ONWARD, Ind. -- Want a dose of real Hoosier Hysteria? How about all night vigils guarding your high school from invading government officials? Check out this unbelievable story of Onward High School in Cass County as they turned back twp. trustees by gun point in order to keep their school open...
Two Onward citizens take their turn standing guard over Onward High
The fate of Onward High School is one that most Hoosiers can sympathize with. The loss of a community school to consolidation has taken many a town's identity with it over the years. However, the story of Onward and the fight the townspeople put up speaks to just how far community pride in their school will move otherwise peaceable and even minded folks.
The fateful announcement came from the township trustee in the summer of 1950. Onward High School would be consolidated with rival Walton that fall when school began. To salt the wound, Walton High would continue to house the high school students while Onward's building would become the elementary for the two schools.
The two bitter Cass County rivals were separated by just four miles, and while the Walton Warriors enjoyed the majority of the hardwood success, (final 8 in 1911 and sweet 16 in 1921) it meant little to the Onward Red Coats.
While Onward, population of less than 200, never captured a Sectional, they did capture the hearts of most Hoosiers when their plight snd subsequent fight for survival.
When the time for school finally rolled around that fall, Onward's preps refused to make the trip to Walton. With no salaried teachers, the Redcoat student population began classes with some of the more advance students taking over the lessons.
As the story goes, a handful of 'turncoat' Redcoats did venture over to Walton and ultimately enrolled there. In a community meeting, Onward headmaster William Helms spoke in tones more familiar of a funeral when he stated that two of the traitors were…gasp…ballplayers.
Quickly worry turned to fear and finally to panic at the thought that the township trustee would attempt to close Onward High by force. The result was a 24 hour picket set up with area townspeople taking turns guarding the school grounds. An old civil defense air raid siren system was quickly established to sound the alarm of any government trespassers. Action plans were set into place and an old crop dusting plane patrolled the air during the daylight hours to watch the approaching roads.
Word of the Onward civil defense quickly spread, and the township trustee decided to test their will in early October. Along with a dozen volunteers from Walton, the trustee made a trip to Onward under the guise of exchanging Walton elementary student desks for high school desks at Onward. Their caravan was quickly detected and the alarm sounded.
When the trustee arrived at Onward High, nearly fifty area "Redcoat" men created a human barrier between the public servant and the school. Threats and pushing ensued before the Walton men finally left without their desks. Written reports describe the victorious defenders sang "Onward, Christian Soldiers" as the trustee's men road off.
The trustee would return days later, though, this time with nearly 70 armed Indiana State trooper. However, after the first confrontation, Onward had beefed up its defenses as well. The town had organized rings of trucks, cars, tractors, and wagons to circle the old Onward school building. In addition, high school students were stationed inside and the doors chained shut.
More verbal jousting and shoving took place, but with it evident that the Onward community was willing to go to any physical lengths to defend their school, Indiana governor Henry Schricker ordered the government men to leave.
At this point the state decided to switch tactics. While the watchful vigil of armed Onward citizens continued, the state set about to cut off all funding and accreditation. Teachers and administrators went without pay and an Onward diploma meant nothing outside of the community.
For their part Onward citizens countered with chili suppers, chicken dinners, and pie bakes as a means to raise money to pay for the expenses of running a school. For two full school years the Onward Redcoats lived on as an autonomous entity. As word of their plight and continued struggle spread, financial support came from citizens of Peru, Kokomo, and county seat Logansport. It even became a bit trendy for a time for folks from Indianapolis to drive up to help support an Onward High fish fry, but ultimately the financial burden of operating a school without state funds and without accreditation forced the Redcoats to capitulate. However, the stubborn will and the pride of the Onward community still strikes a chord to this day.
Two Onward citizens take their turn standing guard over Onward High
The fate of Onward High School is one that most Hoosiers can sympathize with. The loss of a community school to consolidation has taken many a town's identity with it over the years. However, the story of Onward and the fight the townspeople put up speaks to just how far community pride in their school will move otherwise peaceable and even minded folks.
The fateful announcement came from the township trustee in the summer of 1950. Onward High School would be consolidated with rival Walton that fall when school began. To salt the wound, Walton High would continue to house the high school students while Onward's building would become the elementary for the two schools.
The two bitter Cass County rivals were separated by just four miles, and while the Walton Warriors enjoyed the majority of the hardwood success, (final 8 in 1911 and sweet 16 in 1921) it meant little to the Onward Red Coats.
While Onward, population of less than 200, never captured a Sectional, they did capture the hearts of most Hoosiers when their plight snd subsequent fight for survival.
When the time for school finally rolled around that fall, Onward's preps refused to make the trip to Walton. With no salaried teachers, the Redcoat student population began classes with some of the more advance students taking over the lessons.
As the story goes, a handful of 'turncoat' Redcoats did venture over to Walton and ultimately enrolled there. In a community meeting, Onward headmaster William Helms spoke in tones more familiar of a funeral when he stated that two of the traitors were…gasp…ballplayers.
Quickly worry turned to fear and finally to panic at the thought that the township trustee would attempt to close Onward High by force. The result was a 24 hour picket set up with area townspeople taking turns guarding the school grounds. An old civil defense air raid siren system was quickly established to sound the alarm of any government trespassers. Action plans were set into place and an old crop dusting plane patrolled the air during the daylight hours to watch the approaching roads.
Word of the Onward civil defense quickly spread, and the township trustee decided to test their will in early October. Along with a dozen volunteers from Walton, the trustee made a trip to Onward under the guise of exchanging Walton elementary student desks for high school desks at Onward. Their caravan was quickly detected and the alarm sounded.
When the trustee arrived at Onward High, nearly fifty area "Redcoat" men created a human barrier between the public servant and the school. Threats and pushing ensued before the Walton men finally left without their desks. Written reports describe the victorious defenders sang "Onward, Christian Soldiers" as the trustee's men road off.
The trustee would return days later, though, this time with nearly 70 armed Indiana State trooper. However, after the first confrontation, Onward had beefed up its defenses as well. The town had organized rings of trucks, cars, tractors, and wagons to circle the old Onward school building. In addition, high school students were stationed inside and the doors chained shut.
More verbal jousting and shoving took place, but with it evident that the Onward community was willing to go to any physical lengths to defend their school, Indiana governor Henry Schricker ordered the government men to leave.
At this point the state decided to switch tactics. While the watchful vigil of armed Onward citizens continued, the state set about to cut off all funding and accreditation. Teachers and administrators went without pay and an Onward diploma meant nothing outside of the community.
For their part Onward citizens countered with chili suppers, chicken dinners, and pie bakes as a means to raise money to pay for the expenses of running a school. For two full school years the Onward Redcoats lived on as an autonomous entity. As word of their plight and continued struggle spread, financial support came from citizens of Peru, Kokomo, and county seat Logansport. It even became a bit trendy for a time for folks from Indianapolis to drive up to help support an Onward High fish fry, but ultimately the financial burden of operating a school without state funds and without accreditation forced the Redcoats to capitulate. However, the stubborn will and the pride of the Onward community still strikes a chord to this day.
