[1] Center Grove High School, 1908-1952 (source: archives of the Bargersville Community Fire Department)
[2] Center Grove High School, November 1, 1952 (source: Johnson County News, CENTER GROVE MUST REBUILD, 07 November 1952, page 7.)
On the evening of October 31, 1952, Center Grove High School held a Halloween carnival in the school gymnasium. Late that Friday night, after all participants had left the party, a fire engulfed the school and gymnasium. Local firefighters unsuccessful fought the raging fire and by Saturday morning, the entire high school classroom and gymnasium buildings were destroyed. Local leaders, students and community members were faced with a difficult problem – how to continue school instruction and school activities for 247 high school and junior high school students?[i]
The Center Grove High School Halloween Carnival
The Halloween carnival was a high school fundraising event and a White River Township tradition.[ii] The carnival was held most years between 1919 and 1952.[iii] Seven hundred and fifty people attended the 1952 party.[iv] The purpose of the carnival was to raise funds for school classes, clubs and activities. Clubs sponsoring booths included Hi-Y, Sunshine Club, Future Farmers of America and the CGHS band.[v] Some years, “Merchants form Franklin, Greenwood, Bargersville, Stone’s Crossing, Smith’s Valley, and Waverly contributed merchandise and cash for the event.”[vi]
Carnival activities included booths featuring basketball throw, manicures, cake walk, balloon throw, bingo, bowling, fish pond, fortune telling, crazy house, ring throw, novelty stand, home-made candy and a raffle on a chicken feeder.[vii] Refreshments were served and a carnival king and queen were selected. Prizes were awarded for costumes and some years, free admission was given to all attendees who arrived wearing a mask.[viii] At the 1952 carnival, prizes were awarded for the funniest, ugliest, best couple, most original, and prettiest costumes.[ix] Shirley Robinson Weddle (CGHS Class of 1955) recalls that the night of the carnival of 1952, oil was use on the school floors to keep down the dust.[x] Doug Purtee, CGHS Class of 1960, recalls that the crowd attending the carnival that Halloween night of 1952 was not only made up of students but also filled with community members.[xi]
During World War 2, the proceeds of the carnival were used to purchase gifts for Center Grove alumni, serving in the military. In 1942, $55 was “…donated at the door to go toward buying Christmas presents for the boys now in service, who have at some time attended Center Grove.”[xii] The 1944 carnival raised $400 to purchase gifts for the “…144 persons from Center Grove school and community in the armed services …” . Fruitcakes were sent as gifts to those serving overseas.[xiii] Even after the conclusion of World War 2, in August 1945, the stated “… purpose of the carnival is to raise money for the purchase of gifts for servicemen who are still overseas.”[xiv]
Center Grove High School alumni Norm Hyatt, a senior and leading scorer of the 1952-53 basketball team, recalls: “On Friday, October 31, 1952, the gym floor was filled with games etc. due to the Halloween Carnival being held on Friday night, therefore, there was no basketball practice. The team did meet for a short briefing and due to the home basketball game on Saturday night with Whiteland, we were issued our home Whites uniform. Coach Jim Rosenstihl, who was later elected into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, told the team to stay out of the carnival and get a good night’s rest for the game.”[xv]
Prior Fires at Center Grove and Other Area Schools
Tragically, in the early 20th Century, school fires were not unknown to some Johnson County students. In the two decades before the Center Grove High School fire of 1952, other local school buildings experienced significant fires. In 1932 the Hopewell School (grades 1-12), located seven miles southeast of Center Grove High School, was destroyed by fire.[xvi] Greenwood High School was also completely devastated by fire in January of 1942.[xvii] The first Center Grove High School gymnasium was destroyed by fire in October of 1927.[xviii] A second gym was built at the same location and dedicated on November 23, 1928.[xix]
Discovery of the Fire
The carnival concluded by 10 p.m. and the last person to leave the building was Principal Roger Ratliff, who stayed until 10:45 p.m.[xx] The blaze was first observed by Center Grove H.S. alumni “… Earl Russell (Class of 1947), Joe Godsey (Class of 1945) and Clyde Teverbaugh as they were driving on Road 37. They saw a yellow glow in the sky and “a strange light” to the east and followed it to the scene of the blaze.”[xxi] It was estimated that the blaze started sometime between 11 p.m. Friday night and 12:30 a.m. Saturday morning.[xxii] After seeing the burning school, Russell, Godfrey and Teverbaugh immediately notified nearby resident Hollis McTarsney, who then telephoned the Greenwood Fire Department with the news, at approximately 12:40 am.[xxiii] Earl Russell is reported to have driven “… a tractor away from the fire’s path.”[xxiv] “John Fulmer, who lives across the street (Morgantown Road) from the school didn’t notice the fire until the roof caved in, and people began gathering.”[xxv]
Fighting the Fire
Firefighting efforts began at 1 a.m. when Greenwood firemen were the first to respond.[xxvi] The fire began in the main building and then spread to the gymnasium.[xxvii] The two buildings were separated by a distance of 25 feet.[xxviii] The Greenwood firefighters were soon followed by the fire truck of the recently established Smith’s Valley Fire Department.[xxix] A radio call brought the Whiteland fire truck and “…the water tank from Franklin carrying 1,250 gallons of water, was summoned to the scene. The Williams Oil Company (Whiteland) was also summoned with a tank wagon holding 1,200 gallons of water. Both stood by to replenish the supply of water used by the firemen in protecting the other buildings.”[xxx] Altogether, “…nearly twenty firemen and six trucks from Greenwood, Franklin, Whiteland, and Smith’s Valley arrived on the scene …”.[xxxi] One of the firemen on the scene declared, “We used over 1,000 gallons of water, but couldn’t begin to save the buildings already burning, we concentrated our efforts on the surrounding structures (the Middle Building [1925-1976], the farm building and the recently opened elementary school, later known as Maple Grove and the farm equipment building), to keep them from going up in flames too.”[xxxii] “Fire broke out several times at one of the grade schools and the farm building, but were quickly extinguished.”[xxxiii] During “… the fire, two explosions were heard, one in the old chemistry room at the west end of the building, and the other at the east end.” “One fireman, Dale Heiney, was slightly injured in the fight to save some of the athletic equipment from a locker in the gym. Heiney was inside the building and escaped just prior to the collapse of the roof.”[xxxiv]
“J.H. Robinson, a volunteer Smith Valley fireman, said flames from the blaze shot 150 feet into the air. The heat was so tremendous, he said, that firemen were forced to keep a 30-to-40-foot distance.”[xxxv] “Crowds estimated at more than 2,500 people were on the scene most of the time and the building burned rapidly. By 4:30 a.m. both structures were almost completely destroyed by the flames.”[xxxvi] Fireman stayed on the scene until noon on Saturday.[xxxvii]
“Members of the Greenwood and Smiths Valley auxiliary served sandwiches and coffee to the weary firemen…” and “Charles White, owner of White’s Market in Greenwood did his bit by donating the meat.”[xxxviii]
Unverifiable stories have been told to this author that in the immediate aftermath of the fire, a community member took bricks from the school ruins and used them to build a residential outdoor cooking grill. Also, wood flooring from the gymnasium that was not damaged in the fire, was repurposed by a community member to floor their home.[xxxix]
Aftermath
State police were on hand Sunday to direct hundreds of people from throughout the state as they gathered on the Center Grove grounds to watch wreckers from Greenwood tear down the remaining walls of the charred building. In numerous spots, the fire was still smoldering.
