Caernarvon Township High School - Blugold Yearbook (Morgantown, PA)

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Sl.Xlf66fl ' 4 Mr. Frank Fister was the first principal in 1904 fdate of first high schoolj. The school was held on the second floor of the Parish House. In 1905, two lots, fifty feet wide and two hundred seventy feet deep, were purchased on the main street of Morgantown. Construction on the building began immediately, and it was completed by June 1, 1906. Dedication exercises were held on New Year's Day, 1906. The school directors at this time were Milton O. Curley, President, Henry Hertzler, Treasurer, Frank Hoffman, Secretary, James Roberts, Christian Fisher, and Abram Kurtz. The teachers were: E. W. Billman, High School at Morgantown, Ida A. Teal, Intermediate at Morgantown, Moser K. Zweig, Valley School, Jennie V. Patton, Am' mon's School, Anna B. Early, Mine Hole School, Morris W. Plank, Harmony School. Harmony School. In 1919, Caernarvon Schools were consolidated, at which time all other schools in Caernarvon Township were closed. The school board was not prepared for conf solidation and due to this, different classes were held in different places. The high school was moved to the new building on the second floor. At this time, Mr. Stanley Witwer was principal, also there was only a three year high school. In 1914 a Fire Company was organized in Morgantown. From the very beginning, the firemen looked forward to the time when they could provide the town with a community hall. The consolidation of Caernarvon Township School opened the way for such a building. Because of overcrowding, poor school facilities, and the hesitation of the school board to build, someone sug' gested a iire hall that could be used by the schools. The idea met with approval and the old portion of the present hall was built in 1921. The Caernarvon Board of Edu' cation promptly rented the building, thus providing revenue for the firemen, a community hall for the town, and facilities for a twofteacher high school until 1928, when the present high school building was erected and a Hrst class high school was established. f Annals of Conestoga Valley .j The Lodge Hall, above the store in the center of Morgantown, was also used as a school room. Seventh and eighth grades were taught there. In 1928, land was bought consisting of two acres, one hundred fiftyfthree perches. In order to have money to build, bonds were sold. These bonds were auc- tioned oif and the Elverson National Bank bought them The bank then resold them to private owners. These were to be paid off in groups at five year intervals. In 1933, the first was paid off, and in 1948 the last bond will be paid. This building was built of red bricks and contained- four class rooms and a library. East of the building is a playground and behind the building a tennis court was built. No other recreational facilities were provided. Mr. Allison Fasnacht was the first principal at the new high school. In 1928, the first class was graduated from this four-year high school. In 1941, the Fire Company built an extension to the old building which had been condemned. This building was rented by the school to be used for scholastic purposes. The auditorium provides recreational means for both the schools and the community. Busses bring children to both the grade school and the high school. Before 1945, pupils were transported to the high school from West Nantmeal Township as well as from other districts. Now. however, onlv pupils from Caernarvon Township Elverson, Robeson Township, and Caernarvon Township in Lancaster County attend Through the years many changes have taken place in furthering the advance ment of the Caernarvon School system. Let us hope the parents, as well as the pupils continue to realize the importance of education. Only with this in mind can there be better schools for the children in future years. - MARY McNEAL this school. , I Q1-1-

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X until his death in 1831. The building was undoubtedly used until the public school system was established in 1834, when all the children attended the public schools. Doctor D. Heber Plank records the fact that the building was torn down in 1861 by David Plank. Mr. William B. Plank has in his possession the original deed, dated December 31, 1794, by which Peter Plank anc! Frances, his wife, 'granted and leased to John Hertzler, Abraham Metzler, Daniel Buchwalter, John Mast, Jacob Mast, and jacob Lapp, 'a piece or 'lot of land situated in Caernarvon Township, being a part of said Peter Plank's Plantation on the side of the road next said Peter Plank's house, whereon is built the German School House-for the use and benefit of the children of the above mentioned persons'. The two schools already mentioned are not the only ones in Caernarvon Town' ship, Berks County, but there are four other one'room schools located in sections of the township. Ammon's schoolhouse is located next to the Mount Shilo Church, at an altitude of nine hundred feet above sea level. The building of stone structure is the fourth of that name to occupy the site, or ground adjacent, for the Ammon family was among the first settlers, and at one time owned quite an extensive tra.ct of land in that vicinity . f Annals of Conestoga Valley -Mast and Simpson., This school was a pay school until the advent of the public school system. ln Annals of Conestoga Valley it is also noted that After free schools were established, the management was taken over by the township and so continued until the new methods in education were introduced and the schools were consolidated. It has been noted that Miss Mary Evans, who taught at Ammon's school, some- times received an earning of as much as six dollars in four weeks. During the winter of 18824883 the school term was eight months with two weeks vacation between the middle of March and the first of April. During this term the attendance was not compulsoryg but there was an enroll' ment of iifty pupils. Mr. John Hoyer, who then taught at Ammon's, received a salary of two hundred thirty dollars per year. In 1895 Mr. Hoyer retumed to teach two terms of six months each at a salary of thirty dollars a month. Attendance was now compulsory for children between the ages of eight and fourteen years. Required attendance was a minimum of seventy days in a term' of one hundred and thirtyftwo days. During this time, Caernarvon Township provided free books for the school, an unusual practice at this time. h When the schools were consolidated, this building was sold and converted into a ome. Another school was the Harmony School, which was built beside the Harmony Church on the road from Joanna to Joanna Furnace. This building was a red sand' stone structure with a wooden roof. It was heated with wood stoves, and oil lamps furnished the light. XVhen the schools were consolidated, this building was sold to Mr. Joseph Lengel. It still stands but is unused. Mines School was another of the early schools. It was located across from the Jones' Mines at Joanna. While the mines were in operation, there was a need for a schfool, so this school was built. It was constructed of red sandstone with a shingle roo . When the Caernarvon Township Schools were consolidated, this building was serves as a summer residence. The last of these one room school buildings was the Valley School. This school was situated at the top of Grahm's Hill on Route 23, between Morgantown and Elverson. The school was of red sandstone with a shingle roof. When consolidation took place, Mr. David Beiler bought the building and con- verted it into a gas station. This buildnig still stands at the east end of what is now known as Beiler's Garage. An addition was added to the building some years later. Since Caernarvon Township, along with Reading, was the first to accept the common school system, they decided to construct a high school building. fifteen I sold to Mr. Ashton Rea. Mr. Rea has remodeled the school into a lovely home, which F

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