This article about the dedication ceremonies for the new school building was published in the Saturday, November 12, 1938 edition of The Evening Leader. This building, with several additions and some renovation is still serving the community today, 85 years later.

NEW KNOXVILLE’S NEW PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING OFFICIALLY DEDICATED TO USE

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PROGRAM CONCLUDING WITH ADDRESS BY DR. O. B. MOOR IS GIVEN ON NIGHT OF ARMISTICE DAY—ARCHITECT TURNS OVER KEYS TO SCHOOL BOARD

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Special to The Leader

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New Knoxville, Nov. 12—Armistice Day was celebrated here in real city style. All business houses, factories, etc., including the U. S. Post Office were closed; flags, the U. S. Stars and Stripes were displayed in front of all business establishments, and many private homes. Only two places of activity were discernable, the N. K. Gun Club that had its public sale, trap shoot and romps, and in the evening the long awaited for dedication of the new school held in the auditorium in which a very large group of school patrons from all parts of the school district participated, indicating that unity and satisfaction prevails.

The program arranged was carried out as scheduled. The grade and high school choruses under the direction of Prof. F. F. Eversman each rendered a beautiful and appropriate number and Miss Viola Aufderhaar enlivened the festivities with an excellent solo, Mrs. Zella Eversman playing the accompaniment.

Mr. Thos. D. McLaughlin, the architect, in presenting the building to the Board of Education said that the building was planned in his name by men in his organization, his associates, and that of course the head of the household usually reaped the credits. Then he spoke of the pleasing and good appearances of the village at the time he made his first visit here, which had much bearing in the molding of the building such as he now was happy to present to the Board of Education whereupon he presented the keys of the educational institution to N. P. Katterheinrich, Clerk.

Mr. Katterheinrich, accepting, responded saying that the activities of the community of the 100 years that closed with the Centennial of 1936 fell far short of the activities of the past three years, that during this three year period we had the civic centennial, the Evangelical and Reformed Church centennial of last August and that during this year we were privileged to witness the construction of this great institution which we are about to dedicate.

That this building which has been placed in the care and custody of the Board of Education and the community in its physical form represents only the toils and labors of the human hand and mind. Calling attention to the fact that a public school in order to fulfill its mission must do five things. 1. It must teach straight thinking. 2. It must open the eyes of its scholars to beauty. 3. It must teach respect to abilities and consideration for the rights of others. 4. It must give information and show where information may be found. 5. It must guide but not coerce all those in its care in their search to discover that task which will make them happiest in its execution, and teach them to do those tasks well.

In accepting this structure it was his hope and prayer that it become an integral part of the community and the district, that it may be an inspiration in our efforts to bring ourselves to the full realization of the sinfulness, destructiveness and futility of all wars, but not only that, we must strive to the end that the beauty which we have attempted to build into this school may manifest itself in the character of all those that come in contact with its zone of influence.

O. F. Beickman, village mayor, in a brief remark emphasized his happiness at the fact that just 20 years ago this day the conflict of the great World War ceased, but that the happiness of possessing so beautiful a school surpassed the happiness of 20 years ago. He thanked the citizens of the community that they made it possible to bring about this happiness and satisfaction, which he hoped the citizens of the community would mutually share.

Mr. Carl Schlecht, inspector, said in part that this community deserved high praise for aiding the project and giving complete cooperation.

Elmer E. Katterheinrich, chairman of the Citizens Committee, whose efforts a year ago made it possible to realize and behold what heretofore was only visualized, thanked the willing workers and the electorates.

M. J. Almack, representative of the Department of Education of Ohio related that he had much difficulty finding his way here. Then he commented on the recent election, saying that he thought the Republicans only had had an election, and very happy that it was over, but that after all he was very happy that he lived in a country whose government made it possible by aiding at the tune of 45 percent for the entire cost of the beautiful structure now being dedicated. Then in a more serious mood, he said that he had faith in the good old methods of education, but said education must be progressive and that this is the aim of the Department of Education, and that consequently larger and more efficient schools are a necessity for rural districts as well as of the cities. Continuing he said that changes made in the field of education are very often criticized, because of not being understood. Concluding, he brought the congratulations of the Department of Education and promised all help when needed, congratulating the Board of Education, the teachers, pupils, parents, the churches and in conclusion said that one must be big enough, if necessary to disagree, so as not to become disagreeable.

