Crawfordsville news: History of Crawfordsville’s schools, churches

Crawfordsville was the second consolidated school in Iowa, the first two districts coming in 1903, and by 1911, the rest had been added. The students were transported in horse drawn hacks, and in bad weather were gone from early dawn until dark.

One mother said she didn't see her children in daylight except on Saturdays and Sundays. The children had heated bricks to keep their feet warm, and the drivers kept them warm during the day for the ride home. Each brought their own lunch in a dinner pail. By 1913, the 'domestic science” girls, later known as Home Economics, provided hot meals, which were most welcome. Later cooks were hired. The hacks were replaced by passenger cars and small buses, before the present day big yellow buses.

School organization became a 'hot topic” and was discussed at public meetings and in private. Finally a proposal, uniting Olds, Wayland and Crawfordsville into WACO Community School District became a reality.The last class graduated from Crawfordsville in 1962 and the following year, 1963, the first class graduated from WACO. The High School was built in Wayland and the Elementary, K-6 was in Crawfordsville and remains today. The Olds building was closed.

Churches

There have been five church organizations in Crawfordsville: Associate Presbyterian, Methodist, Congregational, Wesleyan Methodists and Presbyterian U.S.A.

It is stated that the sisters (women), sat on one side and the brothers (men) on the other. Everyone sang soprano, called tenor. After they began to sing parts, the women sang tenor and the alto was called counter. The UP's didn't allow musical instruments for many years. The other denominations sang hymns and had organs and later pianos and orchestras. There were also choirs, but a chorus leader would 'line-out” hymns and Psalms.

Going to church involved a full day: A long sermon, explanation of the Psalms, lunch, another sermon and Psalm. To sing a Psalm, two men stood before the pulpit. One gave out the line and the other started the tune. After a while, two lines were given out which displeased the older people. Later when the lining was discontinued, it is said that several older men left the church and never came back.

After several years of study, a plan for yoking the two remaining churches, Presbyterian and Methodist was presented. The plan was approved and the first pastor, Rev. Harlan Winter and his family came to town in 1975. The plan was successful and it was made into a united church, such, the official name, 'The United Church of Crawfordsville.” The two groups kept their identity but all matters were handled in a 50-50 manner. The groups worked well together and plans were made for a new building.

More to come about banks and railroads in the next installment of Crawfordsville news.