Fort Plain High School - Portrait Yearbook (Fort Plain, NY)

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History of lzort Plain I-ligb School The present school system in Fort Plain is directly due to the active interest of its school board of 1893. In the spring of that year, this board obtained an inspection of the Fort Plain School, then located between Mohawk and Division Streets and now known as the Ma- sonic Temple. Fort Plain, upon passing the requirements of inspections, was admitted to the Univer- sity of the State of New York as Fort Plain Union School on J unc 21, 1893. Under this classi- fication, the Classes of 1896 and 1897 were graduated. Then the addition of more equipment and better library facilities raised the rating of the academic department to high school grade in December of 1897 and granted the school the privilege of having non-resident pupils for in- struction. Thirty-five classes forming a force of over 340 alumni were graduated under this rating. The school continued to grow in size until its building and equipment became inade- quate for the students depending upon it. In 1916 the present site on old Clinton Liberal Insti- tute Hill was purchased and a modern yellow brick building was erected. The new school build- ing made use of most of its old equipment throughout the grades thereby permitting a greater expenditure for equipment for the academic courses. In the fall of 1916, three new courses were added to the high school curriculum. They were vocation courses in homemaking, agriculture and a commercial course. Unfortunately, the course in agriculture had to be abandoned after a few years because it did not seem to fit our community 's needs. Then because of a State Department ruling in 1918, that wherever vocation courses were conducted it was necessary to offer both, honiemaking was also discontinued. This ruling, however, brought forth many complaints from small schools throughout the State who were unable to finance both but found one or the other desirable. Due to this, in 1921, the schools were permitted to reopen courses in either branch and in addi- tion receive State Aid for them so the Fort Plain Homemaking course reopened and is still in operation at the present time. In 1927 the attendance at the high school extended beyond the available room, and once more the Masonic Temple was brought into use. Space was leased for the kindergarten and first grade and this branch accommodated about 70 pupils each year. Continued interest in music and drawing increased until separate departments for both were established in 1928. The health of the pupils of both schools was taken care of by a registered nurse and school doctor. Also provision for recreation was made. At the rear of this school was a large campus with space designated for baseball and other sports and an instructor was provided. This setup was very satisfactory up until 1938 when it was found necessary to again expand the sehool's facilities. In 1939 an addition constructed on the north side practical- ly doubling the size of the school. The present Fort Plain School-kindergarten through high school-is practically a fire-proof building with many modern educational facilities. At present the school has 594 students enrolled and a large and capable teaching staff.

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w NANCY E, CHENEY WARTHUR H. BUECHE FLORENCE M. BAILEY 'Me 4 ROSE E. FALSO HELEN E. FAILING GERTRUDE I, WARNER EL5lE S. LARQUN V- - V ,