The Franklin Evening Star, Officials To Meet On Center Grove Problem Today, 03 November 1952, page 1.
White River Township is shocked and bewildered by the burning of Center Grove school and gym. The fire is the topic of conversation. The road was thick with traffic over the week-end with sightseers coming and going to and from the scene of Tragedy.
The Johnson County News, Smith Valley, 07 November 1952, page 7.
Several men from here volunteered Sunday to work in the ruins of the Center Grove school building.
The Franklin Evening Star, Bargersville News, 03 November, page 2.
Origin of the Fire
Speculation about the cause of the blaze emerged immediately after the fire was extinguished. The Indianapolis News wrote, “Firemen ruled out any possibility that the blaze was started by Halloween pranksters …”.[xl] The State Fire Marshall had last inspected the Center Grove High School building four months prior, recommending three fire safety changes but “… none of the three constituted a serious fire hazard.”[xli] Some suggested that the school fire might have been set by thieves, attempting to “cover their tracks” after stealing the $1,200 proceeds from the fundraising carnival, held October 31.
Principal Roger Ratliff explained that immediately after the carnival he had hidden the money in the school basement about 10:45 pm.[xlii] Verne Ratliff, son of CGHS principal Roger Ratliff stated that his father hid the proceeds from the carnival under the stairs in the high school classroom building.[xliii] Speculation about the theft of carnival funds was laid to rest when, “…after the flames had subsided, Principal Roger Ratliff and Norman Shinn, Greenwood firemen (sic.), dug into the remains to find two charred boxes of money which had been taken in the night before at a Halloween festival held in the gymnasium. They were brought to the National Bank of Greenwood which is processing the burned money through proper channels to recover as much of it as possible although most paper money was destroyed and the silver coins melted together.”[xliv] Later, when the school safe was recovered and opened, the coin and paper currency were similarly damaged.[xlv] The issue of the origin of the fire was laid to rest on November 8, 1952, when a report was issued by Johnson County prosecutor, Robert Young. That report, based upon investigations conducted by Young, Custer Baker[2], the county superintendent of education and other city and county officials, concluded that faulty wiring was the source of the fire that had destroyed Center Grove High School, seven days prior.[xlvi]
Education Continues
Resuming School
In the immediate aftermath of the fire, school was suspended for all Center Grove students for the week of Monday, November 3 to Friday, November 7. During this time school leaders faced a number of significant and difficult decisions. [xlvii] These decisions included:
- Should Center Grove students be kept together in White River Township or should Center Grove High School students be divided up and temporarily and sent to other area local high schools?
- Could temporary buildings quickly be moved to White River Township, creating more classroom space?
- Could local churches provide additional temporary classroom space for elementary students and the high school students take over the newly constructed elementary building?
- How to heat and supply water to the middle building and farm shop building?
The leadership of Center Grove and Johnson County schools resolved the four proceeding, pressing issues in the following ways:
- Should Center Grove students be kept together?
Apparently, this topic was the most immediate and controversial decision that the educational leaders faced. As early as November 1, the day after the fire, Johnson County Superintendent of Education Custer Baker[3] said that the White River Township Board would meet the next day “…to discuss rebuilding and draw plans to transfer class to other schools …”.[xlviii] Illustrating the confusion of the times, the same day Superintendent Baker also is quoted saying “…we will try to keep the school system together and continue classes.”[xlix] At a Monday, November 3 meeting of educational leaders, “It was emphasized that Center Grove school would be kept intact.”[l]
Roger Ratliff abruptly resigned as principal of Center Grove High School on February 1, 1953.[li] The local newspapers of the era stated, “…many openly remarked that they had heard rumors of a rift between the two men, (Ratliff and township trustee Floyd Doty) especially since the burning of the building …” and “It is reported that the resignation (of Ratliff) followed a rift between the principal and the trustee over plans for rebuilding …”.[lii] Interviews by this author with Verne Ratliff, son of CGHS principal Roger Ratliff and Bill Paddack, son of White River Township Trustee (1955-1962) Maurice Paddack, shed light upon Roger Ratliff’s abrupt resignation as C.G. principal. Verne Ratliff shared that his father had for some time been encouraged by a neighbor to work for General Motors in Indianapolis. During the Christmas holidays of 1952, Roger Ratliff gave serious consideration to switching careers. Verne Ratliff, who was a Center Grove 8th grader in 1952, also stated that an additional reason that his father resigned as Center Grove principal were disagreements he had with White River Township Trustee Floyd Doty. Bill Paddack stated the chief reason for the principal’s resignation was that Roger Ratliff felt it educationally best to temporarily move Center Grove High School students to other local schools and trustee Doty opposed such a plan.[liii]
- Could temporary buildings quickly be moved to White River Township, creating more classroom space?
