Dunkirk High School - Ivy Tower Yearbook (Dunkirk, NY)

Page 11 text:

its population was almost five thousand. The amount of state aid for education was very small in those days, and most of the cost of operating the schools was borne by the parents of the children attending. In 1853, the state passed a law providing for free schools to he supported by a ILIX on property, and in 1858 the Dunkirk Free School District was incorporated. Eventually, the structure on Third Street could not take care of all the students, and new buildings had to be provided. When Number I school was finished in 1857, the Academic Department was lnoved there. As the need arose, more grade schools were constructed and the necessity for a separate building for higher education became apparent. On May 31, 1879, a special district meeting voted to erect a brick building on the 'sold Burying Ground Site to be used for the purpose of advanced study and to be known as the Dunkirk Academy. The school was formally opened in September, 1881. In 1890, the beauti- ful trees on the campus Were planted. Nizw iauirmuo ms mx c nine

Page 10 text:

always - ,aasazaaz A Dunkirk High School, of which we are so justly proud today, has a long and interesting history. It was not built in a day by one generation, but represents, rather, the dreams, ideals, and aspirations of literally thousands of inspired citizens. Early records show that when the first settlers came here in about 1805, they brought with them the precious light of knowledge. It was small and flicker- OL1, ACADEMY ing, it is true, but it has always kept glowing and has grown brighter and brighter as the years have gone by. The first school in this community of which we have definite information was a two- story brick structure, built in 1827, on the south side of Third Street between Central and Washington Avenues. Up to 1835, only elementary subjects were taught there. Persons inter- ested in higher education attended one of the private schools in the village or walked to Fre- donia where the one academy in Chautauqua County was located. As Dunkirk grew, the de- mand for the brighter light of higher education increased. Finally in 1837, legislation was passed to organize the Dunkirk Academy. This Academy for twenty years occupied the second floor of the schoolhouse on Third Street. It was a private institution, and therefore little is known today about the work that was done there. After the completion of the Erie Railroad, the village of Dunkirk expanded most rapidly, and by 1855 OLD BUILDING 1896 page eight

Page 12 text:

We are indebted to Mr. Wzilter Smith, one of Dunkirk's early enterprising citizens, for the ideal site of our high school. He had obtained an interest in the Dunkirk Land Com- pany, and it was through his influence that our beautiful five acre campus was obtained. ln just a few years, however, the Academy outgrew its quarters: so in 1896, an addi- tion, several times the size of the original huilding, was constructed. At first only traditional classical courses were offered in this school, but in 1898, a Commercial Department was add- ed, in 1908, manual training and domestic science, in 1910, night school. Between 1905 and 1908, another addition was made for the use of the Iunior High School. Provision fora modern gymnasium was also included at this time. Shortly after this, medical inspection was begun. Finally in 1925, the part of the school known as the new hiulding was erected. In De- cember, 1946, everyone in the city was shocked to learn that a disastrous fire had destroyed the 1 1 Q 3 8 E , . NEW AUIJITORIUM 19-18 page ten