My father Paul Bateman refereed basketball games in the gym.

My mother, Roma Appel, and her husband Ludwig Appel bought the Salem Schoolhouse in 1980. They turned it into a horse facility. The gymnasium became an indoor riding arena, the classrooms surrounding became stalls to facilitate horses, and another part of the school house became their living quarters. They owned the Salem school house from 1980 to just recently 2016. The school house now sits vacant, and is deteriorating at a rapid pace. Mom and Ludwig are now in their late 80s.

I attended Salem and haven't seen that school since we moved from Big Turkey to Kendallville, in 1955. On Turkey Lake we lived right across the lake from the cement factory, in Wildwood addition. I was 15 then and am now 77. I happen to stumble across these wonderful photos and when this one came up I knew immediately what it was! It seems odd to me that I could remember it from long ago, when I can't remember many other things today. I attended Salem with my cousins, Maurice, Jim and Sharon Smith who lived near the lake. We often had to walk a long way to get the bus because the bus, driven by Dan Parker, couldn't make it down the muddy roads. Many fond memories of students and teachers, and a special bus driver from Salem Center.

Salem Center School; Salem Township; Steuben County, Indiana. The last class to graduate from this school was 1964. My sisters and I attended from 1st grade through 12th grade. Our bus driver was Heber Leas. We were the first students on the bus and the last ones off as our farm was located very close to his.

We currently live just next door to the old Salem Center School house site. It sat vacant for many years and deteriorated rapidly, but still had so much character and potential. I had always had dreams to buy it and restore, but that dream was never realized. It was purchased in late 2018 and demolished.

As a 1964 Cardinal graduate, my class was the last class of SCHS.
Leland Fee was Principal, now deceased!
Many happy memories while still interacting with many cherished friends!
Cheerleader days....RAH RAH FOR SALEM, SALEM MUST WIN, FIGHT TO THE FINISH, NEVER GIVE IN! Mrs Bryant wrote those words, if memory serves me, correctly🏀

I spent all 12 of my school years in this building, although I was in the first class to graduate from Prairie Heights. My mother also attended and graduated from Salem Center, as did her father. He went to Salem when school was held in what we knew as the shop.
I was able to visit and explore what was left of the building, during my last trip to Indiana three years ago. Although a lot had been changed, it still brought back a lot of good memories.
I feel very fortunate to have made and kept a wonderful group of friends from attending Salem Center. I cherish a lot of memories from those days.

I just like history. We were attending the church in Salem Center and knew there had been a school which became an equestrian center. Sorry to hear it was demolished. Love the picture. Thank you for posting it.

Came across this photo of the school that my Mother (44), Aunt (51) and Uncle (58) graduated from. My Aunt is still living and will share with her. Last name is Miller and all were born and raised in Stroh, IN.

Hi L, thanks for commenting on the Vintage Aerial photo! We're glad you found a picture of the school your family attended. Have there been any changes to this school or the area around it since this photo was taken?

School has been demolished