- Could local churches provide additional temporary classroom space for elementary students and the high school students take over the newly constructed elementary building?
In 1952, Center Grove Schools built a new, eight-room elementary school.[lv] Local educational leaders explored the possible option of moving some or all of the elementary school students to local churches, thus freeing up classroom space in the new elementary school for high school students. At the same meeting of November 3, mentioned above, the utilization of local church classrooms was discussed.[lvi] This proposed plan was dismissed by Friday, November 7:
In hopes that many of the township church basements could be put to use for the elementary grades, Mr. Baker made a survey of their facilities but found them to be lacking in that they had neither blackboards, toilet facilities, nor enough drinking fountains.
The Franklin Evening Star, Fort Harrison May Supply Barracks For County School, 07 November 1952, page 1.
- How to heat and supply water to the middle building and farm shop building?
Previous to the fire, the “middle building”, constructed in 1925 as an elementary school and the farm shop building, constructed in the summer of 1952, were supplied with heat and water from the now-destroyed high school building. After determining that the new elementary school had sufficient boiler capacity to heat the other two Center Grove school building, work to connect water and heat pipes were completed by Monday, September 10, the day school resumed for Center Grove students.[lvii]
Basketball Team
The first Center Grove High School program impacted by the fire was the school basketball team. The opening game of the basketball season was scheduled for play on November 1 at the Center Grove gymnasium, against the Whiteland High School Warriors. The game was transferred to Franklin High School’s Griz Wagner gym and in a very emotional contest, the Trojans defeated Whiteland in overtime, by the score of 48-46. Center Grove senior Norm Hyatt led the Trojans to victory, sinking key baskets and scoring 26 points.[lviii] Hyatt recalls, “… I do remember a rumor floating around that if we lost the game with Whiteland, then the season may be cancelled. Jack White and myself were the only seniors on the team and we weren’t about to quit. The team as a whole, played very well that night.”[lix]
In addition to the destruction of their home gymnasium, the Trojans lost most of their athletic equipment. Coach Jim Rosenstihl “… said about $2000 in athletic equipment was lost in the fire.”[lx] By November 10, approximately $650 had been donated to replace athletic equipment.[lxi] Prior to the fire, team members had taken their white uniforms to their homes but the Trojans' away uniforms (red) were destroyed in the blaze. Center Grove played the entire 1952-1953 season in their white, home uniforms.[lxii] The Indianapolis Times of November 2, suggested that the Center Grove squad might have to continue “…practice outdoors on a clay court near the shell of its gymnasium…”.[lxiii] On November 3, the team practiced at the Southside Turners gym in Indianapolis[lxiv] and throughout the remainder of the season a few practices were held at Perry Township Elementary School #9, some at Union High School, and the largest number at Trafalgar High School.[lxv] Senior player Norm Hyatt recalls, “The local schools would practice from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Center Grove would practice from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. These hours even had an effect on parents because I remember my mother having a hot meal for me at 10 p.m.”[lxvi] Home games, with two exceptions, were played at Franklin High School’s Griz Wagner gymnasium.[lxvii]
Offers of Help From Schools and Communities
After the fire, support was extended to Center Grove School from local and state residents and institutions. Several schools in Johnson County and Franklin College offered equipment they could spare.[lxviii] The State of Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Wilber Young contacted textbook publishers to replace textbooks lost in the fire.[lxix] Attempts were made to provide Center Grove textbooks at least at cost. Superintendent Young obtained an offer of desks and blackboards from East Chicago schools.[lxx] Principal Roger Ratliff stated “…that many families in the township have made donations to the school.”[lxxi]
Over the next several months, Johnson County businesses and organizations gave Center Grove school financial and material support. The Franklin Junior Chamber of Commerce sponsored a Camp Atterbury stage show “At War With the Army”, at the Artcraft Theater with proceeds used to purchase school supplies and equipment for Center Grove.[lxxii] A benefit dance held at Needham School and sponsored by the Rural Youth Organization, raised $150 for the White River Township school.[lxxiii] Another dance was sponsored by the Whiteland High School Sunshine Society and its proceeds were given to Center Grove’s Sunshine Society.[lxxiv] In December, a benefit basketball game was played at Trafalgar and the proceeds were used to replace sports equipment lost in the fire that belonged to the Center Grove Girl’s Athletic Association. The charity game was played between the Center Grove G.A.A. team a group of Johnson County physical education teachers.[lxxv] In mid-December, a $343.50 share of the Camp Atterbury Charity Drive fund was donated to Center Grove School.[lxxvi] And, just before Christmas of 1942, White River Township Trustee Floyd Doty received a $500 check from the Greenwood Lumber Company. The letter that accompanied the check, said “It is a pleasure to ask you to accept our check for $500 to be used in best judgment of yourself and the advisory board for the betterment of conditions at the Center Grove school caused by your recent fire. We sincerely hope that this money can be used to help you solve some of your problems…”. [lxxvii]
School Begins Again
“Our present program is get school started again.” – Floyd Doty, White River Township Trustee
(Source: The Johnson County News, Center Grove Must Rebuild, 07 November, page 1.)
