Greenbank High School - Mountain Breeze Yearbook (Greenbank, WV)

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The first school in the vicinity of Grecnbank was erected in 1780. It was a typical pay school of that period; the fee was paid by boarding the teacher a certain length of time, according to the number of scholars in the school. As Greenbank became a larger place than a one-house-town, a school was erected below the town at what was then known as the Crossroads, and named after the location. The school lated until th„» year 1820, and then a school was built on what is now the property of John R. Gum which was then known as Cart- mill Creek. This school served the purpose of educating the pioneer children for a decade or more. As churches were built with better regard to the density of the people, the session rooms became the school houses, the session room of Liberty Church being one of the most important in Grecnbank Com- munity. The session room schools were usually taught (by the pastor, and if the pastor did not teach, outside teachers would teach a term of three months for a dollar a scholar if there were as many as ten scholars. The session room schools lasted until 1842. when the Greenbank Academy was erected where the Odd Fellows Lodge Hall now stands in Greenbank. This was the first free school and was first taught by Professor Benjamin Arbogast, who had influenced the founding of it. The usual number attending was sixty-five to seventy-five. This school -was part of the academy program of the County which called for the erection of three academies: at Greenbank, Huntersville, and Hillsboro. These three buildings were of brick and were the most modern buildings in the County. Most of the people in Greenbank District sent their children to this school. These scholars boarded at Greenbank for there was no method of conveyance from the more distant homes. When a student had finished this school he could attend Institute for a week, and then pass a test given and prepared by the County Superintendent and become qualified for a teaching position. Greenbank District had its own Board of Education at that time, so the teachers went befora them to qualify for a job. But they had to have as many as two trustees of the three to sign their contract before the job was forthcoming; the salary 'being about sixty dollars per month. A frw months after the Civil War, the building w as remodeled and changed to a two-storied one and renamed the “Advanced School.” It had a high standard of education. The Old Academy served until 1916; the last session being taught by C. E. Flynn, who later became County Superintendent. Its place was taken by the High School. In the year 1916, John W. Goodsell. President of the Board of Education, with the aid of Dr. Leland Moomau, founded the Greenbank High School with the grade school being in the same building. The first levy of money called for enough money to build the part known a few years ago as the high school part, which extended from the front of the building to the present end of the press room. At first high school and grades were taught in the same part, but as enrollment increased, the building was extended to the beginning of the gymnasium, and a few years later the gym and the rooms above it were erected. This last wes completed in 1926. Quite a dispute was aroused over the location of the building, so it was submitted to a popular vote. The main candidates for the election were Cass, Dumore. Durbin, and Greenbank, with the latter coming in ahead with a fair majority. , „ . . . « . , ... „ The first term of school ooened in the fall of 1918 with a small enrollment. The first principal was W. P. Haught of Bristol. W. Va.. with Miss Lucv Meredith, Margaret Hunt, and Lillian iMoomau as assistants. The firs: graduate of the school in 1919 -was Grace Curry, who had attended Marlinton for three years. In the year 1920. there wcr° five graduates: Virginia Dare Moomau. Helen Beard, Bertie Beard, Lillian B:ard and Lucille Oliver. In 1921 there were ten graduates, fifteen in 1922, fourteen in 1923, nineteen in 1924, and so on. N. Phay Taylor, the second principal, was succeeded by T. P. Harwood, who served nine years as princi- oal. Mr. Harwood was replaced in 1931 by John Roach, who served four years. In 1946. Claude A. McMillion became principal and served until his death in the spring of 1945, when Mr. Mack Brooks, Assistant County Superintendent, served until the end of the term. In the fall of 1945, Mr. Virgil B. Harris of Gassaway, W. Va., became principal and has served ever since. . . Basketball started early in the school’s history; football not until 1926—first touchdown for the school was made bv Alen Hiner in a game with White Sulphur. Home Economics was installed about three years af r :he founding of the school. The F. H. A. Club was organized in 1930 and is one of the oldest in the state. In 1930. a separate Vo-Ag building was constructed; the following year a huge garage. Hot Lunch Program for Greenbank High and Grade School was introduced about fifteen years ago. In 1936 a new addition to the main building was made and steam heat was installed. In 1944 the G. H. S. Band was organized under the direction of Miss Anna Margaret Johnson. In 1946 a new floor was laid in the gym. A new heating system installed. Poca- hontas Countv added County Music Supervision in 1948 Miss Dorothy McNeel now serves in that department. In 1947. the P. A. System was installed. . A ...... In 1946. the lunch room was remodeled, enabling the Hot Lunch program to prepare and serve the daily noon meals to over 300 pupils and personnel. With the addition of a large deep freeze, the Vo-Ag department ' udents b richer and freeze the meat served at these meals .Mrs. Rachel Wooddell continues to supervise this urogram. The Countv Health Immunization Program began about 24 years, ago under the supervision of Drs. t C MrO cheon and U. H. Hannah. During the past three years, the Baby Clinic sponsored by the Farm Woman’s Club and directed bv Dr. A. E. Amick of Greenbrier County, has served the community with monthly meetings a the high school during the year. „ . , Jn 1950. the G. H. S. basketball team won the Sectional Tournament at Hillsboro, the Regional Tourna- ment at Roncevert, and traveled to the State Tournament where they were defeated by Athens, who later placed firs4 in the Tournament. , t . In 1951 the G. H. S. basketball team won the Sectional Tournament at Hillsboro, the Regional Tourna- ment at Ronceverte. the Area Tournament at Pineville and runner-up at the Class B Tournament at Morgan- town.

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MR. ERIC CLUTTER Pocahontas County Superintendent oj Schools MR. MACK BROOKS, Assistant Superintendent Pocahontas County Schools