Remembrances - School Hack

By 1917 all of Franklin Township's one room district schools were closed. And promoted by professional educators, "consolidation" had taken place. They believed it was the only way country schools could be brought up to the standard of city schools. Franklin Township built three consolidated schools -- Acton and New Bethel, replacing previous town schools -- and Bunker Hill, a new site on Shelbyville Road near the intersection with Southport Road.

But these fine two-story brick schools meant that students had to be transported to them. No more walking to the neighborhood district school, all located so no student had to walk more than a mile.

A visitor to the society's recent Open Hours, Rita Lahr, brought several old Fisher family photos she was researching. Among them was a snapshot of a "school hack," as they were called, in which her mother, Bessie Fisher Hurst, was one of the students. It was dated September 1915, and showed some 20 students standing in front of a boxed-in vehicle pulled by two horses. John W. Fisher was the driver.

I expressed interest in the photo, and Mrs. Lahr said her husband, Richard, would send me a copy. This he did, with an accompanying July 17, 1980, article from the Perry Weekly. A drawing of the school hack was also part of the clipping. Here is the article, shortened only a bit, and an "enhanced?" print of the photo.

In Franklin Township, Marion County, Indiana, in the rural area the first transportation for grade school students started September, 1915. John W. Fisher was hired by Ed Wheatley, trustee, to pick up the students at the corner of South Arlington and Troy Avenues. The students walked to the intersection from their homes which were located on scattered, small farm tracts.

The mode of transportation was unique. Mr. Fisher conceived the idea of converting a used, covered Bakery wagon into a school hack. He fashioned long seats made from plain heavy planks for each side. The front of the hack was open so the driver could guide his small reddish brown mules. Two or three small boys were delighted to sit with him for a better view. In the wintertime when it was subzero weather, they protected themselves with a heavy wool blanket over their legs and laps. There were three steps suspended at the rear which the students climbed in order to enter the improved hack. There was a door with window panes."

(to be concluded next week)