Hardin Reynolds Memorial School - Reynolda Echo Yearbook (Critz, VA)

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First school at Critz THE HISTORY OF HARDIN REYNOLDS MEMORIAL SCHOOL Hardin Reynolds Memorial School had its beginning about 1890 in a small one room log structure, superseded in 1900 by a frame building which still stands, near the home of Mrs. James H. Tatum. It was in this small frame structure that there was given off the spark which set on fire the enthusiasm for more and better facilities for education in the community. In a short time this school was overcrowded. During the years 1913-1914, through the untiring efforts of the people of the community and with the generous help of R. J. Reynolds of Winston-Salem, a four-room brick structure was created. For the first time work beyond the elementary grades was offered, the school was then known as Critz High School. The first commencement exercises were held in the nearby tobacco warehouse in the spring of 1916. There were three graduates. In 1917 the school building was increased to twice its original size with an auditorium occupying half of the lower floor. The class of 1918 was the first to graduate in the new auditorium. As the school developed, the urgent need for a dormitory became apparent. During 1920 and 1921 the people of the community, assisted by generous outside help, constructed a four story dormitory. Students from Patrick and adjoining counties as well as other se ction of the state were attracted by the boarding facilities offered here. Vocational Agriculture was added to the cur¬ riculum in 1920. Home Economics was first offered in 1921. The school became an accred¬ ited four-year high school during the 1921 — 1922 session. The phenomenial growth of the school soon called for still another building. Will N. and First building at Hardin Reynolds, known as Critz High School. Dormitory space added 60

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BETA CLUB: Sandra Goard 4-H CLUB: Danny Boyd and Callie Ruth Martin CHEERLEADERS: Doris Reed FHA: Carol Shough SPORTS: Bernard Mabe and Becky Prillaman FFA: Calvin Stowe 59

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Walter Reynolds of Winston-Salem met this need by having erected a $60,000 building honoring the memory of their father, Hardin Williams Reynolds. The first floor of this building is occupied by the Vocational Agriculture Depart¬ ment; the second floor is an auditorium with a seating capacity of 600; the third floor was used for faculty apartments. When the building was dedicated in April 1927, the county school board announced that the school would henceforth be known as Hardin Reynolds Memorial School. In 1950, William N. Reynolds, a native of the Critz section and one of the founders of R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in Winston-Salem, Noidi Carolina, agreed to donate $100,000 to the Critz community for use in the construction of a combination community building and school gymnasium. This still serves as the gymnasium for the school. Erected by Will and Walter Reynolds in honor of their father, Hardin Reynolds. Last addition - financed partly by County funds. Consolidation of the school started in 1925 with three buses bringing children from neighbor¬ ing communities. The building originally planned as a girls’ dormitory and no longer being needed as such, now houses the school lunchroom and kitchen , the home economics department, several classrooms, Mr. Terry’s office and the guidance department. The latest addition to the school, and the one building financed in part by county funds — was started in 1936 and completed in 1940. This building has four high school classrooms and the school library. In the basement is the community cannery which, operates under the supervision of the department of Vocational Agriculture, has been a great asset. The school was first accredited by the South¬ ern Association of Secondary Schools and Col¬ leges in the mid-thirties, being recognized as one of the outstanding rural high schools in the state. The enrollment of the school has grown from approximately seventy-five in 1914 to 677 at present; the teaching staff, from four to twenty- six. Yes, they really played like that! Mrs. Via?! 61