Early history of Crawfordsville

These excerpts are again taken from the book written by the late Hazel Davidson Moorhead in 1971.

There are three cemeteries in Crawford Township, two west of town on the north side of the road, now known as G6W with an angling gravel road running between them. The only names they've ever had is the Old Cemetery and the New Cemetery, with the Old nearest to town. It isn't known when they were platted, but there is a grave of someone buried in 1840. The last burial was in 1935. The New Cemetery was platted in 1884 and records show the first burial was in 1885. In an earlier book it states that a death was recorded in 1881. This marker is in the New Cemetery and many wonder if the remains were moved from the Old Cemetery, since it wasn't platted until 1884.

Beauchamp Cemetery is the third of the cemeteries and is located in the southeast corner of the township. It takes its name from all the Beauchamp families in the vicinity. The land was given by a man named John Beauchamp and the first burial was in 1858 the time a Methodist Church stood nearby. It was later moved to Wyman and was part of the Crawfordsville Circuit, but was finally disbanded.

A Veteran's Memorial was erected in 1982 in the New Cemetery and is dedicated to the men and women of the Crawfordsville Community who served their country. It was officially dedicated on Memorial Day that year. On the back of the memorial, the names of those who lost their lives in World Wars I and II are inscribed. It was a community project inaugurated by the American Legion and American Legion Auxiliary costing $1,000. An avenue of flags began later.

The first Crawfordsville Post Office was established in 1845. It was in the building where the D-X station once stood and was a store building. The owner of the building was the first postmaster. The first settlers received their mail from Burlington. An old newspaper advertised a letter in 1839. Since people didn't go to Burlington often, neighbors would often bring mail. There were six other locations of the post office, before moving to the present location at the corner of Vine and Chestnut.

Interesting note: There were many Postmasters over the years and many were sons, daughters or grandchildren of previous postmasters.

There were two rural routes established in 1903. Route 1 was 28 miles long and was located east of town, running north to south. Route 2 was 30 miles long, serving west of town, starting south and ending north. Route 2 was discontinued temporarily in 1915, but the combined route was too large and it was restored in 1916. In May 1939, the two routes were again combined and later have always remained as the two routes.

Vehicles used for mail delivery were two wheeled carts, buggies, horseback and cars. Many years after cars were used horses were kept for emergencies. Many times they had to walk to get to their patrons.

In 1970,there was a robbery when over $7,000 in cash, stamps, coins and money orders were taken. They were caught within hours in Cedar Rapids, the items were still in their possession and they were later sentenced to five years in prison.

There were many country schools in the area and many locations for the schools. It states a great deal of rivalry existed between the schools and entertainment was given annually to show the quality of work done. The public school was two rooms, which was enlarged in 1888 with two rooms on the second story. However, in 1857 the school was too large for the two rooms, so the town divided into two districts: those on the east side of main street occupied the school house and those on the west, the old Methodist Church. An academy once located in the old Presbyterian Church was closed at the time of the Civil War. In about 1850 the public school was moved to the corner of Chestnut and Vine, across from what is now the Legion Building.

School records indicate the first class graduated in 1892, whether from 10 grades or less, it is not known. The second class then in 1894. The 11th and 12th grades were added in 1904. This first graduating class was then in 1907.

Just when the present location of the school on Chestnut and Southfield was acquired wasn't known, but a frame building was built there, one story high, then later a second story, In 1904 the frame building burned. The lower grades finished the year in the old Methodist Church. Upper grades used the Odd Fellows Hall uptown on Main Street. A new brick building was erected and occupied the following winter. Later an addition was built on the S.E. corner to house primary grades downstairs and high school upstairs.

When a more larger modern building was needed the whole block was acquired and the existing houses on Main were sold or moved.The building was occupied in 1923 and has since had an addition of a kitchen and dining room and classrooms.

More information next week on the school district.