Trustee Doty met with his advisory board on the evening of Saturday, November 1 to plan future classes for Center Grove students.[lxxviii] An informational meeting was held Monday afternoon, November 3 in Indianapolis, with Doty, the township advisory board, the state superintendent of public instruction, state school building commissioner, chairman of the state board of accounts and county superintendent Custer Baker in attendance.[lxxix] Monday night a third planning meeting was held at the elementary school by Center Grove education officials. Custer Baker, principal Roger Ratliff, trustee Floyd Doty, and the township advisory board attended the meeting.[lxxx] The great challenge this group faced was how to cope with the loss of a Center Grove High School building that had contained eleven classrooms, several offices, a large assemble room and a gymnasium which “…was used every hour of the day…”.[lxxxi]
Tuesday morning, November 4, county superintendent Baker announced that Center Grove schools would resume classroom instruction the following Monday, November 10. There would be a ½ day of school on that Monday and full day instruction would begin on the next day. Busses would operate on a regular schedule. “It was emphasized that the Center Grove school system would be kept intact.” “We’re going to double up,” White River Township Trustee Floyd Doty said. At least we’re going to try it for a week.”[lxxxii]
When instruction at Center Grove schools resumed on November 10:
Elementary pupils from grades one through six were housed in the new grade school building which normally took care of the first three grades. The old intermediate (middle) building is now being used by children in grades seven through twelve. Partitions have been installed, thus making the six rooms on the second and six rooms on the first floor. (Four grade’s classrooms were located in the upstairs.)[lxxxiii] Previous to this change there were had been only seven rooms plus the cafeteria. The cafeteria was removed and split into class-rooms, thus encouraging pupils to bring their lunch. Physical education classes will have to be held out-of-doors. - The Franklin Evening Star, Resume Classes At Center Grove, 10 November 1952, page 1.
Due to overcrowded conditions, school officials state that it will be impossible to operate the school lunch program, but milk will be available at the school at noon. - The Johnson County News, Center Grove School Opens, 28 August 1953, p.1.
Center Grove High School, Class of 1953 student Shirley McTarsney Calvert recalls that her senior year of high school was one of little learning due to the fire, shuffling of classrooms, elimination of the lunchroom and other school difficulties that academic year.[lxxxiv]
In 2006, John Richardson (G.H.S. Class of 1955) wrote: “When Floyd Doty talked about doubling up, he was speaking literally. Nearly every elementary classroom was shared by two teachers. The cafeteria was used as a study hall/homeroom for most of the high school students. Cafeteria tables were redesigned as lockers by adding a plywood bottom and cutting slots in the sides of the tables.”[lxxxv]
At the conclusion of the dramatic and chaotic 1952-53 school year, “the Baccalaureate for my senior class was held at Bluff Creek Church and the Commencement ceremonies were held at Franklin College.”[lxxxvi]
How to Pay for a New High School?
Center Grove Schools faced an enormous financial problem in November of 1952. How to pay for a new school? The State of Indiana would offer no financial assistance. A week after the fire, County Superintendent of Education Custer Baker said, “The state is without funds to aid in the building of any school, so we’ll have to do the best we can without their assistance.”[lxxxvii] To build a new high school, Center Grove schools would receive $83,000 in insurance proceeds, $31,000 was available in their cumulative building fund, “…and an additional $20,000 can be picked up from the added valuation this year, which makes about $134,000 available. Nearly a half million will be needed to construct a new school and gym.”[lxxxviii] The earliest estimate of the cost to build a new high school was $450,000.[lxxxix] When bonds were sold for the project, one year after the fire, the actual cost to build a new Center Grove High School had grown to $625,000.[xc]
Timeline of the Financing and Construction of the Third Center Grove High School (1955 – present)
1947
The Indiana General Assembly passed legislation, allowing the formation of community-holding corporations to finance Indiana school construction projects. The validity of the legislation is challenged in Indiana courts, based upon an interpretation of the Indiana state constitution.[xci]
1952
October 31/November 1 – The second Center Grove High School (1908-1952) and the second Center Grove Gymnasium (1928-1952) are destroyed by fire.[xcii]
November 10 – A meeting of White River Township residents is held at the United Brethren Church, Smith Valley. A decision is made to form a holding corporation to finance the construction of a new Center Grove High School.[xciii] The holding corporation will solicit shares to residents of White River Township. The proceeds of the sale will pay for preliminary fees to finance and build a new high school. Each share’s price will be $10 and no one individual may purchase more than ten shares.[xciv] The new holding company sets a goal to sell $25,000 of shares.
December 5 – Six individuals solicit sales of shares of the holding company, throughout the township.[xcv]
December 17 - $13,810 is raised toward the formation of a holding corporation to build a new Center Grove High School. Plans are made “… to re-canvass the township in an effort to reach the goal” of $25,000.[xcvi]
1953
January 9 – The State of Indiana Supreme Court ruled that the 1947 Indiana Holding Act was constitutional. This ruling opens the way for school-holding corporations to sell bonds to finance school construction.
January 16 – The sale of $10 shares of the holding corporation is closed. Shares worth a total of $15,420 were sold to 972 community members and other interested parties.[xcvii]
January 31 – The Center Grove School Building Corporation (holding company) is organized.[xcviii]
February 10 – “Officers were elected to the board of directors of the Center Grove Building Corporation (holding company).[xcix]
March 19 – Ralph Legeman Associates of Evansville is named as the architect for the new Center Grove High School building project.[c]
September 12 – A bid of $546,291 is accepted for the construction of the new high school.[ci]
November 10 – “To cover the construction costs, architect’s fee, interest payment on bonds before the building is completed, and numerous other expenses, an issue of $640,000 of mortgage bonds of the Center Grove Building Corporation was sold …”[cii]
November 16 – Ground is broken and construction begins, on a new Center Grove High School.[ciii]
1954
December 14 – The dedication ceremony is held, and the first basketball game is played, in the new Center Grove High School gymnasium.[civ] The Center Grove Trojans defeat the Union Township Ramblers, 54-48.[cv]
1955
January 16 – Ceremonies and an open house are held to dedicate the newly completed Center Grove High School building[cvi]
Conclusion: Consequences of the Fire
Demonstrated and Deepened a Communities’ Support for Its Schools
When you stop to think about what the people of White River township have done in the space of two short years, it makes you marvel…. Without raising their tax rate, they have built themselves the finest school and gym in the county.
