Fairmont High School - Maple Leaves Yearbook (Fairmont, WV)

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In 1864 the first public free school in Fairmont was opened. The schools then were ungraded and the term was only three months. There was no special school building, so rooms in different parts of town were used. Schools were graded in 1865 and placed under the supervision of Colonel J. C. Lininger. The term this year was six months, and four buildings were used as schools. In the summer of 1866 the board of education purchased the brick building at the corner of Adams and Madison Streets for a school. Professor A. S. Cameron of Connellsville, Pennsylvania, was chosen as principal. He had four assistants and the enroll- ment was nearly 200. In 1867 the legislature located one of the State Normal schools in Fairmont and provisions were made whereby the pupils of the district could be formed into model training schools, for the benefit of the Normal students: and the principal of the Normal School, by virtue of his position, was the superintendent of public schools. OUR FIRST BUILDING A building, known as the Second Ward School Building, was erected in 1872 on the corner of Adams and Quincy Streets to be occupied jointly by the Normal and public schools. The graded schools occupied the first floorg the normal, the second and third. The plan of the grade schools' serving as model schools for the Normal continued until 1875, when the public schools were entirely separated from the Normal department. In 1876 Professor Thomas G. Miller became principal and under his supervision the foundations of the present system of education were laid. In 1877 the first class was graduated from Fair- mont High School in the Second Ward Building. In 1893 the Normal School was moved to its new location on Fairmont Avenue leaving the Second Ward Building entirely to the high school. In 1900 the graduating class was composed of nine girls and one boy. Enrollment had increased to the extent that it was necessary to employ an additional teacher. The faculty now consisted of four members including the principal. OUR SECOND BUILDING By 1905 the need for a new high school was evi- dent as enrollment had increased and facilities were inadequate. Bonds were issued amounting to 5500,- 000, and plans were launched for a new high school. The Point at Fifth Street and Benoni Avenue was chosen as the site of the building. 'History of Fairmont High School by Representatives rgzzrouqlz flze years . . GA History of Our Schooll of of Fairmont Senior High School. 1935. 4 The new building was completed in 1906 at the cost of 880,000 It consisted of a principal's office, library, twelve class rooms, physics and chemistry laboratories. The top fioor was used as a gymna- siumg the basement, for manual training and stor- age. This building housed the Fairmont High School during the years 1906 to 1929 when it was given over to the Fairmont Junior High Schoolf FAIRMONT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL In 1927 it was decided to adapt the 6-3-3 plan of school organization in Fairmont. If this were to be done, an additional building was necessary to house the senior high school. After several months of debating, plans were made to build a new school in Loop Park, a picturesque site of 11 acres, which had been purchased by the school board in 1923. Actual construction began in January 1928, and was com- pleted by the spring of the following year, with the class of '29 being the first to have its graduation ex- ercises in the institution. This new building, one of the most modern and well equipped in the state, has an auditorium, seat- ing 1100, a little theatre, a library and a gymnasium with ample facilities for both boys and girls. The home economics department consists of the latest kitchen, sewing, and house-keeping equipment. The commercial department offers all facilities for in- struction in typing, bookkeeping and office practice. Included in the boys' shop are mechanical drawing, wood-working, auto-mechanics, and building trades. A modern telephone system, within the building, and bells controlled by electricity provide rapid commun- ication and change of classes. The total cost of the building was S491,313.69, supported by bonds sold in 1927. TODAY AND THE FUTURE Today our school continues to grow. Our enroll- ment is now almost 700. There are 28 members on our teaching staff including our principal, librarian and office secretary. History is recorded with each departing class. Each year brings new faces, new activities and new interests . . . all become part of the school and part of us. The past will remain in happy, joyful, and sometimes tearful, memories. To the future we look with renewed strength and vitality. Our dreams of today will perhaps become the realities of tomor- row. Class of '57 . . . . Forward March! the Senior Class

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01 6WOI' We, the members of the Junior Class, have attempted in this 1957 Maple Leaves to give you, our readers, a colorful and pictorial re- view of our past school year. We have taken as our theme, Memories and History Of Our School. May we all, as we pursue this book in after years, experience anew the thrills, enjoyment, and pleasures we have had this past year. In compiling this year book, we have enjoyed the experiences which it affords. rew cuz Few -f 'Q' -' 9 .ffiif . 4 C, S 'T A X! i 'E 3 N .......,,- . H , S1 wi if 3, Our school was later moved into ,fi WV, this new building which had 12 ' ,f ,A class rooms, labs, offices and a 4 1 ' H library. The top floor was used as U ml 'Ali a gymnasium. The year was 1906. K W . K - ii' . a it ,r,,, egg, ' cfs 'Q ,, 'gf' .-ff' stef- e- T-M 5 vi , , A 5 1 42, --1-. ' , W A ... -s' -fx.--., ,H ,V ,...,.. ,- F 'fi ff 0 sf f-' -x . E1 I El y . - E l' , .f i in 24 B i-. i' Ni t 'Y . 1 ,ll i Our present Fairmont Senior High f 0' 'Ill V ri School was occupied in 1929 and ,, I ,L 1 , was then as now called the most ' af p ' 4, modern and beautiful school in the 3 ,Q ,, ,q . ' , K I L' W county. A rw A . 1 . L u.. f ' .,,,f . - fag A s d 7? ,,.. 6 wc,-V ' ...LI--N cf 2 . G ' A MW 9, L I 5 . 0 3

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