Flemington High School - Memories Yearbook (Flemington, WV)

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HTSTTRX 0? VHS WEST VIRGINIA COLLEGE In 1363, Reverend Flavicus Cather., a Baptist minister, fcfnaad a joint stock company for the purpose of purchasing a site, erecting a building and maintaining a school of high order at Flemington, Seven thousand dollars were raised far the enterprise. The company pur- chased of Mr. Emory Fleming five acres of land, situated on a beautiful 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 unt il 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. Wi lliams was elected president. Among tho succeeding presidents were Professor William Colegrove, Reverend David Powell and Reverend Thomas E. Peden, For nearly a quarter of a century this school was one of t he most important educational institut ions in the State, but on'account of lark of financial support it was discontinued in 1892. Mr. Clark Cather and others used the building for subscription schools and summ er normals from 1892 to 1899. HISTORY OF FLEMINGTON DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL In 1899 the Board of Education of Flemington district was coo -' posed of Michael Graney, president, and Jebediah D. Frum and John M. Ross, commissionerso There'being a demand for additional room for pupils in sub-discrict N0 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 wa3 used for'the first four years as a two-room district school. Mr. Clark Cather, an excounty superin- tendent, had charge of the advanced grades for the first two years and Mr. Delict 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 boters of Flemington district. It carried by an overwhelming majorit y'and College High'School, the first district high school in tho 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 Haller,'Commissioner3. 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, fivo of whan graduated at the close of the tern. 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 Morgantown, and as t he increased number of pupils seemed to demand it, the Board of Education decided to employ two teachers for the year

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2 1906-7. Accordingly Mr. Frank J. Tracy was elected principal and Mr. Edwin Tomblyn, assistant. Fifty-four pupils were enrolled; six graduated. 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. Kenedy, 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 Bond 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 Exhibit, which, with the aid of Professor Daniel W. Working and others from the West Virginia College of Agriculture, was made 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 pian« 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 f the young people who have attended the High School, furnish abundant proof of the wisdom of the people in maintaining a DISTRICY HIGH SCHOOL 1902 College Hill High School was established July 1903. Mr. J. E. Shrader was chosen as first principal. 20 pupils were enrolled. 5 graduated at the close of the term. CLASS OF Mable D. Curry Gettie Cather Jesse Cather E. Stanley Haller Layton Batson 1904 Shrader was principal Enrollment 25. Four graduated A. Bush Cather Latelle Graney Enid Haller Adah Springer 1905 Louis M. Snyder, principal. Enrollment 25. Four graduated Helen Allen Rae H. Cather M. Quay Haller Iva Whitehair 1906 Mr. Frank J. Tracy, principal. W. Edwin Tomblyn, assistant principal. Enrollment 54. Six graduated. Mamie Dilworth Trac.v A. Curry Zona Lough Edith Springer Ethid Waller Elsie Winter 1907. Mr. Frank J. Tracy, principal. W. Edwin Tomblyn, assistant principal. Enrollment 54. 11 graduated. Lillie Alltop Fred A. Bradley Kittie Cleavenger Percy H. Currey Stanley Fleming Bessie Halix