office. Since closing, it had housed Salamonia Fire Department, but by 1996 was only being used as a storage building.

Although the building had not been regularly maintained, Holycross said during a walk-through that there did not seem to be major problems with the structure.

The former schoolhouse is now Salamonia Schoolhouse Community Center, which hosts the town’s monthly council meetings.