Canterbury College was a private institution located in Danville, Indiana, United States from 1878 to 1951. The school was known as Central Normal College prior to 1946.

History

The college was founded in 1876 as part of the larger statewide university system in Indiana. The school was located in

Ladoga, Indiana Ladoga is a town in Clark Township, Montgomery County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 1,081 at the 2020 census, up from 985 in 2010. History Ladoga was platted in 1836 by John Myers. Myers invited his friends to help him fin ...

, but was moved to Danville, Indiana in 1878 after purchasing the former Danville Academy buildings. Normal Hall is the only remaining building associated with the Central Indiana Normal School at Ladoga. ''Note:'' This includes and Accompanying photographs. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. The school taught traditional college courses, but primarily focused on training teachers. Over 75,000 teachers were trained while the school was in operation. In 1942 the school buildings were taken over by the Northern Diocese of the Episcopal Church and the college was renamed Canterbury College, but it continued as a normal school until closing in 1951 due to bankruptcy. The old Administration Building and the Chapel were torn down, but Hargrave Hall and the C.C. Bostick Gymnasium were used as the Danville Community High School and then the Danville Community Middle School until 2009. The building is currently used for Ivy Tech classes in conjunction with Danville Community High School and is referred to as Central Normal Campus. In addition to housing educational facilities, it also houses the Danville Police Department as well Danville Athletic Club. The majority of the College's records and archive materials are maintained by Indiana State University.

Notable alumni

The school's alumni include: *

Samuel Ralston Samuel Moffett Ralston (December 1, 1857 – October 14, 1925) was an American politician of the Democratic Party who served as the 28th governor of the U.S. state of Indiana and a United States senator from Indiana. Born into a large impov ...

, a United States Senator and the 28th Indiana Governor, *U.S. Representative William Larrabee *U.S. Representative

William La Follette William Leroy La Follette (November 30, 1860 – December 20, 1934) was a four-term member of the United States House of Representatives representing Washington. He represented the 3rd District from 1911 to 1915, and the 4th District from 1915 ...

*MLB pitcher Vic Aldridge, * John Cravens, long-time university administrator * David Myers, Justice of the

Indiana Supreme Court The Indiana Supreme Court, established by Article 7 of the Indiana Constitution, is the highest judicial authority in the state of Indiana. Located in Indianapolis, Indiana, Indianapolis, the Court's chambers are in the north wing of the Indiana ...

Jim Springer James Elmer Springer (June 17, 1926 - February 19, 2018) was an American professional basketball player. He played in the National Basketball League (United States), National Basketball League, Basketball Association of America, and American Baske ...

, former professional basketball player * George Tremain, Justice of the

* Lewis Terman, human development psychologist. *

William H. Stead William Henry Stead (June 12, 1858 – April 13, 1918) was an American politician and lawyer. Biography William H. Stead was born on a farm near Marseilles, Illinois on June 12, 1858. He went to Central Normal College, in Ladoga, Indiana an ...

, Illinois Attorney General, also went to the school. *Frank W. Griese, Mayor of Evansville, Indiana (1930–1935) * John W. Spencer, Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme CourtLeander John Monks, ''Courts and Lawyers of Indiana, Volume 3'' (1916), p. 1365.

References

External links

Hendricks County Historical Museum: Central Normal College

Hendricks County Heritage Digital Collection

Defunct private universities and colleges in Indiana Education in Hendricks County, Indiana Educational institutions established in 1876 Educational institutions disestablished in 1951 1876 establishments in Indiana 1951 disestablishments in Indiana {{Indiana-university-stub