Gadsden High School - Crucible Yearbook (Gadsden, AL)

Page 7 text:

Gadsden High School — 1980 Who are the graduates of Gadsden High School? They are among the many citizens of our town who make it a won- derful place in which to be born, to grow, to go to school, to live and to dream. They include graduates like Mrs. Annie E Aiken Faucett, Class of 1903 (opposite page) Donna Runyan, Gloria McPeters, and Laura Norton, Class of 1980, ABOVE LEFT: Father, James Edward Semrick, Class of 1954, Grandmother Elizabeth Simmons Semrick, Class of 1933 and Daughter, Mary Semrick Class of 1980. ABOVE RIGHT: Grandmother Martha Griffin Killian, Class of 1938, Mother Jane Killian Godfrey, Class of 1958 and Daughter Kelly Godfrey, Class of 1980. These six people represent many families where at least three generations are graduates of Gadsden High School. The building of traditions and memories are important in the process of education and reflect the proud heritage of the school. Opening 3

Page 6 text:

Eighty Years At 1899 — Gadsden's first public high school building was completed in January, 1902 at a cost of fif- teen thousand dollars for building and equip- ing the structure. The building was designed to have four classrooms on the first floor and an auditorium seating six hundred on the second floor. Since the Honorable John H. Disque was President of the Board of Education; the new school was named in his honor; Disque High School. When the new high school was built in 1923, it was renamed Gadsden High School. The first high school graduation was held in Gadsden in May, 1899 with a total of ten gradu- ates. 2 Opening

Page 8 text:

Living With History Once upon a time there was a small city established on the banks of the beautiful Coosa River in North Alabama. This young city nestled in one of several lovely valleys sur- rounded by the foothills of the Appa- lachian Mountains. Along with the entire country, Gadsden endured and survived the tragic Civil War and the turbulent reconstruction years. In 1875, Gadsden citizens were most fortunate to have a young man of wisdom and greatness living in their midst. John H. Disque was elected Mayor by Gadsden at the age of twenty-seven. He was con- vinced that a stable government was dependent upon an educated and enlightened citizenry. Through his efforts, along with the encourage- ment and help of several wise and able citizens, the public school sys- tem of Gadsden, Alabama was established. In 1877, township trustees, W.T. Ewing. A.L. Woodlif, and Joseph Bevans. decided to utilize $300 of available public funds to operate a free public school for 5 months. Opposition to a public school, free to all, arose from people who were severely handicapped by a limited vision and lack of love for their fel- low man. The trustees issued the following public statement in defense of public schools. “Public schools are beneficial to all classes alike, both rich and poor get an education they would not get without a public school, the rich also get the same. Then we maintain this is the surest way to protection of life, liberty and property; that in obtain- ing an elementary education all dis- tinction and rank have been ignored. The rich and poor have been associated and naturally have the same troubles and crosses, the same joys and pleasures, animosi- ties and friendships, and many times ties are formed which will bind them together in after years. It naturally obliterates ranks and distinctions on account of property, unites society, guards against communism, sharp- ens the wits of one class and ele- vates the character of the other. Then of course the town that main- tains a good school always grows and prospers, holds all of her own citizens, and draws more. It eviden- ces enterprise and benevolence, which is rewarded by intelligence, prosperity, and happiness.” In 1880, the state per capita appropriation was only one dollar and twenty two cents per child of school census age. Inadequate finances caused a decline in the public school system. Mayor John H. Disque was elected mayor for a second term in 1887. He felt that a free public school system could be accomplished through local control and taxes. Through his efforts, Gadsden was created as a separate school district in 1889. Thus, Gads- den was one of the first public school systems in the state. At this time, the first public school building was re-purchased from J.W. Dubose who had used it as a private school. J.H. Disque was named the first President of Board of Education in 1895. There were very few public high schools in the state in 1900. How- ever, the first high school gradua- tion was held in Gadsden in 1899 with 6 graduates. In 1901, Disque High School was built. Gadsden continued to grow as her school system became one of the finest in the state. In 1930, Gadsden High School was built at the present site. In the eighty years that Gadsden High School has been an integral part of the city, she has survived financial woes, wars, depressions and fire. Over 13,000 citizens have graduated and have taken their places as leaders of the city, state, • national and international commu- nity. 4