Walnut High School - Walnut Tree Yearbook (Walnut, IL)

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SchooljHistory In 1875 a school was built in Walnut. It consisted of three departments: Primary, intermediate, and grammar school. There were 122 pupils and G. D. Peddicord was the principal. About 1884, the high school was organized consisting of only the tenth and eleventh grades, with no one graduating until 1890. In 1894 a new, six-room building was constructed. The high school at this time included three grades, each consisting of six classes, and had an enrollment of 33 students. About 1900 the school was organized into a four-year school. Originally Walnut School District embraced only three thousand acres. Today the high school district covers 124.81 square miles of area in Bureau, Lee, and Whiteside Counties, with a taxable valuation of $19,774,661. A new building was built in 1914 and burnt down in 1933. In 1917 the first Walnut High School Board of Education was elected. Our present school building was erected in 1922. Improvements were constantly being made. In 1934 new tile floors were laid in the gym and foods department. Gifts to the campus included the fountain and gateway. In 1936 the heating system was reconstructed, the foods department remodeled, the auditorium redecorated, the stage enlarged, and a balcony built. A 30' x 83’ farm shop was completed in 1942. A 30' x 45' addition to the building was made in 1951. During 1958 and 1959 the gymnasium was enclosed and fire screens were installed. In 1961 a 36' addition to the farm shop and a new agriculture classroom were completed. The music department was moved to the north end of the agriculture building. This move made two additional classrooms available in the main building. A new industrial arts department was added during the summer of 1963. In 1890 the teaching staff consisted of two teachers for 33 students. In contrast to this, in 1963 there is a faculty of 14 members for an enrollment of 177 students. Walnut's claim to fame is based on the fact that the famous author and columnist Don Marquis was born and educated here. He graduated from Walnut High in 1894. 4

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mmn. TITLE PAGE...............................Page 1 FOREWORD.................................Page 2 HISTORY OF THE SCHOOL....................page 4 DEDICATION...............................page 5 ANNUAL STAFF.............................page 6 KING AND HIS COURT.......................page 7 (Faculty and Administration) LORDS AND LADIES.........................page 13 (Seniors) KNIGHTS ..............................page 26 (Juniors) SQUIRES ..............................page 28 (Sophomores) PAGES....................................page 30 (Freshmen) YE CLUBS.................................page 35 (Organizations) THE FAIR.................................page 43 (Activities) THE MINSTRELS............................page 53 (Music) THE TOURNAMENT...........................page 63 (Athletics) 3

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MRS. NINA GHRBITZ We, the class of 1964, wish to dedicate this, the twenty-eighth volume of The Walnut Tree, to Mrs. Nina Gerbitz, our school secretary for four years. No words can express our great appreciation for the innumerable times she has helped us in so many ways. 5