Columbian High School - Blue and Gold Yearbook (Tiffin, OH)

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Columbian High School Erected in l893 Cost, 575,000 In l890 Mr. Charles A. Krout became principal ot Tiffin High School, located at that time in the Monroe building. There were then no extra-curricular activities, and the only physical training was on the Union School ground, where Miss Herbig acted as coach, umpire, and ref- eree. Mr. Krout served thirty-one years as superintendent oi schools-tar longer than any of his predecessors. Until the late l920's, the superintendent and princi- pal taught some classes. in addition to their administrative duties. The accompanying picture was taken about forty years ago. PAGE EIGHT The erection ot this building Was quite an accomplishment for a community of 10,800 people. Dr. H. H. Noble was presi- dent ot the board of education, and Wil- liam H. Gibson gave the oration when the cornerstone was laid. Mr. H. H. Frazier Was principal from l900 to l927 and organized the first extra- curricular activity for high-school students -a boys' literary society. Mr. W. W. Mar- tin, who has been principal since 1927, has given thirty-three years of service to the Tiffin schools: six years as principal at Monroe, three years as principal ol Iunior High, which he helped organize, and twenty-tour years at Columbian. Some of the teachers Who served long and well at Columbian in past years were Miss Mary A. Hartmann, Miss Emma Dutt, Mrs. Gertrude Williams, and Miss Nellie Arnold. C. A. Krout Superintendent 1900 - 1931

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S. S. Rickly First Superintendent of Tiffin Public Schools One Hundred Years Ago In September, 1850, the Union School system was in- augurated. Professor S. S. Rickly became the first superin- tendent at a salary of S400 a year, with the provision that he be allowed to teach one class each day at Heidelberg College, which had been recently opened here. Land was purhased from losiah Hedges, and the pres- ent Monroe Street building was completed in 1856. There the first high-school class was organized on the third floor. All the pupils in the public schools then on the Tiffin side of the river, and those in the higher grades on the Fort Ball side, attended Monroe School. Pupils in the lower grades in Fort Ball had a two-room frame building on Franklin Street. Early School Catalogues In the early years, the Tiffin Public Schools published annual catalogues, which provide information concerning school procedure then. The eighth annual catalogue, for the year 1868-69, listed all pupils in each grade, the courses of study, reports pertaining to enrollment and attendance, and a lengthy annual report of the superintendent to the board of education. After each pupi1's name was given the number of half days present, the number of half days ab- sent, the number of minutes lost by tardiness during the year, the record of scholarship, and the department. The names of pupils who failed to be promoted were printed in italics: names of those who gained an extra class during the year were printed in small capitals. In his report in 1868 the superintendent recommended that some provision be made for instruction in drawing and vocal music. In the Monroe building, in addition to the principal and nine teachers, there were four teachers listed for the German-English primary, secondary, and intermedi- ate schools. Three terms comprised the school year-from August 31 to Iune 10. These early school catalogues contained rules and regu- lations for the government of the schools, as prescribed by the board of education in 1860. These make interesting reading now. One rule, pertaining to teachers, says: They shall attend 'Teachers' Meetings,' which shall be holden on the Saturday before the beginning of each term, and each alternate Saturday during the term, and take such part therein as the superintendent shall assign, they shall also attend such special meetings, from time to time, as the superintendent may deem expedient to call, One of the ten rules concerning pupils follows: Scholars are required to refrain from all profane, low, and indecorous language at all times, from all loud talk and boistrous mirth, romping and rudeness in the schoolrooms, halls, and on the stairs, to be kind and obliging to each other, respectful and obedient to their teachers, and cleanly in their persons and dress, and to abstain from all practices having a pernicious influence upon the morals and manners of the school. New Buildings Erected Two new buildings, College Hill and Miami, were con- structed in 1871 at a cost of 37,500 each, including sites. The Franklin Street building was then sold. The Minerva Street building was erected in 1878 at a cost of S5,800. As the city grew, the old school buildings were out- grown. Miami School was replaced in 1884, and College Hill in 1912. In 1931 Noble School was built, replacing Minerva. The Monroe Street building housed all twelve grades of elementary and high school until 1893, when Co- lumbian High School was built. This was enlarged in 1932. The lunior High School was built in 1924 for seventh, eighth, and ninth-grade pupils. 5' Note-Much of the material in the foregoing historical sketch was adapted from Lang's History of Seneca County and from two books by Frank Dil-dine: From Wildemess to City and Facts from the History of Tiffin Public Schools. Washington Street at Madison PAGE SEVEN

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MIAMI STREET SCHOOL Erected in 1884 Cc11er1c1 Drinkwciter-Principal NOBLE SCHOOL Erected in 1931 Kathryn Gross-Principal MONROE STREET SCHOOL Erected in 1856 Total cost of site cmd bui1dir1gwS45,UUU Marie Pfeifer-Principcd COLLEGE HILL SCHOOL Erected in 1912 Marie Welter-Principal