Flemington High School - Memories Yearbook (Flemington, WV)

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HISTORY 07 THE '.VEST VIRGINIA COLLEGE In 1S63, Reverend Flavious Gather, a Baptist minister, formed a joint stock company for the purpose of purchasing a site, erecting a building and maintaining a school of highorder at Flemington. Seven thousand dollars were raised f i- the enterprise. The company pur- chased from Mr. Emory Fleming five acres of land, situated on a beauti- ful plateau encircled by a chain of lofty hills, about three fourths of a mile east of Flemington on the Baltimore Ohio railroad. Work was begun on the building but the funds were exhausted before the building was completed and the work had to be discontinued. In 1867, the Free Will Baptists purchased the property and continued the work on the building until it could be used for school purposes. A charter granting full college powers was obtained by a special act of the legislature and the name West Virginia College was adopted. Reverend A. B. Williams was elected president. Among the succeeding presidents were Professor William Colegrove, Reverend ”'r vid Powell and Reverend . E. Peden. For nearly a quarter of a century this school was one of the most important educational institutions in the State, but on account of lack of financial support it was discontinued in 1892. Ur. Clark Cather and others used the building for subscription schools and stammer normals from 1892 to 1899. HISTORY OF FLEMINGTON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL In 1899 the Board of Education of Flemington district was composed of Michael Graney, president, and Jebediah D. Frum and John M. Ross, commissioners. There being a demand for additional room for pupils in sub—district No. 2, it was decided by the board to purchase the property known as West Virginia College, which was then.offered for sale for the sum of $2 200. It was used for the exccunty superintendent, had charge of the advanced grades for the first two years and Mr. Dellet Newlon, present county superintendent, for the next two years. At the general election in 1902, the question of establishing a district high school was submitted to the voters of Flemington district. It carried by an overwhelming majority and College High School, the first district high schcol in the State, was established. The Board of Education having charge of the school affairs at that time consisted of John B. Cather, president; John M. Ross and F. Baxter H aller. Commissioners. At the July meeting of the board in 1903, Mr. J. E. Shrader was chosen as the first principal of the College High School. About twenty pupils were enrolled, five of whcm graduated at the cl se of the term. Mr. Shrader was employed for the second year. The enrollment was about twenty-five. Four pupils graduated. Mr. Louis M. Snyder was chosen principal in 1905; thirty-nine pupils were enrolled, four of whom graduated. At the close of the term Mr. Snyder resigned to accept a position in a bank at Morgan- town, and as the increased number of pupils seemed to demand it, the Board of Education decided tc employ two teachers for the year

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2 1906-7. Accordingly Mr. Frank J. Tracy was elected principal and Mr. W Edwin Tonblyn, assistant. Fifty-four pupils were enrolled; six graduat- ed. The following year with the same teachers the enrollment reached fifty-nine, the largest in the history of the school. Eleven pupils graduated at the close of the term. In 1908, Mr. J. N. Fries was elected principal, and Mr. E. W. Kene- dy, assistant. The enrollment was somewhat less than it had been and no pupils were graduated, but substantial progress was made. In 1909, Mr. S. Orestes Bend was chosen as principal and Mr. Frank S. White, assistant. That year the course of study was made somewhat broader and the subject of Agriculture was given a prominent place» Among other innovations for the year was a District Agricultural Ex- hibit, which, with the aid of Professor Daniel W, Working and others from the West Virginia College of Agriculture, wasnade one of the most interesting and instructive features of the year. With the same teachers the following year which is the one just closing, this feature assumed still larger proportions. This year the course of study was made more comprehensive, the study of music was introduced and a piano was purchased by the school. At the close of the year three young people received diplomas of graduation. It is, perhaps, only just to say that the character and attainment of the young people who have attended the High School, furnish abundant proof of the wisdom of the people in maintaining a DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL. 1904 CUSS OF 1908 1913 1 Mabel D. Currey 1. Bessie Hadix 1. Bertha Allen 2. Gettie Cather 2. Fred A. Bradley 2. Charles Butcher 3. E. Stanley Haller 3. Lulu I, Springer 3. Nona Batson 4. Jesse Cather 4. Byron G. Ross 4. Delbert Blank 5. Leyton Batson 5. Lillie Alltop 5. Georgia Currey 6, Walter G. Menear 6. Brooks Fleming 1005 7. Bessie Winter 7. Sheridan Frun 1. A. Bush Cather 8. Stanley Fleming 8, Fred Kelley 2, Latelle Graney 91 Kittie Clevenger 9. Jessie Lawson 3. Adah Springer 10. Percy H. Currey 10. Hattie Smith 4. Enid Haller 11. John Traxler 1911 12. Russel West 1906 1. Morris Haller 1. Helen Allen 2. Bessie Tomblyn 1914 2. M. Quay Haller 3. Dennis Cather Carl Allen 3. Ray Cather 2. Carl Cheneweth 4. Iva Whitehair 1912 3. Doris Goughnn 1907 1. Leslie Allen 4. William Garrett 5. Grover Lawson 1. Ethid Waller 2. Smith Biggs 6. Roxie Pepper 2. Zona Lough 3. Bertha Cather 7. Ernest Pinnell 3. Elsie Winter 4. Oma Springer 8. Wade Smith 4. Edith Springer 5. Leah Drainer 9. Cecil Springer 5. Mamie Dilworth 6. Harlan Kelley 10. Nellie Whitehair 6.Tracey A. Currey 7. Ralph Pepper