The Franklin Evening Star, Around Town, 02 December 1954, page 5.
Center Grove High School will thank itself January 16 (1955) for a job well-done.
At 1:30 that afternoon, Wilbur E. Young, state Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the parents of the 1,040 pupils of this Johnson County school will dedicate their new academic building.
But this won’t be just an ordinary school dedication. It will be the reward of three years of anxiety, work, canvasing and dreams. It will be the culmination of the homes of some 992 citizens of White River Township and Johnson County who paid $10 each to establish a holding company in a brand new method of raising funds for a new building.
(…)
Today this modernistic, completely equipped academic hall is in full operation, a monument to no single community but to the ambition and work of an entire township that has a fierce pride in an ability to provide for itself.
The Indianapolis News, New Idea and Hard Work Build School, 06 January 1955, page 22.
Determined the Future Direction of Center Grove School Construction
The tremendous growth of the half dozen communities that feed into the educational plant run by Principal Loren Wilson will necessitate another expansion.
And it’s a safe bet that another building will be constructed through the enterprise of the education-conscious parents and residents who already have faced disaster and overcame it.
The Indianapolis News, New Idea and Hard Work Build School, 06 January 1955, page 22.
School Principal Loren Wilson said 1,040 pupils now attend Center Grove, three miles north of Bargersville. At the present rate of growth a new addition will be needed in three years….”
The Indianapolis News, New Idea and Hard Work Build School, 06 January 1955, page 22.
At the time of the construction of Center Grove High School in 1953-1954, the enrollment of Center Grove Schools was 848 students.[cvii] The following year, the enrollment was 1,040, an increase of 23%. For the 2022-23 school year, Center Grove School’s enrollment reached 9,434 students.[cviii] A recent study of future Center Grove enrollment estimated that growth will peak in 2049 with 14,393 students.[cix] This pattern of consistent enrollment growth has been a challenge for White River Township educational leaders and community members, as well. The methods used to plan, finance and construct the 1954-55 high school became the model for future Center Grove school building construction.
A Continuous Location for Center Grove High School
“With the Grace of God, we stayed on that hill called Center Grove.” – Norm Hyatt (CGHS Class of 1953)
As communities and circumstances change, Indiana high schools have often moved to different locations. This is not the story of Center Grove High School. The first high school building (1884-1908)[cx] was located “on that hill”, in the middle of White River Township, near a grove of maple trees. The first high school’s location was within the footprint of the current Center Grove High School building. The second (1908-1952) high school’s location also lies within the footprint of the current Center Grove High School.
Historically, as Indiana school districts grow and/or change, their high schools often relocate. From 1959 to 1966, many Hoosier high school’s locations were determined by school consolidation initiatives.[cxi] Other factors influencing high school building relocation were the need for more space or to improve transportation access to the school. It is a common practice in many Indiana communities to build a new high school and then the former high school building transitions to the school district’s junior high or middle school building. This is not the case for Center Grove schools.
In 1953, construction began on a third Center Grove High School building and as part of the project the community chose to build, for that time, a very large gymnasium. When dedicated on December 14, 1954, Center Grove’s gym was the largest in Johnson County with 4,200 seats[cxii] and by adding bleachers, the gym could accommodate as many as 5,000 spectators.[cxiii] At the time of the CGHS gym dedication, the runner-up for the largest capacity gymnasium in Johnson County was the month-old Greenwood High School’s gym with 3,022 seats. Franklin’s gymnasium was third in size at 2,300. Undoubtedly, the motivations to build such a large C.G.H.S. facility included that era’s elevated status of high school basketball, the gym’s ability to host large community events, future school enrollment growth and White River Township’s civic pride.[4]
In 1972, with rapidly growing student enrollment, Center Grove education leaders faced a critical decision: to build a new high school or to build a new intermediate/middle school? As mentioned above, many Indiana communities made the latter choice. In 1972, the Center Grove School Board commissioned two Ball State University professors to examine future Center Grove school facility needs and issue a report. That report recommended Center Grove expand the existing high school building and construct a new middle school on recently acquired land, to the north of the existing high school.[cxiv] Undoubtedly, this crucial decision was influenced, in part, by the size of the existing high school gymnasium. The 18-year-old structure was deemed large enough in 1972 to accommodate basketball spectators, commencement attendees and other large community events.
Since that 1972 decision, responding to ever-growing enrollment, Center Grove educational leaders have on several occasions authorized additions to the existing high facility, rather than construct a high school. Undoubtedly, state school funding policy and community sentiment are co-factors when school leaders must make these difficult decisions.
Appreciation
Thank you to the following alumni and friends of Center Grove High School, for sharing their personal experiences and recollections of the CGHS Fire of 1952:
John Baker (son of Custer Baker)
Verne Ratliff – Center Grove Schools 1945-1953 (son of Roger Ratliff)
Shirley McTarsney Calvert – Class of 1953
Norm Hyatt – Class of 1953
Bill Paddack – Class of 1955
John Richardson – Class of 1955
Shirley Robinson Weddle – Class of 1956
Doug Purtee – Class of 1960
Keaney Sloop (grandson of Custer Baker) – Class of 1963
A special recognition to Jeff Beck, CGHS Class of 1967.
“Jeff’s appreciation of Center Grove’s past, present and future, knows no bounds.” – John Frank
Select Photos
(left) Costumed participant and (right) carnival king and queen, 1951 C.G.H.S. Carnival
Source: 1952 Trojan yearbook) 
(top) 1952 C.G.H.S. carnival queen candidates, identified as Anna Marie Parker, Gayle French, Peggy Lister,
Shirley Robinson and (bottom) costume prize winners.
