Topic of the Week: F-M School History

ARCANUM--The Arcanum Wayne Trail Historical Society (AWTHS) topic of the week in Southern Darke County History is Franklin-Monroe Schools.   In the reference library are (on CD) class pictures of Franklin for the years of 1904, 1936-37, 1939, and 1940-1952; Monroe, classes of 1931-1940 and  1953-2010 F-M class pictures. 

There are also a few pictures of the old one room school houses in the townships and one of the “Pitsburg” town school early 1900s.  Collection also includes some old report cards and souvenir programs.  The society is looking for photos and yearbooks to complete its  collection for old school houses, Franklin, Monroe, and Pitsburg classes. 

We have years for Monroe of 1939, 1940, 1942, 1943, some of F-M from the 1970’s and 1990’s. And anything with the Southeastern school name on it.  We currently have a newspaper clipping in the collection about the proposed land purchase from Delbert Brumbaugh for the school location (Southeastern) at that time which included F-M and Arcanum.    Please call 692-6462 if you can help out with a donation or copy of your original photo.  See our web site for guidelines and information at www.arcanumhistoricalsociety.org.  The library is open every Saturday, 9-11:45 a.m., this summer along with the Farmers Market and historical house tours and exhibits.

If you have an old school house on your property and know any info about it such as dates when built or school ended and such information, please call 692-6462. We are looking for information, deeds, photos (old or present), souvenir programs and such to create a time line of the first schools for Pitsburg.   We are trying to also establish a history of the systems as well as the mergers.