Source: Harry Leffel, "Straws in the Wind", News-Journal, ca. 1965

FIRE CHANGED HISTORY -- The incorporated Town of North Manchester came about because of a fire. The village was founded as Manchester, although in common terms it was known as a town, even before incorporation. It was on Sunday afternoon about 4:00 o'clock, April 16, 1874, that fire broke out in the school house in North Manchester resulting in total destruction. The school system then was under the direction of the township trustee. People in town wanted a new building, large enough for a high and elementary school. Many of the people in the township objected. The differences became greater during the summer, and late that year articles of incorporation were filed for the Town of North Manchester. An election was held in the fall, and town officers were elected. Trustees were John F. Kinney, First Ward; Jesse Arnold, Second Ward; and Daniel Sala, Third Ward. Griffey Thomas was elected marshal; Darius Lautzenhiser, assessor; and Joseph B. Harter, treasurer. School trustees elected were: Tolliver B. Clark, Levi J. Noftzger and Hugh Wells.

School funds in the hands of the Township Trustee were divided between town and township, with the township funds being used to erect a new school building at Liberty Mills, and the town's share, plus a bond issue of $10,000 used to construct a new brick school building at the northeast corner of Market and Fourth Streets. This site is now [i.e. in 1965] the site of the present Central Junior High building. There was some objection to the location because it was so far from town. It was not until after 1900 that the township built a high school building, which was succeeded in the twenties by the present Chester building. Some of the township students paid tuition to attend Manchester High School. Manchester College in the earlier years had courses for high school students and some township students attended the Academy at the college. Others went to colleges in Indiana that offered high school courses. Advanced studies also were offered at the Servia school equivalent probably to the first two years of high school.

The division of town and township over the schools in 1874 continued until only a few years ago, despite earlier attempts to consolidate at the time the present Central Building was built; and again a few years later when the new Chester building was projected.

It is an odd characterization of human beings, that they may be friends and neighbors, transact business together, mingle harmoniously in religious and social circles, and yet let a corporation, township or county line divide them in school matters. No single question has so divided communities and caused bitter enmities in the past fifteen years in Indiana as has the consolidation of schools. Those differences still exist in communities where consolidation has not been effected.

The name North Manchester was used for the incorporated town instead of Manchester, because the post office department ruled that there could not be mail delivered to towns of the same name in the same state. Another older town named Manchester existed in the southern part of the state, near Aurora, and for that reason the word "North" was added to the original name of Manchester in Wabash County.

School during the winter of 1874-75, was held at various places in town, where space was available. A short high school term was held in the upper rooms of what in later years was the Young Hotel, now the site of the Lutheran Church parsonage. The Masonic Lodge had built a third story to the hotel, originally the T.J. Siling cabinet shop, but in 1872 had built a third story lodge room above the L.J. Noftzger store, which was on the south side of Main Street at that time. The 1875 school term opened in the new school building. Thus in 1874 a large hall room was vacant and available for school use.

Henry Gunder was the first superintendent; and other teachers in the high school and the elementary grades were Charles H. Frizzel, A.B. Miller, Jessie Stitt, Hattie Yohe and Clara Tull. Members of the first graduating class were: Albert F. Sala, Nellie Eichholtz, Emma E. Harter, Addie Hopkins and Ida E. Rager.