Alexander Park High School - The National Yearbook (Portsmouth, VA)

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MRS. E, W. CHITTUM Dedication To one whose fellowship and understanding have been ever present and generously offered — and whose sense of fairness, as a teacher and a friend, has encouraged us to carry on, The National Staff deems it an honor to dedicate this first issue of The National to Mrs. E. W. Chittum- In dedicating our annual to Mrs. Chittum, we are merely acknowledging — not repaying — our debt of gratitude and appreciation to a great friend and teacher, whom we shall long remember with love and respect.

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First Row: Lillian Wilson, Frankie Greer, Shirlej- Thurmond, Howard Sparks, Beulah Ross, Gene Clopton, Ethel Sumner Second Row : Elizabeth Bell, Eddie Boomhower, Billy ' ick, Clarice Aune, Allan Johnston, Maxine Collins, Bill Jones, Helen Singletory, Marsha Weiner, Dickie W ood, Marie Hamm, Mrs. Chittum ANNUAL STAFF HOWARD SPARKS BEU LAH ROSS SHIRLEY THURMOND.. GENE CLOPTON FRANKIE GREER LILLIAN WILSON CHRISTINE SHEPPARD ALLAN JOHNSTON ELIZABETH BELL BILL JONES MARIE HAMM BILLY TCK ETHEL SUMNER EDDIE BOOMHOWER. . . MARSHA WEINER DICKIE W OOD CLARICE AUNE MANINE COLLINS HELEN SINGLETORY... MRS. E. W. CHITTUM... Editor-iii-Cliief Assistant Editor Make-uf ' Editor Make-up Editor .. .Business Manager Club Editor 4rt Editor Feature Editor Feature Editor .Boys’ .Sports Editor .Girts’ Sports Editor .Cireulation Manager Advertising Manager Advertising Manager Feature Writer Photographer Typist Typist Typist Sponsor i

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THE 1945 HISTORY OF ALEXANDER PARK Some people have referred to Alexander Park as the mushroom city. Indeed the erection of 4, (XX) housing units in a matter of a few weeks to accommodate 20,000 residents was a modern industrial miracle which caused even the staid residents of Portsmouth to open their mouths in astonishment. To build such a city in such short time and to erect stores, offices, and schools, install public utilities, build roads and pavements, and to provide transportation was no small undertaking. The beginning of a school system was, of course, one of the first problems tackled by the E ' ederal Housing Authority, and through Norfolk County Superintendent, H. I. W illett, no tiuie was lost in securing the services of a youthful and energetic principal. W. A. Early, then principal at Madison Heights School in Amherst County, was chosen because of his splendid record and varied experience. Thus it was that Mr. Early moved to the park in December 1942, barely two months after the first houses were occupied, to plan for the opening of schools in January. The growth of the school system has been phenomenal. From 342 pupils and 16 teachers the first day to 4,000 pupils and 116 teachers in less than two years is a record that probably no school in the United States, outside of Alexander Park, can boast. And the school enroll- ment has by no means yet reached its peak! Predictions a re that another year will see an enrollment of over 4,500 pupils. The first months of school in the park have been graphically described by the original pupils and teachers. At first, sixteen houses on Cavalier Boulevard were used, with one grade being assigned to one or two houses. There was no hard surfacing and mud was an eternal problem, especially during the first spring, the weather of which turned out to be one of record precipitation. Mr. Early and manj ' of the teachers wore boots and Sergeant Walter P. Thorne acted as a sort of conveyor belt to lift the smaller pupils across the street on rainy days. The nearest telephone was over a half mile distant. One of the three senior pupils that year. Watt Seawell, went up and down the street in front of the building to ring a big hand bell for change of classes. Janitorial service, too, was quite a problem, since fire had to be maintained in each separate building, but four colored men lent the schools by the housing office did a pretty good job keeping everyone warm. The head custodian, James Sheaffer, was a very lovable character whom teachers and pupils alike respected. He had a degree from a large Southern University and was quite a versatile person who frequently was asked to help with singing and even to pray in the house assemblies. There was no place large enough for all of the pupils to meet in a body and it was necessary at times to call all the j)upils together on the lawn just outside the school office. In those days, just as now to a lesser extent, the life of the communitj ' revolved around the schools. Sunday school and church were held regularly in the school houses. Later when a telephone was installed, citizens used it to order fuel, call a doctor, and to send personal messages. The schools, too, served as an information center, where people came to find directions from a big wall map which hung in the principal’s office, and often times citizens stopped by to pay personal calls to the teaching and office staff. Today the Alexander Park School System consists of a large permanent structure housing the high school and the six other buildings located conveniently throughout the Park, five of which are elementary schools and one a nursery. Nearly all the schools participate in a milk program and the high school has a large cafeteria. Health and attendance officers isit the schools frequently and various health clinics arc available to those who need them. The high school is offering courses in Electricity and Machines, Pre-flight, Distributive Education, Nursing, Commerce, and conducts a Summer School. The really remarkable feature of the school is that in two years and a half, a student body representing thirty-seven states has been unified and welded together into a smooth- functioning school set-up. The teachers represent eighteen states. F ' urthermore, the schools have acquired buildings, equipment, and supplies which it usually takes a generation to secure. That the pupils of the Park system have had many broadening experiences in their school relationships is not denied, and it certainly is no overstatement to say that these pupils have formed many worthwhile friendships which will last long after Alexander Park has been dismantled.