Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home |
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| Type | Non Public high school |
| Established | 1865 |
| Closed | 2009 |
| School district | Rush County Schools |
| Superintendent | Paul Wilkinson |
| Principal | Kevin Porter |
| Grades | K - 12 |
| Color(s) | Royal Blue and White |
| Nickname | Tigers |
| Publication | The Home Journal |
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Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home
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Front of the administration building
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 Location in Indiana
Location in the United States
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| Location | 10892 N. State Road 140 |
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| Nearest city | Knightstown |
| Built | 1878 |
| Architect | John A. Hasecoster, Joe Wildermuth, McGuire & Shook |
| NRHP reference No. | 11000916 |
| Added to NRHP | December 20, 2011 |
The Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home (ISSCH) was a special place near Knightstown, Indiana. It was a home and school for children who had family members who served in the military. It was located in northwestern Rush County, Indiana.
Contents
History of the Home
The Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home was started in 1865. It was created by Governor of Indiana Oliver Morton and others. The first children who lived there were orphans of soldiers from the American Civil War.
Just two years later, the State of Indiana took over the Home. Its name changed a few times over the years. Some of the names included "Soldiers's Orphan's Home" and "Indiana Soldiers' and Seamen's Home." In 1929, it got its final name: "Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home." This name stayed until it closed in 2009.
Who Could Live at the Home?
By the 1890s, there were fewer Civil War orphans. So, the rules changed. The Home began to accept any student who had a close relative who served in the United States military. This included parents, aunts, uncles, or grandparents.
Students often called the place simply "the Home." It was a safe place for young people to live and learn. It was like a boarding school where kids could gain independence. There were 13 different buildings where students lived. Girls stayed on one side of a lake, and boys lived on the other side.
Learning and Working at the Home
Students could start earning money when they were 14 years old. They worked in different places around the Home. Some jobs included working in the barn, the cafeteria, the radio station, or the barber shop.
The Home also had its own school, called Morton Memorial Schools. It taught students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. Class sizes were small, usually between 20 and 30 students. This meant students got lots of individual help to succeed.
The school offered many different subjects. It also had special programs called vocational programs. These programs taught students useful job skills. They could learn trades like building, cooking (culinary art), broadcasting, business, and even animal care (veterinarian science).
Students could also join JROTC. This program teaches leadership and citizenship. In JROTC, students could join teams like Raiders, Rifle team, MP Usher, and Color Guard. The Home's goal was to be a safe place where young people could get chances to do well.
Life After Graduation
After graduating from the Home, students had a great opportunity. They could go to any public college in Indiana without paying tuition. This helped many students continue their education.
Why the Home Closed
In 2009, the Home's buildings were put on a list of "10 Most Endangered" places by Indiana Landmarks. This was because the buildings were historically important, and no one knew what would happen to them.
The state announced that the Home would close after graduation on May 23, 2009. The students who were still living there went to public schools instead.
At the end of 2011, the entire Home complex became a National Register of Historic Places site. This means it is a very important historical location. Many of its buildings and the grounds are protected.
The Closure Decision
Even though many people tried to keep the Home open, Governor Mitch Daniels decided to close it. He removed its funding from the state budget.
The land was then given to the Indiana National Guard in 2009. It is now used for the Hoosier Youth ChalleNGe Academy (HYCA). HYCA is a program for students aged 16 to 18 who have left high school. It helps them learn important life skills and get back on track.
