Home Care In Reelsville, IN

Banner Graphic/Brand Selvia

REELSVILLE -- Having not been used for educational or community purposes since its closure in 2011, Reelsville Elementary School fits the descriptor of an abandoned building.

With old books, telescopes, small photographs and artwork left by students and staff, the school still stands despite its roof damage and broken boiler. The playground and a trail built by the Boy Scouts are still there. The idle gymnasium is dark and dusty.

However, with the help of his family and supporters, the entire property will hopefully begin to have a new lease on life soon, as Benjamin Fox now looks to restore the buildings as historic landmarks and where the local community can come together.

The history of Reelsville Elementary School traces back to before the beginning of the last century. Not far from where the current building now stands, the first iteration of Reelsville High School was built as a two-story schoolhouse in Pleasant Garden.

However, this building was completely destroyed after it was engulfed in a fire in March of 1945. It was estimated then that $50,000 (not adjusted for inflation) in damages had been lost. However, the local community resolved to build a new school, and a barracks was used as a substitute for the next nine years.

An overhead view of Reelsville Elementary School taken in 1964.

Courtesy photo

The new Reelsville High School was completed in 1953, but classes did not start until 1954. It underwent another dramatic change when it was redesignated as the elementary school in 1969. South Putnam High School was also opened during this time, and Reelsville High School was consolidated into the new building.

The whole property underwent a remodeling phase that was completed in October of 1999. After that time, though, Reelsville Elementary gradually became a financial strain on the South Putnam Community School Corporation.

The recession which hit in 2007 spelled the beginning of the end. After funding cuts were made at the state level, and with a loss of enrollment which ultimately cost the corporation approximately half-a-million dollars, the South Putnam School Board decided to close Reelsville Elementary in 2011.

The corporation finally sold the building, as well as two parcels containing its ball diamonds and land behind the Reelsville/Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department, to Fox last September. A separate one-and-a-half-acre portion was donated to the fire department.

For those who might have worried about the property being purchased by a developer, Fox being a local connection may be of some comfort. He is a 1995 graduate of South Putnam High School, and went to school at Reelsville Elementary.

In that way, Fox said he had a personal connection to the building. He recounted one moment in 1986 when he watched the Challenger explosion in science class. However, what Reelsville Elementary means to many South Putnam graduates goes beyond this one memory.

“I just couldn’t see it getting torn down,” he told the Banner Graphic during a tour of the property. “I had no intention of buying it, but there’s a lot of history and memories that have been made here to do that.”

The autographs of former students can still be seen scribbled on some of the wood beams in the gym.

Banner Graphic/Brand Selvia

Fox shared he had “heard it through the grapevine” that the gym was considered for the classic basketball film “Hoosiers.” If one looks up at some of the wood beams, especially those above the right side of the stage, the autographs of former students can be seen where a rope once hung.

A decidedly spooky interior in the daytime, Fox smiled when asked if he had seen anything “weird” inside the school itself. While he said that he had not, it would make sense to him if a former teacher had maybe stuck around.

Then there is the basement, which Fox and his peers were told was haunted when they were students. As such, he said they were not allowed to enter it. He eventually had to go down recently and pump three-and-a-half feet of water which had pooled inside.

Fox said he is confident that the school can be renovated to reflect how it once was, both as the high school and then the elementary school, through to the 1999 remodel. He has already begun some of the work with replacing almost two dozen broken windows, as well as some doors. Graffiti has also been cleaned up.

“I think that the bones of the school are good,” Fox said. “I know there is a lot of potential here in the school and in the gym, because most of it is still here.”

Adding that it was once the “center of the community” where basketball games and plays were held, Fox hopes that the gymnasium can be restored as a community center, not all that dissimilar in purpose to the old school in Russellville.

The baseball diamonds need new fencing, but Fox wants them to continue being a venue for local youth leagues. He said that they, as well as the work on the gym, can be “going” by fall of next year.

Prior to the building and included parcels being up for auction, the Reelsville/Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department has conducted search-and-rescue training at the school. Fox said he would like to see the department continue to use the building in this capacity.

Fox added that he is looking at getting Reelsville Elementary onto the Indiana Register of Historic Sites and Structures, as well as the National Register of Historic Places.

“We’ll see how that goes,” Fox said. He implied the renovations he plans to make, as well as those which were made during the 1999 remodel, might bar the property from being recognized as historic.

However, Fox said he has received input from Greencastle’s local government, especially Mayor Bill Dory, on how he can go about this. In essence, he said that as many changes as possible will only be cosmetic in nature. Little details like call buttons will be kept.