(source: 1953 Trojan yearbook, page 20)
(source: The Indianapolis News, 01 November 1952, page 1.)
Center Grove High School Gymnasium after the fire of November 1, 1952.
(source: 1953 Trojan yearbook, page 2)
Groundbreaking ceremony for construction of the new Center Grove High School – November 16, 1953
(source: 1954 Trojan yearbook)
Architectural drawing of the new Center Grove High School
(source: 1954 Trojan yearbook)
*John Frank taught social studies at Center Grove High School from 1987 to 2016.
Sources
[1] Center Grove High School, 1908-1952 (source: archives of the Bargersville Community Fire Department)
2 Center Grove High School, November 1, 1952 (source: Johnson County News, CENTER GROVE MUST REBUILD,
07 November 1952, page 7.)
[2] Custer Baker (1899-1976) was a teacher, basketball coach and athletic director at Center Grove High School from 1925 to 1929. He was Johnson County Superintendent of Education from 1933 to 1964.
[4] To illustrate the significant size of the 1954 Center Grove High School gymnasium, in that era, consider the following comparison: The capacity of the 1954 C.G.H.S. gymnasium was 4,200 spectators and the school student enrollment for the 1953-54 school year was 150 students.* In 1954 there were 28 gymnasium seats for every one student. If today, Center Grove High School were to possess a gymnasium with a similar ratio of 28 gymnasium seats for each student, the building would contain 73,472 spectator seats.**
*source: Indiana School Directory For the School Year 1953-1954, Wilber Young Superintendent of Public Instruction
**source: https://inview.doe.in.gov/schools/1042053437/population (For the 2020-2021 school year, C.G.H.S. student enrollment was 2,624)
[i] The 1952 CG high school and junior high school enrollment figures taken from: The Indianapolis News, Center Grove Seeks Funds to Reopen, 04 November 1952, page 11.
[ii] Center Grove High School Halloween carnivals are documented by Johnson County newspapers for the years 1919-20, 1929-30, 1933, 1939-42, 1944-45, 1948-1949, and 1952. References to a Halloween carnival reappear in newspapers after the 1952 fire, from 1958 to 1960. The Center Grove High School Maple Leaf and Trojan yearbooks also document 1947, 1951, 1952, 1959, 1960 and 1961 Halloween carnivals. (note: Center Grove High School yearbooks were titled Maple Leaf from the 1920s until at least 1949. By 1952, the yearbooks were titled Trojan and later, sometimes The Trojan.)
[iii] Ibid.
[iv] The Daily Reporter (Greenfield, Indiana), Center Grove High School Is Burned, 01 November 1952, page 4.
[v] The Franklin Evening Star, Carnival Is Held At Center Grove, 01 November 1949, page 1.
[vi] The Franklin Evening Star, Gift Fund of $400 Secured, 27 October 1944, page 8.
The Franklin Evening Star, Center Grove Carnival Set, 18 October 1945, page 1.
[vii] The Franklin Evening Star, C. Grove Stages Halloween Fete, 01 November 1941, page 6.
The Franklin Evening Star, Center Grove Plans Carnival, 11 October 1944, page 1.
The Franklin Evening Star, Carnival Is Held At Center Grove, 01 November 1949, page 1.
[viii] Ibid.
[ix] The Johnson County News, South Shelby Street Road, 07 November 1952, page 8.
[x] Jeff Beck interview of Shirley Robinson Weddle, 18 August 2023.
[xi] Doug Purtee interview by Jeff Beck, 27 July 2023.
[xii] Franklin Democrat, CENTER GROVE (news), 06 November 1942, page 10.
[xiii] The Franklin Evening Star, Gift Fund of $400 Secured, 27 October 1944, page 8.
[xiv] The Franklin Evening Star, Center Grove Carnival Set, 18 October 1945, page 1.
[xv] Email from Norm Hyatt to John Frank, 19 August, 2023.
[xvi] The Franklin Democrat, HOPEWELL SCHOOL DESTROYED BY FIRE, 22 December 1928, page 1.
[xvii] The Franklin Democrat, Greenwood High School Destroyed In Sunday Fire, 15 January 1942, page 1.
[xviii] The Reporter-Times (Martinsville, Indiana), FIRE WRECKS GYMANISUM AT CENTER GROVE, 03 October 1927, page 1.
[xix] The Franklin Democrat, BASKETBALL RESULTS: CENTER GROVE VS UNION, 23 November 1928, page 8.
[xx] The Franklin Evening Star, Blaze Destroys High School, Gym Early Saturday, 01 November 1952, page 1.
[xxi] Ibid. / The Indianapolis Times, Fire Destroys School, Gym in Johnson County, 01 November 1952, page 1.
[xxii] The Johnson County News, CENTER GROVE MUST REBUILD, 07 November 1952, page 1.
[xxiii] The Franklin Evening Star, Blaze Destroys High School, Gym Early Saturday, 01 November 1952, page 1 / The Johnson County News, CENTER GROVE MUST REBUILD, 07 November 1952, page 1.
[xxiv] The Indianapolis Times, Fire Destroys School, Gym in Johnson County, 01 November 01 1952, page 1.
[xxv] Ibid.
[xxvi] The Indianapolis News, New Center Grove May Cost $400,000, 01 November 1952, page 1.
[xxvii] The Franklin Evening Star, Blaze Destroys High School, Gym Early Saturday, 01 November 1952, page 1.
[xxviii] The Times (Hammond, Indiana), High School Hit by Fire After Halloween Party, 02 November 1952, page 17.
[xxix] The Johnson County News, CENTER GROVE MUST REBUILD, 07 November 1952, page 1 / https://www.wrtfd.org/history (History webpage of the White River Township Fire Department.)
