Bowdle High School - Bobcat Cossack Yearbook (Bowdle, SD)

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s 9 f ' s':v'Sbixw-'-X n mea W 'A 'X ,Y 4 Q. fa TJ T 22f37 SCI-IQQL HISTORY 1949 represents the thirty year anniversary of the present high school building. The old Bowdle school building was a two story, wooden structure. It had four outside doors, one on each side. An outside stairway was on the north side leading to the second floor class room. There was an entry, three large class rooms and two halls on the first floor. There were three similar class rooms and one small one on the second floor. There was a small basement under part of the building. The building had no modern conveniences such as plumbing, lights and heating system. It did not even have kerosene lamps. All programs and meetings were held during the day, All programs and meetings were held during the day, ex- cept for Commencement which was held in a public hall. A bell on top of the main part of the building was used to call school. Stoves in each room were used for heat and water was carried into the building. There were five grade teachers. Twenty to thirty was the average enrollment in the first grade. There were about twenty in high school. The graduating classes during these years were very small, averaging two or theee. It was decided in 1918 to build a new school as the old one was in very poor condition. While it was being built the lower grade classes were held in what was then known as the Opera House, now the Schaible garage. ' The eighth grade and high school classes were held above the Mertz Cafe. The construction of the new building began in the summer of 1918 and was finished in March 1919. The first year in the new school house there were seven graduates. Baccalaureate services were then held in the different churches. Subjects taught were four years of Latin, English, Mathematics, American English, Ancient and Medieval History, and Physical Geography. There were two high school instructors. There were 52 in the first grade in the new school which was the largest class in the grades that year. There were five grade teachers. There were only three school boazd members in those days. ' Many years later Cin 1937 and 19382, the auditori- um was built by W.P.A. workers. il ,ll ,Ill ciaab- Qimkk - .T nussf-uzli Jw-,...J fr sf T f 'ji Us J gt

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