From the Randolph Township Historical Society’s family and local history archive.
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“In Praise of Schools and Teachers”
Written by Sue Cummings
Second only to family, schools and teachers mold the development of children as well-
rounded individuals more than anything or anyone else. I am sure that each of us can name at
least one favorite teacher from our grade school or high school days. Perhaps a teacher inspired
you to follow a certain profession, or helped you learn valuable life lessons through school
sponsored activities such as clubs and athletics.
The first school in Randolph Township was started by early Quakers as a subscription
school. It was located north of Union. We know little about the teachers at this school which
lasted only a few years. By the 1830s-1850s, one-room log public school buildings were being
erected. These buildings frequently were damaged by fires and were replaced with brick
structures. By the 1860s, there were ten sub district one-room schools in Randolph Township.
We have several early photos in our archives showing students and teachers at these schools,
which were scattered across the township.
By the 1880s, Englewood, Union and Salem each had a three-room brick school where
the students were divided into primary, intermediate and principal levels. Again, we have
photos showing these schools and teachers, thanks to the works of early local photographer,
Edwin Sinks. The sub district schools continued in use until the 1920s, when the first
consolidation took place. It was during this period that Clayton Grade School, Randolph Grade
School, and Phillipsburg Grade School were built. Students attended these schools through
ninth grade, before moving on to either Randolph or Phillipsburg High School.
Randolph High School had its beginnings in the 1880s. Classes were held in the three-
room schools and moved around between Englewood, Salem, and Union. In 1914, a new
Randolph High School was built on the Dayton-Covington Pike (it became Tietzman Tool Co. in
the 1940s). It was used until 1939 when a new addition was put on Randolph Grade School to
accommodate high school students. This building was used from 1940 to 1959, when Randolph
and Phillipsburg consolidated to form Northmont High School and a combined school district.