[xxx] Ibid.
[xxxi] Ibid. (The Bargersville Fire Department did not respond to the fire. At this time, the Bargersville Fire Department only responded to fires within the town limits. [source: Bargersville Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Michael Pruitt to Jeff Beck, 05 July 2023. Also, in 1952 the sixteen-member Greenwood Fire Department was a volunteer organization, responding to calls in the city of Greenwood as well as Clark, Pleasant and White River Townships. [source: The Franklin Evening Star, Greenwood Volunteer Firemen Attend State Convention, Plan Sunday Picnic, 13 August 1952, page 1.] The Smith’s Valley Fire Department was founded January 1, 1952 and became The White River Township Fire Department in 1956. [source: The Franklin Evening Star, Organize Fire Department, 25 October 1956, page 9 / https://www.wrtfd.org/history (History webpage of the White River Township Fire Department.])
[xxxii] The Franklin Evening Star, Blaze Destroys High School, Gym Early Saturday, 01 November 1952, page 1.
[xxxiii] The Indianapolis News, New Center Grove May Cost $400,000, 01 November 1952, page 1.
[xxxiv] Ibid.
[xxxv] Ibid.
[xxxvi] The Johnson County News, CENTER GROVE MUST REBUILD, 07 November 1952, page 7.
[xxxvii] Ibid.
[xxxviii] Ibid. and The Franklin Evening Star, Blaze Destroys High School, Gym Early Saturday, 1 November 1952, page 1.
[xxxix] During 1993-1995 CGHS renovation construction, while digging into hillside immediately north of the “West Gym” built in 1954, construction workers uncovered bricks of the 1928-1952 gymnasium. Apparently, in November 1952, after the demolition of the gymnasium walls that stood after the November 1, 1952 fire, the debris was buried into the nearby hillside. (source: Experiences of this author, who was a teacher at CGHS at the time.)
[xl] The Indianapolis News, New Center Grove May Cost $400,000, 01 November 1952, page 1.
[xli] Ibid.
[xlii] The Indianapolis News, School Fire May Be Laid To Burglars, 04 November 04, 1952, p.19.
[xliii] John Frank interview of Verne Ratliff, October 7, 2023.
[xliv] The Johnson County News, CENTER GROVE MUST REBUILD, 07 November 1952, page 7.
[xlv] John Frank interview of Verne Ratliff, October 7, 2023. Mr. Ratliff also stated that the funds in the school safe were currency used
by the school bookstore, cafeteria, etc.
[xlvi] The Franklin Evening Star, Faulty Wiring is Blamed For Fire At Center Grove, 08 November 1952, page 1.
[xlvii] The Franklin Evening Star, Officials to Meet On Center Grove Problem Today, 03 November 1952, page 1.
[xlviii] The (Greenfield, IN) Daily Reporter (Indiana News Service Story), Center Grove High School is Burned, 01 November 1952, page 4.
[xlix] The Franklin Evening Star, Blaze Destroys High School, Gym Early Saturday, 01 November 1952, page 1.
[l] The Franklin Evening Star, Plan to Resume Classes Monday At Center Grove, 04 November 1952, page 1.
[li] The Franklin Evening Star, Acting Principal Is Appointed At Center Grove H.S., 04 February 1953, page 1.
[lii] The Indianapolis News, Principal Quits at Center Grove, 05 February 1953, page 22 and The Franklin Evening Star, Acting Principal Is
Appointed At Center Grove H.S., 04 February 1953, page 1.
[liii] John Frank interview of Bill Paddack, 17 August 2023 and Verne Ratliff, October 7, 2023.
[liv] The Indianapolis News, Burned School Gets Temporary Fund Relief, 06 November 1952, page 1, and The Franklin Evening Star, Fort Harrison May Supply Barracks For County School, 07 November 1952, page 1.
[lv] (After serving as an elementary school, and then junior high school, in 1978 this building was renamed Maple Grove Elementary School. source: The Daily Journal, School Named Maple Grove, 03 March 1978, page 5.)
[lvi] The Franklin Evening Star, Officials To Meet On Center Grove Problems Today, 03 November 1952, page 1.
[lvii] The Johnson County News, Center Grove Must Rebuild, 07 November 1952, page 1 / The Indianapolis News, Burned School Gets Temporary Fund Relief, 06 November 1952, page 1.
[lviii] The Franklin Evening Star, OPENING BASKETBALL GAME IS SHIFTED TO FRANKLIN GYMANISUM, 01 November 1952, page 1 /
The Franklin Evening Star, Trojans Rally For 48-46 Opening Win Over Warrior Five, 03 November 1952, page 3/
The Franklin Evening Star, Resume Classes At Center Grove, 10 November 1952, page 1.
Email from Norm Hyatt to John Frank, 19 August 2023.
[lix] Ibid.
[lx] The Indianapolis News, Burned-Out Net Team May Drill Outdoors, 02 November 1952, page 1.
[lxi] The Franklin Evening Star, Resume Classes At Center Grove, 10 November 1952, page 1.
[lxii] Email from Norm Hyatt to John Frank, 19 August 2023.
[lxiii] The Indianapolis Times, Burned-Out Net Team May Drill Outdoors, 02 November 1952, page 1.
[lxiv] The Franklin Evening Star, Sports Notes, 04 November 1952, page 3.
[lxv] Ibid. / Email from Norm Hyatt to John Frank, 19 August 2023.
[lxvi] Ibid.
[lxvii] The Franklin Evening Star, Resume Classes At Center Grove, 10 November 1952, page 1.
[lxviii] The Franklin Evening Star, Officials To Meet On Center Grove Problems Today, 03 November 1952, page 1.
[lxix] The Franklin Evening Star, Plan to Resume Classes Monday At Center Grove, 4 November 1952, page 1.
