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Fairmont High School Fairmont, Nebraska
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CENTENNIAL Centennial Is the time to think back and try to Imagine life as It used to be in Nebraska. Let’s take a few minutes to relive the days of Fairmont High School. In 1873, the school house was built on land which was donated by the town company. It was two stories high and the school grounds comprised an entire block which was planted In trees. The first graduate recorded was a girl In 1884 and there were three girls from the class of 1885. This school, graduated students every year except 1894 and 1898. The largest classes were those of 1904 and 1905, each with 15 members. In 1908, the 11 students were the last to graduate from the first high school. In 1909, a new $35,000 brick, modem school house was planned. Friday morning, March 12, was eventful because of the laying of the comer stone. It was presented to the district and donated by the pupils. In that year a book known as the Fairmonticella was named in honor of the new school building. Celia” means arch; the name signifies Fairmont’s arched doors to broader education. On the introduction page is found the motto: The Fairmont High School, Bigger, Better, Forever! Some of the courses available then but not today in Fairmont were: Latin, Agriculture, normal training, and military drill. One hundred and sixty credits were required for graduation; today 180 are necessary. Debating was encouraged, and Fairmont was a member of the State League and of the Central Nebraska Dis- trict League. The first debate was on the slavery question, given by the Sophomore Class of 1907. It was not until 1901 that the Fairmont Board of Education recognized the importance of the development of music by the students. Our music department has greatly advanced since then. The one great purpose of the high school was to prepare pupils for a life of usefulness. It attempted to do this by preparing the pupil to enter and complete education at an institution of high learning or to go directly into their life work. In 1905 the Legislature passed the High School Normal Training Law. This law provided $350 a year to 70 strong Nebraskan high schools so that they could equip themselves to pre- pare pupils to teach in the elementary grades of Nebraska. The first Normal Training Class began work at Fairmont in September of 1907. A formal organization of athletics was introduced in 1891, the favorite game at this time was football. For many reasons this game was recognized in the high school only one year. Basketball was introduced in 1903. In 1909 they played 12 games and won them all. Total goals for Fairmont were 398; total goals for teams played against were 306. This next paragraph was taken from the Fairmonticella of 1909 and still seems true today: When we look over this wonderful land of ours, upon its liberal and free institutions, upon its vast resources and capabilities, and upon its patriotic and enlightened people, we wonder why it is that anyone should be disappointed in himself, his community or his country. There certainly is no lack of opportunity; opportunities are open everywhere. Commerce is flourishing, business is prospering, nature is bountiful in her vast agricultural gifts, and a general feeling of industry and good will prevails our whole atmosphere. There is work to be done not only in industries which require development. There are positions of trust and honor in every section of this country, which are waiting only for the man or woman who will occupy them faithfully. As we view things as they exist today and have existed in the past, in the same way we must look into the future, for it can be judged only by the light of the past. Great men became great, not because they had opportunities, but because they made them and used them. 2
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