Deerfield High School - Spartan Yearbook (Deerfield, KS)

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-mt---.f - R2-L ', , Students being transported in Deerfield's first school bus, a covered wagon drawn by a team of horses and driven by Bert White were greeted with a new school building to be used for the first time during the 1912-13 school term. A very modern brick structure of that day was found to be without the conveniences of running water, electricity and gas heat, which is prevalent in modern building. This building housed both grade and high school. The high school faculty consist- ed of one teacher. The first heating system used was that of a coal furnace. Drinking water was provided by large water cans in each room and each student provided with his own drinking cup. Part of the recess period was spent in refilling water cans. No lighting of any type was used. T e school term of 1915-16 saw many improvements made in the building. Among these was the addition of electri- city and running water. Wells were drilled and equipped with automatic electric pumps and pressure tanks were installed in the building. Due to the larger enrollment the first high school building was erected in 1919 and 1920. It was first used for the 1920- 21 school term. At this time there were approximately thirty students and three faculty members in the high school. The new building added greatly to the athletic progress of the school, because of the gymnasium. Basketball games up until this time had been played on an outdoor court, in the livery barn or in the alfalfa mill building. The early 1930's saw the old coal burning furnaces give way to the more modern gas heating system still used today. The year of 1949 marked the end of the school's private water system and water was then provided by the city water system. Indoor rest rooms were installed and first used in the old grade building in 1951. During the late 40's the patrons of Rural High School District No. 3 realized the need for a new building to accomo- date and urther the education of high school students. The present high school building was first used in 1951. With the moving of the high school the cafeteria and some grade classes were moved to the old high school building. The two old buildings have been the scene of three fires. Two in the rade building caused by the heatinglsystem and not causing great damage and one in the old high school building caused gy an explosion of a floor cleaning uid. This fire was the cause of considerable damage to the building in the summer of 1954. On January 26th of 1956 the patrons of Deerfield District No. 20 with the aim in mind of providing better facilities for education voted in favor of a bond issue of 5294, 000.00 for the construction of the new building shown in the archi- tect's drawing below. George W. Tewksbury and Associates is the architectural firm supervising construction. The con- struction ofthe building wi l begin in the summer of 1956. Present plans call for the taxing of the two old buildings upon completion of the new one. l Luz U 4 'rg C' t 1 PATRICK SCHOOL SUPPLY DUNN TYPEWRITER I-IUBER JANITOR SUPPLIES