Jessica Irwin is a descendant of Charles Irwin, an 1897 graduate of what was then known as Fishers Switch High School.  She was shuffling through some old clothes and family historical documents when she discovered Charles Irwin’s 1897 diploma from Fishers Switch High School.

For historical context, Fishers was known as Fishers Switch, based on the railroad switch.  The local post office eventually dropped the ” Switch” in the early 20th century and the town was known as just Fishers from that point in time.

Once Ms. Irwin discovered her find, she cleaned it up and contacted the Fishers Historical Society.  Robert Bowling arranged a new frame for the document.

Friday afternoon, there was a gathering of school officials, representatives of the Fishers Historical Society and members of the Charles Irwin family.  The diploma, along with questions seniors needed to answer as senior final exams, and a brick from the 1907 Fishers High School Building, were all placed in a trophy case at Fishers High School, in a hallway near the gym.

The 1907 Fishers High School stood where Fishers Elementary is now located along Lantern Road.  Robert Bowling says there is no record of where the Fishers Switch High School was located in 1897.

We do know there were 12 students at the high school in 1897 and 3 teachers.  At that time, townships ran the school systems and constructed school buildings on land donated by local residents.

A closer look at the 1897 diploma for Charles Irwin from Fishers Switch HS