Fox is an Army man, having joined the forces in about 1994. He has served full-time with the National Guard, and retired from the U.S. Army last March. He made it clear that this would translate into his efforts.

“I have very strict detail from being in the Army,” he said. “I want to do things right.”

Indeed, this is part of what drives Fox in reshaping and re-establishing Reelsville Elementary as a source of continuity for the people of Reelsville and Pleasant Gardens.

“I think that with a lot of TLC, we can make it a nice place for everyone,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to help other people, and this gives me the opportunity to do that. I want this to benefit the community here.”

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Eight years after their closure of Reelsville Elementary School, South Putnam officials have moved forward on selling the property.

During a special meeting convened Monday evening, the South Putnam School Board approved the auctioning of the school and surrounding land.

At this juncture, the Reelsville property will be separated into three parcels — the first encompasses the actual building, the second will include the baseball diamonds behind the school and the third spaces out land behind the Washington Township Volunteer Fire Department.

The board also approved utilizing the services of auctioneer Steve Vaughn of Vaughn Auctions to handle the sale. Vaughn, who was present at the meeting, stipulated that he would ask a five percent commission, and that the cost of a survey would be split between the school corporation and the buyers. He also said the closing of the sale would take place 45 days after the auction.

Corporation attorney John Zeiner said all sales were contingent on both the selling and the closing, and that a closing would have to be done before sales can be finalized.

The board also approved setting the minimum combined bid for the whole property at $40,000.

Additionally, an outside parceling of the property includes a one-and-a-half-acre donation to the fire department. Fire Chief Brent Urton attended the meeting to thank the board for its generosity. However, Urton said the fire department would like to maintain a gravel parking lot, which sits on the north side of the property, for community gatherings.

Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt, with input from Vaughn, said determining the space limits was contingent on zoning and determining road frontage, and how driveway access could be created.

Vaughn said more discussion would need to take place with the fire department, but thanked Urton for bringing the issue to his attention.

A map of the school and grounds presented at the meeting delineated arbitrary locations of the property line and the parceled-out locations. The board, Vaughn and Zeiner agreed they would be plotted more accurately before the auction.

In a call from the Banner Graphic Tuesday morning, Bernhardt said Vaughn will release an official map designating the property and parcel limits.

He also clarified that the individual parcels will be sold first, and if the combined offerings total the minimum bid, the property as a whole will then go up for purchase.

However, Vaughn also said, with confirmation by the board, that the auction parameters will also stipulate that the building itself must sell first, otherwise the other two parcels cannot move forward.

The school board will host the auction on Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. in the South Putnam Middle School/High School Learning Center.

No bids will be accepted prior to the sales.

The Reelsville Elementary School has not been used for educational purposes since its closure in 2011, a decision by the board that was brought on by financial stretches.

In other business at the meeting, the board also approved a newly adjusted high school athletic handbook, as well as book rentals at the elementary and middle school levels. Bernhardt said the handbook would be available online soon, and that elementary school book prices had seen an overall drop from last year.

The board also approved the following personnel report:

• Resignations: Nathan Aker, MS/HS teacher, HS football head coach, HS boys’ track head coach; Kerri McConkey, MS/HS teacher; Alexus Stancil, MS/HS part-time food service.

• Maternity leave: Lauren Clampitt, MS/HS teacher (from Aug. 7 to Dec. 1).

• New hires: Charles Sorrell, MS/HS teacher, HS football head coach, HS boys’ track head coach; John Rissler, Central Elementary Title I teacher; Cathy Ryan and Robin Austin, MS/HS part-time food service; Sandra Johnson, Central Elementary part-time food service; and Brian Gardner, middle school cross country coach.

Sorrell’s hiring as South Putnam High School’s new football coach will be covered by the Banner Graphic in a separate upcoming article.

There’s an outdoor flea market nestled in the far reaches of Reelsville, Indiana that only the true bargain hunters of the state know about. This giant swap meet is a gathering of collectors and enthusiasts who live for selling unique and unusual antique wares. If you need something to do, look no further than this epic fair! Check it out for some of the best shopping in Indiana, hands down.

The Amish Flea Market Every Hoosier Needs To Explore At Least Once

Get more details about Croy Creek Traders Fair on its official website or Facebook page. For more like this, check out even more flea markets in Indiana you’ve got to visit.

If you’ve ever been to this outdoor flea market, we’d love to hear from you. Please share your experiences and photos with us in the comments.

