Farmington High School - Voyageur Yearbook (Farmington, IL)

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Uhr CDlime ganngtlinlh QW erection of the present building begun, but it was not until March 7th, 1892, that the new building was dedicated. In 1895. Mr. DeGroff resigned and was replaced by Miss Elizabeth Williams, former assistant, who remained but one year being compelled by ill health to resign at the end of that time. She was succeeded by H. L. Roberts who held the position until 1902 when he was suc- ceeded by L. B. Mansell, who, in turn, was succeeded by A. J. Beatty who resigned in 1911 to give place to our pre. ent superin- tendent, H. L. Dyar. During the forty-tive years of its existence. Farmington High School has experienced varying fortunes. During the years be- tween '73 and '77 the enrollment was often ninety or more, while in the years between '79 and '83 the enrollment was so small that no assistant was needed, the principal alone doing the work ani overseeing the grades below. Attendance has shown a marked increase in later years, but has not yet reached its former figures. The course of study offered by our school has changed with the changing needs of the pupils, but still needs revision in order to meet the requirements of twentieth century standards. In 1888 the Alumni Association of Farmington was formed, and in the following year, entertained the County Alumni Associa- tion in a two-days session. Some of the charter membets Were: Edith Reiplinger, Emma Goshen, Sarah Wilcox, Kate Foltz, Kate Meeker, Rebecca Foltz, Emma and Minnie Schoonover, Joe Bar- stow and Albert Heaton. Each year the Association justifies its existence by tendering to the graduating class a reception, by means of which the older members cement anew the ties that bind them to Alma Mater and to their fellow-students. Each year, too, the graduates enroll as members of the Association and thus its roll has grown until now the problem of properly caring for mem- bers and guests is becoming a serious one. Of the many pupils graduating from F. H. S. some are sojourn- ing in distant lands, some are filling places of honor and trust, and some have been called to the Greater School Beyond, but in the hearts of all who yet tread the paths of earth, there lingers ever a deep and abiding love for our Alma Mater, the dear old High. --Miss Nellie McDonald.

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iiiifeliiifiriiilrliiglifsifiiflli-Cifiigifiliii' Fi' C T C Eliarminginn ihigh Srhnnl. The history of Farmington's schools began with a little log house, situated on the west side of South Main Street, about where the residence of James Robb now stands. As the town grew in size two buildings were needed, No. 1 being located near the pres- ent site of the Presbyterian Church, No. 2 near the earlier school building. The need for higher education was met by an academy located at the corner of Main and Court Streets and by a private school conducted by Prof. Churchill later of Knox College. In ' ASQ, in accordance with a state-Wide movement, it was decided .,,-0 ,246- A.,- to establish a high school in Farmington and in that year was be- gun the erection of our first High School building. This was a handsome structure, three stories above the basement and built in the form of a Greek cross, halls and recitation rooms occupying the wings, school-rooms the central building. On the first and second floors, there were two school-rooms to each floor, but in the third story, the High School room occupied the entire length of the building from north to south. Large windows in front and in the rear furnished ample light for the handsome room wnich was seated for a hundred pupils and could easily have accommodated many more. Here the Farmington High School was formally opened in the autumn of 1867 with Principal D. H. Pingree in charge and Miss Julia Steenburg as assistant. Mr. Pingree remained but two years and was succeeded by Mr. Illie who remained but a year and then gave place to Mr. Grinnell who remained until 1873, when he was succeeded by Henry C. Cox. The first class, consisting of but two members, Russell Hlll and Lizzie Voorhees, was graduated in 1870 and since then thirty- eight other classes have gone out into the world to attest to the efficacy of the teaching of the old High. In 1876 Mr. Cox resigned and was replaced by C. L. Howard, a Normal graduate who re- mained but one year when Mr. Cox returned and remained until 1879 when he was succeeded by Frank Matthews. Mr. Matthews remained two years when he was succeeded by Miss Alice Welch, now Mrs. Alfred Steenburg, who served until December, 1884. W. S. McKinney then took charge of the schools serving until 1888 when he was succeeded by L. R. Chapin who remained but one year giving place to J. A. B. Shippey who also served a single year. In 1890 R. V- DeGrotf became principal with Miss Rilla Meeker, a former graduate of our schools, as assistant. On De- cember 9th, 1890 the High School building was burned and for the remainder of the year the High School was housed in the City Hall. In the spring of 1891 the old walls were torn down and the

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Harmingtnn High Svrhnnl. 1913