Altamahaw Ossipee High School - Tomahawk Yearbook (Burlington, NC)

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We marvel at the improvements of the school and look back into its history. We see more than just bare facts. Victories have been won, and some battles have been lost. More than 2500 men and women have spent happy, useful days here with their friends and companions. 'There has been a great deal of history made here that has not been recorded. Growth and development of men and women through the years may not hive been noticed bv one not so close to the school. Nevertheless the j school has expanded. This frontier spirit of bravery and enthusiasm that the founders of the Altamihaw-Ossipee School possessed will continue to push the school forward in maintaining its place with the best of education? institutions. . ? The present Board of Trustees of the Altamahaw-Ossipee School are Mrs. C. E. Kernodle, Chairman, Mr. C. B. Lewis, Secetary, Mr. W. L. Gwynn, Treasurer, Mr. R. L. Walker and Mr. J. O. Austin. r , Grace Lane Jones. THE INSTRUCTION of the people, in every kind of knowledge that can be of use to them in the practice of their moral duties, as men, citizens, and Christians, and of their political and civil duties, as members of society and freeman, ought to be the care of the public, and of all who have any share in the conduct of its affairs, in a manner that never yet has been practiced in any age or nation. —John Adams (Second President, 1797-1801) fourteen

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A Short History of the Aitamahaw Ossipee School The first meeting of the Board of Trustees of the AI tamahaw Consolidated School District was held at The 11 nl) on Mav 6, igji. The entire membership of the board of trustees, E. V. Pritchett, George S. Fowler. II. A. Angel, S. K. Ireland, Dr. C. E. Kernodle, were present. Initially in 1922 the first A. O. School was erected at a cost of $55,000. Since that time the following improvements have been made. In 105b eight new class rooms were added to the old building costing $35,000, and also a teacherage costing $6000. Alamance County provided a Vocational Building with Vocational Home Ec., and Vocational Agri- culture departments in 1940 which cost $25,000. A well equiped Industrial Arts shop is included in this building also. Provision was made for a new principal’s home bv a cooperative plan between the County Board of Education and the Altamahaw- Ossipee School. Phis building cost $$,500, and was occupied in 194b by the present principal of the school being Y. Mavo Buiulv. Gifts bv friends and parents from the school district and elsewhere provided $3000 for improvements in playground facilities of the school. Today the property of the Altamahaw-Ossipee School is valued at approximately $160,000. The earliest record from this part of the county shows that manv small communities manifested keen interest in education and provided schools for their boys and girls. Realizing the advantages of a larger, more centerly located, school these small schools, Oakwood, Mavwood, Iseley’s, Ossipee, Altamahaw and Stony Creek, were consolidated into the present Altamahaw-Ossipee School. I he Altamahaw-Ossipee School is located between two villages; Altamahaw and Ossipee, at The Hub. Tradition has it that Altamahaw and Ossipee are Indian names meaning “friendly villages.” Mr. King was the tirst principal in the new building, 1922-1923. After his resignation, Mr. David Miller, teacher with Mr. King was elected principal and served from 1923-1939. He is often referred to as the bather of A. (). School.” Mr. Harden, teacher with Mr. Miller was elected principal in 1939 and served in that capacity until 1944. For the tirst time an outsider was then brought into the school as principal. Many changes have been made. Xo longer is this a traditional school, but a I rail Blazer in educational development. (Continued on next page) thirteen

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Message To The Class of 1946: As the Tomahawk goes to press, nature has prepared a festival setting for your graduation. The Altamahaw-Ossipee School sends you forth with affection and hope. Your class has borne the hardest blows of total war and a state wide twelfth grade program. You are, for the most part, the most heterogeneous class our school has sent forth. Coming from other states and other schools you do net represent an exact cross section of the (A and O) school district; yet, in the traditions of this school and in your daily work here you represent a cross section of that America you help and defend. May these pages keep blessed your memories of days spent at A and O; and may they keep young your spirit in the unending intellectual and spiritual work of rebuilding our broken world in the fairer likeness of your immortal brotherhood of youth. fifteen