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Tori Jane | February 27, 2023

Croy Creek Traders Fair is held in Reelsville and happens intermittently from April until November. As a general rule of thumb, you’ll find it open on Saturdays and Sundays on the first and third weekends of the month. We promise it’s worth driving out for! Learn more about this year’s schedule on the official Croy Creek Traders Fair website.

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As costs continue to rise and income continues to fall, the South Putnam School Board discussed a plan that could potentially eliminate the corporation's financial issues -- closing Reelsville Elementary School.

In what seemed would be a relatively short meeting on Monday, turned into almost two hours with an hour of parents voicing their concerns on the matter.

Superintendent Bruce Bernhardt started the discussion by explaining how the financial problems arose. In 2008 the state changed the general fund in the school corporation. In previous years, Bernhardt said, property taxes helped with the general fund now, only state revenues go into the general fund.

"Property taxes are a more stable choice of income," explained Bernhardt. "When (bad) economic times hit state dollars decrease and schools get less funding."

Bernhardt went on to explain that as no surprise to anyone, the economy decreased school funds in not only the South Putnam Community School Corporation but all over Indiana. Last year alone, the school corporation was forced to take a mid-year cut from the state of $350,000.

"Many school corporations ran into serious problems," Bernhardt explained. "We've been fiscally sound the last few years."

The school corporation has always made sure to spend within its means. As most school corporations ran into problems early, South Putnam maintained a higher cash balance in the general fund than most.

In 2009-2010 the corporation had a 12-14 percent cash balance while most school corporations had a balance of 8-10 percent. In 2010 the balance dropped a bit to 10-12 percent. As the 2011 school year is coming to an end, the balance is projected to be only 5-6 percent on Dec. 31.

"We're spending about half of our cash balance," Bernhardt said. "We're spending quickly, we had hoped the economic downturn would stop and level off at some point."

Not only did the board hope for the economy to recover but the members had also hoped the student population would increase. This year alone, the school corporation has lost 66 students. The previous year only 28 were lost. But, with the continued loss of students, this year alone the corporation lost $400,000 in state funding.

"We've had a continual decline of students and that affects our funding," said Bernhardt. "We're at a point now where we need to make some changes."

Bernhardt explained that after researching the facts, one of the best ways to help eliminate the increasing costs would be closing Reelsville Elementary, if it proves to be the best option.

"We have the space available at Central (Elementary School) with some changes to move the population here," Bernhardt explained.

Reelsville Elementary opened in 1954 and is currently home to 184 students. Fillmore Elementary has a total of 150 students with Central Elementary housing 245 students.

Closing Reelsville would help eliminate the rising costs by reducing staff as well as utilities and maintenance costs. Currently, the corporation is paying $95,737 a year for utilities at Reelsville. Closing the school would save more than $500,000 annually.

In order for the closure to happen, there would possibly need to be a transfer of all cooperative education classes to Fillmore Elementary.

The biggest concern for parents was that the sixth grade would be forced to move into the junior high as it is also combined with the high school. Many parents fear that the children are not ready to be exposed to the high school mentality at such a young age as well as fearing the lack of space available for the children to learn.

"These are issues we need to look at," said Bernhardt. "I understand clearly the emotional attachments."

The board listened to the concerns of the community and welcomed parents who wanted further information to contact them. However, Bernhardt along with the board explained that the fact of the matter is, the school corporation will be broke in a few years if spending is not drastically reduced.

"Anywhere we can conserve money we obviously want to do it," said Bernhardt. "These are factual numbers that we need to address, sooner rather than later."

Between all three elementary schools there are only four sixth-grade classes, which may be small enough to combine into three reasonable class sizes.

"We are attempting to work as financially lean as we can," said Bernhardt. "There's still a mountain of details that will have to be addressed."

After looking at the trends, it is known the corporation is graduating more students than it is bringing in. South Putnam has also not gained students in the last 10 years.

"We are concerned," explained school board president Michael Rissler. "We want to do what's best for our students."

At this time the board has not made any decisions. If this does pass it is unknown when it will go into effect.

The board also approved the hiring of four new coaches, Ben Latham as freshman boys' basketball coach, Ryan Gillman as eighth-grade boys' basketball coach, Anna Kendall as assistant boys' and girls' swim coach as well as Pat Pistelli as the assistant wrestling coach at the high school.

The board also accepted the resignation of Steve Ricketts as technology director. Ricketts' resignation will go into effect Friday, Dec. 2 as he plans on taking a position as the overall director of education for 5 Star Technologies.