Cuyahoga Falls High School - Cuyahogan Yearbook (Cuyahoga Falls, OH)

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In 1977, the “old building was remodeled and in turn renam- ed the renovated building. Reason? The “old building look- ed like a new building. After starting out with only 376,160 square feet of land, Cuyahoga Falls High School now covers 15.8 acres of land. Some additions to the school include the library, cafeteria, auditorium, gymnasium, and vocational wing. MIDDLE LEFT: Beginning with a crack that opened up the brick wall by a window. East school slowly became n safely hazard. The public protested until the school was finally forced to close. It was torn down in 1967. MIDDLE RIGHT: Looking at the present view of the front of the new building, one can see a definite contrast to the old building. This addition added room for more administrative of- fices and the science and business departments. LEFT: Cuyahoga Falls High School holds 65 years worth of memories. Walking through the halls, a present day student ran only try to imagine what it was like for the students before him to walk through the same halls. High School Building History 11

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Historical Building Blocks Until the post Civil War years, the “Lyceum,” located in the church park commons served the community as a high school. The Lyceum organization was headed by William H. Taylor, who later established a free public library. The pre- sent Taylor Memorial library is a tribute to him and his wife. In 1869, construction began on East School at 2075 Germain Avenue and was completed in 1871. East served grades 1-12 until 1922 when plans were formulated to expand the high school because its space was inadequate shortly after it was opened. The addition which completed the present “old building” opened in 1927. The completion of this building was a big event as shown in the article from The Akron Sunday Times of 6 May 1928 when it described an “Educational Exposition which is the greatest display of its kind ever attempted in the city.” This expostition provided the public with an opportunity to “visit all the parts of the new high school building and see every phase of the school work as it actually is carried out.” Enter- tainment such as choirs, the orchestra, and “physical training skill demonstrations” sparked the three day affair. The closing of East School in 1938, due to structural problems, overburdened Broad, Crawford, Grant, and Lincoln elementary schools. Construction at that time was impossible because as one Cuyahoga Falls School’s report stated, “A 45% reduction in the tax duplicate during the depression hampered the issuing of bonds for new construction.” Then WWT brought about a shortage of building materials and the post war inflation also was a factor in the shortage of funds. It was also in 1949 that the high school expanded again. This time an industrial arts annex was added so that the metal shop and the two wood shops could have adequate equipment and space while at the same time providing additional classrooms in the building. The 500 feet of the frontage where the high school set back from Fourth Street, served as the site for the next addition opened in 1960. This 3.1 million dollar wing contained 181,269 square feet. Its primary function was to provide the science and music departments with needed area as well as to give the School District Ad- ministrative Staff 23 offices. The last of the wings to be added reflected a change in the country’s educa- tional philosophy. In 1968,the vocational wing opened and offered training in cosmotology, practical nursing, auto ' mechanics, machine trades and drafting. The Vocational Education Act passed by Congress provided funding for such additions. The old building or original building was newly dubbed the “renovated” building after a massive facelift was completed in 1977. It was started during the school year in May, 1977. This was very inconvenient because the third floor couldn’t be used. In fact, all of the English classes had to be moved to other parts of the building, such as the wrestling and gymnastics room. There was also a class in the Board of Education Building and four classes oc- cupied the auditorium. Although the times may have been chaotic throughout the high school’s ex- istence, the building has withstood all of the changes. This view of the original building is from the present between the vocational wing and the original building, day Fourth Street. The stone facing on top of the Unfortunatley this historical piece is tucked away where building .over the front door, now rests in the courtyard few people see it. 10 High School Building History

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ABOVE: The Stow Street lot shows how faculty and many students get to school in 1986. Here Mr. Kalbaugh checks for parking permits. Gin anyone believe high school students used to ride horses and buggies to school? Along the Rails Walking along Front Street 1986, maybe enjoying the shops and or a city sponsored festival, imagine how it used to be. The traveling onlooker views the river that once held the industries of Cuyahoga Falls but never the traffic of the city’s transportation. The Front Street traveler also views the expressway that was the main cause of the lose of many of the in- dustries on the riverfront — the beginning of urbanization. An important form of transportation in the Falls developed along the rails. Trains brought goods, people and work to and from the Falls. Streetcars were also part of the transportation scene in the river city. The railways even brought the community notoriety with the tragic crashes of the Mountain Line Trolley which occurred at the Highbridge Glens, and later the “Doodlebug” disaster. Pedestrians and motorists had to weave through the tracks on Front Street. Early on, one might think of the horses and buggies that once characterized the ci- ty. Imagine horses tied to rails outside the buildings that are today Revco or the Front Street apartments. The city motorists were then introduced to “real” transportation when the Model T Fords arrived in great numbers. Not everyone was fond of the idea: some even thought the “car” would never last. No matter what vehicle was used. Falls transportation always attempted to stay on track. RIGHT: The town pump, in the lower left hand comer, once sat on a comer of Front Street. The buggy wheel ruts in the dirt road show the days traffic. MIDDLE LEFT: This picture shows the building of the railway that once held the “Doodlebug”. Many still remember the tragic loss of many lives when the “Bug” crashed in 1945 near what is now Front Hudson Drive. MIDDLE RIGHT: During Fall Spring weather, mopeds and bicycles are ridden to school. The full parking lot shows the overpopulation of student drivers. Only a fraction of the students who apply receive parking permits. BOTTOM: Looking north on Front Street is a view of the streetcar tracks. The streetcars once ran down the middle of Front Street. 12 Transportation