County Supt. L. F. Schumaker, likewise congratulated the people of the district for their interest manifested in good education. Speaking on the development of the schools, he said that great strides had been made in enlarging school units in recent years, that likewise school curricula and methods of teaching had made great advancements, that the advantage of the present day textbooks was incalculable as they are written in the language of the child, and that today we had better trained teachers.

Of the purpose of the school he said that they are to build character and have regard for all things good. Concluding he said that schools are a great democracy, not political, but as a protection of human rights and that it is the duty of the public school to give this to our boys and girls both in the school rooms and on the playground, that the American schools should be built on this foundation of democracy.

Dr. O. B. Moor, the main speaker, chose for his theme the two inscriptions engraved on the face of the new school, “Enter to learn, go forth to serve”, and “Religion and education safeguard a nation.” The singular appropriateness of these inscriptions was emphasized in that they call to mind the three most important institutions in the life of any community of free people: the homes of the community; religion is fostered by the church, and education is the concern of the school. The very history of this community bears eloquent testimony to the indispensableness of these three institutions, and also proves that they came in the order suggested by the inscriptions. The first log cabin homes were established here in the late eighteen thirties, the first log church was built in 1840, and the first frame school in 1853.

These indispensable institutions, the speaker emphasized, had come into being because the Creator had given men eyes and hands. The eagle has very much keener vision than men, but he will never be able to see farther than nature endowed him to see because he has no hand. Man, however, with the marvelous skill of his hand, made the 100-inch telescope which has brought within the range of his vision three thousand million stars never before seen by mortal eye. Very soon the astronomers will be using the recently prepared 200-inch telescope and the eyes of man will be able to behold wonders of God’s heavenly handiwork altogether beyond our imagination.

We all appreciate good eyesight, but we sometimes forget how wondrously useful to man his hand has been. The eye and the hand may not be separated; they belong together. Ages ago man looked across a stream that was too wide for him. His eye said to his hand, “I have need of you.” The hand, responding, constructed a rude bridge. Later the hand hollowed out a log and made the first rude boat; and in due time came the sailboat, the steamboat, and the modern palatial ocean liner.

A century ago men looked with the wistful eye of imagination from Ladbergen, Germany, westward across the Atlantic to far away Ohio. They made use of the sailboat the hand of man had made. Having come to the virgin forests of this vicinity, they did what men and women have always done and always will do. They fell in love, they reverenced God, and they thirsted for knowledge. No sooner had the young lover seen the maiden of his heart’s choice than he called upon his hand to fell logs, to hew timbers, and to build a log cabin. That is why men made clearings and began to farm. In a short time a number of homes were scattered about on the homesteads among the wilds. Again, like the Pilgrim Fathers of 300 years ago, our forebearers realized every good and perfect gift comes from above. Seeing the need of giving God their gratitude and worship, the hand soon built the church. Parents remembered the schools they left behind across the sea, and saw their children’s need of training. Very soon the hands of the Rev. F. H. W. Kuckherman were called from their labors on the Miami and Erie Canal and enlisted in the cause of teaching. His first teaching was done in the log church of 1840. The first frame school was erected in 1853; the second, a four room brick school in 1885; the third, the recently abandoned school in 1914; and now our dreams have been realized in the fine structure that we now dedicate.

Our homes will continue to send their children, to support the school and to pay its bills. Our church will tone up the morale of the school in creating character values. The school, the gift of the friends of boys and girls in this community, will render the high service of true friendship. It will assist boys and girls in becoming men and women of whom our homes, our churches, and our school may justly be proud. Entering today to learn, they will soon go forth to serve. In days to come they will pass on to another generation the triple blessing of home, church, and school, the indispensable safeguard of a free people’s welfare. It would be unfair not to mention the unknown donors of the beautiful flowers that graced the rostrum of the new school. It is as much a mystery to the Board of Education as it is to the citizens, where the many beautiful pieces came from except that the one came from the Knowlton Construction Company. Thanks nevertheless.