Athens Area High School - Athenian Yearbook (Athens, PA)

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Foreword Athens is an area of great heritage. Indians, traders, explorers, and pioneers are a major part of her background. The pioneers, being New Englanders, brought with them a love for education. Feeling a definite lack of learning in their new homes, they held a meeting to discuss the construction of a school. This meeting took place February I I. 1797. at the Red Tavern Inn. The delegation of men present discussed the construction of the building. The dimensions were to be 42 feet in length. 44 feet in height, with 2 floors The location for the school was easily solved. The Susquehanna Company had set aside land in every township for education. Twenty-one acres were allocated in Athens and it was on this property that the Academy would be built The twenty-one acres had been divided into various plots of land. The plots were sold and the interest on the sale money was put in an account for the school, if one should be built A plot of land in the mid-section of the 21 acres was saved for the building of a school A building fund was collected by subscription. Men of the community and outlying cities subscribed to shares worth $30. Shares were paid off in building materials or $10 installment payments. The men involved in these subscriptions were joined under the title of The Athens Academical Society The frame of the building was raised on lot 25 in 1797. However, due to lack of funds the project dwindled and the building went up for sale in June 1808. The building was used as a storehouse for grain Again the interest in the Academy was kindled. By now repairs were needed The top floor had never been built so the Free and Accepted Masons were called upon to finish it. After talks with the Masons it was agreed upon that they would build it and hold their meetings there. After this the building was used for many things. Such things as town meetings, church sessions, dances, and public events were held here In 1813. Henry Wells, armed with a petition from the Athens Academical Society, obtained an enactment from the Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This established the Academy and appropriated $2000. to be under the care of an incorporated committee. The Academy was completed and an advertisement was placed in the Townada and Wilkes-Barre papers for a teacher Sylvania Garnsey from Harrisburg answered the ad. April 25. 1814. the first day of school was held. This building was used until March 5. I 842 On this day it burned down The burning was due to the antics of some young boys who had gone for a swim and climbed in a window to warm themselves. The Academy was rebuilt by October 1843 The last year of school in this building was 1868. After the last year Ihe building lay dormant until 1925 when the building was torn down. Many of the townspeople didn't understand why it was torn down, hoboes traveling through town used the building as an overnight stop. It was feared they might set the building on fire and burn the town down. The life of the Academy was a struggle but it did survive and was the fuel for the fire of our education in Athens today.

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School Views

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Retirement Mr Earl K Dill This year after thirty-six years of teaching, Mr. Dill, head of our math department, is retiring. During his teaching years Mr. Dill has experienced changes in the student body, the curriculum. and in the school itself. Mr. Dill was one of the forty-two members of the 1924 graduating class in Athens. Noticeable characteristics of the students that year were the long dresses, separate collars on shirts, and wide ties. The school dress for boys was a shirt and a tie or a sweater. The, athletic sweaters were not the cardigan of today but crew neck pullovers with an A on the front. Students with cars and motorcycles were few. The bicycle was a common means of transportation. During his high school years Mr. Dill was a member of the football and track teams. His junior year he was class president. In addition to these activities he participated in class plays. The plays were presented for the public as well as for the student body. In 1938 his acting ability was exercised again as he held the lead role in the faculty play. His closing scene consisted of an embrace with his leading lady; the stage boys held the curtain a few moments longer much to the delight of the student audience. Mr. Dill was referred to as Pickle” in the 1924 Athenian. He was the Caruso of the senior class, participating in the operetta and chorus. In 1928 Mr. Dill received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan and later studied at Syracuse University. In September of 1932 Mr. Dill began his teaching career in Athens. He taught plane geometry, civics, and POD. In 1950 he moved into the math department. There have been several changes in the math curriculum during Mr. Dill's career. New courses such as modern algebra, unified geometry, and calculus have been added. However, classes are larger due to the expansion of the school district. Mr. Dill has contributed thirty-six years of his life to the students, past and present, of Athens High School. His services will long be remembered. Best wishes for the coming years are conveyed to Mr. Dill from all those ever acquainted with him in the Athens school system—May happiness be with him always. 5