Grand Rapids High School - Pirate Yearbook (Grand Rapids, OH)

Page 12 text:

SCHOOL HISTGISY In 1831, Miss Charlotte Howard was engaged to teach the school, which was held in the home of Richard Howard. She received one dollar and fifty cents a week, and lived in the homes of the pupils. The first trustees divided the territory into five school districts. District number one extended along the river from Henry County line, east two miles, and south one mile. To Show some of the disadvantages of schools in this period, it is said that District Number five was four miles wide, and fifteen miles long. The pupils who lived the farthest from the school had to start very early in order to reach the school house on time. The first school house was built in 1832. It was a low, log shack, sixteen feet by twenty feet, with puncheon floor and benches. The fireplace which heated this building cost sixty-seven dollars, including the architect's fees. . About this time, this district became the Gilead School District. D. A. .Avery was the first Superintendent. Here- ceived 340.00 a month for this position. For nearly two decades the Gilead was celebrated-for its schools. Young men and women came from three counties to at- tend this place of learning. There were more pupils from other sections than from the local district. In l874 therf was a movement for a new school building. In May, 1875, there was an election to authorize the board to purchase a plot of ground and erect the building. The votecar- ried 44 to 6. And now, a word or two about the present building. In 1936 a fine new auditorium and gymnasium was added to the building. We are very proud of it. Mr. D. W. Oman is the present superintendent. This is his first year in Grand Rapids. There are about three hundred and fifty pupils enrolled in the elementary, Junior and Senior High School. The Grand Rapids School District includes parts of Wood, Lucas, and Henry counties. The bus drivers, as pictured on the opposite page: James Biggins, Carl Tonjes, John Brown, Mabel Tonjes,Floyd Whitney Ca substitute driver, and Fred Whitney. X

Page 11 text:

' IN MEMORIAM I cannot say, and I will not say That she is dead,--She is just away! With a cheery smile, and a wave of the hand She has wandered into an unknown land, And left us dreaming how very fair It needs must be, since she lingers there. Think of her still as the same, I say: She is not dead--she is just awayln --Riley. Helen Schlotz--March 9, l92l-March 19, 1938

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