1880s
A Period Transition and Expansion at WPID
In 1880, James Logan resigned as acting principal, and John A. McWhorter took over on January 1, 1881. Mr. McWhorter brought extensive experience, having taught at the Wisconsin Institution for 13 years and served as principal of the Louisiana Institution for 7 years.
In 1881, the school received a grant of $60,000 from the state legislature for new building construction. The Board of Trustees matched this amount. After a protracted legal battle with the Pennsylvania Railroad, the 10-acre land donated by James Kelly in Wilkins Township was sold. In 1882, the Board purchased 16 acres of property in Wilkins Township. Sadly, on January 14, 1882, Principal McWhorter passed away at the age of 49.
Rev. Thomas McIntire, Ph.D., aged 67, became WPID’s third principal on March 1, 1882. Rev. McIntire had a distinguished career, including roles as principal at the Indiana and Michigan Institutions and teaching at the Ohio Institution.
On July 19, 1883, the foundation for a new school building was laid. Although not fully completed, the new facility opened on October 1, 1884, with 129 pupils from 21 counties enrolled.
Lewis Flenniken and Julie Taylor served as the first boys’ and girls’ supervisors, respectively, assisted by teachers and staff. WPID celebrated its first graduating class of seven students in 1886.
Dr. McIntire resigned on July 20, 1886, due to declining health and returned to Indianapolis, where he passed away on September 25 at the age of 69. Rev. John Brown succeeded him, becoming the fourth principal at the start of the school year. A founder of WPID and Board President since 1871, Rev. Brown retired from his pastoral duties to lead the institution.
The first boys’ vocational course offered was carpentry, where the boys learned to repair broken chairs and tables and to build new furniture.
In 1886, a shoe repair class was added to the boys’ vocational curriculum, taught by Henry Bardes. The boys learned how to remove worn soles, replace them with new ones, and polish shoes using machines. They also made baseball mitts, balls, nose guards, and other sports gear.
The boys’ vocational program began with carpentry, teaching students to repair and construct furniture. In 1886, Henry Bardes introduced shoe repair, instructing boys on resoling and polishing shoes and crafting sports equipment. In 1887, vocational pupils constructed the Boys’ Industrial Building, housing a laundry in the basement, woodworking on the first floor, and a shoe shop on the second floor.
On February 5, 1887, older pupils established the Gallaudet Literary Society, fostering literacy, debate, and social growth among staff and students, limited to 50 active members.
In 1889, a printing shop was added to the second floor of the Boys’ Industrial Building. Mr. Teegarden, the printing instructor, taught boys how to operate a small printing press and produce letterheads, envelopes, grade cards, programs, and various forms. Students also learned to use machines for pressing, binding, folding, cutting, and stitching.
Alexander Bradley declined re-election as Board president in 1889. Rev. John Brown, intending to retire, stepped down on August 1. William N. Burt succeeded him as the fifth principal. Burt had extensive experience, serving as a teacher and principal at the Indiana Institution for 22 years.
The monitors, a student organization, was formed to act as liaisons between staff and pupils. Older students were selected based on responsibility, dependability, leadership, and academic performance.
Around 1889, WPID introduced football, rugby, and soccer. The school’s football team initially played against local athletic clubs rather than other schools, a tradition that continued for many years.
