Beloit High School - Trojan Yearbook (Beloit, KS)

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 STAFF John Cavanaugh Editor in Chief Carl Walker Business Manager Reid Houghton Ass’t. Business Manager ASSOCIATE EDITORS Florence McCall Parthene Jermark Fern Bibler Earl Mercer Ward Shurtz Nellie Rogers

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Greeting To the students and friends of our beloved Alma Mater, we extend our heartiest greetings. We trust that the record of school life contained within is complete. We have endeavored to give our readers a true school annual and not a mere class book. We present, therefore, to the loyal supporters of our Alma Mater, “The Owl.”

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The Beloit Schools In 1872, Beloit, the county seat of Mitchell county, was organized as a city of the third class. At the same time this was done, plans were made to promote the education of the town. Previous to the time stated above, Beloit had no regular established school, although a term of school had been taught by one Rev. O. N. Fletcher, a Baptist missionary, whose salary was raised by subscription. This term of school was held in an old cottonwood building, which was located on the west side of Mill street, adjoining on the south what is now the German National Bank. John D. Mitchell, the first county superintendent-elect, held the county institute on October 17, 1872, at the close of which the first county examination was held, and the following teachers were granted certificates to teach school: W. A. Reeder, N. B. Freeland, Lizzie M. Palmer, Belle M. Gilbert, Laura Reeder and Alverie Bourne. The first regularly appointed teacher of the Beloit schools was Ex-Congressman W. A. Reeder, who taught two consecutive terms, beginning in the fall of 1872 and ending in the spring of 1874. George W. Anderson taught a summer term during the year 1873. In the spring of 1872 there seemed to be a growing desire for a better school building. Bonds were voted for a school house, to be erected near the present site of the Central building. The erection of the school house was begun with the understanding that the building was to be completed, ready for school work, in the fall of 1873. Through some misunderstanding or mismanagement this was not fully carried out, and the building remained as a one-story structure for about a year, after which time a second story was added. The building, when completed, was a two-story brick structure, with one school room above and one below. A few years later both rooms were partitioned, making four rooms instead of two. Thus the school conditions gradually developed until in March 1879, Beloit became a city of the second class; and on May 5 of the same year the newly elected School Board of six members was organized, with W. H. Burke as president. In the following month Professor D. K. Thomas was elected the first superintendent. Mr. Thomas served one year and the names of his successors, with their tenure of office, are as follows: J. H. Middaugh, 1880-’81. Bion S. Hutchins, 1881-’83. Miss Carrie Bauman, 1883-’85. F. H. Clark, 1885-’88. Walter M. Jay, 18SS-’90. Samuel Ensminger, 1890-’92. G. M. Culver, lS92-’97. Harold Barnes, 1897-’02. C. A. Shively, 1902-’05. J. O. Hall, 1905-’09. A. P. Gregory, 1909-T2. R. L. Hamilton, 1912 ------ The present High School or Central building was erected in 1S84, at a cost of $20,000, taking the place of the old brick building which had been erected in 1873. It is a large, ten-room structure, centrally located, with wide halls and a large basement. Every room in the building, including the basement, is now used for school purposes. The building is thoroughly furnished with modern equipment, such as steam heat, drinking fountains, liquid soap receptacles and metal fire escapes. Four courses are maintained, each of four years’ duration, the College, Normal,