George Mason High School - Mustang Yearbook (Falls Church, VA)

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Organization y This year the Mustang Staff decided to write a short history of our beautiful new high school since this is the first year that the City of Falls Church has had a real high school of its own. Up until 1942 the town of Falls Church had its own school system. At that time the McCand- lish Act was passed by the Virginia State Legislature stating that Falls Church Schools should be transferred back into the County of Fairfax, and at no time in the future, no matter how large it might become, could the schools go back to the City of Falls Church. Then there were only two schools in Falls Church— Madison Elementary and Jefferson High School. Until 1945, Jefferson remained the High School. At that time the County built the Falls Chur ch High School and Jef- ferson was put into use as an Elementary School. In 1948 Falls Church was made a second class city with the right to its own school system. The McCandlish Act was declared unconstitutional by the Virginia State Supreme Court. As soon after that as possible, a school board was appointed by the City Council. Mr. Irvin II. Schmitt was ap- pointed Superintendent of Schools. On November 11, 1949, the citizens of Falls Church showed their faith in the new system by overwhelmingly voting a Bond Issue of $700,000.00 to be used for school construction. As soon as this was passed, the Board employed architects and started an extensive search for school sites. ' The site chosen for the new high school is at West Broad Street and Haycock Road. The plans, drawn by McLeod and Ferrara to fit this site, were given an award at the annual convention of the American Architects Association at Atlantic City. These plans arc now entered in an interna- tional contest in Switzerland. As soon as these plans were approved by the State Department of Education, bids were opened and the contract was awarded to the B J Construction Company. Construction was begun im- mediately. Page 4

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“Thompson House’ “Jefferson” Due to the shortage of materials, the High School was not completed in time for the opening of school in the fall of 1951. The School Board therefore used Jefferson to house the 7th, 8th, and 9th grades, and rented the Thompson House at Seven Corners for the 10th and 11th grades. The Seniors were allowed to return to Falls Church High School. The building is now being rushed to completion and we arc looking forward to the opening of the school next fall in the new George Mason Junior-Senior High School. Check and double-check those steel “ It ' s beginning to look like reality.” beams on the gym before erecting them.” » Page 5