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

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SducatitM )tt 'Di ' Uct The first school in the vicinity of Green Bank was established in 1780; it was a typical pay school of that period. In 1820, meeting the community growth, the citizens established a school on the John A. Gum proporty, known as Cartmill Greek. As churches were built with regard to the density of people, the session rooms became the schools. The pastor or a visiting teacher served three months for a dollar a pupil if there were as many as ten scholars. The first free school was the Green Bank Academy, established in 1842. Professor Benjamin Arbogast, who influenced the founding of the school, served as the first instructor. The school was a part of the academy program of the country, which called for the exception of three academies, at Green Bank, Huntersville, and Hillsboro. After graduation from the academy and attending Institute for a week, a student could qualify for a teaching position by passing a test given and prepared by the County Su| erintendent. Green Bank District had its own Board of Education at that time, so the applicants went before the Board to qualify for the position. Following the close of the Civil War the building was remodeled and renamed the “Advanced School.” This school served until 1916. when its place was taken by the high school. The last session was taught by C. E. Flynn, who became County Superintendant. In 1916, John W. Goodsell. President of the Board of Education with the aid of Dr. Lelard Moomau founded the Green Bank High and Graded School. The first levy of money was sufficient to build the part known as the high school part. At first the high school and grades were both in the same part of the building, but as enrollment increased, the building was extended to the begin- ing of gymnasium. In 1926. the gymnasium add ition was erected. The first school term opened in the fall of 1918 with a small enrollment. The first principal was W. P. Haught of Bristol, W. Va. Wilth Misses Lucy Meredith, Margaret Hunt, and Lilllian Moomau. The first graduate in 1919 was ..race Curry. N. Phay Taylor, the second principal, was succeeded by T. P. Harwood, who served four years. In 1936, Claude McMillion became principal and served until his death in the spring of 1945. when Mr. Mack Brooks. Assistant County Superintendant, served until the end of the term. In the fall of 1945, Mr. Virgil B. Harris of Gassaway became principal and has served since. Basketball was organized early in the schools history; football not until 1926. Home econo- mics was installed about three years after founding the school. The Future Homemakers club was organized in 1930 and is one of the oldest in the state. In 1930, a separate Vocational Agricul- tural building was constructed; the following year, the bus garage. The hot lunch program was in- troduced about fifteen years ago. In 1936 an addition to the main building was made, and steam heat was installed. In 1944 the band was organized. In 1946 a new floor was laid in the gym and a new heating system was introduced. In 1946 the lunch room was remodeled to serve the 500 pupils and personnel. The installation of freezing units in 1948 enabled the Vo-ag students to butcher and freeze the meat served at these meals. Mrs. Rachel Wooddell continues to supervise this program. The county Health Immunization program began about 24 years ago under the supervision of President L. C. McCutcheon and U. H. Hannah. In 1949 the seniors established the tradition of an annual tree-planting day. In 1946. Green Bank High School established another tradition, the annual homecoming. In 1951 some 231 gra- duates attended the celebration.

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'DetUcutiM We, the Class of 1952, sincerely dedicate this 1952 Mountain Breeze to the memory of our dear friend and former classmate Frances Helmick, who died March 1, 1949. “To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.”

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