Edison High School - Edisonian Yearbook (Lake Station, IN)

Page 11 text:

GREETINGS Every 3tudent, teacher and member of this community can take pride in their schools. We of Edison High School are proud of our accomplishments and know that they are the result of the fine spirit of helpful co-operation that exists between students, teachers, and members of the community. We recognize that the schools are the hope of America and have tried to assume that responsibility. We have tried to gain a better knowledge so that we may solve the common problems of hu- man needs and make our community a bet- ter place in which to live . Best wishes to each of you for greater accomplishments 1

Page 13 text:

HISTORY OF EDISON All great institutions like all great men have their small beginnings and Edison High School is no exception. We sometimes think of Edison as a small school, but we have come a long way in the thirteen years since the first high school classes were organized in East Gary, Much water can flow under the bridge in that time, but much progress can also be made in the same length of time. We have made some mistakes and we have made some very successful achievements in the history of our school; however, let us have a glimpse of the beginning. The eastern portion of the Central School building was built in 1914, but the west half was not added until 1928. It had been the custom of the School Town to pay the trans- fer tuition of the high school students of East Gary to send them to Emerson of Gary. This procedure was followed until the Central Building was remodeled. The first high school classes were therefore organized in September, 1928 when the 9th grade was added to the traditional eight-grade system. Mr. Kenneth J. Wright was the principal of the Central School in 1928-29 and Mr. Harry Condon became the first high school teacher. This first freshmen class left a land mark by which they may long be remembered when they gave the tall flagpole which stands in front of the Central Building as a parting gift when they transferred to the Emerson School at the close of their Sophomore year. The following year the tenth grade was added to the high school and Mr. Condon succeeded Mr. Wright as principal. This year is also memorable in the history of our school as it brought Miss Hilda I. Eshelman, Edison ' s beloved Dean of Girls to East Gary as a teacher. Mrs. Hazel Crawford was also employed as a part time teacher that year. The ninth and tenth grade were located in the two west rooms and one of the east rooms upstairs in the Central Building. Yes, they had a basketball team that year and several games were played, but in order to have a team it was necessary to use some of the bo-js from the 8th grade. Mr. George B. Garland, who is now the principal and teacher of 7th and 8th grades at Ainsworth, was the coach of that first team. Mr. Willis H. McAllister, who is now a teacher in the Merrillville High School was a member of the faculty of that year, Mr, A. E. Steele succeeded Mr. Harry Condon as principal in 1931-32 and Mr. Ralph Napier joined the faculty this year as coach of the basketball team and a teacher in the high school. The present high school building was under construction at this time and everyone was anxious- ly looking forward to the time when they could occupy the new building. The school was organized as a junior high school in 1932-33 and the 11th grade was added when the school moved into the Edison Building in September of that year. Miss