1970-1990

This time period saw big changes in the school district, with Muncie Fithian consolidating to become K-12, Newtown taking on the position of Middle School several years later (to later transition to a Jr. High), then as the turn of the century approached elementary schools started consolidating into a newly expanded Oakwood Grade School. By the end of the changes, Muncie Fithian and Diamond schools had closed and Oakwood was left with one grade school, one middle school, and one high school.

Businesses changed but constants still remained, including the grocery store. The bank became a library as a new bank was built, and became a meeting spot in the basement. As time went on the library was torn down and a new library was built.

At the 125th anniversary, Oakwood was separated from Danville by forested areas, the Salt Fork and the Middle Fork rivers. Large farms were on the edges of the Village of Oakwood as well as two large truck stops one on each side of the road by Interstate 74. A water tower with the village name. Additionally Oakwood included four churches, a bank, a post office, a grocery, a library, a print shop, four auto repair shops, several hairdressers, a town hall, a grade school, a fire department, a rescue squad, a laundromat, a landscaper, a union office, a realtor, an independent contractor, a tavern, two video stores, several restaurants, an ice cream place, and a convenience store, all in a village of 1500 people. Additionally Oakwood had two Main Streets. Farm land at the time was valued up to $3000/acre.

POPULATION BOOM
When the Village of Oakwood became fifty years old in 1920, the Census of that year registered 506 people. In the next forty years the village gradually grew to 8 61 people for the 1960 Census.
By the 1970 Census the village had increased its population to 1367. In the single decade of the sixties the population had increased an amazing 506 people, the exact same amount as the first fifty years! This was due in part by the addition of Dolbee Street on the north edge of town and Seymour’s second addition on the west. The biggest increase however, was due to Floyd Lee’s large Trailer Court on the south edge of town. The Trailer Court was the first in the village to have Cable TV.
Interstate 74 came through and an exit was put here which greatly increased the popularity of our village with new home buyers. A t`ruck Stop and a gas station were soon built at the Interstate. A new post office was built downtown. The grade school was added onto again.
Not all was rosy in the sixties as the town saw the passing of a respected citizen, Ernest Seymour and the closing of the doors on the UB Church, the Lumber Yard and the Hardware.
GROWING PAINS
Oakwood continued to grow in the seventies, although not at the rate of the sixties. There was a
popuIation increase of 112 by 1980 with that year’s census showing 1479. The new growth had PUt a strain on the village utilities. There were now two truck , a gas station and a stuckies st the interstate. The state was telling us we should put in a sanitary system, which we did, over much complaining by the citizens. We also got our water bills increased by two and a half times the old rate. The village also erected a new water tower, taller and much larger than the old one.- The increased new pressure found several leaks in the old section of town. The State tore up Oakwood Street and laid a new wide well paved boulevard all the way through town. We lost a few good trees, but then that’s progress.
In 1976 we voted for a new unit school district to include Fithian, Muncie, Oakwood, Newtown, and Diamond Grade Schools and Oakwood Township High School. The vote was pretty well divided in Oakwood township, but those in Danville Township, which was the Diamond area, carried the vote overwhelmingly to victory. Oakwood Grade School was bursting at the seams. Two portable classrooms were brought in to relieve the pressure.
Cable TV finally came to Oakwood in the seventies and there was now an airstrip just southwest of the village. The village also saw the formation of a much needed rescue squad
THE LIONS CLUB of Oakwood
The Lions Club of Oakwood was chartered December 26, 1973
charter Members;
Robert Wayne Acton
G. Frank Banguss
Ben Bradley
William Brown
Larry E. Cox
Ernest M. Dickson
Robert E. :stock
Kenneth E. Green
Kenneth R. Hartrich
Larry D. Hansbraugh
Michael Irwin
Floyd W. Lee
Harry Lockard
James B. Moore
C. J. Oakwood
Arnold L. Raaum
Jack William Rudy
Vere Shepherd
Robert Vinson
Eldon L. Winther
Maurice Vickie
Ralph Bauman
William men
Ralph Henry Burke
Robert Cox
Kenneth R Divan
Thomas Fletcher
Walter Grimes
Haldon Hadden
Jerry Ingram
Charles E. Jones
Gary L. Ludwig
Donald Marsh
Leroy T. Moore
Roy Lee
Donald Redman
Hubert K Seymour
Joseph C. Tharp
Richard Weller
Alfred W. Wise
David L. Barnes
Charles Berkman
John Boen
Roy Francis Burke
Thomas Lenore
James IL Ellis
Orville Gutteridge
David Hack
Harlan Hadden
Jesse E. Irwin.
Glenn E. Keever
Alan W. Lockminer
Thomas Meharry
Joe Neff
Robert A. Pricer
Harrison M. Rogers
Kenneth F. Seymour
William W. Trankina
Wendell It Wilson
Walter Gene Witsman

911 Addressing

In the past, rural route addresses were commonly used in areas outside of towns and cities. However, as emergency services became more centralized and standardized, these addresses became less effective.

With the implementation of 911 addressing, homes and businesses are given a physical address that corresponds to their location on a map. This makes it easier for emergency services to locate and respond to incidents.

Residents and businesses are typically notified of their new address by mail, and are given a grace period to update their address with all necessary parties such as the post office, utility companies, and other service providers.

Between 1980 and 1990 911 Addressing was added to the routes around rural Oakwood. Originally as an example the both the area north west of Oakwood and South West of Oakwood were Rural Route 2. Moving from the north side of Oakwood to the south side of Oakwood in the 70s my family kept the same address, RR2 Oakwood. Shortly after a box number was added to the address. Our address changed to RR2 Box 8 at the time.

When 911 addressing was added the area as assigned a grid that would identify every home in the county. Streets were then named based on the 911 address. If the road made a 90 degree turn it might contain two or more names. For example going out 700 East Road (north south road), the road changes to 1500 North road (an east west road)

Share This