Birch Run High School - Panther Tales Yearbook (Birch Run, MI)

Page 11 text:

OF GENERAL INTEREST THE FIRST UNIT OF THE PRESENT SCHOOL PLANT WAS THE TWO STORY SECTION. IT WAS A W.P,A PROJECT DEDICATED IN 1939. IT HOUSES AN EXCELLENT COMBINATION GYMNASIUM AND AUDITOR- IUM, BOILER ROOM, GRADE ROOMS AND TOILETS. WHEN THIS BUILD- ING WAS ERECTED THE OLD HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING STOOD SOUTH- EAST OF IT AND WAS CONNECTED BY A CORRIDOR. DURING THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS OF 1941, FIRE COMPLETELY DESTROYED THE OLD BUILDING AND FORCED MANY MAKE-SHIFT ARRANGEMENTS, CLASSES WERE HELD ON THE STAGE, BLEACHERS AND LOCKER ROOMS OF THE GYM, WAR PRIORITIES WERE IN EFFECT AND IT WAS NOT UNTIL 1943 THAT THE ONE STORY ADDITION WAS COM- PLETED. BUILT UNDER WAR CONDITIONS, ONLY THE MINIMUM NEEDS OF THE SCHOOL WERE ALLOWED, THIS BUILDING WAS FINANCEO BY INSURANCE RECEIVED THROUGH THE LOSS OF THE OLD BUILDING. IT CONTAINS CLASS ROOMS, STUDY HALL, LABORATORY AND AN OFFICE, ONE ADDITIONAL ROOM (NOT SHOWN) WAS ERECTED WEST OF THE BOILER ROOM IN 1949. THIS ROOM WAS INTENDED FOR USE AS A GENERAL SHOP BUT INCREASED GRADE ENROLLMENT MAOE IT NECESSARY TO USE IT AS AN EIGHTH GRADE ROOM. THE BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS HAD ARCHITECTS' SKETCHES DRAWN FOR ANOTHER ADDITION INTENDED TO ROUND OUT THE CURRI- CULUM OF THE SCHOOL. INCLUDED IN THE NEW PLANS ARE PROVIS- IONS FOR HOMEMAKING, SHOP, AGRICULTURE, CLINIC, CAFETERIA, COMMERCE AND OFFICES. THE EVOLUTION OF THE BIRCH RUN SCHOOL IS INTERESTING. STARTING AS A ONE-ROOM SCHOOL IN A PRIMARY DISTRICT, OFFER- ING EIGHT GRADES, IT SOON WAS NECESSARY TO ADD ANOTHER ROOM AND THEN LIKE TOPSY IT JUST GROWED. THE ORIGINAL BUILDING RECEIVED SMALL ADDITIONS AND THEN A SECOND STORY WAS ADDED TO KEEP PACE WITH THE INCREASING SCHOOL POPULATION. THE FINAL CHANGE WAS A COOPERATIVE VENTURE IN EXCAVATING A BASEMENT TO PROVIDE MORE FACILITIES. HIGH SCHOOL BOYS AS- SISTED WITH THIS. IN SPITE OF EXPANSION OF THE OLD STRUCTURE, THE NEED FOR MORE ROOM MADE IT NECESSARY IN 1934 TO RENT THE SACRED HEART SCHOOL WHICH WAS NOT THEN OPERATING. GRADES ONE THROUGH SIX WERE HOUSED THERE UNTIL THE COMPLETION OF THE NEW SCHOOL IN 1939.