[lxx] The Indianapolis News, Center Grove Seeks Fund to Reopen, 04 November 1952, page 11.
[lxxi] The Franklin Evening Star, Faulty Wiring is Blamed For Fire At Center Grove, 08 November 1953, page1.
[lxxii] The Franklin Evening Star, Open Ticket Sale For Benefit Show, 25 November 1953, page1.
[lxxiii] The Franklin Evening Star, R.Y.O. Will Give Funds to School, 18 December 1953, page1.
[lxxiv] The Franklin Evening Star, Seven Girls Seek Snow Queen Crown, 16 December 1953, page1.
[lxxv] The Edinburg Daily Courier, Campus Comments, 12 December 1952, page 1.
[lxxvi] Anderson Daily Bulletin, Atterbury Service Men Collect Fund For State Agencies, 26 December 1952, page 6.
[lxxvii] The Johnson County News, Two Schools To Benefit From Two $500 Gifts, 26 December 1952, page 1. (note: The other institution receiving a check from the Greenwood Lumber Company was the Greenwood School Foundation.)
[lxxviii] The Indianapolis News, New Center Grove May Cost $400,000, 01 November 1952, page 1.
[lxxix] The Franklin Evening Star, Officials To Meet On Centre Grove Problem Today, 03 November 1952, page 1.
[lxxx] The Franklin Evening Star, Plan to Resume Classes Monday At Centre Grove, 04 November 1952, page 1.
[lxxxi] The Johnson County News, Center Grove Must Rebuild, 07 November 1952, page 1.
[lxxxii] The Indianapolis News, Burned School Gets Temporary Fund Relief, 06 November 1952, page 1.
[lxxxiii] John Frank interview of Bill Paddack (CGHS Class of 1955), 17 August 2023.
[lxxxiv] Jeff Beck interview of Shirley McTarsney Calvert, 17 August 2023.
[lxxxv] Fire Destroys School, Gym in Johnson County by John Richardson (CGHS Class of 1956), Center Grove Alumni Directory 2006, page xi.)
[lxxxvi] Email from Norm Hyatt to John Frank, 19 August 2023 / Shirley McTarsney Calvert interview by Jeff Beck, 17 August 2023.
[lxxxvii] The Franklin Evening Star, Ft. Harrison May Supply Barracks For County School, 07 November 1952, page 1.
[lxxxviii] The Johnson County News, CENTER GROVE MUST REBUILD, 07 November 1952, page 1.
[lxxxix] The Franklin Evening Star, Blaze Destroys High School, Gym Early Saturday, 01 November, page 1.
[xc] The Johnson County News, Contractor to Begin Center Grove Project, 20 November 1953, page 1.
[xci] A Report for the Indiana School Finance Study Committee and Legislative Council by K. Forbis Jordan and Kern Alexander, Indiana State Legislative Council, Indianapolis, December 1974, p. 156. / The Indianapolis News, Burned School Gets Temporary Fund Relief, 06 November 1952, page 1 / The Franklin Evening Star, Blaze Destroys High School, Gym Early Saturday, 1 November 1952, page 1.
[xcii] The Franklin Evening Star, Blaze Destroys High School, Gym Early Saturday, 01 November 1952, page 1.
[xciii][xciii] The Franklin Evening Star, Holding Company To Build School At Center Grove, 11 November 1952, page 1.
[xciv] The Franklin Evening Star, Progress Is Made On School Plans, 05 December 1952, page 1 and
[xcv] The Franklin Evening Star, Holding Company To Build School At Center Grove, 11 December 1952, page 1.
[xcvi] The Franklin Evening Star, $13,810 In Shares Sold At Center Grove, 17 December 1952, page 1.
[xcvii] The Franklin Evening Star, Center Grove H.S. Meeting Scheduled, 23 January, 1953, page 1.
[xcviii] The Franklin Evening Star, School Being Built At Center Grove, 19 November 1953, page 7 / The Franklin Evening Star, Center Grove H.S. Meeting Scheduled, 23 January 1953, page 1.
[xcix] The Franklin Evening Star, Officers Elected For Center Grove Holding Company, 11 February 1953, page 1.
[c] The Franklin Evening Star, Name Architect For Center Grove, 19 March 1953, page 1.
[ci] The Franklin Evening Star, Bids Are Opened On High School For Center Grove, 12 September 1953, page 1.
[cii] The Franklin Evening Star, School Being Built At Center Grove, 19 November 1953, page 7
[ciii] Ibid.
[civ] The Franklin Evening Star, Holding Company Member Snips Ribbon, 15 December 1954, page 1.
[cv] The Franklin Evening Star, Trojans Fight Off Determined Union …, 15 December 1954, page 4.
[cvi] The Franklin Evening Star, 3,000 Attend Center Grove Dedication, 17 January, 1955, page 1.
[cvii] The Franklin Evening Star, Increase of 280 Students In County Schools, 23 September, 1953, page 1.
[cviii] The Daily Journal, Enrollment could reach over 14,000 by 2049, 12 June 2023, page 1.
[cix] Ibid.
[cx] The first Center Grove High School building (1884-1908) was condemned and declared unsanitary. The building continued to be used for other purposes and based upon photographic evidence, was demolished in the 1920s. (sources: The Franklin Democrat, 05 April 1907, page 3 and The Indianapolis News, Buildings Unsanitary, 11 March 1908, page 17.
[cxi] A concise overview of Indiana school consolidation is found in View from the State House by Matthew Welsh, (Governor of Indiana 1961-1965) pp. 123-132.
[cxii] The Indianapolis News, 4,200-Seat Gym in No-Town School, 15 December 1954, page 49.
[cxiii] The Franklin Evening Star, Johnson County Net Fans Await Center Grove Dedicatory Game, 13 December 1954, page 6.
[cxiv] The Daily Journal, SPECIAL REPORT: Needs of Center Grove school system, 16 November 1972, page 1.