Sleuthing Series — When We Were New

JCCC Archives presents the Sleuthing Series, where every Tuesday, we bring you an image from our past and ask you to help us find out more!

The Merriam campus, according to Charles Bishop, “… consisted of leased facilities ….”

What We Know

  • According to Charles Bishop’s history of the college, “The buildings consisted of the former Merriam Elementary School (that JCCC instructor Fred Krebs had attended as  child), five classrooms in the educational wing of Merriam Christian Church, several storefronts in downtown Merriam that bordered the railroad tracks, night-time usage of district high school classrooms and laboratories and also space at the Johnson County Airport  for the Aviation Institute.”
  • The Merriam Elementary Building later became the Irene B. French Community Center.
  • It was about a six-minute walk from the old Merriam Elementary School to the Merriam Christian Church.  Many facilities are identified below.
  • Some of the buildings where classes were held, such as the Shawnee Grade School, no longer stand.  That particular building stood on Johnson Drive, more than a mile west of Merriam Drive.
  • Quoting, again from Charles Bishop’s The Community’s College: a history of Johnson County Community College, 1969-1999:  “Nearly fourteen hundred students enrolled that first semester.  The full-time equivalent (F.T.E.) students numbered 925 ….”

What We Don’t Know

  • How many of these buildings still stand?  What are they, now?
  • How could a student build a schedule with any assurance that they could move to the next class in the allotted time?
  • Were you there?  Do you have any memories to share?

If You Know More…

  • Contact  librarians: Anita Gordon Gilmore (agordong@jccc.edu, ext. 4369) or John Russell (jrussell@jccc.edu, ext. 3284).  You may also comment below!

For More Information…

Merriam Elementary
Merriam Christian Chruch
At the right on Johnson Drive near the railroad tracks is a keystone shaped building that housed data processing classes. At one point, the book store was located here.
An old health food store, the third building north of Johnson Drive, was converted into the Art Department.
The sign, read “Temporary home of Johnson County Community College.” It was placed in front of the former Merriam Elementary School. Pres. Harris is handed the keys to Merriam Elementary School by Harold Lowe (sp?), Superintendent of Merriam Scools. Also pictured (L-R) are Board of Trustees members Wilbur Billington and O. Dale Smith; Merriam City Council members Garland McCormick (?) and Wayne Neal; and JCCC Deans, Bill Lozano, Donald Meyer and Al Cerne. The school housed classrooms and administration offices when JCCC opened its doors for the first time.

 

Map from the Spring 1972 class schedule.

One of many spaces leased for offices.  The sign indicates that this is a bookstore.
Interior of Merriam Elementary building.
Interior of Merriam Elementary building.
Interior of Merriam Elementary building.
The facilities in the Merriam Elementary building were created for 6 to 11-year-old children. This surely created challenges for college students and staff.
The doors open! September 4, 1969.