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THE CRAWFIS INSTITUTE
JOHN CRAWFIS WAS BORN IN BERNE TOWNSHIP AND MOVED TO PUTNAM COUNTY IN 1834, THERE HE MADE A CONSIDERABLE FORTUNE. CRAWFIS IN HIS WILL PLACED HIS MONEY, UPON THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE, INTO A TRUST TO ESTABLISH NORMAN SCHOOLS (TEACHER TRAINING INSTITUTES) IN BOTH FAIRFIELD AND PUTNAM COUNTIES.

IN 1889 LAND WAS PURCHASED TO ESTABLISH THE FAIRFIELD COUNTY SCHOOL. A BUILDING WAS BUILT, ( THE BUILDING HIGH ON THE HILL) FOR THE FIRST TWO YEARS IT HOUSED THE TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL. IN 1891. TO MEET THE TERMS OF THE WILL THE SCHOOL WAS OPENED AS AN INSTITUTION OF HIGHER LEARNING. SOON DORMITORIES (THE WHITE BUILDINGS IN THE FOREGROUND) WERE BUILT AND THE HOCKING VALLEY RAILROAD MADE THE SCHOOL A REGULAR STOP ON ITS LINE.

THE INSTITUTE CONTINUED UNTIL 1931 WHEN ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES FORCED IT TO CLOSE. THE BUILDINGS BECAME A PART OF THE BERNE UNION SCHOOL SYSTEM. IN THE 1940'S THE LOCAL GRANGE RENTED THE BUILDINGS FOR THEIR PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO FIND ANY INFORMATION TO SUBSTANTIATE ORAL TRADITIONS THAT THE INSTITUTE WAS AT ONE TIME A MENTAL HOSPITAL.