Jackson Township Schools and Gymnasium

Jackson Township Schools and Gymnasium. . The first log school house was built on the land of John Odell in 1830 near the present front entrance of the Nebo Cemetery, located west of town. In 1838 Arron Cline donated a lot in the northwest part of Camden for the erection of a larger building. The school was located on Sanderson Street , . As Camden grew in size it became necessary to have an even bigger school. The land on which it was built was secured from Dr. Franklin P. Armstrong, a former State Senator. A four room brick structure was erected in 1872 on the yard west of the present school building, which is now known as The Camden Early Childhood Center as of May 2007. , In 1895 when W.W. Allison became trustee, the condition of the 1872 school building was becoming a concern. This issue caused Mr. Allison and the board to construct the beautiful former Camden High School of which Camden was and still is, in memory only, justly proud, at the cost of $18,000 dollars. The building was built on the same lot and opened in 1899. , In 1920 it became necessary to add on another section to the school including a gymnasium, built nearly ten feet below ground, with a second floor containing classrooms and administration offices. , On September 18. 1951, bids were opened for a new gymnasium in Camden with the cost submitted of $122,000. For the time period it was considered to be state of the art composition. It was constructed by John T. Pugh of Peru, Indiana and associates, many from the Camden community. This architectural masterpiece was named to the Indiana State Register of Historical Places in June of 2007. , The last official Camden High School diplomas were issued to the Class of 1964, as a consolidation of Camden and Delphi occurred in 1965 with first group of students moving to Delphi in 1966. , A new grade school building was scheduled to be built on the same lot of the former Camden High School. The old school was in the process of being razed when it caught fire and burned to the ground on September 3, 1968. , The new structure, which opened in 1970, served as a prideful landmark for the community until its closure in May of 2007 at which time the students were transferred to Delphi. The process was very painful for the community and was considered a great emotional and economic loss for the Town of Camden. Students left the school setting with a heart full of gratitude and a feeling of love and dedication for the former Camden High School in 1965 and The Camden Elementary School in 2007. , This composition was written by Lee Appleton and The Camden Community Preservation Society as a tribute to the respect we have for our heritage and the hope we have for the future.